Italy, Bellisimo!
Traveling through Italy during the winter holidays with author Joe
Cosentino
Christmas
in my big Italian-American family includes a religious experience
(grace at the table by my father: “Bless us, let’s eat.”), my
mother displaying her art work (ceramic Santa napkin holders, Mom:
“When I die take these out, think of me, and cry buckets.”), a
huge feast where my spouse and I dodge food grenades at the kiddy
table every year, each of us opening lavish gifts (one year my
parents gave my sister a house and me a sweater), and finally my
family members opening gifts from me (my sister: “I guess I can
wear that for dress down day at work.”).
My
extended family raved to me about their wonderful trips to Italy. So
one winter holiday, my spouse and I took out the Dramamine and made
the eight-hour flight like Kunta Kinte back to my roots. We took one
of those no sleep/see everything/come home war fatigued two-week
tours of historic Rome, business haven Naples, waterway Venice,
mountainous Assisi, picturesque Lake Como, literature alive Milan,
artistic Florence (laden with statues of naked musclemen), the
dramatic Amalphi Coast, historic Pompeii, hilly Tuscany, and homespun
Lake Maggiore. We had the vacation of a lifetime seeing the most
gorgeous architecture, natural resources, and views. We also ate
delicious food and reveled in the art and history. However, there was
no site more gorgeous, magical, and romantic than the Island of
Capri.
While on the boat ride to the Marina Grande, the sight of the
enormous cliffs sitting majestically on the water literally took our
breath away. From the funiculare (cable car) we marveled at the
stunning views of the island below and Mt. Vesuvius in the distance.
At the Piazetta (main plaza) we boarded an island bus that zoomed
around harrowing, tight corners like a car in a Fun House. We
travelled to Via Krupp in the southern part of the island, and we
walked through what Italians call “the villas of the rich and
famous,” underscored by the sparkling turquoise sea below. We swam
in gorgeous white sand beaches surrounded by artistic white stone
formations like Marina Piccola. When we arrived at Mt. Solaro, our
guide told us it was highest point on the Isle of Capri, five hundred
and eighty-nine meters above sea level. As we looked out at the fog,
the sun came up and the wind blew the vapors of fog upwards, crowning
the clouds, and revealing stunning views of the Bay of Naples, the
Amalfi Coast, and the mountains of Calabria in the distance. As we
looked out over the turquoise water, white mountains, and azure sky,
I felt like I was in heaven. However, the most magical of all was the
Grotta Azzurra (the Blue Grotto). As our boat went through the tiny
portal of the expansive cave, my breath was taken away by the water’s
brilliant shades of iridescent sapphire and emerald from the sun’s
reflection on the water in the cove. Capri also had the most amazing
restaurants and shops on the water’s edge. And the people somehow
all seemed beautiful and sensuous.
Whether you read or listen to A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, you’ll laugh
at the antics of Bobby’s and Paolo’s extended families, and
you’ll fall in love with Bobby and Paolo as they fall in love with
each other. I hope you enjoy my holiday gift to you. Happy holidays!
A
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by JOE COSENTINO
a
HEA holiday short story published by Dreamspinner Press
AUDIOBOOK
PERFORMED BY JOEL LESLIE:
https://www.amazon.com/A-Home-for-the-Holidays/dp/B01N0DV3FT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479506049&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Home+for+the+Holidays+Joe+Cosentino
Bobby
McGrath’s Christmas trip to the beautiful Italian Island of Capri
to meet his eccentric, extended family offers stunning views—none
more stunning than his third cousin, Paolo Mascobello, a real
stocking stuffer. As the two young men embark on a relationship,
Bobby, a driven law student, learns to relax and bask under the old
Italian moon, and Paolo realizes there’s more to life than a frolic
on the beach. For the two to find everlasting amore, Paulo must
overcome his fear of commitment and learn to follow his dreams, and
Bobby must get his wish for happily ever after. “Reading this
little holiday treat is like taking a romantic trip to gorgeous
Capri, Italy!”
