RaeAnne Thayne - Raeanne Thayne Hope's Crossings Series Volume One - Blackberry Summer

www.mirabooks.co.uk

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Title Page RaeAnne Thayne Hope’s Crossings Series Volume One Blackberry Summer RaeAnne Thayne Woodrose Mountain RaeAnne Thayne Sweet Laurel Falls RaeAnne Thayne www.mirabooks.co.uk

Blackberry Summer Blackberry Summer

Praise Praise for the novels of USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne “Mystery, romance, vivid characters and a wonderful story; really who could ask for more?” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A solid plot, realistic, compelling characters and strong tension make this story hard to put down.” —RT Book Reviews on A Cold Creek Baby (4 ½ stars) “A richly plotted story with characters that are easy to care about, this one is as emotional as it is funny. Keep some tissues handy.” —RT Book Reviews on A Cold Creek Holiday (4 ½ stars) “Sure to touch many hearts with its wonderfully sweet romance and exquisitely written characters.” —RT Book Reviews on The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle (4 ½ stars) “Well-developed characters, plus plenty of raw emotion—and humor— add up to one of the author’s finest books.” —RT Book Reviews on His Second-Chance Family (4 ½ stars, Top Pick) “A warm, wise story with emotionally complex and intriguing characters.” —RT Book Reviews on The Daddy Makeover (4 ½ stars)

Letter to Reader Dear Readers , More than twenty years ago, my husband and I bought our first home in a small rural Utah town. At the time, we were focused on the charm and potential of the old house itself, too young and naive to think much about the neighbors or the community we were joining. We made friends, had our first child, settled into small-town life. We didn’t truly realize the importance of community until after we had our second child, who was born with serious medical complications. Suddenly our neighbors and friends rallied around us with countless acts of kindness. Meals and lawn-mowing, a quick note of encouragement, a basket of home-baked treats. During our most difficult moments in the years since, our neighbors and friends have always stepped in to buoy us up. We have seen the very best of people and we have also learned that a few determined souls can lift and strengthen an entire community, causing ripple-effect kindnesses and bringing everyone together. That’s the message I hope readers take away from Blackberry Summer—that when we reach beyond ourselves, even just a tiny step outside our comfort zone, together we can change lives. All my best, RaeAnne

Dedication As always, to my wonderful husband and children, who fill my life with laughter and love. Special thanks to Nicole Jordan for a hundred different things, but mostly for believing in me.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Woodrose Mountain

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

Sweet Laurel Falls

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Copyright

RaeAnne Thayne

“Mystery, romance, vivid characters and a

wonderful story; really who could ask for more?”

—Debbie Macomber,

#1 New York Times bestselling author

“A solid plot, realistic, compelling characters and

strong tension make this story hard to put down.”

—RT Book Reviews on A Cold Creek Baby

(4 ½ stars)

“A richly plotted story with characters

that are easy to care about, this one is as emotional

as it is funny. Keep some tissues handy.”

—RT Book Reviews on A Cold Creek Holiday

(4 ½ stars)

“Sure to touch many hearts with its wonderfully

sweet romance and exquisitely written characters.”

—RT Book Reviews on

The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle (4 ½ stars)

“Well-developed characters,

plus plenty of raw emotion—and humor—

add up to one of the author’s finest books.”

—RT Book Reviews on His Second-Chance Family

(4 ½ stars, Top Pick)

“A warm, wise story with

emotionally complex and intriguing characters.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Daddy Makeover

(4 ½ stars)

More than twenty years ago, my husband and I bought our first home in a small rural Utah town. At the time, we were focused on the charm and potential of the old house itself, too young and naive to think much about the neighbors or the community we were joining. We made friends, had our first child, settled into small-town life.

We didn’t truly realize the importance of community until after we had our second child, who was born with serious medical complications. Suddenly our neighbors and friends rallied around us with countless acts of kindness. Meals and lawn-mowing, a quick note of encouragement, a basket of home-baked treats. During our most difficult moments in the years since, our neighbors and friends have always stepped in to buoy us up.

We have seen the very best of people and we have also learned that a few determined souls can lift and strengthen an entire community, causing ripple-effect kindnesses and bringing everyone together. That’s the message I hope readers take away from Blackberry Summer—that when we reach beyond ourselves, even just a tiny step outside our comfort zone, together we can change lives.

All my best,

RaeAnne

As always, to my wonderful husband and children,

who fill my life with laughter and love.

Special thanks to Nicole Jordan for a hundred

different things, but mostly for believing in me.

“We are each of us angels with one wing. And we can only fly embracing each other.”

—Luciano de Crescenzo

LOUSY, STUPID HOROSCOPE.

Claire Bradford stood with one hand on the doorway and the other clutching her coffee go-cup as she stared at the chaotic mess inside her store.

According to the stars—at least according to the horoscope in the Hope Gazette she’d scanned while standing in line at her friend Maura’s coffee shop for her morning buzz after dropping the kids off at school—she was supposed to prepare herself for something fun and exciting headed her way today. She had been thinking more along the lines of a few dozen new customers at her bead store or maybe a big commission on one of her more intricate custom pieces.