Review: The Meatball Mistress
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
With a title like The Meatball Mistress, the reader can't help but enjoy this entertaining contemporary romance about two people wounded by past love gone wrong, who meet at the Jersey shore and find unexpected romance.Author Tiffany N. York weaves a fun romantic tale that follows Cara Manzoni and Ryan Garridy's unexpected journey towards love.Cara is a thirty year old cocktail waitress from the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Cara is two months away from her wedding to live-in fiance Robbie, but her world is turned upside down when she comes home to find Robbie cheating with her hairdresser of twelve years, Annemarie. Upset and brokenhearted, Cara leaves the apartment and drives to Crabclaw Island on the Jersey shore, where she recalls fond memories of past family summer vacations. With only the clothes on her back, no place to stay, and eighty-seven dollars to her name, Cara isn't about to turn tail and head back to Robbie. Hungry and with no money, Cara is drawn to Bella Vita Italian restaurant, where she meets owner Ryan Garridy. After enjoying each other's company, Cara skips out on paying for the meal, leaving Ryan upset ... but he later meets up with her on the street and she looks sick ... being the nice guy that he is (ahem .... a ladies man who loves em and leaves em ... oh did I mention he's a commitment phobe), Ryan lets Cara stay at his condo and gives her a job at his restaurant. Sparks fly and attraction grows with sassy barbs traded back and forth mixed in with a comforting dose of mouthwatering aroma of good old Italian cooking. Can two wounded people put their past hurt behind them, learn to trust, and open themselves to a second chance at love?The Meatball Mistress is a fast-paced and entertaining tale that has a great mixture of romance, and humor, seasoned with a sprinkling of to-die-for intoxicating Italian food. The reader is easily drawn into Cara and Ryan's story, you can't help but embrace these two wounded souls, from their unexpected meeting to the development of their relationship, they will keep in you in stitches with their sassy barbs and kitchen drama, while their undeniable passion will have you cheering them on and hoping that they will find each other. Add in a beach setting that is near and dear to my heart, being a born and bred Jersey girl, and a quirky cast of supporting characters who are just as entertaining with their own humorous dilemmas, and you have one heck of a fun summer read!