A Roman Affair

Maria Medici is a woman of style and substance, running the prestigious Stark International Hotel Villa Roma with flawless Italian precision. But her world is built on a secret: she is the unacknowledged love child of the legendary hotel baron Garrison Stark. When her half-brother, Alex, invites her to Portland, Oregon, for the corporation’s 50th-anniversary celebration, Maria is finally forced to step out of the shadows and meet her American family. In Portland, Maria meets the infuriatingly charming Spencer Whitlow, a Texas-born hotel owner and Stark cousin who is set to become her new business partner in Rome. Their initial clash of wills—and cultures—is immediate, yet the spark between the sophisticated Italian manager and the "Texas Bull" is undeniable. However, the glamour of their high-stakes world quickly turns dark. When a public scandal exposes Maria’s true heritage, her powerful fiancé, Count Pablo Tino, reveals a violent and controlling nature that leaves Maria battered and terrified. Forced to flee her beloved Roma, Maria is hidden away in the remote wilderness of Oregon’s Crater Lake. Under the protection of Spencer, who has become her unexpected rock, Maria must find the strength to heal and reclaim her life. But Pablo isn't finished with her, and the quiet beauty of the Oregon forest soon becomes the stage for a final, life-altering confrontation. A Roman Affairis a gripping tale of identity, resilience, and the power of finding where you truly belong—stretching from the historic streets of Italy to the majestic peaks of the Pacific Northwest. “Couldn’t put it down! Mary Oldham has me hooked.”