About the Book
Book: As Silent as the Night
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Release date: September 13, 2022
He can procure anything, except his heart’s deepest wish. She might hold the key, if she’s not discovered first.
Chicago, 1933―Lucia Critelli will do anything for her ailing grandfather, including stand in a breadline to have enough food to make him a St. Nicholas Day meal. When she catches the eye of a goon who threatens her grandfather, she discovers the end of Prohibition doesn’t mean the end of the mafia’s criminal activity.
Retired Marine Scout Giosue “Gio” Vella can find anything, especially if it helps a fellow Italian immigrant, so he has no doubt he can locate his neighbor’s granddaughter, who has gone missing from a local church. Keeping her safe is another matter. Especially when he chooses to hide out with his Marine buddy in Eagle, Wisconsin, the site of a barely-held truce among striking dairy farmers.
Will Christmas bring the miracle they all need or will Gio discover there are some things even he can’t find, particularly when he stumbles upon the most elusive gift of all: love.
As Silent as the Night is the Christmas novella to To Stand in the Breach and A Strike to the Heart.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Danielle Grandinetti is author of A Strike to the Heart and To Stand in the Breach. She is also a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.
More from Danielle
I have this memory, from when I was a little girl, of Christmas at my grandma’s house. The table was expanded to hold a dozen people. The little Christmas tree stood on a table before the window, the Nativity beneath it. A gingerbread house sat on the radio cabinet, which played my grandpa’s old Christmas records.
In the kitchen, my Italian grandma, now a widow, had on a ruffled apron as she cooked the Christmas meal. She had short, graying black hair, perfectly curled, and large, round glasses. And, was still taller than me, though she was under 5 foot in height.
Through the haze of childhood memory, I can’t recall everything she cooked that Christmas, I just know it filled the table to overflowing. I can guess who celebrated with us, but I know the large table was completely surrounded by people I loved. And, I’m sure I received gifts, but that’s not what I remember from that day.
What fills my memory is the feeling of family and the love my grandma showed us, through food. My full belly. My contentment. The wonder of the holidays. All through the eyes of my young self.
In As Silent as the Night, I attempt to capture some of this nostalgia, lace it with suspense, and wrap it in romance. I show about some of the traditional holidays celebrated by my characters, from St. Nicholas Day to Christmas Eve. And, while Gio can find anything, love eludes him. However, Lucia may hold the key, but he must first save her.
Silent as the Night concludes my Strike to the Heart series, which began with prequel novella To Stand in the Breach. As sad as it is to say goodbye to the farmers of Eagle, Wisconsin, I have loved sharing the stories of Katy and Joey, Lily and Miles, and Gio and Lucia with you. I hope you’ll enjoy this last installment and I look forward to sharing more stories from other places with you.
Buon Natale.
Merry Christmas.
My Thoughts
As Silent as the Night is written by Danielle Grandinetti. This book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. I have read the entire series, and have enjoyed it very much. The author has a way of bringing the past to life, and touching on real historical events. This book is set in 1933 in Chicago. I felt that the author did a great job staying historically accurate. There is action, suspense, mystery and of course romance. Travel back into time with this story to when mobsters were around and Prohibition ends.
Gio is the neighbor to Lucia. He has a great respect for her grandfather. Gio is one that loves to help out all the neighbors. He delivers food to the food lines where Lucia is waiting one day for her portion. There is a no good mobster, Emberto that has his eye on Lucia. He takes her out of the food line, thankfully Gio helps her escape - but now Emberto will not stop until he finds Lucia, so Gio takes her to Eagle, Wisconsin.
This has been the primary setting for the series. It's about 2 hours from Chicago and we see familiar characters return. Lucia, an Italian-American knows that the Irish and Italians are not civil in Chicago, so when Katy opens her home to Lucia she is leery. Katy, Lily and Lucia were a fun pair to read through the story. They did not know the whole story to why she was brought, but they know that Gio cared enough to bring her. Gio just needs to wait for Emberto to forget about Lucia... or will he?
The book is well written. The characters are well developed. I hate to say goodbye to my friends in Eagle, WI, but I am excited to see what the author has in store next. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for a copy of this story. All thoughts are my own.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, September 13
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 14 (Author Interview)
The Sacred Line, September 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 15
Inklings and notions, September 16
For Him and My Family, September 17
deb’s Book Review, September 18
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 19
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 20
Inkwell Inspirations, September 20
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 21
Connie’s History Classroom, September 22
Betti Mace, September 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 24
Holly’s Book Corner, September 24
Labor Not in Vain, September 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Danielle is giving away the grand prize package of a Bag of Books Bundle, which includes a signed copy of each book: To Stand in the Breach, A Strike to the Heart, and As Silent as the Night, plus a Donkey Tote to carry the books!! (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1130961309/donkey-canvas-tote-bag-heavy-duty)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2159f/as-silent-as-the-night-celebration-tour-giveaway
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on As Silent as the Night, this sounds like a thrilling book and series and I am looking forward to reading all of the stories.
ReplyDeleteDanielle Grandinetti is a favorite author of mine. I have all her books.
ReplyDeleteI love series, but I do appreciate authors who write their books so they can be read as stand alones.
ReplyDelete