What happens when a gal from Texas meets a boy from a large Italian family?
Fools Rush In: Free on Kindle!
I thought it might be fun to tell you about the very REAL wedding that inspired my novel, FOOLS RUSH IN (from Revell Publishing). A good friend of mine invited me to serve as a bridesmaid in her wedding in Washington State. We (the whole wedding party and all family members) stayed at a wonderful lodge at the base of Mt. Ranier. I helped my friend put together the last minute details of her wedding, serving as entertainment director for some of the events the night before (including the Hokey Pokey)!
A little backstory on my friend: she’s from Texas and her family members from Texas flew up to Washington to enjoy the wedding. The groom is from a large Italian family, and his whole crew came along, as well. The night before the wedding, both families prepared a huge extravaganza of food(s) to represent their distinct cultures. The Italians cooked up quite a feast, let me tell you. So did the Texans! We ate Italian sausage, Texas BBQ, and much more! When the night was through, we could barely stand, let alone dance! Somehow we managed. . .and the next day my friend got married in the loveliest outdoor wedding I’d ever witnessed!
The memories of that wonderful Tex-Italian wedding lingered in my imagination. When it came time to write FOOLS RUSH IN, I tapped into those precious memories and shaped them into a fictional story about a girl from a large Italian family who meets (and falls in love with) a boy from the piney woods of East Texas. Voila! Bella and DJ were born!
Here’s a little blurb about the book:
Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a “Boot Scoot’n” wedding that would make any Texan proud. There’s only one catch–she’s a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban?
When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding? Book one in the Weddings by Bella series, Fools Rush In is fun, fresh, and full of surprises. Readers will love the flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex, and the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.
Enjoy this FOOLS RUSH IN VIDEO.
If you haven’t enjoyed FOOLS RUSH IN, you can get a free digital copy on amazon! I hope you enjoy the story that found its roots in a very real wedding, one that still lingers in my memory!
I reviewed this book on my website (susanbaganz.com) and have recommended it too many others. It was so refreshingly funny and I struggled not to laugh out loud as I would be reading on my kindle while walking the treadmill at the YMCA! Absolutely delightful story, Janice! Ya done good!
Woo-hoo, Susan! Thank you so much! Bless you for telling me. If you haven’t done so already, please leave a review at amazon and/or B&N to counteract some of the “I didn’t like the faith elements in this book” review. *sigh*
Janice, I’ll say it again – this is one of my all-time favorite books. I have it in paperback. I have it on Kindle. It’s one I pull out at the library for my “staff pick” from time to time and have introduced you to SO many people! It’s the book I want to see made into a movie if only for the scene with all the BOOTS arriving! LOLOL Loved your real-life story. What a rehearsal dinner! I’m full just thinking about it! Thanks for sharing! Hugs!
I SO want to turn this whole series into a movie script! I gave some thought to taking a script-writing class for that very reason.
It would make a great movie, like my “Big Greek Wedding” and it was funny. your books would do that too.
I would love that! Ooo, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding is STILL one of my faves!
I absolutely LOVED this book! I love all the books in this series, but this one really “hit home,” so to speak. It was as crazy, wonderful and entertaining as the real wedding that sparked it. Well, almost… A movie? What a great idea!
Me-thinks you have a special tie to this story!
I love Fools Rush in. Janice is a clever writer who draws you into the Rossi family. It’s the kinda of family everybody wants to have.
I would call FoolsRush In a great snuggle book. Get you a cup of hot chocolate, a comfy chair, and enjoy!
Our book club, South Sub, is reading “Fools Rush In’ for our May 10th get together. Looking forward to a laugh filled discussion! At least two of our members are in the midst of planning weddings for their children, can’t wait to hear their stories. And of course will we be taking a poll about Sinatra vs Martin. Now, off to find Udder Cream, Mane and Tail, Crisco….
Sweet! If you want to do a Q&A phone call with me, let me know. Just email me at booksbyjanice (at) aol.com to get my number.
I’m about half way through the book – it’s so good!!!!
Thank you so much! Woo-hoo!