The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Title: The Shoemaker's Wife

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Series? none

Acquired From: local bookstore

Summary:  The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso. 

Cover Rating: 4/5

Comments on the Cover:  It's so... lovely. It seems so Italian, too. The only problem is that when I saw it, I expected the main character to be like the woman on the cover. Seems logical enough, right? No. Enza is NOTHING like that woman. It's beautiful and captivating, and maybe part of the reason I bought it, but it doesn't really fit the book. 
Character Comments: Okay. Enza was... perfect. Truly. I fell in love with her adorable maternal side that she had as a kid. And Ciro. Oh, Ciro. I could just imagine him as the most handsome man. He wasn't perfect, which was one of the reasons I loved him, but he tried. All of the characters had such depth to them. For me personally, I had feelings about all the characters. I hated the padre, I was angry at Ciro's mother, I loved Enza's whole family, I wept for Stella, and so much more. 
Favorite Characters: I loved loved loved Ciro and Enza
Character Rating: 5/5

Plot line rating: 5/5

Plot Line Comments: So, apparently Trigiani based this on a story of her ancestors. Breathtaking story, amazing that it's real. This makes me want to talk to everyone in my family so I can come up with a delicious story. 

Likeliness to reread it? 5/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Books like this that I have reviewed: N/A