Villa Bellissimo along
with Master Chef Antonio Coronado invite you to Sicily where you will be
immersed in the art and passion of Italian culinary delights.
Sarah Cooper is still
trying to find her place in the world after her husband died two years ago on
Christmas Day. When her parents give her an early holiday gift, it may be just
the opportunity she needs.
Parker Matrone is the
founder and CEO of the billion dollar company, Coffee Grounds (italicize
business name). There’s something about Sarah he can’t resist, but he’s been
burned before and is now raising his two young sons alone.
Will they decide
loving again is worth the risk? And what of the antique Christmas quilt beneath
which Sarah dreams of Christmas’ past, present, and future? Come explore Italy
in this Christian Christmas romance where dreams do come true and life begins
anew.
Author:
Life isn't a fairy
tale. It can be heart-wrenching and painful.
Difficult times come to us all and many times they shape who we are and
how we look at the world. We can,
however, find strength through the valleys as we learn to climb the
mountains.
Laura J. Marshall is a
full-time mom of five boys. When not on active duty, she is the best-selling
author of Christian romance.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
The bright
mid-afternoon sun reflected off the water of the Tyrrhenian Sea as the cab
drove past the ancient buildings of Palermo. The car slowed around curves then
picked up speed as it barreled farther into the countryside with small
condominium-type homes now lining each side of the road.
Sarah’s plane had
landed an hour ago. Rolling down her window to view the house fronts painted in
bright colors of blues, peaches, and yellows, she breathed deeply. Balconies
decorated with lights and Christmas bulbs peered over the street as the car
passed below, whispering of the residents inside and their holiday plans.
She strained her eyes
drinking it all in. December was similar to early spring back in Iowa, 55
degrees and beautiful. The salt-filled breeze tugged at her long black hair as
the car rumbled over the well-worn road.
It was an amazing
Christmas gift. The day after Thanksgiving Sarah’s parents had sat her down and
placed a large padded envelope in her hands. Her eyes had lifted to see her
father’s own turn glassy as he watched her tear open the envelope.
“Are you okay, Dad?”
“I’m fine. Keep
ripping in, darlin’.” His Texas handlebar mustache raised in a brief smile, and
he blinked several times. The show of emotion was so unlike her Harley-loving
dad. Sarah wanted to pause and comfort him, but at his urging she reached
inside the package.
She had stared in
disbelief at the airline tickets and brochure in her hand.
“It’s all paid. You’ll
have to leave in a few weeks. The class starts the day after you arrive, and
you’ll stay there in a room at the school.”
“But this is too much.
You need to save for…for your retirement and your dream of traveling the
country in the Winnebago.”
“Now, dear. It’s all
settled,” her mother insisted. “We’ve been saving for years. Your dad and I are
still on track, and this is our gift to you, for Christmas. It’s something
fun.”
Sarah read the
brochure aloud. “‘Villa Bellissimo along with Master Chef Antonio Coronado
invite you to Sicily, where you will be immersed in the art and passion of
Italian culinary delights.’”
She glanced wide-eyed
at her parents, a tentative smile on her lips. The past two years had been the
hardest of her life, dragging herself through most days just to get beyond the
agony of Tim’s death and the ruin of the life they had, a life they were just
beginning as a married couple.
The tragedy had
happened on Christmas Day two years before. Tim had risen early, returning to
their bedroom a short time later, humming and full of anticipation of the snowy
forecast. Sarah had raised her head from the pillow, noting his impish smile as
he announced the day’s weather. He was such a morning person, something Sarah
was indeed not.
Inhaling the fresh
smell of coffee and watching him place her favorite floral china cup and
saucer, full to the brim, next to her on the nightstand, she said, “Tim, you
are a treasure.” She rubbed her hands together and reached for the potent
elixir. “Mmm, delicious. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
She held a hand out to
him, but he paced the room looking out the window then returned. “We can hike
the trail out back in the snow before we head to my parents’.”
He stopped mid-sentence, his face creasing
with pain. Putting his hand to his head, he gasped out, “Sarah!” Crumpling to
the ground, he lay eerily still.
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