The Italian Retreat: An uplifting story of resilience and the healing power of love

by Barry Lillie

In the hills of Italy, love blooms — but danger lurks in the shadows.

Fleeing a controlling fiancé and a troubled past in Albania, Luljeta finds solace in the tranquil hills of Palombaro, working at Hannah’s idyllic Italian Retreat. When her fiancé tracks her down, he threatens her safety and brings with him a dangerous criminal scheme that could destroy the retreat and everyone in it.

During a writers’ workshop run by Gabby, Luljeta meets Flynn, a brooding author with issues. Sparks fly between them, but just as their connection deepens, Luljeta vanishes without a trace.

As tensions rise, and the search begins, dark truths surface. Hannah’s husband, Rex, has been concealing a secret and, as it gets closer to destroying everything, he forms an unlikely alliance, but time is running out.

Can love and courage be enough to save Luljeta and Flynn’s relationship, or will the spectre of crime snuff out their future before winter arrives in Abruzzo to chill it to the bone?

Find the answers within the pages of The Italian Retreat.
This is book four in the popular Abruzzo series and Barry Lillie delivers a new story of resilience and the healing power of love set in the heart of Italy.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Trained and working as a professional actor; working internationally in theatre and film, before setting up one of the UK’s most successful arts-education companies, Barry worked as a playwright. Working both on commissions and as an in-house writer for a Midlands based theatre company. In 2009 he decided to move out of theatre and concentrate on writing full time.

Barry quickly secured commissions from both magazines and the trade press before landing a job as a travel/features writer for an international, best selling magazine. The bulk of his non fiction work centred around travel and food writing with a vast majority of it being Italy related. He didn’t however restrict himself solely to travel writing and also had many commissions from magazines within the wedding and entertainment markets.

As a travel writer he’s been privileged to have experienced many diverse cultures, which include being kidnapped in the Middle East, trekking through the jungle in Borneo and surviving 79 days and nights in a camper van touring through New Zealand.

Barry feels his strengths lie in believable characters and comedy, whilst touching on subject matter that others may feel doesn’t lend itself to humour. When he’s not writing, Barry can be found dancing to classic disco music like no one is watching, tending to his allotment and sitting in cafes eavesdropping on conversations.