Sand Castles — Nancy Gotter Gates

Retirement can bring life changes. Ginny McAllister finds herself living in a Sarasota condo her husband bought when she was convalescing from a broken knee, giving her no part in the decision. Adding to her low spirits is the recent discovery that Leland was once unfaithful, and their son and his wife have decided not to have children. While Leland is involved with golf and fishing, Ginny can't find her niche. He has little sympathy, belittling her recruitment of children to build sand castles and her growing interest in a poetry group.

As she finds herself increasingly unhappy, Nicholas, a member of the poetry group, begins to play a role in her life. Finally he stuns her by asking her to leave Leland and marry him. While Ginny agonizes over his proposal, she and her visiting sister are trapped in the condo during a hurricane while Leland is fishing in the Keys. Her brush with death leads her to decide what path she wishes her life to follow.