Judith Sanders lives in the war-torn Middle East, sharing a country with an America-hating, women-despising populace. But her work as a diplomat challenges her to not only stand up to long-held hostilities and prejudices but to do so while maintaining strength of character, femininity, and a deep, abiding love for her husband. In the face of war and terrorism, one woman learns not only to endure the unendurable, but to thrive under its weight.

Spanning continents and oceans, Bete Brune (Brown Beast) explores the ways in which different people's lives intersect and shape their ideas, goals, and the way they live together.