This classic romance from 1985 takes you to mid-80s New Orleans when it nears the festive Mardi Gras. It is about the lives of Bethany Walker at the age of 26 as a mask and head piece maker, her four-year-old daughter, Bethany, and Justin Dumontier, a 32-year-old attorney whose home is New Orleans, but who lives and works in Chicago. Bethany and Justin met five years prior in Florida and had a short, passionate summer relationship that resulted in Abby. Due to her own reasons and circumstances, Bethany kept Abby a secret from Justin. They meet again when Justin temporarily returns to New Orleans to do some work at his newly deceased father's law firm. Justin realizes that Abby is his daughter and does not know how to deal with it. As to one of my favorite characters, I truly admired and loved Louise, Justin's mom. I had tears in my eyes when she and her granddaughter met each other. Emotionally charged, the author takes you through fears, stubbornness, passion, tears, anger, trust, status differences, and humor. Support is huge from Bethany's friends Madeline and Lamar, and from Justin's mother, Louise. Abby is a truly delightful little girl. While reading this story, I learned a lot about the festivities that take place prior to and during Mardi Gras, with all the different krewes who organize parades, and got drawn into the mask making, the costumes, the food, the music, and the Cajuns. I really enjoyed this book, and since I have been to New Orleans several times, I was brought back to the partying French Quarter and the magnificence of St. Charles Avenue, but this time, with a newly enriching visit.