Mari D’Angelo’s life is complete. Her children are all married. Two grandbabies fill her days, with two more on the way, and her thriving family restaurant is running on autopilot. Not once in the ten years since she’s become a widow has Mari considered another love of her own. Until she sets sail on a singles cruise to placate her recently divorced best friend. Then James comes crashing into Mari’s world.
Charming, witty, and with two daughters of his own, James isn’t looking for love either. But Mari is as irresistible as she is beautiful. As their simmering attraction grows, Mari’s resolve to ignore the spark James has ignited slowly breaks away. She promised her beloved late husband she’d find someone new. Maybe that impossible day has come.
Knowing her protective sons would not approve, Mari chooses to keep the romance a secret. After all, there is no reason for her family to know about James if their relationship doesn’t work out. It’s up to James to prove he can be trusted with the heart of a woman he’s come to cherish. But without her family’s approval, their love doesn’t stand a chance.
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My Review
This is a heartwarming and humorous conclusion to the beloved D’Angelo family series. This final installment shifts the spotlight to matriarch Mari D’Angelo, who, after ten years of widowhood, has devoted herself to her children and grandchildren, believing her own romantic chapter closed. But when her vivacious friend Rosa convinces her to take a two-week cruise, Mari unexpectedly meets James, a kind, charming man who reawakens her long-dormant sense of passion and possibility.
Bybee writes with tenderness and wit, exploring love later in life with refreshing honesty. Mari’s inner conflict—balancing loyalty to her late husband with a desire for new companionship—is portrayed with empathy and depth. The cruise setting adds warmth and levity, while the reactions of Mari’s close-knit Italian family bring both comedy and emotional truth.
Ultimately, this book is a celebration of second chances, family bonds, and the courage to embrace joy at any age. Bybee delivers a fittingly uplifting finale—romantic, mature, and full of heart.
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