Taking Chances

One girl, one problem, and two possible solutions.An orphan herself, all Norah Monroe wants to do is adopt three kids from the Stanthorpe Children's Home, giving them the home she never had. Head of the adoption board, Octavia Stanthorpe, driven by her own self-importance and prejudice, is determined to rid the town of riffraff like those Monroes. Her solution? To dust off an outdated and long forgotten rule stating all adopters must be married...and Norah is not married. Therefore..."Application denied."Enter Thad Davis, the town doctor, and Clay Barrett, a local rancher. One offers a marriage of convenience and a guaranteed solution to the adoption issue. The other offers the chance to fall in love with no guarantees at all. Supported by her brother, Norah needs to figure out what she's going to do now. If that wasn't tricky enough, it's early December and she has until the new year to do it.Will she run out and do something stupid or will she trust in the LORD forever? Originally from Australia, Joanne Markey now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children.

Whoever said the course of true love never runs smooth knew their business.Especially motherly love.Still, with adoption success just waiting for ink and paper to appear, Norah can focus on more exciting things like Christmas and figuring out how this marriage thing is going to work out!However, never underestimate the craftiness of an antagonistic old woman determined to get her way-or rather, stop Norah from getting hers. If it means resorting to underhanded means to ensure she comes out on top, then so be it. All it takes is a word in the right ear, a nudge here, a wink there, and the natural course of gossip and slander will do the rest.When the dust clears, Norah's heart is in tatters and her fledgling relationship is in ruins... Or is it? Will her hero's patience wear thin, and is Norah's faith strong enough to see her through whatever comes her way? Originally from Australia, Joanne Markey now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children.