Secrets of Forbidden Love: My True Life Story

Secrets of Forbidden Love: My True Life Story chronicles the improbable love story of Cándida and Father Andrew and their struggle to be true to themselves in the face of immense cultural and religious scandal. It is a moving story that documents the daily choice that each of us must make: Either to live a life that honors the truth of who we are or to live other people's lives and expectations. This story is about the former and the intense joy and suffering that accompanies this choice.

This book is also about the emotional and spiritual maturation of Cándida as she survives child abuse, discrimination, and sexism. Cándida discovers that she is more than a peasant girl from the remote village of Las Limas, Honduras. She discovers an inner strength that forces her not only to survive but even to thrive in the most horrifi c circumstances.

Most importantly, this book is about the power of love and forgiveness. Cándida does not allow her pain and sorrow to harden her heart but she allows it to transform her. Rather than developing a heart of stone, she embraces a heart of great compassion.

In the tradition of famous Spanish authors, such as Gabriel García Márquez, Secrets of Forbidden Love explores the nature of true love. However, unlike Márquez, love is not found "in the time of Cholera" but in the dreams of a poor peasant girl who found out that she was much more than she ever imagined.

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.