Wednesday, May 8, 2024

The Amore Way: Love, Italian Style

When I settled in with Jill Santopolo's Stars in an Italian Sky, I knew it would be wonderful.  I'd enjoyed her haunting The Light We Lost and her moving More Than Words, so her latest, which is historical fiction, was bound to be just as heartfelt.  And it was.  Perhaps even more so.

When Vincenzo walks into Giovanna's father's tailor shop, Italy is still recovering from World War II.  But Vincenzo and Giovanna see only each other.  Even if Vincenzo belongs to a nobility losing its hold on an increasingly democratic Genoa, and Giovanna is just a shopkeeper's daughter.  Their attraction is so strong that not even Giovanna's sister's warnings can keep them apart, and soon Vincenzo, a talented but frustrated artist, arranges to meet with Giovanna in secret to paint her.  

Meanwhile, in modern-day New York City, another passionate couple grapples with family tension.  Cassandra and Luca are newly engaged but have different dreams when it comes to their wedding.  Then something happens to further complicate things, making them question whether they're destined or doomed.

Embroidered with a whimsical wardrobe (not only is Giovanna a dressmaker, but Cass is a fashion exec), Stars in an Italian Sky is a love letter to love and family and how the latter binds (and, yes, sometimes constricts), even as it endures through the decades.  Nostalgic and bittersweet, it celebrates the best things in life -- as well as the risks that make it worth living.   

4 comments:

ellie said...

Awesome to read your review. The back story is so nostalgic and I like how it is pieced with the modern tale, as well. πŸ’•πŸ§πŸ§πŸŒΈπŸ¨

I hope you are doing OK these days. My dental appointment went better than expected, yet it feels like more appointments multiply these days with my original dentist and the specialist. The tagging is finally complete with the big machine at the library. But we will still have to tag new item put in the shelf. Always something. But we had a nice party with veggie curry and cake.(✿◡‿◡)

Oh, my Maddie...finding her own way..and of course, tis the season to find life after graduation too. And KC might be around more than she expects. Thanks so much for reading and your feedback. All the best to your creative adventures.

Caitlin'nMegan said...

This is such a lovely cover. Such a sweet review too about these two couples. The author has a magical way to bringing the past and present together. I have been reading Damsel which is based on the screenplay of the Netflix film. It is better than I expected. Really, I didn't know there was even a movie. It is a different kind of nove than I am used to. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 Meanwhile I am finding more mystery about Hart and maybe some of the 20somethings I'm writing about are growing up.

Ivy's Closet said...

So wonderful to see your review. I hope all is going well for you these days. I will have to keep this author in mind.🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 Recently, out of nowhere, I found I had Blondie's Greatest Hits..and I had forgotten all about Sunday Girl and even Hanging on the Telephone. I also remembered how we used to have more live music in some of the places even in our little burb. Especially, at the record shop. Now on occasion there is live music at the Farmer's Market. Being in the midwest, it seemed Omaha has always wanted to bring the arts in so many ways. And I noticed recently, there are several talent show for the young happening this Summer in various places around which was posted at the library. I had wanted to write a story about KC's summer..and well, it might happen yet with Millie.

Samantha said...

Ooooh, what a romantic-sounding read!! πŸ’˜ I like the mix of historic time period and modern-day, and of course, a whimsical wardrobe makes it all the more enticing! πŸ’“