Book Review: Love in the Eternal City

Merridith Frediani reviews a new Catholic rom-com by Catholic Mom contributor Rebecca W. Martin.

Love in the Eternal City

by Rebecca W. Martin
Publisher: Chrism Press

I love to read. I remember the first book I learned to read. A ladybug was involved, and I was delighted that I could make the letters on the page make sense to my little 5-year-old mind. Since then, reading has been an important part of my life. Even in college and graduate school when all I did was read textbooks, I still ended each day reading a novel for at least a little bit. A Sunday afternoon with a good book is a treasure.   

Being both an avid reader and a writer who loves a well-constructed sentence, I discovered I am also a bit of a snob. If it’s not well-written, I don’t waste my time. I’m always on the search for clean, well-written, good stories and it’s not uncommon for me to violently cast aside what I refer to as crap. My husband chuckles when that happens.   

Love in the Eternal City by Rebecca W. Martin checks all the boxes and does not disappoint. She marries a good, solid, thoughtfully laid out story with real, likable characters. There is no boy meets girl, boy loses girl formulaic foolishness. There are no mental games or manipulation. There is no social agenda being pushed. No one swears. No one cheats. There are no irredeemable bad guys.   

Relatable, real characters

Elena and Beni are so well-crafted I wish they were real. Swiss Guard Beni is the kind of guy we hope for: for ourselves and our daughters. He is a man who loves Jesus, loves the Church, and loves those around him. He embraces his masculinity in his duty to protect both the Pope and Elena who has moved to Rome for a fresh start. Martin’s knowledge and love for Rome is imbued throughout the story as she introduces the reader to lesser-known places, avoiding the cliché tourist attractions. She also weaves in information about the roles, history, and duties of the Swiss Guard, the army that protects the Vatican and Pope.   

Elena is a relatable heroine who has the confidence to move across the world but also struggles with the everyday concerns the rest of us do. While acknowledging her insecurity about her figure, she doesn’t let it define her. Both Beni and Elena have the wounds of being human but the story doesn’t dwell on them. The characters are always moving forward, pursuing healing by keeping their gaze away from their own navels, and investing in relationships around them. In a time when we Catholics are spending a decent amount of time being self-reflective, it’s refreshing to see characters who aren’t too caught up in themselves.   

This book is captivating and enchanting and, dare I say, romantic. I am of the opinion that women want to be pursued, want to be swept off their feet, want to be valued and esteemed. Beni does this with Elena. There is redemption, prayer, forgiveness, and well-developed characters of good moral fiber. There is no unnecessary conflict, trauma, or defining negative climax. Nor is this a boring story. For several days I raced home after work and skipped my workout so I could find out what was going to happen to this adorable couple, even though I knew full well that meant the story would be over.

I was sad when the book ended and also satisfied at having enjoyed a story well told. I recommend it to every Catholic woman I know, and I hope Rebecca Martin writes another book. Whether it’s about Elena and Beni’s future or an entirely new story, I will grab it as soon as it’s available and for sure miss more workouts. It will be worth it. We need more good books.  

Love in the Eternal City released August 15, and I know several people who are going to get a copy for Christmas.  

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Copyright 2024 Merridith Frediani
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