It's All About Love

By Marsha Casper Cook

It’s All About Love is a sweet, heartwarming story about how love can happen when you least expect it.

After losing the love of his life, Leo Tucker never thought it would be possible to fall in love again. But then he met Gracie Maxwell and happiness seemed to be more than just a possibility—it became reality.

Gracie Maxwell had been hurt so many times before her final conclusion: she was never going to let herself fall in love or even get close to it ever again. But then she met Leo.

Leo was kind and considerate and Gracie thought he was pretty darned wonderful, so unlike anyone she had ever known. So there they were, falling in love with each other. Would they choose each other, or would they decide against the second chance they were both afraid of?

The beauty of this love story will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between as you watch them decide their destiny. Will they find the right path to each other’s heart?

What Reviewers Are Saying:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters and interactions — Leo and Gracie and excellent characters. They are developed well, and the author does a great job of making their interactions believable. The dialogue is written nicely and the narrative moves at a fast pace. Fans of romance novels and uplifting fiction will enjoy this story and the characters it contains.

5.0 out of 5 stars So sweet! — Cook’s novel has well-written characters with developed, unforced chemistry. It is very obviously the work of a talented and experienced romance writer. Overall, it truly is all about love—trials, trust, and the small things that you experience together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marsha Casper Cook
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005105907

Marsha Casper Cook

Marsha is a Chicago author as well as a screenwriter and radio show personality on Blog Talk Radio. She has been doing radio shows for the last ten years and she now produces all of the shows on Michigan Avenue Media. Inc. Marsha's group discussions are about writing and publishing. She also does special shows on many current issues but her passion has always been to help authors and screenwriters finish their projects.Marsha's Children's Books:The Busy Bus - also Audio BookNo Clues No Shoes - also AudioThe Magical Leaping Lizard - also AudioSnack Attack -also AudioI Wish I Was A Brownie- also AudioNon Fiction:To LifeFiction :Love ChangesGuilty PleasuresVirginia Templeton StoriesRomantic Comedies :It's Never Too late For LoveGrand Central Station

Book preview

Dedication

To my family and friends, thank you for always being there for me.

As always, a very special thank you to Robin Surface, Fideli Publishing, and Jeff Fleischer, my editor, who have helped me achieve success with all my projects as an author.

Prologue

Leo Tucker had grown up with many superstitions handed down to him by his grandmother, and by her grandmother to her, and so on and so on. There was one superstition that Leo truly believed in — not that he didn’t believe in hundreds of others, but this one stood out. Every time he found himself anywhere near a fountain, he tossed in all the coins he had in his pocket.

The story he was told was that spirits lived inside fountains, and if a person passed by a fountain without tossing in a coin, he or she would surely be followed by bad luck. Not a story a superstitious person wants to hear.

So when Leo found himself strolling the streets of Paris for the second time in his life, he was hoping to be inspired by the all of the romance novels he wrote in the past. There he was, a successful novelist trying to find his way back from losing his wife, Ellie, after her battle with cancer. He wasn’t doing very well, even though he was trying.

Shortly before he was scheduled to leave Paris and head back to Chicago, he walked by one of the many popular fountains in Paris, Fontaine des Mers. It was so beautiful he could hardly speak. It was everything he imagined when he wrote about Paris.

He threw every coin he had into the fountain, closed his eyes, and made a wish. There she was. Ellie dressed in white, looking as beautiful as an angel and smiling at him as she stood in the water. He smiled back and said, I love you Ellie. I always will.

By that time, a crowd had gathered around him. There were too many to count, but he heard them cheering him on, clapping their hands and shouting, "Bonne chance, monsieur."

Then, in the most communal way, everyone tossed coins into the fountain and all Leo could hear was the coins hitting the water. It was exhilarating. Many of those watching were couples who were kissing each other after their tosses. Leo felt better, and smiled at all of them. "Merci beaucoup."

Minutes after that, a young, beautiful blonde woman, Gracie Maxwell, couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. She was fascinated by the amount of people standing there clapping and enjoying something she could not see. She jumped up, trying to see what was happening, but it seemed that there was no room for her to inch her way into the crowd.

Finally, when the crowd dispersed, she got a closer look at a man sitting by a bush close to the fountain. She didn’t know what to do, so she tapped him on his shoulder. Are you okay, sir?

He never answered, and she never got a good look at his face. He left without a look or a word. She followed him for a few minutes, just to make sure he was okay, but he never turned around.

She walked back to the fountain, but found the crowd had dispersed. When she looked down at her watch, she knew she would be late for her flight home if she didn’t hop into a taxi right then and there. She hailed one and was gone.

By the time Leo turned around and walked back toward the fountain to thank the woman who checked on him, all he saw was her getting into a taxi. He remembered her by her hat. It was white with black trim; a writer by nature, Leo remembered details.

Chapter One

Dinner at the Warringtons’ was, at best, a challenge. That was even more true when something important needed to be discussed. Several months after Gracie graduated college, she and her father were still avoiding the inevitable topic: What was the rest of her life going to look like?

