Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop

by Rosanna Chiofalo

A unique pastry shop, operated out of a convent in Italy, changes lives past and present in this touching novel by the author of The Sunflower Girl.   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 samples the cake agrees it is like none other they’ve tasted. 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 behind the mysterious cake. As she samples each delectable treat—marzipan fruit, rich cream puffs, and decadent cakes—Sorella Agata relates the pastry shop’s history and tells of the young woman, Rosalia, who inspired her.   Kidnapped and separated from her family, Rosalia is subjected to a terrible ordeal—until the nuns find her. As she heals, she learns the art of pastry making, and soon she even finds love with Antonio—an apprentice in the pastry shop. But her heart still aches for the family she lost. And Rosalia knows she will not be whole again until she is reunited with them.   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 the deepest heartaches, and even act as a bridge to those we love, no matter how far apart.  Praise for the writing of Rosanna Chiofalo  Stella Mia

Genres: Fiction, Italy, Contemporary, Food and Drink, Food, Adult Fiction, Womens Fiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2016

About the author

Rosanna Chiofalo is a first-generation Italian American whose parents emigrated from Sicily to New York in the early 1960s. She is the author of Bella Fortuna, Carissima, Stella Mia, Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop, and the novella "Seven Days of Christmas" which appears in the WHEN THE SNOW FALLS collection. She lives with her husband in New York City. Visit: RosannaChiofalo.com.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received and advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is May 31st, 2016.

I need to be upfront about my thoughts on this story. I took a risk when I selected this book for two reasons. First being that the title is very odd. The second is that the story takes place in a convent. I could not visualize where the story would take me.

Let me tell you the risk paid off! I absolutely loved it! Having literally just finished reading the last sentence, I am currently experiencing that feeling you get when a story really touches you. You know that feeling that you just can't put in to words? Where you will find yourself thinking about the story long after finishing it? Avid readers will know this feeling I talk of, and please, someone tell me a good word for it!

It is no secret that I am a big fan of this type of story. Where the secrets of today are answered by the secrets of the past. Where the story slowly unfolds of the past as you anxiously wait to find out what happened to the characters and are almost always certain it will be tragic.

The story of Rosalia was both tragic and uplifting. While her journey did not take her where I wished it would have, I knew it would not. The big secret reveal was really not so much to the reader as it was obvious pretty early on, as was the "secret" ingredient. Regardless, the story captured me and kept me glued to the pages until the story ended.

I have a love/hate relationship with this feeling I currently have. I say get past the weird title and pick this one up. As an added bonus there are all sorts of recipes at the end for how to make the pastries mentioned in the book. Which reminds me, you may not want to pick this up on an empty stomach, the pages are filled with sinfully delicious sounding pastries!

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars actually. I deducted a half star for being overlong in certain parts. But overall a very good story and the luscious sounding sweets were the best part!

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a sweet treat to read! I mean that literally. The pastries, cakes and cookies, so decadent and divine! This novel also has some tasty recipes at the end! After a traumatic experience, young Rosalia is separated from her family. Mentally and physically broken, she’s unable to forgive herself for her horrible experience and she’s rescued by a group of nuns. The nuns run a famous pastry shop. Rosalia finds joy, comfort and love by working with the nuns, learning to bake sweets. This book is about overcoming unwarranted guilt, learning to love ourselves in spite of life’s traumatic experiences. In spite of all that happened to her, Rosalia tried hard to keep her faith in God, even when her questions remained unanswered. Her pastries become well-known in Italy – her unique sweets are so delicious that people think she must add a secret ingredient. I highly recommend this book if you like stories about food and faith. - See more at: http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/#sthash....

[Patricia Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book begins in 1955 and then jumps to 2004. The story of Rosalia begins when the Carmelite Order at Santa Lucia del Mela, Messina,Sicily,led by Madre Carmela, finds a half-dead girl while they are out gathering almonds from the groves, to use in their incredible and world famous pastries.

Jumping ahead to 2004, Claudia Lombardo, a food writer, has come to the convent to see for herself what is so special about these particular pastries and write a book about them and the Nuns.

When she arrives, she is met by Sorella Agata, who is now Mother Superior of the Order and the one who makes the amazing pastries.

Hoping to find whatever secret ingredient is in these delectable desserts, Claudia sits with Agata and listens to a story of a kidnapped girl, of loss, of sorrow and of love and friendship. A story of great faith and hope. It was a story that made my mouth water and made me cry.

