Past and present collide in Theodor’s Choice, a compelling multigenerational love story that sweeps from Canada in the present-day to Germany, Russia and Poland during the Second World War.
Sylvia Baintz discovers a diary written by her late mother. Not only does the diary give her a glimpse into her grandmother’s and mother’s troubled lives, but it also leads her to a secret that has remained hidden for many years. On a whim, she travels from Vancouver to Oxford Mills, a hamlet in eastern Ontario, where she hopes to find an answer to the mystery. In Oxford Mills, her search for the truth takes an unexpected turn and, suddenly, she finds herself on an emotional journey that leads to self-discovery, healing, and a new life.
Theodor’s Choice explores the question of identity, abandonment, atonement, and the impact of fate on the lives of three women.
“This novella has the breadth, heft, and reach of a 300-page novel… A breeze of a read, nicely commingling knotty lives and written with gusto.”
― Elizabeth McLean, author of The Swallows Uncaged
“A fascinating tale… profoundly human. It describes the often forgotten after-effects of WWII on the German side with all its poignancy, reality, and endless physical and mental misery.
― Klothild de Baar, author of Sentinel of the Damned
Mila Peterson is a lonely teenager, emotionally starved and ignored by her affluent, eccentric parents. On her thirteenth birthday, she meets Ryan Dillard, the fourteen-year-old nephew of her piano teacher. Also an only child of an equally wealthy family, Ryan like Mila leads a solitary life. They have an instant connection. It’s the beginning of a fast and loyal friendship that blossoms into tender love. After a four-year separation, Mila and Ryan make a promise to each other meant to last a lifetime. But Fate interferes with plans of her own and reroutes Mila and Ryan’s destinies down a path of unimaginable pain.
twist of fate is a powerful love story about survival, resilience against uncontrollable forces and challenging elements, the need for hope and renewal, and the acceptance of events that cannot be changed. Above all, it’s a story about finding the strength and courage to live and love again.
Praise for Ingrid McCarthy’s novella Theodor’s Choice:
"This novella has the breadth, heft, and reach of a 300-page novel... A breeze of a read, nicely commingling knotty lives and written with gusto." ―Elizabeth McLean, author of The Swallows Uncaged
"A fascinating tale... profoundly human. It describes the often forgotten after-effects of WWII on the German side with all its poignancy, reality, and endless physical and mental misery." ―Klothild de Baar, author of Sentinel of the Damned
"Lucid, easy-flowing writing... excellent job researching the diaries and the German-Soviet backdrop in the diaries." ―MaherMansour, author of From Stardust to Auburn Hair
