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Look out, Danielle Steele, there’s a new gal in town. And she drives a Ferrari.

I went to the book launch on Thursday of Jill St. Anne‘s latest, “The Italian Connection.” It was a festive evening, as it also happened to be the birthday of the author’s lovely mother, Judy Fairchild.

Judy was beaming as she watched Jill inscribe the books for fans and friends who had lined up at Emporio Rulli Gran Caffe. The event was hosted by Claudia Ross, elegant in a long black dress that Madonna designed for H&M (you never would have guessed it was from H&M!)

The book is fabulous reading, part romance and part intrigue.  I’m halfway through it and have a hard time stopping myself from skipping ahead to find out how it ends!

With its colorful settings in San Francisco and Tuscany, The Italian Connection would make an absolutely perfect movie.  I picture it like “Romancing The Stone,” in the way it’s romantic and exciting, and appeals to all sexes and ages — something that’s really hard to do.  If Angelina Jolie can’t take the starring role Uma Thurman would be just fine, thank you (work on it,  Hollywood.)

Pat Murphy of the San Francisco Sentinel was also at the party — and has a report here. Photos above by Sentinel photographer David Toerge.

• Book: “The Italian Connection” [jillstanne.com]
• Article: “Sensual San Francisco” [sanfranciscosentinel.com]
• Photographer: David Toerge [tourge.com]