When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in the ways of refined society, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs...and their hearts.

    Set in Siam and Europe during the 1920s, a glittering decade of change, The Moon in the Mango Tree is based upon the true story of Barbara Bond, a beautiful young opera singer from Philadelphia who is forced to choose between her fierce desire for independence—a desire to create something of her own to give purpose and meaning to her life—and a deep abiding love for her faithful missionary husband whose work creates a gap between them. But when you choose between two things you love, must one be lost forever?

    It is not about terrorism, the holocaust, or understanding death. They are the framework for this heartwarming story about a never-a-serious-thought high school senior and his best friend, a Deaf-blind, legless old man, who teaches him how to capture and hold, The Pristine American Dream. Pristine, "Characteristics of the earliest period or condition: original: still pure: uncorrupted: unspoiled [Pristine beauty]." Webster's New World Dictionary. Sometime, somehow, somewhere, we, as a people, stopped living and dreaming The Pristine American Dream as our Founding Fathers knew it. Like colors fading from a handkerchief long forgotten on a cedar post, the Dream has faded from our thoughts and aspirations. The change has been imperceptible, yet over time all of the brilliance has faded to the dull, uninspiring and common. The Pristine American Dream has taken on a different hue. To some, the American Dream has become a passionate search for easy wealth by hitting it big in the lottery, sweepstakes, a big lawsuit, or receiving an inheritance. To others it is landing a professional sports contract, or achieving prominence in politics, business or popularity without any thought to inherent rights. As important as these achievements may be to some people, The Pristine American Dream is much better. This story showcases The Pristine American Dream, which is those inalienable or inherent rights guaranteed to each American by virtue of their birth, and the diligence, hard work and determination required to obtain and enjoy the privileges of life. Simply put, inherent rights are the rights to be and to do good. Everything that is good is right, an inherent right. Nobody ever has the right to do bad; they only have the power to choose it. Many people see goodness as the result of religious dedication instead of the catalyst that fires the furnace of happiness. No matter what circumstances' individuals, families, communities or nations find themselves in, they always enjoy more peace of mind and happiness when they maintain their inherent rights. Privileges are the sweet things of life for which one must work to receive. This is a fiction story. The setting is Declo, Idaho during the years of 1966 and 1967. All the characters are fiction, but like many great fiction characters they may resemble living or dead individuals whose lives have impacted that of the author. Most family names are indigenous to the Declo community, yet there should not be any inference made that any of the characters are living or have ever lived. There are, however, certain authenthic individuals who make cameo appearances to add color to its historical setting.

    Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and meets American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But the captain has been wounded by a woman before and guards his independent life. A swashbuckling man doesn't need an English heiress to make him slow down, feel again, or be challenged with questions about his faith-or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

    Having never cooked a day in her life, she is terrified of being found out and banished to the cotton fields as was her mother before her. But when she accidentally burns the freedom papers of Jonathan Mayfield, a handsome free man of color to whom she's attracted, her fear of the fields becomes secondary.A gifted cabinetmaker, Jonathan Mayfield's heart is set on finally becoming a respected businessman by outfitting a bedroom at the palatial Riverwood—until a beautiful new slave destroys his proof of freedom and his fragile confidence along with it. When the mistress of Riverwood orders Dinah to work alongside the sullen Mr. Mayfield, sparks fly setting the two on a collision course. Is their mutual love for God strong enough to overcome deep-seated insecurities and set the couple on a path toward self-acceptance and love for each other?

