We are hosting Ta’mara Hanscom’s blog tour and she has two books to share! The Caselli Family novels first came to my attention on Twitter. I visited the author’s website and definitely wanted to read at least the first book. I downloaded The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise, in November 2017 while deep into my Christmas reading fest.
I was tempted to read it right away, but resisted. I was buried in Christmas stories and needed to wade through them before the season was over. As I flipped the final page of my last holiday novel, I was excited to move on to The Caselli family. Between binging on Hallmark movies and Christmas novels, I was ready for a story with some “meat.”
My official, sort of review. 😆
The Caselli family consisting of two parents, three sons and a baby on the way, emigrated from Italy in 1956. The baby, Tillie was the delight of the family and her brother’s nicknamed her Angel. As she grew up, she became a talented artist whose paintings caught the emotions of the subjects. She was also an obedient Italian daughter, that is until the day she went to a Junior Artist of American competition and became obsessed with Noah, a wild young man with a troubled past and a motorcycle.
Angel returns home full of hope, but soon a misunderstanding breaks her heart and a long time friend vies for her hand.
The interactions of the Caselli family were real as they faced their own challenges. The brothers knew that something was troubling their Angel, but had no idea how to help her. I enjoyed this book and hope to find time to read the next one in the series, Pit of Ambition. I do hope Angel finds true love and happiness!
Now the official blurb:
The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise is the first volume of 5 in the family epic series The Caselli Family Series. It begins in South Dakota in 1975 where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beers in a bar and loaded guns were kept under the counter. Frankie Valli sang My Eyes Adored You, and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.
It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined – and had been for many years – yet they had no idea.
From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart – and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.
These compelling stories are interwoven with Biblical truths and light-hearted, real life events from the author’s own past. Easy to understand and relate to, as well as encouraging.
One of the brothers, Marquette, with his flowing ponytail and larger than life personality captured my curiosity so I asked the author for a character interview.
Character Spotlight Marquette
I was born in what some would consider a shack, but I loved our home in Castellina, Italia, which is located in Chianti. We were poor farmers, but my parents provided good food and clothing. We acquired running water and electricity when I was about ten years of age. My brothers and I used to sleep together in one room, until our parents decided we were old enough and they allowed us to sleep in the barn. We wanted for nothing in those days. But God had so much more planned for us. He knew that the valley could offer us only poverty and wine, and by the time I was fifteen years of age He’d begun the tender creation of our little sister. It was then our father decided to bring us to America.
It was November of 1956 when we made the move, and I could barely speak English. My parents put me in a public school in the heart of the Midwest, and I had to work part-time in their ristorante. I was very depressed at the time because I had left my only true love, Tara, behind in Italia. And after only a month in America we learned that she had died in a terrible train crash in Rome. Those were dark days for me.
I excelled in math as a young man, which is how I broke into the business of investigating. I was challenged with a secret code used by the evil Ponerello family of Sicilia. I broke the code in 1968, shortly after a great earthquake had hit the island. In breaking the code I was able to lead authorities in the capture of thirty-eight of the evil Ponerellos. That single event launched what has been a prosperous and rewarding career for me. And it was also during that very investigation that I learned of the heinous plot to keep me away from my Tara.
I found my Tara, alive and well, in Chicago, and we were married within weeks. She now travels with me wherever I go, and has proven to be an articulate investigator in her own right.
Two of the Ponerellos have never been captured. They elude me still, and that troubles me to my core. I know they are here somewhere in the United States, and I will keep searching for them until I find them.
Sounds good? I think so. Ta’Mara is generously offering a $50 Amazon gift card! There are many different ways in the Rafflecopter to enter. The more you choose, the better chance you have of winning.
The second book in the series I haven’t read yet but I hope to read it soon. I miss the Casellis!
Pit of Ambition is the second volume of 5 in the family epic series The Caselli Family Series.
Five years have passed since Noah and Tillie’s “chance” meeting. They’ve married other people by now, and are both beginning their families.
