Marlene Matthews

At last, Emily has completed her very first novel, and she’s chosen her beloved Teddy Kent to read it. But when Teddy responds with brutal honesty, Emily is devastated—until a real crisis takes her on an extraordinary journey. She revisits the richly inspiring events of her past, and is given a tantalizing glimpse of a possible future where her greatest dream comes true.

Emily and Ilse battle with issues of “Truth” when they involve themselves in Laura’s love life. Laura’s pure love for Dr. Burnley haunts her as wedding preparations are finalized for her and Ian Bowles. Emily and Ilse are beside themselves with joy when they hear that Laura may call off the wedding. Before Laura can break the news to Ian, an unexpected twist of events descends on New Moon leaving everyone scrambling for answers.

Baby Ollie Murray is abandoned by his father on the Murrays' doorstep . Isabel determines that Ollie will be sent to an orphanage. Horrified by this, Emily, Ilse and Perry decide to reunite Ollie with his mother Maida Flynn. Tucking Ollie in a wheelbarrow, the three embark on a clandestine quest full of high hopes and romantic thoughts about motherhood. Their youthful idealism and their hopes of finding Maida dissolve before Aunt Thom, Perry's...

Emily writes an anonymous gossip column titled, “KICKING THE CAT.” When people in the community act on Emily and Ilse’s advice concerning matters of the heart, misunderstandings pile on top of misinformation. Mr. Carpenter’s arrival creates even greater turmoil when he and Isabel Murray fall in love.

New Moon is for sale and the snooty Stuarts plan to buy it. As Laura's addiction to laudanum worsens, Isabel commits her to an asylum without consulting the family. Emily rallies Jimmy, Dr. Burnley and Uncle Malcolm.

Deeply in love for the first time, Jimmy Murray plans to build Eve a dream house overlooking the ocean. Still, Eve is pregnant. Emily decides it must be ôimmaculate conceptionö and shocks the town by distributing a petition to have Pope Leo XIII recognize Eve as a Saint. A secret rendezvous between Jimmy and Eve is interrupted by the arrival of the Kinch family. There is a struggle and Abner Kinch is killed. But by who? Refusing to give testimony...

Mysteries are falling from the skies and into the lives of the Murrays. First, a passionate letter, written in the language of love, makes its way into Jimmy’s hands--and then an exotic stranger arrives in a most unexpected way, bearing new ideas that wreak havoc on the household and scandalize the good citizens of Blair Water. The proceedings are further complicated by the surprise return of Perry Miller in full military regalia, bearing tidings...

Emily and her friends pray to St. Agnes, the Patron Saint of Young Women, in hopes of ensuring a happy marriage for themselves. The plea is sent by the girls but the lucky person who finds Love is, actually, Jimmy Murray. The Kinches, a hardscrabble Catholic family of four, seek refuge at New Moon after their farm is wiped out by a fire. Jimmy is drawn to the daughter, Eve, who's gentle soul befits that of a Saint. The joys of first Love for Jimmy...

The Murrays are devastated by the loss of Elizabeth: Jimmy confesses his deep affection for her and Emily realizes that she was their protectress. Trying to escape her fears, Laura is becoming addicted to laudanum. Having offered the Scottish Murrays all her worldly possessions in return for New Moon, Emily receives a letter announcing that the relatives are on their way to PEI to claim what is theirs.

Jimmy has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s the man of the house now, and has much to think about: the farm, Laura’s baby—and what about Emily’s education? And to further complicate matters, a pair of foxes have invaded the henhouse. But Jack Haszard has good news--those foxes aren’t a menace, they’re a gold mine. All over the Island, savvy men are getting rich—raising foxes and selling the valuable pelts to a voracious...