LOVE AND GELATO, by Jenna Evans Welch

The story: When her mother dies, Lina is sent to Italy to meet the father she's never known. Little does she realize she'll meet far more than that--there's also the hottest guy she's ever seen, a really creepy Italian photographer, and the sweet soccer player who lives in a gingerbread house. Italy really IS full of magical surprises!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes (children born out of wedlock, death of a parent) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Aside from the book-length premise of her mother's affair with a secret lover that led to her birth, there is little to object to here. Lina's attraction to Thomas is always kind of anemic, and any girl with half a brain would know what it takes Lina half the book to discover--that she's falling for Ren. But that's okay! The two go on to solve the not very deep mystery of who's her father, and chances are good for a happily ever after. Which is all MS girls care about, anyway.