Love Arrives in Pieces

St. Amant's (All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes) inspirational message, that "brokenness is a method" in God's plan, comes through in this story of two people stepping past their fears of loss to revisit and reconcile errors of the past. In high school, Chase Taylor broke two hearts in the Varland family by flirting with Stella while still dating her sister, Kat. Then he left them both. Now Kat is happily married, while Stella is divorced. Stella struggles to let go of her history as a pageant queen, working as an interior designer while nurturing a secret life as an artist. Chase, having promised himself to live a life of no regrets after his fianc%C3%A9e's death in a car accident, returns to Bayou Bend, La., to restore a landmark theater, surprisingly teaming up with Stella years after their falling-out. They eventually work through the old hurt and awkwardness to talk about the feelings they still have for one another. The details of the design and construction work are unrealistic, and the emotional flow between characters is unsubtle and choppy, but both lovers are likable and warm. (June)