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This must be my month for all things Texas.

First, I stepped out the door of my Connecticut home at the end of September, boarded a plane, and landed in Austin, TX for a long overdue visit with my daughter.

I LOVE Austin. I love the adorable neighborhoods with bungalow style homes. I love the Congress Avenue “Bat�� Bridge. I love . I love BIG. FAT. DONUTS. Mostly, I love my daughter and am glad she lives somewhere so fabulous!

Then, to my surprise, Texas appeared in my life again this week. I learned that one of my books, , is listed in the as #3 for books set in Connecticut (as reported on ŷ������ website)!!

The setting for Share the Moon is inspired by an area just north of me in Litchfield County where there are beautiful lakes, rolling hills, gorgeous homes, and serene wineries. It’s a place my husband and I go quite a bit to breathe in the country air and admire the small towns. It might be far away from larger-than-life Texas (everything really is bigger there!), but I’m delighted to see listed in one of their newspapers and hope my story introduces our smaller (and equally beautiful) state to some new readers.

Sometimes trust is the toughest lesson to learn.

Sophie Shaw is days away from signing a contract that will fulfill her dream of owning a vineyard. For her, it’s a chance to restart her life and put past tragedies to rest. But Duncan Jamieson’s counter offer blows hers out to sea. Duncan still finds Sophie as appealing as he had during boyhood vacations to the lake. Older and wiser now, he has his own reasons for wanting the land. His offer, however, hinges on a zoning change approval. Bribery rumors threaten the deal and make Sophie wary of Duncan, yet she cannot deny his appeal. When her journalistic research uncovers a Jamieson family secret, trust becomes the hardest lesson for them both.

“Struth has a gift for layering stories within stories while keeping them all connected.”–Library Journal

“Sharon Struth writes a good story about love and loss. She knows her characters and has a path she wants them to take.”–Eye on Romance

A Barnes & Noble Romance Bestseller

InD’tales RONE Finalist

Book of the Month by LASR.

For more on Sharon’s Books (including buy links), visit her website at .

To try the first three chapters of Share the Moon for free, click .

Years from now, people will share pandemic shutdown stories. Much in the same way we remember September 11th, this time in our lives will stir a flurry of memories and emotions. And it will be unique for each and every one of us.

In the early weeks of the pandemic, my family shopped for supplies and hunkered down to work and eat, work and eat, work and eat. We tossed in a little Netflix at night and had takeout during the weekends to support local restaurants.

We had toilet paper.

We had hand sanitizer.

We had social media.

We made sourdough starter and had homemade bread.

We had Zoom-type parties, once even playing a game with households in Connecticut, Texas, and New York.

We worried but knew we could do this. All to help the progression of the virus flatten and help the hospitals so they could safe lives.

And we’ve cried so many tears. Some of them sad tears, but the majority of them found in moments of human compassion that go straight to heart and twist it into a sappy mess. Turns out there are a lot of good, caring people out there.

As time passes, the enthusiasm to tackle this with a positive bend has worn a little thin (but I’m trying). We’re seeing the worst and know better times are off in the far distance. And�� I’m noticing some “heavier�� side effects from living through this scary time.

Each night since the start of our shutdown, my dreams have been weird. As we head into May, they’re getting even more bizarre.

Some dreams I remember. Some I don’t.

But I wake each morning relieved to be set free. It’s as if I’ve been locked inside a Salvador Dalí painting for eight hours. Where surreal images disrupt my night’s sleep that are as sharp and precise as the famous painters, and definitely as bizarre. About four weeks into the shutdown, I stumbled upon a article discussing the very subject of weird dreams during the coronavirus pandemic. I shared it on Facebook and was relieved to find many of my friends were experiencing the same thing. I guess stress will do that to a person. I long for the days when my dreams take on a more conventional strangeness.

My drives are a whole other matter. They’ll be remembered more for their sadness.

