Sometimes not everything is exactly as it seems... When her aunt is injured, Sara hurries back to Belle Island to help out at Charming Inn. She’s sure she can run the inn and work remotely for her job back in Boston. If only she can juggle all of it… But what are the chances she’d run into Noah McNeil after all these years and what is he doing on her island? He disappeared from her life in Boston without a word over twenty years ago. And now he has a dog? He always swore he didn't have time for pets… Sara and her two best friends, Robin and Charlotte, struggle to keep Charming Inn running while Sara struggles to ignore Noah completely. But maybe, just maybe, Noah isn’t quite the man she thought he was. Join these three best friends and the familiar people of Belle Island in this delightful spin-off of the Lighthouse Point series. This is book one in the Charming Inn series: One Simple Wish - Book One Two of a Kind - Book Two Three Simple Things - Book Three Four Short Weeks - Book Four Five Years or So - Book Five keywords: sweet romance, clean and wholesome, small town romance series, women’s fiction, drama, saga, best friends, women friends, southern romance, beach read, friendship, heartwarming, sweet, clean, inspirational, Kay Correll, Comfort Crossing, Lighthouse Point, contemporary romance, happily ever after, HEA, seasoned romance, older romance, Later in life, Similar to, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods, Inglath Cooper, Olivia Miles, Debbie White, JoAnn Ross, Debbie Mason, Susan Wiggs, Nancy Thayer, Karen Kingsbury, family life, seasoned romance, older characters, older heroine, Kay Cordell, Kay Cornell, Kay Correl, Amelia C. Adams, Jenny Hale, Sheila Roberts, Pamela Kelley, Christine Nolfi, Joanne DeMaio, Meredith Summers, Jan Moran, Cindy Nichols, Viola Shipman

Second in the series following A Simple Vow—from the author of the Seasons of the Heart novels, who “writes Amish stories with style and grace” (RT Book Reviews). The Amish residents of Willow Ridge share their talents at the Simple Gifts crafts shop—and share the blessings of faith, hard work, and love with their community—even when family secrets bring unexpected challenges . . . Making rugs for Simple Gifts has taught Loretta Riehl that an unassuming pattern can reveal surprising depth. People, too, have a way of defying first impressions. Drew Detweiler came to Willow Ridge under a cloud, but the handsome craftsman has gained the community’s respect for his upholstery skills and commitment to making amends for his mistakes. As her new brother-in-law’s twin, he’s joining the family for dinners and Sunday visits at the Riehl house, and Loretta can’t deny enjoying his attentions. If only her dat were willing to let a little joy into his life. Cornelius Riehl grows more stern with each passing day, and Drew suspects there’s more to his moods than missing Loretta’s late mamm. Hoping to fulfill Loretta’s wish to live in a peaceful, happy home again, Drew sets out to learn the truth. It’s a journey that will bring to light painful realities—but also the chance to forge a new, honest, and loving future together . . . Praise for Charlotte Hubbard’s Seasons of the Heart series “Fans of Amish fiction will love the Seasons of the Heart series.”—Marta Perry, national bestselling author “These very special books will sit proudly on my keeper shelf!”—Romance Reviews Today

Perfect for fans of heartwarming saga from Sunday Times bestselling author, Rosie Goodwin. Britian's best-loved saga writer with over one million copies sold. 1885. Ruby Carter works hard in her parents' bakery. Whilst life isn't easy, she's happy enough - her gentle mother protects young Ruby from her cruel father and loves her unconditionally. So, when her mother falls seriously ill, Ruby is heartbroken. Then, from her deathbed, her mother reveals that Ruby was adopted. Stricken by grief and alone with the violent man she called her father, Ruby feels she has no choice but to flee. At just fifteen, homeless and alone she is relieved when a kindly stranger named Mrs Bamber takes pity on poor Ruby and welcomes her into her home. But soon, Ruby learns Mrs Bamber is not as generous as she first seemed - she forces Ruby into a life of crime as a jewel thief in Birmingham's jewellery quarter. With nothing to her name and nowhere to go Ruby has no choice but to go along with it, despite the guilt and shame she feels. But Ruby is determined that she will atone for what she's done, and be reunited with her birth parents. Ruby's only wish is to find her family.

