Ciao! I’m Sienna Rossi and I’m excited to visit with you today to talk about my story. Solo Tu releases on May 29 and is Book 7 in ‘A Tuscan Legacy’ series. I’m the second-to-last Rossi grandchild (and sometimes I feel like the forgotten grandchild) to have their romance story shared in the series.
When I finished my schooling in Tuscany, I pursued my dream of studying at an Australian university. I speak four languages (Italian, English, French and Spanish) and I’m now qualified to teach languages at high schools in Australia.
I’ve lived in Sydney, Australia for more than four years and I love Australia! Mammà has two aunt’s (Nonna Crisanti’s younger sisters) who married and moved to Australia many years ago, before I was born. I have three Aussie cousins who are like my big sisters, although they can’t replace my sorellina (Alessa) who lives too far away from me in Roma.
Jodie and Karen are sisters. I’m about to move into the spare bedroom in their brand new luxurious high rise apartment in the beachside suburb of Manly.
Check out the Inspy Romance blog post that gives you an insight into my world in Solo Tu – A Tuscan Legacy in Australia. The photo below of Manly Beach was taken at Fairy Bower – only a short walk from the apartment where I’ll be living with Jodie and Karen.
Billie is my confidante and mentor, as well as my cousin. She’s married to Zach, who is like my big brother (but he’s not as bossy as Rafaele). Billie has talked me into moving churches and I’m about to start attending her church – Beachside Community Church in Manly.
One advantage is the church will be in walking distance from home. I occasionally borrow cars from my Aussie family, but I don’t like driving in the city on the wrong side of the road! I grew up driving machinery on Nonna’s Tuscan estate, and I learned to drive in Tuscany before I moved to Australia.
Billie’s mother, and Jodie and Karen’s mother, are first cousins. Yes, my big Aussie-Italian family is complicated! And Papà’s family is even more complicated! We didn’t know we had another cousin, Rachel, until we met her at Nonna’s 80th Birthday Party! (Read about all the excitement and drama at Nonna’s birthday party in That’s Amore – Book 1).
My favorite Aussie sport is cricket. My cousin, Karen, played state level cricket during high school and she’s taught me a few things. I also played indoor cricket when I was at uni (the Aussie slang word for university). If you don’t know anything about cricket, you’ll learn a little bit about beach cricket at the start of Solo Tu.
Stop by ‘A Tuscan Legacy’ Facebook Group for the Solo Tu Release Day Party on May 29 to pick up a few cricket tips. If you’re into sports, you’ll love reading about me playing beach cricket!
Now, I know what you’re thinking… You’re romance readers, and you’re wondering what Dave’s like. He’s a great guy, and you’ll have to wait a bit longer to meet him. I’m sharing the opening paragraphs of Solo Tu below to give you an insight into my world (yes, my head can be a scary place to visit!). A longer excerpt is available at A Tuscan Legacy website.
Until we meet again, Ciao!
Sienna Rossi
Short excerpt from Solo Tu – Chapter One:
Her fifth Autumn in Australia wasn’t ending the way she’d planned.
Sienna Rossi jumped to the left, almost tumbling onto the soft Clontarf Beach sand. A soccer ball flew past and landed in the shallow water. A young family of five played ball together and a little girl giggled, clinging to her father’s shoulders.
Sienna regained her balance, a familiar yearning infusing her heart. She longed to be that little girl, delighting in her father’s attention. She longed to wind back the years and spend more time with her father and siblings. And she longed for a few more days, or even a few moments, with her Papà. But he was gone.
Book Description:
Home means everything to Sienna Rossi.
Four years ago, Sienna defied her father by moving to Australia to obtain her teaching qualifications. Her grand plan is shaken by her father’s unexpected death and a trip back to Tuscany for her grandmother’s eightieth birthday where she renews her close bond with her sister, Alessa.
Teacher Dave Maxwell likes the freedom of his nomadic lifestyle. He works contract-to-contract, moving to different high schools around Australia. He’s in Sydney for a season, caring for his grandma while his aunt is on an extended overseas vacation.
