Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears

Where do you run if you're desperate for anonymity and a place that lacks reminders of your rural hometown? For Katherine Lafleur, the answer was New York City. Thirty years later, Katherine is 50 years old and still in the big city with a tiny apartment, a job at a trade magazine, and an extended family she spies on via Facebook. After losing her job and her youngest sister, Katherine returns home to Louisiana, where she's known as Katie-Lee. Her sister's funeral is rife with family quarrels and high jinks that threaten to unhinge Katie-Lee. Ultimately, her high school sweetheart arrives, and Katie-Lee reveals the tragic truth about why she ran away from home. Wheaton's (The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival) third novel is a credible romp revealing the humor and tragedy of living in New York City as a single, middle-aged woman; growing up in the South; and learning how to lean on family to overcome shared devastations. The lighter moments are enjoyable, although they could be funnier; while the more serious sections, especially Katie-Lee's childhood flashbacks, are well written and heartfelt.