Best of
Christian-Historical-Fiction

2016

Waves of Mercy


Lynn Austin - 2016
    Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love. At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her. Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

Beyond the Silence


Tracie Peterson - 2016
    But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. There are rumors in town that her new employer, Woodward Colton, caused the death of his wife. This accusation doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know--and Mrs. Goodman, Woody's long-time housekeeper, is decisively on Woody's side--but many in town stay far away from Lillian because of her association with the Colton family.Lillian's six-year-old charge, Jimmy, was there when his mother died, and he hasn't spoken a word since. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he'll one day feel safe enough to tell her the truth about what happened. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. Will Mrs. Goodman and Jimmy be able to speak what they know in time to save Lillian from tragedy?

A Treasure Concealed


Tracie Peterson - 2016
    She also longs for tenderness and love, both of which are missing in her life. Yet when she realizes she's losing her heart to the intriguing new man in camp, she fiercely fights her feelings, afraid that love will only result in disappointment and heartache.Caeden Thibault, a young geologist, comes to Montana to catalog minerals indigenous to the state. He's a serious and guarded young man trying to escape the pain of his past. He has avoided all romantic entanglements, fearing he might become like his abusive father. But something about Emily Carver has caught his attention, something he never expected. . . .Will these two broken souls allow God to bring healing and hope to their hurting hearts?

Sarah's Patchwork


Stephanie Grace Whitson - 2016
     Abandoned by their destitute father, Sarah Biddle and her younger brother, Tom, are sent west on an orphan train. But no one wants to adopt a girl with a crippled brother in tow. Facing the unthinkable—being returned to a New York orphanage—Sarah and Tom run away when the eastbound train pauses in Lincoln, Nebraska. Not until the two come face to face with Jesse King and Augusta Hathaway (introduced to readers in the Prairie Winds Series), do Sarah and Tom begin to hope for better things. When Sarah learns the power of true love to heal the broken heart, she is transformed. Each scrap of fabric in Sarah’s patchwork quilt bears silent witness to the rich life experienced by a strong, resourceful woman who stitched “the tears of the past into a treasure for tomorrow.”

Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace


Jody Hedlund - 2016
    I once was lost, but now am found Now remembered as the author of the world s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father until the night he hears Polly Catlett s enchanting voice, caroling. He s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection. An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves? Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe."

Seven Brides for Seven Texans


Erica Vetsch - 2016
    Each man is content in his independent life, without the responsibilities of a wife and children—until their father decides 1874 will be the year his grown sons finally marry, or they will be cut from his will. How will each man who values his freedom respond to the ultimatum? Can love develop on a timeline, or will it be sacrificed for the sake of an inheritance?

The Captive Heart


Michelle Griep - 2016
    When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer.

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ


Carol Wallace - 2016
    Now Lew's great-great-granddaughter has taken the old-fashioned prose of this classic novel and breathed new life into it for today's audience.Coming to theaters in August 2016 as Ben-Hur, a major motion picture from MGM and Paramount studios, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman whose childhood friend Messala betrays him. Accused of trying to murder the new Roman governor in Jerusalem, Judah is sentenced to the galley ships and vows to seek revenge against the Romans and Messala. But a chance encounter with a carpenter from Nazareth sets Judah on a different path.Rediscover the intrigue, romance, and tragedy in this thrilling adventure.Also included: the inspiring story-behind-the-story of Lew Wallace--Indiana lawyer, author, and Civil War general.

