A Bridge Between
COMING SOON
Still reeling from her husband’s sudden death, Carolyn thought she understood the shape of her life. What she never understood was her mother’s silence.
For as long as she can remember, France was a closed door—mentioned only in passing, never explained. Now, with the trip she and her husband had planned already booked and the questions about her mother’s childhood louder than ever, Carolyn makes a quiet decision: she will go.
Her daughter Meghan insists on coming with her. It’s a chance for a few weeks away from her own strained marriage and mounting work pressures and she hopes it will help her breathe again. Together they travel to a small town south of Paris listed on a decades-old birth certificate—expecting little but hoping for answers.
What they find instead is family.
Not everyone welcomes the reunion. Old grievances surface. Long-held misunderstandings flicker back to life. And as Carolyn gently presses for the truth about her mother’s early years, it becomes clear that silence protected more than one heart.
While navigating cautious conversations and complicated loyalties, mother and daughter must also face their own unspoken fears—about loss, about marriage, about the lives they thought they were living.
Set against the slow rhythms of village mornings, shared meals, and tentative conversations across generations, this is a deeply comforting novel about what happens when the past is finally spoken aloud—and how love, when met with honesty, can grow stronger than resentment.
Because sometimes peace isn’t found by staying home.
For as long as she can remember, France was a closed door—mentioned only in passing, never explained. Now, with the trip she and her husband had planned already booked and the questions about her mother’s childhood louder than ever, Carolyn makes a quiet decision: she will go.
Her daughter Meghan insists on coming with her. It’s a chance for a few weeks away from her own strained marriage and mounting work pressures and she hopes it will help her breathe again. Together they travel to a small town south of Paris listed on a decades-old birth certificate—expecting little but hoping for answers.
What they find instead is family.
Not everyone welcomes the reunion. Old grievances surface. Long-held misunderstandings flicker back to life. And as Carolyn gently presses for the truth about her mother’s early years, it becomes clear that silence protected more than one heart.
While navigating cautious conversations and complicated loyalties, mother and daughter must also face their own unspoken fears—about loss, about marriage, about the lives they thought they were living.
Set against the slow rhythms of village mornings, shared meals, and tentative conversations across generations, this is a deeply comforting novel about what happens when the past is finally spoken aloud—and how love, when met with honesty, can grow stronger than resentment.
Because sometimes peace isn’t found by staying home.
Where to Buy
"Marty Almquist weaves words like chefs pair flavors. Almquist's descriptions will make readers feel like they are experiencing the sights and sounds of Paris as their tastebuds explode with delight from the many flavorful experiences."
"A compelling novel about the power of female friendship, embracing the challenge of change, and finding new and renewing old friendships... the characters have realistic struggles and issues and inspire the reader to start living the life they want to live."
"Personal discovery pairs well with French gastronomy in Almquist's novel about the power of friendship and the thrill of second chances."
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I love engaging with fellow readers and fans! If you'd like, I would be honored to meet groups virtually, in Paris, or in the Washington, D.C. area.
Please contact me below or on social media to arrange details.
I love engaging with fellow readers and fans! If you'd like, I would be honored to meet groups virtually, in Paris, or in the Washington, D.C. area.
Please contact me below or on social media to arrange details.
