What happens when an Italian circus offers a footloose American her very own pair of ruby stilettos?  She dons a rhinestone bikini, becomes an ostrich-riding, shark-taming showgirl, falls for the handsome elephant keeper, Stefano, and lives to tell the tale in this humorous and moving memoir.

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     Determined to avoid following in her mother's footsteps to an ill-fated marriage, Kathleen jets off to Europe in pursuit of her place in the world and is soon caught up in the swirling world of traveling big tops. It's love in the elephant tent, or at least a whole lot of lust, when she stumbles into Stefano's arms. 

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     When she headlines the side show -- swimming in a shark tank -- Kathleen believes she is finally living her great adventure. Stefano’s passion breaks down her emotional barriers, but his attempts to coax Kathleen toward the kitchen prompt her to denounce cooking and all it symbolizes to her. She soon discovers that falling in love is the easy part.

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     Hilarity and heartfelt emotions collide on this crazy ride into romance. Come peek behind the velvet curtain where you’ll meet the exotic animals and quirky characters that inhabit this peculiar world, from Italy’s Queen of the Elephants to society’s runaways who’ve escaped to the circus only to discover that they may have to escape from it should they ever wish to leave.

 

     Love in the Elephant Tent is a treat for lovers of Italy’s culture, shedding light on why Italians cling to their food, their families, and, yes, even their family jewels.