But Cordelia's lack of self-confidence and grief over the loss of her parents follow her to Rome, as do hurtful emails from her sisters.  The distraught young woman wanders around the city and happens across a tiny, ancient church that looks like the perfect place to lick her wounds.  While weeping in one of the pews she meets a kind but mysterious stranger, an attractive man who hides half his face from her, but she catches a glimpse of it and sees that it is horribly disfigured.

         Suddenly Cordelia finds she is not as alone in the world as she thought, or as unattractive as her sisters insisted.  But her new friend's scars are more than skin deep and threaten to keep Cordelia from ever growing closer to him.

           The author described Rome so beautifully that I find I want to go there and see it for myself now.

           Aside from a spot or two which could have been polished to an even higher sheen, this story just sang for me!  Such wonderful attention paid to minutiae, and what beautiful dialogue was shared between the struggling lovers.

Warning: This book has some sensual moments and coarse language within its pages. Also, you'll want to have a box of tissues handy.