For those familiar with her earlier work, The Three Marias confirms the style that Breves declared "lively" and the beginnings it labeled "captivating" are not confined to the author's short stories. Set in Cincinnati, this is the compelling story of three sisters, growing up in the back-drop of the family's Italian restaurant. Collectively, they cope with a collage of emotions, unconventional experiences, and more than a few husbands. Maria Angelia, the oldest Maria, is so tormented by the facade of capability and dependability that she seeks solace in a forbidden liaison. Maria Nicholiva, the middle Maria, strives to stifle her vivaciousness and creativity in a medley of maverick decisions that conclude in an accusation of murder. Maria Josephine, the youngest Maria, is so haunted by the family secret that isolation is her friend. Will the sisters' relationships and the restaurant survive their struggle with their choices and reality? A collection of the author's short stories was published in France as Eclat de Femmes and in the United States as Shouts of Women. The author was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now lives in Austin, Texas, where she works as an attorney and teaches law. | The Three Marias by Jennifer Rains, Paperback | Indigo Chapters