Love in the Eternal City by Rebecca W. Martin

A romcom set in the heart of Rome.

Where to get it

Guys, Love in the Eternal City releases TODAY. Go check it out, or head over to Rebecca's page to congratulate her!

My review 

Elena Gattino is in Rome to leave behind a broken heart and stagnant life. She’s got a new job, a love of Italian food, and prayer to keep her afloat.  Then she befriends the Rechsteiner siblings. Beni Rechsteiner loves his work as a Swiss Guard, but he knows he can’t hide behind the uniform forever. The two grow closer-- well, are shoved together by many meddling loved ones, including the Pope himself. As their relationship develops, problems from their separate pasts begin to rear their heads. 

Elana and Beni’s relationship develops against a rich backdrop, with a cast of endearing supporting characters. 

In a style Rebecca Martin has described as “virtuous fluff” she gives us gems like this:

If I’m going to die, at least I’m clinging like a baby sloth to an incredibly handsome man. There are worse ways to go.

Rebecca was kind enough to discuss Love in the Eternal City with me.

The interview

Tell me about your daily life. What are you doing if you're not writing?

To be honest, I spend a great deal of my time in Microsoft Word — when I’m not writing, I’m working for OSV as a full-time acquisitions editor, or doing a bit of freelance fiction editing for Chrism Press. I also serve as communications coordinator for the Lay Dominicans of the Central Province. 

And when I’m not doing all that…well, then I’m playing fetch with one of my cats, reading just about anything, and learning how to garden.

How did you come up with the idea for this book? Did it start with your trip to Italy, a premise, or something else?

The background of the novel, my beloved Rome, came from living there for three months as a student in college. The story, however, came when I had been reading a long string of clean romance novels. There’s a formula to the romance genre, and I decided to see if I could write my own using what I’d picked up from reading. I never expected a random fun experiment to be my debut novel!

I have to admit, I know very little about the Swiss Guard. Besides the colorful uniform and the fact that they guard the Vatican, I have no idea what they do. What got you interested in writing a novel involving the Swiss Guard?

It’s sort of a two-pronged reality. College girls studying abroad in Rome (not me, I had a boyfriend!) often crush on the Swiss Guards. Good Catholic men in uniform, and all that. So a Swiss Guard and an American girl became a natural pairing for a romance! And earlier that summer, I’d gotten to know Andreas and Shelli Widmer, the original Swiss Guard and American girl couple — to whom the book is dedicated!

What did the research about the Swiss Guard entail?

A great deal of digging around on the internet! Problem is, the official languages of the Guard don’t include English, so Google Translate was my trusty assistant for some things. Most helpful, however, were the insights from the aforementioned Widmers, who were super generous with their time and storytelling.

Which character was the most interesting to write and why?

Oh goodness – the character of the Pope, for sure. He’s deliberately unnamed, but my fictional Holy Father was meant to make just a cameo appearance. Instead, he decided to become a very fun fully-fleshed-out character, who I’m delighted for readers to meet.

Did real life ever change the trajectory of the plot or characters? How do your real-life experiences or interests show up in the book?

This whole book is absolutely my love letter to Rome, so that winds its way through, from my favorite gelato shop to the street where Elena lives! From my own relationship experiences and those of my friends, I did my best to weave a story of two faithful Catholic young adults falling in love. And, while Elena is definitely not a personification of me, she became a way for me to process my own experience of mental health, weight, and self-image struggles. 

Where can we find you online to keep up with your future stories?

My website is rebeccawmartin.com, and I’d love it if you subscribed to my Substack, Virtuous Fluff! You can also follow me on Instagram at @rebecca.w.martin 

Thanks for taking the time to discuss Love in the Eternal City with me, Rebecca.

I hope you guys enjoy this book like I did!

P.S. All the content on my Substack is free, but if you'd like to support me further, you can click below.