BELLA CIGNA

A newly single American woman takes an international teaching position and meets a handsome Italian man in this first romance in a series.

After getting a call from a fertility clinic, Sarah Flynn decides to take off work early and surprise her husband with the good news. Instead, she finds Philip home from work, packing his things. Just when Sarah thought they were going to start a family, he informs her that he’s leaving her. A few months afterward, Sarah’s best friend convinces her to sign up for an international teaching position, and Sarah ends up in scenic Rome, teaching English grammar at the all-girls Saint Theresa School. She was excited that room and board were included in the salary, but she didn’t expect such a tiny room—with a tiny bed to match. Before long, she finds herself slowly fitting into the social scene, befriending fellow teacher Anna. Sarah loves her classes and enjoys her occasional talks with Eduardo Rossini, a student’s father. However, she’s still getting over her divorce, and she’s not getting any better at learning Italian despite her immersion in the culture and language. Maybe some private tutoring lessons with handsome Eduardo will be just what she needs. Debut author Dass pens a charming novel that’s just as much a story of one woman’s journey to find herself as it is a search for love. Sarah is a particularly likable and empathetic protagonist, and readers will be able to identify with her feelings of displacement and loneliness. Some of the secondary characters are just as lovable, from the nosy but sweet Anna to the seemingly grumpy but kindhearted nun Sister Maria. But what truly makes this novel stand out are its vivid descriptions of beautiful scenery, which may make some readers homesick for a place they’ve never been: “Golden rays of light glistened on the rolling water. The water rippled and splashed against the embankment. Shadows of flags danced on the fortress walls.”

A charming and picturesque novel about love and new beginnings.