Do we control our destiny or is it controlled by a greater power? Roberta Carr explores this question in her captivating novel, The Vernazza Effect. Ella Walker is a young woman from a good family who loves her nursing career caring for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at a large San Francisco hospital. When tragic events occur at both work and home, she finds her life spiraling out of control. Ella puts her faith in her best friend, Tara Collins, who loves her enough to tell her the truth, while creating a way to help her reclaim her life. With Tara by her side, Ella embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Italy where she begins to heal her fractured body and soul, and comes to terms with her past-while grappling with her future. When Tara and Ella's vacation ends, Ella makes a surprise decision to stay-all alone-for two more weeks in an enchanted place called the Cinque Terre in northwestern Italy. She settles in Vernazza-a quaint village that weaves some powerful magic-and Ella awakens to her heart's desire. When she returns home, it isn't long before the messiness of life intervenes, and Ella soon finds her world turned upside down once again. She must look deeply within herself to confront her fears and desires as she struggles to hold on to her dreams that were born in Vernazza.