Returning home to Ditto, Texas, is bittersweet for Lila
Matthews. Her dear and feisty aunt Gracie has passed away, leaving Lila her
estate. That includes a centuries-old house, a field of the freshest
strawberries in Atascosa County, more money than Lila can count, and a secret
Aunt Gracie took to her grave. All the angels in heaven won't be able to pry it
out of her.
For more than eighty years, generations of folks in Ditto
have whispered and gossiped about what the secret could be. When Lila inherits
Aunt Gracie's legacy, ears perk up and tongues start wagging. As Lila
reacquaints herself with locals, finds warmth in family—extended and
otherwise—and cozies up to a handsome new neighbor, she begins collecting clues
to the past. They're revealing an Aunt Gracie nobody knew—and a life of
rebellion, broken hearts, and selfless love that affected more people than
anyone realized.
Whatever reason Aunt Gracie had for leaving Lila the
secret, will it now be Lila's secret to keep?
This was a sweet story of family and love, with lots of
warmth and humor. I love the author's small-town stories, which are full of
quirky and relatable characters.
Lila returned home to tiny Ditto, Texas when her Aunt
Gracie died and left Lila her estate. It is up to Lila to make the more than
one-hundred-year-old house her own. Bittersweet memories of growing up there
make sorting through Aunt Gracie's effects an emotional experience, most
notably going through the sympathy cards. There are rumors that Gracie had some
big secret, but no one has discovered what it is.
Aunt Gracie's best friend and neighbor, Jasper, is a fun
addition to the story. He is a feisty old gentleman with plenty of stories
about the good old days. I loved how they comforted Lila and gave her insight
into her beloved Aunt Gracie. Jasper was family to Lila, and watching the two
together was often amusing, as was her insistence on a trip to the hospital
when he was sick. Jasper was equally protective of Lila, and I laughed out loud
when he dealt with the unwelcome visitors.
A newcomer to town, Connor recently left the military and
works for his grandfather, Emmett. Emmett leases Lila's strawberry fields and
is set to turn his businesses over to Connor. He's laid back and charming and
shows a decided interest in Lila. I enjoyed seeing his kindness and support
when she needed it and the twinkle of humor ever-present in his eyes. There are
some sweet scenes of them together. My favorite is the picnic by the river. You
can see them falling for each other; there's no drama, just a steadily growing
attachment.
The book is mainly about Lila's journey through her grief
over Aunt Gracie's death. Listening to Jasper's stories and those told by
others helps Lila see her aunt as the strong woman she was. Little things lead
to unexpected revelations and a desire to change her life. The scene where Lila
cleans out Gracie's closet was fantastic, with the memories it stirred up.
The epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing them ten years
down the road and seeing what their lives were like.
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