It begins in 1876 with Gunder Birke, who comes to Oregon to better his future. He arrives in an ugly little silver mining town named Lovely, and finds the loveliest thing there is Risa Burke, the daughter of his coworker. He works for their mine, but begins repairing jewelry (skill from his mother's side of the family), and dreaming of crafting ornate bells (a talent inherited from his father's family).
Gunder and Risa's son, Caleb, continues the legacy of working with silver. He falls for Laramee Scott, a young woman running away from a Texas scandal. She finds refuge with her aunt and uncle (who is a horse trainer) while falling boots over saddle for Caleb in A Joyful Love.
In A Joyful Promise, Baylor Birke, Caleb and Laramee's son, works with silver, creating amazing western pieces. He falls in love with shy and sweet Bonnie McClure when she comes to Lovely to take care of her aunt, who has a broken leg, and help out her uncle, who is the community church's pastor.
Brown Sugar Cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon molasses
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a small mixing bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until combined, then add flour mixture, blending until combined.
Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and roll each ball in the granulated sugar, then place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake about 8-10 minutes until the dough is set and just barely starting to brown. Remove from oven and cool in pan a few minutes before moving to wire rack to cool.
Yield: about two dozen
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.
Connect with her on her website.
The final book of the series, A Joyful Home, is the story of Bo Birke, who has taken the family's silver talents to a whole new level, exhibiting her art around the world. Her favorite place, though, is Lovely and her two favorite people are Grandpa Baylor and her cousin Tanner. Then she meets Rafe Judson, son of a local rancher, and she's ready to add a third name to her favorite list.
This recipe for Brown Sugar Cookies is old-fashioned and good, and something the Birke family would enjoy!
Brown Sugar Cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon molasses
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a small mixing bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until combined, then add flour mixture, blending until combined.
Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and roll each ball in the granulated sugar, then place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake about 8-10 minutes until the dough is set and just barely starting to brown. Remove from oven and cool in pan a few minutes before moving to wire rack to cool.
Yield: about two dozen
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.
Connect with her on her website.
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