This is an example of a great idea poorly executed.
Paul is a successful writer of food and wine books who has just been jilted by his girlfriend of 4 years. In a bit of depression and in a rut, his agent (who of course, happens to be single, intelligent, and attracted to him) sends him to Italy to work on his next book. In a bizarre set of circumstances, he ends up with a rented bulldozer as his means of rented transportation during his stay. On his first foray to explore his new town, he happens upon a beautiful, intelligent woman who has run her car into a ditch and lo and behold (!) a bulldozer just might do the trick!
There are a few tiny plot strands that are started in this book that could make the book so interesting that unfortunately are never pursued. There is the evil-looking man that Paul is jailed with on entering the country (yes, jailed!), there is the boyfriend of the beautiful woman who has a port wine stain, and there are other towns folk who might be more involved in a more interesting plot than they are. But no, the author chooses to make his former girlfriend as truly shallow and predictable as she is (then why would he have spent the past 4 years with her??), and the ending as neat and predictable as it becomes.
There is so much potential here. I did finish it, but I spent most of the book waiting for something of substance to happen. I think I’m still waiting…
kindread spirits 