Immeasurably More


Leah Atwood - 2016
     “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” – Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) Come to Me Free by Leah Atwood … Dani Trahan is solely focused on keeping her restaurant afloat, until tragedy strikes. Rob Jackson doesn’t do relationships, but Dani makes him want to believe again. Can they learn to rely on faith to move beyond friendship before it’s too late? If Only in My Dreams by Belle Calhoune … Self-made multimillionaire Brandon Donahue yearns for true love. Principled beauty Rose Maddock, Brandon’s secretary, doesn’t see much in Brandon to find endearing. When he moves his business and Rose to his hometown, will she see a side of him that has her rethinking her decision not to mix business with pleasure? A Reason to Run by Christina Coryell … Camdyn Taylor is a bestselling author, but she carefully guards that secret. Her chaotic personal life isn’t quite so easy to keep hidden, nor is her propensity to run when things aren’t perfect. Will a quest to retrace her ancestor’s footsteps, and a chance meeting with the charming Cole Parker, be enough to convince her to stop running? Love So Amazing by JoAnn Durgin … Dance instructor Ava Carlisle and pedicab owner Sawyer Mancini shed past heartaches to find the kind of love that happens only once in a lifetime. Months after meeting Ava, Sawyer discovers the two share an unfathomable bond. Will a cruel twist of fate tear them apart or is it somehow God’s perfect plan? Blue Columbine by Jennifer Rodewald … Andrew and Jamie have always been best friends – maybe more than friends – until addiction shatters everything. Caught between loyalty and fear, Jamie realizes she cannot be Andrew’s miracle and makes a decision that rips them apart. Can the hand of grace reach into their broken lives to bring redemption to all that has been lost? Saltwater Taffie by Janice Thompson … Taffie Carini enjoys working in her family’s candy store on the Atlantic City boardwalk, but she’s unsure about managing the store after her parents’ impending retirement. When repairman Ryan Antonelli makes a service call at Carini’s, he’s irresistibly drawn to more than just the candy. Can Ryan help Taffie save Carini’s Confections, and will they find sweet love together in the process?

A Heart Most Certain


Melissa Jagears - 2016
    But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poor house herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the moral society's president is her suitor's mother. Her first task as a moral society member—to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town—should be easy . . . except he flat-out refuses.Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresee the harrowing complications that will arise from working together. When town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs—and hearts—truly align.

Saving The Marquise's Granddaughter


Carrie Fancett Pagels - 2016
    Handsome German peasant, Johan Rousch, risks his life to bring her to the safety of his family’s farm in the Palatinate duchy, but when Suzanne’s brother and the French army arrive with a warning that they plan to burn the area, she and Johan are forced to flee. With no money or options, both become indentured servants in exchange for safe passage to Philadelphia. Suzanne falls gravely ill aboard ship and marries Johan, only to survive with no memory of the wedding—a reality made worse when Johan spots the “priest” who married them working as a surveyor and later in Quaker cleric garb. Are their wedding vows valid? When Suzanne's former fiancé arrives in port, planning to abduct her, Johan must save her again—but can he do so before Suzanne is lost to him forever?

The Refuge


Regan Walker - 2016
    At the royal court, Steinar becomes scribe to the unlettered King of Scots while secretly regaining his skill with a sword.The first time Steinar glimpses the flame-haired maiden, Catrìona of the Vale of Leven, he is drawn to her spirited beauty. She does not fit among the ladies who have come to serve the devout queen. Not pious, not obedient and not given to stitchery, the firebrand flies a falcon!Catrìona has come to Malcolm’s court wounded in spirit from the vicious attack on her home by Northmen who slayed her parents and her people. But that is not all she will suffer. The king has promised her to one of his favored warriors, but she has given her heart to a lowly scribe.When all is lost, what hope is there for love? Can a broken heart be mended? Can a damaged soul be healed?

Brides of Texas


Cathy Marie Hake - 2016
    Robert, a doctor; Duncan, a cobbler; and Christopher, a lawman set up shop in a small Texas town and quickly make the acquaintance of local women. Tragedy has struck Mercy Stein on the eve of her wedding, leaving her soul battered. Alone and crippled, Carmen Rodriguez wears a protective shell of bitterness. Harboring a secret, Kathryn Regent always seems to be getting in others way. Can gifts left by their father help the brothers lead these women to healing faith?

The Boden Birthright


Mary Connealy - 2016
    He has plans to establish his own ranch, but instead he finds work with Frank Chastain, owner of a vast amount of land.Chance doesn't want to work for anyone, but Frank's beautiful daughter gives him reason to delay buying his own holdings. With winter coming, no home in which to live, and Veronica's offer to care for young Cole while Chance learns the ways of successful ranching in the desert, Chance has little choice but to accept the Chastains' offer to stay on.When Frank is attacked, his dying wish is that Chance marry his daughter, but after dealing with his in-laws, Chance isn't going to let anyone come between him and his son. Then Frank's precarious hold on the land he received as part of an old Spanish Land Grant forces Frank to make a desperate choice to save Veronica's inheritance--and also gives the men who attacked Frank reason to come after him.

A Mother in the Making


Gabrielle Meyer - 2016
    John Orton expects in both a governess and a wife. But his children's temporary governess Miss Marjorie Maren seems set on finding him an impractical woman to love…despite his plans of marrying solely for convenience. Nothing could be more exasperating to the handsome widower—except his increasing interest in Marjorie. Vivacious and fun-loving: that's the kind of bride the reserved doctor needs. Before Marjorie leaves to pursue her acting dreams, she intends to match him with a suitable wife candidate. Yet growing affection for her four charges and their dashing father has awakened a new hope—that she might be his perfect bride. But can she convince her employer to take a chance on love and claim real happiness before it slips away?

