Practice Makes Perfect

When in Rome is a planned quartet of interlinking contemporary romances set in the small town of Rome, Kentucky. Though all of these books can be read as standalones, they have loose overarching plots pertaining to the Walker siblings: Noah, Emily, Madison, and Annie.

When in Rome (2022) is the first installment in the series. It follows the romance of the oldest Walker sibling, Noah, and pop star Amelia Rae Rose—who seeks a temporary escape from stardom in Rome, Kentucky. The series starter introduces Rome, the Walker siblings, Amelia, and relationship dynamics within the town. The Walker siblings lost their parents as children to a storm while the couple were camping for their anniversary in Colorado. The eldest, Noah, was 10, and the youngest, Annie, was three. While their younger siblings, Madison and Annie, don’t remember much, Noah’s trauma exemplifies a fear of storms, and Emily has intense abandonment issues. Their biological grandmother, Silvie, raised the children with the help of a local bed and breakfast owner, Mabel, who quickly became their surrogate grandmother. In recent years, Silvie has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and now lives in an assisted-living center that can better cater to her needs.