Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.
Frankie Valli sang "My Eyes Adored You," and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.
It's within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined-and had been for many years-yet they had no idea.
From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart---and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride's deception.
My Thoughts:
This novel really kind of blew me away. At first I was not
so sure I liked how the story was going, however as I continued reading and got
to know the characters and their situations, I was feeling pretty absorbed in
their lives. This is the first part of a family saga that does have an ending
in this book, but maybe just not one I wanted. Their story does continue into
future books which I am now really anticipating.
We have a bad boy, blackguard, and drunkard in a young man
by the name of Noah. He has a tragic past but he was brought up to know right
and wrong. His much older brother and sister-in-law are at a loss in how to
help him break these immoral behaviors.
Tillie Caselli, Angel to her friends and family, is just
about to turn 18, has a budding artistic career in front of her, and is
surrounded by support and maybe a bit of too much over-protectiveness by her
older three Italian brothers. Tillie
goes on a school trip and meets and instantly falls in love with Noah and him
her. So much so that he asks for her hand in marriage only knowing her a couple
of days. This is where I became a bit cynical towards these two characters.
HOWEVER, the author really pulled me into these characters
lives in such a way that I could not only have a changed opinion about these
two star crossed lovers, but actually hurt for them when a huge
misunderstanding takes place that changes their lives.
There is so much to this well told part 1 of this family
saga: parents, brothers, secret jobs, murder, lies, etc. The characters are
endearing, if not a bit stubborn and I can only hope things turn around for the
bad boy and the good girl. I impatiently wait for the continuation.
I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required
to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the author:
Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God's plan for marriage. Find out more about Ta'Mara at :
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