“A great addition to the wonderful Seasons of the Heart romance series” from the beloved author of Autumn Winds and Winter of Wishes (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars). As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She’s never been truly at home in her faith . . . or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she’s gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn't think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles—and that love makes all things new. “The warm and supportive town of Willow Ridge will appeal to readers who appreciate the traditional values and neighborly ways of the plain folk.”—Publishers Weekly Praise for Charlotte Hubbard and the Seasons of the Heart series “Fans of Amish fiction will love the Seasons of the Heart series.”—Marta Perry, national bestselling author “A heartwarming new voice for fans of Beverly Lewis.”—Emma Miller, author of An Amish Mystery series “These very special books will sit proudly on my keeper shelf!”—Romance Reviews Today

Candlemas/Imbolc is the re-awakening of the Old Lass within Old Craft belief and also coincides with the Roman Candelaria and Fornicalia - a spring corn festival celebrated in honour of Fornax, goddess of ovens, and observed by each ward of the city. All this merging of primitive origins and rites, belonging to the European pre-urban agricultural culture, meant that it also commemorated the search for Persephone by her mother and the festival of candles symbolizing the return of the Light. So it continued to be performed until the Christian era, when it was transformed into Candalmas in AD494. In pre-Christian times, Imbolc observance began the night before 1st February, and celebrants prepared for a visit from Brigid into their homes by crafting an effigy of the goddess from bundles of oats and rushes. The clothed effigy was placed in a basket overnight, and the day was celebrated by burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to her. Traditions from both the pagan celebration and the Christian observance of St. Brigid's Day can be found in the modern Imbolc festivities - while celebrants sometimes make a Brigid's Cross out of reeds, as well as a Brigid corn doll or effigy.

Grocery owner Griffin Reed is a little hesitant about renting the apartment next to his to a nineteen-year-old young man with a two-year-old son. But from the moment he sees this blue-eyed, blond-haired angel standing outside his screened-door, Griffin feels maybe he should put his doubt aside and give Charles Martin and his equally angelic son Charlie a chance at a stable home. Charles Martin never knew his parents and grew up in foster care. So when he accidently gets a young woman pregnant, Charles makes a promise to himself to not let his son share his fate of getting passed from one foster family to another because Charlie’s mother thinks they’re too young to be parents. With the help of a social service worker, his best friend’s family, and a kindly landlord, Charles gets the chance to prove he is a responsible human-being. A few months after Charles settles into his new apartment, a devastating epidemic hits the world, forcing Charles and Charlie to hunker down with his landlord, a man he barely knows who has gone out of his way to prove love can conquer all.

Thank you for encouraging me to publish The Torch of Love by the support that you have given me in my last book The Dating Game. The emphasis is again on rhyming romantic poetry interlaced with humour and some poems which will make us think a bit. I have sneaked in a few poems which always seem to be well appreciated by my audiences at my public readings. The aim of my writing is always to create an air of romance and humour. If you would like more humour why not visit my website www.thelaughingpoet.co.uk. You will get plenty of laughs there. Just as I was in the process of sending my book to the publishers my wonderful wife and I were caught up in a horrific car accident in which my wife passed away. I am, therefore, publishing this in her memory. The poem I wrote to cover that occasion was one of the most difficult poems that I have had to write in my life. Wishing you all the best of luck, good health, happiness And good reading.

Beginning in 1947, includes program and abstracts of papers presented at its annual meeting.