Lauraine Snelling

Red River of the North
An Untamed Land

She had promised herself that once they left the fjords of Norway, she would not look back.

After three long years of scrimping and saving to buy tickets for their passage to America, Roald and Ingeborg Bjorklund, along with their son, Thorliff, finally arrive at the docks of New York City. It was the promise of free land that fed their dream and lured them from their beloved home high above the fjords of Norway in 1880. Together with Roald's brother Carl and his family, they will build a good life in a new land that promises untold wealth and vast farmsteads for their children.

As they join the throngs of countless immigrants passing through Castle Garden, they soon discover that nothing is as they had envisioned it. Appalled by the horrid stories of fellow immigrants bilked of all their money and forced to live in squalid living conditions, the Bjorklunds continue their long journey by train as far as Grand Forks. From there a covered wagon takes them into Dakota Territory, where they settle on the banks of the Red River. But there was no way for them to foresee the price they will have to pay to wrest a living from the indomitable land. The virgin prairie refuses to yield its treasure without a struggle. Will they be strong enough to overcome the hardships of that first winter?

A New Day Rising

The dream of their own farmstead and a good life in America had brought Roald and Ingeborg Bjorklund across the Atlantic to pioneer the virgin prairie of Dakota Territory. But Roald's tragic disappearance in a winter storm had turned Ingeborg's dreams into a living nightmare. Against nearly impossible circumstances and overwhelming grief, she struggles to keep the farm and her family together. When spring appears, Roald's distant cousin Haaken arrives to help with the heavy field work, and Ingeborg is able to once again concentrate her efforts on home and children. After the bleak winter, she cannot ignore the joy that Haaken brings to their lives or the attraction she begins to feel toward him. When Roald's brother from Norway also arrives to help the family, things become very complicated around the simple prairie dwelling! He reminded her of a Viking of old-- could he be persuaded to stay?


A Land to Call Home

Taming the land came at great price. Will their love survive the loss? It has required long, difficult years to tame the virgin prairie of Dakota Territory, but in spite of heartache and back-breaking labor, the hardy immigrants recognize that God has been with them every step. What was merely a dream is now beginning to take shape. And so they face the challenge of proving up their homesteads and building an official town for their growing community. Hjelmer travels west to work on the railroad, but after sending only one letter to Penny, who has agreed to wait for him, he is not heard from again. As the months pass, Penny is pursued by other eligible suitors, and her love for Hjelmer is sorely tried. Will he return to keep his promise? First the land, then a natural disaster nearly devastates them. What will it take to make their dreams a reality?



The Reaper's Song

They held fast to their dream, they tamed the prairie land, and now they can join in - THE REAPERS' SONG

Ever so slowly the Dakota Territory is being transformed from a vast prairie into rich farmlands. Finally the Bjorklund family and their neighbors are reaping the promised harvest that had drawn them from their homes in Norway to cross the Atlantic. With the coming of the railroad and shipments of wheat to larger markets, the small town of Blessing begins to prosper in 1886.

But for Ingeborg, Haaken, and their children, the challenges still remain to accomplish their dreams. With the wheat harvest in full swing, the older boys in the community leave school to help in the fields, and the girls stay home to help cook. After the Bjorklunds' fields are harvested, Haaken and the neighboring men take the steam engine and the separator on the road, threshing for other homesteaders in return for a portion of their grain.

With Haaken away and the fields standing idle, Ingeborg fears an early change of season and refuses to wait for him to return to finish the heavy fall work. Will she regret taking the team to the field herself? Has she made a mistake in hiring the mysterious young man who arrived so opportunely?

Has the Land Become More Important to Ingeborg Than her Own Family?


Tender Mercies

Is She Really Leaving Forever?

Mary Martha was the only woman to capture his heart. But now she was preparing to leave the Dakota Territory. Was her good-bye forever?

Jump into the Red River of the North series and learn why readers across the country are clamoring for each new book in this historical series.

Tracing the difficulties and joys of carving out a life from the Dakota sod in the second half of the 1800s, Tender Mercies continues Snelling's Red River saga and will pull your heartstrings and make you feel the joys and frustrations of life on the open lands of the 19th century mid-west.

The rich farmlands of the Dakota Territory in 1887 are finally beginning to yield the abundant harvest the pioneers had dreamed about so long. The establishment of the railroad has brought significant changes to the small town of Blessing as well as prosperity to the Bjorklund family and their neighbors.

Among the townsfolk, Reverend John Solberg despite being wary of matchmaking efforts in the past is developing a friendship with a delightful young woman through their common love of books. Mary Martha has a gentle southern charm that wins everyone in her circle but too soon she is called on to return home to care for her mother. She leaves behind many heavy hearts and countless questions of whether it will be the last time to see her.