In the pursuit of professional and political success, Alex runs headlong into a pit of pride and ambition…and Giuseppe begins to hate the husband he chose for his daughter.
Alex and Noah are doing business on many fronts, which will bring Noah to town for an unintended meeting with Giuseppe. Tension abounds as he attempts to conceal his daughter’s identity from Noah.
Alex strays when Tillie needs him the most, and it’s Noah who will bring him home. But, instead of learning Tillie’s identity, he connects with her brothers, especially Marquette.
Unbeknownst to Noah, his new foreman is a member of the crime family Marquette has sought since 1968.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HT5IZHO/
I think you will enjoy this except from Pit of Ambition.
Maggie sighed and shook her head as she glanced at the haunting painting that still hung in her bar…It was the spring of 1975, only five years ago, and she had been so beautiful…The name of the painting was Obedience, and it was a very dramatic depiction of a woman, whom Angel had claimed was her mother, with an old horse. Maggie had bought it at an art show from the girl who’d claimed to be Angel. Tucked in the frame was a snapshot Maggie’s sister, Estelle, had taken of Noah and Angel standing together at the bar. That had been her last night in town and Noah had fallen in love. In fact, Angel had agreed to marry him before she left.
Maggie let out her breath as she studied the painting. Noah hasn’t had a drink since you left…you’d be so proud of what he’s done with his life.
Estelle came out of the kitchen and noticed Maggie’s pensive stare.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about, Maggie?” she asked, even though she knew the answer, because Estelle thought about it every day, too.
Maggie slowly shook her head and looked at her sister. “Nothin’, baby.”
Estelle only nodded…Why don’tcha just pray about it, Maggie, and get it over with?
Maggie glanced at the corner booth and shook her head. Mona had met Estelle in the bar once a week for the last two years. They read their Bibles and prayed together, and often invited Maggie to join them. Maggie always refused. She didn’t believe in God and had no desire to waste her time reading about Him. She softly snorted as she watched them…This is the dumbest thing Estelle’s ever done.
About the Author
I was born and raised in South Dakota, and I love her people and rich history. For many years I’ve also had a deep love for Italy and her colorful chronology. I was fortunate enough to visit Italy on my 25th wedding anniversary, and I added some of the details of my travels to my fictional series The Caselli Family Series.
My favorite sport is baseball – Detroit Tigers – and I can’t wait until the next time I get to see them play in Comerica Park.
I live for the next family barbeque.
My husband and I own a national pizza franchise in Iowa, where we currently reside. We have three grown children and one grandson. We’ve rescued two cats and one Pomeranian.
I teach AWANA Cubbies and speak at women’s events.
https://tamarahanscom.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TaMara-Hanscom-Author-473920855079/?ref=bookmarks
https://twitter.com/TaMaraHanscom?lang=en&lang=en
I hope you visit the other blogs on the tour where you will find more reviews as well as character spotlights, author interviews and excerpts. PLUS you can enter the giveaway more than once!
February 26
Bookish Orchestration – Introductory post
Rachel Rossano’s Words – Author Interview
Adventures in Publishing – Author Interview
Rebekah Lyn Books – Book Review and Character Spotlight
February 27
Simply Kelina – Book Review
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – Character Spotlight
February 28
Little Homeschool on the Prairie – Book Spotlight
Seasons of Opportunities – Book Review
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – Book Review
March 1
Moments – Book Spotlight
Reader’s Cozy Corner – Book Review
Fiction to Ignite Your Faith – Post from the author
March 2
New Horizon Reviews – Book Review
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Review and Author Interview
Adventures Of A King Daughter – Book Review
March 3
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway Winner
I’ve not read a family series for novels – it sounds really good. You don’t have to be left with clinging to the last few pages of a really good book, not wanting to get to the end, as you want to keep following along, well a series sounds perfect for that.
I like family series novels, especially if the minor characters in book one intrigued me. I hope you enjoy The Pretender.