Sometimes it is possible to be lonely in the biggest city in the nation. That is the case for Heidi, who lives in Manhattan.

New York is vividly portrayed in the novel.

Readers will be taken on a virtual tour of the city, from the plush apartments of the upper east side, down to the theater district, Greenwich Village, and points between.

On the streets, professional dogwalkers stroll with eight dogs in tow, while "car shepherds" move automobiles from one side of the street to the other in order to comply with parking policies. The characters go to Elizabeth Arden's and Tiffany's, but sometimes eat in out-of-the-way diners. They ride in cabs driven by mouthy taxi drivers or travel on buses "so crowded you could hardly breathe." Yet for Heidi the New York setting only comes alive when she is with Jeffrey. After spending Christmas at each of...