Maria Hammond and her sister, Rachel, were as different as could be. Rachel was like bright sunshine everywhere, while Maria, or "Ri," as her family called her, always took things awry. When the Hammond family had to rent out their spacious home in the city and take a plain summer cottage by the sea, Rachel was delighted. Maria, however, humiliated by her family's reduced financial status, threw herself fiercely into the role of martyr, determined to make everyone feel her suffering.

Then a chance encounter with thoughtful, contemplative Howard Fairfield changed everything. Soon Maria found herself trying to be as good and spiritual as he believed she was . . . but Lone Point was to bring Maria many struggles before she found the love her lonely heart craved.