jcrew

Lisette Gibbons has courage and steel. Having made the dangerous crossing from England to New York as a girl, losing her beloved Mammy, and keeping house for her often absent Dadda, she has few friends to turn to when trouble strikes. She reaches out of her small world to find that there are many people who are glad to help, but she fears them learning her dark secret. Merle Shipley loves his life. He enjoys running the town's busy postal office and has big ambitions for it. But he feels something may be missing. Watching so many of his friends find love has made him think about building a family, now his business is doing so well. But will his generous heart make him lose out when he offers sanctuary to a woman he has never even met?

Prudence Wimbourne is a ballet dancer, but a terrible accident ends her career abruptly. Now all her hard work and the sacrifices made by her and her family feel as though they have been for nothing. She longs to escape, and to find a new life with a man who understands how hard it is for her to leave everything behind. Matthew Carrington longs to find a place he might call home. Tired of never having a home and travelling from town to town as a member of a travelling troupe of actors he has saved his earnings, but never knew what to do with them until he meets some of the townsfolk of Faith Creek and knows he could make a life there. But as he builds his own theater, he realizes that there is still something missing.

Frances Harman has spent a lifetime living out of suitcases, a staunch supporter of her papa as he builds an empire as a hotelier. A quiet soul, happiest when out of sight, left alone to pursue her own interests and happiness, she has never felt the lack of companions or excitement in her life. Yet, since his remarriage, she has been forced into a new world, one of parties and balls and afternoon promenades, and has found herself overshadowed by her beautiful stepsister, Maria, in every way. But in a moment of uncharacteristic bravado, she responds to a matrimonial advertisement in the newspaper.

Sarah Clinton has lived in Faith Creek her entire life. Her family were among the very first people to arrive and settle in the then wild and untamed land. Quiet and shy, she finds her place working for Maeve Fountain and begins to wish she had the feisty woman's determination and spirit. Taking her destiny in her own hands, she responds to an advertisement, hoping to find the happiness so many around her in Faith Creek have done, but can she trust that he truly wants her and not her effervescent and amiable employer? Wilbur Franklin has always wanted a simple life. As a Montana banking clerk he can understand what draws people to up sticks and change everything in their lives, but has always felt he lacked the courage to do something so drastic, so brave, so reckless himself. But a friendship made as he tried to find himself a bride leads him to do just that. But, will his gamble pay off?

Elise Mitchell is no stranger to traveling huge distances to follow her heart, but this time she is making the move to take back control. Tragically widowed and with a young son to look out for, she finds herself beholden to her husband's family and their grip is chafing. Having come from Scotland, she knows the mountains and the fresh air will be a tonic for her and her son, Bailey, but will the wilds of Montana be far enough away for her to be free of the Mitchell's clutches?

Maeve Fitzpatrick has always been brave. Moving from Ireland to America was just a big adventure to her, but the reality has turned out to be so much less than she imagined. Living in grey and dreary Pittsburgh is hardly her dream come true! But she is not one to ever give up on herself - or her goals - and so she places an advertisement to find herself a husband, eager for the opportunity that another change of scenery might bring. But there are obstacles to face that she has never considered, obstacles she cannot change alone.

Clara Warburton is strong willed and determined that being female should not hold her back. As a student at Stanford, she wishes she could continue to enjoy the freedoms she has found there. But Society frowns upon clever and ambitious women, and her Papa is determined she will now learn her place. But Clara is not the kind of girl to take ultimatums lying down and so sets a course of her own making. But will it all end well? Has she finally been too clever for her own happiness?

Harriet Kirk has spent a lifetime being overlooked. Though she adores her sister, Annalise, who is beautiful and urbane, confident and accomplished in every situation, Harriet is tired of always being compared unfavorably to her. Clever and quick, practical and sensible, Harriet has always felt like an ugly duckling, but it has never stopped her from wanting the happily ever after that her sister always seemed destined for. But an unusual twist in their fates has them taking their destiny into their own hands.

Ambassador's daughter Marietta Winthrop has given up her own prospects of marriage and family to be a companion to her melancholic aunt. She secretly longs for adventure and the love of a man who won't try and change her but knows she is hoping for too much. She knows that all the men of her acquaintance would banish poor Aunt Clara to a sanatorium and she will not let that happen. But keen of mind, and inspired by a special day spent at the botanic gardens, Marietta begins to wonder if there just might be more to life after all.

Bernadette Havering is a vivacious and independent woman. She knows her mind and never intends to let a man dictate what she should or should not be able to do. In a world where women having a job is frowned upon, she longs for a profession and wants to make history by becoming one of the very first women in the United States of America to gain a law license. But why should she give up a husband and family in order to do so? Can she truly have both?