A young couple go on a camping holiday in Africa with her parents and older sister, but on arrival discover sister's friend and her husband were invited but sister did not book enough tents so her friends have to share with them, as they are from that country they find some surprising behaviour and customs.
The Gathering is continued in a second volume, Book II. Part of the Hartstein universe
John Franck, 41, a sex addict, thus far has hidden it from his wife, but his shrink encourages him to make a recording of some of his conquests and Argie, his wife happens on it. What happens after this is the main story of the gathering in Houston.
Charlie Parsons had been Sophie and Willow's school bus driver since they were eighth-graders. Now, four years later, he was retiring, and his favorite riders wanted to make his last day special. They succeeded.