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A Woman Like Maria
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?
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?
158 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2024
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 30, 2024
A Dream Come True
German-born, Sophia navigates her way through life looking for love and finding it only to be let down time and time again. When she was in her second year of nursing in oncology, a group of construction workers remodeled one of the wings. One of the men with them, Ricardo, asks her out. Ricardo is American, and seven years her senior. He is a manager in an auto repair shop who works part-time in construction. She thinks she’s finally got her happy ever after until she finds out he is already married. She asks him to get a divorce and he does but it doesn’t stop him from having affairs. By chance, she meets Ricardo’s sister, Maria, and there is an instant attraction. Ricardo blackmails Sophia into leaving him and she stays put because she doesn’t want Maria to get hurt. Twelve years on, in a loveless marriage with two children to boot – Bernard and Charlemagne, things don’t seem to be getting any better for Sophia. Ricardo is the father you have when you’re not having a father. Ricardo is tired of living in Germany and wants to move to America for a better life but their marriage is still on shaky ground with Sophie doing everything. Sophia has close family ties in Germany and her family are sad to see her leave. Ricardo’s mother, Carlita can see through the façade of Sophia and Ricardo’s marriage and tells Sophia, but Sophia doesn’t know what to do. She returns to Germany with their children for her Omi’s funeral. When she returns to America, she gets her nursing credentials and works in maternity. Ricardo cheats on her many times and they finally get a divorce. He decides to move to California with his latest dalliance, Francie. Carlita tells Sophia that Maria got a divorce from her Italian girlfriend and is coming home in two weeks. Sophia lives with a nursing assistant, Paula who is eight years younger than her. When Maria and Sophia finally meet again there is an instant attraction - ‘Someone had popped the champagne cork in my head and the bubbles were intoxicating.’ Sophia realizes she’s bi and finally has someone who loves her for who she is and not what they want her to be.
German-born, Sophia navigates her way through life looking for love and finding it only to be let down time and time again. When she was in her second year of nursing in oncology, a group of construction workers remodeled one of the wings. One of the men with them, Ricardo, asks her out. Ricardo is American, and seven years her senior. He is a manager in an auto repair shop who works part-time in construction. She thinks she’s finally got her happy ever after until she finds out he is already married. She asks him to get a divorce and he does but it doesn’t stop him from having affairs. By chance, she meets Ricardo’s sister, Maria, and there is an instant attraction. Ricardo blackmails Sophia into leaving him and she stays put because she doesn’t want Maria to get hurt. Twelve years on, in a loveless marriage with two children to boot – Bernard and Charlemagne, things don’t seem to be getting any better for Sophia. Ricardo is the father you have when you’re not having a father. Ricardo is tired of living in Germany and wants to move to America for a better life but their marriage is still on shaky ground with Sophie doing everything. Sophia has close family ties in Germany and her family are sad to see her leave. Ricardo’s mother, Carlita can see through the façade of Sophia and Ricardo’s marriage and tells Sophia, but Sophia doesn’t know what to do. She returns to Germany with their children for her Omi’s funeral. When she returns to America, she gets her nursing credentials and works in maternity. Ricardo cheats on her many times and they finally get a divorce. He decides to move to California with his latest dalliance, Francie. Carlita tells Sophia that Maria got a divorce from her Italian girlfriend and is coming home in two weeks. Sophia lives with a nursing assistant, Paula who is eight years younger than her. When Maria and Sophia finally meet again there is an instant attraction - ‘Someone had popped the champagne cork in my head and the bubbles were intoxicating.’ Sophia realizes she’s bi and finally has someone who loves her for who she is and not what they want her to be.
September 5, 2024
Spoilers: Gabriel Costans’ A Woman Like Maria is a sweet Romance about a woman discovering her own sexuality and finding love with another woman.
Sophia is a German woman who lives with a very dysfunctional family. Her parents have a fractured argumentative marriage. Sophia spends much of her time exploring her body and experimenting with relationships. She goes through a few bad relationships before she meets Ricardo, her future husband. Feeling alone and trying to deal with the pressure of life with an abusive husband, Sophia develops a bond with Ricardo's sister, Maria. The bond becomes a friendship and then develops into a romance.
