Selling the lite of heaven Book

I loved this book. One of the reasons I joined Goodreads is because I've read so much and remember so little. I figured that at least I'd now be able to remember if I read something or not before I get down to reading just one book over and over in some senile literary oblivion.

BUT after all these years, I remember this book. It has charm, small town innocence and a way of exploring disappointment that struck me, and stuck with me.

I wouldn't call it literary fiction, and I certainly wouldn't call it chick lit, but rare is the book that can get away with a happy ending without a whole lot of sugar shock.

Also, it takes place in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and the setting is my turf--the small farmers, the roadside stands, the pick your own strawberry places, and the perfection of fresh corn 'just picked today.' Along with that are the almost empty mills, dying factories and triple decker ethnic neighborhoods that aren't Brooklyn.

Selling the Lite of Heaven takes Hemingway's famous 6 word story idea (baby shoes for sale, never worn) and turns a classified ad into a lovely story of ordinary people looking for love and dealing with disappointment with grace and spirit.