At nineteen, hoping to free herself from cultural constraints and her father’s turbulent temper, she accepted a traditional marriage proposal from an older, affluent, and seemingly Western-minded jeweler. Newly married and in a state of naïve love, she happily uprooted her life in Amman and moved with him to California.

But San Diego’s “Little Middle East” was not her American dream. She soon realized that her husband was more traditional and controlling than she had imagined. Changing her circumstances would be dangerous and require courage Dima had never known before. Nevertheless, she was determined to transform her destiny, even if it meant standing alone and facing life-threatening consequences.

Her suspenseful memoir captures the terrors and joys of escaping confinements, crossing continents, and daring to discover and create a bold identity.