Emily Robertson looks like the woman who has it all: the lovingly restored Tuscan farmhouse, the three beautiful children, the successful, attentive husband. But when her husband dumps her by text, she has to face up to some stark home truths.

She has no money, her cleaner hates her, her eldest girl is out of her depth with the local seducer, her middle daughter is dangerously underweight, and her darling baby is fast becoming a brat. She doesn’t even have any Italian friends

Even as Emily admits that she’s not living the Tuscan dream, she finds herself drawn into the village of Monte Albano and discovers the genuine Italy, darker and more intriguing than she had ever imagined. If she can get over a lingering obsession with her youthful first love, an attractive stranger might be about to show her the time of her life…

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What readers are saying about The Secret of Villa Serena

‘Wonderful . . . it will take you to Tuscany’ 5* Reader Review

‘Couldn’t put it down’ 5* Reader Review

‘A brilliant read’ 5* Reader Review

‘Romance, comedy . . . brilliant, it has it all’ 5* Reader Review

‘A lovely book to get lost in’ 5* Reader Review

A group of would-be authors retreats to Tuscany where they learn more than how to write better.

Patricia O’Hara’s carefully composed ads for the writers’ retreat she runs promise so much. The splendour of the thirteenth century Italian castle and chef Aldo’s melanzane never fail to wow the guests, but huge maintenance bills and bad news from the bank mean it’s make or break time for the Castello.

Each of her seven aspiring authors arrives with the inevitable baggage alongside their unpublished manuscripts. But this August something is different, and soon lifelong spinster Mary is riding on the back of Aldo’s vespa, and smouldering odd-job man Fabio has set more than one heart racing.

As temperatures rise, the writers gossip, flirt and gently polish their prose by the pool. But with ghosts, scorpions, and some unexpected visitors to contend with, one thing’s for sure: neither the Castello, nor Patricia, has ever seen a summer like this.

Previously published as SUMMER SCHOOL

‘Witty and light as a tiramisu but with tart insight on sibling rivalry’ Nottingham Evening Post

Gaby, the youngest of the de Angelis sisters, always knew she was her father Enzo’s favourite; so when Enzo dies on the day her own daughter is born, her life is turned upside down.

In the emotional aftermath of the funeral, it emerges that her father has asked that his ashes be taken back to his native city, Rome. Suddenly, Gaby and her new family are thrown headlong into the wider de Angelis clan with all of their conflicting ideas and opinions.

As the family journeys to Rome to say a final goodbye to Enzo, emotions run high; but none higher than Gaby’s, as she comes face to face with the man she once thought she would marry.