She had everything figured out. But life had other plans.

Melinda Foster had it all - well, almost. A charming vintage apartment in Minneapolis, a rewarding career at one of the city's top marketing firms, supportive friends and a flush bank account. So what if she was nearly forty and single? Or if, when she slowed down long enough to reflect, something seemed to be missing?

One tough break, and one phone call, change everything.

Finding herself at a crossroads, Melinda packs her bags and heads home to rural Iowa. She lands behind the counter of her family's hardware store in the tiny community of Prosper, whose motto is "The Great Little Town That Didn't." When a "for rent" sign beckons her down a dusty gravel lane, she takes charge of a rundown farm and its stubborn animals. And learns that starting over, at any age, isn't for the faint of heart.

Like the sprawling garden she tends under the summer sun, Melinda begins to thrive ... and discovers it's the small blessings that matter the most. But when storm clouds arrive on her horizon, can she hold on to the new life she's worked so hard to create? First in a series.

Author Bio:
Melanie Lageschulte grew up on an acreage in northern Iowa. She's spent much of her professional life telling the stories of Iowa and its residents, including several years as a reporter and editor for the Des Moines Register. Melanie holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in American history from the University of Iowa. Learn more at fremontcreekpress.com.