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Finding Grace: A Camino de Santiago Story
"Finding Grace is a compelling story of personal growth, mercy and forgiveness. It captures the Camino de Santiago and its spirit beautifully." --Suzanne Redfearn, USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Call of the Camino
"If ever a book captured the heart of the Camino this is it. I found it moving and amusing and very evocative...This book is a gift to the reader."
--Johnniewalker Santiago, Author of Camino Guides and Spiritual Companions
What if a stranger walked 800 kilometres to save your soul?
A plane crash kills 127 people and leaves only one survivor. Anthony Auciello--known to the world as Tony Bird--is one of the most feared dealmakers on Wall Street and has everything money can buy, but among the dead are his mentor and closest colleagues. He walks away with no broken bones, but his life falls to pieces.
Haunted by survivor's guilt, stripped of his career, and drowning in grief, Anthony retreats to the Cayman Islands to disappear. Then a package arrives from Pamplona.
Inside is a pilgrim's certificate that indicates that a mysterious woman, Grace Land, walked the legendary Camino de Santiago on his behalf to obtain a blessing for him. Compelled by a gesture he cannot explain, Anthony travels to Spain searching for answers.
As he walks across Spain and encounters other pilgrims who carry grief, love and hope in equal measure, Anthony learns the Camino's simplest, hardest you can't spreadsheet your way to redemption--you can only walk it. A river of grace runs through shared meals, mended blisters, whispered blessings, Camino traditions and the ancient practice of walking "for" another--turning footsteps into prayer.
Finding Grace is a luminous, character-driven journey of grief, mercy, second chances and the search for meaning set against one of the world's great pilgrimages. It's a love letter to the Camino, to ordinary holiness, and to the fierce, practical mercy of strangers--proof that we carry each other farther than we can go alone.
Perfect for readers who loved Wild, The Alchemist, The Shack, Eat, Pray, Love, and Theo of Golden
What Early Readers Are Saying:
"A beautiful story of grief, forgiveness, and redemption that captures the true soul of the Camino de Santiago. I was swept away by the story and the people within it."
--Leigh Brennan, Host, The Camino Cafe Podcast
"An honest, tender account of the Camino that explores not just the road across Spain, but the landscape of the human heart. I truly loved it!"
--Dan Mullins, Host, My The Podcast
"Rossi's agile and profoundly human prose invites us to discover that, very often, getting lost is the only way to find what truly matters."
— Alfredo Martínez Serrano, Ambassador of Spain to Canada
"If ever a book captured the heart of the Camino this is it. I found it moving and amusing and very evocative...This book is a gift to the reader."
--Johnniewalker Santiago, Author of Camino Guides and Spiritual Companions
What if a stranger walked 800 kilometres to save your soul?
A plane crash kills 127 people and leaves only one survivor. Anthony Auciello--known to the world as Tony Bird--is one of the most feared dealmakers on Wall Street and has everything money can buy, but among the dead are his mentor and closest colleagues. He walks away with no broken bones, but his life falls to pieces.
Haunted by survivor's guilt, stripped of his career, and drowning in grief, Anthony retreats to the Cayman Islands to disappear. Then a package arrives from Pamplona.
Inside is a pilgrim's certificate that indicates that a mysterious woman, Grace Land, walked the legendary Camino de Santiago on his behalf to obtain a blessing for him. Compelled by a gesture he cannot explain, Anthony travels to Spain searching for answers.
As he walks across Spain and encounters other pilgrims who carry grief, love and hope in equal measure, Anthony learns the Camino's simplest, hardest you can't spreadsheet your way to redemption--you can only walk it. A river of grace runs through shared meals, mended blisters, whispered blessings, Camino traditions and the ancient practice of walking "for" another--turning footsteps into prayer.
Finding Grace is a luminous, character-driven journey of grief, mercy, second chances and the search for meaning set against one of the world's great pilgrimages. It's a love letter to the Camino, to ordinary holiness, and to the fierce, practical mercy of strangers--proof that we carry each other farther than we can go alone.
