Bøger af Chautona Havig

If only owning a bookstore didn't mean dealing with people.No one was more surprised than Harper Brevig when Great Aunt Lorene (not "Lori," thank-you-very-much) died and left her least favorite niece her bookstore-including a prime piece of real estate in downtown Red Wing, Minnesota.Making a go of the place shouldn't be too hard. With her library science degree, she should be set. Then again, the website describing library degrees had said it would teach her excellent communication skills. It had not. Could she get a partial refund?Still, owning the building should mean crazy-low overhead to offset her less than optimal "book-side" manner. Ahem. So when yet another huge bill arrives, and she starts getting twitchy about the low bank balance, Harper does the only thing she can think of.Enter Milton Coleridge. He'd been excited about the possibilities of the store last year, but Harper had sent him packing before he could talk to her about them. Now he has a chance to make a difference. But she's right. She's bleeding money, and it doesn't make sense!Milton's job is to figure out what's going on, plug the financial leak, and maybe... do a little matchmaking. That dad with the adorable little boy would be good for her... and she'd be good for him. Probably.Twice Sold Tales: the first full-length novel in the Bookstrings series releasing with The Mosaic Collection

♥ A borrowed dress, half-completed marriage counseling, and a last-minute theft. ♥Let's face it. Weddings equal stress for the families involved. Preachers, however, have it easy. Or so they say.Ty Jamison's first parishioner is getting married. Though he's performed many services at the little chapel in New Cheltenham-grand affairs, all designed to give the illusion of simplicity-all of them were strangers to him.So when Lara Priest asks him to perform the ceremony at her wedding and to use the chapel, of course, Ty is thrilled. That joy fades as one by one, things go wrong. From a groom who refuses to attend pre-marital counseling to Lara discovering that her dream wedding dress is a no-can-do, what can go wrong seems to.And like so many weddings that movies are made of, things go from bad to worse to "worser."All the while, Ty tries to remind himself that he only has to provide a little premarital counseling, show up, perform the service, and find a way to hide his broken heart through the whole ordeal.All in a life's work.

Alone without friends or family to comfort her after the death of her mother, Willow Finley's idyllic life is over-and just beginning. When Willow Finley awakes on a hot summer morning, she is unprepared for the grief that awaits her. Jerked from a life of isolation with her mother, Willow learns what alone really means when she finds her mother still in her bed, never to awaken again in this life. From the moment Willow arrives in the police station with her startling announcement, Chad Tesdall fights the friendship he knows he can't avoid. Follow Willow's life, Past Forward. The many changes that have taken place over the past few years slowly reverse as Chad and Willow find a comfortable groove for their little family. But amid the good and wholesome, something--or someone--foreboding lurks in the shadows, threatening the tranquility of their home and lives. When Becca feels threatened, Josh wants something done and now. In the weeks before Becca's wedding, Willow finds her life turned upside down by a very pregnant Aggie and her nine children--yep. Nine! Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and work, Willow finds herself struggling with more than just the excess dishes and laundry. Amid all of life's upheavals, the changes at Walden Farm continue, but when tragedy and loss arrive, they help the Tesdalls determine what is most important to their family, bringing Chad and Willow closer than ever. Volume 6 is the final volume in the Past Forward Series. Look for more about Chad and Willow in its sister series, HearthLand.

A scam, a scare, and two secret Santas-sorta. When one young woman learns that a local family got scammed out of thousands for a Diabetic Alert Dog for their little boy and must find the money for another one ASAP, she embarks on the seemingly impossible task of raising $25,000 dollars. Breanne Homestad- Determined, driven-fierce even. And after seeing what the town did for her nephew years ago, she's convinced that Fairbury needs to step it up and help again. Finding people to help-not so easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Mark Keating-He and Breanne had one date. One, wonderful, perfect date. But he never called her again. Five years later, Mark finds himself working with her to help a little boy with medical needs-again. And, to his consternation, finds himself drawn to her even more than before. Breanne, friends, and Mark, who she still hasn't forgiven for that "date and dash," work to fulfill one little boy's Christmas wish-and maybe a second chance at romance.

