A Piece of Heaven

Barbara Samuel has done it again - written a book that has a wonderful story without being a formula of her previous book. Luna McGraw, a former therapist, a recovering alcoholic, and in the midst of trying to quit smoking is working in the floral department of the local supermarket in Taos, New Mexico. Luna's life is finally becoming balanced again when she meets Thomas Coyote, the man she's had a crush on for years, and when her daughter, Joy, comes to live with her. The story is lyrical and luscious. Samuel brings New Mexico to the reader in a way that makes you want to go there and visit if not to live. I think it's a mistake to classify Samuel's books as "romance." They are more than that. But if you like romance novels (not that there's anything wrong with that), then fine. And if you don't, please try this one. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful artist who takes words and weaves them into a literary treat.

characters + setting + details + humor + humanity = five stars for me. I loved this book and am emailing all my friends. I hope future ones are just as good. As a side note, the covers don't reflect the gritty, humorous, real prose inside. If I was picking it up based on the cover I'd expect a quiet story about love and loss in a happy neighborhood. This, it is not.

"A Piece of Heaven" is one of the most sensuous and poetic books I've ever read. The language is lyrical, full of vivid colors and imagery, tender and fiery at just the right moments. I couldn't put it down! At the center are Luna McGraw, a divorced mother and recovering alcoholic who once lost custody of her teenage daughter, and Thomas Coyote, a big, gentle, mixed-blood Indian man who's trying to get over his own painful divorce. He falls in love with Luna right away and she is irresistibly drawn to him, but afraid of getting hurt and jeopardizing her fragile relationship with her daughter. Thomas's patient, gentle kindness seems too good to be true and Luna has to overcome her own fears and let him love her.The setting is Tao, New Mexico, but it seems dreamy and timeless. This book deserves to be read again and again!

In some senses I like this better than No Place Like Home, because it was not quite so cluttered with so many characters, and the narrative was in the third person. Both were excellent. In this novel we don't quite have the narrator's quirky sense of humour to cope with the terrible times in life, but in a lot of respects it is more upbeat. I love Luna and Thomas; they are a terrific couple, really HOT and Taos New Mexico is really brought to life. Her daughter is a wonderful character too and also the secondary characters Tiny and Maggie. It is not a perfect book, but it is really excellent. I read it in one sitting, just like her first. This one will not make you cry gallons, though. It is much more upbeat. The use of Maggie the teen's diary is I think the only weak part in the book, since I really wanted more of a smoochy scene with Luna and Thomas at the end of the novel. But then I am an avid romance reader. One other minor flaw is the start of the book really lurched a bit and could have benefitted from a much better editor who could pick up the niggling little errors like what time the daughter's flight landed. This book is an excellent cross over thought for women who like good fiction, and anyone looking for a book which affirms the healing power of love and the fact that god really does work in mysterious ways. All I can say is, I can't wait for her next one!

Luna McGraw lost custody of her daughter when her husband took her to court with proof that she was an unfit mother because of her drinking. After four years of out of control alcoholic bingeing, she hit rock bottom and finally entered rehab. Now she is four years sober and her ex-husband has transferred custody of their daughter Joy to her. Luna looks on this as a second chance to be the mother that her daughter needs but she is scared that she will fail her.Thomas Coyote is a two-time loser in the divorce wars. His second wife cheated on him with his brother after they learned Thomas is sterile; now she is pregnant and married to his sibling. The last thing he wants to do is fall in love for the third time but when he meets Luna, the attraction is electrifying. Luna feels the same way but she is fighting it because she fears rejection from her daughter as much as from Thomas.A PIECE OF HEAVEN is a beautiful love story starring two scarred individuals who still have issues from previous relationships they have to resolve before they can think of coming together. The likable characters are realistically drawn, especially Joy who is wise beyond her years. Barbara Samuel has written a relationship drama that will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah and Barbara Delinsky.Harriet Klausner