Alone in a strange town, can she find healing for her new home . . . and herself?

Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

Welcome to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.


"With unusual charm and warmth, Rachel Fordham opens the door to Azure Springs, a place as memorable as the people who inhabit it."--Laura Frantz, author of The Lacemaker

"This delightful book about the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love will keep you turning pages until the very end."--Jennifer Beckstrand, author of A Courtship on Huckleberry Hill

"A tender story about loss, life, and the beauty that lies within each of us."--Stacy Henrie, USA Today bestselling author and RITA award finalist


Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She'd pull a book from the shelf, but they'd insist she make one up. She hasn't stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.