Meet Neal Kirkpatrick: project manager, staunch atheist, and town grump. Aside from an apparent soft spot for a neighborhood boy, the man has nothing to recommend him. So when he overhears criticism from a neighbor he secretly respects, Neal decides maybe it's time for professional help. With the same straightforward tenacity he uses in his job, Neal goes on a hunt for a therapist to help him unravel the mystery of himself. Things only become more complicated, and humorous, as that therapist, Shari, begins the untangling process, Neal discovers things about himself he never knew and certainly didn't expect. And those revelations send his life into a frightening and delightful tailspin. Is it worth it? Is she worth it? Is He worth it? His New Year will have resolutions, of course. But Neal is more concerned with his New Year's Revolutions! You met him in Christmas Stalkings. Now it's time to get to know him. New Year's Revolutions: his life is spinning out of control, and his heart isn't far behind!

Fairy tales aren't just for children anymore!Welcome to Jackalopany! Meet King Jack and Queen Felicia and their estimable children, Paisley and Jackson. Paisley has reached the year of her majority and is about to endure her "Majority Ball." She's unique, prank-loving, and not ready to change her life. She'd rather continue her days herding sheep, playing her harp, and avoiding the responsibilities associated with the Jackalopian throne.The shepherd Henry, Prince Rupert of Froggilandria, Kyle of Kaiandra, Marcus of Wellsbiundia, and the amusing Cletus of Rednecky all battle for the hand (and possibly the rest of) Princess Paisley. Will Darius of Griffinland foil the plans of so many? Will tragedy leave the Jackalopian throne bereft of an heir? And last but not least, will the narrator ever stop yammering about the rigors and rules of the fairytale genre?

Marriage has been good to Aggie. After a few years and a baby under her belt, she's ready to take on anything--including adding child number ten to the home! Blessings aren't always easy, and Aggie is about to discover that in a whole new way! So, Aunt Aggie has to "knuckle down" and "ante up" to keep from losing ALL her marbles. When Aggie and crew return home after a month away, all she wants is to settle in and get back into a regular routine. She has just eight weeks until the baby comes, and enough plans to keep her busy for eighteen. But when new and unwelcome surprises greet them upon arrival, her plans are derailed once more. The children are growing up and the struggle is real. Local girls are on the prowl, and potential boyfriends abound. Little Ronnie has decided who rules the roost, and it's not his parents! Cari and Lorna appear to be in the middle of a role reversal, and even Ellie is making questionable choices. Tina and William can't stop fighting, much to the dismay of everyone. Add in the stress of getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it all threatens to break her. Luke wonders what happened to his wife. Aggie wonders what happened to her life. Faith, family, and a frenetic life collide in his last book of the Aggie Series.

He's learning what it means to fall in love with Jesus.She's falling in love with a man she thinks is off-limits, and it's breaking her heart.The song says that when two people from two different worlds come together, those worlds collide. Hope Senior is determined to blend them instead-if she possibly can. She's already lost two of the people closest to her. If her friend never embraces faith in Jesus, she isn't sure she can bear it.For Jay Brown, meeting Hope opened up a world he'd never thought he'd want to enter. Then again, taking things on faith has never been one of his strengths.As their fledgling friendship grows into a richer, deeper one, Hope and Jay find themselves exploring more than the differences in Indian and American cultures. It becomes a journey of faith... for both of them.Discovering Hope-find out what Brigadoon, saris, epic laser tag games, and Jesus have in common.

If everything looks so perfect, how does she know it's all wrong?Madeline just wanted to learn to develop her own photographs. It seemed an innocent enough pastime until she sees something in the developer's tray that piques her meddlesome curiosity.Now she's on the hunt for clues to spare a man's life, and she might just land her father in hot political waters while she's at it. Not only that, but romance is in the air, and the people closest to her are acting rather moonstruck. Is it possible for spring fever to arrive six months early?The fifth book in the Meddlin' Madeline Series, Byrd's-Eye View, sees Madeline back at home in Rockland and determined to stay out of trouble, although that's not likely to happen, is it?

Secrets are like sins. Eventually, someone exposes them. Audrey Seever, owner of Fairbury's favorite sweet shop has kept one secret for twenty-five years. Given her choice, she'd take that secret to the grave. Even more, she's convinced she has that right. After all, even the commercials say it. "What happens in Vegas..." With Christmas coming, Audrey is buried in new ice cream flavors, bon-bons, pies, breads, cakes, and other tempting treats. She hardly has time to sleep, much less do things like cook for herself, clean up after herself, or do any holiday decorating. Enter Kelly Cox. It was just supposed to be a simple trade-a little decorating and light housekeeping in exchange for a few Christmas treats. Neither of them had any idea that she'd run across that oh, so carefully guarded secret. Though she knows it's none of her business, Kelly can't help investigating, and before long, finds herself in the middle of more drama than she'd ever imagined possible. When Audrey learns what Kelly has done, Kelly finds herself fighting to salvage more than her friendship. Her marriage and reputation are on the line as well. Tarnished Silver: When Christmas doesn't seem so merry anymore.

