Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (448 pages) is a historical novel set in 1570s Italy, focusing on 16-year-old Serafina, a defiant girl forced into a convent after a forbidden romance. The story, published in paperback by Random House, explores themes of passion, power, and creativity, centering on Serafina’s rebellion and her bond with Suora Zuana, the convent's apothecary.