Have you ever dreamed of being able to change your destiny? The opportunity of a new exciting career, beautiful location and a man to die for. But is the grass always greener on the other side? Catherine Kane soon finds out and is in for a roller coaster ride and perhaps what she's left behind is what she could have been looking for in the first place.

Frances Mayes, whose enchanting #1 New York Times bestseller Under the Tuscan Sun made the world fall in love with Tuscany, invites readers back for a delightful new season of friendship, festivity, and food, there and throughout Italy. Having spent her summers in Tuscany for the past several years, Frances Mayes relished the opportunity to experience the pleasures of primavera, an Italian spring. A sabbatical from teaching in San Francisco allowed her to return to Cortona—and her beloved house, Bramasole—just as the first green appeared on the rocky hillsides. Bella Tuscany, a companion volume to Under the Tuscan Sun, is her passionate and lyrical account of her continuing love affair with Italy. Now truly at home there, Mayes writes of her deepening connection to the land, her flourishing friendships with local people, the joys of art, food, and wine, and the rewards and occasional heartbreaks of her villa's ongoing restoration. It is also a memoir of a season of change, and of renewed possibility. As spring becomes summer she revives Bramasole's lush gardens, meets the challenges of learning a new language, tours regions from Sicily to the Veneto, and faces transitions in her family life. Filled with recipes from her Tuscan kitchen and written in the sensuous and evocative prose that has become her hallmark, Bella Tuscany is a celebration of the sweet life in Italy. Now with an excerpt from Frances Mayes's latest southern memoir, Under Magnolia.

Photographs in vol. 2 by Michael A. Smith.

In her inimitable warm and evocative tone, Frances Mayes helps readers develop an eye for authentic Tuscan style, with advice on how to: Choose a Tuscan colour palette for the home, from earthy apricot tones to invigorating shades of antique blue; Cultivate a Tuscan garden, adding fountains, vine-covered pergolas, and terracotta urns among the herbs and flowers.. Make prime finds at their local antique markets - and to truly bring Tuscany home, shipping advice and market days for several Tuscan towns are included. Set an imaginative Tuscan table using majolica and vintage linens; Enjoy the abundant flavours and easy simplicity of the Tuscan kitchen, with details on everything from olive oil and vin santo to pici and gnocchi, plus special, homegrown menus and recipes.

The author takes readers through parts of Tuscany that still remain largely undiscovered and into the kitchens of more than fifty restaurants whose cooks reveal their most authentic recipes.--Jacket flap.

"After a lifetime of living and eating in Rome, Elizabeth Minchilli is an expert on the city's cuisine. While she's proud to share everything she knows about Rome, she now wants to show her devoted readers that the rest of Italy is a culinary treasure trove just waiting to be explored. Far from being a monolithic gastronomic culture, each region of Italy offers its own specialties. While fava beans mean one thing in Rome, they mean an entirely different thing in Puglia. Risotto in a Roman trattoria? Don't even consider it. Visit Venice and not eat cichetti? Unthinkable. Eating My Way Through Italy, celebrates the differences in the world's favorite cuisine"--Provided by publisher.

Tranquil valleys, rugged coastline, rolling farmland: France is the perfect destination for a road trip to remember. With Road Trips France, it's yours to explore. Featuring 24 wonderful drives across the country and packed with detailed driving instructions and practical information, this easy-to-use guide helps you discover France at its best. Inside, you will find: 24 easy-to-follow scenic driving tours, each lasting one to five days A laminated pull-out road map of France, which helps you navigate with ease Ways to see more of each area en route, including great viewpoints, delightful detours, walks through historic towns and villages, outdoor activities, and various tours and trips. Our pick of the best places to stay, eat and shop Rules of the road addresses for satnavs, detailed directions for easy navigation, road conditions and parking tips, and useful travel, visa and health information Looking for more on France's culture, history, and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness France. DK is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries.