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Light the Stars & The Farmer Next Door

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BESTSELLING AUTHOR COLLECTION

Reader-favorite romances in collectible volumes from our bestselling authors.

LEARNING TO LOVE AGAIN

Wade Dalton is having a bad day. His five-year-old has accidentally set the kitchen on fire. His daughter is surly, as usual. The baby hasn’t been fed yet. And his mother—aka “the childminder”—has eloped with a scam artist. Could it get any worse?

Turns out it can, when the annoyingly beautiful daughter of said scam artist shows up at the door, batting her doe eyes at Wade and offering to be his temporary nanny until the newlyweds return. Can he trust her to be under his roof? Can he trust himself with her under his roof?

FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME!

The Farmer Next Door by USA TODAY bestselling author Patricia Davids

Widow Faith Martin settles in Hope Springs planning to turn a run-down farmstead into a home for her recently orphaned nephew. Her neighbor, Adrian Lapp, is drawn to the courageous woman, but has vowed to never marry again. Can these broken hearts be brought together for a second chance at love?

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

62 people are currently reading
97 people want to read

About the author

RaeAnne Thayne

311 books3,833 followers
I'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.

Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.

After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.

Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.

I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.

I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.

Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.

I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Tim Covell.
Author 3 books9 followers
December 23, 2020
An interesting pairing - Western and Amish, both with widowed characters. Light the Stars has a stunning opening, but once into the story I wasn't terribly fond of the main characters. Full potential of the parallel plot involving their parents wasn't used, and there were some other loose ends. On the other hand, some great scenes of drama and lots of sexual tension. Ending seemed abrupt.

The Farmer Next Door lacked much in the way of romantic suspense or sexual tension, but the subplot of adoption, which supplies the suspense, was portrayed extremely well, and the final scene of the adoption was impressive.
153 reviews12 followers
November 8, 2025
This book contained two novels in one. The first was Light the Stars by RaeAnne Thayne and the second was The Farmer Next Door by Patricia Davids. In the first book we have Wade Dalton who is a single father raising his three kids with the help of his mother. That is until his mom elops with someone he considers a scam artist. He's having a bad day and things get worse when the daughter of said scam artist shows up on his doorstep hoping to stop her dad from eloping as well. When the daughter refuses to leave and becomes a temporary nanny to the kids Wade begins to fall in love again. Will the two of them be able to work things out.

In the second book we have Faith Martin who is Amish and moves to Hope Springs to turn a farmstead into a home for her and her nephew who recently lost his parents. Faith meets her neighbor Adrian who helps her get in the ways of the church. The two fall for each other but both have their own reasons for not pursuing each other.

I enjoyed this book even though it's not a book I would normally read. I did enjoy the first book more so than the second. I thought the authors did a good job in describing the characters and building the various relationships. These were good romance stories.
646 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2022
I have really enjoyed the Dalton family stories. I hope there is more.
This was the first Amish story I have read but will be reading more.
Profile Image for Gale.
1,963 reviews22 followers
January 24, 2021
Wonderful re-read of Ms. Thayne's story in this book. No one does family better than she does. In Ms. Davids' story, I liked it but I'm not a big fan of Amish stories. It was quite good though, and my heart broke for the young boy, Kyle. Faith, Adrian and Kyle had so much hurt in their lives but are perfect for one another.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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