“When you lose someone, they take a bigger place in your heart, not a smaller one. Every day it grows, because you don't stop loving them. You wish you could talk to them. You need their advice. But life doesn't always give us what we need, and it's difficult.”

The Shoemaker’s Wife is a stunning story, written with such beauty, grace, and love, that it takes your breath away. The author weaves a rich tapestry about the strength of family, work ethic, friendship, and love. Ciro and Ezra grew up in villages just a few miles from each other and yet never met. Ciro and his brother are raised by nuns after their father dies in a mine accident in America and their mother is unable to care for them. Ezra grows up on the mountainside, taking on more responsibility than she is asked, growing up faster than the rest of her siblings. They met only once during a tragic time in Enza’s life. It was a lasting impression on both, however, both were forced by circumstances to leave for America. Neither expected to see each other again.

I was swept up in this book from the very first sentence to the last word! What a strong, focused, loving, and loyal collection of characters. The characters weren’t just surface the author went deep into their souls. I have felt joy, incredible sorrow, disappointment, and many more feelings right along with them. The author’s style of writing is full of beautiful descriptive scenes. I was transported from Italian Alps to early Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, to the New York Opera scene, and finally to the mines of Minnesota. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a good romance, an excellent adventure, a great read about loving families. The Shoemaker’s Wife has it all.