The first clue of the evening was when her mother, Francine, left the room. She was followed by their loving housekeeper, Ava, who immediately stopped serving whenever a serious discussion was about to happen, knowing they usually didn’t go well. And at any sign of confrontation, Georgia, an adorable Labradoodle with big eyes and a furry golden body, either left the room or hid under the table.

Georgia was intelligent, quiet, and very loyal to everyone in the family, showing no favoritism. As a puppy, she immediately became a member of their household after Samuel Warrington — the head of that household, if only in his own mind — brought her home in a small cardboard box. He complained throughout the long ride home on the expressway during a snowstorm, but he had promised his daughters a sweet little dog for Hanukkah, and he was a man of his word.

The women in the household ran the place. Samuel knew he was outnumbered, but it was okay. He was CEO of a huge publishing house, and maintained his respect there. Father first, tycoon second.

Tonight, he was playing both those parts. It was time for an answer to the question he had been waiting to hear for months, and he wasn’t usually a patient man. It was time to rock the boat.

Just as Gracie was about to get up from the dinner table, Samuel stood up. Not this time, my dear. We have to talk, so sit down. This won’t take long — but if it does, I have all night.

Fine, she said, and sat down with a huff. Okay, you’ve got my full attention.

Gracie, let’s get this settled. It’s time to talk about your future at Warrington Media. You keep putting it off.

I’m just not sure, she answered, realizing it wasn’t going to stop the questions from coming.

What’s the hold-up?

Well, to be truthful, I don’t think you’re going to like what I’ve decided.

Let’s have it. Samuel’s face reddened a bit when he was about to get angry. Let’s talk this over like two adults.

Sounds fair. But I know what you want, and we’re not exactly on the same page. In fact, we’re not even close.

Meaning what?

I still want more life experience before I root myself in one place. I feel like you’re forcing me.

Am I holding a gun to your head? Be reasonable.

I’m just saying how I feel.

You would be a great addition to the publishing house. I thought that was your goal. You’ve been working with Nicholas, and he tells me you’re ready.

He’s telling you what you want to hear. Maybe he doesn’t even mean it.

You’re smart and very capable. And you’re my daughter. Like it or not, this could work out great for you. I’m not going to be around forever.

What about Julianna? She’s also your daughter.

I know that, but you’re the one who always wanted this.

People change.

Maybe I pushed too hard, but I know this could be good for you.

Gracie shook her head. You just don’t get it, do you? I want to build my own life. Can you blame me?

Yes, I can. Why start from scratch? I wish I had someone like me in my corner when I was growing up.

I don’t think I had a choice. I did what you wanted me to do, whether I liked it or not.

Samuel looked very unhappy. I’m sorry you feel that way. I had no idea.

That’s just it. You’ve never taken me seriously.

Does your mother know how you feel?

Somewhat. But you have both been very busy. Mom does her thing, and you do yours. Julianna does her own thing and no one ever says anything to her. And then there’s me.

Samuel called out to his wife. Francine, where the hell are you? I need you to talk to our daughter.

Francine, a beautiful blonde woman, sexy for her age, came back to the table. Even though dinner was at home, she was dressed as if she was going out, in a black fitted Chanel suit and pearls. No matter where she was, she was always the most elegant woman in the room — never the life of the party, but always the most stylish.

Samuel, I told you it wasn’t going to happen the way you wanted it to. I warned you years ago that Gracie had her own mind, but you didn’t listen.

Obviously not. Did you know about this?

Francine sat down at the table. Meaning what?

That she wants an adventure.

As always, when you get something in your head, you don’t listen. It’s her life. I have told you that time and time again.

Oh, so this is an ambush?

Dad, it’s no ambush, Gracie interrupted. I just don’t want to stay here right now. I want to travel and have my own life. Adventures. Doing things that make sense to me. Learning things, meeting new people.

Well then, excuse me. Look around. You’re living in a ten-bedroom home, with a pool and a movie theatre downstairs. Is this such a bad life? You have everything. What more do you want?

I want to go places, see things. I’m leaving for Paris.

And you can’t explore all that life has to offer in Chicago? Or at least the United States?

I don’t think so. I’m just too sheltered. I need to leave for a while.

Nobody needs to go to Paris. You can go your whole life without ever going to Paris and survive. Many people actually live long, happy lives without ever traveling.

You’ve traveled to so many places. And look at Mom; she’ been everywhere.

You can travel. But just to leave like that, without a plan—

I have a plan.

Samuel looked at his wife. Francine, if you knew, why didn’t you give me a heads up?

Because I knew this is how you’d react. You two are more alike than you realize.

Maybe so, Samuel said. Fine. I’ll adjust. Maybe I’ll bring Nicholas in to do more. He’s aggressive and wants a bigger role.

Gracie agreed with that. Nicholas was a climber, always wanting more and more. He didn’t care who he stepped over.