The Rome Affair

Description

The glamorous capital city of Italy is brought to startling life in The Rome Affair, a compelling summer novel by Karen Swan. 1974 and Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At twenty-six, she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have, and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it. 2017 and Francesca Hackett is living la dolce vita in Rome, leading tourist groups around the Eternal City and forgetting the ghosts she left behind in London. When she finds a stolen designer handbag in her dustbin and returns it, she is brought into the orbit of her grand neighbour who lives across the piazza - famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola. Though the purse is stolen, Elena greets the return of the bag with exultation for it contains an unopened letter written by her husband on his deathbed, twelve years earlier. Mutually intrigued by each other, the two women agree to collaborate on a project, with Cesca interviewing Elena for her memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Cesca in her thrall. But when a priceless diamond ring found in an ancient tunnel below the city streets is ascribed to Elena, Cesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life.

Karen Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her books include Christmas at Tiffany's, Summer at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present, Christmas in the Snow and Christmas on Primrose Hill.

The Paris Secret had me from the moment I started reading -- International bestseller Diane Chamberlain on The Paris Secret A stunning journey -- Sunday Express on The Paris Secret A satisfying summer beach read * Daily Express * There is passion and glamour aplenty for romance fans but there is also humour, intrigue, high emotion, gripping twists and turns, and the dark, disturbing shadows that have become a trademark of Swan's exciting writing * Lancashire Post * Simply an addictive read . . . Highly recommended! * Onmybookshelf blog * Pure escapism at its best * Candis * A fabulous book . . . perfect to read with a nice glass of Posecco this summer * Bookliterati.com * Glittering jewels, designer labels galore and the most mouth-watering pizza in Rome make this a satisfying summer beach read -- Veronica Henry * Daily Express *