Vonda Kay Thayer is turning 50 as she examines her 30-year- old wedding ring. Married to Jerome Thayer with three daughters, Vonda's life is beginning to turn topsy-turvy. In addition to the real estate business he inherited when Vonda's father died, Jerome is also an avid womanizer. Jerome married the "boss' daughter" and is very self- serving.

Vonda finds herself spread thin with her two teenage daughters, a married pregnant daughter and both of her feisty, difficult in-laws (divorced) in her home all at the same time. It's Jerome's habit to leave everything to Vonda, including his disruptive and very demanding parents. The longing for something better drives Vonda to rethink her life with Jerome. This dysfunctional family is further disrupted by Hurricane Stella. Taking refuge in her late father's cabin, believed to be safer than their home, Vonda is dealt a catastrophe with the storm and the entire family, spouses and all, thrown together. Then Vonda's old school chum, Terrill Barksdale, tell her he's in love with her. Finally reaching her limit, Vonda must now stand her ground and choose the life she truly needs and wants -- and deserves.

Geri Buckley has created a very warm and amusing tale of a woman at the pivot of her life facing difficult decisions. Caught in the old rut of being the shoulders that take the weight of the marriage and family, she struggles to become an independent and creative woman. She's making her own personal decisions for the first time in her life. The storyline was interesting and written with a lot of humor and affection. Ms. Buckley has done an excellent job of revealing the true colors of her characters. This is definitely recommended reading.