The Book of Love

Love in Italy, Book 1

De: Leslie Pike

Narrado por: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

Opposites ignite in this sizzling, heartfelt, and irresistibly fun reverse age-gap romance from USA Today bestselling author Leslie Pike. Luca Dragoni has always been larger than life—charming, confident, and a little too sure of himself. Back in high school, he was the dreamer with his head in the clouds, hopelessly infatuated with Caroline Watson, the poised and untouchable queen of his teenage fantasies. Two years older and worlds apart, she was everything he wasn’t: grounded, serious, and achingly out of reach.

A decade later, fate brings them together again—this time in the sun-drenched streets of Rome. Luca is no longer the boy she once knew; he’s a man who lives life unapologetically, chasing freedom, passion, and every thrill that comes his way. Caroline, now a woman shaped by life’s hardships, is still the loyal, kind soul he remembers, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground, and her heart is guarded because of the scars from her past.

When their worlds collide, sparks fly. Luca’s carefree spirit clashes with Caroline’s practicality, but the magnetic pull between them is electric. He’s determined to show her that life is more than just survival, while she challenges him to grow up and find purpose. Can two people with such different outlooks on life find a way to make love last? Or is their passionate connection destined to be temporary?

©2025 Leslie Pike (P)2025 Leslie Pike

Love and Italy

This is a darling love story. It’s a young love that evolves into real love. Luca and Caroline just had to wait for the right timing.

It’s not just romantic love we get within the pages, but familial love. It’s a nice way to show that love of family, culture and traditions set the foundations for a solid life. This story also showcases that forgiveness is a key ingredient in true happiness.

I did giggle a lot listening to Lucas’ inner dialogue and machismo. There were times he sounded so Italian and other times he sounded so hilarious. I appreciated the dynamic of opposites attract and it was spot on with this love story.

If there was one little thing that left me a bit disgruntled, it was that I wanted some justice for the great injustice committed against Caroline. I don’t want to give a spoiler, and it was just briefly mentioned, however it was too important to leave just hanging.

Lastly, does it ever get any better than listening to the Queen and King of voice acting? No it really doesn’t! Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden are joy to my ears.

Heartwarming Story! Amazing Audio

words cannot describe how much is book made me feel. it's such a beautiful love story that made my heart fill with warmth and made me long for Italy. Maxine and Joe once again did an amazing job at performing Luca and Carolyn!

Zipping electricity

2025
"Let's not require an excuse to hold hands"

Una Meia, this sexy italian popsicle of a man called Luca Dragoni has knocked my socks off with his handsome, charming accent, so brilliantly done by Joe Arden. But sadly he's besotted by older Caroline Watson, whose heart is dead stone. Until the Positano's paradise vibe starts to thaw her. The food, the wine, the sand, the Mediterranean and sexy as sin Luca make her melt like olive oil.
What a way to come back to life, *sigh* Maxine matches tone to tone with Joe in narration.
Addictive tale of passion that heals and revives
5 stars for crackling electricity

Heartfelt, sizzling romance!

The Book of Love is a heartfelt, sizzling romance. Luca Dragoni has been attracted to Caroline Watson all through school, but she was two years older and with someone else. Now a decade later, they accidentally run into each other a world away, in Rome. Caroline is more beautiful an to Luca, and he is determined to make her finally fall for him. Caroline is attracted to the man that Luca has become, and enjoys his easy charm. But he radiates romance and possibilities, and her life has her grounded and made her disenchanted with a forever love. Luca is up for the challenge to make her see that he is worth taking a chance on and her heart is safe with him. But when she has to return to the states to care for her mom, will that be the end of their fiery romance? This was such a sweet and swoony romance! I really fell hard for both Luca and Caroline. They are both so different and live in different worlds but yet they fit so perfectly together.
Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden were so perfectly cast to narrate this fun and heartwarming romance. They completely captured these characters and made me feel all the hope, heartbreak, love, and passion they possessed. They are so easy to listen to and they made this romance even more captivating and delightful.

Such a beautiful story!

Where is the Luca of my life??? This was such a beautiful story of hurt hope regret and love. Listening to Caroline and Luca grow up and seek what they need was such a journey. Joe and Maxine can never go wrong.

What a Beautiful Story!