Blessing in Disguise

The Bjorklund family has received word that Augusta Bjorklund is on her way from Norway to join them in North Dakota. When the train arrives in the town of Blessing with no Augusta aboard, the worried family hopes she will be on the train in the morning. But only her trunk arrives, so Bridget Bjorklund insists that Hjelmer, Augusta's brother, go find her. Augusta, after discovering her intended bridegroom had married someone else, decided to leave her broken heart in Norway and start a new life in America helping her mother run her boardinghouse. But knowing no English, Augusta misunderstands a ticket agent's directions in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in the harried confusion, she boards the wrong train. When she arrives at the end of the line, she is met by a handsome young rancher, Kane Moyer, waiting for his Norwegian mail-order bride?



Return to Red River
A Dream to Follow

Thorliff Bjorklund has been writing since he was a young boy and now longs to study journalism. But his father has other plans for him and refuses to agree. Loving and respecting his parents, Thorliff dreads going against his father's wishes and cannot imagine any honorable way to leave home. To make matters worse, the threat of a crop failure may mean there'll be no money for college anyway. Thorliff is torn between love for his father and the pull of his dream. Must he choose between the two? Elizabeth Rogers has been raised in a life of privilege, yet she has an unwavering determination to become a doctor. Though she has the blessing of her family, society is not as kind, for it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter medical school. Has she misread her heart?

Believing the Dream

They Never Imagined Following Their Dreams Would Be So Costly

A passion for writing has burned brightly in Thorliff Bjorklund's heart for as long as he can remember. But college life is not as he had imagined. Both time and distance have created a rift between him and his childhood sweetheart, and the only bright spot in his life is his job at the newspaper.

When summer arrives, things are looking up at school, but Thorliff must return home and confront his faltering relationship with Anji. Will he find the bonds of love still strong?

For Elizabeth Rogers, marriage seems out of the question. Since learning that her mother died giving birth to her, Elizabeth has determined to become a doctor in order to save the lives of other women in childbirth. Will she achieve her dream when it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter medical school?


More Than a Dream

All he'd hoped for was finally within his reach, and then?

Thorliff's desire to become a writer fills his mind and heart as he attends college. He earns his way writing newspaper reports and magazine articles--good experience on the way to his goal. Then catastrophe upon tragedy hits his beloved hometown of Blessing, North Dakota, and family and friends are left reeling from incredible losses. Thorliff returns home to help shoulder the burden and assist in the recovery efforts, and too soon his writing seems only a distant dream.

After graduation from college, Elizabeth takes a nursing position in a Chicago hospital for women while waiting to hear if any of her applications to medical schools are accepted. She soon comes face to face with the vast gulf between her life of affluence and privilege and the poverty-stricken patients under her care. Then a devastating experience on the hospital ward puts her faith in God and her very life on the line.

They had followed their hearts and God's leading--why was it all turning into ashes in the wind?

Dakotah Treasures

Ruby

Journey west to a land of adventure in the untamed Dakota territory!

Ruby Torvald sets out on a daunting journey with her young sister, Opal, to hopefully see their long-lost father once more and claim the promised inheritance. But instead of the treasure they expected, the sisters discover something most shocking.

Ruby's bold determination in the face of scandal is the only way to redeem her father's legacy. Does she have it in her?

Pearl

Ruby Torvald has turned Dove House, the scandalous inheritance her father left to her and her sister, into a respectable establishment. Her newest boarder is Pearl Hossfuss, a twenty-two-year-old schoolteacher from Chicago. Hiding scars within and without, Pearl has given up hope that any man would want to marry her. Her father has his own ideas, insisting she marry his clerk, a widower with five children.

So Pearl flees to Dakotah Territory in response to an ad requesting a teacher for the town of Little Missouri. She finds teaching in this rural setting rewarding and interesting--even more so when she makes the acquaintance of an intriguing young carpenter, Carl Hegland. But just as her future begins to look brighter, news arrives that her father is coming to take her back to Chicago.

When disaster threatens, will these lovely jewels of the West be forced to abandon their dreams?

Opal

When Ruby Torvald marries rancher Rand Harrison, her sister, Opal, takes to ranch life like a hummingbird to sugar water. She can outshoot, outride, and outwork any cowboy on the place. Ranching has clearly captured her heart. But when Opal makes a foolish though innocent decision, her dear friend Atticus is taken away from her, and she is consumed with feelings of guilt and self-recrimination. Will she ever see Atticus again?

Jacob Chandler, hiding secrets from the past, arrives from the East to begin a new life with his son. The young minister discovers grace and acceptance among the people of Dakotah Territory and soon finds himself falling in love with the enchanting Opal Torvald.

Will the tragedy that has broken Opal's heart keep her from love forever?

Amethyst

Amethyst Colleen O'Shaunasy travels west to find her father's heir. But when she discovers Joel in Dakotah Territory, she uncovers shocking news. How will she tell her overbearing father? And how will he react when he learns she's not coming home?

Major Jeremiah McHenry has retired from the army and returns to Dakotah Territory to make a new life. Amethyst is touched by his kind and gentlemanly manner, and soon he's captured her heart. But does he see her as merely a servant rather than a prospective bride?

