Say You'll Be Mine

by Julia Amante

Overview

Isabel Gallegos is only a handshake away from living her dream life. After years of putting everyone else's needs before her own, she's selling her family's vineyard and moving to a quiet cottage on the California coast. But just as she's about to seal the deal, a letter arrives from Argentina with shocking news: Her beloved cousin has died and Isabel is now the sole guardian of three young children.

Still holding on to her dream, Isabel travels to Argentina. There she meets little Julieta, the cherubic baby of the family; eight-year-old Adelmo, as hot-tempered as his sister is sweet; and ten-year-old Sandra, whose heart-shaped face and quiet confidence remind Isabel so much of her late cousin. She tells herself to let the children go, to leave them in the care of their grandmother or perhaps their long-lost uncle who abruptly reappears. Or should she listen to her ex-husband, who is suddenly at her side, urging her to give the children—and him—a chance?

If she's willing to take a risk, three tiny strangers just might change Isabel's life in ways she's never imagined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780446581639
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	10/25/2011
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.28(w) x 8.02(h) x 1.02(d)

About the Author

Julia Amante had the misfortune of growing up away from the extended family that is so valued in the Latin culture, but missed out on very little of what it means to be Argentine. Asados were sacred meals shared together on weekends. Cheering for the Argentine soccer team was a must, as were the weekly pilgrimages to the Argentine Club in Los Angeles where the young Americanized kids hid under the tables and watched the adults dance tango until the wee hours of the morning. Julia giggled right along with the rest of the kids at how "geeky" the parents looked, but was secretly intrigued by the romantic culture and passionate music.

Editorial Reviews

In Amante's moving story of love and loss, 40-something Isabel Gallegos is finally on the verge of pursuing her own dreams when she receives word that her cousin in Argentina has died in a tragic accident and left Isabel as the guardian to her three young children. Divorced, lonely Isabel—having becoming owner and CEO of her parents' business, Gallegos Winery—has just sold the company and planned to move to the beach. Instead, she goes to Argentina, where she must figure out how to reconcile the children's needs with her desire for an independent life. Drawing inspiration from her American and Argentine background, Amante (Evenings at the Argentine Club) paints a vivid picture of both the Temecula vineyards and the Argentine countryside. Though Isabel's aloofness and unnerving, repetitive selfish behavior render her an unsympathetic character, Amante's well-developed supporting cast (including Isabel's ex-husband Nick, and her deceased cousin's children) save the novel and make this an enjoyable read. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"There are really three love stories here: the one between Isabel and Nick, who are dealing with their alcohol-damaged past; the bad-boy uncle's wooing of Isabel's divorced best friend; and, ultimately, the love that flows between Isabel and the children. Readers may find Isabel infuriating as she tries to fight the inevitable, but she comes to her truths honestly and convincingly. This possible lack of sympathy should be assuaged by the pleasure of reading Gallegos' descriptions of coastal Southern California landscape and the lush, mountainous wine region of Argentina. For all readers of women's fiction."—Booklist on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

"[Amante's] characters are sweetly written and complex...[she] writes them with insight..and explores the moderating line where each individual lives, neither good nor bad, but only human."—RT Book Reviews on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

" What a rich, colorful, and completely heart-wrenching book written by a gifted mind. The reader is taken on an emotional ride through the soul with Isabel as she tries to free herself of the baggage she is carrying around while she tries to build a new life. The tapestry for this story is so engrossing you have to keep reading to find out how all this is going to work out for everyone you care that much about these characters."—Mary Gramlich, The Reading Reviewer on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

"Julia Amante understands the ties that bind all families regardless of culture and nationality—the struggle for identity, the importance of dreams, and above all, love. I truly enjoyed Evenings at the Argentine Club."—New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"A a big, beautiful novel of love, family, and the close-knit community they inhabit. By turns touching, funny, tragic, and triumphant, it's the story of an endearing group of people in search of their own American dream. This book is a delightful feast for the reader."—New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"Julia Amante has created an enchanting community to fall into, true-to-life characters to fall in love with, and a rich story that will fall directly onto readers' keeper shelves. Amante's tale is tantalizing tango for the imagination."—Lynda Sandoval, award winning author on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"A fresh and unique perspective into a culture that is at once foreign and familiar. I savored every word."—Julie Leto, New York Times bestselling author on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"An engaging story of family, community and the love the binds it all together. "—RT Book Reviews on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"The story of Victoria and Eric is a story of family, culture, class, success, and love in the vein of the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding."—Booklist on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"Evenings at the Argentine Club is a compelling exploration of one woman's search for her identity and of what it means to fall in love just as you're discovering who you are. While the themes are universal, details about Argentine customs and culture add unique depth. Evenings at the Argentine Club is a gorgeous romance-both between Eric and Victoria and between the Ortelis, the Torres family, and la patria."—Michelle Buonfiglio, Romance Buy the Book(romancebytheblog.blogspot.com) on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

From the Publisher

"Evenings at the Argentine Club is a compelling exploration of one woman's search for her identity and of what it means to fall in love just as you're discovering who you are. While the themes are universal, details about Argentine customs and culture add unique depth. Evenings at the Argentine Club is a gorgeous romance-both between Eric and Victoria and between the Ortelis, the Torres family, and la patria."

Michelle Buonfiglio

"The story of Victoria and Eric is a story of family, culture, class, success, and love in the vein of the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

Booklist on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"An engaging story of family, community and the love the binds it all together. "

RT Book Reviews on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"A fresh and unique perspective into a culture that is at once foreign and familiar. I savored every word."

Julie Leto

"Julia Amante has created an enchanting community to fall into, true-to-life characters to fall in love with, and a rich story that will fall directly onto readers' keeper shelves. Amante's tale is tantalizing tango for the imagination."

Lynda Sandoval

"A a big, beautiful novel of love, family, and the close-knit community they inhabit. By turns touching, funny, tragic, and triumphant, it's the story of an endearing group of people in search of their own American dream. This book is a delightful feast for the reader."

New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"Julia Amante understands the ties that bind all families regardless of culture and nationality--the struggle for identity, the importance of dreams, and above all, love. I truly enjoyed Evenings at the Argentine Club."

New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis on EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB

"
What a rich, colorful, and completely heart-wrenching book written by a gifted mind. The reader is taken on an emotional ride through the soul with Isabel as she tries to free herself of the baggage she is carrying around while she tries to build a new life. The tapestry for this story is so engrossing you have to keep reading to find out how all this is going to work out for everyone you care that much about these characters."

Mary Gramlich - The Reading Reviewer on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

"[Amante's] characters are sweetly written and complex...[she] writes them with insight..and explores the moderating line where each individual lives, neither good nor bad, but only human."

RT Book Reviews on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

"There are really three love stories here: the one between Isabel and Nick, who are dealing with their alcohol-damaged past; the bad-boy uncle's wooing of Isabel's divorced best friend; and, ultimately, the love that flows between Isabel and the children. Readers may find Isabel infuriating as she tries to fight the inevitable, but she comes to her truths honestly and convincingly. This possible lack of sympathy should be assuaged by the pleasure of reading Gallegos' descriptions of coastal Southern California landscape and the lush, mountainous wine region of Argentina. For all readers of women's fiction."

Booklist on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

What a rich, colorful, and completely heart-wrenching book written by a gifted mind. The reader is taken on an emotional ride through the soul with Isabel as she tries to free herself of the baggage she is carrying around while she tries to build a new life. The tapestry for this story is so engrossing you have to keep reading to find out how all this is going to work out for everyone you care that much about these characters.
— The Reading Reviewer on SAY YOU'LL BE MINE

Mary Gramlich