Haunting memories, deep-throat grass frogs, a love affair, and a tragic secret - these are the makings of Lynne Hinton's newest novel about the small-town Southern lives of Grandma Pinot, Mama Bertie, and twins Liddy and Tessa Ivy. In the spirit of her acclaimed debut novel, Friendship Cake, Lynne Hinton introduces Pleasant Cross, North Carolina, which is nothing like the glossy world portrayed in Southern Life magazine. This town is home to the Shepherd Grill, Lynch's Funeral Home, and Contessa's Bar, and there are general misgivings about the three generations of Ivy women and their special powers.

Admittedly headstrong, loud, and straightforward, each of these women is blessed - and cursed - with a gift of Knowing. Grandma PInot interprets the sky; Mama Bertie helps out at the local funeral home by advising on upcoming passings; Liddy tells who folks will marry by reading their palms; but it's Tessa's discovery of her own special kind of Knowing that frames this extraordinary tale of women, strength, and family history. As a terrible secret is revealed, so too is the true meaning of kinship, faith, and love.

As promised, off to my buddy, busybooklover!
To be mailed 11/11.

Came in the mail a few days ago... I have GOT to take a reading vacation... say off to Bahamas with nothing but books... goshdarn it!... life is so time-consuming! And now you got me all addicted to Buzznet... grrr. ;-) Thanks for this follow up to the other two by this author! we'll miss you at the meetup today! :(