Jacob Chandler is counting the days until he is able to court Opal Torvald. Can he prove to her that she will make a fine preacher's wife?

Will Amethyst choose to leave the western frontier if the major does not return her love?

Secret Refuge

Daughter of Twin Oaks

Seeking to fulfill the promise she made to her dying father, eighteen-year-old Jesselynn Highwood determines to take her little brother and the family's remaining Thoroughbreds from Twin Oaks plantation in Kentucky to her uncle's farm in Missouri, where they will be safe for the remainder of the Civil War.

Jesselynn is also fleeing a cruel man in Confederate uniform who has pledged to take revenge against her for refusing his hand in marriage. No longer safe at Twin Oaks, she embarks on a perilous journey, taking on the momentous responsibility for the lives and welfare of all who go with her.

They ride at night and hide during the day, dodging both Confederate and Union troops along the way. Encountering hunger, sickness, and the devastation of war, they finally arrive in Missouri only to discover that the situation there puts them in even greater danger. Discouraged, disillusioned, and facing a severe testing of her faith, Jesselynn will stop at nothing to save her family, the horses, and whatever remains of Twin Oaks.

Sisters of the Confederacy

After finding her expected safe haven destroyed, Jesselyn Highwood must decide where to turn next. With no place left to go, Jesselyn decides to head west on the Oregon Trail. Here she encounters hardship, danger on the journey--and love.

Meanwhile, her sister, Louisa, smuggles desperately needed supplies for the hospital in Richmond where she helps care for wounded soldiers. As both sisters face the ravages of war, one remains strong in her faith while the other struggles to understand a God who allows such atrocities to continue.

A Secret Refuge -A three-in-one collection

Originally published as three separate volumes, A Secret Refuge combines Daughter of Twin Oaks, Sisters of the Confederacy, and The Long Way Home into one epic novel.

In Daughter of Twin Oaks, Jesselynn escapes Kentucky with her family's prized Thoroughbreds. In Sisters of the Confederacy, Louisa and brother Zachary face danger in Virginia. And in The Long Way Home, a place of rest seems elusive.

Daughters of Blessing
A Promise for Ellie

Return to Blessing, North Dakota, with the story of Andrew Bjorklund and Ellie Wold. After graduating in May of 1900, the two make plans to marry once the harvest is over and their new house is finished. They spend the summer working hard, and the Lord seems to shine on and in them in a special way. Everyone rejoices in their happiness. Everyone except for Toby Valders, who is determined to get even for all the drubbings he has taken from Andrew through the years. Andrew, however, has promised Ellie there will be no more fistfights. But when their new barn burns—and many of their possessions and dreams with it—Andrew throws his vows of nonviolence aside, reaping bitter consequences. Why is the life he has so looked forward to now unraveling so quickly?

Sophie’s Dilemma

Certain she can't live without Hamre Bjorklund, the impetuous Sophie Knutson rejects her father's request to postpone her marriage until after graduation and convinces Hamre to elope. But life as a fisherman's bride in Seattle is not at all that Sophie had envisioned. Pregnant and lonely while Hamre's out at sea, she hires on at a fish cannery, only to be fired after fainting on the job.

When tragedy strikes, heartbroken Sophie can think only of returning home to Blessing.

But will her family welcome her after the way she's hurt them by her defiant behavior? And will she ever open her heart to love again?

A Touch of Grace

She thought she knew what she wanted in life... then Jonathan arrived.

Eighteen-year-old Grace Knutson loves Blessing, North Dakota, and sees no reason to leave. She's more serious-minded than her twin sister, Sophie, and very sensitive to the feelings of others. In spite of her family's disapproval, Grace has always had a soft spot in her heart for Toby Valders, for she's seen the vulnerable side he keeps well hidden.

Jonathan Gould, the handsome scion of a wealthy New York family, creates a flurry of anticipation and speculation when he arrives in Blessing. Jonathan's father wants him to learn the value of manual labor and to appreciate the accomplishments of those not born to wealth. Surprisingly, the "city boy" takes to farm life and actually enjoys working from dawn to dusk alongside the others. Soon he finds himself inexplicably drawn to gentle, courageous Grace.

But Jonathan's affection presents an agonizing dilemma for Grace. Is he truly the one her heart desires?

Rebecca’s Reward

Nineteen-year-old Rebecca Baard has experienced more than her share of sorrow, and now she is afraid to open her heart to love. Besides, no man has ever shown enough interest in her to come courting.

So Rebecca's friends set out to remedy the situation, concocting social events to attract all the eligible bachelors in Blessing and advising her in the use of feminine wiles.

When none of these efforts seem to work, Rebecca tries yet another tack, only to discover that even the best of intentions can't keep events from taking a surprising turn. Will Rebecca overcome her fears, or will she settle for something less than love?

Home to Blessing
A Measure of Mercy

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family's income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr. Elizabeth.

Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he's never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her. Astrid is attracted to him, so when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream?

