This collection was absolutely gorgeous, heart-wrenching, and yet gentle and affirming. Maybe a little overly-sentimental at times, but never to the stories' detriment. Full of rich characters, with a egnuine authorly care for the characters clearly shining through. The stories were all perfectly paced, each just the right length (novelettes, really, longer than your average short story but not novella-length) to get you into the hearts of these characters and situations, to know and live in these worlds, and then to leave before any of them overstay their welcome. The writing and craft was really strong, in that regard. These stories live and die by their heart, which they wear on their sleeves, and I am richer for having the chance to read them.