Casting About

In this syrupy return to Spinning Forward, the Cedar Key, Fla., knitting business that gave her previous novel its name, DuLong explores a young woman's awakening to stepmotherhood. Since buying her mother, Sydney Webster's, yarn shop, and adjusting to married life with Adam Brooks, Monica is feeling peaceful, if a little overwhelmed. But that peace is challenged when Adam is awarded custody of his eight-year-old daughter, Clarissa Jo, after his alcoholic ex has a drunk-driving accident while Clarissa Jo is left unsupervised at home. When Clarissa Jo arrives acting much younger than she is (she totes a Raggedy Ann doll), Monica begins an uneasy relationship with her that slowly blooms into a sweet bond. Also spun into DuLong's yarn-centric tale is a subplot about Monica's best friend dating an untrustworthy developer who'd rather have her coffee shop property than her heart. And with the appearance of the ghost of Monica's grandmother, a benevolent spirit who helps Clarissa adjust to her new life, DuLong adds a bit of paranormal magic to this otherwise paint-by-numbers endeavor. (Nov.)