Say Goodbye and Goodnight

by David Ruggerio

Anthony Marino, a young, up-and-coming fighter, maneuvers through all the pitfalls and minefields that existed in 1977 Brooklyn. Yet beneath the harsh surface, Brooklyn offered much more. It was the time of disco, the music that liberated a generation. And through it all, Anthony found his one true love, Gia. Theirs was an epic love affair, one that drew envy and hatred. Say Goodbye and Goodnight is the story of their love for each other and the perils that waited for them behind every corner.

Genres: Historical Fiction

203 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2020

About the author

Oh yes, my friends, at one point in my life, I was a much-celebrated celebrity chef. I honed my culinary skills in France at several of the country's leading restaurants. Among them, the Hotel Negresco with Jacques Maximin; Moulin de Mougins with Roger Verge; Les Pres d'Eugenie with the mythic Michel Guerard, and l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges with the iconic Paul Bocuse. I was honored in 1995 by noted vintner Robert Mondavi as one of the best thirteen Rising Star Chef in America, in the first year of this national awards program.

My experience also includes being the chef and partner of Pierre Cardin's New York Maxims. Yes, that's the same Pierre Cardin with cologne and everything else in the world! With Cardin, I was instrumental in the expansion of Maxim as a brand in restaurants and hotels. I also was the executive chef of the famed Le Caravelle ( I was only 25 at the time-go and figure) and executive chef and owner of Park Avenue's Le Chantilly. All three restaurants received numerous national accolades.

I authored two acclaimed cookbooks, "Little Italy with David Ruggerio" and "David Ruggerio's Italian Kitchen." I hosted my own PBS cooking series; "Little Italy with David Ruggerio." and went on to host my own cooking series on TV Food Network entitled “Ruggerio To Go”(check out some of the episodes on my Youtube channel, they'll make you smile).

I have a wonderfully scary upcoming horror novel entitled; "A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men, and Monsters, which will be released on Halloween Eve of 2019. Could you pick a better day to release a horror novel? Boo!

For more about me, my ongoing escapades, and upcoming events and give-aways please visit my personal website:
www.davidruggerio.com

I've recently explored my passion for cheese, to see what's up with my cheesy adventures please visit;
www.canvasbackfarms.com.

As you can surmise with my upcoming horror novel, I love to be scared, to enjoy my horrible thoughts, including which horror movie I consider the greatest, please visit;
www.mrruggeriosneighborhood.com

Ok, it's official, I have a Wikipedia page, don't we all? To discover more about me, please visit;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_R...

You want to laugh at some of my past television exploits, please visit (and like!) my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysx...

Where would I be without a Facebook page? Please visit my Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.ruggerio

I want to thank you for visiting my author's page.

Happy Cooking
Dave

Reviews

[Ariadna Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is interesting because it’s different from the genre I usually read. I wouldn’t describe it as a romance novel. It is more of a narrative based on Anthony Marino’s life an italian boy who lives in Brooklyn. His life unfolds more on the experiences he has around the boxing gym than on the adventures he lives with his friends, family and his great love Gía. He deals with several lawsuits because of the life style Italians have in their neighborhoods. It is similar to living in Italy protected by a capo, but that also leads him to take certain risks by falling in love with Gía. He gets threatened by another gangster like guy until the famous murderer, Sam’s son, appears, and some of his murders are narrated.


I definitely love Izzi Ant’s, Anthony, coach who has a strong personality. He advises, trains and encourages Ant in a real way nor in an idyllic manner neither with fantasy.


I think this book fits teenagers and young adults better, because the story isn’t precisely for women. It is not romantic the way we want it to be kind of like a story based on love and challenges. it is more of the type of a simple narrative.


I did not like it because it is not romantic. Specifically how Ant being very charming, and despite of him being very much in love with Gia had his slips with Carla. Another thing I did not like, obviously, is the amount of times he goes to train and describes how he does it, because there are times that it feels repetitive. However, my FAVORITE part is the unexpected ending when at the end he says, “you only live once. In reality you die once, you live everyday.”

