Wartime and Beyond is a love story that revolves around a young Sicilian woman named Rose during World War II in her native country. Her struggle to adjust is difficult along with her husband's infidelity in Sicily.
.....Arriving at Ellis Island in 1944 was quite amazing to Rose and her sister Gina. Befriended by Angela and Anthony Masso he had also escaped the war in Sicily was a blessing for these two young Sicilians. Their assistance with housing and employment enabled them to get through in this strange new country. After a few months their lives would be turned upside down due to the sudden illness of their mother in Sicily. As Gina departed back to Sicily, Rose's lonliness and desperation led her to an untimely affair. What happens next would complicate her life.
Excerpt
...It was 1945 the war was over but letters from Sal and her family in Sicily were still few and far between. Gina, as promised, called almost every day to update Rose about their mother's condition. Her beloved mother had died a month after Gina's return and Gina was left to take over her mother's role. Knowing that she would never return to be with her sister in America saddened Gina. Letters from Gina told of rumors that Sal was fooling around with many women in Sicily, after his return from the Sicilian Army. Gina felt he had nointention of joing Rose in America. The news saddened Rose.
I loved him. At age twelve he touched my heart with his music. At age twenty he captured my heart when our eyes met as he sat on a stage and sang Four months later, he fractured my heart with his refusal to allow us to stay together. At age seventy
The Matchmaker:
Angela Calminetti, mother of five, New Age practitioner and gifted psychic and telepath, is proud of her family ties and does everything she can to make sure that all of her younger siblings are as happy in love and marriage