That Sweet Place: At Home in the Heartland

After some major midlife setbacks, Samantha Jarrett has started life over. She's returned to her beloved Indiana hometown and is finally settling in as owner of the town's only bed-and-breakfast. Still, she waits for what's next: for her inn to show a profit, for a son's much-anticipated announcement, and, maybe even for love. Stan Bennett is also waiting. For most of his life, he's kept a secret. The time has come to reveal it and pursue his dream before it's too late. But there's a problem: he's falling in love with Samantha. Could she change his plans? Joy Williamson is waiting, as well: for her baby's arrival and for her complicated life to straighten out. In the meantime, she's gotten off to a rocky start with her innkeeper. How will she get through the trying months ahead? While their lives come together in one small town, they're searching for that sweet place where life is good, and love conquers all. Readers who enjoy Donna Cronk's charming novels savor each chapter. Her main characters are flawed-as are we all-yet they seek lifestyles of cherishing community and commitment to their beliefs. They are looking for home. Perhaps that means a new location, or maybe staying in this small town. Either way, their lives are about to take a variety of twists and turns. Along with Samantha, Stan, and Joy, others drop by to enrich the pages. There's Samantha's nemesis, Ellen, who can't accept that the innkeeper landed the prettiest house in town, the one where Ellen would love to live. She's hatching a new plan to get it. There's a dog named Reggie. The lovable pup proves a handful for Samantha. But more, Reggie serves as an unexpected catalyst. Sam's loved ones weigh in as she works through a variety of situations from her challenging days at the inn to a tendency toward getting too far ahead of herself. Delicious recipes, including a scrumptious Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie created by the talented baker Blaise Doubman, and Katherine's Date Swirl Cookies, a childhood neighbor's signature treat, will send readers straight to the kitchen. Samantha also reveals a family secret to terrific homemade vegetable soup. Noted Hoosier artist Marilyn Witt created a beautiful, original cover scene that invites readers into the small-town inn. Says Christy Ragle of WholeHeart Communications in an advance review, "Often laugh-inducing and subsequently thought-provoking, you won't want to miss this journey to 'That Sweet Place.'" Christian writer and blogger Debbie McCray says, "Donna Cronk has done it again The author takes us on another ride with Samantha Jarrett through small-town life. The twists and turns of the story with humor sprinkled throughout remind us of the struggles and victories in our lives. We become a resident of fictional Freedom, Indiana, watching the events unfold and hoping for that happy ending. Samantha's story encourages us in our faith walk that God does have that sweet place for each one of us." Stop by Freedom and tap on Samantha's back door. The tea kettle is on and Sam is pulling out a pie from the oven. Would you like a slice? Well then, come on in What are you waiting for?

When author Donna Cronk published her first novel, ＂Sweetland of Liberty Bed & Breakfast,＂ a book that Kirkus Review calls ＂a terrific debut,＂ and described as ＂a lovely Midwestern tale,＂ Donna thought it was one and done. But readers wouldn’t hear of it. They told her she had to write another book. So she did, and advance reviewers say this one is even better. Donna grew up on her family’s Hoosier farm where she swam in a pond, competed in 4-H, and rode ponies. Her dad raised cattle, corn and soybeans. As a child, she pretended she was a talk-show host interviewing celebrities, or a reporter covering a political convention as she watched a real one on the family’s black-and-white TV. She loved her Union County, Indiana, community, but life took her away, and she never stopped imagining what it would have been like to have stayed-or to return. Liberty, Indiana, inspired the setting for both her novels. She’s been told by readers from various communities that surely she was writing about theirs, and that she adeptly captures the flavor of small-town Midwestern life. Donna knew at 16 she wanted to be a newspaper reporter. After securing a journalism degree from Indiana State University, she has been that for better than three decades. For twenty-seven years, she has been Neighbors Editor at The Courier-Times in New Castle, Indiana, where she writes features, edits the lifestyles section, and is founding editor of a quarterly women’s magazine. She contributed to the upcoming Indiana University Press-published book, ＂Undeniably Indiana.＂ Donna enjoys co-facilitating a women’s life group at her church, time with family and friends, and studying with the international Bible Study Fellowship. A life highlight is a trip to Israel. The family’s lively Boston terrier, Reggie, inspired the author to write a fictional character, a dog by the same name, into the story. Donna delights in speaking engagements where she presents uplifting programs to banquets, book clubs and other groups, sharing that God isn’t done with our stories. Visit her website: www.donnacronk.com. Email her at: donna@donnacronk.com. Like her author Facebook page: Donna Cronk. Donna’s husband, Brian, is a retired public-school teacher / administrator. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law.