A Sweeping epic tale of love, drama, sacrifice, and redemption, set among the beautiful landscape of Sicily.
Winner of the BRAG Medallion Award in Historical Fiction
The beautiful, yet secluded, hilltop village of Bellafortuna, Sicily, is a great producer of wine and olive oil. The entire village prospers. However, after the arrival of the Vasaio family, production dwindles and the villagers soon find themselves in crushing debt to the Vasaios. Only the Sanguinetti family remains outside the control of the Vasaios, but the reason haunts Antonio Sanguinetti every day of his life, and he offers financial and emotional support to his fellow villagers. When Antonio's only son, Giuseppe, discovers his family's past, he becomes determined to take on the Vasaios and remove them from power. Led by the young Giuseppe, a plan is hatched that could result in either complete freedom for the villagers, or if it fails, forever solidify the Vasaios' control. Find out what happens in A Song for Bellafortuna.
Excerpt
Chapter One
Antonio and Giuseppe Sanguinetti
There is an ironic paradox in that courage requires fear. Fear provides the opportunity for courage. However, one must be willing to face the hard demands of courage, confront that fear, and ultimately triumph over it.
For the villagers of Bellafortuna, there was fear, but little courage. No one dared to fully take on the Vasaios, the controlling family of the village of Bellafortuna. The villagers came to believe that change would never come - neither now nor ever.
Bellafortuna, Sicily 1898
On a beautiful September evening, Antonio Sanguinetti closed his wine store a little early and then, along with his nine-year-old son, Giuseppe, climbed aboard a horse-drawn cart. Just as the sun began its slow descent, sinking below the Sicilian hills far off in the distance, father and son began making their way out of the hilltop, secluded village of Bellafortuna headed toward the fertile valley below.
Antonio Sanguinetti was a wine merchant in the small village of Bellafortuna. His wine store was known as Il Paradiso, an homage to Sicily being referred to as the “Paradise of the Grape.”
As Antonio and his son descended the hill, they passed a few of their fellow villagers who were on their way back to the village after a hard day’s work in the vineyards and olive groves in the valley. Antonio greeted them all with a wave and a smile, as they yelled their greetings to him and his son in return.
In his haste to leave the store that evening, Antonio had forgotten to remove the white apron he always wore while working, which was tied tightly around his waist. The elder Sanguinetti was tall and slim, with salt and pepper hair that gave him a distinguished look. He had a kind face, hazel eyes, and a pencil thin mustache that made him look slightly older than his forty-two years.
Unlike his father, Giuseppe had milk-chocolate colored brown eyes and raven black hair. But there was no denying that he was a Sanguinetti. He always enjoyed taking the trips down to the valley with his father.
Near the bottom of the hill, Giuseppe asked his father, “Papa, where are we going?”
“Vito Occipinti’s vineyard. Your grandmother made dinner for the family. Vito’s poor wife has been very ill.”
As the cart continued down the Via Valle, a steep, narrow dirt road leading to the valley, Antonio held his horse’s reins loosely in his hands. His horse knew the route just as well as he did.
When Antonio and Giuseppe reached the valley, Antonio slowed the cart and raised a finger upward, saying to his son resolutely, “This is how you know there is a God. Look at the valley, Giuseppe. It is stunning at this time of the day.”
Even though Giuseppe had lived in Bellafortuna his whole life, the views offered by the valley still revealed to him new vistas every time he traveled there. Giuseppe scanned the entire valley, taking it all in.
Mulberry trees, with their gnarled branches, shimmered in the light of the setting sun alongside the grapevines, olive trees, and wheat fields. Patches of clouds floating in the blue sky cast long shadows that danced along the valley floor. The sound of the church bell from Bellafortuna echoed across the entire valley, letting the workers know that the workday was coming to a welcome end. Small farm houses, with a wisp of smoke coming from the chimneys as the wives readied dinner, sat close to the road. Behind most of the homes were the vineyards, laid out perfectly, row upon row. A gentle breeze carried the smells of oleander, rosemary, and lavender from the nearby yards.
Giuseppe whispered to his father, “È bello.” (It’s beautiful.)
Antonio replied pointedly, “Bella ma triste.” (Beautiful, but sad.)
Excerpt from Chapter 1 of A Song for Bellafortuna by Vincent B. “Chip” LoCoco.
Please visit www.vincentlococo.com for more information about the author and his novels.
Italian Historical Fiction, A Song for Bellafortuna, Vincent LoCoco, Amazon, Kindle
Professional Reviews
Italian American Digest
"... Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco again takes the reader on a figurative and literal journey through Italy in a spellbinding, historical fiction novel of a young man's desire to free his Sicilian village from the domination of one family's long reign . . .If you are interested in all things Italian; if you are interested in human relationships; if you are intrigued by the states of the human dimension; if music or opera are your loves, A Song For Bellafortuna is a must-read."
Readers Five Star Review
"Vincent B. LoCoco writes a heartwarming piece of historical fiction . . . He captured the essence of the Sicilian culture, especially regarding the value of ancestry and music . . . A Song For Bellafortuna is a beautiful tale of antiquity."
