The Battle of Villa Fiorita

Over the years, Rumer Godden has proven herself to be adept at creating lightly romantic situations gone sour and introducing enough suspense to charm the most hard-bitten cynics. Here, Fanny abandons the family circle for the wildly attractive Rob, a film director writing his next movie at a villa on Lake Garda in Northern Italy. Unlikely a premise as that may seem for a realistic novel of divided loyalties, Godden manages to produce a story that binds the listener to its heart.