On the Sandy Beach

Raspberry Ridge #1

by Jessie Gussman

Vera Miller, a talented garden designer, comes to Raspberry Ridge with a heavy heart, planning a garden in memory of her son.

Dominic, her estranged husband, joins her to help.

Working together, they reminisce about their youth spent by Lake Michigan's shores.

Amidst the town's serene beauty and golden sunsets, Vera and Dominic confront their past, wondering if the magic of Raspberry Ridge can help them heal and rebuild their fractured marriage.

Genres: Christian, Romance, Contemporary, Christian Fiction

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2024

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and tender-hearted story of a marriage that drifted apart when one couple experienced a tragic loss and began grieving in separate ways. Vera Miller designed gardens all around the U.S., bringing healing to many people. She teamed up with her husband Dominic who landscaped and made Vera's designs become a reality. They were a team, working together, until they weren't. Dominic Miller started taking on extra work, hardly ever home. He had to keep busy to overcome his grief. Vera still gave lip service to the Lord, but her heart was far from Him. Perhaps she still held onto some anger because God had allowed her young son to die. Now that Vera wants to design and establish a healing garden in Raspberry Ridge in honor of their son Trent, it would mean she'd have to work again alongside her husband. She wondered if he would agree to do the job.
The book was tenderly written, describing the loss of a child and a broken marriage. Ms. Gussman writes with much insight and tenderness, describing a person's most intimate thoughts, doubts, and fears. Great marriage advice and insight was also included in the storyline; for example, regarding communication and relationship: "When they were both tired, and hungry and grumpy, it wasn't a good time for a serious, potentially explosive discussion." As the couple worked together, reminiscing on the good times in their family, life and marriage, could the healing garden help heal their broken marriage? What would it take? To quote the author, "It was funny how a little bit of conversation, a little bit of laughter, even a tear or two, could bond people together."
I also enjoyed the "cameo appearance" in the book by Jay who blamed Jessie for giving him the wrong directions--a story within a story!?! LOL. "On the Sandy Beach" was a wonderfully written story of a couple's loss and healing that touched many lives, and I highly recommend it! I can't wait for more in the Raspberry Ridge series!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and clean Christian romance. This is the beginning of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. TW – Deals with the passing of a child.

Vera is starting to come out of her grief from the passing of her son. She has grown apart from her husband, Dominic. Before this, they worked together, her as a landscape artist and her husband as the actual landscaper. Has their marriage ended or can it be revived?

The impact of how a child passing and how it affects the parents bring you in. People can grow apart but if they follow God’s word and with work on both ends, they can come back together. I really enjoy the Christian values showing in the book. This does focus on pride and how to be a good spouse. We are not perfect, but we can work at being better. I love how we must trust in God and how He works in our lives. And if you receive Jessie’s newsletters, you’ll understand the cameo appearance. If not, you should get on her e-mail list. Can’t wait to see what the other characters do in future books.

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving an honest review.

[M Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another touching yet poignant Christian story from Jessie that really tugs at the reader’s heart strings. Eighteen months after the traumatic loss of their beloved eight year old son Trent, Vera and Dominic are still struggling to come to terms with their loss and have drifted apart. Although they had always worked as a team in the past to create beautiful gardens with Vera the creative genius behind the designs and Dominic the landscape gardener who successfully interpreted her designs, since Trent's death, they have hardly worked together at all. Dominic, in a need to keep busy, elected to work for a range of different clients and even took on a job with Vera's main competitor. Vera, in contrast continued to struggle with her grief. When they join forces to create a healing garden in memory of Trent in their hometown of Raspberry Ridge, they return to working well together. However, there are definitely problems to overcome and they must be prepared to talk them through if they are to share a future together.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story! I hear lots of people who divorced claim they “grew apart.” I think if some of them read this story before divorcing it might give them the courage and hope to make things better rather than leaving.