This was such a heartwarming, feel good romance!  Luca and Caroline were friends in High School when Luca had a crush on her.  Fast forward many years later and they meet up again when they both are single and enjoying Italy.  Luca is so much fun and Caroline is a bit reserved, but Luca slowly tries to get her to let loose and see what can happen.  Luca is fun and sweet and you can’t help but fall in love with him.  I also loved Luca’s Italian family!  The narration by Joe and Maxine was so awesome!  They are wonderful narrators together and made the book really fun to listen to.  This is a must-listen book!  

Take me to it Italy

ALC AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Love In Italy• Book 1

Narrated in dual By:
Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell

Travel
Second chance
Childhood crush
Reverse Age Gap
He Falls First
Vacation Romance
Opposites Attraction

Someone take me to Italy please!
What a fun adventure to go on with Leslie Pike’s beautiful writing and Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden narrating.
Since they were 15 Luca has crushed on Caroline but as life moves quickly nothing came of the school boy crush, but 10 years later when Luca hears a familiar voice in his uncles? hat shop, it’s the beautiful Caroline all grown up. Hesitant on the re connection Caroline’s walls are up high, but slowly Luca pushes his way into her heart and from that moment on, nothing else matters.
This was such a sweet story, with so many beautiful tender family moments between both characters, something I love about Leslie’s writing is the joy she brings out of the families. Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden were so fun to listen to with their Italian accents, I highly enjoyed this dual narration for the fact that we got to experience both Joe and Maxine’s range with the accents. Today is a beautiful sunny day where I live and this book was the exact vibe I needed, I am jumping right into the next book, The Adventure as I am not ready to leave Italy.

Thank you Lara for the opportunity to listen and review.

Exquisite audio with two of the best

When folks ask me why I will always recommend Maxine Mitchell & Joe Arden as voice actors, it’s books like this that hold the argument every time.
This story is told in dual narration, a style in which both actors shine. The book length is under 7 hours, and I was able to start and finish it within a day and a half. I didn’t want to walk away from Caroline and Luca!

Maxine is brilliant as Caroline. There is a sense that Caroline has been hurt, feels dejected and does not see a life full of love in the cards for herself. And then she runs into Luca and the old chemistry that might have bubbled between them 10 years ago bubbles to a full, rolling boil. Maxine’s choices as Caroline feel so lived in; she has the perfect voice for this character.

Naturally, Maxine is authentic and emotional as an FMC who has lived through some emotional damage. Her male Italian voice? SWOONWORTHY. She could’ve easily delivered the entirety of this book in solo narration.

And Joe Arden as Luca? Shoot, what rich and enveloping accent work he delivers in this story. Luca comes across as an easygoing guy who, once he sees Caroline again, knows he has to have her. He is persistent and Joe gives him so much charm that it is no wonder Caroline finds him irresistible. Joe’s Luca had me feeling the love and adoration that Luca effortlessly holds in his heart for Caroline. Italian accented Joe is a delicious treat.

I really enjoyed the journey of this story. The path to a happily ever after speaks to the endurance of love, soulmates, and how fate has a funny way of bringing what we need back to us again.

Such a wholesome love story

I loved this book. I went in totally blind and without ever having read this author before and I loved it! The story was so sweet and wholesome with the FMC having some issues to deal with. The MMC patiently waited for her to figure them out and their relationship was stronger for it. I loved the story, the writing, the relationship, the HEA with no third act breakup. The audio was perfection as Joe and Maxine ALWAYS deliver. They got the accents perfect and Maxine’s male voice is so good! I highly recommend this book for a light, sweet, sexy romance

The Book of Love

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️

*he falls first
*long distance

The Book of Love is the first book in the Love in Italy series. I loved getting to start the book when they were teens. Luca was in love with Caroline when he was 15 and she was 17. He knew he never had a chance at that time. He was just an underclassman and hadn’t grown into his body yet. Now ten years have gone by. Caroline has a hard time trusting men. She has seen the distance and hardship her parents went through. Caroline’s father was a flirty Italian man that was not always loyal. Now seeing Luca by chance, she is having a hard time resisting him. She also is having trouble trusting him too. Slowly Luca proves not all Italian flirty men stray from their women and also men can change. Luca’s spirit even brings Caroline’s parents back into love with each other.

Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden did a great job narrating this book.