Traveling the Overland Trail toward California, a lonely young woman learns that love can lead you out of the wilderness . . . 1851, Overland Trail to California. As a baby, Callie was left on the doorstep of an isolated farmhouse in Tennessee. The Whitaker family took her in, but they’ve always considered her more a servant than a daughter. Scorned by her two stepsisters, Callie is forced to work long hours and denied an education. But a new world opens to her when the Whitakers join a wagon train to California—guided by rugged Luke McGraw . . . A loner, haunted by a painful past, Luke plans to return to the wilderness once his work is done. But he can’t help noticing how poorly Callie is treated—or how unaware she is of her beauty and intelligence. As the two become closer over the long trek west, Callie’s confidence grows. And when disaster strikes, Callie emerges as the strong one—and the woman Luke may find the courage to love at last . . .

After the death of her abusive husband, Sarah Gregg is free to join her family along with thousands of others in the nation’s westward march for gold. But in the middle of the hard journey, Sarah’s younger sister, Florrie, disappears. Devastated by the family’s failed attempts to find her missing sister, Sarah now wants only to settle into a quiet, uneventful life when she reaches California . . . But Jack McCoy, a drifter and one-time gambler riding along their wagon train, sees so much more for Sarah. In the roaring mining town of Gold Creek his attentive persistence points Sarah toward new vistas. Then unexpected news of Florrie arrives—and it’s worse than anyone expected. But driven by a new hopefulness, Sarah seeks help from Jack, despite his troubled past. The two have traveled a rough road together, and only their hearts can tell them where they are headed . . .

Before the war, Belle Ainsworth led a life of pleasure and privilege in the deep South. Five years after losing her fiancé at the Battle of Gettysburg, she is still alone, with no prospects for marriage among the remaining men of her acquaintance. But out west, there are possibilities. And when Belle answers an ad for a mail-order bride and boards a train to San Francisco to meet wealthy restaurateur Robert Romano, it’s with the hope of at last making her dreams of family come true. When the train is robbed, Yancy McLeish, a disillusioned Union Army hero, rescues Belle from her attackers—and lays claim to her heart. But Belle has pledged her troth to Romano and intends to honor that commitment. It’s a decision she soon regrets, for her groom-to-be is nothing like his letters. As she plots a course to escape Romano, Belle prays that road can lead her back to the safety of Yancy’s arms, where she believes she was always destined to be... Praise for Shirley Kennedy and her novels “The historical details are vivid and realistic and should appeal to fans of the historical romance genre. The characters are interesting, the story is engaging, and the romance is slow-building and sweet. River Queen Rose is a great start in what looks to be a promising historical series by Kennedy.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars “Shirley Kennedy spins a tale sure to pull at the heartstrings of her readers.” —RT Book Reviews on Three Wishes for Miss Winthrop, 4 stars

The ramshackle River Queen Hotel is home to vagabonds, gamblers, and heathens—and now, to new widow Rose Peterson. The rundown Gold Rush establishment is the only thing her late husband, Emmet, left her. Despite its raucous saloon and ladies of the evening, Rose can see the hotel’s potential. Her late husband’s family claim that sheltered Rose isn’t capable of running the Sacramento inn herself. But she is determined to make a new life for herself and her young daughter, even if it means flying in the face of custom and propriety. She feels as if she hasn’t a friend in the world. Except, perhaps, one. Decatur “Deke” Fleming, a tall, lanky Australian who once served as Emmet’s farmhand. Pride prevents Deke from revealing his moneyed past; conscience keeps him from confessing his feelings for the still grieving widow. But when Rose is tempted by wealthy civic leader and hotel owner Mason Talbot, Deke may be the only person who can save her—and the one man capable of reviving her bruised and battered heart . . . Praise for Shirley Kennedy and her novels “The historical details are vivid and realistic and should appeal to fans of the historical romance genre. The characters are interesting, the story is engaging, and the romance is slow-building and sweet. River Queen Rose is a great start in what looks to be a promising historical series by Kennedy.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars “Shirley Kennedy spins a tale sure to pull at the heartstrings of her readers.” —RT Book Reviews on Three Wishes for Miss Winthrop, 4 stars

