Lynn Patrick

Another man in uniform isn't part of her plan.

She's earned some good karma. An army widow at twenty–one, Heather Clarke has spent the past three years running her aunt's quilt store, raising her twin girls alone and earning a degree in landscape horticulture. Finally, she's launching her new career and starting to feel as though she's on solid ground. And then Rick Slater rides onto her job site.

Heather needs a mysterious, gorgeous, ex–army distraction like a hole in the head. Especially when he's the restless type who's flirting with reenlisting. And flirting with her! Even if she were ready to love again, she wouldn't risk it on a man who might not stay. Now, if he decides to stop moving and grow some roots…then that's a whole other story.

Preserving nature. Growing love. Can they do both? 

Grace Huber has no interest in taking over the reins of her father's successful development company. Instead, she's busy building a dream of her own: a "green" housing community in Wisconsin's Sparrow Lake. Educator and conservationist Caleb Blackthorne is not only on the same page, the handsome single father tempts goal–oriented Grace to take time out to smell the flowers. But Caleb's rebellious teenage daughter keeps throwing obstacles in their path. And when Caleb's long–gone ex–wife shows up, along with rumours of ghostly sightings that threaten the future of Green Meadows, Grace fears she may lose all the things that matter most to her.

Police chief Alex Novak is exactly the kind of man Kristen Lange could fall for–if she were staying in Sparrow Lake. But she can't fall. And she can't stay. Moving home was a temporary setback, not a life choice! As soon as she lands a job in Chicago, Kristen will be packing her Manolo shoes and hopping back on the fast track.

If she's going to meet her goals, she can't afford distractions–or involvement. Not in her aunt's quilting store, not in her widowed sister's life, and certainly not with Alex. No matter how intriguing–and determined–he is. No matter what she's starting to feel.

Not everybody gets a second chance...

Back in Sparrow Lake after fifteen years away and Sam Larson's already messing with Priscilla Ryan's life. Saying yes when they were kids and he asked her to be his girl was her biggest mistake. The bad boy rode out of town the next day. She isn't about to make a second mistake by falling for him again.

Getting his dude ranch off the ground is the ex-rodeo star's first priority. That, and reconnecting with the quiet girl he took to the prom — the best night of Sam's life. He has a lot to make up for. And yet he's keeping his secrets. But when sabotage threatens his business — and one of Priscilla's nieces — it's his chance to prove he isn't the boy he once was.

They were assigned to be marriage partners

Gillian Flannery's marriage project worked great with her high–school students. But when she was assigned a partner herself, her "marriage" to John Slater quickly ran into trouble.

In real life, Gillian soon learned, people came burdened with troublesome personal baggage. Gillian herself had a deep aversion to conflict. As for John, he came with two half–grown daughters who bickered constantly. Worse, his ex–wife had just breezed back into Indianapolis and declared war.

Did Gillian want to get caught in the cross fire? Not likely. But for John Slater, she just might dig in and fight.