In this book, Vera and Dominic experience a growing apart after a traumatic event. When this book opens, Vera doesn’t know if they could ever close the distance between them and worries about divorce. She gets some good advice from a retired pastor’s wife and works to put Jesus first no matter what. The slow changes in their marriage and beautiful ending remind us that following Jesus is what is most important, more than our own desires.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of another wonderful series by Jessie. Vera and Dominic are both grieving the loss of their son and they are also grieving what feels like the loss of their marriage as well. Vera and Dominic have created beautiful gardens for others so when a friend suggests maybe Vera needs a healing garden of her own, Vera asks Dominic to create this one with her in their town. Neither of them expected the healing garden to help them with the healing they and their marriage needs. This story also shows how important communication is and that we need to trust in God and not so much on our own feelings. Sometimes our feelings can be wrong but God is never wrong.

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and to the point when dealing with marital discord. I wish I had read this twenty five years ago. The Biblical phrasing was inserted at the proper times without brow beating any one. If you don't shed a tear or three, then perhaps you need to look at yourself closely. Too many people think if things get difficult I'll just leave instead of keeping my promise. If Jessie ever quits writing books she can easily step into counseling married people. This is a definite five star read and worth the time to read and think over.

[D'anah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start to a series. I really struggled with it. Painful and depressing to begin with. It has many good points as it progresses. I especially liked the Jesus focus. Lots of good advice: on choosing the "right" despite feelings; (we are not animals). Funny having Jay make an appearance. Good at showcasing how there are different ways of dealing with things. Well done. Not really my favourite of Jessie's work.

[Soleil Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book: a true ode to love and marriage! An example of resilience and surrender to God's will despite the hardships of life. Vera and Dominic grew apart since their son's death. She thinks he has an affair and that he wants to divorce. Still, she decides she'll forgive and stay if he still wants her. We get to feel their insecurities, their pain and their feelings thanks to the chapters alterning between her and his perspective. It was a beautiful story of true love and second chance in life. I highly recommend!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was one that just pulled at your heart. This is the first book in a series about Raspberry Ridge which is a small town close to Blueberry Beach and Strawberry Sands on the shores of Lake Michigan. Vera Miller and her husband Dominic had run a successful business together as she designed inspiring gardens and he was the landscaper who brought her designs to life. Their successful business and also their ten year happy marriage had come to an abrupt stop as they both death with the death of their eight year old son, Trent. She had withdrawn into herself and away from Dominic and her husband had to keep himself busy and he started to take other landscaping jobs. The blow that tore her heart apart was when Dominic took a landscaping job with her biggest competitor, Shoshana. They had always promised to only work with one another and she couldn't help but think that Dominic may be having a relationship with Shoshana. With all of those doubts and fears bombarding her would Vera be able to bridge the gap with her husband and restore their marriage?

Dominic, knew he had failed his wife when she needed him the most. He just didn't know how to comfort her with the loss of the son they both loved. His dreams of training his son in his business and eventually leaving it to him had died with their loss. Now eighteen months later he had decided he has to make things right with Vera. When she decides to make a healing garden memory of their son in Raspberry Ridge where they both grew up, he knew he had to show her that she was still the love of his life.

As they work together they start to bring healing to one another. Can they restore their marriage as they finally deal emotionally with the death of their son Trent? This story is so sad and yet so realistic. Years ago in our church we had a couple lose their twelve year old daughter unexpectedly to an aneurysm. They had a hard time dealing with it emotionally and eventually their marriage fell apart and they divorced.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of love, loss and healing. Vera and Dominic’s loss of their son shook the very foundation of their marriage. Instead of turning to each other, both handled their grief, feelings of guilt and even their loss of faith in very different ways. Vera withdrew into herself, depressed, not wanting to talk, to be touched or even to be seen. Dominic used work to dull his pain, to keep his thoughts off of the tragic loss of their son. He worked harder and longer, without his usual partner, his wife. Though it took months before she finally emerged from the fog of her grief, Vera begins to see that another loss may be on the horizon …..the loss of her marriage.