No Distance Too Far

Astrid Bjorklund wants to use her medical training to serve God and feels that He might be leading her in the direction of missionary work. Smarting from a misunderstanding with Joshua Landsverk, the young man she thought she loved, she heads east to a missionary training school, hoping to eventually use her skills in some remote outpost in Africa.

When she is called home unexpectedly to help in a family medical emergency, Astrid learns of a deadly measles outbreak on the nearby Indian reservation. She immediately senses the Spirit tugging her to help the Indians and wonders if her "mission field" is not so far away as she had imagined. But if she follows God's call, will love pass her by?

A Heart for Home

 

Astrid Bjorklund is on the Red Bud Indian Reservation in South Dakota trying to stop the horrific epidemic that is ravaging the tribe. The elders are suspicious of her, but when they see some of their people beginning to recover, they allow Astrid to continue caring for the sick and to train others to help. She is overwhelmed by this need so close to home and wonders if this is the mission field God has planned for her.

Joshua Landsverk wants to repair his broken relationship with Astrid, but he is opposed to her present work and refuses to tell her why. When he encounters unexpected adversity, a surprising act of kindness brings healing to the grievous wrong inflicted years ago.

Will it be enough to bring Joshua and Astrid together again?

Wild West Wind

Valley of Dreams

Cassie Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Cassie traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.

Now Cassie has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Cassie decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised on a giant hand.

With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind, and begins a wild and daring adventure.

Whispers in the Wind

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of
Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But Lucas Engstrom decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

Martha Rogers

Winds Across the Prairie

Becoming Lucy

After her parents' deaths, seventeen-year-old heiress Lucinda Bishop flees to Barton Creek, Oklahoma in 1896 as the ward of Amelia and Ben Haynes, her mother's sister and brother-in-law. She finds life on a working ranch to be nothing like she had imagined, especially when she encounters Jake Starnes, a drifter now employed by her uncle who holds a dark secret from is past. With Jake, she faces emotions she's never before experienced. But can he get his life together before someone else claims her hand or her life? Although a historical, the story involves conflicts and situations not uncommon in modern days. Lucinda Bishop learns to cope with the death of her parents, start a new life in unfamiliar surroundings, and learn about love and forgiveness. When the young hero becomes a Christian, he realizes he must face his past and whatever consequences may result, even if it means he will lose the one girl he loves. Set in Oklahoma Territory before the days of statehood, the story is one of how love and forgiveness can overcome even the most difficult obstacles when God is in control. When one's heart is attuned to God's leading, the greatest of sins can be forgiven and a new life begun.


Morning for Dove

When Luke Anderson falls in love with Dove Morris, he is aware of her Native American heritage. What he is not prepared for is the prejudice suddenly exhibited by his parents against Dove. Luke struggles with the feelings until a wildfire on the prairie threatens Morris Ranch. Luke joins the battle to stave off the fire as it approaches and risks his life to save Dove. Will his parents see that love knows no boundaries of race or culture when it is rooted in God's love for His people?


Finding Becky

Becky Haynes returns to Barton Creek after college with a new independent spirit that baffles her longtime friend Rob Frankston. Her new attitude toward her faith, family, and friends confuses her family. When a stranger moves into Barton Creek, Becky is flattered and taken in by the attentions of Geoff Kensington. As Oklahoma approaches statehood, strange accidents befall the citizens of Barton Creek. Rob has his suspicions concerning Geoff, but will he be able to find proof and convince Becky to return to the faith of her childhood before the town of Barton Creek is destroyed?


Caroline's Choice

Amelia's Journey
Prequel to the Winds Across the Prairie Series

For Ben Haynes it is love at first sight, but can a Boston socialite find true happiness with a cowboy from Kansas?

Once childhood friends, Ben Haynes is taken with Amelia Carlyle when he runs into her at her sister's wedding. Although he will be returning to Kansas and life on his father's ranch, Ben calls on Amelia several times, and they find they have more in common than they first realized. As he leaves for Kansas, they promise to write.

Back in Kansas, Ben begins to save money toward a home for Amelia even though he has not made his intentions known. He's relying on God to make a way. Meanwhile, Amelia is presented to society and has several young men vying for her attention.

Although Ben has captured Amelia's heart, her parents make every effort to discourage the relationship, even forbidding Amelia to correspond with him. Amelia tells Ben that she will wait for him as long as it takes, but will the love and loss they experience along the way bring them closer or drive them apart forever?



Seasons of the Heart
Summer Dream

As the daughter of a small-town minister in Connecticut, Rachel Winston believes the only way she’ll ever have a husband is to visit her aunt in Boston for the social season until Nathan Reed arrives in town. Although attracted to Rachel, Nathan avoids her because he has no desire to become involved with a Christian after experiences with his own family. When a devastating blizzard paralyzes New England, Nathan is caught in it and lies near death in the Winston home. Through the ministrations and tender care of Rachel and her mother, Nathan learns a lesson in love and forgiveness that leads him back to his home in the South. Before he can declare his love for Rachel, he must make amends with his own family. Will he return to Connecticut before Rachel leaves her home to head west as a missionary in Oklahoma Territory?


