Cottonwood Series by Sophie Dawson

Cottonwood, Iowa1875 Lydia Walcott is on the run. With a broken arm and wounded spirit she is escaping the hands of her cruel brother and the marriage he has arranged. She's running to the unknown, praying God will lead her steps. Seeking shelter from an ice storm in a livery stall, Lydia goes to sleep hoping that in this small town of Cottonwood, Iowa she’ll find a job, a place to live, friends, and a future. Dr... moreCottonwood, Iowa1875 Lydia Walcott is on the run. With a broken arm and wounded spirit she is escaping the hands of her cruel brother and the marriage he has arranged. She's running to the unknown, praying God will lead her steps. Seeking shelter from an ice storm in a livery stall, Lydia goes to sleep hoping that in this small town of Cottonwood, Iowa she’ll find a job, a place to live, friends, and a future. Dr. Sterling Graham, having just delivered a baby, rides back to town over ice covered roads. He's confident, secure in the knowledge that he is loved and respected by the people of the Cottonwood. Exhausted from the long night, he decides to sleep on the cot in the livery. Sterling’s reputation and career, along with Lydia’s hope for a new life, are put in jeopardy when gossips spread the news that, "Doc spent the night in the stable with a woman." The story grows as ‘facts’ are added. Something needs to be decided that will repair the damage to Sterling’s career and give Lydia the home and safety she needs. The unwelcome solution is that they marry. How do they learn about each other and mesh two lives into a successful marriage which honors God, while coping with issues of trust, pride, epidemic, and injury, along with the fear that Lydia’s brother will find her? Consequences of how gossip, abuse, confession, forgiveness, bossiness, pride, and distrust can affect lives. How living as the Word of God says can bring healing, hope, and love. less

Cottonwood, Iowa1875 “Magdelina Taylor, how could you break your mother’s heart so?” Out from under her domineering mother and into an apartment above her workplace, Maggie Taylor finally blossoms into the woman she feels God wants her to be. She revels in her independence and doesn't want any sort of entanglement with a man. Forced by his father to leave England, Sinjon Lytton arrives in Cottonwood only to find he’s to work as a stable hand... moreCottonwood, Iowa1875 “Magdelina Taylor, how could you break your mother’s heart so?” Out from under her domineering mother and into an apartment above her workplace, Maggie Taylor finally blossoms into the woman she feels God wants her to be. She revels in her independence and doesn't want any sort of entanglement with a man. Forced by his father to leave England, Sinjon Lytton arrives in Cottonwood only to find he’s to work as a stable hand. The only good thing about the town is the beautiful woman with the golden hair he meets the first day. Maggie doesn't feel any delight about the man who seems so happy to be hired as her driver. She denies the tingling the touch his hand brings her, too busy dealing with living on her own to admit her growing attraction to Sinjon. Maggie’s mother would love nothing more than to see them married. Maggie worries if their faiths are too different to get what her hearts desires. Sinjon wants what Sinjon wants and nothing is going to stand in his way. When all options seem wrong, can they learn to trust God and see that he will make a way? Even when it seems impossible? less

‘The Lord giveth and Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.’ The verse has special meaning to Drew Richards and Katie Reed. Both are reeling from the worst loss they have ever known. Drew lost his wife, Rachel, in childbirth. Katie, both her husband and infant son in a fire. Now, to save Drew’s newborn daughter, he has to ask Katie to do the unthinkable; nurse his daughter knowing each time will be like an arrow to her soul... more‘The Lord giveth and Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.’ The verse has special meaning to Drew Richards and Katie Reed. Both are reeling from the worst loss they have ever known. Drew lost his wife, Rachel, in childbirth. Katie, both her husband and infant son in a fire. Now, to save Drew’s newborn daughter, he has to ask Katie to do the unthinkable; nurse his daughter knowing each time will be like an arrow to her soul. Katie knows the pain of losing both spouse and child at the same time. She will do anything to keep Drew from experiencing that same pain. What starts as an arrangement to care for Drew’s children becomes a marriage of convenience. Both are sure they will never love again, but for the sake of Drew’s children they decide to marry. Can love grow from the giving of themselves for each other? Will a rash of petty thefts and an interfering know-it-all cause more problems than they can overcome? Will they live their lives in a loveless marriage? less