Today’s 40+ woman is just getting started. She’s jumped through all the hoops of early adulthood, has enough experience to know what she wants, and is ready to live life on her terms (instead of everyone else’s).

This is not just my opinion—it’s based on my experience meeting women from all over the world who have come to Barcelona to start over, on their own without a safety net. Barcelona seems to be a magnet for people who are searching for change—for a chance to excavate their true desires and goals that got buried in the rush of life.

This is Sofia’s story; one that was inspired by my own journey, and all those women I’ve met along the way. Women in their fabulous forties and fifties, and even in their sexy sixties and seventies. Courageous women who still growing and learning, and still hoping to find love the second time around.

Calling all foodies!! Spain’s culinary treasures vary with the region. Barcelona is in Catalunya, so while paella is found at many restaurants across the city, the dish originated in the south of Spain, and Valencia is one city that claims to have the best in the country.

In Barcelona, fresh seafood is in abundance—smothered in olive oil and garlic, sizzling on the grill. Paired with a glass of rioja and some pan con tomate… delicioso!

I will be including Spanish food recipes in my newsletters, so hit the button to get in touch and subscribe!

It all began here, in the gothic quarter of Barcelona. This excerpt from the book was inspired by my first visit to city.

“Retracing my steps to the corner, I turned left onto Las Ramblas, then joined the throngs of tourists strolling along the center promenade. All around me, the atmosphere vibrated with the sounds of life in a big city. Horns blared at taxis clogging the road as they stopped to unload passengers, and music joined the chorus of sounds. One guy was blasting rap on a boombox. A guitarist sat strumming Spanish songs. Teenage girls giggled with their friends, and from every direction, I caught dangling pieces of conversation as people passed.

Surrounded by tourists, an uneasy twinge sent a prickle up my spine. I was entirely alone in a strange country for the first time in my life. And yet it was as if this beating pulse had absorbed me into something greater than myself—a community of fellow travelers with a common mission. There was a difference between being alone and lonely. Yes, I was traveling alone, but oddly, I felt far less lonely than in the familiar surroundings of my home.

High above me, a canopy of lacy leaves glowed against the angled light as I continued strolling, passing by outdoor terraces, souvenir shops, and gelato stands. Something in me was shifting, almost imperceptibly at first. My mood brightened with each step. My shoulders relaxed and the muscles in my back lengthened. A little voice squealed in my head, I am in Barcelona! Halfway down the promenade, my face broke into a giddy grin for no particular reason at all.”