Secrets of Forbidden Love: My True Life Story

A young girl never forgets her first love. But what if this love is forbidden? Despite the age gap, Cándida had a crush on Andrew De Vito since she was eight years old. As time grew, so did her feelings for him. She never thought that one day, he would reciprocate her feelings for him, but he did. There was only one problem. He was already married-to the church. Cándida's story, Secrets of Forbidden Love, is a beautiful and romantic tale of a forbidden love. It is also a story of love and forgiveness in several dimensions.

Cándida Rosa DeVito was born in Honduras, and the drama of her life story matches that of her country: a rich and tragic marriage between the indigenous Mayan population and the Spanish. Cándida's beauty, wisdom, grace, and tenacity came from her father, José Méndez Guillén, who was a rancher, philosopher, and poet. She inherited from her mother, María Martínez Chávez, her indigenous features and indomitable spirit.

Her journey from the remote village of Las Limas, in Honduras to Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1960s gave Cándida false hope of a newfound freedom. However, she soon discovered that her cultural and religious fall-out did not exclusively belong to Honduras, and she predictably faced countless challenges and obstacles in her new homeland. Nevertheless, in the midst of tremendous struggles, she was able to be a loving wife and raised four children.

Having to overcome language and cultural barriers, Cándida's family and friends proudly witnessed her transformation from a timid young lady with only an elementary school education to a highly educated and confident woman. She obtained a master's degree in Spanish literature from Boston College and had an accomplished career as a teacher for Boston Public Schools. She received numerous awards for her excellence and dedication and has appeared in several newspapers, including the New York Times.

The writing of her life story is the fulfillment of a personal dream and an inspiration to all. Cándida is happily married and lives in the Boston area with her husband, Paul.