Only Perception

by Anne Marie Citro

Is our perception predetermined by nurture or nature? Can someone alter our perspective or is it so deeply ingrained into our makeup that we can’t see the trees for the forest?Hanna O’Shea is happily living the life she worked hard to create by following her dreams. She is the fourth child of proud Irish parents who own a successful family run Irish pub in Vancouver. She strikes out on her own, to become the first vegan/vegetarian chef at one of the top ten exclusive restaurants in the city. The imaginative determined young woman not only captured a covenant job created because of her talent but she also calls the swarthy handsome owner her boyfriend. Hanna’s perception of her life couldn’t be any more perfect. Aidan Flanagan’s perception of Hanna’s life couldn’t be any more different. He would never argue that she wasn’t a beautiful gifted chef but that is the only thing he would agree with. Her metrosexual boyfriend was pompous weasel who was using her. To Aidan Hanna is as naïve as she is driven. He should know because he has been in love with her for years. Aidan never pursued Hanna because he was struggling with his own image, he had been nurtured to believe.Hanna and Aidan’s fathers were a group four close friends. Three emigrated from the turmoil in Ireland during The Troubles to different countries but still kept in close contact creating a surrogate family abroad. After Venezuela fell, Aidan’s youngest brother was murdered. His father asked his friends to sponsor his surviving sons saving them from the same fate. Now Hanna and Aidan have to decide if it is their nature or nurture that will directly or indirectly shape who they will become?

379 pages, Paperback

Published February 11, 2021

About the author

Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have a beautiful granddaughter after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favourite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She works with special-needs teenagers, that have taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes. Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her lifelong dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier then riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.