Return to Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns

This is the sequel to Cold Sassy Tree, the story of Will Tweedy and his family, living in a small town in Georgia at the turn of the twentieth century. In Leaving Cold Sassy Will has grown up and working in a nearby town. Whenhe returns to Cold Sassy he meets Sanna Reid, a young teacher about to start work at Will's old school. Has Will met the love of his life?
Sadly the author died before completing this book, but dictated the plot for the remaining chapters to a neighbour from her sick bed, enabling the book to be completed after a fashion after her death. The book also contains much writing about the author and her fight against the illness that finally claimed her life, giving valuable insight into the character and influences behind the book.
I enjoyed this book (as I did Cold Sassy Tree) because despite its old world charm it doesn't gloss over the failings of the characters, even the "heroes" have their faults just as in real life. Will is shown as being an imperfect husband, despite his love for Sanna, and Sanna's faults are also apparent. In fact, the faults make the characters all the more likeable and believable. It's just a shame Burns didn't live long enough to take Will into old age!