It is a beautifully descriptive book and a well written story by Ms. Rosanna Chiofalo. I was lucky to receive a copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review. Honestly I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more of Ms. Chiofalo's work.

As an added bonus, there are recipes in the back!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story that is bittersweet as referenced in the title. Although it kept me engaged, I thought it was a bit wordy and repetitive in parts. I enjoyed the reference to Italian pastries in each chapter, as it reminded me of some of the southern Italian treats my mother use to make. I think all Italian Americans would enjoy this book, especially those from Sicily. The importance of family and the strength of women is portrayed throughout the book.

[Christine Verstraete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice heartwarming story of a bakery and town in Italy. I really enjoyed the setting and the bakery items sounded so good! I did think the ending was too rushed, but otherwise a good read that I simply had to finish!

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good story set in a convent in Siciliy with nuns who bake wonderful world-renowned pastries and sell them on a daily basis. Something a bit different in a story! A lot of the pastries had Italian names so it was interesting to find out the meaning of them all. They sounded absolutely delicious and all I can say is it's a good job I don't live anywhere near there!

The story was set mainly in the 50s, which I didn't expect. I thought it was set mainly in the present day with a little look backwards, but the opposite was the case. It was about the nuns and their lives and what had brought some of them to the Convent of Santa Lucia del Mela Rosalia was a main character who the nuns rescued from a cave after she was kidnapped and abused by a man who used to live in her village. She lost parts of her memory because of a concussion and by the time she remembered things and managed to get the police to find out about her family they had left the village they had lived in because of the lies and abuse they were getting from the other villagers because of their missing daughter. So Rosalia ended up back at the convent as she had nowhere else to go.

The story gently meandered along with Rosalia eventually learning to trust more after she met Antonio, who the nuns employed to help the with shopping and deliveries for the bakery, along with baking. Antonio wanted to train to be a chef in Paris and was working towards that.

But things worked out differently than expected and without giving too much away Rosalia stayed at the convent and helped other people in her situation. And the story was tied up nicely at the end with none of the 'I wondered what happened...' at the end of books that I really dislike.

I enjoyed the book, but I did find myself getting a bit bored in the middle. It did pick up again though and all in all it was a lovely story with glorious descriptions of cakes!

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it - transported me to Sicily! I felt like I worked at the convent's pastry shop. I could almost taste the wonderful pastries. Heart wrenching story with happy and sad moments. I read it in 2 days! Brava, Rosanna!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalia’s Bittersweet Pastry Shop by Rosanna Chiofalo tells the story of Rosalia Di Santa and the pastry shop at Santa Lucia del Mela Convent in Sicily. Claudia Lombardo is a writer and she wishes to do a book (a cookbook with stories) on the convent and its marvelous pastries (she also has a blog titled Chow Girl). Claudia gets to stay at the convent, watch the delicious delicacies being made, and interview the Mother Superior of the convent. The Mother Superior tells Claudia the story of the bakery and Rosalia. It takes us back to 1955 and how the sisters found Rosalia. The Mother Superior then slowly reveals Rosalia’s story. Read Rosalia’s Bittersweet Pastry Shop to find out the secrets behind their delectable desserts.

The book is well-written (easy to read) and the writer does a very good job at describing the desserts (if I liked pastries I would want to devour them). The novel seemed to go on forever. It started out interesting, but then the pace slowed down considerably (though it does pick up again near the end). What the Mother Superior ultimately reveals is easy to figure out during the course of the novel. Rosanna Chiofalo is a descriptive writer which makes it easy to visualize what she is describing (a wonderful quality for a writer). If the pace had been a little faster, it would have made the novel much more enjoyable (and the book shortened just a bit). I give Rosalia’s Bittersweet Pastry Shop 3 out of 5 stars. There are recipes at the end of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.

[Zsofi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is set in a convent in Sicily, where the nuns live like a big family make gorgeous pastries.
It starts well, but after the first 100 pages, there isn't anything new. After a while the situations and the inner conflicts of the main character (Rosalia) were too similar, it seemes they wer repeating iver and over again. The actions of Rosalia are explained too much. I would have understood the story with much less explanation, but this way it was just annoying.
I found the quality of writing really bad, and the conversations were far from realistic.
This novel draws attention to a very important problem, that much I have to admit. It still would have been nice to see one relationship between a man and a woman that actually worked out. At first I was very much affected by what happened to Rosalia, really, but there is not one woman in this novel who hasn't suffered horribly because of a man. If it was just about one suffering woman, I would have found this story much better. Like this, I am just annoyed. Less would have been more.
The message of this book - in my view - is that women are always going to suffer at the hands of men, but they can move on by helping eachother and not letting husbands into their lives.
Ohh and it is also too long.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow-paced beautiful story with a lot of savory descriptions and inspiration both for a delicious pastry or for a trip to Sicily.
Read more about this book here: http://wildwritinglife.blogspot.de/20...
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher via NetGalley.com in exchange of an honest review

