The Desert Between Us

by James C. Magruder

Two years ago, Chase Kincaid lost his spouse to a heart attack. And now, at the age of thirty-seven, he finds himself wondering if he could love again. And if so, would it even be in the same way?

It seems to him that no one can replace his former wife, Aimee. Her spunk, the way she inspired him…even his writing has dried up after she passed. Left with his son, Chase resigns himself to a single father’s life, hoping that the famous novels he pens are enough to help the two of them get by.

That is, until he meets Sierra Taylor, his son Clay’s third-grade English teacher. She reignites a spark in him he hasn’t felt for two years.

As the two of them bond, Chase finds himself drowning in guilt.

Is he betraying Aimee’s memory? How will his son react? Or Aimee’s mom—who blames him for her daughter’s death?

Through this exploration of love and loss, Chase may find himself falling in love once again, if he’ll let himself. If not, he’ll drift away not only from Sierra, but everything and everyone he loves—being lost forever in a wave of grief.

344 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[Peggi Tustan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we love again after loss? It's a big question. To experience the loss by death or divorce shakes us to the core. Chase, the main character, lost his wife suddenly two years ago. He and his eight-year-old son Clay are walking through a desert of grief, trying to find their way.

When Clay begins struggling in summer school, his teacher Sierra encourages Chase to seek help for both his son and himself. Along the way, Chase begins struggling with his emerging feelings for Sierra. Is it okay for him to love again? Will he ever love someone like he loved his late wife? Learning to love again is a perilous journey. Magruder captures this in all its angst and beauty. I found myself smiling through the tears as he inspires us to believe again in the healing power of love.

[Karen Magruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this book, I felt like the pages were turning themselves. It felt effortless because I was lost in the story. I loved the scenes where the eight-year-old son asked his father questions about why his mother had to die—and the tenderness with which his father answered them.

I suppose my favorite part was how the author used the treehouse to anchor the story and unite the characters in a way I never saw coming. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves an inspiring story. You don’t have to suffer a loss to enjoy the victory on these pages.

[Ginger Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, this book tells the story of a father and son walking through grief after unexpectedly losing their wife and mother. The author does a wonderful job of creating believable characters through meaningful and genuine dialogue and masterful storytelling. This story is so much more than just a love story. It is a timeless tale of healing through open conversations, honesty and the love of family. The relationship between Chase and his son is so tender it brought me to tears at times, and I was invested in their journey every step of the way. I loved every minute of this book and highly recommend it!

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A man never really knows how strong he is until he's lost something. Until he's alone." This is the grief journey of Chase Kincaid and his 8-year-old son Clay, after losing their wife and mother so suddenly. Chase also lost his mother when he was a boy, so the stoic way his father grieved became an example for his son, an unhealthy one.

With the help of a best friend (who rings the bell and walks in) and those who work with Clay at school, they begin to work through issues from the past and begin to rebuild their family. This is not only a heart-warming story, it could certainly help someone grieving think about how they process their own pain.

Highly recommended.

[Mary Portzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing and storyline. Of course, I identified with much of the character's plight in having lost a spouse, but it is obvious the writer did his homework when it came to the grief counselor (I am also a grief counselor) I really cared about the characters and that is what I look for in a fiction book. I'll read more by this author.

[Marie Monson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at a coffee shop because written by a local author. Delves into generational grief and loving again. Not a bad read!

[Delores Liesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Desert Between Us is more than skilled fiction writing. It is my favorite type of fiction writing which is a powerful and potentially life changing story written because of or based on a true life experience. It’s fiction that makes you feel like it’s non fiction.

The reactions the story evokes are far from fiction. Laughter. Tears. Retrospection. Compassion, and all the rest. The characters drew me to examine my own grief history, release some of my own painful parentless past, and prayerfully learn from the characters experiences. I felt the difference between an imagined story and an experienced one.

I read a lot of fiction. I enjoy test reading new to me authors. Most I read once, dispose, delete on my kindle or pass on. A select few I keep to re read. I will now have two novels by James Magruder on my keep to read again stash and I look forward to reading more.

[Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Desert Between Us’ is a book about surviving grief after a loved one has passed. It also deals with building a dynamic relationship between a father and a son. You know what it’s like when you love a book and you don’t want it to end? I slowed way down on the last two nights of reading this book as I felt the characters were family. It stays with you after you are done.

[Del Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. James Magruder takes you step by step into the lives of this father, Chase, and his son, Clay. Unexpectedly Chase loses his beloved Aimee and continues to question whether he can ever love again after such a great loss. This is a beautiful story of love and healing for both. Grab your copy today and read on!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! A journey through grief…and learning to work through it….certainly reflects how our past relationships can affect our future. Have some tissues ready…