Review: Thrilling Ride!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2012
This is a wonderful book about young love in the wild and perilous time of prohibition era Chicago.  In the late twenties, the city was basically a war zone split between the camps of Al Capone and Bugs Moran as each sought to wrest control from the other.  Innocent citizens were often killed and wounded in the gang violence that filled the city as bullets flew with no regard for bystanders.With a skillful pen, Ms. Fostino has woven a story in and out of both sides of the conflict.  Rosemary, an Italian girl, meets Antonio who is the son of a German-Irishman, and while their differences mean nothing to them, Rosemary worries that her parents will not accept him.  Ms. Fostino creates a brilliant connection between Rosemary's family and the infamous Capone and an equally interesting relationship between Antonio and Moran.  This eventually sets up a case of mistaken identity which strains the bond between the two young lovers.The characters are well-designed and the book is clearly written.  The pace of the story is quick but at the same time it is richly detailed and it's easy to place yourself in the story.  From a small corner coffeehouse to Wrigley Field to the final notorious scene, the author gives us a whirlwind tour of Chicago.It is extremely difficult to write a story based in such a well-documented era, and with the exception of a couple minor historical inaccuracies, Ms. Fostino did a fantastic job on her research.  I will be reading more from her and have no problem recommending this book to anyone.  Bravo and thanks for writing Rosemary & Antonio for us to enjoy!