Introduction

A secret romance sends three estranged sisters to the Amalfi Coast to follow clues about their mother’s past, and challenges them to a whole new future, in this emotional novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey haven’t been close in years, but when the sisters are forced to come together to settle their mother’s estate, they discover a secret. In an old trunk, they happen upon ownership papers for a house on the Amalfi Coast, along with a love letter to their mother from an anonymous man, promising to meet her in Italy during the summer of her sixty-fifth birthday.

Now they’re questioning everything they knew about her history. In order to get answers about the woman they thought they knew, they’ll have to go back to where it all started. The sisters embark on a trip to the stunning cliffside village of Positano, Italy, to track down the mysterious ex-lover, and figure out who their mother really was.

As Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey unearth the truth, they also experience the magic of Italy, the power of sisterly love, a little unexpected romance, and newfound hope for the future.

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Excerpt

“I don’t want to go back at the end of summer. I want to stay.”

I held my breath as I waited for his reaction. Of course, it was crazy. My parents would say I was a silly teen girl with a crush. My aunt would wave her hand and smile and say love was wonderful but fickle; to grab the moment and not to worry about the future. But the thought of leaving him to spend another year alone, when I knew I belonged with him, was torturous.

His dark eyes were serious and gleamed with emotion. “I don’t want you to leave either.”

“What if there’s a way I could stay? Transfer to a school here? Or, I don’t know, find a work program or something. Maybe Aunt Silvia can help.”

He pressed his forehead against mine, his breath ragged over my lips. “Livia, your parents would never allow it. And right now, you need their financial support. You are not ready to be on your own yet.”

My stomach dropped. “Okay. I’m sorry—I thought—never mind.”

Humiliated, I tried to move away, but he held on to my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “No, dolcezza, you don’t understand. I want you here with me more than anything! The idea of you returning home and knowing I won’t see you for almost a year breaks me apart. But there’s too much for you to lose right now. You need to finish college and get your degree. Your parents would never forgive me, or your aunt, if you just quit school and ran off to live with me. We have to look at the future.”

I knew he was right, but my heart didn’t want to be rational. I craved to steep myself in these feelings with him, to explore a different life than I ever imagined. I shut my eyes against the image of leaving him behind. “I know you’re right,” I whispered, “but is it so wrong to know what you want, even if I’m young?”

“No, but I am older than you. Even my father would disapprove. If we can stay strong until you graduate, then we can be together. It will be on our terms.”

“And if you don’t want to wait for me anymore? If you get tired and fall for someone else?”

Oh, I hated how my voice broke, making me sound like a whiny child. I hated the doubt that burned in my chest and the jealousy at the idea that Rafe could find a woman to replace me. I expected him to tell me to believe in us more, or shake his head with exasperation, but instead, he tipped my chin up and looked deep into my eyes. Within those sooty depths, I found a twinge of sadness that startled me.

“No, Livia. It’s you who may change your mind. I know who I am already, and the life I want here in Positano. I’ve made my choices. But you have more options. You may decide you don’t want such a simple life here with me, when you can have so much more. Be so much more.” He dropped his gaze and paused. “It’s happened before.”

I frowned. “What’s happened?”

His shoulders lifted in a half shrug. “I was dating someone seriously two years ago. I met her on a tour-boat trip with her friends. She was attending university in Napoli.”

Jealousy clawed at my insides. Knowing Rafe had once loved someone before me hurt, but I also realized I couldn’t voice the feelings. Then I’d look like some crazy American trying to erase his past to make myself feel better. He deserved someone more mature than that.

So, I fought the poison back and remained calm. “What happened between you?”

“We managed to make it work for a while. I juggled my work schedule with her college classes. Naples isn’t too far. But she wanted to transfer to Milano—her dreams were to work with fashion. It became harder to see each other, and eventually, she got frustrated with me.”

“Because you couldn’t see her enough?”

He gave a slow shake of his head. “No, because she was leaving me behind. She liked the vibrant, crowded cities and didn’t want to settle here. Didn’t want me to run a tour boat with my father. She asked me to enroll in college with her to start a brand-new career. I did not want that. Yes, many of my friends have gone on to have exciting jobs and travel. But I have never dreamed of that type of life. Perhaps something is lacking inside me. An ambition or need for more.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you.” Outrage flowed through me. “She wanted you to change, Rafe, but refused to compromise. Why should wanting to stay in this beautiful place, with your family, not be enough? Everyone has different dreams. We shouldn’t judge.”

A faint smile curved his lips. “She did. Maybe she was right.”

My heart broke for him. I reached out and stroked his rough cheek. “I’m so sorry, but maybe she didn’t love you enough. She wanted things for herself. She was selfish.”

He raised his chin and looked at me. Beneath the sadness was a fear I didn’t understand, a knowledge that challenged my statement and made a shiver course down my spine. “No, she just couldn’t imagine herself with me in the future. Most women don’t want such a simple life, dolcezza.”

“What do you dream of, then?” I whispered.

His voice deepened with passion. “A great love who becomes my wife. Children. A simple, fulfilling life on the water, in the home where my great-great-grandparents lived. Not what most Americans would want. Who can blame them?”

I shook with the need to convince him he was wrong. I wanted everything he dreamed of. To be away from the trappings that eventually withered a marriage like my parents’. To be free to sketch and write and love on my own terms.

“You’re wrong, Rafael. Because I want those things more than I can explain. Nothing is ever going to change. We belong together and I will always choose you.”

Heat blasted from his gaze. His jaw clenched as if he was desperate to hide his emotions. “Livia.”

The tortured rip in his voice moved me to pull him down close and kiss him, trying to allow my body to convince him this wasn’t a passing fling or a summer crush. An image of us together, sailing on his boat, making a life together in this perfect Italian town, caused my insides to light up with joy. He kissed me back, and we were caught up in the moment. Caught in the possibilities of true love and happy endings and a place where the ugliness of the world could never touch us.

It was only much later that I learned how wrong we both were. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

Do you agree with Olivia’s decision to keep her romance and Positano home a secret from her daughters? Why or why not?


Olivia makes some difficult decisions throughout her relationship with Rafael. Discuss the turning points of their relationship and the effect each decision had on their future.

Positano becomes almost an additional character in the story. What were your favorite scenes?

Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey, are all very different. Discuss how each of their personalities and beliefs about their mother cause discord between them.

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