Perfect for readers who loved Wild, The Alchemist, The Shack, Eat, Pray, Love, and Theo of Golden
What Early Readers Are Saying:
"A beautiful story of grief, forgiveness, and redemption that captures the true soul of the Camino de Santiago. I was swept away by the story and the people within it."
--Leigh Brennan, Host, The Camino Cafe Podcast
"An honest, tender account of the Camino that explores not just the road across Spain, but the landscape of the human heart. I truly loved it!"
--Dan Mullins, Host, My The Podcast
"Rossi's agile and profoundly human prose invites us to discover that, very often, getting lost is the only way to find what truly matters."
— Alfredo Martínez Serrano, Ambassador of Spain to Canada
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2026
About the author
Rocco Rossi
1 book4 followersA successful entrepreneur and business executive, champion charity fundraiser, and dedicated public servant, Rocco Rossi is also a pilgrim and global trekker who has walked twenty-three Camino de Santiago routes (and counting) along with three of Japanese Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, plus treks to Everest Base Camp and Machu Picchu.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 29, 2026
Rocco Rossi has written a masterpiece of self discovery. This debut novel is well written and engaging from the first sentence.
The story is about much more than walking the Camino, it’s a deep dive into a man’s transformation spiritually and psychologically, that years of psychotherapy may not be able to accomplish.
This book would not be out of place as required reading in any business degree curriculum.
The story is about much more than walking the Camino, it’s a deep dive into a man’s transformation spiritually and psychologically, that years of psychotherapy may not be able to accomplish.
This book would not be out of place as required reading in any business degree curriculum.
September 15, 2026
I enjoyed Finding Grace not only as a story of a physical and spiritual journey, but because it resonated deeply with how I think about reflection, discernment and therapy.
Rocco describes a pilgrimage measured in miles, prayer, thought and contemplation. Therapy can involve a remarkably similar journey... cognitive, emotional and, for many people, spiritual. It is one reason the book connected so strongly with me and with the approach I am developing through Discern Counselling, where spirituality and religion can be part of the exploration when they are meaningful to the person.
I also know Rocco personally, and although Anthony is a fictional character, I found myself recognizing something very authentic of Rocco in him. I have watched Rocco meet both struggles and successes with a reflective, contemplative spirit, willing to wrestle with larger questions of meaning, purpose, and direction.
Finding Grace should resonate particularly with anyone who finds themselves asking some of the existential questions that eventually find all of us: What gives life meaning? What do we do with suffering? What are we being called toward? And how does reflection actually change the way we live?
For Anthony, that exploration happens through miles of walking, prayer, thought and contemplation... a physical journey that gradually becomes something much deeper.
Rocco describes a pilgrimage measured in miles, prayer, thought and contemplation. Therapy can involve a remarkably similar journey... cognitive, emotional and, for many people, spiritual. It is one reason the book connected so strongly with me and with the approach I am developing through Discern Counselling, where spirituality and religion can be part of the exploration when they are meaningful to the person.
I also know Rocco personally, and although Anthony is a fictional character, I found myself recognizing something very authentic of Rocco in him. I have watched Rocco meet both struggles and successes with a reflective, contemplative spirit, willing to wrestle with larger questions of meaning, purpose, and direction.
Finding Grace should resonate particularly with anyone who finds themselves asking some of the existential questions that eventually find all of us: What gives life meaning? What do we do with suffering? What are we being called toward? And how does reflection actually change the way we live?
For Anthony, that exploration happens through miles of walking, prayer, thought and contemplation... a physical journey that gradually becomes something much deeper.
September 5, 2026
Reading Finding Grace was a deeply personal and beautiful experience.
Reading this beautiful book was an emotional and humbling experience.
Rocco walked the Camino Vicarie Pro for me and my husband who died by suicide last year. I was deeply grateful when Rocco gave me the Compostela. After reading this beautiful book I have a much deeper appreciation for everything that journey meant.
