Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop
Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop

Author: Rosanna Chiofalo

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: 2016-06-01

Total Pages: 498

ISBN-13: 1617739383

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A unique pastry shop, operated out of a convent in Italy, changes lives past and present in this touching novel by the author of The Sunflower Girl. Food writer Claudia Lombardo has sampled exquisite dishes by the world’s greatest chefs. But when she hears about the remarkable desserts that are created in a pastry shop operated out of a convent in the sleepy Italian hillside town of Santa Lucia del Mela, she wants to write a book featuring the sweets and the story behind their creator—Sorella Agata. But the convent’s most famous dessert—a cassata cake—is what really intrigues Claudia. Everyone who samples the cake agrees it is like none other they’ve tasted. Yet no one can figure out what makes the cassata so incredibly delicious. Though Sorella Agata insists there is no secret ingredient, Claudia is determined to learn the truth behind the mysterious cake. As she samples each delectable treat—marzipan fruit, rich cream puffs, and decadent cakes—Sorella Agata relates the pastry shop’s history and tells of the young woman, Rosalia, who inspired her. Kidnapped and separated from her family, Rosalia is subjected to a terrible ordeal—until the nuns find her. As she heals, she learns the art of pastry making, and soon she even finds love with Antonio—an apprentice in the pastry shop. But her heart still aches for the family she lost. And Rosalia knows she will not be whole again until she is reunited with them. As Claudia unravels the secret of the cassata cake, she discovers a deeper, fascinating story—one that affirms food can do more than nourish the body . . . it can stir memories, heal the deepest heartaches, and even act as a bridge to those we love, no matter how far apart. Praise for the writing of Rosanna Chiofalo Stella Mia

Carissima
Carissima

Author: Rosanna Chiofalo

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Published: 2013-09-01

Total Pages: 464

ISBN-13: 0758291590

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From Rosanna Chiofalo comes a sumptuous novel that sweeps readers from the Italian-American enclave of Astoria, New York, to the stunning vistas of Rome, and introduces two very different women—in a story of friendship, love, and destiny. . . In college, Pia Santore dreamed of going to New York and taking the Big Apple by storm with her younger sister Erica. Instead, Pia has arrived in Astoria, Queens, with a prestigious journalism internship at a celebrity magazine. . .and without Erica. Though the neighborhood has an abundance of appeal—including the delectable confections sold at her Aunt Antoniella's bakery—the pain of losing Erica a few years ago still feels fresh. Pia's arrival coincides with an unexpected sighting. Italian movie icon Francesca Donata is rumored to be staying nearby, every bit as voluptuous and divaesque as in her heyday. With the help of a handsome local artist with ties to Francesca's family, Pia convinces the legend to grant her a series of interviews—even traveling to her house in Rome. In the eternal city, Pia begins to unearth the truth behind the star's fabled romances and tangled past. And here too, where beauty and history mingle in every breathtaking view, and hope shimmers in the Trevi fountain and on the Spanish Steps, Pia gradually learns how to love and when to let go. For when in Rome, you may find your carissima—your dearest one—and you may even find yourself. . . Rosanna Chiofalo is a first-generation Italian American whose parents emigrated from Sicily to New York in the early 1960s. She is the author of Bella Fortuna and is currently hard at work writing her next novel. She and her husband live in New York City. Advance Praise For Carissima "What a glorious novel this is. It's a celebration of life, love and unlikely friendship through the eyes of two very different women. Yet their similarities bind them together and will endear them to readers long after the last page is turned. Bravissima for Carissima!" --Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author "Fantastico! I couldn't put it down!" --Lisa Jackson, # 1 New York Times bestselling author Praise for Bella Fortuna "Chiofalo brings the Italian immigrant community and neighborhoods richly to life." —Publishers Weekly "Reading Rosanna Chiofalo's depiction of a modern Italian-American family is like digging into a fresh bowl of pasta—warm, welcome, and satisfying. A deeply felt debut that affirms the importance of friends and family—Italian-style." --Lisa Verge Higgins, author of The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship "Well-drawn characters. . .A charmer." —BookPage "Sometimes tough, sometimes tender, always heartfelt and honest, Bella Fortuna is a lively, finely-stitched tale of life and love, family and friendship, and a zest for cose Italiane!" --Peter Pezzelli, author of Home to Italy "Chiofalo's debut is an inspiring read about second chances with love after tremendous heartbreak. . . Readers with Italian-American backgrounds will definitely eat this one up!" —RT Book Reviews