These days, I’m excited to get into my car for even the most boring errand. Today’s was to pick up a prescription at the vets. Even if I’m armed with masks and hand sanitizer, I anticipate a little taste of my old life. Where I can play my XM radio and sing loudly. Speak to someone (through my mask, of course) who hasn’t been locked in the house with me for days. Get a chance to see something besides the limited square footage of my house.

But each time I go out, the same lonely feeling sweeps over me. Streets are void of cars and people. At least compared to normal. I suppose this is how Carol and Daryl feel when they go on a supply run on the Walking Dead. When I do pass another car, I wait for the lonely feeling to lift. I want to wave. You know, the little hand flip you see motorcycle riders do when they pass each other that says “Hey, we’re alike because we ride on two wheels.�� But instead I’d be waving to the other driver to say, “Hey, I’m out of my house, just like you.�� But I don’t wave. Instead, I drive and anxiously wait for another car to appear. So I don’t feel like I’m living in an apocalyptic novel.

This feeling is one I won’t ever forget. When things return to normal (and they will) I won’t complain if there’s a traffic jam downtown. I won’t want to rush past a bunch of cyclists who are making it hard to drive on the narrow country roads in town. I’ll go slow and be thankful to see life on the streets again. And, if I go to the strip mall downtown and can’t find a parking spot, I’ll take a moment to be thankful people are spending money at the local businesses.

Because I know life will be normal again. My old first world problems will�� return. The ghost of Salvatore Dali will have to wait another hundred years for the next pandemic to again haunt anyone’s dreams. And, hopefully, my night’s sleep will have returned to normal.

And until then, I will use care in all my interactions, try to make the best of this, and pray for those in hospitals because of this deadly and quirky virus, that has the scientists and doctors working overtime.

So, if you’re out running errands and see me driving the other way, please wave!! It just might make my day.

What’s been memorable for you during this pandemic?

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It took a pandemic for me to stop working on my latest book and write a blogpost. And it was mainly because this virus has many people telecommuting to work for the first time. Newbies to the sport of “working from home�� who are finding being disciplined and diligent away from the office isn’t so easy.

I’ve been working from home full time for around ten years. In that time, I wrote eight novels, one novella, and quite a few personal essays. I took many on-line�� classes, worked every single day on writing first drafts and edits of those drafts. I joined writers groups to learn and bond with others in my craft. With my first book release back in 2013,�� I�� put writing aside and spent time marketing.�� As future books released, I had to balance marketing with writing time.

Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without treating my career like any other job. So, if the Coronavirus pandemic has you working from home for the first time and you’re trying to get the hang of it, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Rise and shine every day like you ARE leaving the house. By that, I mean shower, get dressed (yoga pants count), have breakfast, brush your teeth, and have a designated time to start work by. And live by it, even if your boss isn’t their to give you the evil eye when you’re late.
Make a to-do list. These really can help you stay focused on your�� day’s tasks. Heck, even add a few household chores, like tossing in a load of laundry or getting something in the crockpot for dinner. Why not take advantage of the “at home�� flexibility factor? I find, if they’re on the list, I won’t forget about them.
Get out of your chair every hour and stretch. At the office you have reasons to get out of your seat, like a walk down the hall to ask a co-worker a question or a trip to the copier. In my home office, a question is usually emailed. And, from my seat, I can stretch my arm to the right and touch my printer/copier. SITTING IS BAD FOR YOUR BACK, and I have the bad back to prove it. But if you set a timer (maybe the one in the kitchen to force you up?) and take a few minutes to do a few simple stretches, your entire body will thank you. There are several listed . I also have the app on my phone and they have great stretching videos that last between 10-15 minutes.
Give yourself regular breaks. Just like you would at the office. Go out and get lunch. When you get that mid-afternoon desire to nap, either sneak in a ten minute power snooze or–better yet–walk around the block or take out the dog to play a little. Even run a quick errand, like if you hear the local grocery got a shipment of toilet paper or hand sanitizer. But set a time limit and get back to work soon as you can.
Leave your cell phone in another room.�� You know why. It’s a distraction.
Set boundaries for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and any other form of social media. I’m not saying never, because that would be insane. For us at home workers, it’s kind of the virtual water cooler. Try setting a goal before you’ll allow yourself a break. Like I’ll say “When I finish editing two chapters, I can check Facebook and email.�� It’s just way too easy to get lost in an hour of social media then look up and wonder how it happened.

