Ta'Mara has published her Caselli Family series before, but she is now relaunching the series starting with The Pretender and Pit of Ambition! Join this super fun blog tour and find out more about the first two books (of five). Also, make sure you check out the great giveaway!
About the Books
The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise is the first volume of 5 in the family epic series
The
Caselli Family Series. It begins in South Dakota in 1975 where
eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beers in a bar and loaded guns were kept
under the counter. Frankie Valli sang My Eyes Adored You, and American
soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.
It’s within this
tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen,
and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined –
and had been for many years – yet they had no idea.
From the moment
they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but
a deliberate omission will keep them apart – and that same omission will be
responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.
These compelling
stories are interwoven with Biblical truths and light-hearted, real life events
from the author’s own past. Easy to understand and relate to, as well as
encouraging.
Five years have passed since Noah and Tillie’s “chance”
meeting. They’ve married other people by now, and are both beginning their
families.
In the pursuit of professional and political success, Alex
runs headlong into a pit of pride and ambition...and Giuseppe begins to hate the
husband he chose for his daughter.
Alex and Noah are doing business on many fronts, which will
bring Noah to town for an unintended meeting with Giuseppe. Tension abounds as
he attempts to conceal his daughter’s identity from Noah.
Alex strays when Tillie needs him the most, and it’s Noah
who will bring him home. But, instead of learning Tillie’s identity, he
connects with her brothers, especially Marquette.
Unbeknownst to Noah, his new foreman is a member of the
crime family Marquette has sought since 1968.
About the Author
My favorite sport is baseball – Detroit Tigers – and I can’t
wait until the next time I get to see them play in Comerica Park.
I live for the next family barbeque.
My husband and I own a national pizza franchise in Iowa,
where we currently reside. We have three grown children and one grandson. We’ve
rescued two cats and one Pomeranian.
I teach AWANA Cubbies and speak at women’s events.
Giveaway
Ta’Mara is generously offering a $50 Amazon gift card! There are many different ways in the Rafflecopter to enter. The more you choose, the better chance you have of winning.
Character Spotlight
Old newspaper article. Publication is unknown.
By: Ramona Glass
If not for his brother’s desire to come to
America, this reporter would not have had the pleasure of spending the day with
Sioux Falls’ most famous immigrant, Giuseppe Caselli.
In 1945, Caselli’s older brother, Angelo, met
with a band of Allied soldiers near Castellina,
in Chianti, Italy, and it changed the
course of the rest of his life. A mountain guide from his youth, Angelo joined
a group of Italian Freedom Fighters and was in the vanguard that led the 10th
Mountain Division of the U.S. Army through some of Italy’s highest and roughest
mountain terrain. Angelo took orders from General Alfred H. Miller, a Sioux
Falls native, and the two became friends.
When the war ended, Miller asked Angelo if he’d
like to come to the United States, and if he did, Miller would be happy to
sponsor him.
“And it was all he could speak of when he
returned,” Giuseppe said. “He so wanted me to bring my family with him, but I
could not leave my beloved Italia, especially after having fought so hard to
save her.”
Giuseppe joined the Italian Resistance in 1945,
and was with the military forces responsible for the execution of Benito
Mussolini.
Angelo came to the United States in 1945, and
Miller put him to work in his new restaurant in downtown Sioux Falls. It didn’t
take long for Miller to discover what a talented chef he had in Angelo Caselli,
so he changed the restaurant’s menu, and its name.
Angelo Caselli became an American citizen in
September of 1950, and Miller died just a few weeks after that, leaving the
bulk of his estate to Angelo, which included ranch and farm land near
Centerville, and a large cash inheritance from his own parents, J.M. and Ardis
Miller.
In early 1956, Angelo developed health problems,
and doctors told him that he didn’t have long to live.
“It was his heart,” Giuseppe explained, pausing
to shake his head. “I still remember the day I received his letter. I decided
to come to America right then and spend whatever days my brother had left on
this earth with him.”
The A. James Martin, Sr. Family assisted with
their immigration, sponsorship, and eventual citizenship.
“I remember our first day in Sioux Falls,”
Giuseppe explained, stopping to laugh. “It was Thanksgiving Day in America, and
Angelo met us at the train station. I cannot tell you how good it was to see my
brother after so many years. I took him in my arms and held him so tight! And
he said to me, ‘Giuseppe, you smell like the valley!’ And I was still wearing
my old coat, the one I used to wear to milk the cow, and I wondered if it was
the valley he smelled, or the cow!”
Angelo Caselli passed away in 1964 and left his
substantial estate entirely to Giuseppe and Rosa Caselli, and their children:
Sen. Petrice Caselli, Vincenzo, Marquette and Matilde. Giuseppe manages
Angelo’s to this day.
“Of all the wonderful things my brother left to
this family, my favorite thing is the time we had together before he went to
his home in heaven,” the Italian native said. “I will cherish those years in my
heart…until the day I join him.”
Tour Schedule
February 26
Bookish Orchestration – Introductory post
Rachel Rossano's Words – Author Interview
Adventures in Publishing – Author Interview
Rebekah Lyn Books – Book Review and Character Spotlight
February 27
Simply Kelina – Book Review
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – Character Spotlight
February 28
Little Homeschool on the Prairie – Book Spotlight
Seasons of Opportunities – Book Review
Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – Book Review
March 1
Moments – Book Spotlight
Bookish Orchestration – Introductory post
Rachel Rossano's Words – Author Interview
Adventures in Publishing – Author Interview
Rebekah Lyn Books – Book Review and Character Spotlight
February 27
Simply Kelina – Book Review
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – Character Spotlight
February 28
Little Homeschool on the Prairie – Book Spotlight
Seasons of Opportunities – Book Review
Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – Book Review
March 1
Moments – Book Spotlight
Reader's Cozy Corner – Book Review
Fiction to Ignite Your Faith – Post from the author
March 2
New Horizon Reviews – Book Review
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Review
Adventures Of A King Daughter – Book Review
March 3
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway Winner
New Horizon Reviews – Book Review
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Review
Adventures Of A King Daughter – Book Review
March 3
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway Winner
4 comments:
Hi Annie & TaMara, I honestly don't think I've ever read any family-type series unless historical non-fiction counts (e.g. dynastic families)!
Hi Annie, the monthly email subscription to Ta'Mara's blog doesn't lead anywhere! What do we do?
Hi, Kate. Thanks for letting me know. I think it's fixed now! Could you try again?
Wow! Those sound like really complex plots! Thanks for sharing this series at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina
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