February 6, 2023 The first moment, when information is scarce, is the most uncanny. My aunt, hit by a biblical earthquake of 7.8 magnitude at 4:17 AM, reports she’s alive, shielded in a car in Gaziantep that “still shakes like a cradle.” My uncle, she says, might have died if the quake had hit last […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/02/15/cries-from-the-rubble/
Sophia Rose is here with Varina Pallodino’s Jersey Italian Love Story by Terri-Lynne DeFino. I am curious about this chick-lit novel since I am a Jersey girl who married into an Italian family. Grab an espresso and check out Sophia’s thoughts….
Varina Pallodino’s Jersey Italian Love Story
by Terri-Lynne DeFino
Genres: Chick-Lit
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
An utterly delightful and surprising family drama–think Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding set in New Jersey–about a boisterous, complicated Italian family determined to help their widowed mother find a new boyfriend.
Lively widow Varina Paladino has lived in the same house in Wyldale, New Jersey, her entire life. The town might be slightly stuck in the 1960s, when small businesses thrived and most residents were Italian, but its population is getting younger and the Paladinos are embracing the change. What Varina’s not embracing, much to her ninety-two-year-old mother’s dismay, is dating. Running Paladino’s Italian Specialties grocery, caring for her mother, and keeping her large, loud Jersey Italian family from killing one another takes up all of Varina’s energy anyway.
Sylvia Spini worries about her daughter Varina being left all alone when she dies. Sylvia knows what it is to be old and alone, so when her granddaughter, Donatella, comes to her with an ill-conceived plan to find Varina a man, Sylvia dives in. The three Paladino sons–Dante, Tommy, and Paulie–are each secretly plotting their own big life changes, which will throw the whole family for a loop.
Three generations of Paladinos butt heads and break one another’s hearts as they wrestle with their own Jersey Italian love stories in this hilarious and life-affirming ode to love and family
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Holding a New Jersey Italian family together is no easy feat for a widowed grocery store owner- especially since they start matchmaking. The title had me sold, but then I spotted the blurb for this new to me author effort and I couldn’t resist if I wanted to.
The story opens on an Italian American widow in her seventies who runs her late husband’s family Italian grocery store, cares for her ninety-two year old mother, Sylvia, keeps an eye on her grown sons, David and Dante, troubled Donatella, and a neighbor man, Paulie, who grew up with her kids and got kicked out of his family. Sylvia and Donatella decide Varina needs help getting back into the saddle when it comes to dating when Varina doesn’t begin dating on her own.
And, off we go with this boisterous, riot of a family giving the reader a full-senses read with color, language, food, emotions all over, and the ups and downs of a multi-generational family story. Varina might be the center of them all and her lack of love life the catalyst for some aspects, but this is not just her story. It’s a family saga, really with Sylvia being the one to get a romance, Varina considering what she really wants, and Paulie and Donatella taking the spotlight later as do other family members when Varina is background. So, there is romance and even some comic moments, but there is a lot of just life story of people tied to each other as family.
The author doesn’t shy away from mental health troubles in at least two characters, sexual orientation for another, family secrets, family misunderstandings, loss, and more including a late December surprise romance for Sylvia.
Incidentally, the beginning of each chapter was headed with Jersey Italian colloquialisms that cracked me up often enough. Some were familiar since I come from a Sicilian heritage, but most were not since my family doesn’t hail from Jersey.
While there are moments when the story meanders and doesn’t have a crisp plot thread (or threads) and I didn’t take to some of the characters, that feeling of being immersed in a big and clamorous Italian family, mouth-watering food descriptions, and emotional moments were there. In the end, I was glad to have spent time with the Pallodinos and hope Ms DeFino writes more in this vein. I would recommend it to women’s fic, chick lit, general fiction, and fans of romance that like the focus on family.
Amazon | Audible
Terri-Lynne DeFino was born and raised in New Jersey but escaped to the wilds of Connecticut back in the nineties when her kids were babies and everyone wore flannel. She is the second of four children born to a homemaker and a then-fledgling attorney, in a Paterson, NJ household that included two grandparents and the occasional uncle, where Sunday dinner was a given and the noise level often required earplugs. According to her mother, she started writing stories at the age of seven, and learned to cook at any elbow she could wedge herself under. These days, her famiglia is larger, and louder, which might explain why she’s still in Connecticut, but if you knock on her door, she’ll invite you in and feed you, because you can take the Italian girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey Italian out of the girl.
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Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/02/varina-pallodinos-jersey-italian-love-story-by-terri-lynne-defino.html
For My Sister by Puja Shah is a novel that follows two sisters’ Asya’ and ‘Amla’, and how a sequence of events impacted their lives, shaping who they become. The first major life event they remember was when their mother became ill, how the suddenness of this tragic situation cements a bond between the sisters and during later events in their lives.
This coming-of-age story shares the lives of two individuals who, despite their close relationship, are vastly different in many ways. The author narrates from a profoundly personal but unique perspective that captures the reader’s attention, so they want to learn more. The significance of the girls’ early years quickly sets the foundation for many other changes and events later in life, which is well emphasized and woven into the story.
For My Sister by Puja Shah is a beautifully written and intriguing tale that delves deep into the struggles of women from around the world. For this reason, I really enjoyed the appreciation of the theme of this book, which is enhanced by exceptional storytelling. I would highly recommend reading this book, and sharing it, as it provides an important message of resilience, with rich characters and their experiences.
