The fourth book of Cardillo’s uplifting First Light series offers an absorbing tale of love between Daniel Richetelli, a Jesuit priest looking for renewed purpose in life, and Isabella “Izzy” Monroe, whose Chappaquiddick Wampanoag ancestry connects this standalone title to the earlier books in the series. She’s also an accident victim dealing with short term memory loss. She seeks refuge at Portarello, a thirteenth-century farm in the Tuscan countryside, serving as an intern on the suggestion of her friend Maria Belli, whose cousin runs the hotel connected to it. Though a bit reclusive because of her memory problem, she copes well with her duties, which involve much physical labor. She even manages, at times, to make peace with her condition, until Daniel’s arrival throws everything out of gear because of the deep connection she feels with him.

Written alternately from the perspective of Izzy and Daniel, the novel invests deeply in character and its gorgeous milieu, at times at the expense of pacing in the early sections. Still, Izzy’s memory loss, which she tries to cover up, contributes to an intriguing feeling of tension and uncertainty throughout, especially when she realizes the second time she sees Daniel that she must have met him before–and, as Cardillo writes with her customary incisiveness, “the intimacy with which he greeted her frightened her.” As the protagonists reveal themselves, Cardillo finds in these well-drawn characters some fresh twists on stories of romance and priestly temptation, while digging into rich themes of guilt, lust, redemption, and–most crucially–the healing power of love.

The archaeological dig and sense of ancient Etruscan culture that backdrops the story adds novelty and thematic weight. The expectation and excitement of the final find also coincide with the resolution of conflict between the main characters, adding resonance to their process of discovering how to connect. One of the most engaging characters is Raffaello Richetelli, Daniel’s archaeologist grandfather, who enlivens the proceedings with his sharp, though sometimes unpleasant, commentary.

Takeaway: An engaging tale of love, acceptance, and priestly romance set in the Tuscan countryside.

Great for fans of: Colleen Coble’s Rosemary Cottage, Wanda E. Brunstetter’s The Hope Jar.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B