Sophia is a protagonist who hasn't exactly had the easiest start in life so she obtained an inner strength and determination to survive it. Her parents had a tempestuous relationship which began out of necessity rather than love because her mother was raped by another man. She needed a quick shotgun marriage to save face.
The couple took their disappointments and failures out on their four children.
Sophia often had to help her mother raise her younger siblings.In her small village of Blumenjagen, women are expected to marry and have lots of children. Sophia sees the drudgery, volatility, and resentment in the couples around her and certainly wants no part of it.
As Sophia grows, she has some difficult troubled relationships. Her first romance ended because her love interest enjoyed too much attention from other girls. Another ended because of differing ideas about their future. He wanted marriage and she wanted to begin a nursing career. Sophia’s early relationships show her as the type of woman who won't compromise who she is for anyone.
Sophia's romance with Ricardo begins innocuously enough with flirtation, compliments, and small gifts. It hits a snag when Sophia learns that Ricardo is already married and has a son. Sophia is drawn to him but also feels longings for women that she isn't certain about.
Rather than address those longings, she marries Ricardo after he divorced his first wife. Sophia is strong and independent but when faced with her sexuality she is uncertain how to pursue it or whether she will be accepted. Instead of confronting her feelings for women, she transfers those feelings to Ricardo. She got married because she felt that it was safer to settle and marry a man than embark on a potential affair with a woman.
Sophia pays a heavy price for settling. Her marriage to Ricardo crumbles into abuse and infidelity. Ricardo has multiple affairs, frequent patches of unemployment, and an explosive temper. Their marriage only gets worse when she accompanies him to the United States to be closer to his family. The geographical distance only creates more tension as Sophia has to endure physical and psychological isolation from Ricardo's mistreatment of her.
Sophia faces the abuse with a stoicism and almost coldness until she meets Maria. The only bright spot in Sophia's life is her relationship with Maria. The more free spirited woman is very open and honest about her relationships with women. She opens Sophia's heart and reminds her of the stirrings that she thought had disappeared. Their passion is undeniable.
More important than the passion is the emotion. Maria is not the same type of person as her brother. She treats Sophia like an equal as compared to Ricardo who treats her like a maid that he doesn't have to pay. Maria is selfless enough to back off out of Sophia's life when she senses things are getting too complicated for her but still retains their companionship through letters.
After Sophia gives birth to two children, Maria gives her shelter and becomes a second mother to them. Maria encourages Sophia's passions for her career, family, and love. Their relationship allows Sophia the chance to be authentic and embrace the chance for love and fulfillment.
A Woman Like Maria is the type of Romance that explores the relationship between two people but it also explores the inner discovery of one's true self.
Sophia is a German woman who lives with a very dysfunctional family. Her parents have a fractured argumentative marriage. Sophia spends much of her time exploring her body and experimenting with relationships. She goes through a few bad relationships before she meets Ricardo, her future husband. Feeling alone and trying to deal with the pressure of life with an abusive husband, Sophia develops a bond with Ricardo's sister, Maria. The bond becomes a friendship and then develops into a romance.
Sophia is a protagonist who hasn't exactly had the easiest start in life so she obtained an inner strength and determination to survive it. Her parents had a tempestuous relationship which began out of necessity rather than love because her mother was raped by another man. She needed a quick shotgun marriage to save face.
The couple took their disappointments and failures out on their four children.
Sophia often had to help her mother raise her younger siblings.In her small village of Blumenjagen, women are expected to marry and have lots of children. Sophia sees the drudgery, volatility, and resentment in the couples around her and certainly wants no part of it.
As Sophia grows, she has some difficult troubled relationships. Her first romance ended because her love interest enjoyed too much attention from other girls. Another ended because of differing ideas about their future. He wanted marriage and she wanted to begin a nursing career. Sophia’s early relationships show her as the type of woman who won't compromise who she is for anyone.
Sophia's romance with Ricardo begins innocuously enough with flirtation, compliments, and small gifts. It hits a snag when Sophia learns that Ricardo is already married and has a son. Sophia is drawn to him but also feels longings for women that she isn't certain about.