It can't get any worse... until it does.Keith hasn't had trouble reconciling his job with his faith-until now. As a security agent for The Agency, his career creates situations that redefine danger. As a Christian, he sleeps well, knowing that he serves his "neighbors" with the protection he and The Agency offers.But when an assignment ends badly before it has a chance to begin, Keith questions everything-his job, his judgment, and even his faith. Feeling like a failure, he resigns and turns to his would-be girlfriend, Erika, for emotional support and advice.That's when a friend calls in fear for his life, and Keith has no other option. Save his friend. Period.Keith's quest to piece together the remnants of his shattered faith and to redeem himself in the eyes of a friend puts him in more danger than he realizes. In a race to protect others, the fallout of his last assignment takes on immense proportions. No surprise. North Korea doesn't play nice with bio-warfare, after all.Effective Immediately is the third book in The Agency Files series.

Son of the feared pirate, Nicolo Soranzo, Sebastian longs for a life on land--a life free of crime, fear, and the embarrassment of wearing dresses during battle. For ten years, their ship, The Vengeance, has sailed through Mediterranean waters, and even the Barbary Corsairs flee in the wake of their arrival. To pass the time at night, the boatswain and long-time loyal friend regales the crew with exciting stories of adventure. But when Jaime begins a new tale, Sebastian learns to understand a little of why his father allows his hate of injustice to drive him to seek revenge against those who prey on others. The only question in his mind: Is it right to seek revenge at all? This book is the first in the Legends of The Vengeance series.

Kaye has had it-utterly fed up with the constant junk that clutters her life. So, armed with a stack of books that each guarantee to teach her the secret to living a clutter-free life, Kaye embarks on a journey that takes her from clutter bug to clutter free-and beyond. Her family doesn't know what to think of her and her. While Jacob does enjoy the streamlined beauty of his new life, he is also just as frustrated as their sons as Kaye goes from clean up to clear out-including treasured possessions. Who knew that what started out as a survival technique would become an addiction?

"That man is going to be single for the rest of his life!"What began as a coping mechanism as a little boy became highly-effective date repellent as a man. He knows girls don't care about the life cycle of a dung beetle, but Heath can't help but spew facts like a docent at the zoo anytime he's on one of his many first and only dates.His sister is determined to fix that. So, she signs him up for the new betwixt2hearts.com matchmaking service. Her plan: simple. Just let him practice on a bunch of girls until it becomes second nature. Simple, right?But Heath can't get one girl out of his mind. So, with his boss' help, and a little creativity, he embarks on a sorta-secret admirer scheme to induce her into giving him a second chance.He's a good guy... and someday he'll figure out how to show it.

He may not be the only person in the Rockland area to wake up without a memory, but he might be the only killer. Simon Prescott, the latest victim of spontaneous amnesia in Rockland, is about to be arrested for murder. The evidence, though weak and circumstantial, points only to him. He's confident he didn't do it. He just can't prove it. Grieving for a wife he doesn't remember, Simon refuses to have anything to do with his family, keeps helping the police and ticking off his lawyer while he's at it, and is heading straight for the pokey if he doesn't figure out something and fast.Enter Ella Weeks and Vikki Jeffries. The previous two victims are determined to help him, and with jail time looming, Simon capitulates. But what Vikki and Ella find as they work through Simon's life reveals astounding and rather chilling evidence of a bigger scheme than any of them could have imagined.They're on the verge of total discovery, but the closer they get, the less confident they are that they want to know.Ties That Blind is the third and final novel in the Sight Unseen Series.

The Vintage Wren is a serial novel released in several chapter episodes. Volume Two contains all twenty-eight days of February (from part of week 5- part of week 9) in one full-length novel.Cassie Wren. Legal assistant. Convenience queen. Thrifter extraordinaire. If there was a "green police" she'd be a fugitive from eco-friendly justice.But when a friend's teasing feels like a challenge, Cassie accepts it. The result? One year. Twelve months. Fifty-two weeks. Three hundred sixty-five days--of green. It seemed simple enough. Cut back on paper plates, plastic forks, and straws. Easy peasy. But when her competitive side wars against her desire for convenience, Cassie finds it's not so easy to be "eco-friendly" and "Cassie-friendly."February After four weeks, Cassie thinks she's got a feel for this eco-friendly thing. She's managed to save a tree or two, a few cubic feet in the landfill, more metal and glass than you can shake a stick at--but no worries. She'd never waste a perfectly good stick. Not now! And she's also saved money--a whole lot more than she ever expected. If only February can be as successful!.Cassie's second month sees her finding alternate personal care items, focusing on personal protection, reducing chemicals, and then there's the girlie stuff. Just sayin'.But not everything goes according to plan. And her heart keeps getting bumps and bruises along the way.... not to mention her car. Finding her Soul Mate... easier and more painful than she ever expected.The Vintage Wren. A serial novel released in fifty-two episodes (for obvious reasons). Each month will be released separately as a full-length novel.

