Maria Conti has a full and busy life in 60’s Manchester. Having lost her mother at a young age, she has a close and loving relationship with her father, Leo who owns an Italian restaurant, Leonardo’s. Finding first romance with Paul Spencer seems like the icing on the cake.Secretly, however, she worries over Leo’s drinking and gambling binges. Then he buys a racehorse she know he cannot afford. … cannot afford. Maria has no one to advise her as Leo’s family are in Italy and her mother’s family in Ireland rejected her when she married a foreigner.
Having carefully guarded her father from female attention, Maria’s attitude alters when the elegant Diana Freeman comes into their lives. She hopes that Diana’s presence may distance Leo from his addictions.
Then Leo is tragically killed. In the dark days that follow it emerges that he has left them deeply in debt and their home and her beloved Leonard’s are in jeopardy. Maria has no choice but t o turn to her estranged Irish Family.
Still reeling from her loss, she fins she has yet another challenge to face, In Ireland, as she uncovers a bitter legacy of secrets and lies, she comes to realise that their mother was not the person she’s been led to believe she was.
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Kept me anticipating the outcome. Young Maria was delightful and nature beyond her years. A good read for teenagers as well as general audience.
The beginning chapters and the last chapters were especially good. The middle seemed to drag a little, but It picked up again when the Irish family brought Maria to their home.
A heartwarming coming of age story in Ireland – very reminiscent of Maeve Binchy. A joy to read.
Couldn’t put it down!
A nice book to lift your spirits but not too sick sweet.
Great read!
Interesting plot lines and characters. People aren’t always what you believe them to be. Surprising twists.
The story started out a little slow but it was well worth the read. Very uplifting in the end.
So enjoyable to read a novel that uses phrases that I grew up hearing every day from the North of England. The time period was much later but the memories lingered.
A sweet story!
A charming and realistic story.
I haven’t quite finished this book, but I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed it and will miss all the characters when I do.
Loved the characters and story line
This book was so poorly written I couldn’t finish it. Perhaps it should be described as a young adult story.
one of the very best books I’ve gotten from bookbub!. Maria is a strong teenager with a good sense of what’s important. She learns how to adapt to tough situations and make the best of them.
pretty light, nice little story
Enjoyed this greatly. Looking to read the next one.
Pretty boring, I skimmed through it quite a bit. I don’t recommend it.
I liked this book. Took a bit of page turning to figure out all of the characters and their issues. Was a really good read.
A dark family secret keeps the Irish and Italian sides of her family apart until tragedy strikes her family.