A ruined castle. A town picking up the pieces. And a mysterious stranger who could change everything. The fire may be out, but smoke lingers in Santa Lucia. Though the townspeople still gather for espresso at the town café and swap recipes at the butcher shop, their iridescent blue sky feels behind a veil. The statue of the Madonna, set in a wall outside the cafe, watches it all in collected silence. Enter Alessandro, a New Yorker arriving to claim his inheritance--the derelict castle and the charred olive trees that surround it. Rich and handsome, his renovation plans set off a chain reaction of unearthed secrets, explosive relationships, and forbidden romance. Not just for himself, but for all the people who call this village home. Will the power of the Madonna save Alessandro and the villagers? Or will nothing in Santa Lucia ever be the same? Michelle Damiani's enchanting, magical novel will steal your heart. The town is alive with music, food, laughter, and turmoil, and you're at the center of it all. Interweaving love and betrayal, pulse-pounding suspense, lyrical beauty, and even a few familiar threads from Pride and Prejudice , The Silent Madonna will keep you on the edge of your seat. Those who loved Michelle Damiani's Santa Lucia will fall headlong back into the story of a town on the edge of change and the villagers that call it home. Much like an Italian village, newcomers are also welcome to walk the cobblestone streets, as The Silent Madonna can be read as a standalone book. "The Silent Madonna sets the bar unrealistically high as my choice for Book of the Year. Highly recommended--I wish I could award a sixth star." --Paul Austin Ardoin, Caseful of Clues book reviews