EMPIRE of FORSAKEN HEARTS: A Novel of Family, Honor, and Heartbreak
by Rosalisa Buzzetta
Two families. Two legacies. One impossible choice.
The Griffos arrive in America with little more than determination, sacrifice, and a dream.
Carlo Griffo, an ambitious Sicilian immigrant, transforms a modest beginning into a luxury automobile empire. Across the ocean, the Leone family has spent generations building one of Italy’s most respected construction dynasties. Both families understand the price of success. Both will do whatever it takes to protect what they have built.
When financial disaster threatens the Leone legacy, Valentina Leone is forced into an impossible decision. Marry Federico “Freddy” Griffo, a man she barely knows, or watch her father’s life’s work disappear forever.
What begins as duty becomes a story filled with love, heartbreak, sacrifice, family loyalty, hidden secrets, and the difficult choices that shape generations.
Spanning Sicily, New York City, and the breathtaking coastal town of Isola Bella, Empire of Forsaken Hearts follows unforgettable characters whose lives are bound together by honor, ambition, and the enduring strength of family.
Perfect for readers who enjoy sweeping family sagas, historical fiction, emotional romance, Italian heritage, and stories of immigration, resilience, and legacy.
If you enjoy the novels of Lucinda Riley, Jeffrey Archer, or Barbara Taylor Bradford, you’ll be captivated by this epic tale of family, love, and the cost of building an empire.
Empire of Forsaken Hearts is a powerful novel about:
- Italian immigrant families pursuing the American Dream
- Multi-generational family dynasties
- Historical romance
- Family loyalty and sacrifice
- Wealth, power, and legacy
- Secrets that echo across generations
- Love tested by impossible choices
Some families inherit wealth.
Others inherit sacrifice.
Every empire begins with one courageous decision.
Ready to Learn More?
Rosalisa Buzzetta
Author
Writing her first novel, Empire of Forsaken Hearts, Rosalisa Buzzetta welcomes readers into a world where love and loyalty collide, proving once again that the most powerful empires are built-and-broken by the ties of blood and heart. She weaves stories that celebrate human connection and discovery.
Rosalisa Buzzetta resides in Monmouth County New Jersey with her family, where she spends her days gardening or experimenting with old-family Sicilian recipes. When summer arrives, she retreats to her beloved Long Beach Island to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic and collect seashells and sea glass with her grandchildren.
Blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by a boisterous, ever
growing family. Rosalisa’s love for travel has taken her to amazing destinations around the world, where she eagerly embraces the local culture, rich history and unforgettable cuisine.
“We all have stories to tell, and sharing them connects us.”