Bella Fortuna
Bella Fortuna

Author: Rosanna Chiofalo

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: 2011-10-24

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 0758279868

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“Sometimes tough, sometimes tender, always heartfelt and honest, Bella Fortuna is a lively, finely-stitched tale of life and love, family and friendship, and a zest for cose Italiane!” —Peter Pezzelli, author of Home to Italy Valentina DeLuca has made hundreds of brides’ dreams come true. At Sposa Rosa, the Astoria, New York, boutique where she, her sisters, and their mother design and sew couture knock-off gowns, she can find the perfect style for even the most demanding customer. Now, it’s her turn. Valentina has loved Michael Carello ever since he rescued her from a cranky shopkeeper when she was ten years old. He’s handsome, chivalrous, and loyal. And in a few weeks, she’s going to marry him—in Venice. But just when she thinks everything is falling into place, Valentina is forced to re-examine her life to see what truly makes her happy. And as she soon learns, in a place as magical as Venice, what seems like misfortune can turn out to be anything but, although who knows what may be waiting around the next corner? The chance to enjoy a moonlit gondola ride, to sip Prosecco in St. Mark’s Square, to eat mouthwatering gelato, to put aside “sensible” for once and see where the warm Italian breezes guide her as she visits all the sights she’s dreamed of: The Doge’s Palace, Il Rialto, the little islands of Murano and Burano. And maybe, along the way, to discover that bella fortuna—good luck—isn’t what you’re given, but what you make. “Chiofalo brings the Italian immigrant community and neighborhoods richly to life.” —Publishers Weekly “Well-drawn characters . . . A charmer.” —BookPage

The Sunflower Girl
The Sunflower Girl

Author: Rosanna Chiofalo

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: 2018-07-31

Total Pages: 377

ISBN-13: 1617739405

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Set in Italy during WWII and twenty-five years later, this is a story of a mother and daughter, of love and the secrets that echo through generations. In the fields around Tuscany in summertime, sunflowers grow in abundance—wave upon wave of gold and green standing tall against the Italian sky. But for Signora Maria Ferraro, the bright yellow blooms she once loved as a child have come to represent the most painful episode of her life. Not even her cherished daughter, Anabella, knows what happened to her during World War II, when the Germans overran her hometown of Florence and Signora Ferraro fell in love with a Resistance fighter. In the aftermath of loss and grief she found salvation through an unlikely source—cultivating roses on her farm in the Tuscan countryside. Now the blossoms symbolize everything that is both good and safe, and she nurtures them with as much care as she guards her past. Yet to Anabella, the rose farm that once delighted her has become little more than a pretty prison. Despite her beautiful surroundings, Anabella longs for more. During one of her regular visits to Siena to sell their flowers, Anabella encounters a handsome young artist named Dante Galletti. His canvases are filled with images of a girl who looks just like Anabella—and Dante claims to have seen her in his dreams, running through a sunflower field. Through Dante, Anabella begins to see sunflowers, her cloistered existence, and the world itself through new eyes. As their relationship deepens, Anabella knows she will soon have to choose between loyalty to her mother, and the risks and rewards of living on her own terms . . .

Bella Fortuna
Bella Fortuna

Author: R. Chiofalo

Publisher:

Published: 2018-05

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 1496716388

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"Valentina DeLuca has made hundreds of brides' dreams come true. At Sposa Rosa, the Astoria, New York, boutique where she, her sisters, and their mother design and sew couture knock-off gowns, she can find the perfect style for even the most demanding customer. Now, it's her turn. Valentina has loved Michael Carello ever since he rescued her from a cranky shopkeeper when she was ten years old. He's handsome, chivalrous, and loyal. And in a few weeks, she's going to marry him - in Venice. But just when she thinks everything is falling into place, Valentina is forced to re-examine her life to see what truly makes her happy. And as she soon learns, in a place as magical as Venice, what seems like misfortune can turn out to be anything but, although who knows what may be waiting around the next corner? The chance to enjoy a moonlit gondola ride, to sip Prosecco in St. Mark's Square, to eat mouthwatering gelato, to put aside osensibleo for once and see where the warm Italian breezes guide her as she visits all the sights she's dreamed of - The Doge's Palace, Il Rialto, the little islands of Murano and Burano. And maybe, along the way, to discover that bella fortuna - good luck - isn't what you're given, but what you make."--Publisher's description