The book itself is beautifully written. You can easily visualize the landscapes and the villages. The characters become your friends. I could almost feel the pain of the blisters. I could imagine the Gregorian chants. I could smell the incense.
The story is more than just a “man finds self” novel. It is a deeply personal look at human connection and an exploration of how healing can come from finding purpose.
Thank you Rocco for sharing this beautiful story. Perhaps one day I too will walk the Camino - but I will most definitely break in my boots before I go.
Reading this beautiful book was an emotional and humbling experience.
Rocco walked the Camino Vicarie Pro for me and my husband who died by suicide last year. I was deeply grateful when Rocco gave me the Compostela. After reading this beautiful book I have a much deeper appreciation for everything that journey meant.
The book itself is beautifully written. You can easily visualize the landscapes and the villages. The characters become your friends. I could almost feel the pain of the blisters. I could imagine the Gregorian chants. I could smell the incense.
The story is more than just a “man finds self” novel. It is a deeply personal look at human connection and an exploration of how healing can come from finding purpose.
Thank you Rocco for sharing this beautiful story. Perhaps one day I too will walk the Camino - but I will most definitely break in my boots before I go.
September 13, 2026
Loved every page of this beautiful Camino story! Although the story is a fiction, Rocco’s human touch makes the characters feel real, vulnerable and genuine. We live amongst these people and we can all relate to different forms of pain; grief from losing a person we loved or even losing ourselves in times of desperation. This book gives readers food for thought, and a rollercoaster of emotions. A story combining mercy and forgiveness but also redemption and hope for people to carry their burden differently.
August 19, 2026
A través de este libro el autor ha conseguido que volviera a revivir mis caminos. Me han gustado los detalles de las pequeñas cosas .Lo recomiendo encarecidamente no sólo
a aquellas personas que hayan tenido la suerte de vivir el camino ,caminarlo en primera persona si no también a aquellos que nunca lo hayan hecho ya que se trata de un viaje intimo por la vida . Gracias ,sinceramente ha tocado mi corazón .
a aquellas personas que hayan tenido la suerte de vivir el camino ,caminarlo en primera persona si no también a aquellos que nunca lo hayan hecho ya que se trata de un viaje intimo por la vida . Gracias ,sinceramente ha tocado mi corazón .
September 29, 2026
A welcomed different approach to the Camino story
I have read countless books about the Camino. As someone who completed the Camino Frances, I appreciate the different approach the author took. It was refreshing and heartwarming. At times a little preachy, it still was a wonderful read. For people who have not walked the Camino, you might find some of the characters unbelievable. But I have met people is search of purpose after losing a loved one and others who quit jobs and sold belongings all to search for something they did no have.
I have read countless books about the Camino. As someone who completed the Camino Frances, I appreciate the different approach the author took. It was refreshing and heartwarming. At times a little preachy, it still was a wonderful read. For people who have not walked the Camino, you might find some of the characters unbelievable. But I have met people is search of purpose after losing a loved one and others who quit jobs and sold belongings all to search for something they did no have.
July 2, 2026
True camino spirit
This book is the spirit of the camino, it may be fiction but it is written with the experiences of a pilgrim who has walked the road and listened to the stories. I loved it is am sure I will read it many more times. Thankyou
This book is the spirit of the camino, it may be fiction but it is written with the experiences of a pilgrim who has walked the road and listened to the stories. I loved it is am sure I will read it many more times. Thankyou
August 10, 2026
I love how Rocco Rossi shared a great story that allowed you to live the Camino journey with the main characters on many different levels. Knowing that Rocco has walked many times now makes me want to sit down and discuss his inspirations for this great tale. Well done.
August 15, 2026
Very inspiring story
Rocco provokes the reader to think about one's life and what really matters. We often measure ourpersonal success and our journey towards it and miss the most important parts of wat really matters
Rocco provokes the reader to think about one's life and what really matters. We often measure ourpersonal success and our journey towards it and miss the most important parts of wat really matters
August 17, 2026
This beautifully written book is a warm and uplifting meditation on life and its full range of emotions. It reminds us that clarity often comes when we stop searching and just take the next step, something Rocco has done literally thousands of times on the Camino.
