THE ITALIAN WEDDING by NICKY PELLEGRINO

The stuff of fantasy - haven't we all wished that we could just flit away to Venice or Florence or Provence. Well this is what Catherine did thirty years ago and where she met the impoverished and handsome Beppi (still true to form and fantasy) married him and moved back to England.

Fast forward thirty years, we have an established restaurant called Little Italy, a very clever chef in the form  of Beppi who has remained true to his Italian roots and we now have two daughters by the unusual names of Pieta and Addoloratto (pity and sorrow!) and Catherine our mother in the story. 

We also have a wedding coming up (the Italian wedding in the story) of Addoloratto marrying a Scottish/Ghanian and Pieta on the sidelines. One daughter has followed her father into the restaurant business and is equally successful and Pieta is a bridal designer equally good.  The saga, the history behind these characters, the unfolding drama at the wedding forms the entire story which is delightful.

Interspersed with receipes (I would have loved more) the warmth and caring of a small knit family set in an immigrant community in a foreign city comes through marvellously.

Liked it very much.