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read this book if you are on a diet! The descriptions of the delicious pastries that the nuns make will have you drooling and craving something sweet. You may need tissues too as you read Rosalia's life story, full of hardship and heartbreak. It is a hopeful book however, as damaged characters do find peace and find a way to enjoy life. A poignant, sugar filled but bittersweet read.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story set in Sicily, mixing present day and life in the 1950's. It is a love story of God and faith, tragedy and perseverance. Beautiful pastries you can picture and almost smell from their descriptions. A new life built from ashes.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this book and it's definitely a bittersweet story. But reading about the delicious baked goods and Sicily makes me want to visit even more.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claudia is a food writer based in the US, who is headed to a small village in Italy to write about the pastries made in a shop run by nuns. They are famed for their cassata cake, and even though the main baker, Sorella Agata, insists there is nothing special about how she makes it, the cake has something magical. Claudia wants to write about the history of the bakery as well as the recipes, so she begins to hear Sorella Agata’s story. The story flashes back to the nuns finding a young woman in terrible condition. She has been kidnapped and held and has been traumatized.. As they nurse her back to health, she begins to learn about baking and it becomes a healing therapy for her. Although her memory begins to come back, Rosalia’s experience is bittersweet as she is unable to locate her family. While she continues to look for them, she begins a relationship with a young man who is at the bakery to learn skills before he heads off to culinary school. The book takes some unexpected turns, but leads to a very satisfying conclusion. Recipes for many of the creations described in the book are included.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia Lombardo is a food writer who has traveled the world to try the wares of great chefs. Then she hears about a convent in Santa Lucia del Mela which creates wonderful desserts. She travels there to find out about Sorella Agata who was the originator of these desserts, including a cassata which has never found its like anywhere.

Claudia decides to find out the secret behind these desserts, even though Sorella Agata says there is not one. Through the tastings, Sorella Agata tells her the history of the shop and Rosalia, her inspiration. Rosalia was the daughter of a tailor. She is kidnapped, raped and beaten by a man she rejected. He then hid her in a cave where nuns found her and nursed her.

The story is rich in traditions, friendships, stories of saints and then the recipes.

The style was one of beauty. I loved this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading almost all of this author's books, I have to say that she is a favorite of mine. I love her writing, and I am so drawn into her stories. This book is going onto my list of favorite books. I felt like I knew the characters and I struggled with them, was happy for them, hoped for them...I was so sad when the book was over because I loved the main characters so much. It is a testament to taking a horrible experience and growing from it, even when it is difficult, and turning it into something beautiful for others and making it a pathway to life. I loved all the research that went into the book to make it historically accurate in the time frame, as well as the culture. Sicily is where the story is based, and it is one of the most beautiful places that I have visited to date. I stayed in the towns close to where the book is written, and I could visualize it. It was a great, great vacation read.

[Linda Lassman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a real sucker for books about cooking, particularly when they have recipes at the back, and particularly when they have a historical element to them (although it kills me to say that a book that has a large part of it taking place in the 1950s is "historical", because, as someone alive in that decade, that just makes me old!).

There were some very difficult things to read about--Rosalia's experience and the loss of her family, in particular--but at the same time I was aching for what the characters were going through, I also felt a sense of peace and rightness, as though everything happened for a reason and that everything was going to be all right. And it was. I loved the touches of "magical realism", the bird and the "secret ingredient". This is the first book I've read by Chiofalo, but it won't be my last.

[TsarinaTyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and very emotional book.