The Pursuit of Leviathan


C. Baker - 2016
    This forgotten tragedy has been lost to history.Until now.As heir to the family estate, young English gentleman Christopher Clive is submissive to his grandfather's grooming, but his heart is drawn to the enchanting Irish muse, Raven O'Morrissey. When her village is attacked, Christopher makes a noble sacrifice and comes face to face with Leviathan--a godless spirit of chaos--and its world of forced slavery, jihad, and the clash of empires.Yet even as the years pass, he cannot forget the coastal mist of the sea cove he and Raven once shared as the setting of their tragic romance and of a legendary treasure that could change their fate forever.Muslim pirates, Christian slaves and an epic struggle for love in exotic places, 'The Pursuit of Leviathan' will carry you across perilous lands and into a historical portrait of unthinkable evil and surprising good. This unforgettable adventure reveals a great monster that threatens us all--and the greater power that insures its inevitable defeat.

A Family Arrangement


Gabrielle Meyer - 2016
    Until then, Charlotte Lee has agreed to keep house and help raise his children as part of their bargain. But can the single father fulfill Charlotte's requirements in time to make sure that she and his boys don't leave—and take his heart with them? Charlotte is convinced that the wilderness is no place to raise her nephews. But as she watches the community slowly develop, she sees that Abram just might be able to make it blossom. With three little matchmakers bringing her and Abram together, Little Falls could become not just a flourishing town, but the perfect home for their patchwork family.

Dust Between the Stitches


Cleo Lampos - 2016
    Black Blizzards, the Board of Education, and bank president overwhelm her. Addy falls in love with the orphans her grandfather adopted, and her students, but vows to guard her heart against Jess Dettmann, who has a suspicious past. Foreclosure on grandpa's homestead threatens the security of all of them. Creating a quilt from Grandma's stash pile serves as a way for Addy to cope, but eventually leads to help and justice for her family. Despair, dust and drought weave through the Great Depression and Dust Bowl producing a fabric on which vivid threads of hope appear. Will Addy save the farm, her job, and her heart on the Colorado ranch?

Eagle Harbor Series #1-3


Naomi Rawlings - 2016
     In Love's Unfading Light, a widow who wants nothing to do with love is surprised by a lighthouse keeper's generous spirit. In Love's Every Whisper, a woman looking for contentment in the wrong places finds hope in the arms of a childhood sweetheart. In Love's Sure Dawn, a woman dedicated to helping her family learns love can come from unexpected places. Can these three women find themselves content in the hand of a loving God... and in the arms of the men God leads them to? From lighthouses and jagged rocks to friendly townsfolk and homemade pie, the Eagle Harbor Series offers a collection of satisfying romance novels laced with God's truths. Love's Unfading Light Tressa Danell is finished with men--from the wastrel who left her a widow, to the smelly trapper who keeps proposing, to the banker who wants to repossess her bakery. Lighthouse keeper Mac Oakton is tired of living in a small town that blames him for his father's actions and plans to leave within the month. But the pretty bakery owner and her endless stream of problems keep tugging at his heart. Can Mac set his own plans aside to help? And can Tressa accept his support if that means giving up her independence ... and being obligated to a man again? Love’s Every Whisper Victoria Donnelly has finally found a way to redeem herself in the eyes of her family, but it requires returning to the small town of Eagle Harbor, where forgotten feelings for a man she can never have lie buried. Can she face childhood sweetheart Elijah Cummings again without destroying both their hearts? Love's Sure Dawn Rebekah Cummings is determined to help pay her family's debts, but she doesn't expect to get a job cooking on the ship of an old friend...or is he an enemy? Rebekah well remembers the pain she endured the last time she tried trusting Gilbert Sinclair. But neither Rebekah nor Gilbert can stop the forgotten feelings swirling between them—or ignore the sacrifices they'd both have to make for a future together. Eagle Harbor Series--Where Love Finds Its Anchor Book 1: Love's Unfading Light (Mac and Tressa) Book 2: Love's Every Whisper (Elijah and Victoria) Short Story: Love's Beginning (Elijah and Victoria) Book 3: Love's Sure Dawn (Gilbert and Rebekah) Book 4: Love's Eternal Breath (Seth and Lindy--winter 2017) Book 5: Love's Constant Hope (Thomas and Jessalyn--spring 2017) Book 6: Love's Bright Tomorrow (Isaac and Aileen--winter 2018)

Brothers-in-Arms: A World War II Story


Jack Lewis Baillot - 2016
    Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high. With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they've always known, they move into Berlin with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet's heritage a secret. Taking his best friend's safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations. With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can't be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.

