Dorothea Benton Frank and her Lowcountry Tales

It isn't necessary to read Ms. Frank's books in any order but if you do, don't be surprised if you run into a few characters from the previous book. They never have a big part but sometimes they make an appearance and it makes you feel even more connected to the characters.

This book is a little different than Dottie's other books in that the main character is not a native of the low country. The setting is still in South Carolina though as Grace has followed her retired parents to reside there.
Grace is a single woman in her thirties, in love with Michael, a man who is involved in the study of stem cells. This fact alone makes her Irish Catholic parents call him the "baby butcher". For this reason, among others, they are yet to meet him. Being the only daughter in the family and being unmarried in her thirties causes real concern for her family.
Grace is a travel agent and gets to travel with groups all over the world which ties in well with what happens when Michael suddenly gets sick and the faith that both Grace and Michael do or do not have is shaken to the core.
A real study of families and their ability to try to understand each other, this is a story that will stick with you for a long time.