Review and Blog Tour: The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

Thanks once again to Trish from TLC Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of this tour.  This is the final installment in the trilogy and I loved the opportunity to read it as part of the tour.

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:
For over a hundred years, the Angelini Shoe Company in Greenwich Village has relied on the leather produced by Vechiarelli & Son in Tuscany. This historic business partnership provides the twist of fate for Valentine Roncalli, the school teacher turned shoemaker, to fall in love with Gianluca Vechiarelli, a tanner with a complex past . . . and a secret.

A piece of surprising news is revealed at The Feast of the Seven Fishes when Valentine and Gianluca join her extended family on a fateful Christmas Eve. Now faced with life altering choices, Valentine remembers the wise words that inspired her in the early days of her beloved Angelini Shoe Company: "A person who can build a pair of shoes can do just about anything." The proud, passionate Valentine is going to fight for everything she wants and savor all she deserves -- the bitter and the sweetness of life itself.

Romantic and poignant, told with humor and warmth, and bursting with a cast of endearing characters, The Supreme Macaroni Company is a sumptuous feast of delights: a portrait of a woman and the man she loves, her passion for craftsmanship, and the sacrifices it takes to build and sustain a family business while keeping love and laughter at the center of everything.

My Review:
I will tread carefully as I attempt to write a review for the final book of this series without giving too much away.  We are swept across the globe once again, from New York to Italy, as we follow Valentine's hopes and dreams.  We've been cheering Valentine throughout the series to have the opportunity for love, and now it is at her doorstep.

Valentine loves Gianluca with all her heart, but struggles to commit to him as a partner should.  She seems to think that compromise is one-sided, not requiring any changes or sacrifices on her part.  She is driven to make her shoe business grow and all other events come in second place compared to the Angelini Shoe Company.

I found myself bothered by Valentine's selfishness in this novel, but I suppose a woman in her mid-thirties, who has had years of independence, may find it difficult to adjust.  With more of her family helping with the business, she learns to delegate, not having to take control of every transaction of the company.

This book was a whirlwind for me.  Once Valentine allows love into her life it all just blew by so quickly.  I tried to savor her experiences the best I could, from the romance to her newfound appreciation of Italy, but being the final segment, I guess it had to end.  With themes of love, forgiveness, family, and secrets, you may enjoy this book as much as I did.  I recommend this novel for personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me by the publisher to participate in this blog tour and provide an honest review.