The Shoemaker's Wife / Adriana Trigiani / 470 pages

This story is based on the author's grandmother.  The story begins in Italy in the early 1900s.  Enza is the oldest daughter of a large family.  Ciro is being raised with his older brother at a convent after their mother leaves them there when their father is killed in a mining accident in America.  Their mother is mentally unable to care for them.  Enza and Ciro meet when Ciro is hired to dig the grave of Enza's youngest sister who has died.  Shortly after this Ciro immigrates to the United States and becomes an apprentice to a shoemaker.  Later Enza and her father also immigrate to America to earn money to send home to the family to build their own home.  Ciro and Enza both end up in New York City and their paths cross several times, until at last after Ciro returns from fighting in World War I they get married.  From there they move to Minnesota to set up their own shoe business.  This was a beautiful story that does a good job telling the immigrant experience in the United State.

The Light in the Ruins/Chris Bohjalian/305 pages

The story begins in the countryside of Florence, Italy with war raging all around, the Rosati family  believes that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from harm. Ten years later, there has been a brutal murder, a serial killer targeting the Rosatis. The investigator Serafina, finds herself digging into a past that might also include her own tragic history.  It seems the author at times was trying to write a romance and then other times a murder mystery, and not really developing the story line of either. Very vivid picture of Germany's occupation of Italy during the war and how it affected the people. It was heartbreaking for families trying to do whatever they could just stay alive.

Death and Judgment/Donna Leon/ 304 pages

If you have never read the Commissario Guido Brunetti series of mysteries you really should check them out. Leon is a terrific writer and she has created a fully developed character in Guido. He is both a police commissioner and a family man and in each title you see how those world tear at him from many directions. He is by no means perfect and you love him for his flaws as well. And the Venice setting is incredible. In this third book in the series Guido tries to solve the murder of a high profile attorney and the case takes many unexpected twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next one.

Italian Lessons / Peter Pezzelli 251 p.

Romance is in the air when Carter Quinn takes Italian lessons to win the girl of his dreams, Elena--someone he has just met. Trouble is she is an exchange student, soon to return to Italy. As a recent grad, he is free to wing it to Italy. He convinces Giancarlo Rosa to give him a rush course. Carter influences Giancarlo so much that Giancarlo has a change of heart about old hurts and asks a favor of Carter. This engaging story is romantic without the predictable ending.