Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees [Kindle Edition]

Grace Mattioli (Author)

Book Description

The first book in a family saga trilogy, this is the story of a 23 year old woman’s journey to bring peace to her feuding family, while finding direction in her own life.

Best of 2012 Book List, Suspense Magazine.

A best seller in three Amazon categories.

"A truly enjoyable read. Perfect for a cozy evening snuggling under a blanket, blocking out the world. The sequences of Silvia's recollections into the past with her strong willed, born ahead of her time grandmother, the jobs she has held, and lost as it were, are nothing short of brilliant."
Chapters and Chats Book Reviews

"I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished this, so I'm happy to hear there is a sequel coming up. It makes one proud of the human spirit, what it can overcome when it is motivated by love to do so. My mother was a "Silvia" in her lifetime, and for the same reason, so the message here mattered to me. Thanks to this author for giving us that insight without dragging it out into a long, dismal and depressing novel."
Amazon Vine Review

"The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive."
Jersey Girl Book Reviews

"Grace's intimate knowledge of her subject shows in her frank and open style of writing, which invites the reader into the lives of the Greco family, as though they were long lost friends and therefore there is no need to stand on ceremony, or pretend that things are not just as they are. An amazingly perceptive, cleanly written and well told story, marks Grace Mattioli's debut novel."
fiction-books.biz Book Reviews

"The author did a great job of showing what Silvia was experiencing as she tried to reunite the members of her hot-headed Italian family."
Bella Online: The Voice of Women

Product Details

• File Size: 361 KB
• Print Length: 198 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008JNU97Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,797 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees September 4, 2012

By Jersey Girl Book Reviews / Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews

Format:Kindle Edition

Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees is a poignant portrait of an extremely dysfunctional southern New Jersey Italian-American family, and the attempt by the middle daughter to bring the family together for a celebration in the hope that they could extend the olive branch and make peace with each other and become a family. Thoughtfully written in the third person narrative, the author weaves a tale that deals with the dynamics of a family with a history of dysfunction that has completely shattered and torn them apart. The focus of the story is on twenty-three year old middle daughter, Silvia Greco, who vacillates between wanting to unite the family and wanting to escape from the dysfunction once and for all. With her life in limbo and unsure of what to do with herself, Silvia accepts the challenge to bring her family together for one night, which is no easy feat, it becomes her main purpose, and along the way it will provide healing life lessons.

The author has created a strong cast of characters who are realistic and complex people with personalities and issues that the reader can relate to, because the Greco family could be anyone's family members. Frank is the alcoholic father who is a distinguished local judge, but who also has a tendency to go off on rages. Then there is Donna the mother, she is a part-time college professor who finally has left her marriage after suffering years under Frank's abusive behavior. Oldest daughter Angie is her father's favorite of the children, but she broke his heart when she married a Wall Street financial investor and moved to North Jersey. She has a distant relationship with her mother and has a strained relationship with younger brother Cosmo. Cosmo is the second born child, he is brilliant but rebellious, an underachiever who is seen as a failure in his father's eyes. Then we have our protagonist, Silvia, the classic middle child who is the peace keeper of the family, yet she was the hyper child that just couldn't settle down. Finally there is the baby of the family, eighteen year old Vince, the soon to be high school graduate who will be attending UC Berkeley. Vince was the easiest and most pleasant of the children, the perfect child in his mother's eyes. When you put all these different personalities together plus add in the ethnicity of being Italian-American, it is no wonder that there is so much dysfunction and combustible tension in the family. I found these characters to be quite intriguing, their individual complexities along with their dialogue and interactions made the storyline a powerful and compelling read.

Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees is a story that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. The author weaves a tale that is a moving and realistic portrayal of a dysfunctional family with enough drama and humorous family situations that will keep the reader engaged and entertained, while providing a witty sense of humor and subtle messages of life lessons to extend the olive branch and learn to live, love and forgive.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Blah blah blah and more blah September 1, 2012

By Debra Roberts

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Boy, I could not disagree more with these other reviews. Admittedly, I stopped reading about a third of the way through, but clearly I did not expect much of anything to change from there. Once she started babbling on and on and on about where she had moved, where she could move, why she moved, why she hated where she moved, why bother to move.... I decided why bother reading any more.

The title of the book made me laugh, so I had fairly high hopes going into it. And I'm not adverse to charmingly cranky supporting characters, nor do I mind dysfunctional family stories. Maybe I'm just too old anymore for lost-my-way, what-to-do, meanwhile-I'll-just-live-in-my-childhood-room points of view. I might have enjoyed getting to know the family members and found heartwarming tales therein, but couldn't get past the lost-in-youth ramblings.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down! July 25, 2012

By Linda Watson, Librarian

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book! The characters are funny, endearing and vividly portrayed. I was sad to come to the end of the story and I hope the author writes a sequel. I'm sure that anyone will be able to identify one or two family members from the plot. I highly recommend this book. I actually laughed out loud at some of the crazy family situations in this story. A fabulous first novel! Disclaimer: This is an honest review. I was in no way compensated for my review.

More About the Author

Originally from New Jersey, I now reside in San Francisco. I've been writing fiction since I was ten years old, and have participated in several creative writing workshops and classes.

"Olive Branches Don't Grow On Trees" is the first book in a family saga trilogy. I am currently working on the second book and expect to have it out by late 2013.