THE WEDDING OFFICER

Author: Anthony Capella ISBN: 9780553591453 6/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: BANTAM
Time Period: 1940s Italy, WWII

Captain James Gould arrives in wartime Naples assigned to discourage marriages between British soldiers and their gorgeous Italian girlfriends. But the innocent young officer is soon distracted by an intoxicating young widow who knows her way around a kitchen...Livia Pertini is creating feasts that stun the senses with their succulence—ruby-colored San Marzana tomatoes, glistening anchovies, and delectable new potatoes encrusted with the black volcanic earth of of Campania—and James is about to learn that his heart may rank higher than his orders. For romance can be born of the sweet and spicy passions of food and love—and time spent in the kitchen can be as joyful and exciting as the banquet of life itself!

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Anthony Capella's THE WEDDING OFFICER is one of those books that just begs to be read from beginning to end without a break. It is poignant and realistic, the World War II tale of a soldier and an Italian country girl. Each is looking to find their way through a world turned upside down. As circumstance would have it, even in chaotic times romance finds a way and dreams do become reality.

Livia and James are a perfect combination, complementing each other so well they become, as in all great love stories, almost one voice. Really, who wouldn't want to fall in love with a man who says, "Love is something you become." Honestly, I felt myself melting when James utters those words. What a hero!

While there are some horrific scenes in this story, they feel appropriate. I cringe as I recall the ordeal Livia faces when a beloved pet is the target of gunfire, but I realize her reaction to her loss is part of her journey so I can accept the sadness. And while images of lost husbands and burying the dead are hardly typical romantic details, they belong in THE WEDDING OFFICER. After all, this is a tale of life during wartime.

I was thrilled to see this story is set to become a motion picture. I know I will gladly plunk down my admission to see this on the big screen. It comes to life with such clarity on the pages, I can only imagine how wonderful it will be on film. But be warned.

THE WEDDING OFFICER is a wonderful, heartwarming story whose sad bits will bring you to tears, so bring a hanky. The good new is that the happy parts—and there are a lot of them!—fill the heart with joy and laughter. Bravo!

Kay James