Imagine finally meeting the love of your life at age 39, marrying after a whirlwind romance, and finding yourself a widow just 4 months later. Alternatively, imagine devoting 11 years to loving a man, including nursing him through cancer and editing his very popular blog about his illness, then being asked to move out of your house on the day you expect a marriage proposal.
Ainsley has discovered an engagement ring in Eric's closet and believes that he will take the opportunity to "pop the question" at their big party to celebrate beating testicular cancer (which, the truth be told, was not a particularly incredible feat on Eric's part since it was discovered early). Just as Eric calls for everyone's attention and is reaching into his pocket, Nathan, the husband of Ainsley's half-sister, Kate, trips and falls, fatally hitting his head on the edge of a countertop. Kate is now a grieving widow and Ainsley still not engaged.
I would call this novel satisfying. It evokes emotions that are familiar to every woman - the possibility of losing someone unexpectedly, the realization that the future you planned is never going to happen, and the existence of possibilities for happiness that can change your life after a tragedy. A deeper understanding of familial bonds, learning from the past, and recognizing that relationships are never static are the main themes of Higgins's excellent novel. I will definitely read more of her women's fiction.
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