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 abbreviated excerpt only...

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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