Rather than address those longings, she marries Ricardo after he divorced his first wife. Sophia is strong and independent but when faced with her sexuality she is uncertain how to pursue it or whether she will be accepted. Instead of confronting her feelings for women, she transfers those feelings to Ricardo. She got married because she felt that it was safer to settle and marry a man than embark on a potential affair with a woman.
Sophia pays a heavy price for settling. Her marriage to Ricardo crumbles into abuse and infidelity. Ricardo has multiple affairs, frequent patches of unemployment, and an explosive temper. Their marriage only gets worse when she accompanies him to the United States to be closer to his family. The geographical distance only creates more tension as Sophia has to endure physical and psychological isolation from Ricardo's mistreatment of her.
Sophia faces the abuse with a stoicism and almost coldness until she meets Maria. The only bright spot in Sophia's life is her relationship with Maria. The more free spirited woman is very open and honest about her relationships with women. She opens Sophia's heart and reminds her of the stirrings that she thought had disappeared. Their passion is undeniable.
More important than the passion is the emotion. Maria is not the same type of person as her brother. She treats Sophia like an equal as compared to Ricardo who treats her like a maid that he doesn't have to pay. Maria is selfless enough to back off out of Sophia's life when she senses things are getting too complicated for her but still retains their companionship through letters.
After Sophia gives birth to two children, Maria gives her shelter and becomes a second mother to them. Maria encourages Sophia's passions for her career, family, and love. Their relationship allows Sophia the chance to be authentic and embrace the chance for love and fulfillment.
A Woman Like Maria is the type of Romance that explores the relationship between two people but it also explores the inner discovery of one's true self.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2024
This latest novella by Gabriel Constans is a multi-layered story of love. It’s also about a woman torn between what is expected of her and what she really wants. Sophia thinks she should marry a man and have a family like her parents before her, but she has always felt like that's not what’s really in her heart.
Then she meets Maria and knows.
But following her heart will take such a leap of faith and courage.
The narrative in this novel is captivating and meeting Sophia as a child makes her an endearing character, showcasing how strong and resilient she is when she stands up for her siblings against bullies.
Those characteristics get lost when she meets Ricardo and decides to marry him, a decision that seems to go against the core of who she is as a person. When she changes so inexplicably, Sophia lost a little bit of the charm that had made me like her so much at the start of the book.
Ricardo was such a despicable character, I had to wonder why on earth Sophia lost her ability to say “no.” If she had been introduced as a person with very little inner strength that would make her relationship with Ricardo more believable to me.
Even so, I was still intrigued enough, and enjoyed some of the more poetic parts of the narrative enough, to continue reading. A Woman Named Maria is a realistic and honest portrayal of the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian people in gaining acceptance of their relationships.
The depth of love and commitment Sophia and Maria have for each other comes across so well and reminds readers that the relationships between same-sex couples is as valid and valuable as those between men and women. I applaud the author for giving readers that truth in this lovely story of hope and perseverance.
Then she meets Maria and knows.
But following her heart will take such a leap of faith and courage.
The narrative in this novel is captivating and meeting Sophia as a child makes her an endearing character, showcasing how strong and resilient she is when she stands up for her siblings against bullies.
Those characteristics get lost when she meets Ricardo and decides to marry him, a decision that seems to go against the core of who she is as a person. When she changes so inexplicably, Sophia lost a little bit of the charm that had made me like her so much at the start of the book.
Ricardo was such a despicable character, I had to wonder why on earth Sophia lost her ability to say “no.” If she had been introduced as a person with very little inner strength that would make her relationship with Ricardo more believable to me.
Even so, I was still intrigued enough, and enjoyed some of the more poetic parts of the narrative enough, to continue reading. A Woman Named Maria is a realistic and honest portrayal of the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian people in gaining acceptance of their relationships.
The depth of love and commitment Sophia and Maria have for each other comes across so well and reminds readers that the relationships between same-sex couples is as valid and valuable as those between men and women. I applaud the author for giving readers that truth in this lovely story of hope and perseverance.
July 31, 2024
Sophia's life takes a twisty path from a poor family in a small German village to a nursing career in Berlin to a loveless marriage with a manipulative husband in America, but fate brings her hope and love in the gorgeous if unlikely form of her sister-in-law.
