The Streets of Florence

by R.A. Douthitt

Some streets take you home. Others take you to the place where healing begins…

After a tragic loss, Millie Devonshire travels to Florence with her dear friends Edith and Joy, hoping to find peace among the golden light and cobbled streets of Florence.
But what begins as a quiet retreat soon turns into an unexpected adventure when the trio befriends Leesa, a young American waitress with a bruised heart, a secret passion for cooking, and a boss who controls more than just the restaurant. Playing matchmaker for Leesa—and the charming chef’s son, Matteo—gives Millie a renewed sense of purpose.
As the women stroll through Renaissance piazzas, make Ribollita in a Tuscan cooking class, and share stories beneath the glow of trattoria lights, they find themselves not only soaking in the beauty of Florence—but experience healing for their souls.
With laughter, love, and the quiet grace of second chances, The Streets of Florence is a warm, uplifting novel about friendship, finding joy again after loss, and discovering that sometimes the best way forward is one step, one dish, one lovely street through Florence at a time.

255 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2025

About the author

Former writing teacher, R. A. Douthitt is an award-winning author of many books for middle grade readers and adults in fiction and non-fiction. She is the winner of the 2022 Christian Indie Awards FIRST PLACE in YA, the 2017 Moonbeam Children’s Books Award-Bronze Medal for Best Book Series, and the 2018 Gateway to the Best third prize winner of the Missouri Romance Writers of America contest. Ruth is working on a Christian-themed women's inspirational fiction series, coming soon. She currently works for Grand Canyon University and lives in Phoenix with her husband Scott and their little dog. When she isn't writing, Ruth loves to run, draw, paint, and garden.

Reviews

[Jane litherland]

This truly is a masterpiece of a story full of heart warmth and laughter and hopefully ,happy ever after for an unsuspecting couple ,thanks to friends who befriend a lost soul with a bruised heart on a lazy sun-kissed day.Millie Davenport knows more than most how it feels to suffer loss . But it helps her own heart when she has someone else to impart her matchmaking skills onto. Ms Douthitt weaves a meandering tale of heartbreak and healing ,told with feeling and expressionism among the Impressionism. The art is all around in the fabric of this place . Florence , is the place to be in Italy where every nook and alleyway lays the path to happiness and righteousness as well as tales of woe too . It’s so proudly beautiful and stands proud with its architecture ,its art and its heart. Food be the god of love and so on and maybe a lonely man looking for his one to gaze adoring upon. Well food is known to be the way to a man’s heart ,it’s not hearsay it’s true. It led to me and my I do. Anyway he’s a chef’s son and she’s the one he sets his mind upon dating whether she’s good at navigating disaster with the pasta or not in the kitchen . He’s in amore with Leesa anyway after Millie has done and he’s fair game .She has a great aim. Faint heart never won fair lady … What a great place to start with these characters Ruth shares with us . They could be any one of us .We’ve all gone through some pain or another ,the strength to carry on despite of this that is your salvation and gain . A respite to give you hope ,to live and love and build again . Like one break ,one kiss ,one reminisce and you’re back on your way to an happier day . More and more will come your way if you have it in your heart to impart from the start ,you reap what you sow. As these two hearts of Leesa and Matteo know. Leesa an American waitress with an hidden talent . She’s an excellent cook ,she loves it so that’s half the battle with any cuisine I’ll have you know ,the passion for the subject has her face to handsome face with chef’s son Matteo . Millie as I started to say before off on a tangent joins her friends Joy and Edith on their travels to Florence and it was quite by chance that she found a lost soul such as she . This is how Leesa came to be in good company. To know the friends as they sipped on their drinks and got chatting . The friends try their hand at cooking classes too . As good as Leesa though I think no ,since she’s as knowledgeable as a pro. Healing hearts matchmaking skills come with their own special power too. Because I devoured this book in no time at all and with not a moment to dwell I’d happily start over and read this encapsulating book journey from start to finish and my heart won’t diminish from the joy and other feelings brought to the fore . I’m certainly in awe of the author’s ability to hold our attention from beginning to end . A book as you can tell I enjoyed no end. Speaking of which these Italy books have come to an end . It’s sad but we can remember fondly and read once more the books with Italian flavour and amore…

[Tracy]

Great end to this wonderful series. I will miss these ladies and all their adventures. The author describes Italy in a way that you feel like you're there with them.

If you are looking for a great book, this is it. It has everything you need. Grab a coffee, some tiramasu, and don't forget the kleenex!

[D50reed]

This is not what I expected. A great story filled with all emotions.

[Rebecca]

This final book in the Love and Romance in Italy series was phenomenal. I enjoyed catching up with all the characters once more plus the opportunity of meeting some new characters. The story flowed smoothly with rich details that included all the sights and smells of Florence. I felt like was in Florence partaking with the characters.

When the story begins, Millie experiences a significant loss but with her friends, Edith and Joy, there beside her they help her get through her journey of loss. Also believing and putting trust in God helps us to get through it and Ruth told it in a heartfelt way.

Leesa is a new character in this story and I really liked the addition of her. I felt like her character brought the story all together. Millie and Leesa quickly develop a special connection because they both had similar experiences when they were dealing with their fathers growing up. Millie grabs onto her and is there for her in helping Leesa deal with her emotions. Millie, Edith, and Joy attend a cooking class and they all try and help Leesa with her love life. Leesa really likes Mateo but Mateo has a hard time telling his father how he really feels. Since they work together it puts a strain on their working relationship. Will Leesa and Mateo overcome their obstacles in dealing with Mateo’s father? Will they have the strength to move forward with their budding relationship?

You really need to experience this story but the whole series is really that good. I really hated to see it end. I received an advanced copy from the author. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions stated here are my own.

Favorite quotes:

“Streets wind. Streets bend. Streets lead us where we need to go.
To head down a street, not knowing where it leads, requires hope.
To leave a street that’s lead you astray requires strength.
Some streets take you home. Others take you to a place where healing begins.”

“Don’t fight the memories. Memories are what gets us through the dark nights.”

“Choose love everyday. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s breaking your heart.”