That's Amore-Wendy Markham

That's Amore
Wendy Markham
Forever, Jul 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780446618441

Psychic rolling stone Daria Marshall has no ties preferring the life of the road to settling anywhere. She feels she is just like her mom who never could stay in one place; especially after a failed marriage. Thus Daria, who literally runs from the ghosts she can see, prefers being the queen of the road. She comes to New York to visit her sister.

On the other hand Ralphie Chickalini has lived in the same Astoria, Queens house his entire life surrounded by his loving Italian-American family. However, when his father dies, his siblings want to sell the house and equally split the profits. Ralphie is the only holdout as he grieves Pops. When Daria and Ralphie meet for the first time, each feels the attraction in the melancholy face of the other, but this pair is polar opposites so love is not enough; or is it. In between and during Italian feasts, his late father plays matchmaker between his son and the woman who can still see him.

This is a warm paranormal contemporary romance starring two nice people who do not relish change, but will need to adapt if they are to make it. The Astoria location is a delight as it provides readers a fascinating side of New York City as this part of Queens is more a suburban town than the typical Big Apple urban high rise environs. Although the constant changing perspective provides insight into key players due to wider perspectives on the same event, that technique also makes some moments difficult to follow; still fans will appreciate THAT’S AMORE expecting any moment the ghost of Dean Martin to sing the title of love in the burbs.

Harriet Klausner