I hope these guidelines are a little help. Those of you who are seasoned members of the “At Home Workforce,�� do you have any suggestions to add?

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Today I’m thrilled to have fellow traveler and xenophile author MaryAnn Clarke visiting my blog today to share her latest romantic women’s fiction release, . This book is set in France, so if you enjoyed my , also set in European locales, you might enjoy MaryAnn’s books, too. She’s been kind enough to provide us 3 reasons why you should read A FORGED AFFAIR, so take it away, MaryAnn��..

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Happy Spring Equinox�� almost.
All right armchair travellers, have I got a book for you! Below is a blurb and excerpt for A FORGED AFFAIR. This book is releasing on June 14th, June 7th if you prefer to order a print copy. The ebook is available for the special launch price of $2.99.
Buy either before June 14th to get the free bonus download of a colouring booklet drawn by the author, showing scenes from the novel. See below for instructions.
If the cover alone hasn’t pulled you in, take a look at this blurb and MaryAnn’s three reasons��

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She welcomes any risk, as long as it doesn’t involve her own carefully guarded heart.

Adrenaline junkie Niki Ballantyne is a risk-taker at work and at play. Haunted by guilt over her brother’s tragic death, she’s devoted to saving others in trouble.

While on an adventure holiday in the south of France, she meets handsome and charming traveller Luc and his shy friend, the gentle giant Didier.

Helping the bullied blacksmith win the love of another woman is not a typical rescue project for Niki, but she’s driven by compassion for her lonely new friend. Bittersweet memories of her brother’s life compel Niki to stay and support the star-crossed giant.

Their forged affair is perfectly safe.

There’s no risk of getting emotionally involved, but teaching him about intimacy comes with consequences, and lesson to be learned.

Particularly when it comes to Luc. On the cusp of a life-altering decision, Luc is drawn to daredevil Niki, though she upends his carefully laid plans for a perfect future. Despite instant chemistry and a powerful connection, Niki pushes him away.

But when a sudden emergency brings Luc to her rescue, the way he sees her vulnerability scares her more than anything. Now she has to decide if the last thing she ever wanted might be exactly what she needs.

3 Reasons Why You Should Read A Forged Affair��

#1 One early reviewer has this to say:

“Reading A Forged Affair feels like a vacation; MA Clarke Scott’s lyrical prose engages the senses so well that one easily becomes immersed in the world of her story. A Forged Affair reads like a fairy tale for adults; complete with jugglers, tumblers, a crone and a giant. In her skilled hands, all these characters, including the hero and heroine, become magically alive and relatable.�� Historical Author Natasha Powers

The primary location of the story, a “bastide�� village in Aquitaine in the south of France, is modeled after a real village that the author visited ten years ago. Their stay coincided with a Medieval Festival that transformed the already charming village into a fairy tale setting that stimulated the author’s storytelling juices. Naturally, she had to create unusual characters, believable in a contemporary age, who enriched this magical place.

#2 A Forged Affair features a very different kind of heroine than you usually see in romantic women’s fiction.

Niki is a woman who lives life in the fast lane �� her highly skilled job in rope access (learn more about this real-life thrilling career: ) �� and her passion for search and rescue are only the beginning. She’s an exceptional athlete who spends most of her time engaged in fast-paced, high-risk adventure sports, such as parkour, zip-lining, and mountain biking to name a few. If it’s exciting, she’s game, and more than capable. But what’s she running from? Are their demons nipping at her heels? Or perhaps ghosts? What will she encounter in the village of Petit Bergeron to settle her restless heart?

#3 Tortured giant Didier LeGrand triggers a change in her.