July 2, 2026
Just finished this book yesterday and was in tears. Such a moving and inspirational story. I have already recommended to family and friends! This is the kind of book our world needs right now!
August 3, 2026
A Geat read!
I loved this book! This book is a page turner!
I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the last page. Rocco has a gift of writing a beautiful story.
Thank you Rocco!
I loved this book! This book is a page turner!
I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the last page. Rocco has a gift of writing a beautiful story.
Thank you Rocco!
August 12, 2026
An amazing tale. Very uplifting and thought provoking.
August 18, 2026
An absolutely stunning book! I absolutely loved it and makes me want to walk the full Camino Frances, but I will settle for Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, in October!!
July 5, 2026
Loved it! Such a moving and emotional novel. Loved the characters especially Grace and Anthony. Especially poignant given it was based on the author's experiences on the Camino.
July 13, 2026
Two disclaimers: 1. I have known the author for 10 years; 2. I walked the Camino Primitivo in June 2026 inspired by the author.
I believe that anyone who has walked the Camino or has considered walking it, is at risk of doing what I did. Starting this book and not putting it down until it is read. And like walking the Camino itself and ending up in Santiago, Spain, completing the book is not the end of the journey. The author’s personal history is that he has inspired countless individuals to be better simply by observing how he conducts himself. This book will have the same effect. You will be better for having read it. It may be a fictional story taking place in places that are real. But the characteristics of the characters and their actions are every bit as real. You can watch a YouTube video of a person documenting their Camino or you can read this book. The reality of the experience will be no different, only the richness and the textures and the emotions of the experience couldn’t be depicted any better than the words on these pages. If the Camino is new to you, and you trust the story, you too will experience what the magic of the Camino has meant to so many over the centuries and today.
A treasure of a person has given us a treasure of a book.
I believe that anyone who has walked the Camino or has considered walking it, is at risk of doing what I did. Starting this book and not putting it down until it is read. And like walking the Camino itself and ending up in Santiago, Spain, completing the book is not the end of the journey. The author’s personal history is that he has inspired countless individuals to be better simply by observing how he conducts himself. This book will have the same effect. You will be better for having read it. It may be a fictional story taking place in places that are real. But the characteristics of the characters and their actions are every bit as real. You can watch a YouTube video of a person documenting their Camino or you can read this book. The reality of the experience will be no different, only the richness and the textures and the emotions of the experience couldn’t be depicted any better than the words on these pages. If the Camino is new to you, and you trust the story, you too will experience what the magic of the Camino has meant to so many over the centuries and today.
A treasure of a person has given us a treasure of a book.
June 29, 2026
Finding Grace - worth signing up to Goodreads so I could leave a review.
After a chance meeting and conversation with the author, Rocco Rossi, a few weeks ago, I decided to order his book of fiction called Finding Grace. I wasn’t sure what to expect but he spoke of his travels on the Camino de Santiago with such reverence and joy on his face, that I thought it was worth a try.
It’s a fairly easy read. It took me three sittings: the first 12 chapters the evening it arrived, and two shorter sittings last weekend.
I was crying by page 11, and I cried through most of it. Sad tears, tears of recognition, and tears of happiness and peace. The subtitle says it’s a Camino de Santiago story, but I say that Rossi has written a beautiful parable about life.
Anyone who has been driven in their career will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Anyone who has ever messed up a relationship of any kind will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Anyone who has ever experienced loss will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Everyone is flawed, or keeping a secret, or running away from a lesson. They all learn that the Camino, like life itself, teaches and provides, if only we are open to it. And just like other parables (religious or secular), I can see myself reading this over and over again.
Also, if walking through Europe and visiting churches and shrines is at all on your bucket list, this storey will have you checking your vacation bank and planing your own Camino journey.
