Cornhusker Dreams

A heartwarming WWII historical from award-winning author Cara Putman Lainie Gardner once dreamed of becoming a nurse. Of serving her country. Of doing something important in the war. But rheumatic fever changed all that, and instead of running home to her parents' coddling, Lainie is determined to find a war job at Fort Robinson in Nebraska's sandhills, where she meets a soldier with his own broken dreams. Tom Hamilton has feared dogs since he was bitten as a child, but his assignment at Fort Robinson is training war dogs and their handlers. Surely the Army has another use for him, but he's trapped in a job he can't stand in an out-of-the-way outpost. Every day is a reminder of his cowardice. Who would want to build a future with a man like him? Getting to know Lainie is a welcome distraction from the work that causes so much turmoil. Is it possible new dreams will bring Lainie and Tom more joy than they ever imagined? Or will their fears hold them apart?

A heartwarming, award-winning love story, Canteen Dreams sweeps readers into WWII through a small town, homefront romance.In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Nebraska schoolteacher Audrey Stone can't just sit by and watch as the country races to war. Instead, she's determined to do something that matters to support the war effort. When her community starts a canteen at the train station, Audrey spends nearly every spare moment there, offering food and kindness to the soldiers passing through. She never expected to fall for a local boy…or face the challenges of budding love in the face of war.Rancher Willard Johnson admires Audrey's passionate nature, but when his brother is killed in action, he feels he must avenge by enlisting himself. His father insists he stay at home and Uncle Sam seems to agree, but Willard is praying about what he should do.Can Willard' and Audrey's budding relationship weather the storms of war?For a sweet, heart-warming love story that is based in part on the author's grandparents and her hometown, read Canteen Dreams.