On the heels of Sammi's grandmother’s whispered deathbed wish, a package of letters from Italy arrives at her post box. Reading them makes Sammi recall whispers she heard in childhood of her grandmother’s wartime involvement, a past that Sammi's father and aunt would rather see remain closed. As if things couldn't get any worse, her long-time boyfriend, Hunter, dumps her. However, an opportunity arises that sends her to Italy to defend her grandmother, even if the truth might shatter all she believes. In a helpful twist, Joseph, her best friend’s Italian cousin, offers to help her. Despite the obvious growing attraction between Joseph and her, she tries to suppress it as she embarks on her mission to vindicate the grandmother she loves.
1. I'm related to Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan.
2. I won an art contest when I was six years old. A small picture of my art was in the San Francisco Chronicle.
3. I was on TV when I was little, following after a parade.
4. I admit I love the paranormal. I also like to visit psychic booths, though only in fun!
5. I like to listen to 80's music.
6. I absolutely love chocolate. I'm majorly bummed, I just found out I'm allergic to it. Carob, anyone?
7. I love to do genealogy. This is how I found out about my own Mexican roots that started with an ancestor named Acuna back in Spain.
8. I sold Marlo Thomas a handbag.
9. I wrote a horoscope column for my middle school newspaper.
10. It takes me a while to open up, but then watch out!
Droplets of rain dripped down the coat sleeve, which protected my simple black skirt and white blouse. The oversized London Fog trench coat gave me strength. Too bad the weather didn’t get the memo. I should have worn a bigger hat, not the small black bowler.
As I stood by my grandmother’s gravesite with family and friends, I sniffed back tears that mingled with rain drops. I just wanted to get through the burial and grave site service without drowning in tears.
“I can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered, glancing over at Hunter. A skinny red tie broke the black monotone of his suit. Even in the rain, he looked good. I still couldn’t believe my luck; he wanted to be with me.
He held a large black umbrella over our heads. Oddly, he’d been quiet.
Clearing my throat, I waited for the usual trite words of condolence.
“Sorry for your loss,” Hunter finally said. Then he looked off into the distance.
I sighed.
Though we were standing close together, an invisible barrier divided us. His usual woodsy scent competed with the musty, damp smell of the burial site. I longed to nestle closer to him, but something felt off. He hadn’t brought up the reason behind the urgency of meeting at Crystal Cove. When I texted him the reason I couldn’t meet up? He’d expressed his sympathies, but nothing more. No reschedule. Nothing.
Color me confused.
Award-winning author Kim Baccellia is the author of five fantasy/paranormal young adult novels, Crossed Out, Crossed Fire, No More Goddesses, Goddesses Can Wait, and Earrings of Ixtumea.Kim has had many jobs. She was a bilingual teacher; homeschooled her son; served on her local RWA charter board; a Cybil’s panelist; and even read the slush pile for an agency.
In her free time, Kim loves long walks, yoga, watching psychological horror movies, and reading lots of books that she loves to review for YA Books Central.
A member of Women’s Fiction Writer’s organization, Kim is currently putting the finishing touches on a historical set in 1943 Italy. She also is working on a historical with a Utah suffragette loosely based on her own ancestor Lucy Clark. Kim lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and cockatiel Damon.
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