** spoiler alert ** A sequel to Trigiani's first book chronicling the life and times of Ave Maria Mulligan (now married to her beloved Jack Mac),her daughter Etta, and the rest of the memorable Big Stone Gap community, this book is full of the same heart and quirkiness as the first book. However, halfway through the book takes a darker turn as Ave and Jack struggle with marital problems eventually leading Ave back to Italy so that she can be close to her mother's family as she tries to keep it together.

It is not easy to continue working on a masterpiece, and as a fan of the first book,I am a biased audience. This time around, Ave is older,married, and a mother which makes her seem more tired,busy, and frustrated like a normal mother/ wife. Although I did enjoy the sequel, there are times when Ave seems more like a spoiled teenage girl than a middle aged woman. The character redeems herself though and makes the book a worthwhile read.