Autumn Song

It’s Texas, 1889, and Daniel Monroe arrives and sets up his practice in the central Texas town of Porterfield. The town welcomes him, and he finds plenty of business in this thriving town. The only drawback is that there are very few young, single women available for marriage. The few who live there are sought after by all the single men and could have their pick for a husband. Kate Muldoon offers to go about getting Daniel a bride, as she has so many others in town. He thinks she is a poor matchmaker and tries finding a mate on his own. How many potential brides will he meet before he finds that the one who shares his faith and dreams has been right under his nose all the time?


Winter Promise

A painful past has left Doctor Elliot Jensen uninterested in love. Until he meets Abigail.
Single, educated, and looking for a new start, Abigail Monroe decides to join her brother and his wife in Portersville, Texas. Near her twenty-fifth birthday and without a suitor, she fears she will become a spinster if she stays in Briar Ridge, Connecticut. A sprained ankle sends Abigail to the new doctor in town, Elliot Jensen. He is smitten, but tragedy in his past has left him bitter, guilt ridden, and afraid to fall in love again. When the town’s deputy sheriff rescues Abigail after a robbery, Elliot’s feelings for her get stronger. He is jealous of the attention Abigail is getting, but he fears he can’t compete with the handsome deputy sheriff and his heroic deeds. Has he waited too long to share his feelings for her? Or will Christmas bring them both the gift they seek?
Set in the late 1800s, the Seasons of the Heart series follows the lives of four women and their families, weaving together their stories of faith, life, and love as they bond in friendship only God could orchestrate.

Tracie Peterson

THE ALASKAN QUEST SERIES
Summer of the Midnight Sun - Book 1                       

Leah Barringer's world is turned upside down when her brother brings home Jayce Kincaid, the man who spurned her ten years ago. Part of an expedition to the Arctic, Jayce shocks Leah by inviting her brother along. Helaina Beecham arrives in Alaska to hunt down the man the Pinkertons have sent her to apprehend. But when Jayce Kincaid appears to have been in two places at the same time, Helaina wonders if there might be a larger problem with the case. Despite confusing, conflicting evidence, can Helaina discover the truth? Can Leah's injured heart ever love again?

Under the Northern Lights

When Pinkerton agent Helaina Beecham's obsession with capturing a dangerous fugitive dulls her judgment, she is kidnapped and carried off into the wilderness just as an early winter is approaching.
Now her only hope is that Jacob Barringer—the man who has captured her heart—will find her before it is too late.
Whispers of Winter

Life in the rugged Alaskan Territory finds Jacob Barringer and Jayce Kincaid facing the isolation of the frozen north after their ship is lost to the ice in the Artic. Back at Last Chance Creek, Helaina and Leah form a bond as they help each other through the long wait, not knowing what has become of the men they love. As unexpected loss invades their world and tragedy looms once again, they must find the strength to trust in God?s faithfulness, despite the trying circumstances surrounding them.



BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY SERIES                       
A Promise to Believe in

Gwen, Beth, and Lacy Gallatin fashion a life for themselves in the Montana wilds, operating a roadhouse that is located at the crossroads of two major stage lines. When their father is accidently killed, the oldest sister, Gwen, reasons that she's cursed. After all, death seems to haunt her: her mother, now her father...and she was married for a mere ten days before her husband died from a bout of measles.

As Gwen and her sisters struggle to maintain the inn on their own, an unexpected visitor adds to the mayhem. Hank Bishop claims to be searching for something in the possession of Gwen's late husband. But mayhem of another sort builds in Gwen's heart as she finds a growing attraction to this man. Can she dare to hope that love might again be hers?

A Love to Last Forever

All Beth Gallatin has really wanted out of life is to settle down in one town, with one man, and raise a family. But with her father's roaming ways, she's always been denied that dream; instead, she found solace in reading romantic books. With her father's passing, she can, for the first time, dare to claim the rugged Montana frontier as her home.
Nick Lassiter has loved Beth since she first came to town, but she's always seemed to think of him more as a brother. Just when he finally gets Beth to consider him, however, a challenger threatens the affection growing between them. But neither Nick nor Beth is prepared when they must face the consequences of Nick's complicated past.
As a past fraught with unwise choices and guilt invades their world, can Nick and Beth find a love that will last forever?                       


A Dream to Call My Own

Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer. Haunted by the belief that she's failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out. Enter Dave Shepard, deputy sheriff for the area. Dave has been fervently trying to find the man who killed George Gallatin, but he always feels inadequate when it comes to the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them - both when they argue and when they kiss. Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible...but is it truly love?


