This book is part of a fictional series based on Gary Chapman's non-fiction book about the four seasons of marriage. (I haven't read Chapman's non-fiction book. I have read another book in this series.) This book covers the season of Fall, during which Chapman feels unwanted changes occur and a nagging feeling of emptiness happens.

**SPOILER ALERT: READ MORE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION**

*****

The book focuses mostly on Charlie and Esther Moore who have been married for nearly 50 years. Though to others, they seem to have a good, loving relationship, we see through the narration that they had their struggles just like any other couple--are still having them in fact. The authors juxtapose that with Brad and Ashley Hanes, a couple who have been married less than a year, and who are also having problems.

Whether it is because of their generation or their upbringing, the Moores stuck together and learned to communicate with each other. Brad Hanes in particular seems to have the current mindset of "if it doesn't work, move on"--in other words, get a divorce and find someone else. (The problem being of course that if you don't address what the problem was from the marriage, you can carry that same baggage into a new relationship.)

But we see that even in a long-standing relationship such as the Moores', old hurts can still have an impact. Esther seems to bring up old hurts, whether due to her medical condition or unresolved issues I can't say. She brings up: Charlie's one trip to a strip club, Charlie's breaking of her Limoges vase, Charlie's early behavior as a husband and how she had to mold him, Charlie's muttering, and a few other events that happened long ago. For his part, Charlie's insecurities mount when he finds that his wife has kept a drawing (and other items) from an artistic neighbor in their first apartment building.

I did not expect the result for Esther that came about. That made me sad. At first I thought it was perhaps a lead in to the Winter season for marriage (which I assume will be the subject of the next book), but the description given in the summary of the seasons doesn't fit what should happen next with Charlie Moore--though I suspect he will be there to give council to the husbands of the town. ( )