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Because of Tuscany
Mary Rusconi lives a charmed life in Tuscany. On the day her husband Luca departs for a business trip to the United States, Mary stops in to see her closest friend – a wise and psychic 92-year-old lady named Dorotea. She tells Mary a young lady is about to enter her life with a devil riding one shoulder and a powerful angel on the other. Then Dorotea tells Mary that she is the only person who can help chase away this lady’s devil.
A few days later an artist from New Orleans named Jessie Morrow walks into Mary’s small Tuscan art gallery. From the moment they share their first glass of Chianti the lives of these two strong and creative women – and their friends and family – become connected in miraculous ways that will make your heart beat fast and bring tears to your eyes.
A few days later an artist from New Orleans named Jessie Morrow walks into Mary’s small Tuscan art gallery. From the moment they share their first glass of Chianti the lives of these two strong and creative women – and their friends and family – become connected in miraculous ways that will make your heart beat fast and bring tears to your eyes.
- GenresRomance
348 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2015
4 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Karen J. Ross
3 books31 followers"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing, but what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself." Alan Alda spoke these words to a 1980 college graduation, the same year 16-year-old Karen Ross posted his words on her dresser mirror.
Then and now, Karen challenges herself personally and professionally to live on that outside edge of comfortable, and writing does this. She had a story to tell about life experiences: Gutsy romantic love (something not easily found, and often lost); soul-tickling romantic Italy; delectable food and wine (especially Chianti); and passionate living and traveling. So, she put pen to paper, not sure of what she was getting herself into, and the experience was sometimes easy, often challenging, but was always exhilarating and satisfying. It was definitely outside of her city of comfort, but undoubtedly worth the hard work and risk.
Then and now, Karen challenges herself personally and professionally to live on that outside edge of comfortable, and writing does this. She had a story to tell about life experiences: Gutsy romantic love (something not easily found, and often lost); soul-tickling romantic Italy; delectable food and wine (especially Chianti); and passionate living and traveling. So, she put pen to paper, not sure of what she was getting herself into, and the experience was sometimes easy, often challenging, but was always exhilarating and satisfying. It was definitely outside of her city of comfort, but undoubtedly worth the hard work and risk.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 10, 2016
BECAUSE OF TUSCANY
by Karen Ross
In the beautiful country side of Tuscany lives Mary and Luca Rusconi with their two sons, Alex and Enzo.
Mary has a small art studio and Luca grows grapes for the Chianti he produces and he also is the salesman for the Chianti.
One day Luca has to go on a business trip to the United States to find new distributors for his Chianti. While he is gone Mary decides to visit her old friend Dorotea. While visiting, Dorotea informs Mary that she will have a visitor, a young woman with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other and Mary is the only one who can help her.
Several days later Jessie Murrow who is an artist and her fiance Charles Durbridge from New Orleans are on a tour of Italy when Charles is sidetracked by his father needing him to take care of some files for the family firm. They locate a wifi cafe where he can take care of the work. Jessie is left to her own devices and she happens to meet Alex who tells her about Mary's art studio.
Mary graciously invites Jessie into her home and art studio where Jessie immediately discovers a kindred spirit in Mary. They began to talk about what drives them to do the art they do, what is important to them and their personal lives. These two become very dear friends and share with each other their family and friends.
This is the first book I have read by Karen Ross and I enjoyed immensely. She has a previous book, Chianti Souls which has some of the same characters.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
by Karen Ross
In the beautiful country side of Tuscany lives Mary and Luca Rusconi with their two sons, Alex and Enzo.
Mary has a small art studio and Luca grows grapes for the Chianti he produces and he also is the salesman for the Chianti.
One day Luca has to go on a business trip to the United States to find new distributors for his Chianti. While he is gone Mary decides to visit her old friend Dorotea. While visiting, Dorotea informs Mary that she will have a visitor, a young woman with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other and Mary is the only one who can help her.
Several days later Jessie Murrow who is an artist and her fiance Charles Durbridge from New Orleans are on a tour of Italy when Charles is sidetracked by his father needing him to take care of some files for the family firm. They locate a wifi cafe where he can take care of the work. Jessie is left to her own devices and she happens to meet Alex who tells her about Mary's art studio.
Mary graciously invites Jessie into her home and art studio where Jessie immediately discovers a kindred spirit in Mary. They began to talk about what drives them to do the art they do, what is important to them and their personal lives. These two become very dear friends and share with each other their family and friends.
This is the first book I have read by Karen Ross and I enjoyed immensely. She has a previous book, Chianti Souls which has some of the same characters.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2016
I won this book from good reads give away.
I could not wait to read this book.. The author who I have not read before just drew me into the
story... She gives you a beautiful look at Tuscany and the some of the history of the country..