After a chance meeting and conversation with the author, Rocco Rossi, a few weeks ago, I decided to order his book of fiction called Finding Grace. I wasn’t sure what to expect but he spoke of his travels on the Camino de Santiago with such reverence and joy on his face, that I thought it was worth a try.
It’s a fairly easy read. It took me three sittings: the first 12 chapters the evening it arrived, and two shorter sittings last weekend.
I was crying by page 11, and I cried through most of it. Sad tears, tears of recognition, and tears of happiness and peace. The subtitle says it’s a Camino de Santiago story, but I say that Rossi has written a beautiful parable about life.
Anyone who has been driven in their career will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Anyone who has ever messed up a relationship of any kind will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Anyone who has ever experienced loss will recognize themselves in one or more of the characters. Everyone is flawed, or keeping a secret, or running away from a lesson. They all learn that the Camino, like life itself, teaches and provides, if only we are open to it. And just like other parables (religious or secular), I can see myself reading this over and over again.
Also, if walking through Europe and visiting churches and shrines is at all on your bucket list, this storey will have you checking your vacation bank and planing your own Camino journey.
July 1, 2026
A journey to enjoy!
Finding Grace is appropriately titled. It is a journey of kindness and personal growth. Perspective enables us to grow and move toward our best version of self. Finding Grace is a catalyst in this journey. Enjoy the journey!
Finding Grace is appropriately titled. It is a journey of kindness and personal growth. Perspective enables us to grow and move toward our best version of self. Finding Grace is a catalyst in this journey. Enjoy the journey!
June 29, 2026
This is an absolutely great novel and a wonderful read ... the Camino slows time and creates space to allow a person to shift their attention completely away from the distractions and pace that we otherwise live in .. which provides the opportunity for the person to turn their mind to their own condition, the human condition, the condition of others, empathy, burdens, grief, support... and this novel does this as well. It invites the reader to share this journey. And the opportunity to see, or to find, themselves in Tony Bird, in Anthony Auciello, in Grace.... or otherwise along the road.
August 9, 2026
A Beautiful, Inspiring Journey of Self-Discovery
Finding Grace: A Camino de Santiago Story by Rocco Rossi is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
From the very beginning, Rossi drew me into the story and left me with questions, lots of them. What happened? Why did these characters make the choices they did? Where was the story ultimately going? What I appreciated most was that those questions were never forgotten. One by one, the answers emerged, often in ways I didn't expect, and by the end, the pieces of the story came together with a sense of purpose and emotional satisfaction that was deeply rewarding.
The writing is exceptional. Rossi has created characters who feel remarkably real, each with their own history, motivations, vulnerabilities, and emotional complexity. Every character is thoughtfully developed, and as the story unfolds, you find yourself caring about what happens to them. They aren't simply characters moving through a plot, they are people wrestling with their past, their choices, their relationships, and ultimately, themselves.
And then there is the Camino.
The Camino de Santiago provides much more than a backdrop for the story. It becomes part of the story itself. A journey that mirrors the internal journeys of the people walking it. The physical act of moving forward becomes a powerful metaphor for confronting the past, finding forgiveness, and discovering the courage to keep going.
There are twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me turning the pages, but what makes Finding Grace particularly special is what lies beneath the plot. This is ultimately a story about self-reflection, forgiveness, redemption, relationships, and the extraordinary capacity we have as human beings to change.
There are moments of genuine heartbreak, moments of profound reflection, and moments that simply make you feel good about people and about life. Rossi manages to weave heartfelt emotion through the entire story without ever losing the momentum of the narrative.
And the title itself becomes increasingly meaningful as the story unfolds.
By the time I reached the end, I felt that I hadn't simply finished a novel, I had accompanied these characters on a journey of my own. I found myself reflecting on the choices we make, the things we carry with us, the people we forgive, and perhaps most importantly, the people we need to forgive, including ourselves.
That is a remarkable accomplishment for a novel.
Finding Grace is beautifully written, emotionally engaging, thoughtful, and ultimately uplifting. It reminded me that sometimes the journeys we undertake in search of something outside ourselves are really journeys toward something we have been carrying within us all along.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
If you are looking for a story that will entertain you, surprise you, move you, and perhaps even make you reflect on your own journey through life, read Finding Grace.