    

     The Ultimatum Bride: “I’m giving you two months to settle down. Find yourself a respectable wife, stop the brawling and be the man I know you can be. Otherwise, I will tell Darrel to expect a wedding for his daughter soon.” “And if I refuse to marry Elsie?” George West’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Then you will be written out of my will.” Jesse West is faced with an ultimatum. Unwilling to marry Elsie and steadfast against losing his right to inherit the Circle W, he must think quickly. His best option seems to be sending away for a mail-order bride. Faith Donovan vowed never to marry. Years of witnessing her parents' abusive marriage soured her against such a union, but when she can't find employment, she answers an advertisement for a mail-order bride and hopes for the best. When she discovers her new husband has a reputation for the very things she feared, her hopes are crushed. Yet, something about Jesse draws Faith to him. Can they look beyond their pasts and forge a future filled with love? Serving With Love: After her unscrupulous stepfather accuses her of being a thief, a horrified Katie hopes to hide out until she can prove otherwise. But slipping into obscurity in a small Texas town isn't so easy. Not with Texas Ranger Ward Alston on her tail. Ward's used to getting his man—or woman. But he's not used to the accused being so resolute in her innocence or so beautifully appealing. As he uncovers the truth, Ward realizes this Harvey Girl isn't all she seems. Together, can they evade danger and obey the law of their own hearts? Hearts to God: Orphaned as an infant, Madeline Snow grew up in the Shaker community—the perfect place to learn reverence, hard work, and a love for God that surpasses the need for an earthly family. But the difference between what the Bible says and what the Shakers taught was too much for Madeline, so when she came of age, she left the safety of her home for a new life with her much older sister. Madeline had been trained to grow herbs and make medicine by the best herbalists in her community, but in the wild Oregon Outback finding a husband is the only proper occupation for a single lady. Madeline left the Shaker community, but her devotion to God and the principle of celibacy, are unchanged. Finding a husband to direct her life is her last priority. But her sister and guardian is just as stubborn as Madeline. Madeline will marry, whether she wants to or not. Unfortunately for Madeline, finding a husband isn’t simply a matter of falling in love. Some men are off limits, no matter how they make your heart thunder. Free to Heal: Kane Calloway swore he’d never let anyone close to him again, that way he’d never feel the pain of loss. Living a life of reckless abandonment has brought him face-to-face with his demons—no more running. Either he gets married, or spends time in jail—neither sentence is appealing, but if he stays out of jail, he can at least help keep two small children from going hungry. Newly widowed, Faith Masterson is struggling to keep up with chores while tending to her two daughters. Without help, which she can’t afford to pay for, she and her daughters will surely starve by winter. After hearing about a new government program for women in her situation, she decides it is worth trying for the sake of her children.

    Inevitably, as they set off on the journey back to Nottingham the lawmen's disgust at the captive's crime colours their opinion of him and Little John has to be restrained from brutally assaulting the man. The harsh winter conditions slow their progress though, and eventually the prisoner's protestations and desperate violent actions have the lawmen questioning what's really been happening in Stapleford...Can Robin and John complete the mission they've been given, or will their own innate sense of justice lead them down an unexpected path?Fans of the bestselling Forest Lord series will love this exciting new stand-alone tale, set just before Blood of the Wolf, that explores the themes of morality and justice in medieval England.

    Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death.And yet this was no stranger. Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.

    Keeping her safe, though, means his world is about to be turned upside down.When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter--but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.

    . . An ambitious Naval Officer longing for a promotion . . . Is their love strong enough to defy the noose?Can ladies be pirates? In 1718 Charleston, there are few other choices left to women in need of large sums of money. And Faith Westcott needs such a fortune to protect her two sisters from forced marriages or their aloof and often-absent admiral father will do just that upon his return from overseas. The only problem is, he has assigned a naval officer to keep guard over Faith and her sisters while he is away—a very handsome naval officer, and one whom Faith recognizes as a victim of her piracy from long ago.Dajon Waite longs to make a success for himself in the British Royal Navy, not only to cover a host of past sins but to prove to his father and brother that he isn’t the wastrel they accuse him of being. When he is stationed in Charleston, Carolina to rid the nearby seas of pirates, he is thrilled to meet up with his long-time mentor, Admiral Westcott. But Dajon must pass a test before receiving the promotion he desires: protect the admiral’s unruly and headstrong daughters! Not an easy task when Dajon’s past dealings with women ended in disaster and shame—including a run in with a lady pirate.

