Left to Chance

November 1, 2017

WomensFictionWriters.com blogger Nathan's third effort (The Good Neighbor; The Glass Wives) looks at small-town life through the eyes of someone who makes everything look picture-perfect. Wedding photographer Teddi Lerner returns to her hometown six years after her best friend's funeral to photograph the second wedding of that friend's widower. Not only does she become embroiled in the tween daughter's complicated relationship with her new stepmom-to-be, she also lands in the middle of a love square, in which four eligible men compete for her affection. The pacing is a bit choppy, but there are some lovely metaphors, such as the stones Teddi has collected during her travels over the years, thinking of her friend. After one of her men offers stone-skipping lessons (she puts him to shame by expertly skipping one five times), Teddi is finally able to place the stones she has gathered on her friend's grave, thus alleviating her sorrow and "skipping" on with her life. VERDICT The layered premise, full of grief, memories, and legacy, drives this story, along with the charming suspense of the love square. Interior design and wedding details will please those interested in these subjects.--Erin O. Romanyshyn, Saskatoon P.L., Sask.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
After the death of her best friend, Celia, Teddi didn't think she'd set foot in the tiny town of Chance again. Without Celia, there was nothing left in Ohio for the ambitious and talented Teddi. Or so she thought. Shay, Celia's daughter, kept in touch with Aunt Tee over the years and invited her back to photograph a wedding. Not just any wedding: Celia's widower, Miles, is getting remarried. Teddi knows it's healthy that Miles has moved on, and she agrees to photograph the wedding as a favor to Shay. Expecting everything in the small town to have stayed the same, Teddi's shocked to find out that the town has changed for the better, and more than a few inhabitants have changed, too. Nathan's complex characters jump off the page, stubborn and vulnerable and confused. Nathan's heroine, Teddi, is the brightest spot in the novel, balancing grief, strained relationships, and unexpected friendships. A heartwarming story about returning to a place the heart has never truly left, Nathan's novel will appeal to fans of Jennifer Kitses, Frances O'Roark Dowell, and Mary Simses.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)