Niki is driven to intercede when she sees how the heartsick blacksmith’s body image affects his sense of self- esteem and confidence, and how he’s tormented by local bullies. It’s too painful a reminder of her younger brother’s anguished and too-short life. How Niki ultimately chooses to support Didier is controversial. Will you sympathize and support her, or be shocked and disapprove?

In the end, it’s Niki’s comfort in her own skin that helps her get close to both Didier, and good guy Luc, and from each of them heal her own wounds, both emotional and physical. Didier might be charming and sympathetic, but don’t overlook romantic hero Luc. He’s not a typical alpha-hero who swoops in to rescue the damsel in distress. In fact, his heroism is the quiet and measured manner of a teacher. But Luc has a lesson to learn as well. He might have to give up some of his romantic notions about life, love, and happily ever after, to make room for the rough-and-tumble of reality.

Excerpt:

A few minutes later, she emerged into a large open square, surrounded by stone arcades at the ground floor of its framing buildings. The music grew louder, the aromas of delicious foods stronger. Her stomach growled as she anticipated choosing her evening meal from the wonderful choices laid out. Past the throng, in the centre of the square, stood a large roofed and pillared shelter. She’d seen one or two like it before, in other Plus Beaux Village, all of which they’d designated heritage resources, and popular tourist destinations. It was easy to see why. They were very picturesque.

She cast her gaze around the perimeter. This one though, had achieved a particular harmony in the balance of two and three-story buildings, in the elegant shapes of the arcades around the square. Painted wooden shutters, overflowing window boxes, and banners accented plainer��buildings��in just the right places.

Spilling out from under the open-sided roof, folding wooden chairs flanked rows of paper-covered folding tables. People young and old, costumed and not, sat at the tables eating, drinking and talking. It was difficult to navigate through the dense crowd with her bike, so she looked around for a place to tuck it safely away. Under the arcade, she found a railing surrounding a small ice cream shop with tables nestled under the stone vaults. She leaned her bike against it and locked it. Then she exchanged her stiff clip-on cycling shoes for the pair of pliable parkour sneakers she kept in her saddlebag.

Free to move, she plunged into the throng, smiling at the onslaught of stimuli. She still hadn’t located the source of the music she heard, but she passed jugglers, a fire-eater with a crowd around him, and a marching procession of Knights Templar in bright white and red tunics, carrying spears. It was a��spectacle, spread out through the village.

More booths and tables ringed the square, selling food that people could buy and eat right there. Her nose filled with the scents of roasting meat and spices. She stopped to admire a gigantic forty inch diameter pan of paella, filled with chicken and seafood, the rice glowing vermillion with saffron, and salivated. Soon, she told her twisting belly, soon. There were local wine vendors, too, and people selling gorgeous glazed pastries and breads,��soap, textiles, candles and sweets. She walked on, admiring the craftsmanship of wood carvers and silversmiths. The merchants were��friendly, to tourists and locals alike.

Admiring a colourful display of melons, tomatoes, strawberries, grapes and other local produce, a gnarled hand darted out and tightly gripped her arm. A tiny old woman, a printed kerchief tied over her grey hair, her face wrinkled and brown like old cowhide, had a hold on her and was pressing an orange toward her face.

��Orange?�� she croaked in a heavy accent and gravelly voice.

“Ouch!�� Niki backed away, trying to escape the claw-like hand that pinched her. ��Non, merci.�� What was it with the oranges today?

Purchase Links:
Buy the book:
Send proof of purchase to [email protected] to receive your bonus

Author Bio:

Always eager to fill blank pages and empty canvases with ideas swirling in her head, MaryAnn set out to write emotionally engaging stories that walk a tight rope between intelligent Women’s Fiction and heart-warming Romance.

