Joe Canner

Bridge to Nowhere Joe Canner

A fateful encounter at an anti-gay-marriage fundraiser brings together two soon-to-be college seniors, Charlotte McLean and Maribeth Richards. Charlotte, the daughter of a prominent evangelical pastor in Maryland, and Maribeth, the daughter of a high ranking Republican in the Maryland Senate, are instantly smitten with each other, but their chance meeting comes to an end before they can ascertain if their feelings are mutual. After a year of casual Internet contact, Maribeth decides to surprise Charlotte by attending her graduation, and the spark is rekindled as both women move to Baltimore to start their new careers. Because of their parents' prominent status in the anti-gay-marriage lobby, Charlotte and Maribeth feel immense pressure to conceal their relationship. The introduction of a gay marriage bill in the Maryland General Assembly only makes matters worse. As the pressure mounts and the lies pile up, Charlotte and Maribeth question both their relationship and their resolve to keep it secret. As their lives unravel and tragedy engulfs them, can fate once again bring healing and redemption? With a sensitive and honest portrayal of lesbian romance as well as poignant insights into the Maryland cultural and political scene, Bridge to Nowhere tackles the all-too-familiar issue of anti-gay prejudice, in this new novel that is both heartwarming and tragic.