The (bear) cubs were growing-Daddy said they had gained at least a pound each. They were also taking a lot of my time, which bothered me But Reeder and I took care of Princess and Blackie every day and could even pet them and take them for little walks When we ran, the cubs would run right along with us. Once when I tripped and fell, Princess rolled right over me. Then Blackie lumbered beside us and rolled on Princess. Reeder jumped right in and the four of us-bears and Reeder and I-rolled and ran, rolled and ran. Reeder and I hollered and laughed and the bear cubs barked and growled playfully. Luvella thought making a promise and being dedicated to fulfilling it were enough. Is it really possible for an 11-year-old to open her own store? Her love for her family and for the mountain where she has grown up answer yes, anything is possible. But with a theme of loss weaving through her life, Luvella discovers that the very people she loves innocently create the major setbacks to her success.

Attractive, middle-aged Emily Hughes appeared to have it all as the wife of a successful and handsome husband. Suddenly her husband asks for a divorce. Devastated by the divorce, wounded by the Catholic Church's annulment of her thirty-five year marriage and misunderstood by her adult daughters, Emily realizes that she, too, had been unfulfilled in the marriage. Emily has lost her spiritual compass and sets out on a journey to remap the rest of her life. What sets this novel apart from others in this genre is the spiritual nature of Emily's quest. Her faith is both challenged and enriched as she explores new friendships with a free-spirited neighbor and friend, Frances, who accompanies her to Nepal to trek through the Himalayas. On this trek she meets a young Buddhist Sherpa and Roman Catholic priest floundering in his priesthood and finally an enigmatic man who has just spent the past year in a Buddhist monastery. Emily's journey with the help of her new friends leads her to find new ways to get on with her life.