★★ You don't need ears to hear God's plan. All you need is an open heart... Music of both birds and harmonicas fills Max's life, but it's the near-silent forest guide he meets in Cherish, SC, who captures his attention. Small and slim, pretty Sarah's smiles and graceful hands speak louder than her voice. In fact, she's so quiet, he's not sure he's made much of an impression. But with her, he can imagine making this temporary stopover into something permanent. Sarah has found a comfortable niche in Cherish, working miracles with plants, arranging flowers for church, and taking in stray animals. In fact, her house is so full, she's not sure she can say yes to the Sheriff's plea to take in one more puppy for Christmas. Max has definitely captured her interest, and he shares her love of nature. But maybe she should take in that puppy after all, because a ball of fur that needs her will fill the empty space in her heart when Max's research sends him off looking for bluer skies. All relationships require a commitment but is she ready to sacrifice her heart again? Hard-working accountant Nora Lancaster returns to her modest hometown to help manage an inn that her parents once owned. In order to escape small-town living, she'd married young and moved away. Now, as a single mother of a rebellious teenage daughter, she doesn't intend to stay long-only a few weeks at most-or until the current owner of the inn recovers from his heart attack. World-weary Julian Wilson is a businessman who arrives in town for one reason-to open another restaurant. He's lived life as a bachelor and is at the peak of a rewarding career. Interested in the possibilities of another profitable venture, he views the town as a place to manage an extensive restaurant chain and finally settle down. Nora never expected to meet a man like Julian-all business, as well as a formidable opponent-or to be instantly attracted to his kind nature and faith in God. But can Julian convince Nora he's not the rival she fears? Faith is fragile. Faith takes time. And the best solutions are always painted with love. David Fodero followed his artistic vision to a wildly successful career. Now, day by day, that vision is cruelly shrinking, altering his perception, skewing his perspective...and all but destroying his faith. Alone in a mountain cabin near Cherish, David wrestles with his inner critic as he struggles to put brush to canvas. Until he meets a luminous woman who dispels his crippling fear with her warmth and laughter. Ashley Madden is a born fixer. So she's sure she can be forgiven for going above and beyond to find out what happened to the artist whose gallery sales support her work with handicapped kids-the artist who disappeared from public life with no warning or explanation. Ashley's optimism is a balm to David's hurting soul. Yet as their attraction warms, Ashley senses David is holding something back-and that saving her own dream is intimately tied to restoring his faith.