A story of love and loss, lies and truth, begins in Rome when Nicole shares a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor.
Welcome to the April 7th stop on the blog tour for The Measure of Life by Judith Works with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.
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Author Guest Post
Why my book is a must read.
Here are five reasons to read The Measure of Life:
1. The Measure of Life contains universal themes embedded in a story of love and loss, lies and truth. It begins in Rome as Nicole, the protagonist, shares a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor. The meeting sets off a chain of events that upends the course of her life. While Rome also brings deep friendships and immersion into a sumptuous food scene there is no escape from acknowledging the consequences of her actions. In search of forgiveness and healing, she moves to an island near her childhood home in Seattle only to find the way to reunite the remnants of her family and discover her true path is to return to Rome and face the past.
2. Many reviewers and readers recommended it. Here are some examples:
Kirkus Reviews said: “a compelling exploration of personal growth, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships.”
The author has “a distinctive and genuine flair for storytelling that keeps her reader’s attention riveted from first page to last.”— Midwest Book Review
“fascinating true-to-life story hits the reader directly in the heart.”— Mary Jane Cryan, author of The Painted Palazzo.
“an emotionally resonant saga…with a satisfying finale, a redemption, and redefinition of love and family.”— Harriet Cannon, author of Exit South
3. It is mostly set in Rome, a city saturated with sunshine and history beloved by so many travelers, ancient and modern. Rome is a city I know well after having lived there for ten exciting years. If you want to know more about living as an expat in Rome you can read my memoir, Coins in the Fountain.
4. It has a lot of Italian food and even a recipe for my favorite pasta dish at the end of the narrative – Pasta Alla Puttanesca, linguine with a sauce of tomatoes, olives, anchovies, and capers. In the story, the protagonist, Nicole, becomes a food blogger sharing her experiences and giving advice on Italian cuisine. It might make your mouth water in anticipation.
5. It’s an easy read – just under 300 pages
About the Book
The Measure of Life
by Judith Works
Published 18 November 2024
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Page Count: 274
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!
A story of love and loss, lies and truth, begins in Rome when Nicole shares a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor. The meeting sets off a chain of events that upends the course of her life. While Rome also brings deep friendships and immersion into a sumptuous food scene there is no escape from acknowledging the consequences of her actions. In search of forgiveness and healing, she moves to an island near her childhood home in Seattle only to find the way to reunite the remnants of her family and discover her true path is to return to Rome and face the past.
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Excerpt
A nearby rock invited me to perch to wait for the men to return. Tiny wild pink cyclamen flowers poked between the grasses and fallen pine needles carpeting the ground. With petals facing backward like the tail of a comet, I always saw cyclamens as shooting stars. I picked one but it had been partially eaten by some hungry insect. I let the flower fall not wanting to make a wish on an imperfect star. A local poet, another expatriate American, had recently published his latest work in a slim chapbook. I’d bought a copy when he did a reading at the bookstore Primrose formerly owned. I’d taken time from packing my things to attend and still had the chapbook in my shoulder bag. Uncertain what to do while I waited for the men, I read to pass the time. The first page I turned to held the perfect poem to suit my mood.
We could have shared a glass today but now you’re gone.
I wonder what the day will bring with its gray and lowering clouds.
On the opposite page was a woodcut of a wild cyclamen, the flower I’d picked moments ago. The words raised bittersweet memories.
About the Author
After I earned a law degree in midlife, I had the chance to leave the Forest Service in Oregon and run away to the Circus (Maximus). In reality my husband and I moved to Rome where I worked for the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization for four years as a legal advisor to the director of human resources. I could see the Circus that had hosted chariot races during the Roman Empire from my office window.
My husband and I reluctantly returned to the US after four years. But we pined for the land of pasta, vino, art, and sunny piazzas. Then the gods smiled and offered a chance to return to Rome with the UN World Food Program. Six more years or food and frolic in the Eternal City passed much too quickly. The indelible experiences living in Italy and working for the UN were the genesis of my memoir Coins in the Fountain.
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Giveaway Alert!
Judith Light will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
March 3: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
March 10: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
March 17: The Avid Reader
March 24: Sandra’s Book Club
March 31: Joanne Guidoccio
April 7: Westveil Publishing
April 14: Maggie Blackbird
April 21: Long and Short Reviews
April 28: Fabulous and Brunette
May 5: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
May 12: A Wonderful World of Words
May 19: Gina Rae Mitchell
May 26: Dawn’s Reading Nook
June 2: Always Reading
June 9: It’s Raining Books
June 16: Straight From the Library
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This is an interesting genre. The cover is appealing!
Hi Jeanna. Hope you get a chance to read the book. It just got a 5 star review from Reader’s Favorite!
Hi Jeanna – Hope you enjoy the book. It just received a 5-star review from Reader’s Favorite
Thank you for hosting today.
Sounds really good. Thanks for sharing.
What responsibility do authors have to their readers?
Do you think books should entertain, educate, or both?
This looks like a very good book and I look forward to reading it.