On the recommendation of a fellow PBSer, I have just recently read three of Anna McPartlin's books and I just want to put the word out there what a wonderful writer she is! McPartlin is young and Irish, so certain comparisons could be made with Maeve Binchy. All of her books that I've read have death as a component of the plot (the author suffered several profound losses as a child) but despite that, the books I have read celebrate life and good friends and family. Ultimately they are  real life-affirming reads. Give her a try!