A Woman Like Maria is a sweeping, intensely dramatic novella about a woman's journey from youth to adulthood with the many heartaches and joys she finds along the way. Sophia is, in many ways, a relatable Everywoman character with her fragile heart and flaws. As with many people, age and experience color her outlook with cynicism, yet her deep family love, compassion for her patients, and emotional and physical awakening to Maria foster a resilience of spirit that makes Sophia a true heroine. Colorful settings and unique side characters all serve to enhance the main narrative, making this novella an intriguing and realistic story.
If you enjoy personal dramas filled with realism, hope, and a healthy dose of sapphic love, you will be delighted with A Woman Like Maria.
A Woman Like Maria is a sweeping, intensely dramatic novella about a woman's journey from youth to adulthood with the many heartaches and joys she finds along the way. Sophia is, in many ways, a relatable Everywoman character with her fragile heart and flaws. As with many people, age and experience color her outlook with cynicism, yet her deep family love, compassion for her patients, and emotional and physical awakening to Maria foster a resilience of spirit that makes Sophia a true heroine. Colorful settings and unique side characters all serve to enhance the main narrative, making this novella an intriguing and realistic story.
If you enjoy personal dramas filled with realism, hope, and a healthy dose of sapphic love, you will be delighted with A Woman Like Maria.
August 7, 2024
4 Stars
A Woman Like Maria by Gabriel Constans tugged on my heart-strings, hard! It is a passionate sapphic romance that is a bit of a journey of discovery, a journey of awakening. It reads a little like a personal journal, or biography, spanning the years of Sophia’s life.
I really felt for Sophia, she had been unlucky in love, and then meets Ricardo thinking she had broken her unlucky streak- only to find him to be the worst of all. Urgh, I hated Ricardo- I so wanted to jump into the story and shake him.
Maria and Sopia were perfect for each other, and their story proves that love always finds a way.
This is a shorter story, so it makes for a quick read but that doesn’t mean it is lacking on depth and emotion- because this packs an emotional wallop that will keep you invested the whole way through…,
Looking forward to more from Gabriel Constans.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Gabriel Constans!
A Woman Like Maria by Gabriel Constans tugged on my heart-strings, hard! It is a passionate sapphic romance that is a bit of a journey of discovery, a journey of awakening. It reads a little like a personal journal, or biography, spanning the years of Sophia’s life.
I really felt for Sophia, she had been unlucky in love, and then meets Ricardo thinking she had broken her unlucky streak- only to find him to be the worst of all. Urgh, I hated Ricardo- I so wanted to jump into the story and shake him.
Maria and Sopia were perfect for each other, and their story proves that love always finds a way.
This is a shorter story, so it makes for a quick read but that doesn’t mean it is lacking on depth and emotion- because this packs an emotional wallop that will keep you invested the whole way through…,
Looking forward to more from Gabriel Constans.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Gabriel Constans!
August 22, 2024
A lovely story, well-written, featuring the life of Sophia. When Sophia marries Ricardo, she doesn't expect to fall in love with his sister, Maria. But while Sophia does what she can with her life - nursing school, two children, and a loveless marriage for the sake of her kids - Maria does the same. She works abroad, and eventually marries an Italian woman, but seems neither MC can truly get the other out of their head, no matter the years and distance between them. A realistic lesbian love story with a HEA!
(I have just started watching a film, based on a book by this same author, The Last Conception) ♥️
(I have just started watching a film, based on a book by this same author, The Last Conception) ♥️
July 30, 2024
A powerfully emotional love story that brought tears to my eyes at more than one occasion. It follows Sophia's life from a child in a conservative rural town in Germany, through training to be a nurse in Berlin and moving to America.
I won't ruin your enjoyment with spoilers, but this story is a romance and love must have mountains to conquer.
Enjoy this wonderful life story written as a biography-slash-romance.
I won't ruin your enjoyment with spoilers, but this story is a romance and love must have mountains to conquer.
Enjoy this wonderful life story written as a biography-slash-romance.
July 30, 2024
A passionate and enjoyable read. I fully recommend reading "A Woman Like Maria."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews