Brava, Valentine
by Adraina Trigiani
Why did you choose this book? I wanted to read the entire series before reviewing The Supreme Macaroni Company
When did you read this book? November 2013
Who should read this book? Adriana Trigiani fans and readers who enjoy Italy
Source: TLC Book Tours
Adriana Trigiani's bestselling novels are beloved by millions of readers around the world. From the Big Stone Gap series to Lucia, Lucia, each is a sumptuous treat as Trigiani tells hilarious and romantic stories that we want to return to again and again. Very Valentine, an instant New York Times bestseller, introduced the contemporary family saga of the Roncalli and Angelini families, artisans of handcrafted wedding shoes in Greenwich Village since 1903. As Brava, Valentine begins, snow falls like glitter over Tuscany at the wedding of her grandmother, Teodora, and longtime love, Dominic. Valentine's dreams are dashed when Gram announces that Alfred, "the prince," Valentine's only brother and nemesis, has been named her partner at Angelini Shoes. Devastated, Valentine falls into the arms of Gianluca, a sexy Tuscan tanner who made his romantic intentions known on the Isle of Capri. Despite their passion for one another and Gianluca's heartfelt letters, a long-distance relationship seems impossible. As Valentine turns away from romance and devotes herself to her work, mentor and pattern cutter June Lawton guides her through her power struggle with Alfred, while best friend and confidante Gabriel Biondi moves into 166 Perry Street, transforming her home and point of view. Savvy financier Bret Fitzpatrick, Valentine's first love and former fiance who still carries a torch for her, encourages Valentine to exploit her full potential as a designer and a business woman with a plan that will bring her singular creations to the world. A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she finds a long-buried secret hidden deep within a family scandal. Once unearthed, the truth rocks the Roncallis and Valentine is determined to hold her family together. More so, she longs to create one of her own, but is torn between a past love that nurtured her, and a new one that promises to sustain her. Brava, Valentine, Trigiani's best novel yet, delivers a hilarious and poignant mix of colorful worlds and unforgettable characters as only she can create them.(less)
My Review
This is the second book in the Valentine series. I enjoyed it much more than the first book, Very Valentine. That one got off to a very slow start for me. Valentine Roncalli is part of a large Italian American extended family, and it took awhile to get to know all of the characters in the first book. In this one, I already knew them and it was like coming back to catch up with old friends! This story picks up right where book one left off, with a wedding in Tuscany! I love reading stories set in Italy, and the descriptive language in this one is beautiful! The story is good, too, as we learn about Valentine’s developing relationship with her grandmother’s new stepson. I also enjoyed watching Val cope with learning to work with her brother, who she has never really gotten along with. And I was intrigued when Val learned that her grandfather had had a falling out with HIS brother, and she learns she has cousins in Argentina….cousins who add diversity to the family tree! This book left me wanting more, and luckily, the third book is available now! My review for this one will appear here on the blog this tomorrow!
My Rating: ★★★★ 4 Stars
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