A polymath who studied Fine Arts, Urbanism, Architecture and Gerontology at university on both coasts of Canada, she turned to her first love, writing stories, when she realized she could have more fun with fewer rules to follow as an author, than working in an office as an architect, or in a university as a researcher. When not writing, she meditates while hiking wooded mountain trails, does yoga and Pilates to fend off decrepitude, reads eclectically, contemplates wormholes, experiments with painting abstract expressionism, kills plants and tries not to burn dinner while solving her next plot problem. Now that her chick has flown the coop, Clarke lives on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada with her husband and cats. Although she knows she lives in Paradise, she still loves traveling the world in search of romance, art, good food and new story ideas.

MaryAnn Clarke is a Chatelaine Grand Prize winner, and Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist for The Art of Enchantment, first in the Life is a Journey series about young women on journeys abroad who discover themselves and fall in love while getting embroiled in someone else’s problems. Her Having It All series focuses on professional women struggling to balance the challenge and fulfillment of their careers with their search for identity, love, family and home.

Find out more at the author’s website:

Join MaryAnn’s VIP Readers List and get the free novel Single Dad in Studio 7D.

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If you’re someone who has a career or hobby centered around artistic expression (dance, writing, music, performing, or any of the visual arts), you know that each time you put your work out there, a little piece of your soul is on display. Those moments can fill the most highly regarded artist with self-doubt.

Vincent Van Gogh was the poster child for insecurity.��A tortured artist who cut off his own ear, spent time in a mental institution, and is said to have committed suicide. He lived with angst, doubt, and pleas��for acceptance.

Despite all Stephen King’s success, in a 2014 Rolling Stone interview King tells��Rolling Stone, “I’m afraid of failing at whatever story I’m writing �� that it won’t come up for me, or that I won’t be able to finish it.��

Maya Angelou once admitted, ��“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, “Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me��out.��

Maya had what they call . I understand.

It’s six years and nine books later for me. My books are nicely reviewed and I’m proud of my hard work. One would think I’d feel validated and successful in my writing career. And to some degree I do.

Yet with every new book comes an avalanche of anxiety. Starting with the moment I finish one and send it off to an editor–whose job is to show me where I still have work to do. Because I KNOW a critical eye will only improve my manuscript. In fact, it’s part of any writer’s process. Still, once that manuscript is sent, I pace like an expectant father in the hospital waiting for news of a baby’s arrival, with as much worry as a new parent might have. I think of everything I probably could have done different, better.�� More nail-biting comes with pre-release reviews. Will it be with a thumb’s up or down? Feed me reviewers! I’m like Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, and the reviews are the food that’ll (hopefully) boost my self-esteem. Yup, feedback validates my writing ego.

I wish I was a writer who didn’t need external validation to avoid feeling like an impostor. Instead, I’d love to have the self-confidence gene that I see in many others.

In the past nine months, I’ve pushed my writing boundaries into a more complex novel. It’s been scary, unfamiliar, and forced me to think outside of what I already know. The jury is out on if I succeeded (currently waiting for the editor’s feedback.) In many ways, I did have success. I finished the book, told during two different time periods through three POV characters. I’ll pat myself on the back for getting that far. Only that alone doesn’t make me feel validated. Frankly, I’m a little annoyed with myself for my fears.

This morning as I drove, the DJ on the radio��gave me reason to pause when he said (and I don’t know why)��

“The very thing that gives you validation can take away your validation.��

It was as if the universe�� heard my worries and sent me a light bulb moment!�� I immediately saw why it’s important I believe in myself. Because nobody can steal faith I have in my abilities. If they try to and succeed, I’m the only one to blame.

From now on�� I’m going to spend a little time working on this with a daily affirmation about believing my myself and my skills. Hey, it can’t hurt.

Anybody else out there struggle with self-doubt? If so, what advice do you have to deal with it?����

I’ve been anxiously waiting for 11/20/18 and it’s finally here! The last book in my Sweet Life Novels releases today and I’m so excited to share this book with you. Where is set in Tuscany, and in the English countryside, SAVING ANNA travels to Germany’s breathtaking Rhineland region.

