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Reviews for The Wine Seekers by Linda Bilodeau
A shattered dream, a guarded family secret, and forbidden love take Nicola Romolo on a perilous quest to reclaim his family's fortune. Before dying, Nicola's father reveals a long held family secret. But Nicola's dream of claiming their family's wealth is shattered when his secret love affair with his boss' daughter is discovered. After losing his job, Nicola moves to Naples, Italy where he accidentally kills the local Don's brother-in-law. With his future at stake, he must find the truth about his family's past or forever forfeit any hope of winning the woman he loves and owning a vineyard.
Borrowing a page from William
Shakespeare, Bilodeau begins her broad sweeping story nestled in the
vineyards of old Italy with a clandestine meeting between Nicola
Romolo, the poor tenant farmer of the Tuscany vineyards, and Gianna
Silvano, the daughter of the owner. Their long standing love is not
to be broken despite the twist of fate that involve the Mafia,
marriage to others, and distance. This tale will keep the reader
coming back to see what fate has in store for them and the author
skillfully does not reveal to the very last chapter. As the story moves along, life takes some interesting turns. Some, such as the wife being left in a convent while the husband goes off, left me wondering what angle the writer was trying to achieve. Or the fact that lung cancer could be identified so quickly on Ellis Island at the beginning of the 1900s. I suppose the use of x-ray was available, but it was diagnosed so quickly. This nagged me a bit. A small bother on my part-- I was thinking perhaps consumption. But I read on. I was glad that Maria became more of a three dimensional character toward the end of the story. Would I recommend this story? Certainly. The epic proportions have a grand feel much like a Mario Puzia. The central characters Nicola and Gianna are the driving force of this novel that keep you coming back to make sure their lives are not wasted. Would I pick up another novel from Ms. Bilodeau? Yes. Bluebell, Long and Short Reviews
Rating: 3 Cups
Nicola Ramolo is planning on asking for Gianna’s hand in marriage, but when they are caught making love, her father sends her away and evicts Nicola’s family off the Silvano Vineyard. Forced to move to a city to make money to support his family, Nicola leaves his home with a heavy heart and the memory of Gianna still rooted deeply in his mind. With the fates pushing these two young lovers in different directions, it seems to Nicola he will never find Gianna again. But in their ultimate cruelty the young lovers do see each other again, but they will always be separated by marriage and station. Both Nicola and Gianna have to face many obstacles and hardships in their lives before they will find peace, but will that struggle be more than either can overcome? This book really shows just how differently people’s lives can turn out when all the odds are against them. Linda Bilodeau does a wonderful job of portraying the plight of immigrants, especially Italians to the United States. The Wine Seekers will pull at your heart strings with just how unfair life can be sometimes.
LeeAnn, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
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Copyright 2008 Leanne Burroughs
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