A good friend encourages her to create a healing garden in her own hometown of Raspberry Ridge in memory of her son. She doesn’t want to do it without her husband whom has always been her partner in making her garden designs come to life. With such distance between them, she emails her husband about the garden proposal and mentions that it could be their last time to work together before they divorce, something she believes he may want. It takes that word, divorce, to shake Dominic out of his own haze and to realize he must fight to keep his wife and his marriage.. Thankfully, with God’s guidance and the wise counsel of good and faithful friends, Vera and Dominic find their way back to each other. Both acknowledge that each of them made mistakes and share any blame. They both agree that they want to stay married and are willing to work together to protect it and their love.

I am sure that this book will resonate with many reader, especially those who have e periencec a similar loss. This author’s compassion, faith and wisdom are wonderfully highlighted throughout this beautifully written book. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book or any other book written by this author.

[Margaret P Medberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest novel by Jessie Gussman may be one of her toughest books yet. Jessie is never shy about tackling very serious issues and she takes on the subject of a marriage that is disintegrating after the death of a child.

In her story, Vera Miller, a landscape designer is deeply depressed following the death of her eight-year-old son, Trent, eighteen months ago. Her husband Dominic who shares their design business, has thrown himself into his work and has been largely absent. They barely communicate – by email at this point, and Vera is expecting a divorce at any moment. Both of them have not turned to each other to deal with their grief and the result is potentially disastrous.

However, Vera has the idea to create a special garden in honor of the memory of her son and asks Dominic to help on what she expects will be their last project together. Slowly, as a result of working together again, they begin to haltingly repair their woundedness.

While Jessie has dealt with grief over the death of a child before, this book is a deeper dive into how that problem impacts a marriage. It ultimately will take a heavy reliance on God and forgiveness for the couple to regain their love again.

I struggled with this story, and I am a huge Jessie Gussman fan. Having lost my daughter a few years ago, this is a tricky subject for me. My daughter was an adult when she passed away, but it is still a devastating loss and God was the only way I was able to navigate that tragedy. So, this book may be a difficult read for those who have struggled in similar ways, but it is, nevertheless, hopeful and inspiring for those whose marriages have been impacted by suffering.

I received an advance reader copy and I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Sandy Beach by Jessie Gussman is the first book in her new Raspberry Ridge series. It is so moving and engrossing. As the book progresses, Jessie gives us the alternating feelings and thoughts of Vera and Dominic regarding both their year-and-a-half separation since their son died and working together on the garden. Their pain and insecurity are so real. A huge chasm of miscommunication and misunderstanding has developed between them. They both have different ways of “coping” with their heartbreak, but the methods each uses, drives them away from each other. Pride and hurt keep them apart, teetering on the verge of a divorce neither of them actually wants.

Vera wants to build a healing garden in memory of their son in Raspberry Ridge. Dominic has always built the gardens she designs and she asks him to work with her on this one last garden before they go their separate ways. The forced proximity of working so closely together again allows them to open up to each other as never before. When they also open themselves to God’s love, healing and direction, the real healing begins. I am always impressed with how Jessie brings the power of God into her books. As I see God working in Dominic and Vera’s hearts, I feel myself absorbing that same healing power for myself.

Though the book dealt with some hard things, the resolution was sweet and beautiful. I truly look forward to the rest of the series. I was honored to receive an advance reader copy from the author.

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of their son Trent, Vera and Dominic drifted apart, she absorbed in her private grief and he escaping into work. She's at the point of expecting him to divorce her, but decides to suggest building one last garden together - a healing garden dedicated to Trent, back in their home town of Raspberry Ridge. Working together again after so long reminds each of the love they still have for the other, but can they overcome past wounds to mend their marriage before it's too late?

