It Happened in Tuscany by Gail Mencini

Adult Fiction (18+), 408 pages

Mainstream Fiction, Historical Fiction

Publisher: Capriole Group

Release date: Feb 18 2020

Synopsis

From the multiple-award-winning author of To Tuscany with Love comes a captivating story of the epic tug of war between honor and duty, the irrepressible power of love, and the concept of family.

In 1945, Will Mills and his fellow soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division scaled Italy’s treacherous Riva Ridge in the frigid night to break through the nearly impenetrable German line of defense. Severely wounded, Will was rescued by Italian partisans and one, a beautiful girl, tended his injuries until he had the strength to rejoin the U.S. troops.

Tormented and haunted by his decisions and actions during wartime, Will knows he has unfinished missions in Italy to complete. The passage of time and years of carrying this unfulfilled need have molded Will into a bitter, angry man.

Seventy-five years later, Will’s spunky thirty-two-year-old neighbor, Sophie Sparke, faces disaster in her life. Everything is going wrong—her job, her love life, even her dog. Part of the problem is that confident and fiercely independent Sophie lets her quick mouth get her into trouble.

Grouchy, mean-spirited Will finagles Sophie into traveling with him to Tuscany to find the partisan who saved his life. Will also secretly hopes to confront the demons his wartime actions created. Sophie and Will comb enchanting Tuscan hill towns on an improbable and unfolding mission with few clues to aid them. Will’s passionate tenacity drives their quest and in the process exposes their darkest secrets. The journey alters the course of their lives, and Will and Sophie find more than they had imagined in the hills of Tuscany.

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Guest Post

Gail joins us today and I love the topic – book themed parties!!!  What is even better is the book is set in the 1980s which were my high school and college years. I loved that decade and even had a party with that theme one year. There are some great suggestions so when the world opens back up, have a party. Or host it on a video call, that could be fun too.

Tips for Hosting a Book-Themed Party

By Gail Mencini

Have you ever been to a Great Gatsby party or wedding? Often books can provide a theme for parties and events, book clubs, and reading groups. My two Tuscany novels, To Tuscany with Love and It Happened in Tuscany, are examples of books that provide fun themes for parties.

Party themes for To Tuscany with Love:

1. I set the novel’s college years in the 1980s, which is a fun theme period.
2. Dress in the clothing styles worn in the 1980s and serve popular food from that decade.
3. Have a costume that reflects a 1980s song, movie, or artist.
4. Host an Italian dinner party, with Tuscan food and wine. You can find recipe and wine ideas on my website and in my novels.
5. Host a wine tasting party, using the wines mentioned in To Tuscany with Love.

Party themes for It Happened in Tuscany:

1. Will fought in Italy during World War II and trained at Camp Hale in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
2. Dress in World War II era clothing and serve food served during that time period.
3. Wear ski clothing, clothes suitable for a snowshoe hike, or clothing one would wear to winter climb a mountain (in any time period) and serve après ski food and drink: cheese, Court Bouillon, and chocolate fondues, gourmet and/or spiked hot chocolate, and other warm drinks such as Irish Coffee and Hot Apple Cider.

2. Host an Italian dinner party, with Tuscan food and wine. You can find recipe and wine ideas on my website and in my novels.
3. Host a wine tasting party, using the wines mentioned in It Happened in Tuscany.

For either book, you can make a playlist of 1980s, World War II era, or Italian music with American or Italian artists for an authentic backdrop to the party. Your party invitation can include a copy of the book you’re basing your party on, so all of your guests can read or look at the book in advance!

About the Author

Gail Mencini is the acclaimed author of It Happened in Tuscany and To Tuscany with Love, both of which are Denver Post #1 bestsellers and award winners. Gail grew up in DeWitt, Nebraska, graduated from Wartburg College with a BA in Accounting and Economics, and earned a master of taxation degree from the University of Denver. A frequent visitor to Tuscany and a homegrown gourmet cook, Gail has toured Italy by car, train, bus, Vespa, and foot. She lives in Colorado with her husband.

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Giveaway

Win 1 of 5 copies of IT HAPPENED IN TUSCANY (choice of signed print, ebook, or audiobook)

or the GRAND PRIZE (book plus high-quality canvas bag)

(6 winners total) (USA only) (ends Apr 9)

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