Joy Comes in the Morning (Land of New Beginnings Book 1)

After years of suffering by the hand of her abusive husband, Isabel has nearly forgotten what it feels like to live without fear. But after her husband is killed during a hunting trip, she finds herself alone on their isolated New England farm. Though uncertain how she will survive, Isabel is determined to manage the land herself and place her future in God’s hands. Her plans are disrupted when Phillip’s brother, Jonathan, arrives with the news that he has inherited the property. Isabel expects him to take control of her home just as his brother once did. Instead, Jonathan treats her with patience, kindness, and respect—things that have long been foreign to her. With his help, the farm begins to flourish, and the walls Isabel has built around her heart slowly begin to fall. Over time, their friendship begins to deepen into feelings neither of them can deny, but they cannot act on them, either. In their strict Puritan settlement, a relationship between Isabel and her husband’s brother would be condemned as incestuous. As rumors spread and the church elders begin watching their every interaction, the same community that ignored Isabel’s bruises now stands ready to punish her for daring to love again. When everything she has begun to hope for is threatened, Isabel must decide whether she will retreat into the fear that has ruled her for so long or trust that God can see her through even the darkest moments of her life.