A heart-warming story of redemption and forgiveness. It's hard watching two people with so much good history struggling on apart unnecessarily, but that made the renewal all the sweeter. The result is something that feels unusual in the world now: a story of two people who rely on God, trust each other, forgive past mistakes and rekindle their marriage rather than just divorcing. With the usual good conversations, humour and thought-provoking comments I expect from this author, this is a great book and an exciting start to a new series - it's definitely got me intrigued for the rest of the series. Recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book about grieving the loss of a love one and what sometimes a couple goes through when its a child of theirs. It shows how we have to keep the commutation lines open even while grieving and being there for each other.
Vera and Dominic lost their son Trent and became estranged. They still live in the same house, but he no longer works with her.
Vera decides she wants a memory garden in honor of her son. She writes up an email in a business form asking him to come home and work on it with her if he wants or she could find someone else if he prefers since she feels he wants a divorce. That really got his attention. He shoots one back saying he would be home tomorrow but did not say what time.
Vera's mid does run wild all through eh book and I think mind would have too especially after 18 months and my husband not being with me while i grieve the loss of my only child. I won't spoil what happens.
I received this book from the author, but the words and thoughts are my own. I have not been compensated for this review.

[Leis Phinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of their son Trent, Vera and Dominic grew apart. Vera had stopped working on projects for their joint business, too lost and sad to go on, while Dominic soothed himself by keeping busy, taking on private projects. Can they find their way back to one another, or is it too late for them?
I found it interesting to read their inner thoughts and see how differently Dominic and Vera viewed events. And also to see how wrong their assumptions were about each other's motives, attitudes and plans. In fact, sometimes Dominic's assumptions about Vera made me smile and Vera's assumptions about Dominic annoyed me, so the writing was good enough to cause me to be deeply immersed in the story. I feel that the author has a good grasp of how men and women typically think, which made it quite real.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion. This book is the first in a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. It is a standalone and an HEA.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Sandy Beach is an emotional yet inspirational story of the love that Vera and Dominic has had for at least ten years. She planned healing gardens and Dominic brought them to fruition. During this time they are blessed with a son named Trent. He become their world. He goes with them and they teach him what they can. He becomes ill and succumbed to it. Vera pulls inside herself and Dominic takes a job with another planner and they do one design together. After that he takes on more jobs in his own to stay busy. They finally do a healing garden together but there are suspicions in Vera's mind, especially when he did not show up at the grand opening program. He comes home from his job and he talks with Vera and they decide a healing garden in Raspberry Ridge is needed. They go to the 10th anniversary of their first healing garden and find out there are innumerable people that has used the garden to help heal their losses. They finally get time without work and they discuss this chasm that has been between them and they come to a decision about their marriage.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Sandy Beach ~ Raspberry Ridge #1 by Jessie Gussman

Wow, just simply brilliant, and another great book from Jessie Gussman.
I love reading one of Jessie's books, always clean Christian romance, this is no exception.
This story has a real feel of true life, that pulls on your heartstrings from the start. The loss of a son, a fractured partnership of both working and personal husband and wife.

Vera and Dominic Miller deal with the death of their son in different ways, Dominic puts his all into his work and works with another garden designer. Vera withdraws into herself, which puts a huge strain on their marriage.

Can designing a garden in remembrance of their son, in their home town of Raspberry Ridge bring these two back together and rekindle their love for each?

On the Sandy Beach is a brilliant well-written story from Jessie, which I highly recommend to all.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Inspirational, Original, Page-turner, Romantic, Realistic, and Wonderful characters

[Roberta aka Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera Miller designs memory gardens and her husband, Dominic Miller, does the landscaping according to Vera's plans. They had successfully completed several memory gardens together. That was before they lost their 8 year old son, Trent.

After Trent's funeral Vera closed herself off from everything. But Dominic's way of coping with the grief was to stay as busy as possible. Unfortunately, their separate methods of handling the grief caused a rift in their marriage. Can they learn the importance of communicating in time to save their marriage? What about Shoshana? Is she a threat?

