"A delicious story of love and pasta!"

With her ten-year high school class reunion looming, and toting an extra few pound, Maria Pagliano is bounded and determined to lose a bit of weight. She has several reasons for the drastic life change, the two most important ones -- to show up her nemesis Mary Louise Zipparetto, and to catch the eye of her former high school boyfriend, Antonio Lombardi. So, she joins the Chubby Chums weight loss group, hoping the support would help her meet her goals. She hadn't planned on the group meeting right across the street from the La Vita Deliziosa. The tiny Italian restaurant would play a pivotal role in her future happiness, if not in her future weight loss plans.

Dante Del Rosso has one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston. Trouble is that no one knows about it except for patrons from the neighborhood. So he is thrilled when the food critic from the Boston newspaper shows up to review his offerings. But disaster comes in the form of a temperamental sous chef who accidently sets the critic's tie on fire. However, hope is on the horizon in the shapely form of a mysterious but beautiful new customer who arrives just in time to save the critic, and Dante's restaurant review from going up in flames. It's blazing love at first sight, in more ways than one.

As Maria and Dante cautiously, well cautiously on Maria's part, engage in the age-old dance of courtship, her family and his head waiter do what they can to get this couple together. A motherly push here, a fatherly shove there, and a Chubby Chum friendly piece of advice now and then are all that are needed to ensure a happy-ever-after outcome. Ah, amore!

Shirley Jump takes her readers on a sparkling journey of delectable romance and equally delicious recipes as she whips up a delightful tale. Her lively storytelling keeps the reader entertained, and the recipes that separate and pertain to each chapter will certainly keep them hungry for more. "The Devil Served Tortellini" is a stellar sophomore novel from this talented writer.

Reviewed by Sharon Galligar Chance
Posted April 29, 2005

Summary

All's Fair in Love, War, and Pasta

For Maria Pagliano, too much of a good thing has always been a problem. Whether it's men or carbs, she just can't say no. But that's about to change. For her high school reunion, Maria's vowed to reinvent herself as a woman who has her life strictly in order. No more pasta, bread, dessert, or dating—even if the menu offering is one sexy chef named Dante Del Rosso.

Everything about Dante is off-limits. From his come-hither smile to his sultry way around the kitchen in his Boston restaurant, he's too much temptation...for her taste buds and her heart. Just being around the guy makes her crave more. The only thing to do is go cold turkey on Dante. But he has other ideas. Now, this devil is out to woo his dream woman using every spicy, sweet, and sinfully delicious weapon he's got. And once Maria gets a taste of the real thing, how can she possibly settle for anything less?