HearthLand is a serial novel released in episodes. Volume Five is a compilation of Episodes 25-30 Taking a step back in time-deliberately. After a trip to Walden Farm and an afternoon talking to Chad and Willow Tesdall, Ralph Myner caught a vision for what life could be like. Against the advice of his nephew, Ralph sinks his entire retirement account into an incredibly risky venture. Harlan Walker thinks his uncle has gone crazy. With the project in motion, all he can do is try to find people to invest their time, money, and even their lives into Ralph's project before the man ends up broke and without means to survive. People come from all walks of life as they embrace a new world-the world of HearthLand. In Volume 5, Annie's gone and everyone from Rory to Ralph is feeling the loss. The fallout from the Paisley Duncan show turns surprising, and Ralph can't keep up with all the food processing waiting for him. Why did The Agency have to take her before it was done? Susannah decides to move in with Delores to help guard against temptation she seems unable to resist, and a new family moves into the Community Center, while Ralph wrestles with the decision to hand Annie over to strangers for her "safety." What was he thinking? And Kim finds work more threatening than rewarding these days. Justin wrestles with the fear of giving into temptation in the wake of others' moral failures, and it puts a definite strain on his relationship with Kim. But when Stefan arrives from Romania, everything at HearthLand changes. Romance blossoms in marriages and out of them. Friendships forge and teeter on the brink of disruption. But everything seems wonderful when all of HearthLand's residents come together for the grand opening of Market Square. Until a couple of boys decide to go at it, that is. Note: For more about Annie, see "A Forgotten Truth"

Seven Christmas trees-excessive in some people's minds, but for Wendy Nabity, they aren't excessive but essential. One tree for each of her cats. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Cupid, Blitzen, and Vixen each need their own trees, you see. And what "mommy" wouldn't have stockings hung on her chimney "with care"-one for each of her fur babies? But something isn't right at the Nabity house. Wendy keeps finding things where they shouldn't be, and the local police-well, they think she's half-crazed and blind to the obvious. The cats are playing with the trees in her absence. Neighbors on each side of her do little to help. Shy Peter will hardly look her in the eye as he blushes his way through conversations and rushes away-the besotted darling. Neal, well the whole town knows just what a rude curmudgeon Neal Kirkpatrick is! But if he makes one more rude demand of her, she might just start dumping the litter box on his front porch! But even Fairbury's police can't ignore a threatening note left in one of the stockings, and one officer takes it upon himself to do something. Nothing could have prepared Wendy for the danger to her and her cats. She's confident she knows who is responsible, but why won't anyone believe her? What can she do to prove it? Christmas Stalkings-who knew Christmastime could feel so sinister?

Life is too short to settle for just anyone.Grace gave her whole heart to Jesus, but now he wants a part of it. What's a woman to do?All she ever wanted was to be a homemaker.Sure, she has a degree in physics. Yes, she could have a lucrative job in Rockland, but Grace Buscher enjoys her life as a single homemaker. As they say, it's her choice.As a successful business owner, a handsome guy, and heir to a small fortune, it's no wonder Nolan Burke is one of Rockland's most eligible bachelors. The problem is, he hasn't met anyone who isn't looking for a "trophy husband."Don't family-centered women exist anymore?Grace isn't exactly eye candy. Nolan is a bit blind. So when an "accidental meeting" forges an unlikely friendship, it becomes obvious to everyone that it's likely to become more.But is Grace ready to give up the life she loves for the man she loves?Find out in this completely updated, revised, and improved version of Chautona Havig's first novel, Noble Pursuits.