Pampered, fun-loving Laurie Sinclair hates everything about the rough, ugly mining town of Lucky Creek, California. She only left Philadelphia because her wealthy father opened the Monarch Gold Mine—and because Brandon, the man she’d hoped to marry, sent her away. But when Brandon changes his mind, she’s ready to pack her bags—until her father is suddenly killed in a mine explosion, and her brother is badly injured . . . As troubles mount for the Sinclairs, including a ruinous unexpected debt, they save themselves by selling half their mine ownership to Darcy McKenna, a friend of Laurie’s late father. Brusque and brooding, Darcy is the opposite of exuberant Laurie. Yet as Laurie stays on to help him in the office, Darcy soon finds himself smiling and happier, while Laurie finds her interests are changing. She might even be falling for Darcy. But her heart won’t truly be tested until Brandon shows up—and throws her life into chaos . . . Praise for Shirley Kennedy and her novels “The historical details are vivid and realistic and should appeal to fans of the historical romance genre. The characters are interesting, the story is engaging, and the romance is slow-building and sweet. River Queen Rose is a great start in what looks to be a promising historical series by Kennedy.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars “Shirley Kennedy spins a tale sure to pull at the heartstrings of her readers.” —RT Book Reviews on Three Wishes for Miss Winthrop, 4 stars

Letitia Tinsley’s well-ordered spinster life is thrown into chaos when she learns her beloved brother has mysteriously disappeared from his gold mining claim in California. Determined to discover the truth, Letty sets out on the treacherous journey west. But there’s only one thing more perilous than a single lady traveling alone into the rugged frontier—and that is sharing the passage with Garth Morgan. The wealthy bachelor is astoundingly arrogant—and dangerously handsome. Worse, Letty is forced to lean on his strong shoulders, again and again... Humbled by the harrowing expedition, Garth resolves to keep Letty safe—though the courageous beauty is unwilling to give an inch when it comes to trusting him. Still, despite her defiant resistance, he’s ready to stand with her as she faces the truth about her missing sibling. And by the time they reach California, Garth is determined to stake his own claim on the lovely Miss Letty—if only she will let him...

Nothing appeals to Annie Sullivan's sense of romance like hunting for a missing heirloom. She can't get enough of the stories surrounding Sinclair Drummond's Scottish ancestors. But when they search his mansion together, she can't get enough of her boss--and they make love. Simply shocking. For a divorc determined to stay single, Sinclair is on thin ice...with his housekeeper, no less. And when he takes Annie to a gala on his neighbor's Long Island estate, the Cinderella song and dance becomes the real deal. But will major family drama stop this fantasy fling dead in its tracks?

Will their wedding night be a one-night stand or a merger for keeps?

Its the spring of 1850, and Ada Wilcox wants nothing more than to grieve in private for her son who recently died of fever and ague in their Missouri farmhouse. But a law passed by Congressmaking fertile land available in the Oregon Territorywould capture her husbands imagination and change their lives forever. The Wilcox farm has been unprofitable for years, threatening the familys survival. But now, acres of free land are up for grabs in Oregon to any family willing to make the long, treacherous journey there by wagon train and claim it. Ada has no choice but to abide by her husbands decision to sell the farm and travel west with him and their eight-year-old daughter, Ruthie. Her resentment festers against her husband for taking her away from her home and her sons grave, and against God, who had not healed her sonleaving her angry, confused, and despondent. During the grueling trek across the plains, mountains, and rivers, Ada learns how to work through grief from those she befriends on the wagon train to Oregon. But more importantly, she learns what it means to submit to Gods authority and trust Him completely. While ministering to the needs of others, she transforms their lives as well as her own and begins to restore her relationship with her Lord, her husband, and her daughter.

The third volume of Using Picture Storybooks to Teach Literary Devices joins volumes 1 and 2 of this best-selling series to give teachers and librarians the perfect tool to teach literary devices to students in grades K-12. In this volume, 120 well-reviewed picture storybooks, published mainly in the last few years, are listed (sometimes more than once) under 41 literary devices. All-ages picture storybooks, which can be enjoyed by adults, as well as children, are included. For each device, a definition is given, and descriptions of appropriate storybooks, with information on how to use them, the art style used in the book, and a curriculum tie-in, are provided. Among the literary devices included are alliteration, analogy, flashback, irony, metaphor, paradox, tone, and 34 more. Indexes by author, title, art style, and curriculum tie-in add to this outstanding book's great value. Grades 4-12.