Between Courses — Karla Clark

Karla Clark's delicious first novel takes on the enduring themes of family, food and love. Filled with dozens of rustic Italian recipes, this funny and touching love story offers a peek into the lives of a spirited Italian-American family of foodies. Sabina Giovanotti, waitress by day and aunt extraordinaire by night, is forty, single, and still living above her family's folksy café in Chicago's Little Italy. Sandwiched between four sisters, all happily married with children, and her mother and aunt, both cooks at the café, Sabina is trying to come to terms with the fact that her life didn't turn out as planned. She was supposed to marry her childhood sweetheart Vito Salina and run her family's café with him. But a tragic accident ripped Vito from her life...one week before their wedding...leaving Sabina stuck in neutral, waiting for the next course of her life. Eighteen years later, it's brash, red-headed Aunt Lina who propels Sabina into overdrive and helps her to discover all the wonderful life there is between appetizers and dessert. Pull up a stool, tuck in your napkin, and enjoy!