In Kathryn Maughan's "DId I Expect Angels?" readers are shown how immensely grief can affect those left behind. Maughan intertwines the stories of Jennifer Huffaker, a young widow, and Henry, a greeter at a grocery store Jennifer frequents. Henry is an immigrant from Costa Rica who has lived in the U.S. for 40 years.

Readers first meet Jennifer the day after Christmas as she is trying to buy enough aspirin to kill herself. Jennifer's husband, Jack, died in a car accident 18 months earlier. Her grief does not subside and affects not only herself, but also the lives of her young daughter and the rest of her family.

Henry, seeing how much pain Jennifer is in, takes her from the store to a little restaurant to share his story of leaving Costa Rica and coming to the U.S. While Henry tells his story, Jennifer is reliving her past.

Maughan's touching story will make readers laugh and cry. I'm tearing up now just remembering it!  Henry reminded me of Ugly Betty's father. What an angel he turns out to be! Love, perseverance, hard work, faith and hope are all part of Henry's story. He passes his experience on to Jennifer at a time she really needs to hear it. I like to think he is passing it on to me, too. I highly recommend "Did I Expect Angels?" and hope to read more of Maughan's work.