Remnant: Book One of the Gracefinder Saga


John Stacy Worth - 2016
    A chosen remnant. With nothing but grace to carry them through. Many have attempted to dissect, interpret, refute, prove, or adapt the tale, wrestling with the question in its various forms: Why would a merciful God choose to destroy so many? How could a loving Father rain down such complete annihilation? What grieved the Creator so deeply that He would wipe away an entire world? Leaving only a remnant of eight. This trilogy cuts to the heart those questions and more. One of the world's most ancient tales, it is also vastly misunderstood. Scholarly commentaries gloss over it. Movie versions never do it justice. Children's Bibles tame it into one of a robed old man and plush animal figurines. So let the first book in this series usher you toward a fresh revelation of the Flood event. Envision God's remnant as never before, and find answers that may surprise you. And, as you follow the series to its end, discover a grace even deeper than the waters that covered an entire world. ********************** For Noah’s sons completing the great ship has always been the first priority, yet they must also find wives. But where, when all the world is corrupt? There is Beth, their mother’s handmaiden, who longs for Japheth but catches Shem’s eye instead. There is also the slave girl, Shandai, nursed back from the brink of death and willing to seduce either one. Meanwhile for Ham there seems to be no one, and a life of inheriting only the scraps of his older brothers. Tension within the family and from without threatens to tear them apart, as Satan uses any means available to destroy God's remnant; vengeful enemies, the demon spawn Nephilim, and if possible, even one another.

Peach Blossom Rancher (Peaches and Dreams #2)


Ada Brownell - 2016
    Yet their lives intersect. Will they achieve their dreams? John Lincoln Parks has two goals: Restore the Colorado peach and horse ranch to its former glory, and marry elegant Valerie MacDougal, a young widow and law school graduate. A stranger about to give birth in his barn, a murderer on the loose, a feisty female neighbor who thinks she’s in love with him, a sheriff, and a determined attorney interrupt his intentions. At the same time, Dr. Dillon Haskill desperately hopes for release from the asylum for the insane, and he wants to take with him Pete, a ten-year-old victim of Down’s Syndrome, and Jim Cook, a teacher, paralyzed in a logging accident. But asylum dignitaries believe these patients are either lunatics or demon possessed. An intriguing story wrapped around inspiration, suspense, humor, and characters you’ll love.

Slender Reeds: Jochebed's Hope


Texie Susan Gregory - 2016
    . . .And while it is still dark, God is at work.   Jochebed’s entire life has been a faith journey as she seeks her mother’s God. The daughter of a Hebrew slave and master basket weaver, Jochebed knows the stories of her ancestors but wonders if the Lord cares how they suffer under the hand of Pharaoh Ramses. . .and if the promised deliverance will ever really come.               Ramses, warned of Egypt’s destruction, vows to do whatever is necessary to protect his two great loves, Egypt and Nefertari, unaware that satisfying one will sacrifice the other.Shiphrah, the half-Egyptian midwife tasked to kill Hebrew male infants, yearns for a place to belong and remembers childhood stories of a merciful God.                Doubts are a constant companion to Jochebed, but her foundation of faith leads her to defy the most powerful man in the world in a deadly race to save her son and, ultimately, God’s chosen people.  Two women, each following the dangerous path God has set before them—this is their story.

Jonah: A Comedy (Good Story Version of the Bible)


Matt Mikalatos - 2016
    Full of comedy, sly commentary, and a beautiful depiction of God, this is the book of Jonah as you've never read it before.

