Villa Fortuna - Pride, Prejudice, and a Haircut - Trade Paperback

Author signed, 6x9 paperback, 340 pages.

A laugh-out-loud contemporary romance novel. Discover the prideful misunderstandings and Christmas magic of Villa Fortuna where three sisters from Little Italy collide with the country club set … at a hair salon.

Dr. Elizabeth Fairchild lived an orderly and focused life in Los Angeles until …

an unexpected death, a questionable inheritance, and an eighty-year-old Mafia vendetta required a trip home to New York City's Little Italy neighborhood in the Bronx. After thirteen years of running from her Italian-American upbringing, Elizabeth dreaded returning to the ethnic world of colorful hand gestures, passionate arguments, and living with her two stereotypical sisters in their rundown apartment above a bakery.

Her plan: get in, take care of business, celebrate Christmas, and then escape as quickly as possible. However, returning to the Bronx assailed the senses like her mother's lasagna. She didn't count on Italian pastry, homemade wine, a beauty parlor, and the enticement of a dashing plastic surgeon known to his adoring clientele as the swoon-worthy "Michelangelo."

Will Elizabeth flee her childhood home where the foundation of faith and famiglia is so strong? Or will she stay and embrace all the traditions that once embarrassed her? Should she succumb or resist her elder sister's admonishment,

“Your home is where your heart is, and we are your heart—marinara, cannoli, the church, and the family! The whole shebang!"

Reviews

"As a proud Italian-American, I caught myself laughing out loud throughout this entire story! Cat Gardiner's execution of delivering to readers an Italian-American Christmas JAFF, with a twist of sexy on the side, is brilliant." ~ Just Jane 1813 ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Romeo and Juliet meets Pride and Prejudice in this hilarious, sweet, and oh so sexy modern adaptation." ~ Margie Must Reads ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This book is Pride and Prejudice Italian style. The characters are exactly how I would imagine them if the families were Italian. The author's idea of using her heritage in this book made for a spectacular novel. ~ Half Agony, Half Hope

"I am not entirely familiar with Italian culture, but this book made me see a glimpse of what makes it good and easy to relate to and love--close family ties, love of food and life, the colorful and vibrant language, and the positive outlook. Cat Gardiner's voice is so humorous and entertaining! Her characters are unforgettable, and she writes her setting in such a vivid image that it made me feel as if I was standing there, watching everything with my own eyes." ~ Of Pens and Pages⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐*

Villa Fortuna Awards:

2016 Honorable Mention - Hollywood Book Festival Awards

2015 Favorite Modern JAFF - Just Jane 1813 

Listed on Favorite Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptations - Austenesque Top Ten List - Austenesque Reviews