I enjoyed reading On The Sandy Beach. It is an inspiring Christian romance. I definitely recommend it. Jessie Gussman adds Biblical teachings with every day words and situations. I appreciate the way she gently teaches without force.

I was given an ARC from BookFunnel at the request of the author, Jessie Gussman. All thoughts and comments are mine given voluntarily.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heartwarming love story of Vera and Dominic who have been married for a decade, and the foundation of their great marriage survives the lost of their only child, Trent. In the early 1960's, my Dad was an evangelist who opened each service with his theme song, " Turn your eyes upon Jesus". When that song was mentioned in Chapter 28, it brought fond memories back and after over 50 years, I can still remember the words. That song is what helped Vera stay strong in her doubts about her marriage when Dominic worked with another designer for a landscaping project. This book is a great start to a perfect series and I look forward to reading and listening to the other books in the series. I know that Jay Dyess will bring Jessie's books to life with his narration of an audiobook. I highly recommend this book and the series to those who enjoy clean inspirational books. I received an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this in marriage second chance romance. I don’t read many of these, and really can’t imagine reading one that isn’t Christian. Our culture is so focused on your feelings in the moment and I adore the concept of commitment and the second chances we get every day. I love how this second chance romance doesn’t require our mains to have broken up. I love the renewal of commitment and the faithfulness of vows.

I can’t imagine life after such a tragedy and I pray I never experience such a thing. Gussman does a great job of dealing with the realities and pains of life. As Christians we aren’t promised a life exempt from the pains of sin imposed on creation. This was a lovely and sweet romance to curl up with. I’m excited to see where this series goes.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Elizabeth Fiscus · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart hurt for Dominic and Vera. They were perfect for each other and complimented each other in every way possible...until tragedy struck their family. Both dealt with their grief in their own ways, and this story begins a year and a half into that. They were hurting, dealing with depression, and simply getting through each day. There was no one to blame for growing apart to the point that Vera thought divorce was inevitable. Pick up this book to see what happened when they chose to fight for the marriage God had blessed them with.
I have experienced a similar situation myself and know how easy it is to go inside one's self rather than reach to your spouse for support and give it all to God. This story really resonated with me as I am sure it will with many other readers! I received an ARC of this story from the author. That in no way influnced my review.

[Becky Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the new series Raspberry Ridge Sweet Beach series by Jessie Gussman. I cried with sorrow, happiness and thoughtfulness. Vera and her husband Dominic had lost their only son Trent eighteen months earlier and they both was dealing with their grief in different ways. Vera designed gardens, waterfalls and so forth and her husband made them come to fruition. They had always worked as a team and with no one else, but then when their marriage was suffering Dominic worked for Shoshana who was well know for designing gardens. But you have to keep reading this book to see the ending result. But I loved what they did for some of the graves in the cemetery that their son was buried in!

I received this ARC from Jessie Gussman for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera, a very talented garden designer, and Dominic, owner of a landscape installation company, had happily been marriage and work partners for a number of years until tragedy struck and their young son passed away suddenly with spinal meningitis. When this happened their world crumbled and a year and a half later, they are trying to pick up the pieces. This book is a faith-based account of their journey back to wholeness. It was a heavy topic and didn’t lend itself to being a “romance story” per se but it was a story of true love and learning to trust one another and God. I always love the way this author uses Christian wisdom to tackle tough topics even when the Biblical wisdom clashes with the common thinking on what is the proper response. In this case it was very challenging and inspirational. I received a complimentary copy; all opinions expressed are my own. Highly recommend!

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Sandy Beach - Book 1, Raspberry Ridge Sweet Beach Romance

I listened to the free YouTube audiobook version…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIaZm...

