Villa Mirabella

by Peter Pezzelli

In his acclaimed novels of Italian-American life, Peter Pezzelli explores themes of friendship, hope, and second chances. With Villa Mirabella , he invites readers into the lives of an unforgettable family—and into the warmth of one very special bed and breakfast . . .
 
When Jason Mirabella returns to his childhood home on a blustery winter’s day, the only thing he’s sure of is that he’ll be staying in Providence just long enough to get back on his feet again. It’s been three years since Jason moved to Los Angeles, brimming with ambitions he knew could never be fulfilled in Rhode Island. He had no intention of entering the family business—running a beautiful but timeworn B&B that’s struggling to compete with downtown’s luxurious new hotels. Smart, proud, and hardworking, Jason found quick success in L.A., until one foolish decision cost him everything.
 
Jason’s widowed father, Giulio, is overjoyed to have his prodigal son back in the fold under any circumstances, though his siblings, Ray and Natalie, are less than thrilled. But as days go by, Jason slowly begins to carve out a place for himself, rediscovering everything he was so eager to leave behind, and beginning a tentative romance with a young woman who opens his eyes to a wider world.
 
Just as Jason begins to forge a better understanding of his family, circumstances transpire to test that bond and challenge his resolutions. Now, as the promise of spring comes to New England once more, Jason will learn that sometimes, you can go home again, and the answers found there may be the only ones you need…

Genres: Fiction, Family, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Peter Pezzelli was born and raised in Rhode Island. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he lives with his wife, two children and their dog in Rhode Island where, most days, he is busy at work at his next novel.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable to read cuddled up under a quilt with a nice cup of tea while the wind blows and the rain falls. Jason, the main character, is believable and became more likeable as the story unfolded. Leaving his family for the glittering façade of California’s business scene, like many, he finds himself expendable. Once the wealthy young rising star, his disgrace causes his opulent lifestyle to rapidly disappear, including the physically attractive and shallow Amanda. Returning home broke and disillusioned, he slowly faces his mistakes. The family dynamics kept the story from being overly sweet and trite. Would be that everyone has a dad like Giulio!

•In compliance with FTC guidelines, received the book for free through Barnes & Noble's First Reads.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Peter Pezzelli's books. He won't win a Pulitzer. The writing is simple, but sweet and the plots pretty predictable (except for one or two surprises), but I still love his books.

Jason Mirabella is returning home, disgraced and out of a job. After spending a few nights in his old room, his father puts him to work at the family's B&B. Can he overcome what happened to him in LA? Can he fit in? What about the girl he meets? Will the baggage he's brought with him just wreck his chances at redemption?

The story plays out as expected, but I'm still left with a pleasant feeling and a smile on my face. Sometimes what I really need is a break from the hectic, hair-raising mysteries or the angst filled YA books I read so often. Pezzelli's small town Rhode Island is just the place to go for a restful (if virtual) vacation.

Not for everyone, but probably for fans of Maeve Binchy or Adriana Trigiana -- nice family oriented stories set in small towns. AHHHH!

[Rtamura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about family and the trials and issues that come up.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice,easy read. Family story,love and redemption and new beginnings. Good character development.Nice flowing story line.

[Angie Barrile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like every other book I've read by Peter Pezzelli, I loved it. To me, his novels are "comfort reads" because of the Italian American culture woven into the stories. My only disappointment is it's over already, I'll miss the characters!

[Melissa McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. Its the perfect book to read on a weekend. Its cute and it makes you realize that everything really does happen for a reason.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light, fun read! The plot itself is predictable -- as is most of the writing, actually -- but goodhearted, romantic (not in the lovey dovey sense), and full of charm.

My favorite part of the whole thing was that it's set in Providence, RI, which is near and dear to me. The Italian-American characters remind me of my Italian family members, and for someone who has family ties to the old Italian neighborhoods of Providence, it was just delightful to see that and our itty bitty neck of the woods represented.

I just maybe could've done without some of the "Ayyyy"'s that made the characters seem like caricatures of New York Italians. The author may as well have put "fuhgeddabout it!" in the dialogue.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Simple, traditional. It was like watching one of your favorite domestic film genre movies. I could see the places, the characters. I know I’ve said it before but some books really do play like movies in your head 😏

4.7 stars

[Alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, fun read. Nothing amazing. Toward the end I thought that if one of the characters said "eh" or "ay!" one more time I was going to lose it.

[Pam Warner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on it. Found it very boring.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Jason Mirabella left his family home to move to LA .and now the business he was in had major difficulties and he found himself without a job and about to be homeless and broke he decides he must go back home to his family in Providence. Jason is at the lowest he can get but when he arrives home his father welcomes him with open arms and wants him to join the family business. Jason's brother and sister help run the small hotel along with their father, The hotel is not getting much business because of newer places in town but they are trying to keep it together. As Jason settles down he begins to know what family means but then after a few months he receives an offer to go back to LA for a job now he must decide what he really wants in life.