Praise
for A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
“I
could see the lovely sites as Joe described them with such beauty and
prose. I could feel the growing desire between the two young men and
the heat building as well.” Cathy Brockman Romance
“you
can see the beauty of Capri, almost taste the incredible food laid
out on the page. Paolo and Bobby’s romance is sweet and tender”
Divine Magazine
“I
adore the character of Bobby” “the heartwarming family moments”
“The vivid and almost lyrical descriptions that Joe Cosentino uses
when Bobby is arriving on Capri or sightseeing all over the island
with Paolo.” “the love the author has for Capri and the people
there flows off the page in every word he has written.” “when you
finish reading this story, you will want to book your own flight to
Italy and boat to Capri.” Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
“I
was there with Bobby and Paolo, feeling the sun on my face and the
warm swell of the sea as I walked barefoot on the sea’s edge, the
author’s brilliantly descriptive words took me to that beautiful
place where Bobby and Paolo fell in love.” Three Books Over the
Rainbow
“Joe
Cosentino’s holiday novella, A
Home for the Holidays, delivers
in every way that a romantic, feel-good story should. Every book I
read by this author continuously pulls me in and wraps me up like a
warm blanket.” Kathy Mac Reviews
“The
one thing you can't escape when reading Cosentino's books is his
humour; it's what draws me back time and again to this author.
Sometimes the humour is subtle, sometimes it's unashamedly overt -
every time it is hilarious.”
Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“The
setting was marvelous as well, who wouldn't fall in love in a place
like Joe Cosentino described? And the boys' interaction with the rest
of the family was quite marvelous as well. A really enjoyable, fast
read!” Bayou Book Junkie
I’m
going to go on record saying that Joe Cosentino pretty much has me at
hello. His writing style is incredibly smooth with beautiful details
that never feel like too much or too little. Even in this very short
story, I felt like I was right there in Capri with Bobby. Both the
scenery and Bobby’s emotions are painted with lush, vivid detail.”
“exceptional writing and beautifully gift-wrapped love story.”
AM Leibowitz
“sweet
story of connecting with distant family and perhaps finding the
‘home’ you’ve been searching for.” 3 Chicks After Dark
“If
you like beautiful sights, want a virtual tour of Capri, like law
students, sexy Italian studs, and sweet romance with little on page
sex but is still sensual and hot, this is for you!” MM Good Book
Reviews
“If
you like stories about opposites that may attract but have a hard
time dealing with the reality of being so different, if a beautiful
setting and some great Italian food sound like a nice background to a
developing romance between two young men, and if you’re looking for
a read that is fun, emotional, and all about finding your way in
life, then you will probably like this novella.” Rainbow Book
Reviews
“I
got glimpses of movies like Three
Coins in the Fountain and Roman
Holiday.” “Very romantic.”
Multitasking Momma Reviews
“I
really enjoyed the balance Joe Cosentino maintains between the
romance of the Italian island and the increasing passion between the
two young men.” Kirsty Loves Books
“If
you are looking for a sweet tale of love during the holidays, look no
further than A Home for the Holidays by Joe Cosentino.” Prism Book
Alliance
“A
Home for the Holidays a
delightful, heartwarming journey of discovering one’s roots and the
traditions that bring meaning to family. At the same time, it
explores how breaking with tradition and becoming the person you were
meant to be is also part of that grounding process, that finding home
and making it your own is exactly what this holiday season is about.
Filled with gentle humor and the lush backdrop of the isle of Capri,
the story takes you on a wonderful guided tour of this landscape of
the heart and the mind. The descriptions are a feast for the mind’s
eye, the supporting characters quintessentially Italian, and the main
characters—Bobby and Paolo—are the kind of yin and yang match
that captures the imagination and the heart. For a charming seasonal
read, A Home for the Holidays
will leave you sighing with happiness.”
GGR-Reviews
“I
recommend A Home for the
Holidays to anyone who loves
travel adventures, Christmas themes, and m/m romance. I felt like I
was actually there in Capri.” The Novel Approach
Bestselling
author Joe Cosentino wrote In My
Heart/An
Infatuation & A
Shooting Star, A
Home for the Holidays, The
Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland
(Dreamspinner Press); Drama
Queen, Drama
Muscle, Drama
Cruise Nicky and Noah mysteries
(Lethe Press); Cozzi Cove:
Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out
(NineStar Press); and Paper Doll,
Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China
Doll, Rag Doll Jana Lane
mysteries (The Wild Rose Press). He has appeared in principal acting
roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce
Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, Charles
Keating, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the
Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily
married. He was voted 1st
Place Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of
2015, and 2nd
Place Favorite LGBT Romance Author of 2015 by the readers of Divine
Magazine. He has also won many Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions
including for In My Heart/An
Infatuation & A Shooting Star.
Upcoming releases are Drama Luau
(fourth Nicky and Noah mystery) and Cozzi
Cove: New Beginnings (fourth
Cozzi Cove beach novel, NineStar Press).
http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Amazon:
Author.to/JoeCosentino
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