WHEN IN ROME Photo Travelog: The Appian Way

No trip to Rome would be complete without checking out the thoroughfare that carried armies, commerce, and travelers to and from Ancient Rome for ages.

Let’s let Kate Miller, heroine of WHEN IN ROME, set the scene for us:

The Metro Line stops just inside the old Aurelian wall. Domenic guides me to a transit stop to catch a bus farther south. It’s a short ride, and we get off on a quaint street that looks like time froze somewhere in the mid-1600’s. After stopping in a little market for fresh bottles of water, we walk the cobbled street, passing ruins as well as currently occupied homes, three catacomb sites bustling with tourists, and sun-washed fields stretching toward the horizon. Traffic is light, except for tourists on foot or locals biking. Occasionally a public transit bus rumbles buy, forcing us to step onto the dirt path beside the road that serves as a sidewalk. An hour or so into our walk, the smaller cobbles abruptly end in a jagged line and give way to large, smooth stones.

Domenic comes to a stop. “Welcome to the Appian Way.”

~ excerpt from WHEN IN ROME

The cool thing about putting my characters on an afternoon trek down the Appian Way is that I could draw directly from my own experience. There’s really nothing quite like stepping onto a roadway that’s been around for literally a couple thousand years.

I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Picture 323 Picture 325 Picture 334 Picture 342 Picture 344

Next time, we’ll take a jaunt to the beautiful island of Sicily and visit Taormina!

WHEN IN ROME is available now for Kindle – and don’t forget to check out BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (now available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble), the story that started it all!

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Love isn't always picture perfect...

Love isn’t always picture perfect…

Want to stay updated on announcements and upcoming releases? Join my email newsletter and follow me on my socials (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube).

WHEN IN ROME Photo Travelog: Renaissance Rome

During the Renaissance Era, Rome became something of a center of power. Many of the buildings that remain today, while now occupied by apartments, hotels, retail spaces, and offices, date from this time period and are still stunning. Side streets are narrow and winding, while major thoroughfares are clogged with vehicular and foot traffic. Everywhere, hallmarks of Renaissance artists leave lasting footprints, even on the most mundane corners of the city.

Here are some of the highlights.

From the top of Castel Sant'Angelo, the dome of St. Peter's Basilica stands against the skyline.

From the top of Castel Sant’Angelo, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica stands against the skyline. In the center foreground, you can see a structure that appears to be an aqueduct, but in fact houses a secret passage linking the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo, should the Pontiff ever need to flee to safety.

Here we see one of many bridges that cross the TIber River. Ponte Sant'Angelo is the only one closed to vehicular traffic.

Here we see one of many bridges that cross the Tiber River.

Also visible from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo is the Altare della Patria, a national monument. It's visible from many of Rome's hills, in fact.

Also visible from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo is the Altare della Patria, a national monument. It’s visible from many of Rome’s hills, in fact.

The entrance to the Villa Borghese (or the Borghese Gardens) lies just a little northeast of Piazza di Spagna (more about that in a moment). We could never confirm it, but we guessed that gates once closed off the villa to the general public back in the day.

The entrance to the Villa Borghese (or the Borghese Gardens) lies just a little northeast of Piazza di Spagna (more about that in a moment). We could never confirm it, but we guessed that gates once closed off the villa to the general public back in the day.

Tree-lined gravel paths that make you forget modern Rome? Yes please!

Tree-lined gravel paths that make you forget modern Rome? Yes please!

One of many fountains tucked away in Villa Borghese. Somebody had left a bar of soap on the edge of this one - whatever floats your boat, I guess.

One of many fountains tucked away in Villa Borghese.

Resting on a flower-speckled hill (not unlike Kate and Domenic in WHEN IN ROME).

Resting on a flower-speckled hill (not unlike Kate and Domenic in WHEN IN ROME).

The Spanish Steps, as seen from Piazza di Spagna. Okay, so this landmark dates from the early 18th century, not the Renaissance. But much of the surrounding structures are older. 135 steps. We walked them. Both ways.

The Spanish Steps, as seen from Piazza di Spagna. Okay, so this landmark dates from the early 18th century, not the Renaissance. But much of the surrounding structures are older. 135 steps. We walked them. Both ways.

And I ate some gelato while sitting to one side of the Spanish Steps.

And I ate some gelato while sitting to one side of the Spanish Steps.

Trevi Fountain. We had a terribly hard time finding this beloved landmark. We were, in fact, trying to find the Column of Marcus Aurelius, got lost in some twisty Roman side streets, and found Trevi Fountain by chance.

Trevi Fountain. We had a terribly hard time finding this beloved landmark. We were, in fact, trying to find the Column of Marcus Aurelius, got lost in some twisty Roman side streets, and found Trevi Fountain by chance. We did manage to shoulder our way to the front to toss a couple coins into the fountain.

