A Siena Love Story

by Nicky Pellegrino

'Heartrending and compelling' JOJO MOYES

'The ultimate escapist read!' VERONICA HENRY

It's the chance of a lifetime...

Ever since she was a little girl, Aria has dreamt of riding in the Palio de Siena. She grew up hearing stories of Romplicollo, the only female jockey to have ridden in the Palio, and she has wanted nothing more than to cross that finish line, to hear the crowds to cheer for her.

Now nearing 40, that dream seems to be slipping away. Divorced and struggling to keep her beloved horses, she wonders whether it's finally time to give up. But when English film-maker Oliver arrives in Siena to make a documentary about the Palio, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Aria to make her name as a jockey.

And as they begin to spend more time together, Aria wonders maybe - just maybe - there's another dream she might have given up on too soon . . .


PRAISE FOR NICKY
'A lovely slice of Italian life' JO THOMAS
'A glorious setting and a deliciously page-turning plot' FIONA GIBSON
'Deliciously romantic' ERICA JAMES
'Knowing, compassionate and moving' CATHERINE ROBERTSON
'Warm, engaging and truly delicious' ROSANNA LEY

READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF NICKY
'Beautifully escapist...absolutely a page turner' Louise Ward, Radio New Zealand
'A complete gem of a book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'So much comfort to be found within a Nicky Pellegrino book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The perfect escapist read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A great holiday read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2026

About the author

I was born and grew up near Liverpool, England. For a while I worked as a magazine journalist in London but then 21 years ago I came on holiday to New Zealand and met my future husband Carne Bidwill at a wedding. Now we live together near a beach in Auckland with our dogs Charlie the standard poodle and Lucy the pointer. I spend my time writing novels, working as a freelance journalist, riding my two horses, growing veges in my garden, cooking, trying to get other people to cook for me, eating and reading. There isn't much time for anything else except a little light housework.
My all-time favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and my book of 2013 was LIfe After LIfe by Kate Atkinson.
I have a website www.nickypellegrino.com

Reviews

[Faye Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love reading Nicky Pellegrino books, she is fabulous author. I felt like I was in Siena, and could smell the horses and hear them snort, plus smell the meadow grass. I am not a horsey person, but really loved this book, what a plot.. a little romance, I learned a lot about filming documentaries LOL and what was expected, a jealous ex husband, and I was so pleased he met the accident that he did... Nicky's books are an easy read, and I find it hard to put them down, they are so enjoyable

[Corinne Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, finished in two afternoons of a long weekend. Not my favourite, but still evocative of Siena. Nicky's love and knowledge of all things horsey shows fully in this novel. I had an issue with just how misogynistic most of the Italian men were, but I trust Nicky to have got that correct.