Historical Novel Society
"I absolutely adored this book from cover to cover. "Everything about it evoked small village Italy. The characters and events were completely believable, as well as memorable, and the book managed to provide me with a strong education in opera . . ."
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Reviews for "A Song for Bellafortuna"
Reviewed by Audra Watts
4/2/2019
I couldn't really get into this story at all. I stopped a little ways in because it was quite boring to me (and books are rarely boring enough for me to stop in the middle).
A Song for Bellafortuna is a decent story. Though I am not sure exactly what the plot of it really is? I got the feeling that it was more about the village of Bellafortuna and it people. Though it was a told though a person or persons of Sanguinetti's family.
Is seem to be more about the Giuseppe's life and his family did and trying to make it right for a fight for freedom for his village and it villagers. I did not get this until about Carlo Vasino's death and a really good friend of Giuseppe's dies who name is Baggio.
I really could not get why the book was called what it was it was about. It more about the village of Bellafortuna. The author writing is what makes me want to rate it low. Though we do get lots of history about Italy and it surrounding city with history about Bellafortuna, Sicily.
The chapters leading up to finally getting where we get to the action and why they seem to get this one favorite and greatest tenor in the world named Caruso is the most interesting part and where I could not put the book down. Before that I really could put the book down and really did not want to complete it. Though the story of love, and friendship is though out the book.
The history and scene of views is talked about and created is really can be captured this this book. This is the only thing that keeps me reading the then the action of if they villagers get that freedom?
Reviewed by Sara Ranzau
2/23/2018
Each time I sat down to read A Song for Bellafortuna, I could not get past the overuse of adjectives and sophomoric style. While the overall idea of the story is universal, the author’s style and craft continuously reminded me of a first draft novel in much need of an editor.
Reviewed by Amy Campbell
2/9/2018
A Song for Bellafortuna was an okay read for me. The story was good but I found it to be difficult to read at times. I think many readers would enjoy it but I just do not think it was for me. Three stars.
Reviewed by Maree Mckenzie
11/26/2017
A song for Bellafortuna for me was very unique.
To start with it seems to be humping about a little but thats just to introduce you to everyone and before long you see how everyone is connected. The main character is Giuseppe who adores Opera and especially the singer Caruso who he was lucky enough to meet many years before. Bellafortuna is a lovely town with very fertile soil but the locals struggle and the town is no longer the vibrant place it used to be due to the money lending family that rules the town and their high interest rates. This story follows Giuseppe and his struggles to help the town return to what it once was.
All the talk of singer Caruso inspired me to search the internet for his recordings which I was lucky enough to find and enjoy for myself.
I enjoyed reading this story and feel its a perfect read for a quiet weekend.
Reviewed by Amy Jarosz
11/15/2017
This book at first was hard for me to get into. However, after continue reading it, the book was very good.
Reviewed by E Harris
11/11/2017
A Song for Bellafortuna, a novel by Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco, is set in the beautiful village of Bellafortuna, Sicily and opens in 1898. Once, the villagers were prosperous, but that changed when they found themselves under a crushing debt to the Vasaio family. Only one family, Antonio and his son Giuseppe Sanguinetti, were not in debt and did what they could to help others. Because of one song, the villagers rallied and came together to find a way to improve their lives. Finally an opportunity presented itself and there was hope for a better future. However, there were conditions and uncertainty. Were they able to be self sufficient and successful again?
On the book's back cover is written "This novel has been called lyrical, intelligent, majestic, magical, powerful and compelling." The novel is all of that and more. Everything about the story is special. The vibrant characters and their relationships are fascinating. They represent the very best of what family and community can be. The story line is masterfully crafted with just enough tension to keep the reader engrossed until the story's conclusion.
I found this book to be beautifully written and well worth reading. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Sharon Diamond
10/9/2017
A Song for Bellafortuna" told a lovely story of a small village in Sicily whose hardworking people lived a difficult life just as their ancestors did in this fertile valley where grapes and olives grew. It unfolds as a father and son bond over the beauty of their home and it's lost potential. As the son grows so does his love and appreciation for his home, family and the villagers who hold onto their dignity under seemingly impossible circumstances, a people who remembered a time when their hard labor bore rewards that now went into the pockets of a selfish, ruthless family who loaned them money to keep their farms & vineyards going when times were tough.
"A Song for Bellafortuna" is an easy read with a story that keeps you reading because you become truly attached to these people and feel their struggle. I would recommend this book, especially anyone of Italian heritage, as I found many examples of tradition and language that brought me back in time.
As I volunteered to read this book and give an honest review, I must include that I felt the writing could be so much better. Descriptions of people and places could have been given color with more depth in their portrayal. The use of more adjectives and metaphors could bring this from a good read to a blockbuster. There are such beautiful people, places that beg for more detail. The style of writing seemed more like a journal than a novel. Straight on, no embellishments.
In spite of that I liked the book and felt happy being given the opportunity to read it.
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