DESERT ROSES SERIES
Shadows of the Canyon

Though she holds a coveted position as a Harvey Girl at the elite El Tovar hotel, Alexandria Keegan’s world is crumbling, her personal life tainted by the increasing audacity of her father and his indiscretions. Desperate to help her mother, Alex searches for a way to forge a future for the two of them far away from her father. But that means leaving the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon and the steadfast friendship of Luke Toland.
When a host of political figures arrive at the resort, Alex struggles with the unwelcome attention of the senator’s aide and his jealous fiancée. Then a tragic death brings speculations of murder, leaving Alex shaken by the implications -- for her and those she loves.

Across the Years

Disowned by her parents for marrying a man they disapproved of, Ashley Reynolds faces even greater hardship when she loses her husband in a tragic incident -- and she’s left alone with a baby on the way.
Working as a Harvey Girl in Winslow, Arizona, provides the element of peace she has sought. But despite her young daughter's desire for a father, Ashley finds her heart still attached to the man she lost so long ago. When circumstances force Ashley to confront the past, she finds herself torn between her desire for love and the pain she harbors in her heart.


Beneath a Harvest Sky

As a Harvey tour guide, Rainy Gordon spends her days in the magnificent landscape of New Mexico. Having already fled a tainted past, Rainy is alarmed when she becomes a suspect in an investigation of stolen Hopi Indian artifacts.
The man she loves has been secretly asked to assist the law enforcement groups in finding the thief. When all evidence points in her direction, will the truth be revealed in time?

Judith Miller

Bridal Veil Island
(with Tracie Peterson)


To Have and to Hold
Book 1

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized. Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?

To Love and Cherish
Book 2

Letters strengthen their love, but Melinda remains frustrated at being apart from Evan, the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Then she learns of a devastating hurricane in Bridal Veil and knows she must give up her position as a lady's maid in Cleveland and make her way back to Evan, who works as the assistant gamekeeper on Bridal Veil.

The destruction on Bridal Veil is extensive, meaning every available person is needed to help with cleanup and repairs. Melinda finds a new job on the island, but Evan seems even busier than before, meaning she still never gets to see him. Has she given her heart to the wrong man?

Broadmoor Legacy Series
(with Tracie Peterson)


A Daughter's Inheritance

Book 1

Cousins Amanda, Sophie, and Fanny Broadmoor are as close as sisters, but when their grandfather dies, the terms of his will just might destroy their bond. Seventeen-year-old Fanny has never put much stock in the conventions of society. In fact, she has given her heart to Michael, the family boat-keeper. But when she receives a surprising inheritance, she discovers just how oppressive society can be... and that she may be trusting the wrong people.

Dare she follow her heart and risk going against her family? What if she loses everything she's ever known? It all comes down to one choice: What does Fanny Broadmoor want her legacy to be?

An Unexpected Love

Book 2

The family money has brought her everything she desires, but she is about to risk it all...  

Sophie Broadmoor adores fancy balls, beautiful gowns, and expensive jewelry. Indeed, she enjoys everything the Broadmoor wealth provides and has earned a reputation as the wildest of the Broadmoor cousins. 

During a trip to England, she falls head over heels for Wesley Hedrick, a wealthy widower who promises her the world. But Wesley's promises never seem to come true, and soon Sophie finds herself in a very compromising situation.   

Why does it have to be Paul Medford, the young minister working with her father, who shows up during her worst moment? Paul is full of promises, too--and it's clear that he has feelings for Sophie. But after all she's been through, dare she trust him?

A Surrendered Heart

Book 3

At twenty-one, Amanda Broadmoor had the right to make her own way in life, but her father and mother hardly saw it that way. Women working in the medical field were still frowned upon, and Amanda had been reared to marry and produce heirs, not tend the sick. And especially not those suffering from cholera. "And Mama can be such an alarmist," Amanda whispered.

At the first report of cholera in Rochester, Amanda's mother had suggested the entire family take refuge at their summer estate on Broadmoor Island in the St. Lawrence River. However, that idea had been immediately vetoed by her father. Father had said his work would not permit him to leave Rochester, and for once, Amanda had agreed with one of his decisions. After devoting so much of her time and energy to medical training at Dr. Carstead's side, she couldn't possibly desert her work--not now, not when she was needed most.

Bells of Lowell Series
 (with Tracie Peterson)

Daughter of the Loom

Book 1

The mill town of Lowell, Massachusetts, comes to life with intrigue and drama from the creative writing team of Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson. Young women at the end of the 19th century seek employment from driven men intent on transforming America's textile industry. Daughters of the Loom features Lilly Armbruster, who is forced to work in the mills as her only means for survival. But Lilly's resentment runs deep against the "lords of the loom"--the men she believes have stolen her father's farm and caused his premature death. Her animosity happens to include Matthew Cheever, her childhood friend and one-time betrothed. Though separated by their opposing views about the future of the mill and the community that surrounds it, the emotions of their hearts still bind them. Will their dreams for the future allow their fragile love to survive?