The Phantom Image
The Phantom Image

Author: Patrick R. Crowley

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2019-12-10

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 022664829X

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Drawing from a rich corpus of art works, including sarcophagi, tomb paintings, and floor mosaics, Patrick R. Crowley investigates how something as insubstantial as a ghost could be made visible through the material grit of stone and paint. In this fresh and wide-ranging study, he uses the figure of the ghost to offer a new understanding of the status of the image in Roman art and visual culture. Tracing the shifting practices and debates in antiquity about the nature of vision and representation, Crowley shows how images of ghosts make visible structures of beholding and strategies of depiction. Yet the figure of the ghost simultaneously contributes to a broader conceptual history that accounts for how modalities of belief emerged and developed in antiquity. Neither illustrations of ancient beliefs in ghosts nor depictions of afterlife, these images show us something about the visual event of seeing itself. The Phantom Image offers essential insight into ancient art, visual culture, and the history of the image.

Captain Phil Harris
Captain Phil Harris

Author: Josh Harris

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-04-15

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1451666063

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Presents a portrait of the late star of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," revealing his high-risk private life of tempestuous affairs, drug-fueled parties, and motorcycle riding, as well as his virtues as a devoted friend, loving father, and steadfast captain.

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

Author: Deb Perelman

Publisher: Knopf

Published: 2012-10-30

Total Pages: 696

ISBN-13: 0307961060

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NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • Celebrated food blogger and best-selling cookbook author Deb Perelman knows just the thing for a Tuesday night, or your most special occasion—from salads and slaws that make perfect side dishes (or a full meal) to savory tarts and galettes; from Mushroom Bourguignon to Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe. “Innovative, creative, and effortlessly funny." —Cooking Light Deb Perelman loves to cook. She isn’t a chef or a restaurant owner—she’s never even waitressed. Cooking in her tiny Manhattan kitchen was, at least at first, for special occasions—and, too often, an unnecessarily daunting venture. Deb found herself overwhelmed by the number of recipes available to her. Have you ever searched for the perfect birthday cake on Google? You’ll get more than three million results. Where do you start? What if you pick a recipe that’s downright bad? With the same warmth, candor, and can-do spirit her award-winning blog, Smitten Kitchen, is known for, here Deb presents more than 100 recipes—almost entirely new, plus a few favorites from the site—that guarantee delicious results every time. Gorgeously illustrated with hundreds of her beautiful color photographs, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook is all about approachable, uncompromised home cooking. Here you’ll find better uses for your favorite vegetables: asparagus blanketing a pizza; ratatouille dressing up a sandwich; cauliflower masquerading as pesto. These are recipes you’ll bookmark and use so often they become your own, recipes you’ll slip to a friend who wants to impress her new in-laws, and recipes with simple ingredients that yield amazing results in a minimum amount of time. Deb tells you her favorite summer cocktail; how to lose your fear of cooking for a crowd; and the essential items you need for your own kitchen. From salads and slaws that make perfect side dishes (or a full meal) to savory tarts and galettes; from Mushroom Bourguignon to Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe Cake, Deb knows just the thing for a Tuesday night, or your most special occasion. Look for Deb Perelman’s latest cookbook, Smitten Kitchen Keepers!

Under a Sardinian Sky
Under a Sardinian Sky

Author: Sara Alexander

Publisher: HarperCollins UK

Published: 2017-04-20

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 0008217270

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Sometimes a family’s deepest silences hide the most important secrets.

Stella Mia
Stella Mia

Author: Rosanna Chiofalo

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: 2014-12-30

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 0758275056

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Julia Parlatone doesn't have much to remember her Italian mother by. A grapevine that Sarina planted still flourishes in the background of Julia's childhood home in Astoria, Queens. And there's a song "Stella Mia" she recalls her mother signing--my star, my star, you are the most beautiful star--until the day she left three-year-old Julia behind and returned to Italy for good. Now a happily married school teacher, Julia tries not to dwell on a past she can't change or on a mother who chose to leave. But in an old trunk in the family basement, she discovers items that belong to her mother--a song book, Tarot cards, a Sicilian folk costume--and a diary. By the diary's end, Julia knows she must track down her mother in Italy and piece together the rest of the complex, bittersweet truth.