Paradise at Your Fingertips

Book excerpt: Jeanette and Maria Vandermeer were born fraternal twins. Even though they have the same birthday, they dont have anything else in common. They are night and day different, inside and outmost notably in that Jeanette is always happy, while Maria never seems to be. Growing up together, they learned many of the same lessons; even so, the way they look at the world is very different. As an adult, Maria is kicked out of the family home for unruly behavior, and Jeanette moves away to marry her boyfriend. Despite their differences, they both find themselves settling for less than theyre worthin life and in love. Cheerful Jeanette finds that her sunny disposition is not enough to keep her marriage together, while Maria wanders in her own self-doubt and despair. But where theres life, theres hope. Jeanette is given a second chance to find true love, while Maria makes the acquaintance of Leon Lanix, who offered her hope for her future. Despite challenges, the sisters do find ways to make life work. Different by birth, they do have something in common: Jeanette and Maria both know that no matter what happens, its how we react that makes us who we really are. Sisters, one happy, one sad, each seeks her own place in paradise; they may be surprised where they find it.