Few authors have understood the tender intricacies of relationships better than the incomparable Belva Plain. In "Heartwood, " her final novel, she comes full circle with the themes she took up in her very first work, "Evergreen, " bringing us an unforgettable story of family and friendship, love and marriage, the challenges of life and the true secret of happiness.
Though Iris Stern considers herself a modern woman, with a successful career and a happy marriage, she still holds steadfast to her old-fashioned sensibilities. However, she often finds those sensibilities challenged by her...