Cried my eyes out… a perfect read for a couple going through a rough spot in their marriage.
Answer this question but give it a lot of thought before you commit to the answer.
Did you vow before God and other witnesses to love your spouse unconditionally?
Do you still love them?
And yes, your life and the lives of your children (if you have them) should take precedence over love.. Neither God nor the witnesses would fault you for choosing to live without being abused physically or mentally..
But hurt feelings = seek unbiased counselling, and determined the basis of the problem(s) and jointly work to find the love that has gotten misplaced, forgotten, or being taken for granted.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book on dealing with grief.

I want to say I love Jessie Gussman’s books. I found her on KU. Unfortunately you can only keep 20 books in your KU library. So I have bought most of her books. Why do I buy them because I read my favorites over and over. I read My Friend Flicka at least nine times when I was a teenager. I try to wait when her older books go on sale. However since I read her Blueberry Beach series I have bought all her books when they came out. I got my mother in law hooked on her books. This book deals with a couple who lost a child to meningitis. They both handled grief differently. They drifted apart. When the word divorce came up they both realized they did not want that. However how to start to reconnect and work on the marriage relationship is what this book is all about. I just lost my baby brother last month. He died at 46 just 17 days before his 47th birthday. This book has been a help to me dealing with that grief in dealing with family relationships.

[Lorraine Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story is about Dominic and Vera in the midst of surfacing from the depths of dispare after the death of their only child. . It described what each of them dealt with what had happened and how it had adversely affected their marriage. I found this to be very different than any of Jessie Gussman’s other books . While I loved the story , characters , hope , faith and every other aspect of this book I felt it was a bit repetitive I guess it came from what was happening in Vera and Dominic’s heads and neither would come out and say what they were feeling even though they were both feeling the same thing. If I read the name Shashawna one more time I was going to scream :-). Overall I really loved the story and recommend this book.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera and Dominic Miller have had the unthinkable happen to them and they must figure out how to intertwine their lives and move forward together. When their son, Trent, passed away unexpectedly, they both handled his death in different ways. Vera became withdrawn and introverted. Dominic had to keep his hands busy so he took any and all work that came his way. Little did he know that this caused his wife to have doubts about him and his fidelity. After Vera has some talks with others, they point her in the right direction of looking to God, not man and sins. After spending time together, they decide to have that important talk. Will they understand where the other is coming from and decide to fight for their marriage and family?

[Jacquelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'On the Sandy Beach' was heartfelt. Its mesmerizing plot was filled with an estranged couple coming to terms with the loss of their son, having self-doubt about a married couple's relationship, working together to create a healing garden in memory and in honor of their son Trent, a wife's suspicions, spirituality, an interesting drop-in visit with a famous narrator, visiting neighbors, a major donation, contemplating bible verses, meeting a rival, and true love.
Also, Dominic and Vera, the protagonists, were soul mates and oozed chemistry. I kept rooting for them. Additionally, I liked the author's word choices and vivid descriptions that created a serene tone. Overall, I liked the poignant narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Christie Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera is a master garden designer who is married to Dominic, a master landscaper, who creates the gardens she designs. 18 months earlier, they lost their only child, an eight-year-old son. His death caused an emotional separation for the couple because they handled their grief in entirely different ways. Vera internalized her grief by turning inward and away from Dominic. Dominic chose to work his out by taking on more work projects – without Vera.

This is a beautiful story of loss, love, and restoration.

If we look to Jesus and His principles, we can overcome the sorrow in our lives and use the pain to help others, coming out stronger.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is entirely voluntary and unbiased.

[Joyce Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic and Vera are a landscaping team. Vera is a designer of gardens. Dominic is the landscaper. Their 8 year old son died unexpectedly 18 months ago and they have grown apart. At the dedication of her latest garden project, Vera's best friend suggests that she design a healing garden in Raspberry Ridge - their hometown. When Vera goes home, she prays and decides it is what God would have her do. She texts Dominic who is working another job and he flies home the next day. Vera had dealt with her grief by withdrawing into herself. Dominic just took on as many jobs as he could. Dominic worked with one of Vera's main competitors and Vera was hurt. As they work on the garden for their son, they both find healing. Great book on what marriage should be.