All booked up

A widow for more than a year, Riva has moved past her grief, but she cannot bear to part with her Victorian house full of books. However, she might not be able to afford to keep the home. A chance encounter at a grief support group brings free-spirit Windy into her life, and when her best friend Laurel also expresses willingness to pay rent for a bedroom in her dated dwelling, Riva becomes the landlord to a motley crew of women of a certain age. When clashing personalities break the fragile peace, the boarders almost come to blows over the attentions of Windy's widowed brother Marcus. Riva must seek the Lord's guidance on how to bring everyone together--and required reading from her extensive library may just be the ticket. VERDICT Filling a gap in the market both for novels focusing on friendship and for those featuring mature characters, Carlson (Welcome to the Honey B&B) pens a delightful tale of aging gracefully despite past struggles. In addition to her latest, Carlson's fans might also want to check out Rebekah Millet and Sara Brunsvold's books.