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Say Goodbye and Goodnight" is the story of Anthony, an Italian teenager living in Brooklyn in the 1970s with his parents and older brother. In an Italian household, there are many family traditions followed and expected to be honored compared to other nationalities. This concept shows itself in various circumstances throughout the story. Anthony is a boxer, working his way up the ladder as he quickly gains experience. Boxing is a big part of his life, but out of nowhere, a special girl becomes an even bigger part. In this story, Anthony experiences his most heartfelt summer thus far. Heartbreak, love, lust, and revenge all play a role in his life. After the senseless death of a loved one, he joins forces in the communal hatred directed at a rival gang to prove that, especially with Brooklyn Italians, nobody messes with their people in their neighborhood. Meanwhile, a murderer is running rampant close to their stomping grounds. Amid everything happening, Anthony will need to use his willpower to keep his love from dictating important parts of his life.
It's the 1970s in Brooklyn, New York. Many things are different in this decade than in our present time. For one, PC (politically correct) terminology is not as common, but people's thoughts and actions are the same throughout the decades. In the story, there are many parts when cursing and the usage of politically incorrect words are present. There are also scenes of violence and sexuality. The author makes it clear that Italian girls/women know just how to dress to make themselves the eye of every man around. The violence is from the boxing matches as well as other random fights that are inevitable with raging testosterone and pride. It's not surprising that there are scenes of sex and sexual tension given the characters' ages (teenagers). The story reads well; it's easy to follow what's happening and immerse yourself in the characters, especially the main one, Anthony. There are some select Italian words included in the text, as well as some from other nationalities; I found this enjoyable, to learn the authentic way in which different nationalities speak. The story is told from Anthony's perspective; Ruggerio realistically writes Anthony's narrative by including Anothony's thoughts alongside his words and actions. Anthony seems like the type of person you would want to know in real life, and the romance he experiences during this particular summer is one that every individual will wish to experience in their lifetime. This story will be enjoyed by romantics as well as readers who like a good story including a likable Italian boxer.

[Fatima Zahra · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was recommended by BOOKTASTERS and I cannot thank them enough, because it was a very eye opening read. The author says,

"They say you only live once. The reality is, you die once, you live every day. Life is
not about how famous you are, or how many people pat you on the back, because
when things are down, where are they?"

It’s told in a very engaging, narrative, and sarcastic way. There’s slang, so it seems real, one can relate to the characters, because they are described like real human beings, and not with some non existing heroic qualities. Human beings are described in the most real way possible, at first I thought women have been objectified, but then their abstract qualities were described, and I knew I was very wrong.
It Seems like a story being told by a close friend. it's honest and romantic.

“It seemed like everyone was always angling for more money, why should they be any different?”

There are pictures too, which makes it more interesting. illustrations make imagination more crisp. iT IS Motivational, THE STORY OF izzy, really makes you struggle, and work in life. the struggles of a boxer, everything motivates the readers to be their best possible versions. And you know why I loved it cuz the main character is a fighter, I mean a great boxer, And I love love love this art. I mean there are written fights in this book, it’s worth a read. A true human struggle in life is explained. it's like you evolve and grow up the characters. it's placed in 1970's which is a cherry on top.
And then there is Shakespeare and poetry, rhythm. the sentences have Brilliant alliteration. it's amazing.
Asking author: Did you have to make it so tragic.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: While billed as a romance, this fits better into 20th Century Historical Fiction. My review is therefore only posted here on Goodreads and not on FanSciHist Romance Reviews (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com).

This slow-paced book is essentially Rocky crossed with Saturday Night Fever and the Godfather and presents a detailed neighbourhood tableau. Really, it comes across as a love note to Brooklyn, New York, and Italian Brooklynites. It is set in 1977 New York and includes factual and fictional coverage of the Son of Sam/.44 Caliber Killer murders.

It is written in the first person present point of view and is fairly episodic in nature. The author has significant issues with the past perfect continuous tense (had been, etc.), homonyms (vile vs. vial), and word choice. My ARC also had a lot of typos and other grammatical issues. All of these issues make it difficult to find any enjoyment in the narrative, on top of the fact that this is erroneously billed as a romance novel, which it most assuredly is not. All of these issues, as well as my dislike for descriptions such as "there was something primal about it, a magnificent stallion strutting his stuff for his mare" are the reason for the 2.5 star rating.

[Siwi Rindu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel tells the tale of Anthony Marino, an Italian teenager.
He is passionate, loving, courageous, confident and loved by all( almost). The novel depicts his life as a son, as a brother, as a friend, as a boxer and as a boyfriend.

It is written in the first person present point of view and is fairly episodic in nature. The author has significant issues with the past perfect continuous tense (had been, etc.), homonyms (vile vs. vial), and word choice.

