Cathryn Deen had it all: beauty, fame and fortune. Then a fiery car accident left her scarred and reclusive. She is now an object of morbid curiosity instead of adoration. The only thing that gets her through the painful days of rehab and recovery are phone calls and care packages from her cousin, Delta Whittlespoon, who lives in the small town of Crossroads, North Carolina. Within those packages are Delta's famous biscuits and gravy, but also photographs from Delta's friend Thomas -- images of the beautiful mountain region that soothe Cathryn's spirit and make her grateful to this kind stranger.

But Thomas Mitternich does not consider himself kind. As scarred on the inside as Cathryn is on the outside, Thomas drinks too much and drifts like a ghost through his own life. Tortured by guilt after losing his wife and young son on September 11, he left New York and wandered aimlessly until he stumbled into Crossroads, where he's settled, at least for the moment. He still doesn't care much whether he lives or dies, but after Delta tells him about Cathy, he finds himself caring about a woman he's never even met.

When Cathy escapes L.A. and arrives in Crossroads, all she wants is to be left alone. But she can't escape the attention of the small, close-knit community or Delta's maternal instincts. When Cathy meets Thomas, these two wounded souls form a strange alliance. Even while submerged in their own pain, each tries to help the other heal. Can Cathy overcome her fears and the shame of her scars to ever allow true intimacy or joy into her life? Can Thomas finally forgive himself and start living again, rather than merely existing?

This beautifully written, intensely emotional and sometimes wryly humorous story isn't always easy to read. There are no quick fixes or magical cures for Cathy or Thomas -- and even the "happy" people in Crossroads have their share of heartaches. But ultimately, the book is about the strength and resiliency of the human spirit and the power of love to shed light into darkness. Not only are the characters compelling and interesting, but the mountain setting, so vividly and lovingly described, is almost a character in itself. Whether or not you can identify with Cathy's or Thomas' experiences, I think this book will touch your heart, and you'll wish you could return to Crossroads time and again.