Big Tom, ex-FD of The Big W turned me on to Adriana Trigiani, after recommending either Lucia, Lucia or Rococo (my memory fails me) one fag break 6 years ago – and over the years I’ve gobbled up the backlist, including the fabulous Big Stone Gap series…

Adriana has romance cursing through her veins. She is a natural storyteller, and weaves passion and humour magically together to create the kind of women's fiction that should hit the top of the charts time after time.

Her new trilogy began with Very Valentine which New Work published in May last year, introducing us to a fabulous new Italian American character Valentine Roncalli, and her family business – the Angelini Shoe Company.

I really enjoyed it and so did the press!

'Charming, charismatic and addictive, this tale of love, life and shoes is an absolute treat' Company
'A gorgeous piece of escapism … with plenty of the warm, earthy humour that is this author's calling-card' The Times
'This hymn to Italian New York is a treat' Elle
'Charming … Romance, families, careers and relationships are all intertwined in this captivating adventure' Closer
'A funny, heart-warming tale of a woman looking for love, family harmony and the perfect shoe' Heat

I read the next in the series, Encore Valentine on Sunday.

Oh what hopeless romantics Adriana and Valentine are... but how refreshing to read a story that makes no excuses for wanting to believe in, and in fact, revelling in the power of love - even Old Gram Teodora gets married at 80!

Am really excited that Adriana is making another trip to S&S Towers @ Two2Two on Friday for a picnic (following her attendance at the SATC 2 premier on Thursday night - Michael Patrick King is her lodger!!) - hopefully some of her belief can rub off on this cold hard cynic!