As far as Daria Marshall is concerned, being a gypsy in the modern world just isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, she's always been free to pick up and move on when a place no longer suits her, and she's enjoyed adventures all over the world, but there have been some nasty bumps along the way, too. Neither of her parents has ever been there for her, with her mom flitting from husband to husband since before Daria was born, and her father remarried and living in Europe. Daria's own attempt at marriage after a whirlwind courtship ended with a bitter day in front of a judge, which has made her fearful of any future entanglements. Unfortunately, the one constant in her life seems to be an unending loneliness that keeps growing stronger no matter how many times she moves on. Oh, and did I mention she sees dead people?

During an extended visit with her half-sister Tammy in New York City, Daria is approached by the spirit of an older Italian gentleman who obviously wants her help. Daria is tired of the trouble that always seems to result from getting involved with wayward spirits, and she's determined to ignore this one, but things get a little complicated when she meets the handsome and troubled Ralphie Chickalini at a New Year's Eve party, and discovers that the spirit is Ralphie's recently deceased father, Nino. Ralphie carries the grief of his father's passing like a shroud, unable to face a future in which both his father and his childhood home are gone. Daria understands all too well the emptiness that Ralphie is feeling, but she resists the powerful attraction she feels for the hunky Italian because any involvement will only bring him more pain when she leaves, as she always does.

But Ralphie isn't about to let Daria out of his life so easily. He may not know what he wants for his future, but for his present he wants Daria, the one woman who helps him forget his pain and enjoy life for a while. But convincing her to give up her gypsy ways and take a chance on a future with him in NYC will require the youngest Chickalini to face the spirits that haunt him.

THAT'S AMORE is a poignant, touching, sweet story. The intensity of the pain and heartache that Ralphie is forced to face brought me to tears, but his character development was so well timed and so honest that the necessity for his journey was never in doubt. Daria had her own troubles to confront, and I loved watching the interplay between her and her sister Tammy. Anyone who has met the Chickalini family in Markham's earlier novels will be delighted by the continuation of their stories and the chance to see the youngest Chickalini find a happily- ever-after of his own.

The only gripe I have with this book has nothing to do with the author, but with the art department at Grand Central. Don't put a dog on the book cover in three different locations if there isn't a dog in the book. It's distracting and annoying.