The Summer of the Spanish Writer

Cassandra, a mother dwelling in the darkness of an abusive marriage, has no idea that, on an ordinary day, a stranger would save her life. Natalie, a teacher settling for a bland romantic relationship, is flirting with her dream of becoming a writer. These two women have nothing in common but a doctor’s appointment, and, on that day, their fates suddenly shift their courses dramatically. Enter the men, of course, exciting, mysterious and oh so very different from each other: Neil, the gentle musician who won’t talk about himself; Gabriel, the successful Spanish writer, with his seductive accent, fiery temper and a past he’d rather not discuss.  And the women, well, they also have their slight stack of undisclosed incidents which should definitely remain that way.  But, sadly, that’s not always possible.  From the manicured lawns of Westchester’s suburban homes to the wind-swept shores of Long Island, two parallel love stories unwind dramatically, bursting with intriguing characters, naughty little (and not so little) secrets, wicked twists and, mostly, the undeniable bond of friendship.

  purchase The Summer of the Spanish Writer on Kindle for most electronic devices.

A journey into a woman's soul

"The Summer of the Spanish Writer" is a novel I really appreciated a lot. Since the first lines it literally keeps you "glued" to the story and the characters. Cassandra and Natalie are the narrators, whose voices alternate and take the reader through their lives, their fights against reality, their desperate struggles to be loved. Every character lives in a façade that cannot continue forever and, incredibly, the turning point in their lives coincides with their casual meeting on their birthday, which is the same for both. From that moment on, a series of extraordinary events begin in their ordinary lives, which will evolve to new unexpected directions and that will require brave hearts and incredible inner strength. Mara di Sandro De Matteo created a realistic portrait of two women who, page after page, become familiar, friends whose lives and problems are in certain aspects so similar to ours. And, when the story ends, it leaves us with the curiosity to know what is going on now, in their new lives.

Maria Rita Latto (journalist, I-Italy.org)

                                                                  Dreams, Lies and a Touch of Smoke 
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            Diana Harrison is a suburban wife and mother who’s dreading the approach of her 39^th birthday.  With the ‘big one’ not far behind, she’s starting to realize that she’s not where she’d like to be at this point of her life.  She has been married to Carl, her high school sweetheart (and one and only boyfriend) for twenty years; he’s a successful doctor and a perfect husband; but she’s become painfully aware that she doesn’t feel any passion toward him…and perhaps even love.  In this state of mind, she accidentally bumps into Adam Parisi, the high school heartthrob whom she only admired from afar.  He’s incredibly attractive, charming, separated from his wife, and has dedicated his life to painting and living in Italy.  It doesn’t take more than a couple of stealthy meetings for shy and proper Diana to embark into a very intense affair.  Caught in the whirlwind of her first passionate love, Diana interacts rather distractedly with her family; thus, she has no idea that her husband is discontented with his profession, nor that her nineteen-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who is in college, is going through a personal crisis which might have devastating consequences. At the same time, Diana’s mother, a quiet but judgmental woman, has an unpleasant surprise waiting in the wings. As Diana’s neatly organized world begins to unravel, she recognizes the need to make some serious decisions about her future.  Will she be able to save her family and curb her new-found feelings for Adam (who, in his turn, turns out to have a few little secrets of his own)? Will she want to?

An emotional story, very true to the heart

Dreams, Lies and a Touch of Smoke is a book I appreciated so much, representing the life of a woman having an apparent perfect life.  Right before two crucial events, her fortieth birthday and the twentieth anniversary of her wedding, an apparent trivial event changes her life forever and the façade around her fades away.  The thoughts of Diana Browne flow through the pages of the novel, and the reader inevitably is projected into the story, participating in the events, even in the landscape perfectly described by the writer.  I found the book so true and sentimental, a journey into the soul of a woman fighting to save herself, establishing, page after page, a deep connection to the reader.

Maria Rita Latto (journalist, i-Italy.org)

Beyond “Women’s Fiction”

        Mara di Sandro De Matteo’s novel, Dreams, Lies and a Touch of Smoke is adeptly written. She captures the nuances of the English language and those of her protagonist, Diana, who is undertaking a soul-searching metamorphosis. Mara’s style has a breathless quality here, magnificently reflecting her character’s doubts, conflicted feelings, fears and most of all her newly discovered passion.

        Mara places us in each scene and quickly takes us along in Diana’s emotional roller coaster, hardly allowing us to put her book down. Diana is the centerpiece, but the other characters are also strongly portrayed, from her French friend Justine with her flippant attitude toward men, to Father Santiago who knows Diana’s secrets.

        Since I have attempted writing, although only short pieces, never a novel, and I have taught college-level literature, I appreciate Mara’s gifted writing, with its captivating descriptions and realistic dialogue, that penetrates the soul of the protagonist and presents the turmoil of this woman and those who touch her.

         Luzmarina Montesinos-Lalli (author, Tides/Marea)