From best-selling author, Michelle Cox, comes a delightful new series set in 1930s Wisconsin, perfect for fans of Jane Austen and lovers of small-town historical fiction.
When vivacious college student Melody Merriweather is summoned home to run her family's general store after her father suffers a heart attack, she's convinced her life is over. The sleepy mining town of Merriweather, Wisconsin is a far cry from her exciting life in Chicago.
With the country deep in the Depression and her family's finances in shambles, Melody finds herself facing the impossible task of saving the Merriweather Mercantile while trying to manage her eccentric inherited staff:
Harriet Mueller, the sweet but timid shop girl whom Melody is determined to match with someone "better" than farmer John Schneider
Mrs. Haufbrau, the crabby older clerk who seems determined to dislike Melody for some unknown reason
Cal Fraiser, the infuriatingly handsome butcher who critiques her every move
Desperate to transform the struggling Merc, Melody orders luxury scarves and hats that the locals can't afford, brews cider to sell under the counter, and attempts to play matchmaker to her unsuspecting protégée. But when a fire threatens to destroy everything she's working for and mysterious lodgers arrive in town with their own agenda, Melody must confront her own misguided assumptions about love, loyalty, and what truly matters.
In this charming tale inspired by Jane Austen's "Emma," Michelle Cox weaves a story of small-town life, unexpected romance, and personal growth that reminds us that sometimes finding your place in the world means discovering what was right in front of you all along.