While in Paris, American writer Tulia Rose meets a sidewalk artist she knows only as Raphael. He is very charming, mysterious and seems to show up unexpectedly. As Tulia and Raphael travel through the artistic treasures of Europe, she begins to research and write her next novel based on the artist Raphael and his secret lover. "Her" Raphael is a wealth of information and Tulia begins to fall in love, but at the same time, there is still something very uncomfortable about how they keep meeting.

As her research and writing continue, she starts having nightmares. They come in the form of familiar visions and feelings from another time and place. Do they have anything to do with Raphael and his secret lover?

THE SIDEWALK ARTIST is an enchanting and passionate love story. It is beautifully written with charm and grace. Once I read the first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down until the final word was read. All I can say is wow! I was mesmerized all the way through. This is a first novel for Ms. Buonaguro and Ms. Kirk and I look forward to reading more by them.