A Castle in Italy

A life-altering phone call from Italy shatters Gabriella’s carefree existence as a student in London. Rushing home, she arrives just in time to bid farewell to her beloved father, the Count. Faced with a crumbling estate and the responsibility of caring for those she holds dear, Gabriella makes a bold decision: to transform her ancestral home into a hotel. However, she can’t do it alone. Enter a mysterious stranger, glimpsed fleetingly on a London train, who may hold the key to her success.

As Gabriella strives to make her venture thrive, she finds herself equally determined to challenge the centuries-old tradition that bars female riders from participating in the biannual Joust of the Saracen held in the nearby city. With the odds stacked against her, Gabriella must navigate the complexities of love and duty while fighting to forge her own path. Can she rewrite history and win the heart of the man she loves, or will her dreams be shattered by the weight of tradition?

Penny Pecorelli has published many articles and short stories over the years and has broadcast on the radio. She lives in England with her Italian husband, but they have a house in Italy which they and their family visit frequently. Penny is passionate about the traditions and culture of Italy. This is her first novel, based on the little hill village in the south of Italy where her husband was born.