A ruined castle. A town picking up the pieces. And a mysterious stranger who could change everything.

The fire may be out, but smoke and suspicion still linger in Santa Lucia. Though the townspeople still gather for espresso at the town café and swap recipes at the butcher shop, their iridescent blue sky is clouded by a veil of uncertainty and mistrust. The statue of the Madonna, set in a wall outside the café, watches it all in collected silence.

But when New Yorker Alessandro arrives to claim his inheritance—the derelict castle and the charred olive trees that surround it—it unearths secrets thought long buried. His renovation plans set off a chain reaction of dangerous relationships and forbidden romance while exposing explosive truths—not just for himself, but for all the people who call this village home.

Can the power of the Madonna save Alessandro and the villagers? Or will the truths brought to the surface trap Santa Lucia in an inescapable web of deceit and anger?

An Italian café. A barista with an eye for trouble. And a village determined to create as much as possible.

Chiara has presided over the espresso machine at Bar Birbo for as long as anyone can remember. In Santa Lucia, this is the only place to go for a cappuccino served with a side of gossip.

The town’s residents rely on each other and feel almost like a family, but their secrets are kept well hidden.  While romance is in the air for some, the truth behind the love affairs is far more complicated than anyone can imagine. 

When everyone has ulterior motives and unspoken desires, it’s only a matter of time before things finally come to a head.  And unfortunately for the townspeople, the revelations could prove deadly.

Can the residents of Santa Lucia survive the inferno of their own making? Or will they burn in the flames?

Old secrets. New lies. An Italian village on the brink of catastrophe.

Things are changing in Santa Lucia, and not necessarily for the better.  As the town’s residents move through their daily lives, finding love, friendship, and themselves, the past starts to catch up with them…and spill its secrets.

Sins thought long-forgotten return with vengeance, threatening the happiness of those who have fought for it so hard.

When several children go missing, it sets off a series of events that expose hard truths and painful lies.

Can the town survive the truth, or will Santa Lucia crumble under the weight of devastation left in its wake?

Rumors. Romance. And more than a little espresso.

Santa Lucia has seen a lot of changes, and they’ve made life for the villagers harder than they ever imagined. Creating a working vineyard. Parenting a teenage daughter. Romance with the mayor. Being gay in a quintessential Italian village. None of these are easy, and everyone is feeling the pressure as their annual festival nears.

The villagers are back for one last passeggiata through the flower-lined alleys of Santa Lucia. Swapping gossip at the local café has never been so delicious until a storm of secrets threatens the village’s very survival.

With the rain beginning to fall and the wine turning to vinegar in the barrels, can the villagers bring themselves back into the wavering blue light of Santa Lucia?

Fall under the spell of an Italian village through the eyes of an American family.

When Michelle Damiani dreamed of living in Italy, she imagined her family as it was in Virginia—her husband filling every moment with work, her teenage son experimenting with sarcasm, her daughter smiling at the scent of lilacs, her baby-cheeked son methodically clicking Legos together, and herself hovering over the happiness of them all—only surrounded by ancient cobblestone alleys and the sound of ringing Italian.

What she didn’t know was how Italy would work to change them all.

Immerse yourself in authentic village life and live vicariously through hilarious moments, joyful discoveries, dramatic upheavals, embarrassing miscommunications, and mouth-watering meals.

At once uplifting and enchanting, this spellbinding journey feeds the soul as it sweeps readers into the heart of Italy.

Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center includes recipes for delicious Umbrian dishes as well as professional-quality photographs.

"Top 10 Fascinating Books about Living in a Foreign Country" --Huffington Post

Amazon Bestseller in Italian Travel​

It’s time to discover the world…together.

Author and clinical psychologist Michelle Damiani weaves together her story of a family year in an Italian village with the captivating experiences of 36 other contributors to create The Road Taken: How to Dream, Plan, and Live Your Family Adventure Abroad, the definitive manual for parents who crave the family-bonding and horizon-broadening of an international expedition.

Whether you want to spend a season catching lizards together in a remote jungle or a year making friends in a French village or an extended stretch circumnavigating the globe, The Road Taken will—

• shatter the myth that only trust fund babies can afford the global adventure of a lifetime by offering practical strategies to make money abroad
• inspire families to think outside the box and discover which experiences would be meaningful for them
• demystify the visa process and guide families to their new home
• share principles grounded in child psychology so parents can help their children with the inevitable transition adjustment like homesickness, culture shock, and anxiety
• describe the adventages and disadvantages of various educational options, including worldschooling, boatschooling, roadschooling as well as the more traditional local schools or international schools, and even hybrids of these
• embolden parents to step bravely into the unknown of possible hardships like language learning and medical issues and travel snafus
• offer comprehensive information on everything from banking to phones to what to do with your mail

More than a how-to book, The Road Taken inspires families to venture out of their comfort zones to create meaningful experiences together, at home and abroad. The well-researched and organized topics encourage families to dream and make that dream happen. It’s also the perfect book for those who love thrilling adventure tales. Even if you are just looking for ideas to spice up the next family vacation, this book is for you.

“Who knew there was a practical guide to making magic?”

“You may want to start packing your bags.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed The Road Taken and recommend it to anyone thinking of moving abroad or just armchair dreaming...”

“This book will open your mind about what is achievable and it will inspire you with how travel can strengthen family bonds and family understanding of the world.”

“Made me wish I’d moved abroad when my kids were younger, but really put some ideas in my head about retirement!

An Italian café. A barista with an eye for trouble. And a village determined to create as much as possible.

Chiara has presided over the espresso machine at Bar Birbo for as long as anyone can remember. In Santa Lucia, this is the only place to go for a cappuccino served with a side of gossip.

The town’s residents rely on each other and feel almost like a family, but their secrets are kept well hidden.  While romance is in the air for some, the truth behind the love affairs is far more complicated than anyone can imagine. 

When everyone has ulterior motives and unspoken desires, it’s only a matter of time before things finally come to a head.  And unfortunately for the townspeople, the revelations could prove deadly.

Can the residents of Santa Lucia survive the inferno of their own making? Or will they burn in the flames?