Rating: 
Summary: The Last Promise
Review: If you love Italy and a good romance story you will love this book. It was one of those books that I never wanted to end. How to ever find something else to read after such a wonderful journey through "The Last Promise". Yes, I loved every minute of it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Romance
Review: I felt this was a top notch romance novel. It was different than Richard Paul Evan's other novels. My only reason of not giving it 5 stars was I believe in "till death do us apart". I realize Elaina's husband was a real jerk. But I have a problem with the high divorce rate and don't like it when books seem to make marriage not a serious commitment. Although Ross counter weighted this by his complete commitment to Elaina. So far I have read and own all of Richard Paul Evan's books and this is one I will read again.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: My Italian boyfriend gave me this book for christmas. The plot seemed promising. However, before getting to the first page, we started to find errors.For starters, see "acknowlegments" second page---John Pitanzo, buon fortunata (sic) with your book. We decided to ignore it. Sadly, the errors became rather too common. Many of the proverbs in Italian contained grammatical errors. We wonder why the author didn't ask one of the numerous friends he acknowledges to correct his Italian. The story did prove to be interesting, but the errors created too much of a distraction. We expected more from a published work and don't recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Better & better...
Review: This emotional story breathes with heart, soul and zest. You can practically taste the mouthwatering Italian cuisine and envision every detail of the Tuscan hillside village where it all takes place. The characters come alive-you can feel their pain, their love, their passions; it is as though they are in the same room. Magnificent! Evans just gets better and better. The story is about a young American artist (Eliana) married to a wealthy Italian businessman (Maurizio) seven years her senior. Eliana met him while she was on a university extension program in Florence and he sweeps her off her feet with his continental charm. He comes to America to finish his schooling and be near her. They eventually marry and she leaves the familiarities of her small hometown in Utah and establishes permanent residency in the Tuscan region of Italy near Florence. Her friends and family back home sigh in envy at her storybook lifestyle with her handsome husband indulging in the finest of foods and wine in a picture postcard setting of culture and history including their residence, a quaint fifteenth-century villa beside a vineyard. However, not all fairytales have a happy ending. Maurizio turns out to be an unfaithful, uncaring husband as well as a workaholic. While he is away on frequent business trips, she spends most of her time painting and caring for their seven-year-old son (Allesio) who has a severe asthmatic condition. She tries to make the best of her situation and is reasonably happy but secretly craves a more fulfilling, deeper relationship with her husband. When Maurizio is home, she does everything to please him, hoping he'll change but it only gets worse. He continues seeing other women while he's away and when he returns is even more demanding and insensitive to Eliana's needs. After a time, Eliana learns to accept her situation realizing there is nothing she can do. If she left her husband, he would seek custody of their son whom she loves more than anything in the world. In the meantime, an American (Ross Story), with a mysterious past rents one of the villas in the same complex where she lives. Their paths cross one evening when she needs help in getting Allesio to the emergency room after he suffers a life-threatening asthma attack. He agrees to take her and they become close friends, discovering they have many common interests. Their friendship grows into an intense unconditional love for one another, but at the same time Eliana knows it's hopeless and that nothing could ever develop in their relationship. Her narcissistic husband would never consent to a divorce or allow her to have custody of Allesio, and with his influence, the Italian courts would support him all the way. The uncertain saga continues until Story's past is revealed and we reach a surprise conclusion. The novel is cleverly laced with Italian proverbs at the beginning of each chapter intermixed with excerpts from Ross Story's diary. Evans has a writing style all his own and after reading the comments in some of the other reviews, I have to disagree with the reviewers who compare his style with Nicholas Sparks or Kirk Martin. Sparks and Martin are good authors in their own right, but only Evans has the unique savvy that the others lack. In my opinion, only The Notebook by Sparks deserves the same accolades. Keep up the quality writing, Richard Paul Evans! I look forward to your next book.
Rating:
Summary: Nicholas Sparks reads a Year in Provence
Review: I really liked this book. It reads like a combination of a Nicholas Sparks novel and also "A Year in Provence" however in this case we spend the time in Italy with lush descriptions of life in Tuscany instead of France. The story is nicely crafted as well with all the essentials of a good novel: conflict, love, great descriptive writing and some meaning of life thrown in as well. I stayed up late a few nights and finished this book quickly. Now I wish I hadn't finished it so soon - I miss reading this great novel already.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Beautiful!
Review: Richard Paul Evans' descriptions of the Italian countryside and shared intimacy are reminiscent of those by Kirk Martin in Shade of the Maple and even Nicholas Sparks. Add this book to your collection along with Shade of the Maple and The Notebook - classics to always treasure that are wholesome and speak of everlasting love.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful piece of work
Review: I loved The Last Promice. It was written with vivid imagery and a realistic plot line. I could almost smell the grapes on the vine and see the brilliant sunsets. I guess I have to admit that I miss the smaller size of the authors previous books. The rough pages and smaller size made me feel as if I was opening a private journal of someones life. Though the characters were american born, I couldn't relate to the almost to perfect Eliana. Her conflict was honest and sad, but to have the hero just "magically" pop out of know where seemed to organized. I like it when R.P.E. gives us great stories of people we can relate to. Eliana and Ross were lovely to look at but difficult to relate to in my world. Another great book...even so. Can't wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely Timeless Story of Love and Hope
Review: This was my first book by Richard Paul Evans. I have always loved Nicholas Sparks and was recommended this because the writing is supposed to be similar. If you like Mr. Sparks, you will love Mr. Evans as well!It is a story of a young American woman who marries an Italian man, moves to Italy, has his child and lives a very lonely life in a loveless marriage. She meets an American man and they become fast friends and soon fall in love. The story is wonderful and you will find when you finish the book you wish it was not over. I fell in love with the characters. Well at least the main characters, Eliana and Ross. Eliana's husband left a little to be desired. Mr. Evans is a superb story teller and I will definetly read more of his books. Marvelous!!!!!
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Summary: Italian Fairy Tale
Review: This book transported me to the beautiful Italian countryside where the story takes place. Eliana's problems are ones that anyone can relate to and having love win out despite all the hardships life can throw at you leaves you feeling uplifted and a little more optimistic when you get to the end of the book -and in a few short days if you are like me and can't put down a good story!! I already have this book on my Christmas shopping list for a few people!
Rating:
Summary: A promise worth keeping--and sharing.
Review: Heaven bless Richard Paul Evans for writing the kind of books that you not only enjoy reading yourself but that you can safely give as a gift--to you mother, grandmother, ANYONE--without feeling uncomfortable about some of the content. I loved it, and I know my mom will, too.
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