The Watsons of Tethertown follows the life of Joel Watson and his family in a small Missouri town from 1886 to 1919. Joel's adult life begins on the night he flees his family farm and finds refuge with a neighbor who saves him from almost certain hanging. He meets and woos the beautiful Belle Hughes and eventually finds his way back to his family's farm. As husband and wife, Joel and Belle find passion, joy, and sorrow, surviving drought, catastrophic winter weather, and heartbreaking losses which only seem to bring them closer together.

The saga continues through the eyes of their oldest daughter Laura. She finds the love of her life, Walter. They marry but struggle to become pregnant, which breaks Laura's heart.

Then the Great War comes, and Walter is shipped off to France. Tragedy strikes Walter in France. While Laura waits for news, the Spanish flu strikes. Meanwhile Joel's sister-in-law Beatrice has fallen in love - but with a woman. Will her family be willing to accept her love for this woman or turn their backs on her?

Will Walter return home from the war? Will all the family members survive the Spanish flu? And what can Beatrice hope for?

Somehow, Joel and his family must find a way to survive. But will they ever find happiness again?

Fun, sensual, and historically accurate, this novel is a window into the texture of everyday life more than 130 years ago.