Tuscan Holiday by Holly Chamberlin

Florence is merely the setting for this story about love, life, and relationships.  Elizabeth Caldwell books a trip to Florence for herself and her daughter Marina.  She hopes that it will be an opportunity for them to bond.  Marina has just graduated from college and is more interested in hanging out with her fiancee and friends.  As Marina and Elizabeth explore the Italian city they confront a few hard truths about themselves and how they've lived their lives.
Marina annoys me throughout the book.  She is pompous and  overbearing at the beginning of the story.  When she meets and falls in love with Luca, a handsome Italian, she becomes a wet dishrag.  Seeing her fall off her own pedestal was a bit gratifying.  Seeing her appreciate and try to understand her mother was hugely gratifying.

Elizabeth annoys me with her submissive personality.  In order to keep from alienating her daughter, she tends to just accept her abuse.  At least, until she finally explodes in an Italian restaurant.  Which is a great scene, by the way.  Unfortunately, after that she falls back into the pattern of doing whatever Marina wants.  It's interesting to me that she acts this way considering that she had to be a pretty strong woman to successfully raise a daughter after her boyfriend abandoned her. 

However, the constant reflections of both women lead to some pretty satisfying conclusions.  Marina learns that she isn't perfect and Elizabeth learns to accept love and move on.

While most of the story takes place during their two weeks in Florence, the city itself is a mere prop to the inner musings of the two women.  The reader gets to experience the food and scenery of Italy, but it is relegated to the background.

I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.  It was okay.