Revel in the lives of five generations of women chocolatiers. Through WWII, WWI, back to the Age of Discovery and up to modern times, women and men on a small Italian hilltop struggle with the many meanings of love.
In an Italian hilltop village, five generations of women confectioners work the improbable magic of love and chocolate. Can a brokenhearted American tourist fight the ghosts of her past to find a new life? Can a courageous mother save the village in the midst of war; and a renegade daughter redefine familial love? Could unlikely couples find each other despite their differences? If an abandoned widow navigates a shifting sense of purpose, will the legacy of chocolatiers take a new turn?
Professional Reviews
Enchanting Historical Novel
"In Straight Uphill, Jess Wells has written an enchanting historical novel about human love in various forms: romantic, familial, cross-cultural, and inter-generational. The tale is also infused with love for history, Italy, baking bread, and the making of exquisite chocolates! Set in a small Italian village, the story begins with a grief-stricken journey of a 35-year-old American, Gretchen, to Italy for a “change of scenery.” Unexpectedly, she finds a fascinating occupation and a friendship of sorts with an elderly Italian woman. In a series of unfolding, interrelated stories that span centuries, the author’s heroines cope with war, tragedy, deep personal loss, and scandal. Occasionally they triumph – but, pleasingly to the reader, the author’s carefully etched and lovable characters do not always end up where they, and readers, expect. These women take risks to achieve their aims, run against the grain, and defy those prone to narrow-mindedness and gossip. This book is a gem. It is delightful proof that a literary novel can be a deeply satisfying page-turner!” -- Mark Wiederanders
Insightful, Delicious Novel
“Unbearable grief over the death of her little boy gripped the heart and soul of Gretchen Simonson. At her sister’s insistence, Gretchen went away and soon found herself in a small Italian village where she became immersed in the lives of several villagers. In Straight Uphill: A Tale of Love and Chocolate, written by Jess Wells, the loss and rekindling of love – and chocolate-making – are beautifully interwoven themes. Gretchen assisted the feisty, elderly Bettina Liguria recover from the abandonment of her bread-baking son. Facing impoverishment, Bettina’s long-lost commitment to making chocolate delicacies was found again. The village’s trattoria also experienced upheaval, and the chef and his two adult children discovered their paths in life. The connections between present-day events in the village, and the intriguing history of how both defined the village for past centuries, are artfully described. The cast of characters in this fictional work is interesting and complex. The development of each one’s motivations and actions attests to the skillful writing of the author. For example, the trattoria chef’s son, Paolo, learns to balance his desire to be independent in his work, along with his fear of being in charge of the restaurant’s continuing success. Author Jess Wells has written an insightful, delicious novel in Straight Uphill: A Tale of Love and Chocolate. The reader is engaged in the story from the first page to the last, while contemplating the sumptuous chocolates, delicious Italian meals, and budding love relationships. Along the way, there are some surprising twists and turns. A simply delightful book!” – Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite
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