A Fragile Design

Book 2

Fleeing the life of the Shakers, Arabella Newberry finds work in the industrial mills of Lowell, Massachusetts. But the taste of freedom she experiences only increases her longing for true equality for all the mill girls. When her ideas put her at odds with the dashing Taylor Manning, she wonders if she has made a huge mistake.

Strife between the Irish laborers and the Industrialists continues to rise, and when several girls go missing, Lowell no longer seems a safe haven. As rumors and conflict invade the industry of the mill, will Arabella's determination to prove her independence endanger more than just her heart?

These Tangled Threads

Book 3

Raised in an atmosphere of equality, Daughtie Winfield is outspoken in her support for the rights of others from the mill girls threatening a strike over pitiful working conditions to the immigrants living on the other side of town. So she is unprepared for the hostility--even from some who claim to hold similar beliefs--aroused by her growing friendship with Liam Donohue, an Irish artisan.

Behind the scenes, a disgruntled former employee conspires with a one-time mill partner in a devilish plan that imperils not only the operation of the mills but those dearest to Daughtie. As dissention and upheaval threaten the future of the textile industry, Daughtie longs for peace--in her working world, and deep within her heart

Lights of Lowell
(with Tracie Peterson)

A Tapestry of Hope

Book 1

As the only daughter of a wealthy cotton grower, Jasmine Wainwright has lived a sheltered existence, naive about the realities of Southern plantation life beyond her family's home and gardens. But when two brothers from New England visit The Willows, Jasmine's world--and her understanding of the genteel life she's always embraced--is thrown into disarray. A visit to her grandmother in the bustling textile town of Lowell, Massachusetts, further opens her eyes.

Bradley Houston sees a connection with Jasmine's family as the perfect means to solidify his new position with the Boston Associates, the powerful men who run the mills. Ambitious and driven, he will stop at nothing to ensure that he achieves his goals.

Faced with the prospect of marriage to a man she doesn't love, Jasmine must weigh her obligations to her family against the desires of her heart.

A Love Woven True

Book 2

With memories of her loveless, arranged marriage behind her, Jasmine Houston, widowed with a young son, longs to establish her life in the bustling textile town of Lowell, Massachusetts. But news of her mother's failing health lures Jasmine back to her family's plantation in the South.

Her journey makes an unexpected turn when a deathbed promise prompts Jasmine to secure the freedom of a slave family with the help of her brother-in-law, Nolan. With a joyous return to her horse farm in Lowell--and a deepening knowledge of the love in her heart--Jasmine's future appears bright.

But as her family splinters over the slavery issue, Jasmine's unfaltering commitment to her abolitionist beliefs will be tested as she faces the prospect of losing that which is dearest to her.

The Pattern of Her Heart

Book 3

Marriage to Nolan Houston has brought deep contentment to Jasmine, and life at their horse farm on the outskirts of Lowell, Massachusetts, is both challenging and satisfying. The harmony they love is disrupted, however, when news of tragedy forces Jasmine and Nolan to uproot their family and travel south to manage the plantation of her childhood.

The reception they receive upon their arrival is anything but welcoming. Jasmine, however, is determined to uphold her anti-slavery beliefs and free the slaves laboring at The Willows. But when an explosive act destroys their plans, the lives of those they've promised to protect hang in the balance.

Postcards from Pullman

In the Company of Secrets

Book 1

Olivia Mott didn't intend to lie. Somehow, it just happened. And wasn't it all Lady Charlotte's fault anyway?

Now Olivia's position as assistant chef at Pullman's elegant Hotel Florence is dependant upon her keeping her secrets. And sometimes lies have a way of leading to other lies. Should Olivia admit her real past and accept the consequences or keep quiet in order to preserve her comfortable new circumstances?

Deception seems to be part of everyday life in the company town of Pullman, Illinois, where the grand Pullman Palace Car is manufactured. Samuel Howard, Olivia's friend and the town manager, seems to think everything is fine, but Olivia observes something quite different. Could it be that Olivia is not the only one harboring secrets?

Whisper Along the Rails

Book 2

Olivia Mott finds herself juggling two jobs: her assistant chef position at Hotel Florence and her undercover work for the Pullman Rail Car Company. Olivia thinks the suggestions she relays to Pullman's town manager are being used to improve conditions for workers and save the company money, but is something much more sinister happening behind the scenes?

Several months have passed since Lady Charlotte fled to Chicago, leaving her infant son in Olivia’s care. Now Charlotte’s money has run out. A kindly woman offers her a place to live and secures her a position at Marshall Field's store, but Charlotte's heart can't forget the past. Dare she return to Pullman to find out what happened to her baby?

An Uncertain Dream

Book 3

When Pullman Car Works employees walk out in protest of their wages and high rent, Olivia Mott is torn between her loyalty to the company and her love for Fred DeVault. Amidst the turmoil in Pullman, Fred is asked to act as a local delegate to the national convention of the American Railway Union, but when the delegates vote for a boycott of the famous Pullman sleeping cars, Olivia wonders if Fred will ever be able to show his face again in the company town. What will become of their growing affection for each other?

