Ash Lancaster is a farmer who has lost his wife and struggles to raise his young son alone. Greta Jorgenson is a widow with a son also, and when Ash’s son needs a tutor, the school chooses her for the job. It doesn’t take long for her and Ash to be at odds with each other, however, as she encourages young Chase to learn more about the very sport that Ash doesn’t want him to be involved with. To make matters worse, Greta is a committed Christian who makes God seem very appealing to his son. The school wants his son to improve his reading, but all Ash wants is to be left alone by everyone, including God. As his past is slowly uncovered, Ash is forced to come to terms with his life and to decide how to go on with his future.

Greta is also affected by the tutoring arrangement as she finds herself falling in love with a man who keeps his distance from everyone. Can she help Chase without hurting herself?

Brenda Stacy Mastromonaco lives on Martha’s Vineyard Island with her husband and son, whom she home schools. Margaret’s Kitchen is her first published novel.