Shadows of a Tuscan Moon

by Sandra Carrington-Smith

SHADOWS OF A TUSCAN MOON is loosely inspired by the mysterious case of Roberta Ragusa, a beautiful mother of two who vanished from her home in the Italian countryside without leaving a trace. Roberta's husband, Antonio Logli, has been charged with her murder, and the trial is currently underway. SHADOWS OF A TUSCAN MOON has been written in collaboration with Giovanni Logli, Antonio's brother, in hope of raising awareness on domestic abuse and violence on women. SHADOWS OF A TUSCAN MOON tells the story of Rosa, a young woman who awakens alone in an unfamiliar hospital room, with no recollection of her own identity. She feels no emotion, no physical pain, and she is puzzled when the staff at the facility offers no explanation for her loss of memory. Assigned a temporary name and invited to meet other residents, she listens to their stories. Slowly, the sealed doors of her mind begin to unlock flooding her with the pain of her own recent traumatic experience. She remembers a past filled with horror and anguish, and wishes she could retreat once again into a cocoon of oblivion and safety…but the journey she has embarked on is one of no return. As images of violence and abuse flood her mind, Rosa is steered toward the brink of insanity, Instead, she finds comfort and peace in listening to the other women’s stories, and it is through her acceptance of their excruciating realities that she will find the resolve to face her innermost fears and open the final door that will lead to her salvation.

Audio CD

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Sandra Carrington-Smith is an Italian-born author who relocated to the United States in the late 80’s after marrying a US soldier who was serving overseas. Although writing was Sandra’s deepest passion since childhood, her dream of becoming a published author had to be placed on hold for several years. Moving to a new country provided several challenges, the biggest one being the language barrier she encountered when she first arrived. In order to become fully integrated, Sandra tapped into her love for reading, and over time her vocabulary grew extensively. She gave birth to three children and devoted most of her time to raising a family. By the time she was in her late 30’s, Sandra decided to revisit her old passion for writing, and penned a novel of paranormal suspense, The Book of Obeah, followed by a self-improvement book, Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary. Both titles were sold to the same publisher and released in 2010, and The Book of Obeah went on to win an international book award. Currently, Sandra is working on two new novels: The Rosaries (the sequel of The Book of Obeah) and Shadows of a Tuscan Moon. She recently released Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery), a psychological thriller set in North Carolina. Sandra Carrington-Smith lives in Raleigh, NC, with her husband, children and three cats.

Reviews

[Stephanie Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Shadows of a Tuscan Moon, sadly. I say sadly because the author Sandra Carrington-Smith, creates such a real world, filled with mysterious twists and turns, spoken through believable characters, which made me not want the novel to end. To be sure, this is not easy reading. Its story focuses around domestic violence of every kind and its brutal, sometimes fatal consequences.
Carrington-Smith is a masterful storyteller. She is gifted with the ability to imbue her novels with supernatural and magical elements grounded in everyday realities. This story is in turns poignant, sad, horrific and romantic. It flows effortlessly together under the Tuscan Moon, woven into a textile that tells the complex tale of domestic violence. Not only does Carrington-Smith raise awareness about a topic we all need to be aware of, she takes it a step further, making you truly care.
I am a big fan of Sandra’s work, from her first book “Housekeeping of the Soul, to "the Book of Obeah," The Rosaries, through to this stunning tour de force, “Shadows of a Tuscan Moon.” I can’t recommend it highly enough! Buy it for yourself, loved one, and a friend. You won’t be disappointed.

[Ahmed Mamdouh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful to read. I enjoyed it so much 💓

[Judy Boldurian]

Very well written

[Robin Leigh Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting from the very first sentence, "Shadows of a Tuscan Moon" tells the story of a battered woman's unwavering determination to remember her true identity and, ultimately, take back her power. Narrated in the voice of a survivor, it invites us on an unexpected journey, exposing the wounds and scars that can only be healed through love with time. Brilliantly written, rich with symbolism and layered with wisdom, it depicts both the immeasurable power of the mind and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.

Robin Leigh Vella, Goodreads Author