Trunk of Scrolls: A Family Adventure


Darlene N. Bocek - 2016
    Everything is Destroyed.All that's left is a Trunk of Scripture Scrolls.A broken life...Shoving aside the rubble covering his once-perfect life, Marcellus sees his home in ruins, his family scattered, and his faith broken by the unpredictable God who destroyed everything. Now he must escort his family on a perilous journey to Constantinople to find his lost uncle and recover the family's missing fortune.A cursed ring... His hidden love for bold and daring Byziana is complicated by one overwhelming fact-she is betrothed to sword-wielding Belisarius, Marcellus's greatest foe. No one but Marcellus knows the danger, but his honor forbids him from revealing it.A neglected trunk... Their hope lies in a trunk of Scripture scrolls. But they have no idea.Kyrie Eleison. God have mercy.Dr. Michael S. Horton - "Church history is exciting, but not always told in an exciting way. As historical fiction, Trunk of Scrolls transports the reader to another time and place while making it all seem less remote. Written in vivid--sometimes almost poetic--prose, this is a page-turner. I'm sure that it will reach the wide audience that it deserves.""The entire time I was reading Darlene Bocek's book Trunk of Scrolls I could picture it being such a wonderful family adventure film." Goodreads"Our six year old son loved [this and] begged us to keep reading way into the night." Amazon"This exciting and engaging story takes us back to the sixth century in order to consider the most critical question of every age: Who is Jesus Christ? A great read!" Dr. Joel R. Beeke'Trunk of Scrolls fell open and I fell in, and throughout the adventure, mystery, drama, action and romance, I found myself lost in the author's world and deeply attached to and caring about her characters. They became my friends; I hated her villains and loved her heroes and heroines...MY heroes and heroines. Their stories thrilled my soul and warmed my heart for many weeks after I finished the book." GoodreadsTrunk of Scrolls is a "on the edge of your seat" survival story.If you like fast-paced adventures, spontaneous young heroes, suspense-filled plots, and a dash of romance, then you'll love Trunk of Scrolls! Good for the whole family! Great for a curl-up-on-the-bed read.BUY it today! Take and Read!

Heart of a Cowboy


Susan Page Davis - 2016
    Hearts in Pursuit By Susan Page Davis Can Abby and Sam fight their way through the danger and violence and live long enough to find love? Texas, 1880. Abby and Sam pursue a band of raiders to rescue their younger siblings. Abby’s father is gravely injured, and she knows she can’t return home without her little sister. Sam’s father wants to thwart his powerful Mexican father-in-law and stop him from taking Pablo to live with him south of the border, but once he has Pablo back, will he continue the search for Abby’s sister? Abby and Sam feel it is up to them to keep the recovery mission on track. Though romance seems to have no place on the trail of danger and violence, can this journey draws them closer? Hearts Reunited By Miralee Ferrell Mercedes Taylor is determined to save her ranch after her father’s death, but she won’t let anyone help—especially not her old friend Jesse Townsend who deserted her so many years ago. The pain his family inflicted on hers goes too deep for her pride to forgive. After riding the trail for five years, Jesse Townsend returns to his family property to find the girl he’d once loved all grown up—and more prickly than he’s ever seen her. After his mare is seriously injured, he has no choice but to call on Mercedes—the local animal doctor—for help. Add the attractive banker’s daughter who Jesse seems smitten with, and trouble starts brewing. Can Mercedes and Jesse set aside the old family feud and find their way back to the love that had only started to blossom when Jesse left? Have Dress, Will Marry By Yvonne Lehman Julie Hayes must escape from Wildcat Mountain. Her mother died, leaving her with a step-father she doesn’t trust. James, who she thought would be her means of escape, is gone. Her only hope is to approach the cowboy, saddleback preacher Timothy Sullivan, when he makes his circuit into Wildcat Mountain. She asks, “Will you marry me?” He says, “Yes, of course,” expecting to perform a ceremony for her and James. Believing Julie is in danger, Timothy takes her to the Sullivan Ranch. Suspicions abound when she’s accused of stealing a horse and jewels. While Julie is trying to become the kind of woman a preacher would want to marry, Tim is trying to realize his ranching dreams, which don’t include being a circuit riding preacher. The Hand-Me-Down Husband By Vickie McDonough Ellen Stewart despises Lance Garrett. If not for him dashing into Isabelle’s life and stealing her heart and filling her head with his dreams, her little sister would still be alive and safe at home. When she receives Lance’s letter requesting help, Ellen rushes to Silver Springs, intent on taking charge of her young niece. A rugged ranch is no place for a motherless baby. But when she realizes the depth of Lance’s despair, she can’t leave him alone. Though everything within her wants to flee back to the big city, something makes her stay. Tessa needs her father, for one—and he needs her. Ellen knows what it’s like to lose all she’d dreamed of. When local church members make a stink about Ellen living at Lance’s ranch, they are forced to marry. Ellen didn’t want a hand-me-down husband, but could their marriage be God’s will for them both?