This sequel to Karmafornia finds Walt in Boulder, Colo. in 1981, ready to put down roots. He meets local woman Anna, also recovering from a broken heart, and they fall in love. But he finds himself in the crosshairs of the local narcotics squad, along with his Deadhead housemates, enduring destructive searches of their house.
Laura, last seen killing Cob with a wine-bottle to his head, is out on parole soon, and dreams of re-connecting with Walt. When he learns she's still intent on him, he and Anna form a "coalition of the spineless" as people who believe in the power of humor and joy to make life worthwhile. He hopes the love they've found will protect him from Laura's singleminded desire, but Anna mistrusts her feelings, and withdraws. Has he underestimated love's capacity to transform, again?