At forty, my friend Maxine had a great life. A no-strings relationship, a best male friend who provided emotional companionship, and enough financial freedom to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

But something deeper was stirring. She found herself craving mystery, magic, and meaning. She tried to join a Kabbalah class, but the enrollment had closed. Three months later, her friend Manny handed her a flyer—written in Hebrew—about a Kabbalah course happening practically in her backyard. She took it as a sign and said yes. The teachings were intriguing. After a few classes, the center announced a weekend retreat for the Jewish New Year in New Jersey. She didn’t feel particularly religious or mystical at the time, but something nudged her to go. Why not? She figured it’d be an adventure.

The retreat opened with a luncheon, and as she waited in line, a man she didn’t know walked up and said, “You’re going to be overwhelmed by this experience.” Excuse me? Who did he think he was, predicting her emotions? She brushed him off with a sarcastic smile and moved on. And yet… she was overwhelmed. Not in a blissful way, more like a get-me-out-of-here kind of way. She tried to leave, but no flights were available. So, she stayed, half-heartedly attending the services, watching it all from the sidelines. Then, something unexpected happened. Near the end of the weekend, they were invited to make a wish—a wish that, if made with the right consciousness, would come true within the year. Maxine figured, what the hell. She wished “to make someone as happy as she would like to be.”

Hours later, she ran into the same guy from the lunch line. This time, he asked if she wanted to grab a drink. They talked… and talked… and talked. Hours passed like minutes. There was no pretense, no performance—just warmth, ease, and the uncanny feeling that she already knew him. He said things she had never heard a man say. Gentle. Kind. Vulnerable. As they said goodbye, he shared what he was looking for in life: “I just want to make someone as happy as I would like to be.” The exact words she had wished for. Verbatim. Her heart skipped. The universe had just delivered—on cue.

Six months later, after a whirlwind long-distance romance between Florida and Canada, they were married. And now, more than 30 years into this love story, they’re still living that wish. Every single day, they both strive to make each other as happy as they’d like to be. Their secret sauce? A potent blend of commitment, devotion, empathy, and respect—and of course, a willingness to love even on the hardest days.

Stories like Maxine’s remind us that love often arrives when we least expect it…wrapped in mystery, cloaked in synchronicity, and steeped in soul. The Love Thief explores this same terrain: where heartbreak meets healing, and where fate, karma, and unexpected magic rewrite the script. If you’ve ever longed for a love that feels destined, or if you’re still nursing wounds from the one that wasn’t, this novel might just stir something in you. Because sometimes, all it takes is one wish… and one wild leap of faith.

Wishing you love, laughter, and magical kisses,

Arielle

P.S. If you’re craving a wild, heart-healing, soul-awakening reset… don’t forget: when you pre-order The Love Thief, you’ll be entered to win a 10-day tour of India that follows the sacred path in the story. (Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s magical.)