On our last night in Rome, the hubs (then the BF) and I walked up to Pincio Terrace, which has its owns set of stunning views of Vatican City, Piazza del Popolo, and beyond. But sometimes, you forget all the history and just savor the moment you're sharing with somebody you love.

On our last night in Rome, the hubs (then the BF) and I walked up to Pincio Terrace, which has its owns set of stunning views of Vatican City, Piazza del Popolo, and beyond. But sometimes, you forget all the history and just savor the moment you’re sharing with somebody you love.

Join me next time, when we take a jaunt to the road that leads to Rome, the ancient Appian Way.

WHEN IN ROME is available now for Kindle – and don’t forget to check out BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (now available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble), the story that started it all!

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Love isn't always picture perfect...

Love isn’t always picture perfect…

Want to stay updated on announcements and upcoming releases? Join my email newsletter and follow me on my socials (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube).

Cover Reveal – The One I’m With (Sweet Somethings Book 3)

Since I just sent some revisions back to my editor yesterday and the release date is somewhat set in stone, I thought it might be a good time to reveal the cover for Sweet Somethings Book 3!

Ready?

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In this installment, I’ll be taking readers a little closer to my new home turf, with a setting in beautiful Asheville, NC. And who will be our romantic couple this time around?

Remember Josh Mattingly, the womanizing best man who tried (and failed) to snag a one-night stand with Carmella in BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE? Well, he’s been trying to clean up his act, and that includes erasing his playboy reputation. But his real challenge will be proving to Sweet Somethings newcomer Marissa O’Brien that she can trust him with her heart.

The truth is, letting yourself fall in love means daring to risk heartbreak.

Stay tuned for more updates about THE ONE I’M WITH, including the official blurb and release date. As always, if you want to stay connected on announcements and upcoming releases, email newsletter and follow me on my socials (Facebook, TwitterGoogle+, Pinterest, and YouTube).

And if you’re new to the Sweet Somethings series, don’t forget that BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE and WHEN IN ROME are both available for Kindle (and can be read on any device that supports the free Kindle reading app), and BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE is now available in print!

Love isn't always picture perfect...

Love isn’t always picture perfect…

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

WHEN IN ROME Photo Travelog: Ancient Rome

When the hubs and I went to Rome in April 2007, we spent our first full day puttering round  Ancient Rome, including the Coliseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Like us, WHEN IN ROME heroine Kate Miller explores the major sites. Our photos aren’t as good as hers would be (since we used a little digital point-and-shoot instead of SLR), but I hope you’ll enjoy them anyway. 🙂

Much of the Roman Forum has been left open to the elements, and outside of a few facades, much of it has been lost to history.

The Forum connects to Palatine Hill.

The view from Palatine Hill encompasses the Roman Forum and Coliseum.

The Coliseum itself is impressive all on its own.

Next time, we’ll take our tour through Renaissance era Rome, including Trevi Fountain, the Borghese Gardens, and a few other beautiful views of The Eternal City.

WHEN IN ROME is available now for Kindle – and don’t forget to check out BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (now available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble), the story that started it all!

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Love isn't always picture perfect...

Love isn’t always picture perfect…

Want to stay updated on announcements and upcoming releases? Join my email newsletter and follow me on my socials (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube).

 

All Roads Lead to Rome

In WHEN IN ROME, the second installment of my Sweet Somethings series, heroine Kate Miller makes a split second decision to join an international photography team as they embark on a photo shoot in Rome, Italy’s “Eternal City.”

The story focuses on the development of Kate’s romantic relationship with fellow photographer Domenic Varezzi, but along the way, Kate gets to check out some pretty amazing sites in and around Rome (and later, Taormina in Sicily).

The fun part is that just about everything she experiences comes from my memories of Rome.

The Coliseum is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Ancient Rome.

In April of 2007, my own Romantic Hero of a Husband (though at the time he was my Romantic Hero of a Boyfriend) and I took a trip to Rome and Taormina when I was off school for spring break.

Awww, look at us!

Now, it’s time for you to join me on a return trip to Rome! Over the next several weeks, we’ll take a photographic journey through The Eternal City, followed by Taormina on Sicily’s Eastern coast. While you’ll have to read WHEN IN ROME to get all the juicy details of Kate Miller’s experiences, I’ll be sharing fun tidbits about my own unforgettable trip to Italy.

WHEN IN ROME is available now for Kindle – and don’t forget to check out BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (now available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble), the story that started it all!

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Three friends. A broken engagement. A surprise elopement. A big secret. A lot of chocolate.

Love isn't always picture perfect...

Love isn’t always picture perfect…

Want to stay updated on announcements and upcoming releases? Join my email newsletter and follow me on my socials (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube).