Books by Laura Hodges Poole

After her abusive husband's death, Misty Stephens returns to her job as a nurse and volunteer at a women's shelter. She intends to put her life back together and has no intention of ever being vulnerable to a man again. But when an abuse victim dies in her care, Misty finds herself consoling the girl's brother ... and fighting attraction.Adam Jenkins sees Misty's heart for the oppressed and implores her to help build Hope House, a women's shelter, in honor of his sister. Though grieving, Adam is drawn to Misty. But he approaches romance the way he does ranching-quick and decisive-an almost disastrous mistake. While dealing with family fallout and troubles at work, this new project and Misty become a light shining into Adam's grief.A common purpose binds them together, and Misty's heart starts to open to Adam. But she finds it much harder to lower her defenses than she imagined. Can any man be fully trusted-especially a powerful, wealthy rancher? When the past rears its ugly head and her reality starts to crumble, Misty's trust in God and hope for a bright future are put to the test. Will hope's gentle touch finally bring the love Misty's heart needs to heal?

When financier Penny Ruskin returns to Walhalla, South Carolina, she has one purpose-to settle her grandmother's estate and sell the Victorian house she grew up in. Not an easy task with the downturned economy. When she loses her job in the state capital, what other choice does she have but to stay in Walhalla until she finds work? She can only hope it won't take long.Walhalla is Tommy McAllister's life. Between his family's feed-and-seed store and the bank he's vice president of, he's stretched thin trying to survive the recession. But when a girl he hasn't seen since high school breezes back into town, he's ready to push himself even further to help her feel at home and convince her to stay. He reaches out to Penny, but the last thing she wants is to be trapped in a small town that holds painful memories-one dark secret in particular.The town matchmaker and bank manager, Miss Betty, a motherless teen Emma who lives down the lane from Penny, and the church ladies of Walhalla's First Baptist add both heartwarming and challenging moments to Penny's life.With the past dogging Penny's steps, dredging up painful memories she's tried to outrun, relatives threaten the future she has begun to hope for...But somewhere deep inside her, a spark of hope remains. Tommy isn't the only one praying for a miracle.