I have so much love for "Say Goodbye and Goodnight" it's a great story romance a pair of star-crossed lovers

[Faeeja Humaira Meem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, David Ruggerio and BookTasters for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
Say Goodbye and Goodnight is the story of Anthony ‘Ant’ Marino, a teenager in Brooklyn in 1977 and an up-and-coming boxer focused on winning the championship.
The book was described as a romance but is far from being a traditional love story or romantic tale. It is told in a very entertaining, humorous, and cynical style.  There's slang, so it feels genuine, and you can connect to the characters because they're portrayed as real people, and not with any valiant virtues that just don't exist. This was totally different from what I was anticipating, but even in that surprising way, I enjoyed it.
Ant enjoys going clubbing with his buddies Sonny and Vito, and Gia, the daughter of a mafia boss. In essence, this slow-paced book is Rocky crossed with the Godfather and offers a comprehensive visualization of the neighborhood.
Language-wise, it was a bit distracting to find errors, but the story was so beautiful and tragic, we can ignore that right? If not, I suggest the author gets an editor to fix them.
Say Goodbye and Goodnight is an art, with brilliant alliteration, poetry, and rhythm.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to David Ruggerio and Booktasters for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. Say Goodbye and Goodnight is a fascinating story of the life and times of a young boxer set during the summer of 1977 in Brooklyn.

Teenager, Anthony ‘Ant’ Marino, is an up-and-coming boxer focused on winning the championship. He loves going clubbing at Romeo and Juliet's with his friends Sonny and Vito, his mother's home-cooked meals, and Gia, the daughter of a mafia boss.

He makes enemies with Louie, Gia's ex, who seeks to get even with him. Though he tries not to, he gets mired in the mafia when Danny Gallo does a favor for him. Not only that, a killer going by the moniker Son of Sam is creating panic in the city.

From the beginning to the end, Say Goodbye and Goodnight kept me captivated with the sights and sounds of the seventies and likable well-written characters. Five stars, I recommend adding this story to your collection.

[Sublime Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating = 3.92

Storyline & Concept = 4

Writing & Delivery = 4

Editorial = 3.75

Say Goodbye and Goodnight is the story of Anthony ‘Ant’ Marino, a teenager in Brooklyn in 1977. He lives in a tightly knit Italian community, complete with the renowned home cooking of the mothers, the hardworking fathers, the influence of the ‘made’ members of the neighborhood, and the culture of the 1970s. Ant is an up-andcoming fighter who experiences a once-in-a-lifetime love when he meets Gia, the daughter of a well-connected Italian.

This novel was submitted as a romance, but it is far from being a conventional romance novel or love story. It lays bare a family dynamic and a culture that few of us have the opportunity to witness. The author creates believable and intricate characters (my personal favorite is Izzy) to support Anthony and Gia as they navigate the rough waters of family expectations, troubled friendships, and the looming dangers of gang influence. Throughout the story, memories of the disco era made me smile. Ruggerio wrapped it up with an ending befitting the unexpectedness of this love story.


Sublime Line: “A well-written, unexpected, and unconventional love story that exposes the culture and dangers of life in an Italian community of Brooklyn in 1977.”

[Stan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a boxer from an Italian family in the 70s, living in NY. The story is so much more than the travels and aspirations of a boxer, it is a glimpse into family life and culture during that period of time. We follow the protagonist Anthony through a series of fights, his love life, and struggles with his family and trying to break away from their stronghold over him.

This is an enjoyable, imminently readable book that kept me coming back for more. Anthony and the other characters are very likable and reading the book made me feel like I was right there at the Sunday dinner table with Anthony and his family. The story was well constructed, well-demarcated by chapters, and had an easy cadence.

I have always enjoyed reading books from Black Rose Writing and Goodbye and Goodnight by Ruggerio is no exception. I am not a boxer or boxing fan, but I became nostalgic for NYC in the 60s (and unfortunately, it couldn't help but make me think of the first Rocky movie). Anyone interested in reading about life in the city in the 60s will enjoy Goodbye and Goodnight and I recommend the read.

Thanks to the author, Black Rose Writing and LibraryThing for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chandni Majumdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel tells the tale of Anthony Marino, an Italian teenager.
He is passionate, loving, courageous, confident and loved by all( almost). The novel depicts his life as a son, as a brother, as a friend, as a boxer and as a boyfriend.
The Marino's are a loving family of four , living in Brooklyn. Anthony or Ant( as he is called by his friends) is the youngest son. He is a very passionate guy and his sensitive side can be seen in all the roles he plays.
What I liked most about the book is that it is very descriptive. The emotions running in the family, the interactions between the people of the locality, Anthony's love for Gia, his boxing matches everything has been described in minute detail.
The description of the boxing matches are so vivid, that you can easily feel the palpable tension running through Anthony's mind, the blood thirstiness of the crowd, Gia's tears and Izzy's desperate commands. It almost feels like the reader is in the boxing ring with Anthony.
Obviously deserves a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Prasanth Srinivasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly beautiful and well-written novel by David Ruggerio. In the beginning, the portrayal of the character "Anthony Marino" resembled a bit of Rocky, but the engaging love, romance, family, mafia took over the storyline and given us a tasty cocktail. Well crafted characters made the readers dwell into the struggles of Anthony and his love for Gia. Extremely descriptive thrilling boxing matches and touching love moments have shown two personalities of the Anthony and never failed the readers to like him. A novel with good quality should make the readers to feel the struggles, pain, love of the characters and the author Ruggerio succeeded in it. For those who are unfamiliar with Italian culture, they may take sometimes to fit into the atmosphere. The author could have made the beginning a bit faster. But the novel will be euphoric for historical fiction lovers.