Someone's killing off Alexa Hartfield's characters almost faster than she can.They say not to tick off an author or she'll write you into her book and kill you off. No one said anything about those annoying folks recreating the murders from her current work in progress!Or, adding injury to murder, turning her life into a cliché in the process!Officer Joe Friedan walks a beat on the safe streets of downtown Fairbury-except when he's patrolling the neighborhoods or (lately), investigating another murder. Another murder inspired by their resident bestselling author.Fairbury already attracts enough tourists (it's the Mayberry vibe) and fans of (their famous but rapidly becoming infamous) author without flirting with every true-crime aficionado or serial killer groupie! He has to find this guy before Alexa becomes the next victim!Manuscript for Murder: The first book in the Hartfield Mysteries offers a race to stop a killer and bring him to justice before anyone else dies in this contemporary mystery with (mostly) vintage fashion flair!

Just home from her trip to California where, once again, Alexa Hartfield managed to find herself in suspicious circumstances, Alexa is ready for life to calm down. She has a wedding to attend, a wedding to plan, and an aunt to settle into her quiet Fairbury life. But when Aunt Faye interrupts a trip out of the country because a neighbor was burglarized, it doesn't bode well for the cozy, homey Christmas she'd planned. Who is stealing from the residents of Fairbury's retirement village, and how can Faye and her cronies prove it isn't one of them? Unheeded warnings produce dire consequences when one of the residents turns up dead, and things heat up with Faye's new friend is at the top of the police's investigation! Front Window: What you see is what he gets.

He's goin' to the chapel and he's gonna get... ghosted? What's worse than getting jilted? How about being a plasmaphobe who gets "ghosted." At the altar! Guys don't always "get into" the whole wedding thing, but Mitchell Bogaert has been anticipating that first glimpse of Brenna coming to meet him at the altar. So when the back doors open to reveal a missing bride, he's shocked, disappointed, hurt, angry-pick your negative emotion. It probably fits. Brenna Kinsey didn't know she'd bolt at the last minute, but now she's working through it-hopefully before Mitchell decides she's not worth the emotional trauma-or the town drama! Lauren Kinsey is more than just the kid-sister bridesmaid. She's a self-proclaimed sleuth and determined to ferret out the problem, arrive at a solution, and get things back on track before broken hearts shatter into more pieces than Humpty Dumpty. Time's running out, only the bride and groom don't realize it. How will Lauren fix this mess before the "clock strikes midnight" and there isn't a ghost of a chance to save the marriage that never got a chance to be?Find out in this third New Cheltenham Shopkeepers novella today!

Budding detective, Miss Madeline Brown, has gained quite the reputation for "meddling" in the circa 1900 city of Rockland. With two successful "cases" under her belt, it was only a matter of time before she found something new to interest her insatiable curiosity.This time, however, the "curiosity" found her.Challenged by Edward Gastrel, to prove her deductive prowess, Madeline embarks on riddling out the puzzle of a journal left to him by his grandfather. If she can decode the contents, the local gentleman may find himself in the possession of something quite valuable.As usual, however, things aren't as they seem, and Madeline finds herself in a race against more than time and ambiguity.

Be charming, protect your reputation, and find a suitable husband--all in a Season's work.It might not be spoken, but every proper English young lady knows her duty. Marry well and protect the family name. Lady Charlotte Eversley isn't exactly opposed to the idea, but she fears her idea of "suitable" and her father's are as opposite as can be. He favors Lord Haversham. Charlotte... well, she favors almost any respectable gentleman but the oily, domineering Lord.When Jasper Seyton meets Charlotte at a ball, he soon suspects his three-year quest to find a wife might end more happily than he'd hoped. Lord Eversley's invitation to their home in Oxfordshire allows just the time Jasper needs to discover if Lady Charlotte could be the lady for him. Even Jasper's valet seems taken with Oxfordshire, Everston Hall, and a certain young lady...But a secret only one person knows has the power to break hearts and destroy lives.To what lengths will Charlotte go to protect her father's name, and to what lengths will Jasper go to secure the heart of the woman he loves?Find out in this double reversal of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella.

HearthLand is a serial novel released in episodes. Volume Two is a compilation of Episodes 7-12 Taking a step back in time-deliberately. After a trip to Walden Farm and an afternoon talking to Chad and Willow Tesdall, Ralph Myner caught a vision for what life could be like. Against the advice of his nephew, Ralph sinks his entire retirement account into an incredibly risky venture. Harlan Walker thinks his uncle has gone crazy. With the project in motion, all he can do is try to find people to invest their time, money, and even their lives into Ralph's project before the man ends up broke and without means to survive. People come from all walks of life as they embrace a new world-the world of HearthLand. In Volume 2, the physical community changes as Ralph begins construction and plans for expansion. But to his relief and excitement, the investors begin pouring in--eager to join an intentional community. A trip back to California shows just how much his life has changed and how much he has changed.