    Benson s works, this novel has been reprinted many times since its publication in 1912. The drama and the characters therein have their basis in the real life account of a Catholic family, and of the sufferings of Catholics in general, under Elizabeth I of England. In this story of deep tragedy and terror Msgr. Benson portrays the conflict between natural, tender human passion and divine love, and its heroic resolution worked out in the hearts of the two principal characters, along with the development of the doctrine of vocation. Recommended by Laura Berquist Medieval English amp Spanish Hist/Geog/Lit Syllabus Laura Berquist Medieval European Hist/Geog/Lit Syllabus, Laura Berquist British Literature, Our Lady of Victory Grade 9 Author: Robert Benson Pages: 377, Hardcover Publisher: Neumann Press ISBN: 1-911845-35-6

    Life in America is far from peaceful for members of the Lund family. As Alaina deals with the painful loss of her home and her father, she makes a desperate choice and finds herself in a strange city among people of a strange faith. Her husband is a good man — but a man she has never loved. As she copes with the emptiness she feels, something in her heart begins to change . . .Meanwhile her sister Eleanor finds the lifestyle in San Francisco suffocating and without purpose. As she defies high-society rules and secretly attempts to stop the unnecessary suffering of children, she comes to find a passion in medicine. But when her actions are discovered, what will happen? Join gifted author Gale Sears in an eloquent and moving story of love, family, and forgiveness.

    Once as thick as thieves, the friendships among the girls have been splintered by life events, secrets and deceptions. Now, brought together again by an inheritance of an historic Bed & Breakfast on Tybee Island, the women must set aside their differences in order to restore their beloved Savannah House. As each woman finds her special talent and develops it through the renovation of the inn, they also find romance—each of them with an unforgettable hero. Hope Matthews is a beautiful and caring woman who has centered her life around her baby daughter, Ella. Although she was born and bred in Savannah, Hope fled her hometown in order to hide her pregnancy from her family and friends. When Hope discovers her mentor Miss Hattie Montgomery bequeathed the historic resort, Savannah House to her and a group of friends, she returns to Savannah. As she immerses herself in her new life as one of the co-owners of a bed and breakfast, Hope keeps secret the circumstances of Ella’s birth and the betrayal that shattered her heart and destroyed her belief in love. When Grayson Holloway, a man who claims to be Miss Hattie’s heir, shows up on Tybee Island, Hope’s heart begins to come back to life. Grayson Holloway is a talented illustrator and author who arrives in Savannah seeking answers about his heritage and links to Hattie Alexander, the former owner of Savannah House bed and breakfast. Grayson believes he is the grandson of Miss Hattie and that she gave his father up for adoption as a newborn. Fueled by his own dysfunctional upbringing and tensions with his own father, Grayson finds peace in the knowledge that he’s connected to the illustrious Alexander family. When he meets single mother, Hope Matthews, he feels an instant connection to the dark-haired beauty. Can Grayson show Hope he’s a man who can safeguard her heart?

    Three years have passed since his death, and Clara finds herself working at the Bridgewood Mercantile, unable to forget the loss of her first love. Though she spends her days caring for the store owner’s young ward and seeing to the shopping needs of her homesteading community, she has resigned herself to quiet, peaceful nights alone. When Gabe Holt rides into town with two children in the back of his covered wagon, Clara is unnerved by the handsome young farmer’s forthright, flirtatious manner. She prefers to watch the antics of her neighbour, Mrs. Booth, trying to secure Gabe as a husband for her daughter Sadie. But Sadie has other plans, and thinks Gabe would be better suited to a hardworking woman like her friend Clara. As Clara becomes the unwitting victim of Sadie’s matchmaking schemes, she begins to develop romantic feelings for Gabe. With friends pushing them together, and children determined to keep them apart, Clara must ultimately decide if she has room enough in her heart for someone new.