Overall, there is no doubt this novel will stand tall among romantic novels.

[Romila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was for the first time I read author a book penned by David Ruggerio. The current book which I read - Say Goodbye and Goodnight is love story of Anthony Marino - a fighter and Gia - their story is an epic one which drew more hatred from all corners than blessings. I liked this book as I could sense a kind of Shakespearean writing in the story.  Italian community of Brooklyn in 1977 is so well described I would feel myself in that era. The story started slow but picked up pace as I read through the chapters. It is super entertaining and never read kind. I highly recommend this book to  romance, suspense, and thriller mystery readers. It is a must read.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was completely different than what I was expected, but I liked it in that unexpected way. The cover is a great depiction of what you will get. It's not a typical Romance, it's historical and more of a story about that history and a different kind of romance. I think it is highly enjoyable and definitely holds the Shakespearean element the blurb alludes to.

Well written, well developed characters, a satisfying love story, and so much more.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich in history and a romance for the ages. This story is truly unlike others, it’s a great depiction of the time.
It’s not a typical romance, no it’s more of a family drama and historical fiction book in my eyes. There is romance and it’s beautiful and real, but the other aspects of the book really shine in my opinion.
Great piece of writing from David Ruggerio, I love the way the story unfolded.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so unique. It's full of so much life and history and reality.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
The author has added his own twist to history and given us a story we can devour, its completely his own.
The author did an amazing job making me care for and interested in the characters and it had me asking for more after each chapter!

[Hope Gerhardstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boxer in love

Slow start. Sudden ending but death can do that! A young fighter tries to avoid the Mafia men in his Brooklyn neighborhood and ends up falling in love with one their daughters. Son of Sam is killing people at night. Who will be next.

[Kvetch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start by saying that I did not expect this kind of genre. I got a little tingle of excitement in my heart when I read that it's not a modern-setting story. That's how much I loved to experience a good read classic-style book. Just when I started formulating my expectations of the story, I slowly realized it was not going the way I imagined. Ant's romance with Gia did not really satisfy my crave at first. And I just hated the fact that the cheating of Ant and Carla seemed like it didn't happen. He kept on saying that Gia deserved to know the truth, but, he did not spill the truth. All he did was serve Gia the sugar-coated version. But I gotta give him some credits for not going all the way with Carla even with that intense lust he had during that very moment.

On the other hand, I loved the people around Anthony's life. From his family to the people who supported his boxing career, it was comforting. I would just like to emphasize my deep appreciation to Ant's father and the way he was portrayed in the story. I felt the old's man pride and how he became the sturdy home for the family. For the characters like Danny and some other gangster-like's, I did not really sense their importance in the story.

I said this before and it deserves to be said once more, here in this review; the ending is crucial. You would never know, it might turn everything upside down. And that's what happened in this story. Though a lot of side stories were not really clarified like what was Calo needed to say to Ant, who really did the murder, or what's the real deal about that notorious son of Sam, I had concluded at the end that those were necessities to Ant's story. It described how Anthony lived his life and what kind of everyday life he had experienced. I also thought that Gia and Ant's romance might not be too dramatic,
but I agree that it was real. They had the purest and realest love both people can offer to each other.

What I really realized throughout the story is that a lot of questions will not be answered once someone's life ends. And when it does, some other lives are prone to changes. No one can turn it back and though everything will remain as part of your life, you just can't continue living with that person. You have to accept that something or someone is missing forever and you have to live through that blank.

Thank you so much Mr. David Ruggerio and Bookstasters for the giving us the free copy. You allowed us to enter and witness Ant's life. God bless all the way.

Love,
Kvetch

[Marina Elias]

Thank you to Booktasters and the author for sending me this copy.

My favorite character was Sal, I enjoyed how his character was introduced to the story and how his personality was described, it was very raw. The character development was nicely done throughout the story. The relationship between him and his father was very interesting to follow. And the dynamic between Sal and Ant was very well written.

I liked the little illustrations that were in the book. I enjoyed how the author wrote the characters and how they each had their own personality and detailed backstory. Each character in the book added something to the storyline.