by Adriana Trigiani
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: For over a hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This historic business partnership provides the twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the school teacher turned shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past . . . and a secret.
A piece of surprising news is revealed at The Feast of the Seven Fishes when Valentine and Gianluca join her extended family on a fateful Christmas Eve. Now faced with life altering choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: "A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything." The proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves-the bitter and the sweetness of life itself.
Kritters Thoughts: WARNING: Due to being on tour for this book, this review may contain some spoilers.
The third book finds Valentine, newly engaged as it starts just moments after the second book ended. She gets married and then must start living as a married woman when she has spent many many years single. I loved the juggling act of family, career and lifestyle and trying to please each part of her life all at the same time - it is such a theme that many women now have to deal with and the juxtaposition of her Italian husband who has a different view of what a woman's role should be.
A complete twist at the end took this book to a completely different level than the last two and really made me feel the closure of the trilogy. I can't believe Trigiani went there but when I finished reading the book, I was glad she did!
Although this was the third in the trilogy that I fell in love with, I had a few issues with this one. I felt as though the author spent quite a bit of time reminding readers what went on in the first two books. I didn't feel this way when I read the second one, but for some reason I felt as though she took too much time to recap the first two books. The other thing I was disappointed about was the title, I understand the title, but I just wish it had matched the first two in the trilogy.
Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel
(the third in the trilogy had to say goodbye to the characters)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
That twist at the end really has me intrigued! I'm glad that the series came to a satisfying conclusion for you. Thanks for being a part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteI found the title a little odd myself -- I mean, I understood it as a type of rebirth for Valentine, but it was strange!
ReplyDeleteThe twist definitely punched me in the stomach... not necessarily in a good way. Though I enjoyed this one, I felt so somber and sad when it was over!