Within Me, an Invincible Summer

Italians don't follow their hearts-they lead with them. After an eventful five months, Angelina, an Italian native, and Benjamin, a transplanted American, have fallen in love and are expecting a child-both events unexpected. They begin planning their wedding in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast of Italy-with Valentina's help, of course-and Angelina looks forward to meeting Benjamin's family from America.

Valentina, Angelina's godmother, embraces the wedding planning as she adds matron of honor and de facto mother of the bride to her resume. Angelina's mother had died more than a dozen years before, but for a few short months in high school, she and Valentina had been the happiest of lovers. Valentina is pleased for Angelina's pregnancy and upcoming wedding to Benjamin and begins to embrace the idea of becoming a grandmother. But first, she must get through the wedding. Just as life is settling down for everyone, people from Valentina's past surface, and she is arrested for the murder of Angelina's first husband.

Has Valentina been lying to Angelina all this time?

Valentina's personal history as a former spy and police officer adds mystery to romance. Italian phrases throughout the book, along with pertinent quotes by Francois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) introducing each Intermezzo chapter, add a delightful romanticism to the stories. "For me, the following Voltaire quote pretty much encapsulates Within Me, An Invincible Summer: 'Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them.'"-Anne Frandi-Coory, author of Whatever Happened to Ishtar? and Dragons, Deserts and Dreams