Word Count: 115000
Summary: A group of strangers meets at Ragazzi, an Italian restaurant, for a cooking lesson that will change them all. They quickly become intertwined in each other's lives, and a bit of magic touches each of them. Meet Dave, the consultant who lost his partner; Matteo and Diego, the couple who run the restaurant; recently-widowed Carmelina; Marcos, a web designer getting too old for hook-ups; Ben, a trans author writing the Great American Novel; teenager Marissa, kicked out for being bi; and Sam and Brad, a May-September couple who would never have gotten together without a little magic of their own. Everyone in the River City has a secret, and sooner or later secrets always come out. The watercolor on the cover was painted by Valentyna Shpara and is used with permission. Find her on Etsy under ValrArt.
Word Count: 111000
Summary: "IT'S NINE YEARS LATER, AND EVERYONE HAS A NEW SECRET. BUT SECRETS NEVER STAY BURIED FOR LONG Nine years have passed since a group of strangers first met at a magical little restaurant in East Sacramento called Ragazzi. They have all been touched by its subtle magic, and have become a family. With the tragic death of one of them, ripples spread through the entire group, exposing secrets and revealing truths that many of them would rather not face. Dave and Marcos are each battling their own demons. Matteo is hunting an embezzler at Ragazzi, while Diego struggles to hold on to his son, Gio. Carmelina fears Daniele won’t take no for an answer. And both Ben and Sam are dealing with tragic losses that have turned their lives upside down. Into the mix come a few new characters—Ainsley, a Sac State student studying to be a doctor; a mysterious stranger who is stalking someone in the group; and a few new love interests who may have their own skeletons in the closet. The cast of River City is back, along with some great new Italian recipes for you to try at home! What secrets will be revealed before the last page turns? "
