Hetty

Gentle, imaginative Hetty feels at home with her kindly parents but struggles to find her place in a new school. She takes refuge in her secret forest hideaway. When an accident forces her to rely on others, will Hetty find what it takes to grow up and fit in? And is a mysterious stranger watching over her? HETTY is the first in a three-part "coming of age" series about a gentle-imaginative girl with loving adoptive parents and a natural father. They, and some very special friends, help daydreamer Hetty (ages 7-15) grow up. It is superbly crafted by three-time MCA winning author-illustrator Martha Sears West. West has kindly narrated a HETTY audiobook which will also be launched the Summer of 2014. (An ebook will be available as well.)

HETTY HAPPENS is second in a series following Hetty, a now seventeen year old girl, as she navigates her way through an ever increasingly difficult decision to support the marriage of Morgan Morganthal to Katrinka Wallace. Hetty is lovesick and miserable, yet not even her kindly parents know. She can't speak about the one she loves. He'll soon marry someone else. Does she suffer from a youthful crush or is it lasting love? Gentle, imaginative Hetty can fix other peoples' problems, but can she repair the damage she's caused with her foolish promise? Follow Hetty as she makes the confusing, and often heartbreaking, transition into adulthood and the path to finding her true love.

A young woman poised to marry her beloved must face the machinations of his former fiancée in the third installment of West's (Hetty Makes it Happen, 2014, etc.) series. In 1960, the shy, sweet 20-year-old Hetty Lawrence has graduated early from college and is thrilled to be back in her forest home. She visits "Hannah," the mighty tree that was once her dreamy childhood refuge and the place where she later confessed her love to Morgan Morganthal. Soon after that confession, Morgan halted his wedding to Katrinka Wallace, the stunning daughter of a dwarf named Phil, who's Morgan's father's partner in a family circus business. Morgan is finished with law school and eager to start his new life with Hetty. Then Phil dies, and Katrinka leans on Morgan for support. She also hints to Morgan that Hetty, due to a heart condition, shouldn't have children and manipulates Ignatz, a former circus employee dismissed for animal cruelty, to help her trap Morgan into marriage. Hetty tries not to feel threatened by Katrinka's actions and does her best to fulfill Phil's dying wish for her to be a friend to his daughter. She also tries to help reignite the love between Morgan's parents and later undergoes a glamorous transformation. West once again combines charming illustrations of Hetty and other characters with a romance plot featuring gently humorous and slightly edgy elements. The tense marriages of Morgan's parents and Hetty's biological father and new stepmother, for example, darken the perspectives of the lead couple-at least for a time. Katrinka continues to be a compellingly nuanced character: devious yet also a loving daughter. The proceedings can be a bit silly at times, as when muscleman Ignatz gets distracted by thoughts of a juicy burger. Still, West wraps up this romance in her trademark rollicking, family-friendly fashion, complete with a Cinderella turn by the always-appealing Hetty. An amusing, satisfying conclusion to a charming heroine's love story.

In this tender and wholesome glimpse into their young marriage, we see Hetty's kindly husband Morgan loves her for her goodness and purity. He has forfeited a vast inheritance to marry her. Hetty longs to work by his side as an attorney, and yet he pictures her as a stay-at-home mom. She must never have children, because of a congenital heart condition. Hetty is thrilled to be leaving behind Morgan's former fiancée. For years, gossip columnists fanned the fantasy that the wealthy and accomplished Morgan was destined to wed beauty queen Katrinka Wallace. It was also the wish of their fathers, who were long time friends and business partners. On board ship, Hetty saves the life of a Japanese man who is taking his reluctant daughter to Tokyo for an arranged marriage. Hetty consoles this young woman who pines for a boyfriend she is leaving behind in the states. Hetty learns Morgan's long-admired mentor will serve with him on the governor's ethics committee. She has no choice but to tell him he once touched her inappropriately. Morgan's awkward reaction leads Hetty to fear he now thinks less of her. And who poisoned the rich old man at their table aboard ship? It might be the woman who is secretly married to him. Perhaps it was the artist who is courting her, or the woman's teen-aged son, who is playing cupid between his mother and the artist. When newspapers report Hetty and Morgan's marriage is invalid due to the questionable credentials of the minister who married them, they decide they must stay apart until it is resolved. Hoping to take advantage of his single status, Morgan's gorgeous yet devious former fiancée Katrinka arrives-yes, on their honeymoon––ostensibly on business. To prove she's not jealous, Hetty suggests Katrinka as their chaperone. This she soon regrets. Through their experiences on the ship and in France, Hetty proves she can be an equal partner in their marriage. We witness the growth of their mutual admiration, love and trust.

The conniving beauty queen Katrinka, Morgan's former fiancée, is torn between the desire to destroy Hetty and the need for her friendship. The night before they were to wed, Morgan spurned Katrinka in favor of the tall, skinny Hetty. The humiliated Katrinka still seeks revenge. This she does by scheming to manipulate the rich, handsome Morgan and his business empire. Hetty struggles to befriend Katrinka and to overcome her resentment with kindness. When Hetty tells Morgan she is expecting another child, he is devastated, fearing for her life. As the story moves through surprising twists and turns, Hetty's character illuminates even the dark shadows. Whether she lives or dies, love is the winner and will last forever. The power of Hetty's tender nature and undimmed spirit remind us that love never fails.

Ignatz, a reformed petty criminal, acts as Pippa's surrogate father while her parents are away. Nine-year-old Pippa, arranges a romance, between her handicapped teacher and Ignatz, but will her good, intentions compensate for her bungling? Though Pippa tackles dangers and grown-up problems with courage and imagination, can she escape the cruelty of the school bully?

In this tender and humorous love story, Pippa comes home from college to find her childhood friend Val is no longer a little boy. Pippa feels both confused and thrilled at the change in him. At sixteen, he handles tragedy with wisdom and maturity. If Val declares his love, will it destroy the friendship they treasure?