An International Bestseller!A LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick!A trio of second-born daughters sets out on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says they’ll never find love, by New York Times bestseller Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List. Since the day Filomena Fontana cast a curse upon her sister more than two hundred years ago, not … curse upon her sister more than two hundred years ago, not one second-born Fontana daughter has found lasting love. Some, like second-born Emilia, the happily-single baker at her grandfather’s Brooklyn deli, claim it’s an odd coincidence. Others, like her sexy, desperate-for-love cousin Lucy, insist it’s a true hex. But both are bewildered when their great-aunt calls with an astounding proposition: If they accompany her to her homeland of Italy, Aunt Poppy vows she’ll meet the love of her life on the steps of the Ravello Cathedral on her eightieth birthday, and break the Fontana Second-Daughter Curse once and for all.
Against the backdrop of wandering Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan fields, and enchanting Amalfi Coast villages, romance blooms, destinies are found, and family secrets are unearthed—secrets that could threaten the family far more than a centuries-old curse.
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A story that centers on a family curse isn’t a typical story I’m attracted to, but how could I resist this gorgeous cover and Italian setting? I’ve visited Italy twice, and I loved learning about the culture. And of course, I gained a few pounds sampling the food… But all that’s beside the point. Even if you’ve never stepped foot in the lovely land of love, it’s easy to appreciate this Italian countryside and unique characters.
Emilia Fontana is who I connected with the most. Though she is very different from me as a whole, we do share some similarities. She seems to be a pleaser, trying not to cause waves or disrupt or disagree with anything her domineering Nonna lays out there. But she isn’t quite as content as she first appears.
I didn’t really care for Lucy, initially, but she shows growth and develops understanding as her time in Italy progresses. She believes in the family curse, and she desperately seeks to get married because she wants to break the curse. Certainly, she is in need of self-discovery before she can truly find love.
Both second-born daughters, Emilia and Lucy fall under the Fontana Family Curse that states they have no hope in finding love. When they accept a paid trip to Italy to visit Aunt Poppy, they discover secrets, surprises, and once in a lifetime adventures!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.