~ Inspired by the trailblazing women of the 19th Century who dared to summit Mount Rainier ~ In the devastating aftermath of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, nineteen-year-old Anna Gallagher faces considerable pressure to marry well and soon. She has two serious a well-meaning but condescending doctor, and an evasive fisherman who challenges her mind. But Anna has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house; she has a dream to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. Despite her family’s disapproval and her own self-doubt, she secretly trains, raises money for supplies, and buys a train ticket to the base of the mountain. If she succeeds in reaching its icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers; but it’s a tall task and there’s much at risk—including the heart of a man who just might love her as an equal. On the journey, Anna will face glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures, all without knowing if she even has a family or a future to return to. In Sight of the Mountain is a charming coming-of-age story, but it also casts the reader’s gaze upon issues of colonialism, class, and women’s far-too-narrow options. ~ Highly recommended for Book Clubs! Questions for discussion are included at the end of the book. ~

The much-anticipated sequel to IN SIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN! After Anna Gallagher’s first climb on Mt. Rainier, she faces a new challenge—enduring the ridicule and threats that come with breaking tradition. In 1890, being a young female mountaineer makes polite society uncomfortable, even angry. But despite the threats and inherent risk, she still has plans for another climb, even if it jeopardizes her family bookstore, and puts her in more danger than she ever imagined. Emily Watson has always been close with the Gallagher family. As a young girl she dreamed of a wealthy husband, a fine house, and a future in Seattle society and now she finally has it. Her desires couldn’t be more different than Anna’s, but she’s confronted with her own invisible mountain to climb when she’s suddenly poverty-stricken. She must decide what matters most, and whether true love is worth waiting for. IN LIGHT OF THE SUMMIT is a captivating story of ambition, heartbreak, and redemption. It’s a tale of two childhood friends navigating womanhood in the late 19th century, with as much grace as they can muster, while still figuring out how to be true to themselves.

The Rainier Series continues with book 3! When Anna discovers she’s with child, it doesn’t feel as wonderful as she’d imagined. She quickly feels trapped between the doctors blaming her for her morning sickness, older women wanting her to stay home, and very real risks to her baby. She’s caught between protecting her family and living a fulfilling life—an impossible choice. Anna’s new friend Elizabeth is reeling from an unexpected loss, and she believes her nervous tendencies are getting worse. Her thoughts have always been strange, and the threat of ending up in an insane asylum is never far from her mind. When she meets a handsome stranger on the train, she wonders if she can simply keep her “fits of mania” to herself. But when she develops a phobia, she’ll have to face her most dreaded fear to save what she loves most. In the Heart of Paradise is a deeply hopeful story that explores themes of mental health and motherhood in the nineteenth century.