The world seems to be falling apart, as the struggle with the hard times engulfs the country, and the Shank family is about to encounter these same hardships. Gammy, mom, and I just left our financier who said, to our shock, that our estate funds are almost depleted! "You should sell everything," he advised. "Your homes, lands, farms, even Butternut Island have to go to cover debts and save what little remains." The family had no choice but to move to the city, joining other struggling people who were trying to eek out a living. They opened a boarding house, but the income barely covered the bills. Minerva began working for people in their homes and sent her earnings home. She unfortunately meets with tragedy and her life is shattered...until she finds there is good to be found in every day. Hard times cause the Shank family to evaluate their own human weakness when facing wrongs of the past and those of the present. Is there room in broken hearts for forgiveness and peace? Can a person surrender their own inabilities and mistakes into the loving hands of God and find release of heavy burdens?