It's impossible not to fall for the winningly eccentric cast of characters in Laura Pedersen's laugh-out-loud sequel to her novel BEGINNER'S LUCK. But underneath its witty repartee and humorous goings-on, it poses more serious questions of the heart that everyone can relate to: "What does your heart desire?" and "How do you know when someone is 'the one'?"

Hayden MacBride is terminally ill, but he refuses to let it slow him down. In fact, he now spends his days crashing funerals for the free food and insight into the Great Beyond. Then he meets Rosamond, a nun playing hooky from the Holy Orders while she searches for answers. And lucky for Rosamond, she has found just the right person to teach her how to live...and to love.

The second of seven children, Hallie Palmer has one dream: to make it to Vegas. Normally blessed with an uncanny gift for winning at games of chance, she's hit a losing streak. She's been kicked out of the casino she frequents during school hours, lost all her money for a car on a bad bet at the track, and has been grounded by her parents. It seems the time has come for Hallie to cut her losses.