Traveling to England to reunite with her parents, Lady Charlotte Spencer is faced with tragedy. Armed with her fledgling faith, Charlotte decides to return to Chicago with her son to restart her life. But when Matthew Clayborn, a reporter for the Chicago Herald, wants to spend time with her, she worries about his motivations. Is he interested in her or only the information she can provide?

Daughters of Amana

Somewhere to Belong

Book 1

Johanna Ilg has lived her entire life in Main Amana, one of the seven villages inhabited by devout Christians who believe in cooperative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God. Although she's always longed to see the outside world, Johanna believes her future is rooted in the community. But when she learns a troubling secret, the world she thought she knew is shattered and she is forced to make difficult choices about a new life and the man she left behind.

Berta Schumacher has lived a privileged life in Chicago, and when her parents decide they want a simpler life in Amana, Iowa, she resists. Under the strictures of the Amana villages, Berta's rebellion reaches new heights. Will her heart ever be content among the plain people of Amana?

More Than Words

Book 2

Gretchen Kohler is an Amana storekeeper's daughter with a secret passion for writing. But artistic pursuits are frowned upon in her conservative Amana village, so she confines her poems and stories to her journals, letting only close friends read them. When a young reporter comes into her store, she believes she's found a kindred spirit. She shares a few of her stories with him--only to have her trust betrayed in the worst of ways, resulting in trouble for her entire community. The scandal is made even worse by the fact that gypsies have camped nearby and seem to be preying upon the Amanans' compassionate, pacifist nature. Will Gretchen lose her job, her reputation, and the love of her childhood beau all because of one bad decision?

A Bond Never Broken

Book 3

For many years, Ilsa Redlich has helped her parents run a hotel in South Amana, but as the United States enters the Great War, she can feel her world changing. The residents of the towns surrounding the Amana Colonies used to be accepting of their quiet, peaceful neighbors, but with anti-German sentiment running high, the Amana villages are now plagued by vandalism, threats, and insults. Things get even worse when Ilsa finds out her family won't be allowed to speak German in public—and that Garon, the childhood friend she's long been smitten with, has decided to join the army.

Jutta Schmidt is shocked when several members of the Council of National Defense show up on her family's doorstep. Sure, the Schmidts once lived in the Amana Colonies, but that was years ago. She's even more surprised when the council demands that she travel to Amana and report back on any un-American activities. Not daring to disobey the government agents, Jutta takes a job at the South Amana hotel, befriends the daughter of the owners, and begins to eavesdrop every chance she gets.

When Jutta hears Ilsa making anti-war remarks and observes Garon assisting a suspicious outsider, she is torn at the prospect of betraying her new friends. But what choice does she have? And when Garon is accused of something far worse than Jutta could imagine, can the Amana community come to his aid in time?

Freedom's Path

First DawnBook 1

Lured by the promise of "real" freedom and a new town to call their own, sharecroppers Ezekial Harban and his three daughters leave behind remnants of slavery in the war-torn south and set off for Nicodemus, Kansas. When they arrive, they are shocked to see that little of what they were promised actually exists. Many head back home, but Ezekial and his daughters are determined to build a new life in the stark territory.

Dr. Boyle, a newly arrived doctor in neighboring Hill City, is called to deliver a baby in Nicodemus. He and his family are moved by the plight of the settlers there and vow to help. But the white pioneers of Hill City face problems, too. When the lives of these two families intersect, neither town will ever be the same.

Morning SkyBook 2

Nothing will ever be the same after boisterous Aunt Lilly Verdue arrives in the new settlement of Nicodemus, Kansas, in the early summer of 1880. Her brother-in-law is not at all happy to see her, and her unwillingness to admit the reason behind her hasty exit from New Orleans only fuels the fire. She's not content to peacefully join the little farming community. No, Lilly manages to shake things up even further when she decides Moses Wyman is engaged to the wrong sister!

Daylight Comes

Book 3

Truth Wyman is happy living in the little prairie town of Nicodemus, Kansas. But when her husband becomes a state official, she is forced to move to Topeka. Her twin sister, Grace, accompanies her to the capital, but her matchmaking scheme on Grace's behalf may have unforeseen consequences, possibly jeopardizing their hometown's hopes for a rail line. In nearby Hill City, Kansas, Macia Boyle returns from her European holiday to an uncertain future, but then Garrett Johnson captures her attention. With the threat of competition, Jeb Malone's love for Macia is rekindled. Soon Macia must make a choice: Will she return to Jeb's arms or seek a new life with Garrett?

NOVELS

The Carousel Painter

Without the means to support herself after her father dies, Carrington Brouwer receives the opportunity to use her artistic talent at her friend's father's carousel factory. But the men at the factory are not happy that a woman has been given the very desirable job of painting the elaborately carved horses. When mishaps occur at the factory and jewelry disappears from the home of the factory owner, accusations swirl. Is the handsome young factory manager truly Carrie's ally or will he side with those who believe she should be fired?