First published 2010
Valentine works as a shoemaker on the familiar streets of Greenwich Village when an extraordinary business opportunity presents itself. The chance takes her far from home to Buenos Aires, where ancient cobblestones bask under the Argentine sun. In this distant city, Valentine stumbles upon a secret that has remained buried for years, concealed within the shadows of a family scandal. The discovery centers on the Roncalli family, whose foundations shake when the hidden truth finally surfaces. As the revelations unfold, Valentine finds herself caught between two powerful forces pulling at her heart. One represents the love from her past that helped shape who she became. The other offers the promise of a future that could provide the emotional foundation she needs moving forward. Valentine must navigate these competing desires while dealing with the aftermath of the explosive family secret she has uncovered.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Buenos Aires, Greenwich Village
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
352 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins Publishers