Newly widowed thirty-six year old Sophie Staton is trying to cope gracefully. That is not really working for her though as the self-medicating ice cream binges and showing up at work in a bathrobe and bunny slippers plainly show. In addition she is trying to handle a mother-in-law who does not seem to be reacting to the tragedy like it is, well, a tragedy for her. After it becomes apparent to Sophie that she is going to have to make some changes, and her mother-in-laws push for her to get rid of her husbands things Sophie makes a big move to a new location, with her husbands clothes. This new start becomes frought with new problems for Sophie as she becomes involved with a thirteen year old troubled girl with a few problems and a fascination with fire. There is also the handsome young actor who is drawing out feelings Sophie is not sure she can handle at that point in time.
Listening to this book read was both funny, sad, and poignant at times. The ending was good in that Sophie was coping in her new life slowly. There was no everything is now hunky dory perfect ending. You were left with just a feeling of Sophie, and those around her, getting better now and a getting better day by day feeling. 
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Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')