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful novel from Peter Pezzelli tells the story of Jason Mirabella, who is forced to return to his cold Rhode Island home when his career in sunny California collapsed. Unwilling to tell his family what happened, he hopes to bide his time, lick his wounds, pretend to his brother and sister that he is fine, and half-heartedly help out at his family's bed-and-breakfast. What he finds instead is heartwarming - a family who loves him despite his mistakes and a young woman who might be more to him than just a friend. This is a feel-good story that leaves the reader with the feeling that the world (and families) may not be such a bad place after all.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read and surprised me. The main character is a man, down on his luck who is embarrassed to come home to regroup in his father's home. He carries some heavy baggage in his heart that makes it tough for him to trust himself and others in building new and old relationships. I enjoyed the open love the father has for his family. I would have liked even more evidence of Italian heritage and culture. But the healing that takes place in the son and other characters made the story compelling to read to see how it all turns out. I recommend this novel.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super slow start for me as evidenced by the extraordinary amount of time it took me to finish it. The beginning was just so boring and quite depressing. Literally a drag for nearly 100 pages and then it finally picked up and was a quick read to the end. Sweet, clean story, reminiscent of the prodigal son, with catholic religious undertones. If you can get past the super slow beginning, it’s a quick, easy read.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did I did not want to put it down. It is a different book from my mysteries, in fact, I don't really know what to call it. There is an embarrassment, family, romance. Worth the money and I believe I will purchase future books from this author!

[Rho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, nice and easy read.Good character development. A story about family, love, redemption and new beginnings. Very nice flowing story line. Enjoyed it and would recommend it as a rainy or snowy weekend read.

[heather mc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my 2nd book by this author. Nice cozy family story. Quick read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting story of second chances. Reminded me of the parable of the prodigal son. Good read

[Beth J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of pedestrian. Super quick read.

[Kdharris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! It’s always interesting to read from a man’s point of view. I recommend it!

[Jackie Caruso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up to read thinking that it was set in Italy. Ha Ha It was set in Providence, Rhode Island. It was an entertaining enough "Prodigal Son": story.

[Kathy Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book set in my hometime

Another winner from this author. Great characters and dialogue. Wanted to meet this characters for an espresso. Great family dynamics

[Anne Wisniewski Vogt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy read. Nice story about family.

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, a fast read, I love B&B stories.

[Conservative Goth Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously COULD NOT put the book down! The characters are likable, believable and sometimes the plot surprised me. I’d give this book 10 stars if I could! Peter Pezzelli is a wonderful writer!

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about finding yourself but other than the fire scene there wasn’t much action happening. A lot of self reflection. Which is good but makes for a slow read.

[Oliwka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and quick read, nothing special.

[Sully Augustine · Rating 2 out of 5]

softbound picked up off a free table. Reasonably well written, and parts were interesting, but nothing to commend me to the writer.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the books by the author so i was glad to find one i havent read. this one is a man in la did something wrong at his job, im not sure what he lied about, something about drug trial, he was disgraced. his girlfriend told him she was preg but when she found out about his disgrace at her fathers co she said 'get real' when he asked about the baby

broke, he went home back east. his dad and bro and sister were running a bed and breakfast. he tried to get himself together, he helped out at the inn. he met a photographer girl and they fell in love but when he told her what he did she said he needed to deal with his issues then call her. he was in the inn when it was struck by lightening, no one else was there. he called for help and they put the fire out. he went back to la for a job interview and they offered him the job. he ran into his x girlfriend and she told him there was no baby to begin with, so he felt much better. he turned down the job and went back east to be reunited with the girl friend. they renamed the inn with the name of the book, i wish they had put in the fountain in the front of the inn, that would have made a nice ending...i would have liked to see this book go a little further, i guess thats what my imagination is for!

read it all in one day, hope for another one from this author soon

[Mandolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you reach rock bottom, the safest place to go and the source of the greatest comfort is often home. In his most recent heart-warming work, Pezzelli reminds us once again of the healing, restorative power of family against even the fiercest ravages of the world. Bruised and battered by failure, Jason Mirabella, like the prodigal son, crawls home in search of peace from his past and answers for the future. Though they view his return with a touch of skepticism and reluctantly welcome him back into the family home and business that he shunned for so long, his father, brother and sister stand by him and support him during his period of self-evaluation and healing. The process is an arduous one, requiring him to yield his pride and independence, but a rewarding one as well, bringing hope for the days ahead not only for Jason but for his family as well.

Written with the compassionate, gently humorous touch that characterizes his best writing, Pezzelli's book touched my heart. It's certainly not the best of his novels about Italian American families and the wisdom they hold dear, but it certainly is the one that resonated with me most. I highly recommend it!