Leila Tualla: Mama, Author, & Advocate
  • HOME
  • about me
  • Blog
  • News & bookshelf
    • Media
    • Books >
      • Letters to Lenora
      • Love, Defined
    • Poetry >
      • PMDD & me (poetry chapbook)
      • Storm of Hope
    • Anthologies >
      • The Sacred Feminine II
      • The Poetry Marathon 2021
      • Remnants of Home
      • Poetica II
  • ADVOCACY
    • RESOURCES for PMDD warriors >
      • IAPMD
    • Community resources for moms >
      • Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
      • 2020 Mom
      • Preeclampsia
      • Momma's Voices
      • Shades of Blue Project
  • Contact

            News & Bookshelf

Review: Messiina (Book 1 of the Casa Bella Chronicles) by Liz Galvano

9/30/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
Ominous words from the stone-faced physician at the temporary hospital greet her: "Welcome to hell, Miss James." No description could be more accurate. Earthquake, tsunami, and fire have razed Messina, Sicily. In a single night in 1909, one hundred thousand people never wake up. Physician Lucille James is determined to help despite horrendous conditions, almost non-existent medical supplies, and the opposition of the medical community she worked so hard to join. Giovanni Castello, the man facing her now, stands as her biggest opponent. Surrounded by blood and death and pushed to the edge of exhaustion, Lucille relies on God as her only option. When God gives a gift, after all, a person must use it. Will she have the strength, courage, and faith to do so? Messina - Book 1 in the Casa Bella Chronicles Liz Galvano  has been writing since she was a little girl. Her stories combine old style adventure and romance with a dash of humor. She loves family, food, animals, and all things Italian. Liz lives with her husband Jeff, two rambunctious dogs, two entitled cats, and a horse who thinks she's a princess.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Messina-Book-Casa-Bella-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B017DVVUEI/
https://www.amazon.com/Messina-Liz-Galvano/dp/1498453074/

~My Review~

Truly this is one of those "do not judge the book by its cover." The cover, for me at least, looks plain, a little lacking and something I would have passed over in a bookstore. But within these pages contains rich Italian languages and words that flowed so easily they were able to transport me to Italy in just a few short paragraphs. What a wonderful story of redemption, hope and faith amidst the destruction. Perhaps because of the recent devastation of Puerto Rico and seeing it in person after Hurricane Harvey, I could see the images so vividly. As a believer, all I could do during the storm was pray and my faith in God and His people continued to give me hope as I saw neighbors helping neighbors. God is there in the rubble. I was pulling for Giovanni  and hoped that I would read his testimony.....and Liz didn't disappoint. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. I can't wait to read both Giovanni  and Lucille's continuing story! This was more than just a slow budding romance, more than a look at societal norms in the early 20th century, more than just a tragedy......this was what hope and faith reads like in the devastation of Messina. 

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.***

About the Author

Picture
​Liz Galvano has been writing since she was a little girl. Her stories combine old style adventure and romance with a dash of humor. She loves family, food, animals, and all things Italian. Liz lives with her husband Jeff, two rambunctious dogs, two entitled cats, and a horse who thinks she’s a princess.

To follow her on Amazon, click here.
2 Comments
Liz Galvano link
11/7/2017 08:32:02 am

I don't know why I never saw your page... Thank you for your wonderful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed Lucy and Gioavnni's story. Just wait until you meet Vincenzo and Lucinda in book two...

Reply
Leila
11/12/2017 07:22:59 am

You're welcome! I enjoyed your story and I know, can't wait to meet them. Def on my tbr stack!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Book Pick:


    Picture

     I use Goodread's rating scale

    1 star – didn’t like it
     2 stars – it was OK
     3 stars – liked it
     4 stars – really liked it
     5 stars – it was so amazing, it's on my reread pile!

    Categories

    All
    #abouttheauthor
    #actionadventure
    #adult
    #authorspotlight
    #blogtour
    #booknews #poetry
    #bookreviews
    #children
    #christian
    #christianparenting
    #christianromance
    #cleanromance
    #contemporary
    #contemporaryromance
    #coverreveal
    #crimenoir
    #fantasy
    #historicalfiction
    #horror
    #inspirational
    #lgbt
    #memoir
    #mg/ya
    #nativeamerican
    #newadult
    #news
    #paranormal
    #parenting
    #poetry
    #romance
    #romcom
    #scifi
    Scifi/dystopian
    #selfhelp
    #shortstories
    #shortstory
    #suspense
    #thriller
    #urbanfantasy
    #western
    #womensfiction
    #ya
    #YA/NA


    Picture

    Archives

    December 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

Hi there! Here's a quick bio

Picture

Leila Tualla is a Filipino-American poet and author based in Houston, Tx. Leila’s books include a YA contemporary romance called Letters to Lenora and a memoir/poetry collection called Storm of Hope: God, Preeclampsia, Depression and me. Her poetry is featured in several mental health anthologies and she is currently working on a poetry collection based on Asian American stereotypes and identifies. Her chapbook “pmdd & me,” will be out this Spring 2022. ​

Contact Me

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • HOME
  • about me
  • Blog
  • News & bookshelf
    • Media
    • Books >
      • Letters to Lenora
      • Love, Defined
    • Poetry >
      • PMDD & me (poetry chapbook)
      • Storm of Hope
    • Anthologies >
      • The Sacred Feminine II
      • The Poetry Marathon 2021
      • Remnants of Home
      • Poetica II
  • ADVOCACY
    • RESOURCES for PMDD warriors >
      • IAPMD
    • Community resources for moms >
      • Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
      • 2020 Mom
      • Preeclampsia
      • Momma's Voices
      • Shades of Blue Project
  • Contact