Introduction

Bella Rossi's life is nearing perfection. She's got the perfect guy, she's running a successful business, and she's about to plan her most ambitious wedding yet, a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There's just one hitch. The best man just happens to be Brock Benson, Hollywood's hottest and most eligible bachelor. Oh, and did we mention he's staying at the Rossi house to avoid the paparazzi? With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella's not sure she's going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister, her feuding aunt and uncle, and a trio of large, sequined church ladies with even bigger personalities, and you've got a recipe for disaster--and a lot of laughs. This hilarious romantic comedy is sure to delight both fans and new readers alike.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

If Aunt Rosa hadn't landed that gig on the Food Network, I
probably wouldn't have ended up on the national news. And
if their pesky camera crew hadn't shown up at our house on
one of the most important days of my life, I'm pretty sure I
wouldn't have been hauled off to the Galveston County jail.
Unlike my brother Armando, I'd never aspired to get arrested
or have my face plastered across the television screen on the
evening news. But thanks to Aunt Rosa's homemade garlic
bread, I found myself facing both of these things . . . and in
exactly that order.

When the call came last Tuesday from the powers that be at
the Food Network, the entire Rossi family went into a tailspin.
Aunt Rosa's recipe had been chosen from among thousands
to be featured in an upcoming episode titled Italian Chefs
from Coast to Coast. This was a great honor, of course, but
the timing couldn't have been worse. After all, I was right in
the middle of coordinating my first-ever medieval-themed
wedding at Club Wed, our family's wedding facility. I was up
to my earlobes in castles and moats. Who had the time-or
patience-for television crews?

I pointed out my concerns to my mother just a week and
a half before the big day as she prepared to leave for the
opera house. She'd only just started applying her makeup, a
process that usually took a good hour or more, so I knew I
had plenty of time. Pacing around her oversized bathroom,
I spoke my mind.

"Mama, you know what I'm up against. This wedding is
so important. Everything has to be perfect. The bride has had
this one planned out since she was a little girl, and the best
man is coming all the way from California. It's a huge deal,
and if I can manage to pull it off, it'll be a great promotion
for Club Wed."

"You've coordinated weddings before, Bella," Mama said
with a wave of her hand. "What's so different about this
one?"

"It's a themed wedding, Mama. Medieval. I've never done
one of those before, so I'm nervous."

"You worry too much, honey." She squirted lotion into
her hand and then smeared it on her face, working it into
every pore. "Remember how you fretted over the country-
western themed wedding, and it came off without a
hitch?"

"You call Uncle Laz's parrot stealing a toupee from one
of our guests 'without a hitch'?" I sighed, not even trying
to hide my frustration. "And what about the part where our
caterer's eyebrows got burned off while he was barbecuing
the beans?" After a pause, I added, "Besides, I'm not trying
to worry, but there's so much to think about. I'm transforming
the whole gazebo area into a medieval wonderland. The
bridesmaids and groomsmen are wearing Renaissance costumes
and dressing up as ladies-in-waiting and knights in
shining armor. Doesn't that sound awesome?"

"Of course."

"We're even having horses and trumpeters and a court
jester-the whole thing. And Laz, Jenna, and Nick are serving
authentic foods from the Middle Ages. I've put a ton of
work into this. It's a really big deal."

My mama's perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched, and I
could sense a lecture coming on. I'd gotten pretty good at
reading her thinly plucked eyebrows. "Well, I hate to burst
your bubble," she said, "but Aunt Rosa's debut on national
television is a pretty big deal too. I'm surprised you're not
more excited for her." As she pulled her dark hair back in a
cloth headband, the tiny wrinkles around her eyes lifted. With
rehearsed flair, she reached for a bottle of liquid foundation
and gave it a good shake.

"I am excited for her," I said. "But, you realize the camera
crew is set to arrive the day before the wedding, right?
This is going to be a fiasco of major proportions!" Surely
she could see my point. After all, we would be smack-dab
in the middle of the wedding rehearsal at that time, and I
didn't want any disruptions. If the street happened to be filled
with Food Network trucks and the like, it would, at the very
least, spoil the ambience. My clients had paid good money
to have this wedding come off without a hitch. I couldn't let
them down.

"I, for one, think it's perfect." My mother poured a dollop
of foundation into her open palm. "It's a great way to
promote the family business and give Rosa the attention she
needs." Mama jabbed her slender, beautifully manicured
index finger into the gooey liquid, then began to place dots
of the flesh-colored stuff all over her face. Soon my polkadotted
mother turned my way. "I think you're missing a great
opportunity here, Bella. Think about it."