Hashtag Rogue: Something is terribly wrong in The Agency. Again.Flynne Dortmann: computer specialist extraordinaire. The right arm of every agent in The Agency. And totally untrained for agent duty.When no one takes a threat seriously, Flynne does the only thing she can think of. With money she has no authorization to use, a gun she's never fired in her hip pocket, and more zip-ties than any agent should be allowed to carry, Flynne takes on protective detail for an unwilling client. #HashtagRogue.Mark Cho hasn't had a chance to get used to being Marco Mendina-head of the Eastern US Agency. Not only that, every sign points to someone knowing he isn't who he appears to be. His agency is in trouble. His agents may be in danger, and with an office girl gone rogue, deciding what problem to tackle first is a problem in itself.Not to mention, he misses his office assistant with her emoji-speak, killer tech skills, and sharp instincts.Find out who's after The Agency in this fifth book of The Agency Files (Christian Romantic Suspense) today.

Dani and Ella Weeks-two women who share one thing in common-the same life, the same family, and the same body. When Dani wakes with no knowledge of who or where she is-no memories of her life at all-David and Dani Weeks discover that "til death do us part" takes on an entirely unexpected meaning. Practically speaking, Dani died. But she didn't. In a desperate attempt to separate the old life from the new, Dani insists on a new name-Ella. Ella's doctors can't explain what happened. Her children can't understand why she doesn't know them, and her husband finds himself torn between admiration for the "new" version of his wife and missing the woman he's known for over fifteen years. Will Ella ever regain her memory? Why does their pastor suspect it's one great hoax?

Women are trouble-lying, cheating, untrustworthy bundles of trouble.Jack Clausen doesn't need anyone but his horse and a boss who won't interfere in his personal life-or lack of one.Sure, he's a lonely cowboy, but better lonely than brokenhearted.If only he hadn't met a girl who made him hope that honest and true women do exist. Maybe he wouldn't be riding off into a snowstorm with a fresh determination to avoid women-indefinitely.When Hazel Meissner sees a cowboy risk life, limb, and horse to save a child, she knows he's someone special. When he finally gives her his heart, she considers herself the most blessed woman alive.However, when he rides off without a word, she wonders if her heart will survive the loss.One broken man. One trusting woman. One orchestrated misunderstanding that tears them apart. What'll it take to bring Jack home again?It's Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing mashed up with the old ballad, "Cowboy Jack." Don't miss a cast of characters inspired by the Bard himself-especially Dirk and Deborah (Benedick & Beatrice).Jack: a lot of hullaballoo on the prairie.

It is my hypothesis that social conventions are created to test our fortitude. Rockland circa 1900- As the mayor's daughter, Madeline Brown enjoys a rich social life that many might envy. But a sharp mind and a growing talent for observation leaves Madeline torn between avoiding social censure and exploring the world around her. With an aunt who considers higher education and employment equally unsuitable for the mayor's daughter, there is little to amuse her save endless committee meetings, evening socials, and her favorite pastime: curling up with an exciting detective novel. The temperance and suffrage movements hold little interest for a young woman who has just endured the rigors of her father's mayoral campaign. So when a young man shows interest in her friend, Madeline's interest piques--until his actions hint that he might not be the upstanding gentleman everyone presumes him to be. Unable to ignore her concerns, Madeline finds herself in the middle of an investigation into his character and discovers a side of Rockland she's never encountered. Will her new hobby reduce the tedium of her life, or will her "meddling" create tension for herself and her father? Will she be forced to squelch this budding skill of hers or has Madeline finally found her calling in life. Meddlin' Madeline: Welcome to Rockland's infancy.

Since when does a "mother" of eight have time for romance?With 9-1-1 on speed dial, and a baby who's not afraid to call it, Aggie's got her hands full. Her first six months of "motherhood" included an ant infestation, a major move, house renovation, and lessons in how to be a mom to eight lively children. Now that the house is nearly complete, her children are headed back to school, and she has a few tantrums under her hymn-singing belt, Aggie is certain life will settle down. Isn't she cute?Instead, chicken pox, a last-minute decision to homeschool, and the Grandmother-in-law's histrionics, along with a few dozen other things make her run away from home. And when it seems like she's at her wit's end, a surprise letter arrives, everything could turn upside down. Relief is in sight, but can she bring herself to jump to plan B? Has this just been a practice game, or is she playing for keeps? Read For Keeps today to find out!