"A lyrical, romantic novel of self-acceptance"

Five years after being diagnosed with MS, Anna Bolles meets the man of her dreams at a photography exhibit; unfortunately due to a relapse, Anna is wheelchair bound and discourages his advances.

That summer Anna is constantly reminded of Joe Malone, the amateur photographer and executive of his family-run airline, and is unable to forget their immediate attraction. Luckily several months later Anna, a high school English teacher, is in remission when she again meets Joe while on a field trip with her students and despite her reservations, they begin a relationship. Anna is always afraid that Joe will be unable to accept the many changes her disease causes and after a visit to his wealthy family, rejects Joe's marriage proposal. It takes intervention from her baker mother, Norma, and Joe's father, Gus, who invents cross-country skies for her before Anna realizes that she can't accept Joe until she accepts her illness.

Mandel writes a lyrical, romantic novel of self-acceptance with memorable characters, particularly Anna who is forced to exhibit courage despite herself. This portrayal of the effects of MS on not only the victim but friends and family will inform and inspire readers.

Reviewed by Doris Losey
Posted May 30, 2002

Summary

At once heart-wrenching and funny, poignant and provocative, here is a rare novel about finding the courage to take a remarkable leap of faith. Smart, funny Anna Bolles, a born athlete and a dynamic teacher, figures God decided to have the last laugh when her life was tragically and irrevocably changed five years ago. Since then she has kept herself firmly grounded in the present with the door marked "future" shut. Anna's days are filled with the vibrancy of summer in New York City where she takes joy in the details, the sensual assault of an air-conditioned museum and a perfectly baked muffin. She relishes her role as an observer to the dramas played out around her--from the adolescent courtships of her private school students to the turbulent love affairs of friends and colleagues. Yet Anna never dares to open her heart, except to the father who has drifted from her and the mother who sustains her, until the one thing she didn't think could happen becomes a twist of fate that may just set her free. Until Joe Malone. Joe Malone, pilot, businessman, amateur photographer, is a man who has everything except happiness. Though he's notorious for his short attention span, he sees in Anna a world of possibilities. Maybe Joe, a man who has only been skimming the surface of life, has finally found a perfect place to land. He thinks he wants a life with Anna no matter what and seems willing to risk everything to be with her. But can he trust himself enough to give their deepest dreams the chance to flourish? Through laughter and tears, from the depths of heartbreak to the pinnacle of joy, Sally Mandell never fails to remind readers of the things that matter most in life. Now she has written her most dazzling novel yet--a very special story about two unique people whose love comes from seemingly out of the blue.