"I guess I'm just not seeing it." I closed the lid on the toilet
and sat down, feeling defeated. "It's going to be a huge
distraction-a great way to draw attention away from the
wedding facility. I'm afraid that's what's going to happen,
not the other way around."

"Don't be silly. And remember, this isn't about you, Bella
Bambina," she chastened me. "This is about your aunt. She's
worked all her life for a moment like this. We can't rob her
of this chance to shine like the star she is."

"No, of course not," I said. "It's just that . . ." I sighed,
unsure of what to say next.

In the next room, Guido-the parrot my uncle had adopted
from his mob friend Sal-began to sing "Amazing Grace." I'd
grown accustomed to his morning ritual, but it was starting
to get a little old. Or maybe my patience was just wearing
thin. Living in a house with so many relatives could do that
to a person, particularly when there was so much work to
be done. Still, I needed the grace that Guido was singing
about-and I needed it now.

A rap at the bathroom door caught my attention. Aunt
Rosa stuck her head inside and flashed a shy smile when I
looked her way. She wore her hair pulled up in a loose bun.
Her housedress was the same one she'd worn a hundred times
before over the past several years. So was the apron, which
was covered in flour. Unlike Mama, Rosa didn't believe in
wasting money on new things. Or makeup. Unless she had a
man to impress, of course. Lately I'd begun to suspect she'd
found one. I'd caught her wearing lipstick on at least three
occasions.

"Bella, there's someone at the front door for you." My aunt
brushed her palms against her apron. "He says he's with the
Stages Set Design Company."

"Ah." The guy we'd hired to turn the gazebo area into a castle
and moat for the big day. The bride's father had instructed
me to spare no expense, and I wasn't taking his words lightly.
The construction of the castle would cost over ten grand. Oh,
but how glorious it would look! I could almost picture it now
. . . minus the Food Network trucks in the background, of
course. The upcoming medieval evening would draw a whole
new clientele to the wedding facility. I hoped.
I looked at my Aunt Rosa-standing there with her face
still beaming from the news about her television opportunity-
and immediately felt shame and remorse for voicing
any complaints. If anyone deserved this, she did.

Lord, I'm sorry. I'm letting my worries about this wedding
spoil my aunt's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Forgive me?

As he whispered a gentle "Of course," I reached to hug
Rosa, who flashed an embarrassed smile. "We're so proud
of you, Rosa," I whispered in her ear. "If anyone deserves
a chance to strut her stuff, it's you. You're the best cook in
the world."

"Thank you." She giggled like a schoolgirl. "But I can still
hardly believe they picked me! This is the most exciting thing
that's happened to me since I got off the plane from Napoli.
I'm going to be on my favorite channel of all-the Food Network."
She reached for her St. Christopher medal and began
to praise all of the saints at once. I couldn't help but smile as
her chorus ushered heavenward in lyrical Italian.

In the meantime, I slipped past her and down the stairs.
My aunt had a cooking career to build. Me? I'd better get
busy building a castle.
... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. In this story, a famous movie star comes to stay at the Rossi home. What did you think about their welcoming response to him? Would you do the same if a famous and handsome star showed up at your doorstep?

2. One of the lessons that Bella learns is that some people who look like they have it all are really empty on the inside. What can we do, as believers, to help these people find the real answers they're seeking?

3. Bella comes from a large, quirky family where food plays a huge role in their lives. Do any particular foods come to mind when you think of your family members? How do they play into your family dynamics?

4. Bella is planning a Renaissance-themed wedding and discovers the word renaissance means rebirth. She realizes the Lord is trying to teach her something. Have you ever been through a renaissance in your own life?

5. Bella and D.J.'s relationship is tested when Brock Benson shows up. Have you ever been through a testing season in a relationship (either a friendship or a romance)?

6. As this story progresses, Bella grows closer to the three "sequined sisters" from Splendora. Can you think of a time when the Lord brought new friends into your life who were radically different from you? What was the result?

7. A misunderstanding with a police officer lands Bella in a place she never expected. Has a misunderstanding ever interrupted your world in such a radical way?

8. Bubba steps out of his comfort zone by taking on a major role in The Marriage of Figaro. Think of a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone. How did the Lord use that experience to grow you into the person you now are?

9. Aunt Rosa and Uncle Laz have secretly loved each other for years. Have you ever carried a big secret for years? What happened when you finally revealed it?

10. Near the end of this story, a terrible storm hits at the most inopportune time. Have you ever been through a big storm (literal or spiritual) that caught you off guard? If so, how did you make it through?

11. At times, Bella feels a little unworthy of DJ's love. Have you ever felt unlovable or unworthy? If so, how did the Lord help you with those feelings?

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Author Janice Thompson's web site
»	Janice Thompson's blog

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