The Book of Joy (Paperback or Softback)

Shannon wants for nothing except the love of a good woman. However, he is so focused on his career and caring for his elderly mother Evelyn, he doesn't realize he's missing anything. Until he meets Joya, the widowed daughter-in-law of a family friend. She is a loving, generous woman who brings a much-needed spark into his life; but because she is younger than him and still dealing with the loss of her husband, he is hesitant to approach her.

Joya, for her part, maintains a good attitude about her situation and is appreciative of the people around her--especially Shannon, whose friendship fills the gaps in her life that would otherwise remain empty. But after burying her husband, she isn't sure she has it in her to fall in love again.

This, of course, will not do for Evelyn, who sees the potential for love (and grandchildren) in them. Nor for Gail, the family friend, who has her own reasons for wanting to match the two. They go to great lengths to bring Shannon and Joya together. But as the four contend with the directions their lives are moving, they soon discover that sometimes life is more about letting yourself be loved than it is about falling into it.

Ruth E. Griffin began telling stories at a young age, first with pictures, then with words. Though she always considered herself an artist first, Ruth has been writing since grade school. She penned her first book as a teenager and has continued writing since then.Ruth is now the award-winning author of several books, which range in subject from non-fiction and memoir to romance and fantasy. Her books are available at all major online bookstores.She has a Substack publication, Ruth Writes, where she has begun serializing her fictional novels. She is the founder of Studio Griffin, LLC, a graphic design firm, which partners with self-published authors to help bring their books to life. Ruth is also a cohost of Authors Up, a podcast that provides a platform for new, established and aspiring authors to share their work.A New Jersey native, Ruth now resides in North Carolina with her husband. They are parents to four adult children.