[SPOILER]
I was given this triiogy as a gift, due to sharing my name with the main character.
The first half of the first book was great; there were gripping (if somewhat emotionally cliched) events that brought Ariana to where she stood in the rain on page 1. Little Nette in particular really gives the book some color and heart, and when she dies, I wept. However, Nette's death at the mid-point of the first books marks the end of a gripping story. Ariana gets involved with the Church of Latter-Day Saints and has her life radically changed. From that point on, this book loses all appeal to a non-LDS audience. Nunes is a fantastic author, but I'm personally not interested in this or that temple, and the phrase "Families are forver" is nothing if not overused.
I would definitely recommend this book to an LDS friend, but this book is not for most people.
[/SPOILER]