She draws you into the story of a young woman who is not sure of where her life is going and
is carrying some dark secrets which she does not want known. Keeps you wanting more.
We meet Mary who lives in Tuscany.. She lives there with her sons and husband in a beautiful
old castle.. This is her home and art studio which is open to the public. He husband runs a small
winery and is a business man trying to sell his wine and further their business.
Jessie is over there on vacation with her fiance Charles.. The stop in at Mary's studio and stick up
a friendship... Mary invites them to stay with her since Charles is also trying to do business for his
father while they are there and leaves Jessie on her own..
Mary feels that Jessie is hiding something and needs a friend.. They talk about what drives each of
them what is important to them.. Their love of art and family... Jessie opens up to Mary about her fears and how it is affecting her life and her future marrage.
A beautiful story of love, friendship and family.. Would recommend this book.
I could not wait to read this book.. The author who I have not read before just drew me into the
story... She gives you a beautiful look at Tuscany and the some of the history of the country..
She draws you into the story of a young woman who is not sure of where her life is going and
is carrying some dark secrets which she does not want known. Keeps you wanting more.
We meet Mary who lives in Tuscany.. She lives there with her sons and husband in a beautiful
old castle.. This is her home and art studio which is open to the public. He husband runs a small
winery and is a business man trying to sell his wine and further their business.
Jessie is over there on vacation with her fiance Charles.. The stop in at Mary's studio and stick up
a friendship... Mary invites them to stay with her since Charles is also trying to do business for his
father while they are there and leaves Jessie on her own..
Mary feels that Jessie is hiding something and needs a friend.. They talk about what drives each of
them what is important to them.. Their love of art and family... Jessie opens up to Mary about her fears and how it is affecting her life and her future marrage.
A beautiful story of love, friendship and family.. Would recommend this book.
May 9, 2016
Once again, Karen Ross has wrote another novel full of magical romance and the unexpected twists of fate that life has for us. In Because of Tuscany, we are introduced to Jessie, a young artist from New Orleans, and her fiancee Charles. Jessie has felt alone for quite some time, her mother has passed away and was very close lipped about her past and she never knew her father. She's longing to find her father before her upcoming wedding. Jessie and Charles are vacationing in Tuscany, when Jessie stumbles upon Mary and her art studio. Mary is who we met in Chianti Souls, a beautiful soul with a lovely family.
I really, really enjoyed "catching up" with Mary and her family and loved meeting Jessie and the cast of new characters. Chianti Souls isn't a requirement to read Because of Tuscany, the author does a great job of weaving in the details of the previous novel, but I highly recommend reading them both! Grab a glass of your favorite wine and dig in.
Disclaimer - I received this novel for free in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my enjoyment of the novel.
I really, really enjoyed "catching up" with Mary and her family and loved meeting Jessie and the cast of new characters. Chianti Souls isn't a requirement to read Because of Tuscany, the author does a great job of weaving in the details of the previous novel, but I highly recommend reading them both! Grab a glass of your favorite wine and dig in.
Disclaimer - I received this novel for free in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my enjoyment of the novel.
April 6, 2016
I loved this book even though it has many of the elements I usually dislike. The writing was beautiful and simple, yet flawed at the same time. The writing is very simplistic yet the descriptions are delightful. There are many places in the story when the writing is rushed in order to get us to the next point in the story. It is a “fairy tale”-type story yet I didn’t mind. I found myself rooting for all the characters although I could clearly predict what was going to happen. This is a story of love, secrets, ghosts, the beauty of Italy, and the strength of friends. So just as I loved the characters with all their faults so too did I love the book with all its flaws.
February 3, 2017
I just finished Chianti Souls (the first book) and this book too was incredible. There is the love, the food, the friendship, the heartbreak and the healing. As with the first book there is also the hokey thing going on and I wouldn't change that in the book if I could.
Without going into detail, Mary and Luca are the main characters but there are so many other who make this book a winner.
If you want to relax with a glass of Chianti, laugh, cry and feel the warmth, this book is for you.
Without going into detail, Mary and Luca are the main characters but there are so many other who make this book a winner.
If you want to relax with a glass of Chianti, laugh, cry and feel the warmth, this book is for you.
March 5, 2016
What a great love story for man and wife, family, and friends. The characters were so well developed and just seemed to invite you into their lives and situations. Nothing beats the setting in and around Tuscany.
Have been to Italy several times but haven't been to the Palio Race. Would love to see it.
Great story!
Have been to Italy several times but haven't been to the Palio Race. Would love to see it.
Great story!
April 20, 2020
Good story line. Writing straight to the point. Ok for a quick read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews