THAT'S AMORE

Author: Wendy Markham ISBN: 0446618446 7/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: GRAND CENTRAL

Ralphie Chickalini is on the verge of living happily ever after with the perfect woman. His fiance Francesca Maria Buccigrossi of Astoria Boulevard is a curvaceous, fun-loving brunette. His late father, whose recent death the family is still mourning, adored Francesca's homemade pesto sauce and declared her a "keeper," his brothers think she's a hoot, his sisters adore her, and his nephews and niece already call her "aunt." But as the wedding date approaches, Ralphie begins to question his love. When Ralphie bumps into two psychic sisters at a New Year's Eve party, his life will be thrown in an unexpected direction. Daria and Tammy might not look alike, but they do have more than just a maternal bloodline in common. They both have a psychic gift. Tammy or "Madame Tamare" is a storefront psychic who predicted the marriage between Ralphie's brother Dominic's marriage and an unlikely bride. Now, Daria is channeling a spirit with a message for Ralphie: his father has returned to guide him to true love. But Daria has her own life to live, and she plans to move back to Arizona, messages from another world aside. Despite contrary inclinations, Daria and Ralphie will soon realize that their paths are destined to collide.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THAT'S AMORE by Wendy Markham has it all—fun, romance, passion and a touch of paranormal. It's a fast, light-hearted look at life and love, Italian-style.

Ms. Markham has a way with words that makes her characters completely come to life. I loved this story about a woman just waiting for a "sign" to tell her where to go and what to do. She's made it through one disappointing love match and has no intention of trying to find another. Daria just wants to find peace, but the elderly ghost who keeps popping into her life has his own agenda. He needs Daria's help. While she's busy avoiding the sad ghost, Daria bumps into Ralphie, a guy who's just been dumped—much to his relief!

Over antipasto and family fun, Daria and Ralphie show that happiness doesn't always have to be difficult to find—not if you're open to taking advice from the spirits among you. I loved the way this story just zips along. The dialogue is smart and often humorous, and even though there are sad points concerning loss and the emptiness deceased family members leave behind, the story itself is wonderfully uplifting.

THAT'S AMORE is a wildly romantic romp that's sure to please!

Kay James