Farewell to Cedar Key

November 15, 2014

In DuLong's final "Cedar Key" novel (after 2013's Secrets on Cedar Key), Josie Sullivan, 35, is living a simple life on the island of Cedar Key, FL, with her teenage daughter Orli when her past and present begin to collide. After losing her job as a nurse at the city hospital, Josie, an avid knitter, helps out a friend by picking up shifts at the local yarn shop. There she starts a men's knitting group and bonds with her girlfriends over crafting sessions. Simon Mancini moves to the area as the local doctor and following a recommendation from the city hospital offers Josie a nursing job. What starts out as friendship becomes more romantic, however one-sided, as Orli's father, Grant, who has always played an active role in both Orli's and Josie's lives, becomes more involved. Orli wants to attend college in Boston, where Grant resides. Mother and daughter make a holiday trip to Boston where sparks reignite between Josie and Grant. While on the trip, Josie's mother receives crippling news, causing the close-knit community to rally around the family. VERDICT A heartwarming yet predictable story, DuLong's latest does a great job examining the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships, female friendships, and the decisions that go into the choices that we make as women, mothers, and wives. Great for fans of Kate Jacobs's "Friday Night Knitting Club" series.--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

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