The Beauty Within (Sequel to Blossoms in the Snow‪)‬

The Beauty Within, a novel by Paula Freda, a clean and wholesome romance novel. Sequel to the novella Blossoms in the Snow by the same author. Dorothea's sister Allie and brother Anthony, now grown, are about to experience their own miraculous journey into love, along with Gabriella, their best friend and confidante, a humble, shy young woman, starkly aware of her homeliness and in love with Anthony. Resigned to the impossibility of his finding her attractive and desirable, she is content to love him in the silence of her heart, expecting no reciprocation. ... Allie is engaged to Francis, a young astronautics technician whose idea of religion is, in his own words, "A lot of hooey." Sincerely in love with Allie, Francis has promised never to interfere with her faith, nor in rearing their future children in the Lord's faith. But Allie is afraid their upcoming wedding is a mistake that they will both someday regret, so much so, that she is considering cancelling the wedding and giving up the man she loves with all her heart. ... Do you believe in miracles? A clean, sensitive, emotion-filled romance for hearts of all ages. ... Excerpt ... Gabriella eyed her reflection in the wide mirror over her bureau and grimaced. Turning her head from side to side, her silky auburn hair, long and wavy, gracefully swept her narrow shoulders, and hid the edges of her square brow and oval jaw. She wrinkled the bridge of her short nose and sighed. Nature had bequeathed her a pleasant feminine voice, average intelligence that had earned her a college degree in secretarial business and the humanities, and copious, lustrous auburn hair, but erred with the inconsistent shape of her face, along with a sallow complexion, pale green eyes, and a figure bony thin. ... She was used to new attendees at the singles parish dance, handsome young men who noticing her from the rear, her long, wavy auburn tresses promising equally beautiful features, hurried toward her. It was always the same as she turned to face them with a welcoming smile on her thin lips, only to hear them clear their throats, bestow an insipid smile, and explain they thought she was someone else, before hastily retreating. But if all else, she was persistent. Her best friend, Allie, whom she had met at the parish dance, was the secretary and sister-in-law of Theo Scalone, head of a well-established law firm. Theo was in need of an additional Legal Secretary for his new assistant lawyer. Allie recommended Gaby (her nickname for Gabriella). Theo saw potential in Gabriella's application and her courteous, respectful demeanor during her interview, along with her outstanding grades in college that had earned her the Business degree. He offered her a beginning position as a file clerk and typist, with a generous salary and promise of advancement through hands-on experience, along with financial help for accredited college courses towards obtaining a Legal Secretary Certificate to qualify her for said position in his firm. She accepted the offer. ... Excerpt: ... She heard Anthony clear his throat and glanced at him. He had not moved. Perhaps, after all, debating whether to ask her to dance or not. This is the moment, she thought, he will make his excuse to leave my side. An non-demeaning excuse, close to the truth. He’s too kind to do less so that I won’t suspect he wishes to find a more suitable partner. ... “Well, shall we dance?” he asked. ... Stunned, she controlled the gape, and nodded, accepting his outstretched hand. She followed quietly as he led her to the dance floor. ... Compared to her, he was not only tall, but also broad shouldered, and she had to stretch her arm to place her hand near his shoulder as he made to support her by her waist at the small of her back and found that his hand reached fully around her side. “You do have the slenderest waist I’ve ever encountered,” he said. ..