SYNOPSIS: Do you have enough romance in your life? Journalist Kirsty Bailey would have to answer no. She has the essential starter kit – a boyfriend – but somehow Joe seems to have skipped the vows of for better/for worse and gone straight to for granted. Just as she’s on the verge of settling for a swoon-free existence, Kirsty’s magazine sends her to a majestic Venetian palazzo to attend the much gossiped-about Love Academy. Her undercover mission? To prove her editor’s theory that this ‘school for singles’ is nothing more than an escort agency with a sexy accent and fancy glass chandeliers. But what if her editor is wrong and their promise of true amore is for real? Will Kirsty be able to resist the kind of moonlit temptations she’s been dreaming of for years, or is her relationship with Joe going, going, gondola?

THEMES: The True Nature of Romance, Brother-sister Relationships, Sophia Loren Wisdom & the Wonder of George Clooney

LOCATIONS: Venice & Lake Como, Italy

OPENING LINES: What if there was a place you could go to have your heart’s longings fulfilled. A place that could give you a real touch-able person to love, not just some peppy pointers on how to find The One. What if that place was in Italy? Better yet, Venice! Would you go?

BELINDA SAYS: THE LOVE ACADEMY is based at the real-life Palazzo Abadessa and as we’re checking in this absurdly attractive reception guy studies asks, ‘Are you Belinda Jones of ON THE ROAD TO MR RIGHT?’ Obviously I think my travelling companion James has put him up to this so I simply roll my eyes. He persists, ‘Judge Butch, Judge Butch!’ which is a reference to a scene in Texas where Emily and I get arrested for speeding. Turns out he read this book to improve his English! We chat some more, his name is Nicola and the way he speaks about his fiancée is so enchanting he ends up being the model for the story’s leading man Dante!