As Long as It Takes - by Jill Francis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Set in a seaside town in Italy, As Long as It Takes is a charming summer romance about finding your roots and letting love blossom.

Love isn't exactly a priority for Lora Brooks. After all, her last break-up made perfectly clear she can't rely on anyone but herself. That's why Lora's number one focus is her research, where she's hard at work debunking Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. But when she's offered a prestigious post-doctoral position in Zurich--one whose funding hinges on her having European citizenship--everything changes.

Hoping to claim citizenship through her birth father, Lora and her best friend travel to the quaint Italian town where he was born. She knows little about her father (and intends to keep it that way) but nothing, not even the ghosts of her past, will stand between Lora and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Except, perhaps, Italian bureaucracy. And an outdated filing system. And Andrea, the handsome--and slightly anxious--mayor.

In between trying to save the town from bankruptcy, wrangling quirky business-owners, and debating whether to run for a second term, Andrea somehow finds the time to show Lora what it really means to live, and perhaps love, like a local. Between Lora destined for a future hundreds of miles away, and Andrea's parents pushing him to return to his fast-paced life in New York, is it possible the pair might discover that their most basic need is actually just...each other?

Review Quotes

Praise for The Summer You Were Mine

"What if the biggest mistake of your life turned out to be the best thing that ever happened? What if looking to the future meant combing through your past? The Summer You Were Mine is a swoony dream of a love story, as seductive and unique as its Italian seaside setting. Bellissima, indeed!"
- Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"With its luscious Italian setting, well-drawn complex characters, and a plot that keeps you turning pages, The Summer You Were Mine is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of second chances and the magic of true love. Jill Francis's novel is as heartwarming as it is compelling. I couldn't put it down."
- Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author

"The Summer You Were Mine was the summer beach read I didn't know I needed! Jill's writing was so evocative I wanted to fall into the pages. This is a perfect, slow-build romance with empathetic main characters, beautiful family dynamics, and a vivid, summery scene setting. By the end of the story, The Summer You Were Mine will have you desperately searching for flights to the Italian coast."
- Clare Gilmore, USA Today bestselling author of Perfect Fit

"Jill Francis's novel is the perfect summer escape, as her pages whisk readers away to dreamy, sun-drenched Italy. Her immersive novel is filled with optimism, as her characters strive for all manner of second chances. Most importantly, she reminds readers to not let our mistakes define us, because in both life and love, it's never too late to course correct."
- Lindsay Hameroff, author of Till There Was You and Never Planned on You

"Ellie and Cris' twisty road from friends to enemies to lovers makes one yearn to read The Summer You Were Mine on a sunny beach."
- Booklist

About the Author