80 ratings | 46 reviews | avg rating:4.61

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Annalisa Russo

Goodreads Author

Born

in Joliet, Illinois, The United States

Website

http://www.annalisarusso.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/RussoAuthor

Genre

Romance, Suspense, Historical Fiction

Member Since

July 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/annalisarusso

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I grew up in the Midwest in a first generation Italian family. We lived with my grandparents since in an Italian family when the oldest girl gets married, she doesn’t move out, her husband moves in. I was the eldest of five children which caused the usual sibling problems—fighting, borrowing stuff, and eating really, really fast or you were out of luck. Our grandparents spoke to us in Italian because America was their new home now, and we answered in English (so we wouldn’t get kicked out of kindergarten like my mother did for not knowing English).

I went to an all-girl Catholic high school (yes, with the plaid skirt/blazer/knee-high socks) and on to an all-girl college where I rebelled by wearing slacks in the library instead of a skirt. I I grew up in the Midwest in a first generation Italian family. We lived with my grandparents since in an Italian family when the oldest girl gets married, she doesn’t move out, her husband moves in. I was the eldest of five children which caused the usual sibling problems—fighting, borrowing stuff, and eating really, really fast or you were out of luck. Our grandparents spoke to us in Italian because America was their new home now, and we answered in English (so we wouldn’t get kicked out of kindergarten like my mother did for not knowing English).

I went to an all-girl Catholic high school (yes, with the plaid skirt/blazer/knee-high socks) and on to an all-girl college where I rebelled by wearing slacks in the library instead of a skirt. I majored in math until I switched to English Lit after deciding to become a teacher. Since I wanted to graduate early, I took several English courses at a time which is frowned upon in math(you know, prerequisite and stuff)and then went on to teach 5th grade math--go figure.

During this exciting time, I began to write, for my own pleasure, as no one wanted to buy my stories. I have a rejection slip from Helen Gurley Brown at Cosmopolitan magazine way back when they published short stories in each issue. I framed it because Ms. Brown actually wrote on it and said (and I quote): "Your story was not quite right for us but we’d be interested in seeing some of your other work." Of course, I didn’t know at the time that I should have opened a bottle of very expensive champagne, called all my friends over to celebrate that I received an actual written response from an editor instead of a form letter. Now I’m much more savvy; I crack the champagne when I push "send" on the finished manuscript. In my naiveté, I actually took Ms. Brown’s letter as a rejection—gasp--and decided to concentrate on making a living.

I also married, had three children, traveled, took up gardening and became a pretty good cook (now I just cook for company; my stove is for resale purposes only). And I inherited a tabby named Buster who really runs the house and my life. Luckily he’s pretty easy to live with and doesn’t complain unless his dish is empty, which is all the time.

My daughter, Teresa, helped me create my website as her business sense is intact along with her sense of humor (a necessity to working on technology with me, so she says).

I have also finished the fourth book in the Cavelli Angel Saga, a romantic suspense quartet about an Italian immigrant family in 1926. The Cavelli family consists of three brothers---Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, named after the archangels by their overly optimistic mother (and angels they’re not) and two sisters, Anna and Tessia.

I hope the Cavellis and their love stories stay with you long after you turn the last page.
...more

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Combine Editions
Annalisa Russo’s books

Average rating: 4.41 · 41 ratings · 22 reviews · 6 distinct works

	All Hearts Come Home for Christmas 4.36 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An Angel's Redemption (Book #1 in The Cavelli Angel Saga) 4.33 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rags to Rubies 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An Angel Healed (Book #2 in The Cavelli Angel Saga) 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Angel Lost, Angel Found (Book #3 in The Cavelli Angel Saga) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Angel Boy 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2016	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cavelli Angel Saga: The Complete Boxed Set 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Annalisa Russo's Blog

Summer, Thinking Outside

Gone are the days when local farmers harvested their crops, trucked them into town, and sold them to grocery stores—direct from the fields. That craving for really fresh food, I believe, is the reason for a 400% increase in farmers markets in the last twenty years. Vegetables, once an afterthought for the dining table, have taken top billing and can be a challenge for the grill master.

I bought...

Upcoming Events

Believable Dialogue and the Myth of Show Don’t Tell
Author appearance, June 19, 2018 06:30PM
Joliet Junior College Romeoville Campus, 1125 W 135th Street, Romeoville, IL, US

People don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say. Learn to write dia ...more

The Business of Promotion
Author appearance, July 24, 2018 09:00AM
Joliet Junior College Romeoville Campus, 1125 W 135th Street, Romeoville, IL, US

The Business of Promotion Getting your book published is only the beginning. If ...more

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Annalisa’s Recent Updates

Annalisa Russo wrote a new blog post Summer, Thinking Outside Gone are the days when local farmers harvested their crops, trucked them into town, and sold them to grocery stores—direct from the fields. That cr... Read more of this blog post »
Jun 04, 2018 01:31AM · like
Annalisa is now following Jennifer Rosario and Christine Hatcher
Apr 09, 2018 07:29AM
Annalisa made a comment in the group Making Connections — 5048. - ALL HEARTS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Annalisa Russo topic " Sent a PDF copy to Paige on 3/4. Thanks, Paige Annalisa "
Mar 04, 2018 01:06PM
Annalisa liked a quote “You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.” William W. Purkey
Jan 28, 2018 10:58PM · like · more quotes by William W. Purkey
Annalisa liked a quote “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde
Dec 29, 2017 09:20AM · like · more quotes by Oscar Wilde
Annalisa rated a book it was amazing Secrets & Charades by Cindy Ervin Huff (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Cindy Ervin Huff’s Secrets and Charades is an engaging, sweet historical romance with a strong Christian message. Huff’s vast knowledge of post-civil War Texas is noteworthy. Rancher, Jake Marcum sends for a mail-order bride, Doctor Evangeline Olson. ...more
Dec 08, 2017 08:37PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Secrets & Charades by Cindy Ervin Huff. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Secrets & Charades by Cindy Ervin Huff <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Annalisa made a comment in the group Making Connections — Reviewer seeking books to read! topic " Hello Maria-Sophia, I visited your new website. Very nice! I saw that you were born in Athens, Greece. I have visited your lovely city and also the pic ...more "
Dec 02, 2017 08:30AM
Annalisa made a comment in the group Readers That Love Giveaways, Ebook Deals, and Free Books! — The Ultimate Holiday Giveaway! topic " This month we're celebrating the release of All Hearts Come Home for Christmas with the ultimate holiday giveaway! The winner will receive a $50 Amazo ...more "
Nov 28, 2017 12:12PM
Annalisa joined the group Readers That Love Giveaways, Ebook Deals, and Free Books!
Nov 28, 2017 12:09PM · like

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Making Connections: 5048. - ALL HEARTS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Annalisa Russo	7	23	Mar 04, 2018 01:23PM

Annalisa’s Quotes

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero

tags: attributed-no-source, books, simile, soul

113443 likes

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

tags: aliteracy, books, classic, humor

46334 likes

“So many books, so little time.”
― Frank Zappa

tags: books, humor

118544 likes

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain

tags: books, contentment, friends, friendship, life

43160 likes

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
― Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx

tags: animals, books, dogs, friends, humor

35949 likes

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