Love may blossom where it's least expected in the delightful and heartwarming Pine Creek series from Amity Hope.Widow Amelia Baumann has sworn to never love again. She's content to live peacefully in Pine Creek at her friend Mary's warm, comfortable farmhouse. But then Samuel Kurtz shows up and becomes Mary's permanent guest, making it hard to keep her feelings in check. Especially after Samuel's six-year-old niece, Ruthie, whom he's been raising as his own daughter, completely steals her heart.When the bishops from another district threaten to send Ruthie to live with her distant aunt, so that she'll have two parents raising her instead of just Samuel, he hatches a plan.Amelia reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience with Samuel-only because she loves Ruthie and can't bear to see her torn from the only father she's ever known. Not because Samuel's kind green eyes and charming laugh draw her in. And as long as she and Samuel are in agreement that they will simply remain friends . . . what could possibly go wrong?