A Heart Most Worthy

Three ladies living in the 1900's at a crucial time in history. All united by their employer, Madame Fortier, who owns a gown making shop. There are experts in what they do and Madame can't afford to lose any of them.

Julietta Giordano is the embroider who has been with her the longest. She longs to be the object of love's desire and thus finds herself constantly walking the streets of Boston making sure all the men can see her. Yet what Julietta fails to see is that the life long, child hood friend of her brothers who is a doctor now, Mauro Vitali, longs to win her heart. But the passion within Julietta's heart desires much more.

Annamaria Rossi is the smocker for Madame Fortier. She is usually quiet and has resolved her life to being single and taking care of her family since she is the oldest daughter of her family and thus the responsibility falls directly on her shoulders. Annamaria longs for the love and romance that everyone around her seems to be finding, until one fateful day she is sent to the Zanfini's for tomatoes and discovers a most beautiful, caring man there named Rafaello. The only problem is he is a Sicilian which is considered forbidden by her family.

Luciana Conti is the beader at the gown shop, a skill she learned from a life that seems so long ago, when her father the Count of Rome was assassinated and left her and her grandmother fleeing for their lives. Now living in disguise in Boston, she longs for the life she had but since seeing her fathers killer on her street, she has to remain hidden.

All three of these women will be completely shaken upside down in their wishes and desires for love and the circumstances that each will face will change them forever.

I received this book, A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell, compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I LOVED it. There is so much rich history held within the pages of this amazing novel. It takes place at the beginning of World War 1 with the Italian Migration to America. They were considered the worst of people since they came to America with different cultures, different language and pretty much kept to themselves. Not only that, the Spanish Influenza took place during this time and completely wiped out huge populations of people living in towns and cities. My favorite character was that of Annamaria because she was someone I could relate to. She is quiet and reserved, dreaming of a life she wishes to have, but finally finds it where she least expects it. I love her story and how it all ends. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars for providing the reader an inside look into the life of the Italian Emigrants.

Here's even more information about the author, the book and even a first chapter peek into the novel.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Heart Most Worthy Bethany House (March 1, 2011) by Siri Mitchell
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including in Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

Her ninth novel, A Heart Most Worthy, follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart (October 2008), Love's Pursuit (June 2009), and She Walks in Beauty (Apr 2010). She Walks in Beauty won the inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction in Dec 2010. Two of her novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door were Christy Award finalists. Love's Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Publishers Weekly proclaimed, "Mitchell delivers the historical goods."

ABOUT THE BOOK

The elegance of Madame Forza's gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times.

Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client.

Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heart Most Worthy, go HERE.