Review: It wasn't what I originally thought - so it was a surprise
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 10, 2014
The original reason I got it, was the recommendation was that it was "like 'The Godfather' but different".  Okay - so the like was it was a guy was from Italy he went to America, made something of himself and returned to Italy, but that was it... whew...  after I got past that disappointment, and expectations. It was a very good historical novel.  You have a very strong family unit.  The wife and husband both with their own faults.  And the book description is still wrong in some ways - our husband (Pietro) is not really "seduced" to stay in America - but him employer for reasons which I will not explain here - will not let him leave.  When his employer his finally out of the picture, he leaves almost immediately.I did really like the way the characters were developed, and the times phases were handled very well, with no lurches that were bad.  The only spot which was a little fuzzy for me was the gypsy at the end who spit on the back of photo.  I think I knew who it was, but it went unexplained, and left to the reader.I also liked the ending.  Normally I like it wrapped up a little better, but the way it ended here, you kind of surmise that everything works it way out well, and allows for a 2nd installment.All in all, a good read - even though the way I originally made the decision to get the novel was a bit off.