Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop, Paperback

In Rosanna Chiofalo's touching novel, a unique pastry shop features mouthwatering creations that have the power to change one woman's life . . .

Food writer Claudia Lombardo has sampled exquisite dishes by the world's greatest chefs. But when she hears about the remarkable desserts that are created in a pastry shop operated out of a convent in the sleepy Italian hillside town of Santa Lucia del Mela, she wants to write a book featuring the sweets and the story behind their creator-Sorella Agata. But the convent's most famous dessert-a cassata cake-is what really intrigues Claudia.

Everyone who tastes the cake agrees it is like none other. Yet no one can figure out what makes the cassata so incredibly delicious. Though Sorella Agata insists there is no secret ingredient, Claudia is determined to learn the truth. As she enjoys delectable treats like marzipan fruit and rich cream puffs, Sorella Agata relates the shop's history and tells of the young woman, Rosalia, who inspired her.

As Claudia unravels the secret of the cassata cake, she discovers a deeper, fascinating story-one that affirms food can do more than nourish the body . . . it can stir memories, heal heartache, and even act as a bridge to those we love, no matter how far apart.

Includes 10 recipes for you to try

Rosanna Chiofalo is the author of Bella Fortuna, Carissima, Stella Mia, Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop, and The Sunflower Girl. An avid traveler, she enjoys setting her novels in the countries she's visited. Her novels also draw on her rich cultural background as an Italian American. When she isn't traveling or daydreaming about her characters, Rosanna keeps busy testing out new recipes in her kitchen and tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants. She lives in New York City with her husband.