by Lisa Deangelis
Publication Date June 8, 2021
Published by Regal House Publishing
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Genres: Family & Relationships, Fiction, Historical, Women
Pages: 194
Format: ARC
She, along with her unusual mother and sisters, live at the Hospitality Inn. A dilapidated hotel they own and operate which tends to mysteriously attract misfit wayfarers instead of actual paying guests. Trying to keep her family fed and a roof over their heads is hard enough for Darcy without having to fend off the obsessive attentions of the local sinister minister's son. Into Darcy's precarious life steps Luca D'Angeli, a handsome young Italian immigrant with no idea that loving Darcy may well destroy them both...
My Review:
Tough, story of strength and perseverance. This is not an easy book to read, but, it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. The writing is exquisite, the story is unusual and gritty, but not for the faint of heart.
This book is not for the lighthearted. It’s tough, it’s hard to read in some places, but so beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down. It drew me in from the very first page and left me exhausted at the end.
The story is told in the first person from the point of view of Darcy. The story starts with Darcy as a young girl, however, the term “young girl” is something that doesn’t describe Darcy very well. From a very young age, she knew she had to take care of her mother and her two younger sisters and she never got to be that young girl. She always had to be the one in charge of her family, the one to make all the sensible decisions.
I think this line from the book is one that embodies Darcy’s self-preservation throughout her youth. “It hurts to be understood if it’s the first time ever. It cracks open the shell of your bitterness and your seeds spill out.”
No doubt about it, Darcy is one tough cookie, so when we see her vulnerable side when she drops down her defensiveness with Luca, it’s so rewarding. And Luca, is such a patient man, and he is the only person who ever understood Darcy, it’s so emotional when she figures this out.
I highly recommend this book and its beautiful writing and gripping tale.