Happiness 9-14

Truly a Gem (A Perfect Gem) A mysterious death... a return to a home that she had left long ago... an exciting new opportunity that could launch a European rock star on an American tour... or is it? Crista is recovering from her husband's death when it is discovered that he was already married, and his other wife is claiming everything he owned. Christa is forced by the publicity to leave her high-profile job and return with her two children to her hometown. Unexpectedly, they are first met by her long-lost love, Gareth, who has become a part of the village, of her father's business, and is now becoming more a part of her life than ever before. Christa is earthy, a caring mother who is both sensible and sensitive... yet she is also a go-getter in her career. She is torn between the simple life that she is re-learning -- especially the moments shared with Gareth -- and maintaining her high-profile career, with a great offer to go to Italy. Can she make the right choices for herself and her children? Or is she being lured into a complex alliance with her dead husband's other wife? Will Gareth wait for Christa to pursue her dreams? In A Perfect Gem, every facet sparkles, from Christa's colorful friend Joon, who knows all the qualities of crystals, to Gareth's good friend Kate, the jewelry maker in the village. Her children Ben and Erin are believable and good companions during the journey of this book. And the secret that unravels will surprise even the most experienced reader. Eliot spins a story with beauty, courage, a sprinkle of pizzaz, and a lot of heart. 5 stars!!
— Amazon Reviewer