This was a wonderful and very emotional book. I found myself crying several times throughout the story much like Sorella Agata. The story revolves around the life of Rosalia, a young woman whose life changes drastically one day, and what happens to her from that day forward. There is subject matter in this book that might be difficult for many to read but it is key to the story and the genesis of Rosalia's life. I loved the book, my heart both broke for and was elated for Rosalia throughout the story. The story is wonderful on its own but the descriptions of the wonderful pastries made at the convent made me want to board a plane to Sicily just to try them all! A beautifully written story with very interesting characters and a theme of never giving up faith and persevering, no matter what life may bring your way.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Sicily, one of the groups of nuns became famous for their wonderful pastries. An American food writer Claudia Lombardo came to stay at the convent for a month to learn about the nuns, their pastries, and their stories. She was specifically interested in a unique cake made by the Mother Superior, Sorella Agatathat. Claudia wanted to know the story behind the recipes ---- and there was a tragic yet hopeful story here. In the 1950s, a young girl, Rosalia, was kidnapped, held captive in a cave, and beaten and raped for over a month. She finally managed to escaped and was found almost dead by a group of the nuns who were able to save her life. She remained with the nuns, becoming the best pastry chef in the group, but she never gives up wanting to find her family.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for books that revolve around food. While "Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop" delivered on descriptions of delectable treats, it was otherwise a predictable story with flat, boring characters and that also failed to transport me to the Sicilian landscapes that I so desperately wanted to be immersed in. The pacing of the story was a bit off, dragging on and on for the majority of the novel and then speeding up at the very end. There were a ton of character side stories that I felt were unnecessary and did nothing for the main plot. The dialogue was unrealistic to the point of being laughable. Unfortunately, this book cannot ride on dessert recipes alone. Sorry, will not be keeping this one as a re-read.

[Melissa Haylock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I loved the day I spent in Sicily and loved the food I ate there. It's an easy read... but in many ways not. Some of the subject matter regarding Rosalia's kidnapping would be triggering for readers. I found it difficult to read, but important to the plot. It's a love story, but in a way that it is central to character development and never feels forced or gratuitous. The main characters of Rosalia, Claudia, Sister Agata and Antonio are well fleshed out and you find yourself invested in their stories. There's a couple of twists, I guessed one but not the other. One of the best book's I've read

[Divya · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is set in a convent in Sicily, Italy. A convent run by nuns who bake extraordinary pastries. I liked the reference to different pastries in each of the chapters but otherwise it’s a book is filled with antiquated thoughts!
It’s an excessively wordy book with a lot of repetitions.
I feel the book is too preachy and wants women to convert into becoming nuns coz for some vague reason the author portrays that all women will get hurt by men and are better off being with each other and helping each other and what better place to do this than a convent !!
Highly suggest to skip this book .

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is what drew me to this book. I am not sure I would have if I knew what would happen to Rosalia. I don't like reading about the cruelty people inflict on others. That part of the story was hard to read. Overall, though, it was a beautiful book of faith and healing. I felt such serenity and peace and wished that I could visit that convent and soak up the atmosphere so that I would become a better person. Thank you to the publisher who sent me an advanced reading copy. I will recommend this book to others.

[Melissa Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
Its about a traumatic experience and the lives of nuns in Italy that run a bakery to fund shelter for women. The story is focused around young Rosalia and the convents pastry shop. Rosalia finds love and comfort baking and working with the nuns. She really excels at learning to bake and then baking sweets. Her pastries become well known in Italy and an author, Claudia wants to write about the bakery and find out the secret to their success which instead unveils the entire story about Rosalia.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food writer Claudia Lombardo travels to Sicily to visit a convent that has a pastry shop that makes and sells exquisite cookies, cakes and deserts. Claudia meets with Sorella Agata a nun at the convent and one who is in charge of baking and making the deserts. Sorella begins to tell Claudia a story from the past of how she came to the convent and as the story unravels Claudia becomes very close to the nun. Great recipes and each chapter features a different pastry or desert.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful novel set in Italy!! It is a delight that will keep you reading from page 1 to the very last page. I laughed, cried, got mad, and celebrated with the characters! Each chapter is titled with an Italian bakery item (for which most of the recipes are in the back of the book) which is a theme in that each recipe is made as the story is told. This book is so worth reading!!

[Vicki Lanzendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The use of bittersweet in the title of this book couldn't be more appropriate. So much happens to the main character Rosalia - some so incredibly sad and some heartwarming. There are lots of twists and turns and several "I didn't see that coming" moments. While it didn't end as I hoped it would, it is a wonderful story of overcoming adversity and making the best of situations.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book then put it down because I struggled with Rosalia’s predicament. I usually do not enjoy books that are depressing. What got me through this book were the descriptions of the pastries and the significance of the treat as it honors a Saint or an event. The story moves rather slowly so maybe I would rate this book a 3.5 for the pace.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It really is true to its name; the knowledge when you know time passes and you expect what you wanted to come to you in an instant, but the harsh truth that it might never come. But when you put your faith in God for the possibility to come true, He will let it come. It starts out bitter, then it becomes sweet.
Bravissima, Rosanna Chiofolo.
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