Rachel Milligan is caring for her seven-year-old niece, Holly, at her home in Chicago when she receives devastating news: Holly's parents have been killed in a plane crash. Because Rachel is Holly's only known relative, she assumes that she will be her beloved niece's guardian. However, custody is awarded to Lydia, a distant aunt who happens to be Amish. Just a week before Christmas, Rachel takes Holly to the Amish community in the hopes of persuading Aunt Lydia to relinquish custody. Instead, Lydia sets out to teach Holly to live according to the Amish way. As family secrets emerge and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs. Combining an Amish family saga with the anticipation of Christmas cheer and the promise of a budding romance, this newest Christmas story from beloved author Melody Carlson is sure to please.

America's foster care system has a noble goal—to care for children that for various reasons can no longer be cared for by their families—but years of inattention and inadequate funding have left many foster youth in a precarious state. This resource provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the American foster care system. Areas of coverage include the scaffolding of foster care systems in the various states (each of which operate their own unique systems through their social service agencies); conditions under which children are taken out of their families of origin and placed in foster care; the experiences of both young children and older teens in foster homes; challenges for foster children who "age out" of the system; and proposals to reform and improve foster care across the nation. Geared for students, this book contains chapters devoted to the background and history of foster care in America; the systems's problems, controversies, and solutions; original essay contributions exploring various facets of the system; profiles of leading foster care activists and organizations; governmental data and excerpts of primary documents on the topic; and an annotated list of important books, scholarly journals, and nonprint sources for further research. It closes with a detailed chronology, glossary of terms, and subject index.

The simple wish! What would you wish for if you only had one wish? I know some would wish for riches or to fall in love, some would wish for power and long life, others maybe to rule the world, while a few would wish to help mankind or for special powers. It is a hard choice which isn't easy when the rules that everyone is used to suddenly change, causing all known technology to stop working. Chaos rules or so it seems at first but there are some groups who know all about the planetary shift and the change over from technology to magic. Soon they are looking for the few who can fight back against their new magical powers and the only way to hide is not what most would think of...

"An elegant, wise book of love in action." -- Deepak Chopra "These stories will inspire you." -- Gabrielle Bernstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back HumanKind is the heartwarming feel-good book that we all need right now. Brad Aronson's life changed in an instant when his wife, Mia, was diagnosed with leukemia. After her diagnosis, Brad spent most of the next two and a half years either by her side as she received treatment or trying to shield their five-year-old son, Jack, from the worst of Mia's illness. Amid the stress and despair of waiting for the treatment to work, Brad and Mia were met by an outpouring of kindness from friends, family and even complete strangers. Inspired by the many demonstrations of "humankindness" that supported their family through Mia's recovery, Brad began writing about the people who rescued his family from that dark time, often with the smallest of gestures. But he didn't stop there. Knowing that simple acts of kindness transform lives across the globe every day, he sought out these stories and shares some of the best ones here. In HumanKind, you'll meet the mentor who changed a child's life with a single lesson in shoe tying, the six-year-old who launched a global kindness movement, the band of seamstress grandmothers who mend clothes for homeless people, and many other heroes. Brad also provides dozens of ways you can make a difference through the simplest words and deeds. You'll discover how buying someone a meal or sharing a little encouragement at the right time can change someone's world, as well as your own. The resource section at the back of the book provides guidance and organizations that will help you channel and amplify your own acts of kindness. Here you'll discover: How you can fund a surgery to cure someone's blindness with a donation of less than $200. Organizations through which you can provide a birthday gift for a child who otherwise wouldn't receive one. Multiple places where you can send letters of encouragement to support hospitalized kids, lonely seniors, refugees, veterans and others in need. And over fifty more ways you can change a life. HumanKind will leave you grateful for what you have and provide a refuge from the negativity that surrounds us. This feel-good book will touch your heart. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll be reminded of what really matters. All author royalties go to Big Brothers Big Sisters.