Evenings at the Argentine Club

July 27, 2009
In Amante's warmhearted if flat debut, the Argentine Club provides a place for Argentinean immigrants living in Southern California to keep their cultural traditions alive. For Victoria Torres, 28 and still living with her parents, it also offers the backdrop for a big surprise when her childhood friend, Eric Ortelli, shows up. He's also 28 and single and appears one night at the club like an Adonis. Victoria's immediately attracted but wary as Eric enlists her interior decorating help for his real estate business. Meanwhile, Victoria's parents suffer through marital unrest, and Eric's parents wonder if Eric's home to stay. While Victoria's an engaging lead and the romance that eventually develops between her and Eric is sweet, the story lacks passion, conflict and spice—a real shame, given the possibilities.

September 1, 2009
The child of Argentine immigrants, Victoria Torres, 28, is still living at home and working at her fathers restaurant, unsure of what she wants to do with her life. But it isnt until she discovers that her father has used everything they own as collateral for a loan to open up a chain of restaurants that she begins to question her place in the family. She then begins to question her place among her friends when long-lost Eric Ortelli reappears. Against the wishes of his strict father, Eric ran away at age 18 instead of going to law school, and no one has seen him in 10 years. Their close-knit community is reluctant to bring him back into the fold, but Victoria is drawn to Eric, who proves that one can succeed outside of their tight Argentine circle. The story of Victoria and Eric is a story of family, culture, class, success, and love in the vein of the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)