It is an inspiring, beautifully crafted story and one I won't soon forget.
Mike Elwood aka Moose
Finding Grace: A Camino de Santiago Story by Rocco Rossi is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
From the very beginning, Rossi drew me into the story and left me with questions, lots of them. What happened? Why did these characters make the choices they did? Where was the story ultimately going? What I appreciated most was that those questions were never forgotten. One by one, the answers emerged, often in ways I didn't expect, and by the end, the pieces of the story came together with a sense of purpose and emotional satisfaction that was deeply rewarding.
The writing is exceptional. Rossi has created characters who feel remarkably real, each with their own history, motivations, vulnerabilities, and emotional complexity. Every character is thoughtfully developed, and as the story unfolds, you find yourself caring about what happens to them. They aren't simply characters moving through a plot, they are people wrestling with their past, their choices, their relationships, and ultimately, themselves.
And then there is the Camino.
The Camino de Santiago provides much more than a backdrop for the story. It becomes part of the story itself. A journey that mirrors the internal journeys of the people walking it. The physical act of moving forward becomes a powerful metaphor for confronting the past, finding forgiveness, and discovering the courage to keep going.
There are twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me turning the pages, but what makes Finding Grace particularly special is what lies beneath the plot. This is ultimately a story about self-reflection, forgiveness, redemption, relationships, and the extraordinary capacity we have as human beings to change.
There are moments of genuine heartbreak, moments of profound reflection, and moments that simply make you feel good about people and about life. Rossi manages to weave heartfelt emotion through the entire story without ever losing the momentum of the narrative.
And the title itself becomes increasingly meaningful as the story unfolds.
By the time I reached the end, I felt that I hadn't simply finished a novel, I had accompanied these characters on a journey of my own. I found myself reflecting on the choices we make, the things we carry with us, the people we forgive, and perhaps most importantly, the people we need to forgive, including ourselves.
That is a remarkable accomplishment for a novel.
Finding Grace is beautifully written, emotionally engaging, thoughtful, and ultimately uplifting. It reminded me that sometimes the journeys we undertake in search of something outside ourselves are really journeys toward something we have been carrying within us all along.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
If you are looking for a story that will entertain you, surprise you, move you, and perhaps even make you reflect on your own journey through life, read Finding Grace.
It is an inspiring, beautifully crafted story and one I won't soon forget.
Mike Elwood aka Moose
July 27, 2026
Finding Grace is a wonderful story of overcoming guilt, finding compassion and discovering purpose. Rocco does a masterful job of writing a fictional novel that contains autobiographical parallels based on his 23 walks of the Camino de Santiago. It is a relatable story to anyone who reads it, whether you have walked the Camino, have not, or are inspired to do so. I had the honour to read the story from the first draft to the final one … and when I received the published copy, I couldn’t put the it down. Enjoy the read and Buen Camino. P.S. I also had the privilege and honour to paint the cover for the book and create the sello design.
September 26, 2026
I enjoyed the commentary as I am currently walking the Camino Francés from Saint Jean Pied de Port (before Pamplona) to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a very accurate description both physically and emotionally. Very well done.
June 19, 2026
A wonderfully engaging tale that draws you along, opens your mind and heart, and makes you want to be on the Camino.
July 13, 2026
Finding Grace is an inspirational & moving tale of self discovery, Faith & healing while walking the Camino de Santiago.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
September 2, 2026
Amazing book with a heart filled and inspiring story. It’s fiction, or is it? A must read before, during or after a Camino. If you don’t know about the Camino de Santiago… it’s also a must read.
August 15, 2026
Finding Grace is a very well written, moving and inspiring story. It had a profound impact on me and has given me a new appreciation for what the Camino can mean—not simply as a physical accomplishment but more importantly, as a journey of self reflection, faith, kindness, community, friendship and grace.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews