Welcome back! Lora’s salutation here as she sails over St. Anne, echoes Lorena and Chet’s, though theirs is directed to Mare, with full-on Lorena and Chet quirkiness. Let’s set bearings further: in Book Three Celeste comes on subdued, not wanting to give cause from her quarter for Mare to bolt a second time.

Early on though a high tide of support rises to ground Mare and her Fix It shop: Thom and Regoire, predictable with encouragement and food; Stuart, interested, now also in Delaney who backs up Mare with her builder’s eye; Mulch, endearing in his odd way, and very much still a bumpity force. Then too, Bobby reenters from Book One. Perhaps readers had a hunch he would, and why. You’ll not be surprised then that in this third in the series, with activity out back, everyone has plenty reason to stay near St. Anne’s. Yet you’ll also find a fair amount of skittering around the edges, from Aggie too, now that she’s mobile.

Several of readers’ suspicions do come clear in Book Three. Such as ‘Was it Lora who locked in the script font from the beginning as she writes through the author or occasionally grabs the pen and takes over in her own words, with the author’s blessing?’ You may have already decided, yes: Lora, while unseen, sometimes identified, sometimes not, is recognizably involved in the story throughout.

Great-o for all who have stopped by to enjoy more goings on at St. Anne.

Readers found a touch-in with the characters helpful heading into Four, printed within the book, as it had been a while since the last book release. A character review here, fitting the storyline, may be also.

A Refresher

Celeste - in her late 80s, at the hub of her home, St. Anne
Lora - Celeste’s love who long ago ‘passed on’ into nonphysical
Lorena - Lora’s daughter, in her 40s, looked after by Celeste
Chet- outdoors worker at St. Anne and Lorena’s mate, in his 30s
Aggie - Lorena’s and Chet’s toddler
Regoire - longtime chef, works exclusively for Celeste
Thom - Regoire’s partner, works as mediator in his own practice
Stuart - delivery & all-around support for Celeste, in his early 40s
Delaney - contractor who, since the opening earthquake, has taken care of all building projects for Celeste, barely in her 40s
Mulch - St. Anne’s gardener, in his later years
Mare - Celeste’s marimba partner in Book One; returned to the area in Book Three
Bobby - demolition worker and Richie’s brother, from Book One; from Three on, runs his own construction company, in his 30s
Dr. Lipsasch - escapes ID, but he sure plays into Book Three
Claire - Celeste’s former masseuse

and in previous books
Sadie - formerly rented a cottage and worked a bit for Celeste in exchange for use of her gathering room dance floor, in her 30s, now studying dance in San Francisco
Richie - former demolition worker, in his late 30s, studying in San Francisco, and with Sadie
Chet’s neighbors growing up - Jerry and Baggie were there for him; Snork was one of the bullies who along with Chet’s mom and her boyfriend caused Chet’s lifelong twitches