Naomi — Jo Grafford

A mother and daughter facing sudden tragedy, a handsome sinner who agrees to lend a helping hand, and the unwanted feelings he kindles...Naomi McGruder loses everything in what feels like an unstoppable run of bad luck - her husband, both her sons, and the business they own. When her home is repossessed, she has no choice but to turn to her last living relative for help, a distant cousin of her late husband whom she hasn't seen for years. With one stubbornly loyal daughter-in-law in tow, she boards a train for Mountain Spring, Idaho, never dreaming she would land the two of them in the crosshairs of matchmaking minister.Pastor Zachary Shepherd is flabbergasted at how quickly the Lord answers his prayers to send more women to their town of rough-and-tough mountain men, this time in the form of two lovely widows. The younger one will be an easy match; he already has the perfect husband in mind for her, so long as the man is willing to receive a bit of coaching on his appearance and a few other items. Naomi, however, fits so perfectly into Pastor Zach's work at the church that he begins to dream of building a parsonage to help him keep her closer - much closer - to his plans for the future.With the spring thaw approaching, the air is suddenly brimming with not one, but two, courtships and all the pitfalls and mayhem that seem to accompany the first bloom of love in their rustic mountain town!ONCE UPON A CHURCH HOUSE is a sweet and inspirational historical western romance series with a dash of magic and time travel.Pastor Zach Shepherd feels called to plant a church in rural Mountain Springs, Idaho, a place his friends warn him is unredeemable. However, he's a firm believer in miracles and scoffs at their dire predictions of his pending failure. He quickly sizes up the renegade collection of mostly male town folk and determines what they need (in addition to salvation) is a woman's touch to straighten them out. Throwing on his matchmaker hat, he prays God will send a few saved and sanctified women his way to get the first marriages rolling. He specifically prays for the kind of women legends are made of - from the Bible days - never dreaming how swiftly nor how thoroughly his prayers would be answered!