Before I introduce SAVING ANNA, a mention that today is the final day of a 99 cent ebook sale on ��(I’ll share a little bit more about this title below). Now, without further adieu��.

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Germany’s sparkling Rhineland is the perfect place for a fresh start . . .

Warming people’s hearts with true accounts of kindness is what columnist Anna Kelly does best. But no one knows the private misery she endures in her abusive marriage. Still, leaving is difficult—until a deeply personal bequest from a beloved elderly neighbor compels Anna to travel to Germany. There she begins an unexpected adventure of paying it forward that will take her far from her complicated life in Brooklyn.

Arriving in the historic and picturesque city of Mainz, on the breathtaking Rhine River, Anna settles in at a cozy guesthouse filled with colorful residents. But fulfilling her task will require the help of a translator and knowledgeable guide.

Josef Schmitt will gladly shuttle the American visitor around if it distracts him from his dark thoughts. Ever since a serious accident sidelined him at the local excursions company, he’s been unable to forget the pain he caused or forgive himself. Now, accompanying Anna on her mission takes them both to surprising places—and they just may find the courage to truly set themselves free. . .

BUY:����|����|
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What readers are saying about Saving Anna:

“Saving Anna�� is a lovely journey, starring two appealing characters with believable backstories and a genuine chemistry that heats up the prose. Genuine, every-day courage is on full display here: Ms. Struth treats the always uncomfortable subject of domestic violence with sensitivity, and Josef’s survivor’s guilt is also given fair treatment. Germany’s sparkling Rhineland, with its quaint little cities and fairy-tale castles, is the setting for this story of healing and hope. It’s a refreshing change from the usual locations for romantic novels and Ms. Struth’s descriptive settings will have readers longing to take a journey of their own .”~ In’Dtale Magazine Crowned Review

��Ms. Struth has done a wonderful job in capturing the emotions and conflicts Anna goes through as she attempts to start a new life. She also draws a wonderful picture of what life was like for the Jews in Germany during the time of World War II as Anna and Josef search for Isaak’s friend. What a remarkable book!����~Long and Short Reviews

��I loved SAVING ANNA, a powerful story of the strength of the human spirit told in a gentle tone…As in her other books, but in SAVING ANNA even more so, the author handles some heavy topics with a deftness that is fresh and hopeful. I highly recommend SAVING ANNA. It is at once entertaining, enriching, and thought-provoking, with characters you won’t want to say goodbye to.�� ~ ŷ������ 5-Star Review

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[image error]Final day to get
WILLOW’S WAY��for 99 cents�� (ebook)

Grab this Reader’s Favorite Book Award Winner at the discounted price while you can. Sale ends at midnight 11/20/18��

The breathtaking promise of the English countryside can lift even the heaviest spirits . . .

Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss�� and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options—until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds.

Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving . . .

Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history–and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots—and testing her endurance—amid the region’s natural beauty. And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home .

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��SHARE THE MOON��
NOW 99 cents through December 2!

Grab this B & N bestseller at the low price of 99 cents, plus the series second HARVEST MOON, at a discounted price until 12/2/18.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
~Sharon

I’m honored to have been interviewed by the Romantic Women’s Fiction chapter of RWA! Here’s their post��.

We’re thankful and excited to hear from our member, Sharon Struth, who shares thoughts about her writing journey and advice for those who have recently completed their first novel.

��Would you say you write women’s fiction or romantic women’s fiction? Do you write in other genres?

I’m published in romantic women’s fiction. The book I’m currently working on, however, is straight women’s fiction.

What is your last published title?

My April 2018 release is Willow’s Way, a book that took on a personal journey for me.

Here’s a bit about Willow’s Way��
Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss�� and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of��

1,324 more words

KIRKUS REVIEW At the center of Struth’s (Sweet Life, 2017, etc.) second Sweet Life novel is Willow Armstrong, a woman at a crossroad. Willow is the founder of the Pound Busters weight-loss franchise (think of a more militant Weight Watchers). Her husband has ditched her and her longtime business adviser has embezzled her personal and��[…]

via

I can finally share the cover to the third book in my Sweet Life Novel Series. Feast your eyes on this gorgeous cover for SAVING ANNA! The story is set in Germany’s Rhineland and due to release 11/20/18!

