It also startles Marcus, a once-buzzy actor, devastatingly handsome, who is eternally in love with Claire. Marcus has come and gone from Claire's life since college but now reappears in Rome just as she's about to decide what's next. But it’s time for both of us to stop padding our lives so we don’t feel bumps in the road anymore. I think we’ll get hurt a lot in this life, but maybe it’s worth it because sometimes we will experience really amazing things, too. Maybe not everything will end in hurt. But we’ll never know if we don’t try.” I adored this book. Maybe part of it was that it had tied to Milwaukee, where I live. I recognized some of the things the Claire had done. Claire is 52 and, despite a successful career selling real estate (mostly selling churches and religious buildings), is at a point where she doesn't feel much meaning in her life. She goes to Rome to help with the sale of a convent, or more accurately to help find a way to prevent a sale, and while there she falls in love with the convent. As a teenager and college student she had planned to become a nun, and she's wondering if the time has come for her to make that committment. Cancel that Alitalia flight. All the fun of a trip to Italy—and a Yale education, for that matter—can be found for a fraction of the price in Liam Callanan’s delightful novel When In Rome. With breathtaking descriptions of secret corners of the Eternal City and New Haven, this novel introduces us to Claire, who, at 52, is ready to resolve issues of faith, passion, and obligation that have dogged her since she was 22. Only she has to think about things a little longer. So hold on. And while you wait, prepare to be charmed by this clever, engagingbook.”

When in Rome by Sarah Adams | Waterstones

Sarah Adams, who was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, adores her family, sunny days, and putting others at ease. Since she was a young girl, Sarah has had the desire of being a writer. When her girls were taking naps and she had no more justifications to put it off, she finally penned her first book.Liam Callanan’s beautiful novel swept me away—right into the cobblestoned streets of Rome. His sumptuous descriptions are magically transportive, and his characters are as well, as they wrestle with questions of love, of faith, and of service to a higher power. This is a story for the mind and for the soul, and is one that will stay with me for a long time.”

When In Rome By Sarah Adams |The Works

stars A quiet, character-driven read about a woman who finds herself at a crossroads contemplating the next chapter of her life. It makes me wonder if I’m too good at hiding. My days go like this: I smile this way at this person and nod. Yes, thank you. I smile that way at that person and nod. Yes, of course I can do that. Susan gives me a script perfectly crafted by my PR team and I memorize it. My favorite color is blue, much the same as the Givenchy gown I’ll be wearing to the Grammys. Why yes, I do owe much of my success to my loving and devoted mom. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t feel incredibly blessed to have this career and my amazing fans. A] sweet romantic comedy . . . This novel’s scenic descriptions, food references and coffee bar stops may have the susceptible Googling flights to Italy.”But, oh, would you look at that? My car has taken on a new sputtering sound and is jolting . . . literally jolting like this is the early 2000s and I installed hydraulics. All I need are purple lights under my car and I’m set to time travel! You can always count on a Sarah Adams rom-comto be equal parts funny, sweet, and swoony. When in Rome is all that and more with characters who will make you wish they were your friends, a quirky town you’ll want to visit, anda romance you’ll want to read again and again.” —Sophie Sullivan, author of Ten Rules for Faking It As a secular Jew, I couldn't relate to Claire's struggle with her faith at all. But that's why we read fiction, right, to inhabit other lives. And visit other places. Rome is a character in this book, and Liam's depictions of it were a huge part of the novel's appeal. The nuns were pretty winning, too. A fine, touching story with memorable characters and a lovely Roman summer setting. I wished for more of a spiritual depth in Claire's life. Perhaps it is the bias of being married to a Marcus myself, but I found no suspense in Claire's choice between taking religious vows vs. wedding vows. I think a deeper exploration of Claire's prayer life through scenes in Mass and spiritual direction, and a better sense of the Gertrudan's Rule and lifestyle, would have gone a long way to providing suspense. Some people turn to family for questions like that, some turn to friends, and some turn to Magic 8 Balls. But I turn to the one person who never lets me down: Audrey Hepburn. Tonight, I closed my eyes and skipped my finger over my collection of Audrey DVD cases (yes, I still own a DVD player) while playing a game of eenie-meenie-miney-mo until I landed on Roman Holiday. It felt cataclysmic. In the movie, Audrey plays the part of Princess Ann, who was feeling much like I have been—alone and overwhelmed—and she escapes into the night to explore Rome. (Well, more like meanders into the night since she’s loopy on a sleeping sedative, but that’s neither here nor there.)

When in Rome | Random House Group When in Rome | Random House Group

When in Rome is a love story, a tug-of-war between fate and faith, and Claire is its funny, thoughtful, searching guide. In fact, she’s one of the most delightful narrators I’ve encountered inrecentfiction, full of genuinecuriosity and relatable contradictions. I happily followed her through the winding streets of Rome, and I’d go anywhere else she’d care to take me.”When in Rome is a total delight. It has all my favorite things—a gorgeous setting, a fierce and funny female protagonist, and nuns! Best of all, it showcases Liam Callanan’s trademark wisdom about the human heart, and reminds us that it’s never too late to change your life.” I loved the descriptions of Rome, I loved following a solo traveller, half way through her life, on her journey to discover if she can/should change her life at such an age.

When in Rome Series by Sarah Adams - Goodreads

Claire, a 52 year-old single mom and real-estate agent who specializes in churches, finds herself at her 30 year college reunion considering the question "what's next?" and not knowing the answer. An opportunity arises for her to help a struggling convent in Rome and Claire travels there for a consultation. Claire had come close to joining a convent as a teenager and, once in Rome, finds herself drawn to the 3 remaining nuns and the beautiful, historic city. She starts to consider taking vows and joining the convent but neither her best friend nor her daughter understand her reasoning and the appearance in Rome of her close friend, Marcus, complicates her thought process as it opens the door to the possibility of a middle-age love as well.She grins and her wrinkles multiply. “Go have your break, darlin’. And even better, have it with a good man who’ll treat you right.” She nods over my shoulder to The Pie Shop.” Can you rewrite your past, reaffirm your faith, and find your higher self? When In Rome is a story full of plot twists.” Can a fifty-two year-old woman be the central character in a coming-of-age novel? In skillful hands, she can. . . . Callanan writes beautifully about the city of Rome; his prose will make many readers swoon over descriptions of food, color, street life, flowers.” When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room—but only until her car is fixed—then she’s on her own. Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more.