At her charming house in the Tuscan hills, Jen pictures the beautiful opal ring that brought her here. Will this inherited jewel finally unravel the secrets her family has been holding so close?

Italy, 1944. Despite the war raging across Europe, Liliana is overjoyed when her childhood love Salvatore proposes – ignoring the superstition that her opal ring will bring bad luck. But Salvatore is injured fighting for the Italian resistance and Liliana’s heart fractures when he looks into her eyes and no longer recognises her. Distraught, she blames the ring and flees to England – hiding a secret she vows to protect until her dying day…

England, present day. Heartbroken after her fiancé leaves her, Jen is desperate to hide away and heal. But then a handsome Italian stranger called Matteo tells her that her great-aunt has left Jen an opal ring and a house in the Tuscan hills… She can’t resist the chance to find out why her secretive grandmother, Liliana, turned so pale at the sight of the glittering ring. As she and Matteo arrive at the charmingly rustic house with its pink walls and green shutters, Jen dreams of the life she could build here – and the answers the little opal ring might bring…

But just as Jen starts to believe in a fresh start, a mysterious woman arrives, laying claim to her inheritance. Will the story she tells heal Jen’s broken heart – or tear her family apart forever?

Immerse yourself in beautiful Tuscany in this gorgeous, sweeping story of long-buried family secrets. Readers of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy will be swept away by this escapist, emotive and romantic page-turner.

Award-winning novelist Anita Chapman writes evocative fiction set in Italy. Her bestsellers include 'The Venice Secret' and 'The Florence Letter'. She also trains and mentors authors.