Very Valentine by by Adriana Trigiani

If you enjoy family stories, the first in Adriana Trigiani's new trilogy will keep you happily turning pages.

Very Valentine introduces you to Valentine Roncalli, the grandaughter of a famous shoe maker and apprentice to her grandmother, the master shoemaker, Teodora.

The action surrounds Valentine's effort to modernize her family's custom shoe company and keep it afloat in the 21st century.

The story takes place in Manhattan and Italy, and Valentine finds possibilities for love in both places.

Trigiani's writing style is like having a conversationwith an old friend-sometimes funny and sometimes said. I really enjoyed her descriptions of of her Manhattan neighborhood and the Italiam countryside that she visits.

If you enjoy the first book in the series make sure to read Brava Valentine which continues Valentine's story.