<DIV><DIV><DIV><p>For Graziella, the quiet, cultured life she lived in Venice with her musician husband, Ugo, was everything she could have hoped for. But when Italy allied itself with Nazi Germany in 1940, her world changed forever. Ugo, trading in his violin for a gun, joined the Resistance, while Graziella was forced to seek refuge at his family s farm in the nearby Euganean Hills. Just until the war is over, Ugo had promised, but it has been months now since the Nazis retreated, and no one has seen him since.</p><p>With Ugo gone, it seems as if she will be trapped forever on this remote farm with her lost husband s difficult family. So when an American soldier named Frank is stranded on the mountain, Graziella embraces this unexpected chance at being happy again. But as tempting as it is to leave behind this war-torn country and her painful memories for a new life in America, can she go without learning her husband s fate? </p><p>With quiet grace and humor, <i>Ciao Bella</i> explores the possibilities of love and redemption in the wake of war, showing that some of the hardest decisions come only after the fighting has stopped.</p></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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A charming second book by authors Buonaguro and Kird
Janice Kirk and Gina Buonaguro first caught my attention with their debut novel, The Sidewalk Artist, which I've reviewed, and have also interviewed the authors on this site. The Sidewalk Artist is perhaps one of the most romantic books I've ever read and it caught a part of my heart and has never let it go. I have been excited since the ladies told me that they were writing their second novel about a romance in Italy circa 1945. Based on the beautiful writing in Artist, I couldn't wait to read this new book. They sent me an advance copy of this new book, Ciao Bella, and I also bought the book through Amazon,and it is also one another winning combination from these ladies. Set in Italy 1945, a American soldier's motorcycle breaks down near the farm of Graziella (Grace) and Ugo Nevicato. Graziella is a lady from Canada who married Ugo Nevicato and was transplanted to this village near Venice. Ugo joins the Resistance and has not been heard from in a long time. Grace's father-in-law, Giovanni, lives with Grace, and he is starting senility, so basically Grace has to take care of the farm on her own, as well as her father-in-law. Her in-laws are all nearby, and although she's been married to Ugo a while, it seems they never truly accepted her as a member of the family. The young man, the soldier, Frank Austin was from the 88th Division, and was going to be taken back to America that next month, but in the meantime, his motorcycle broke down, and seeks help from this pretty lady. She hasn't spoken English in a while, but it quickly comes back to her and try as they might, there are no tools, nor any way to help this handsome young blonde man fix his bike to be on his way. So it looks like Frank is stuck here in this little village until he can get a repair for his cycle. Until Ugo comes home, or Frank can get help, Grace invites him to stay in their barn in exchange for him doing chores and helping out on the farm. Needless to say, having a handsome man at a farm wher...
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