Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani


Valentine Roncalli, adrift after a failed relationship and an aborted teaching career, becomes an apprentice to her 80-year-old grandmother, Teodora Angelini, at the tiny family shoe business Angelini Shoes has been in business since 1903 in Greenwich Village.


While Valentine struggles to come up with a financial plan—and shoe design—to bring the Old World operation into the 21st century, her brother, Alfred, is pushing Gram to retire and sell her building for $6 million. It's not all business for Valentine, of course: handsome and sophisticated Roman Falconi, owner and chef at a posh restaurant, is vying for her heart.


Meanwhile Valentine is finally romantically involved with a up and coming Italian Chef 4 years after she broke up with her fiance. Everyone in her life is married or getting married and Valentine wonders if this is it as though the chemistry is there, neither make time for each other. It takes a trip to Italy with her gram for her to finally listen to her heart and do what is right for her.

Interesting story, though not really a romance as more of women's fiction with some family saga thrown in. The main focus is on Valentine and her finding her place in the world. The sequel recently came out so I wanted to read this one before I read the new book. I enjoyed it, more depth to it than I expected and the storyline was fun and entertaining. I have much more appreciation to shoes that ever before.