Catarina's Ring: A Novel

(Paperback)

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The New York Times best-selling author Lisa McGuinness interweaves the stories of four generations of strong, vibrant women and has created characters both idiosyncratic and adventuresome. Born at the end of the Nineteenth Century and nestled in South Western Italy, Catarina Pensbenes life in Perdifumo is full of sun-drenched olive orchards, lush grape vines, delicious peasant food, family and love. Because of an unexpected plunge into an untenable situation, Catarina decides to take a huge risk to become a mail order bride and sets out across the ocean.

Interwoven with Catarinas Ring, is the story is of her witty and self-deprecating granddaughter, Juliette Brice. Born and raised in Northern California, Juliette experiences an unfortunate tragedy that serves as the impetus for her to shake up her life, and travel to her grandmothers homeland, where she enrolls in a six-month cooking class in Lucca, Italy. While abroad, Julliette becomes romantically involved with a handsome Italian man, yet her own destiny dictates she is to return to California once her class ends. Through her attention to detail and employing both historically accurate and thoroughly modern storytelling, Catarina's Ring serves up Italian delicacies, luminous characters, a delicious escape and completely inspiring storytelling.

Reviews

Midwest Book Review called Catarina's Ring, "A deftly constructed novel, Catarina's Ring is an extraordinary and original novel that will hold the reader's thoroughly absorbed attention from beginning to end. Solidly entertaining from first page to last, Catarina's Ring is highly recommended."

Gentry Magazine said the "Engaging characters, delectable food, gorgeous Italian landscapes, and simmering love make for a delicious novel by Bay Area author, Lisa McGuinness that will leave your hungry for more."

The Reviewer "...the food descriptions made my mouth water, and the stories were great."

Author Bio

Lisa McGuinnessis the author ofCatarina's Ring,Meaningful Bouquets,Hoppy Trails,Caffeinated Ideas Journaland the co-author of numerous children's books including theNew York TimesbestsellingBee & Me. Her love of all things Italian began with her mother who taught her to enjoy the pure pleasure of Italian peasant food. She has passed many days meandering around Italy but lives in Northern California with her husband, Matt, and two hilarious dachshund mix dogs, Hazel and Wyatt.