A Slow-Burn Second-Chance Romance Wrapped in a Love Letter to Italy
4.75 out of 5 stars
Love Among the Ruins by Catherine Maiorisi is an engaging mix of slow-building romance and rich travel writing. From the first chapter, I felt drawn into Italy and into Calliope DeAndre’s tender, uncertain heart.
Callie is an author still trying to cope with the loss of her wife. Her grief is mixed with guilt over even thinking about love again. Dana Wittman, her seatmate on what should have been a romantic couples’ tour, carries her own wounds of betrayal and mistrust. Together, they explore not only stunning landscapes and historic sites but also the challenging areas of vulnerability, trust, and second chances.
This is not a story filled with fireworks and passion right from the start. Instead, it portrays a quiet, destined meeting that develops gradually, rooted in shared experiences, kindness, and a desire to support each other through tough times. Callie’s anxiety and panic attacks are presented honestly and with compassion, while Dana’s gentle protectiveness provides a perfect balance. Their love story feels meaningful, layered, and sweeter because of the gradual development.
The real magic lies in how Maiorisi describes Italy. Each piazza, each museum, and every plate of pasta is detailed with such care that you can almost taste the wine and hear the lively conversations in the streets. The careful descriptions make the book feel like both a romantic journey and a love story. If you prefer a lighter read with a lot of banter, you might wish the romance took the spotlight sooner. For me, however, the journey added to the joy.
Abby Craden’s narration brings everything to life. She captures the fragility and strength in Callie’s voice, the calm confidence in Dana’s, and the charm of a guide blending history with the present. She makes the characters feel real and the setting vivid, complete with Italian accents.
A heartfelt love story that is well-deserved, set against the beauty and history of Italy.
Book Description:
Romance writer Calliope DeAndre’s heart was buried with her wife, Abby. Plagued by anxiety attacks, Callie hasn’t left her house since Abby’s funeral. Callie’s publisher is pressuring her for the travel romantic suspense she contracted to write before Abby got sick. But her writing process requires experiencing the thirty-day Romantic Italy tour leaving in two weeks. Encouraged by her friends but hoping the tour is fully booked, Callie calls and is told “we just received a cancellation.”
Dana Wittman’s heart is broken when she discovers the plot to oust her from the multi-million-dollar firm she built. Then her heart is shredded by her girlfriend Sandy who, thinking Dana is broke, dumps her. Now Dana’s planned surprise for Sandy, the Romantic Italy tour ending with a proposal, is no longer an option. So just two weeks before their scheduled departure Dana cancels Sandy’s reservation but decides to go on the tour alone.
The first morning of the tour, Dana helps Callie through an anxiety attack. Callie wants to leave. Dana promises to be there for her if she stays. Callie feels safe with Dana, and Dana enjoys helping her. As the month progresses, their friendship and their feelings grow. Callie feels guilty for caring for someone other than Abby. Dana’s damaged ego doesn’t trust that she’s lovable. Will they allow themselves to love?
Love Among the Ruins by Catherine MaiorisiNarrator: Abby Craden
Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
Published by Tantor Audio on July 17th 2023
Genres: Holiday, LesFic/Sapphic Fiction
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