Sometimes the trip you take alone is the one that changes everything.

Lizzy Harper had the anniversary trip planned for years — Florence, the Tuscan hills, the whole dream. Then her husband cancels. Again. So Lizzy does the one thing no one expects from her, least of all herself: she gets on the plane alone.

Ren Sawyer is one of the most famous rock stars in the world. He’s also a man carrying a secret he can no longer live with. He’s headed to Italy to disappear.

When mid-flight turbulence literally drops Lizzy into Ren’s lap, two people with nothing in common discover something neither saw coming. Wandering the streets of Florence and the sunlit hills of Tuscany — with one rescued puppy along for the ride — they begin to remember who they were before life changed them. But what starts as an escape becomes something far deeper, and when a crisis back home shatters the spell, Lizzy and Ren must each decide what they’re willing to fight for.

That Month in Tuscany is an emotional, transporting story of second chances. A romance that will carry you to Italy, break your heart a little, and put it back together again. Beneath the sun-drenched escape is a story about marriage, self-worth, and finding the courage to choose your own life.

Book One in the Take Me There series from RITA® Award-winning author Inglath Cooper — each book is a complete, standalone love story with a satisfying ending. For fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Kristin Hannah — and anyone who has ever dreamed of getting on that plane.

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From the Publisher

That Month in Tuscany Review: A Heartfelt Romance About Second Chances

That Month in Tuscany by Inglath Cooper is a warm, emotional romance about unexpected connections, second chances, self-worth, and the courage to choose a different path in life. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Florence and the sunlit hills of Tuscany, the novel follows two people who arrive in Italy for very different reasons but discover that an unexpected journey can completely change the way they see themselves and their lives.

At its heart, the story is about stepping outside the life you thought you were supposed to live and discovering what might be waiting on the other side.

A Journey That Begins With One Brave Decision

Lizzy Harper has spent years planning an anniversary trip with her husband. Florence and the Tuscan countryside represent a dream she has been holding onto, but when her husband cancels yet again, Lizzy reaches a turning point.

Instead of allowing another disappointment to determine what happens next, she makes a surprising decision: she goes to Italy alone.

This simple choice becomes the beginning of a much bigger personal journey. Lizzy is forced to step outside her familiar surroundings and confront what she truly wants from her life.

The idea of traveling alone becomes especially meaningful because the trip is not simply about visiting a beautiful destination. It gives Lizzy an opportunity to rediscover herself.

An Unexpected Encounter

Ren Sawyer is traveling to Italy for a completely different reason.

He is one of the world’s most famous rock stars, but behind his public image is a man carrying a secret that he can no longer live with. Rather than continuing to face everything surrounding his life, Ren is heading to Italy to disappear.

Their paths cross in one of the most memorable ways possible when turbulence during the flight literally drops Lizzy into Ren’s lap.

This unusual first encounter immediately brings these two very different people together.

Lizzy and Ren appear to have little in common. She is taking a trip she expected to share with her husband, while he is a famous musician attempting to escape from his life. Yet their unexpected meeting becomes the starting point for a connection neither of them anticipated.

Florence and Tuscany as Part of the Story

One of the most appealing aspects of That Month in Tuscany is its Italian setting.

Florence and the Tuscan hills provide a beautiful backdrop for the characters’ emotional journey. Wandering through the streets of Florence and spending time among the sunlit hills of Tuscany gives the story a strong sense of escape.

The setting feels closely connected to the themes of the novel. Italy represents a temporary departure from the lives Lizzy and Ren have known, giving both characters space to step away from their usual responsibilities and expectations.

The journey becomes an opportunity to slow down, explore, and reconsider what really matters.

A Rescued Puppy Adds Heart

Along the way, Lizzy and Ren are joined by a rescued puppy.

The puppy adds warmth and charm to their journey while giving the developing relationship another emotional dimension. Their travels are no longer simply about the two of them moving from one place to another; they also share the experience of caring for their unexpected companion.

This detail contributes to the lighthearted and affectionate atmosphere of the story while complementing its deeper emotional themes.

Rediscovering Who They Were

As Lizzy and Ren explore Italy together, something begins to change.

Away from the lives they normally lead, they have an opportunity to remember who they were before circumstances, relationships, fame, and expectations changed them.

For Lizzy, the trip becomes a chance to consider her own identity beyond her marriage and the disappointments that have shaped her recent life.

For Ren, the journey provides space to confront the secret he has been carrying and consider what he actually wants from the future.

Their time together therefore becomes more than a romantic escape. It becomes a process of self-discovery.

Romance With Emotional Depth

Although That Month in Tuscany is a romance, the story also explores serious and relatable questions about relationships and personal identity.

The novel examines marriage, self-worth, and the difficult process of deciding whether the life you are living is truly the life you want.

The relationship between Lizzy and Ren develops against this emotional background, giving the romance a deeper purpose. Their connection encourages both characters to look at themselves differently.

Instead of simply providing an escape from their problems, their time together forces them to consider what they are willing to change.

When Reality Interrupts the Escape

The peaceful atmosphere of the Italian journey cannot last forever.

A crisis back home eventually shatters the spell, forcing Lizzy and Ren to confront reality again.

This turning point gives the story an important question: when the temporary escape is over, what are they actually willing to fight for?

The answer requires both characters to make meaningful choices about their lives.

This shift from dreamy escape to difficult reality helps keep the story emotionally grounded. The romance is not presented as a simple way to forget life’s problems. Instead, the journey gives the characters the perspective they need to face those problems more honestly.

A Story About Choosing Your Own Life

One of the strongest themes in the novel is personal choice.

Lizzy’s decision to board the plane alone is the first major step toward reclaiming control over her life. What begins as a response to disappointment becomes an opportunity for transformation.

The story suggests that sometimes an unexpected change can create space for a person to discover what they have been missing.

This makes Lizzy’s journey especially appealing for readers who enjoy stories about reinvention and second chances. Her experience is not simply about falling in love; it is about learning to value herself and recognize that she has the ability to make choices about her own future.

An Emotional and Transporting Romance

That Month in Tuscany combines romance with travel, personal growth, and emotional reflection.

The Italian setting provides the sense of adventure and escape, while Lizzy and Ren’s personal struggles give the story its emotional foundation.

The contrast between the beauty of Tuscany and the problems waiting for them back home creates an engaging balance. Readers can enjoy the dreamlike atmosphere of Italy while still following characters who are dealing with real questions about love, identity, relationships, and the future.

Final Verdict

That Month in Tuscany is a heartfelt romance about two people who meet unexpectedly at a moment when both of their lives are changing.

Lizzy’s decision to travel alone becomes the beginning of a journey toward greater self-understanding, while Ren’s attempt to disappear leads him into an unexpected connection that challenges the way he sees his own life.

Their adventures through Florence and Tuscany, accompanied by a rescued puppy, provide the story with warmth, charm, and a strong sense of place.

But beneath the beautiful setting and romantic escape is a deeper story about marriage, self-worth, forgiveness, and second chances. When the realities of life eventually catch up with them, Lizzy and Ren must decide what truly matters and what they are willing to fight for.

For readers who enjoy emotional contemporary romance, beautiful travel settings, unexpected connections, and stories about finding the courage to choose your own life, That Month in Tuscany offers an inviting and uplifting reading experience.

It is ultimately a story about how one unexpected journey can change everything—and how sometimes the biggest adventure is discovering who you really are.