Finding a husband is serious business. And serious business requires serious planning. Charity Raber is one of many single women who came to Birch Creek, Ohio, with one goal in mind: secure a husband from among the desperate bachelors a newspaper advertisement claimed inhabited the town. Even though that claim proved to be nothing more than a cruel prank, Charity is still hopeful that her happy ending might be within reach when she’s set up on a date with Jesse Bontrager. That is until Jesse not-so-gently shares that he has no interest in a relationship with anyone—and especially not with her. One year later, Charity is working as a caretaker for a kind, elderly English woman in the nearby town of Marigold. She’s also working hard on a brand-new courtship plan. A plan that absolutely does not involve Jesse Bontrager. But when he moves next door and is made aware of her scheming, Charity vows to prove that her plan is foolproof. Meanwhile, Jesse is sure she’ll make a fool of herself. And for some reason he’s not willing to let that happen. This stubborn bachelor and determined bachelorette will soon learn that their plans rarely work out as expected—but God’s plans always will. Sweet Amish romance The first book in the Amish of Marigold series Book length: 87,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Marriage is the ultimate romantic and idealistic relationship. It is ordained by our Creator and secured by the binding powers of love. As such, marriage promises the “best of times.” Unfortunately, for many, marriage will result in the “worst of times.” This book relates to the resulting overriding question: How can we ensure “the best of times’’ in our marriage? To answer that question, the author shares insights on how to identify and apply basics that are time-proven to produce the desired results. In addition, the author’s expertise in Systems, Quality, and Biblical application brings a unique perspective to help the reader know, understand, and apply the basics toward an endearing, lasting marital relationship. To ensure the desired results, this book focuses on the following. Principles that are time-proven to result in an enjoyable Marital Dance. Behavioral standards that are time-proven to ensure a satisfying relationship in the confines of the marital cocoon. Procedures that are time-proven to ensure a good marriage today and better tomorrow. Toward ease of understanding and application of the basics, this book symbolically relates the Marital Dance to the traditional dance defined by music, choreography, and the fitness of the dancers. The objective is to provide a couple with time-proven principles and behavioral guidelines as needed to tailor and ensure an endearing Marital Dance to the limits of their bent, talents, and capabilities.

A headstrong young businesswoman. An unlucky-in-love bachelor. And the chaperoning assignment that keeps pushing them together. For someone so strong-willed and certain, Ella Yoder has never been more unsure of her life. It's been a year since she convinced her father to move with her and her younger sister Junia to Marigold, Ohio, to open E and J Grocery. Ella's got a keen eye for running a business and has big dreams to expand. But her plans are stalled because Junia refuses to lift a finger at the store--or listen to her about anything. Nelson Bontranger knows one thing for sure: creating his own artisan deli meats is his passion. Well, maybe one other thing: he's sworn off women forever. After two bouts of heartbreak, he's not willing to open up himself to a third. When he eyes his own butcher shop next to E and J Grocery in Marigold, he's surprised to learn that Ella has had her eye on the property for some time. He doesn't trust this stubborn, pushy young woman--and for her, the feeling is mutual. Against their wishes, Ella and Nelson's paths continue to cross when Nelson's nephew Malachi falls head over heels for Junia. Nelson and Ella are brought together to keep the lovebirds in check, but somewhere along the line, their frustration turns to something altogether more pleasant. But they will both need to come to terms with past pain before they can find their future happiness.

"Engaging Regency romance to sweep you away."--USA Today Happy Ever After Blog Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier if she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. Even with thepressure of her socially ambitious mother, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience to save her previously spotless reputation. Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier that he is not the duke in the family. He's free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, which includes grand plans of wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he doesn't know, his dream of a marriage like his parents' seems lost forever. Already starting their marriage on shaky ground, can Adelaide and Trent's relationship survive the pressures of London society?

Damien Northcutt is a gambler, a rake, a bastard, and… bored. Madeline Barnes is a botanist, a lady, an innocent, and… curious. When Damien accidentally plays knight-errant and rescues Madeline from the clutches of her scheming relatives, he discovers she might be the key to getting what he’s always wanted—revenge. Even though Damien has warned her repeatedly he is no gentleman, Madeline is sure deep down underneath his rakish demeanor he is a hero. Why else would he secret her out of a ball to safety? Damien’s plan includes seduction but not marriage. What he doesn’t expect is being seduced himself by Madeline’s smiles and laughter and passion. But she is meant for Damien’s half brother, and enacting his revenge means ruining the match… and breaking her heart.

"New edition of best-selling classic by top HR thinker--an essential addition to your HR bookshelf"--Resource description page.

Drawing from a study of courtship media and ethnographic work at purity retreats and home-school conventions across the Midwest, this is the first inquiry into modern Christian courtship, an alternative to dating that asks young people to avoid both romance and sex until they are ready to be married. Bridging sociological and historical studies of American Christianity with youth and girlhood studies literatures, Elizabeth Shively finds that the courtship system is designed to shore up the patriarchal nuclear family structure at the center of conservative Christianity and ensure predictability in the face of emerging adulthood: single young women work to embody ideals of “luminous femininity” and model themselves after archetypes such as the “Proverbs 31 woman,” the “stay-at-home-daughter,” and the “mission-minded girl,” and courting couples strive to “guard their hearts” against premature emotional intimacy. Nonetheless, participants report that courtship, like other relationships, inevitably carries an element of risk, and it ultimately fails to offer a substantial challenge to the to the sexist realities of youth dating culture.