After years of struggle and betrayal, Sophia's love is re-awakened by Maria. Maria is kind, intelligent, and passionate, but she's also her husband's sister!
Sophia has finally left her small-town village in Germany and completed nursing school in Berlin. She marries an American, Ricardo, and discovers he's a lying, cheating scoundrel.
Maria is committed to serving the US, as a negotiating military officer stationed in Berlin. When she meets her brother's wife, Sophia, she falls head over hills and jeopardizes her entire career.
While Sophia and Maria plan their escape, Ricardo threatens to reveal their secret and falsely claim that Maria is a spy for the Soviet Union. Will they take their chances or call it off?
Review By Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
This book is told in first person, a story about Sophia’s life from childhood. Sophia grew up in Germany where she faced bullying in school and where she learned that she was a product of rape. She grew up in a small town and her dream was to someday go to Berlin. Her dream came true when she was accepted to a hospital training program. The program was free, but she had to give two years’ service to a hospital after she graduated.
It was while studying she met Ricardo who swept her off her feet. He was the man she gave her virginity to and who she eventually married. Ricardo was a man who was not what she expected, late nights, distance and a drive to make money. When he took a trip to Denver to visit his parents Sophia would meet the love of her life, Ricardo’s sister Maria.
The connection between the two women was instant and their plans for a future together would not happen for many years. Ricardo cheated on Sophia and her marriage became loveless. It was dreams of being with Maria that kept her going until she finally had enough and was ready to leave Ricardo. Not willing to let Sophia go he threatened Maria’s career, letters revealing her as a spy and a lesbian, both of which would bring an end to the career Maria loved.
So, the years went on with Sophia living with Ricardo and never revealing to Maria why she left her. Endless years of unhappiness with no possible way to escape. Her dreams of being with Maria, a woman she never stopped loving are just dreams, unfulfilled dreams.
Ricardo never wanted children but forgetting her pill produced a son. Then came a daughter. Sophia was thrilled, Ricardo just accepted them without showing much attention or love. Then on top of everything she had suffered living with this man he decided they should move to the United States.
With no way out of her marriage or refusing to move put Sophia in another impossible situation. The only thing that made the move bearable was Ricardo’s parents who she loved and who loved her.
This was a beautiful story about two women who loved each other but were held hostage by a man who didn’t care for anyone but himself. Living a life dictated by a husband and years of life with a loveless man. A story about overcoming and finding love and never giving up.
A Woman Like Maria 
