The Italy Affair

Written by Ann Shepphird

Narrated by Rebeca Oliveira

Does The Italy Affair refer to international intrigue or romantic entanglement? For Maggie, it may be both.

Four years after her adventures with The War Council, UC Berkeley Professor Maggie McGrew's professional life couldn't be better. In addition to teaching communication studies, Maggie has added consulting gigs with Silicon Valley tech companies and a successful book to her resume.

Her personal life is another story. Feeling a bit at loose ends, Maggie accepts her friend (and former War Council comrade) Monique's invitation to join her as one of the university representatives on an alumni association tour of the "Art Towns of Northern Italy." There, she discovers a region filled with beautiful art, amazing food, a variety of dogs, and an abundance of Aperol spritzes—not to mention a mysterious painting hidden in a corner of a botanical garden and maybe, just maybe, love.

The Italy Affair is the second book in the University Chronicles series. Like The War Council, it offers a humorous look at life and love, this time amid all the romance of a trip to Italy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: 4 Horsemen Publications
• Release date: May 9, 2025
• ISBN: 9798823206020

Ann Shepphird

In her 20+ years as a writer and editor, Ann Shepphird has covered everything from travel and sports to gardening and food to architecture and design for a variety of publications. She has also put her skills to work writing ad copy for California-based animal rescue groups. Now Ann is tackling her favorite genres-rom-coms and cozy mysteries-which is especially appropriate as her first love in life was spending Saturday afternoons reading Nancy Drew mysteries. The rom-coms are part of the University Chronicles series, which are based on Ann's days as a college-level communications instructor, while the Destination Murder mysteries combine her experiences as a travel journalist with her brief stint working for a private investigator (a job she got because of her love of Sue Grafton novels). Ann lives in Santa Monica, California, with her long-time partner, Jeff, and their furry companions Melody and Winnie. When she's not writing, Ann is most likely to be found on a tennis court or in her garden.