Tess Tennant is moving away from London to the sleepy picture-perfect town where she grew up, to teach at the illustrious Langford College.
She finds a cottage to share with a burnt-out city lawyer called Francesca. Around the corner is her childhood best friend Adam, who she's always loved like a brother …
Rural life isn't quite how Tess remembers it. Bored, she returns to London for a big night out with Adam but it all ends in tears.
Heartbroken and heartsick, Tess has to take her class on a trip to Rome to visit the classical monuments, and she's in the mood to be reckless.
Rome in May is beautiful and soon Tess is being swept off her feet by a charming stranger who takes her round the city for a magical week and she soon forgets the complicated problems waiting for her at home.
But when she does return to Langford, Tess finds a note from Adam saying he's leaving for a while. What happened between them when they were young? And what is the secret of his mysterious past?