Series: A Sweet Life Novel

Vol: 3

Full Title: Saving Anna

Format: Ebook Format / ePub

ISBN: 978-1-5161-0357-7

On Sale Date�� 11/20/18

Germany’s sparkling Rhineland is the perfect place for a fresh start . . .

Warming people’s hearts with true accounts of kindness is what columnist Anna Abraham-Kelly does best. But no one knows the private misery she endures in her abusive marriage. Still, leaving is difficult—until a deeply personal bequest from a beloved elderly neighbor compels Anna to travel to Germany. There she begins an unexpected adventure of paying it forward that will take her far from her complicated life in Brooklyn.

Arriving in the historic and picturesque city of Mainz, on the breathtaking Rhine River, Anna settles in at a cozy guesthouse filled with colorful residents. But fulfilling her task will require the help of a translator and knowledgeable guide.

Josef Schmitt will gladly shuttle the American��

172 more words

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On paper, theirs might not have been a match. But when my daughter started to date Dan, a man who she’d met at her gym, it was clear she enjoyed being with him. It didn’t matter that he was a little bit older. Nor that academically they weren’t schooled in the same manner. He was very involved in his church. My daughter was raised protestant but doesn’t attend very often in her adulthood. And even their politics were split with one in the blue camp and one in the red.

Against all those odds, though, they fell in love.

Initially, I found myself surprised by her choice. Our family is political. When it comes to my politics, I’ve been known to go overboard with strong ties to my party. Like many Americans who follow politics, I don’t always “get�� the other side. Dan was on that side. I grappled with the idea that my daughter could overlook this but also vowed that if she could do it, I would try.

Before Dan and I met, I worried my political frame of reference might interfere with seeing the good my daughter had found in him. But the second he walked into my kitchen and we started talking, it was immediately clear why she enjoyed his company. Our friends and family who met Dan liked him right away, too. We loved having him around the house. It wasn’t long before he became a part of our family. As time passed, we enjoyed spending time with his family, too.

Then a few days ago—in a single, unchangeable moment�� we lost him to a motorcycle accident.

My heart is heavy. It hurts and will for a while. Stunned. Now the word has more meaning for me. Things like this shouldn’t happen. Not to someone young. Not to someone who brought my daughter such happiness.

Yet it has��

Losing Dan has made me think about those days before we’d met. Where we both stood with our feet firmly planted in a political camp and I’d wondered if it defined him. Perhaps he’d wondered the same about me��.

But these things don’t fully define you. Sure, it’s part of who you are, but it isn’t everything. If we stopped and really talked to people with opposing views (not what the media shoves in our faces), our perspective about those who think differently from us could change.

Maybe we’d see that we all love our country. That we’re all just human beings struggling through life. How all we really want is happiness and good health for our friends and loved ones.

Meeting Dan showed me this was true. In fact, we’re a lot alike. We both had an obsessive passion for Nutella and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Dan loved to cook, like me. At restaurants, we’d place our orders and learn we’d selected the same dish. He loved dogs. Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes with me knows I do, too. We both loved ice cream, almost ridiculously so. Most important, we both loved my daughter.

Love changes everything.

I end this by sending a message out Dan, who I’m certain is still with us spirit��

Thank you, Dan��

For loving my beautiful, smart daughter in the way she’s always deserved.

For being part of our family for a while. It wasn’t long enough, but Bill and I truly enjoyed every second we spent with you.

For being there to help us around the house, always jumping in without being asked.

For the gift of letting us spend time with your sister and brother-in-law. They’re lovely people who were so much fun to hang out with.

I hope you are at peace. Part of me believes you are. You made me have faith again, too. I will find acceptance in our loss by believing God has other plans for you.

And thank you for showing me how love really does change everything.

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