How it all began

Italy has always held a special place in my heart, but my first trip there was truly magical and ignited the spark for a lifelong passion for this enchanting country. It was the summer I turned sixteen, when my family and I went on a holiday to Sorrento, a postcard-pretty town perched on a hillside above a shimmering turquoise sea. I remember the moment vividly: the bright sun, the scent of lemon blossom in the air, and the incredible view stretching out before me. From that first glance, I was smitten.

We visited the Isle of Capri and the Blue Grotto, a surreal world of azure light and shimmering water. I remember slipping into a tiny boat, feeling the cool splash of the sea against my hand, and gazing into that glowing cave where sunlight danced beneath the surface. It was otherworldly, a secret place that stayed with me long after I left.

And then, along came Gino. I still blush when I think of him, a boy who took me for a ride on his scooter, whatever were my parents thinking? I was an innocent girl on the cusp of adulthood, but in that moment, I felt daring, alive, and dangerously grown-up. Gino’s smile and the wind in my hair as we sped along winding coastal roads, was unforgettable. He pulled over in a layby overlooking a steep ravine to look at the view. He kissed me, and I felt as if I were falling off the edge of the world with fear and excitement mingling in my chest.

The highlight of that trip was my visit to Pompeii. I was struck by the overwhelming heat that radiated from the paving stones along with a powerful sense of history echoing in every corner. Walking through those ancient streets, I found myself imagining I was stepping in the footsteps of Romans, their lives and stories etched into the ruins. As I wandered, I vowed to return one day, a promise that still remains to be fulfilled.

That first trip to Italy was more than just a holiday, it was an awakening. I fell in love with her beauty, her wild landscapes, her ancient stories, and the passionate spirit of her people. Italy’s charm, fiery heat, and timeless allure will forever be linked in my thoughts with romance. My love affair with Italy inspired me to write four of my romantic historical novels set in Italian locations: The Dressmaker’s Apprentice, and a WWI English widows in Italy series, The Lost Daughter of Venice, The Italian Garden and, just published, The Stars Over Rome.

Italy remains a place I long to revisit time and again, and perhaps, to find new stories to write.

And one day, I will return to walk in the footsteps of history in the streets of Pompeii.

The Stars Over Rome

In a world where women are often overlooked, can Gabriella defy expectations and carve out a place for herself in a rapidly changing society?

Rome, 1913

To her mother’s dismay, Gabriella Hazelwood has no interest in marriage or a quiet domestic life – not when she has big dreams of becoming a journalist. But when she meets Marco Santorelli, a handsome newspaper heir who believes in her ambitions as much as she does, Gabriella begins to wonder if she can have both a husband and a career.

Under the magical stars of Rome, their connection deepens, and a sweeping love story begins . . . until the shadow of war casts a dark cloud over Europe.

When Marco is called to the front, and his family’s newspaper teeters on the brink of collapse, Gabriella steps in to help, only to face fierce resistance from those who believe a woman has no place in the newsroom. As she fights to prove herself, tradition and progress collide, loyalties are tested, and the devastating consequences of war jeopardises all that she holds close to her heart.

Buy here