For generations, children around the world have come of age with Louisa May Alcott's March girls: hardworking eldest sister Meg, headstrong, impulsive Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. With their father away at war, and their loving mother Marmee working to support the family, the four sisters have to rely on one another for support as they endure the hardships of wartime and poverty. We witness the sisters growing up and figuring out what role...

How Jack and Jill were hurt coasting and what happened while they were getting well.

After being recently orphaned Rose must live with her aunts, the matriarchs of her wealthy Boston family. When Rose's guardian, Uncle Alec, returns from abroad, he takes over her care. She becomes happier and healthier while finding her place in her family of seven boy cousins and numerous aunts and uncles. Each chapter describes an adventure in Rose's life as she learns to help herself and others make good choices. Rose must define for herself her...

Life, love, death, and laughs in a small American town. After almost fifteen years, Hebert has returned to this rich literary landscape for a new novel of the changing economic and social character of New England. Hebert's previous Darby book, “Live Free or Die”, recounted the ill-fated love between Freddie Elman, son of the town trash collector, and Lilith Salmon, child of Upper Darby gentility. At its conclusion, Lilith died giving birth to...

Chronicles the joys and sorrows of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies in nineteenth-century New England.

Mary misses her life and friends in Ireland and is sad that her family cannot celebrate Thanksgiving Day the way their New England neighbors do, until her parents share a story of the Pilgrims' first harvest festival.

Upon encountering the limping Ethan Frome, a visitor becomes curious about the striking man's back story. Using extended flashbacks, author Edith Wharton paints a picture of a man who continually sacrifices his aspirations in order to care for the needy people in his life. After abandoning his goal of higher education to assist his ailing parents on their farm, Ethan's return to Starkfield results in a loveless marriage of service to Zeena, an older...

Through a hard turn of events, Reese Thackery has become an indentured servant. When the owner of her contract dies, the bank has rights to her fate. Conner Kingsley, the son of the bank's owner, comes to Tucker Mills to investigate and soon releases Reese from obligation and hires her to keep house for him. Reese is grateful for freedom but unsure of her other feelings for Conner. Yet, as her emotional hurts heal, and her faith blossoms, Reese allows...

While filming a movie on Angel Island, actress Charlie Miller falls for local fisherman Colin Doyle after he rescues her from drowning.