Pages: 284 | ASIN : 1646637968
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/15/for-my-sister/
Godly Riddims by Dianne Lindsay is an uplifting and inspiring book that portrays God’s love and devotion through riddims and melody. The author excellently weaves faith, praise, and worship with the musicality of riddims to create a one-of-a-kind and captivating reading experience. The idea of the book is the show God’s nature and character, emphasizing his love, mercy, and grace toward us. It also encourages readers to consider their relationship with God and to seek a deeper understanding of his will and purpose for their lives.
The book takes a poetic approach, encouraging readers to incorporate praise and worship into their lives. Lindsay intersperses personal anecdotes and testimonies of God’s greatness in her life throughout the book. She uses these rich illustrations to share her views of how God can work in people’s lives and hopefully bring hope and healing. While the book is written for a faith-based audience, it is also beautifully written and aims to inspire readers.
The author uses poetic and evocative language to capture the reader’s attention. I noticed it also contains some inspirational verses from the Bible that are meant to help boost the overall impact of the book’s message. It was a motivational book, and I couldn’t help being wowed at the author’s level of creativity in writing these powerful riddims.
I believe readers looking for faith-based inspiration and encouragement to explore their faith and devotion to God will enjoy this book and consider it a must-read. It’s a book I would highly recommend, Godly Riddims by Dianne Lindsay, to Christians who want to deepen their relationship with God and motivate them to give praise to God every day.
Pages: 215 | ASIN : B0BTFKZNZT
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/15/godly-riddims/
The Dog in the Hollow by Will Lowery is the captivating story of a dog named Goose, who has a big heart but is in a bad situation. Goose’s circumstances place him in disarray when his only option is to betray his instincts. While he’s never been aggressive, he’s part of a team of other dogs who live with a man, their owner, who’s cruel. After Goose loses a dog fight, his owner forgets to lock him in his cage in anger. Injured and traumatized from this event, Goose escapes the hollow and retreats to the woods, where he must learn to survive.
After making unlikely acquaintances in the woods, Goose is introduced to a man with a heart as gold, who decides to take care of him and give Goose a good home. Although Goose loves the man and his new life, he can’t help but think of the dogs he left in the hollow, and together he and the man face their past to fight for a better future.
Will Lowrey provides readers with an attention-grabbing read that is hard to put down. I couldn’t help but love Goose and his eagerness to risk his safe new surroundings to help his friends. Lowery did an amazing job creating Goose’s character, immersing the reader into his world, and helping us see life through his eyes. This book takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster as Goose discovers the difference between cruel owners and true companions. It’s a unique story that gives the reader a new perspective on finding love and kindness in the least likely places and finding the strength to confront those who cause harm.
The Dog in the Hollow by Will Lowery is a heartwarming and inspiring story highlighting the importance of animal rights and the unbreakable bond between dogs and their loving owners. This must-read book will leave you with a satisfying and fulfilling ending.
Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0BRH9LB95
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/15/the-dog-in-the-hollow/
This beautifully illustrated book is a concise yet comprehensive account of Jane Austen’s life. We will look at her family, friends, and suitors. We will discover her favourite food, music and authors. We will explore the cuisine and fashion of the period. We will sneak into a public ball at the Assembly Rooms in Basingstoke to see Jane Austen meet the love of her life. We will help Mrs. Austen create the menu for their Christmas dinner. Lastly, we will enquire about Jane Austen, the iconic writer, and examine her masterpieces and the literary devices she used in her novels.
–2022 Indies Today Book Awards, Finalist
–#1 Bestseller on Amazon in the USA and Canada
(Romantic and Gothic Literary Criticism)
–#1 New Release on Amazon in the USA and Canada
(Romantic and Gothic Literary Criticism – Author Biographies)
–5-Star Recommendation Badge, Indies Today
This book contains many delightful illustrations of the period and it will make a beautiful gift for any fan of Jane Austen.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/15/the-readers-companion-to-the-world-of-jane-austen-book-trailer/
Jack Rhodes is about to lend his hand in solving the case of a suspected serial killer. There are common threads that run throughout the cases, and the team that has assembled believes this is not the killer’s first round of victims. Jack is no amateur when it comes to investigations, and he soon begins asking all the right questions to get the ball rolling. As disturbing as the murders are, there exists another and, perhaps, even more, disconcerting commonality. All victims are successful women who own and operate their own companies. Jack quickly realizes that this aspect of the crimes puts Stella West, his close friend, in imminent danger.
Scam at Mount Diablo, by Mike MacKay, follows the main character Jack Rhodes as he thwarts one attack after another all while doing his part to solve a series of murders and prevent Stella West from becoming a serial killer’s next victim. Jack is adept at what he does and puts both his computer and martial arts skills to remain one step ahead of his enemies. MacKay’s novel is an enthralling crime thriller that contains elements of romance, humor, and a hefty dose of mystery.
This is the third book by MacKay I have read, and I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mike MacKay is going to become a name to remember. I never throw around the word “love” loosely when it comes to writing, but I absolutely love MacKay’s work. His characters are well-drawn and pull the reader effortlessly into the story. Jack is a one-of-a-kind main character. His relationship with Stella adds a perfectly measured dose of romance to an already fascinating plot. Some crime thrillers lack character development and focus too heavily on the plot. MacKay’s work is the ideal blend of a plot full of twists and turns and a cast of stand-out characters.
I am giving Scam at Mount Diablo, by Mike MacKay, a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend MacKay’s work to any fan of crime thrillers and mysteries. MacKay’s novels offer something others seem to lack; depth of character. Readers will fall quickly into Jack’s world, become invested in his plight, and remember him long after they finish the last chapter. With no lack of action sequences, Scam at Mount Diablo is a sure-fire win for readers who want their socks knocked off from the first chapter.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/15/scam-at-mount-diablo/