Back in Sydney, Sienna moves in with her Aussie cousins and starts her first teaching job, torn between her dream for a future in Australia and her longing for home. Sienna and Dave work at the same school, attend the same church, and quickly become friends. They are drawn together by circumstances and an undeniable attraction.
But their idyllic time together is temporary. Can the girl from Tuscany and the boy from Australia risk everything for love?
This nine-book Christian romance series from seven of your favorite authors releases weekly from April 2018. Look out for Book 8 in the series, Dolce Vita!
Pre-order Solo Tu for 99 cents at Amazon Kindle.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, thanks for sharing more about Sienna’s story- I love the connection to Sydney Sweethearts, Billie, Zach- Gus and Chelsea too I hope!! I have preordered this and am counting down to May 29! How cool to have great stories set in our beautiful country.
It has turned winter cold down here in Melbourne- tomorrow is our high school Athletics Carnival, with showers and low temperatures predicted, it will make for an interesting day!!
Blessings:)
Hi Wemble, I’m glad you enjoyed meeting Sienna :) Unfortunately you won’t see Gus and Chelsea in Solo Tu, but you will see more of Billie and Zach. I’m sorry you have terrible weather for the Athletics Carnival tomorrow. I’ve been in Brisbane this week, 25C every day although I’ve been indoors and unable to enjoy the sunshine. I’m at the airport now waiting for my flight home (which has been delayed). It’s cold in Canberra and I’ll definitely be feeling the cold tomorrow after being in Brisbane, lol. Blessings :)
Hi Narelle! Thanks for sharing a little of Sienna’s story . So looking forward to thee Australien setting. Love the Sienna is multi lingual. The settings, the different settings, the multi cultural aspects from an international group of talented writers is why this series is so unique and a delight to read. We finally have warm. Weather in SW Michigan, but with some unusual weather, rain for four days with over 7 inches of precipitation. We had flooding in February and now the creek is overflowing again. The fields are saturated, delaying planting. Safe travels and stay warm.
I really enjoyed this one when I got to read it ahead of publication! I always love visiting Australia with Narelle’s books.
I haven’t started reading any of the books as yet but I will as soon as I am finished with the one I am reading now. The entire series seems like an amazing read. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve got it pre-ordered and am looking forward to it!
I love the way you’ve brought a distinctively Aussie touch to the series, Narelle! Though Rach is still dealing with the results of Sienna’s 2 am phone call! ;)
I love Sienna, and I loved her story! She was such a great character to work with in Books 1 and 4 of A Tuscan Legacy. She certain always gives Alessa food for thought.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Hi Renate, I agree, it’s the multicultural aspects of the series that add different layers to create a unique series. We were fortunate to have an Italian beta reader who checked the Italian phrasing in our stories. I’m glad your weather is warming up and I’m sorry to hear you’re having too much rainfall. You can send some of your rain downunder because we’ve had a dry start to the year. I’m back home and it’s almost 10am and only 7C. I’m wearing layers of clothing and thankful the sun is shining. :)
Thanks, Elizabeth :) I’m glad you enjoyed Sienna and Dave’s Aussie romance.
Hi Colleen, The weekly release schedule means all the books will be available to read within the next 4 weeks. I hope you enjoy the series. :)
Thanks, Margaret :) I hope you’re enjoying the series.
Hi Autumn, yes, Rach has a lot to think about after that middle of the night phone call! It certainly moves the series mystery plot forward and leads nicely into Rach’s story that’s coming up next. :)
Hi Marion, I really love the close sisterly bond that Sienna and Alessa share. The girls are very different in personality and value the time they spend together. :)
Hi Linda, The weekly release schedule means you won’t be waiting long! :)
I am enjoying this series so much. Really looking forward to reading Sienna’s story. I’ve made many Australian friends while working as a missionary in Japan. I hope to some day visit all of the beautiful places I’ve heard about for so long. I love the multi-cultural aspects of this story as well. As for Sienna’s language ability – Wow! So envious! I can only speak two although I wish it were more.
A great addition to an already great looking series.
Hi Kathy, I’m envious of Sienna’s language ability, too! I hope you’ll have an opportunity to visit Australia and see your Aussie friends. :)
Thanks, MJSH. :)