This week is a busy one around here.

In just a few weeks, my youngest will be heading off to college for the first time, and suddenly we’re in the middle of shopping for all the things—clothes, pots, pans, dishes… everything he’ll need to survive without his mom.

And if I’m being honest, I’m a little bit of a mess about it.

He’s my baby. He’s never really been away from home for more than a couple of nights. His older siblings have done this too, but they had each other. He’ll be stepping into this completely on his own.

I know this is how it’s supposed to go. I did it. They did it. We all do it.

But somehow… it feels different when it’s your last one.

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about all my kids and the different paths they’ve taken.

Some followed the traditional college route. One tried it and realized pretty quickly it wasn’t for him. And you’d think that would have worried me more than it did—but instead, I’ve watched him build a life that fits him better. He’s hardworking, driven, and doing really well in his own way.

It reminds me a lot of Olivia from Training Her Heart.

She didn’t thrive in college either. But when she stepped away and followed what she loved, she built something meaningful—a bakery, a life, a future that was truly hers.

I think that’s the part we don’t always talk about enough.

There isn’t just one “right” path.

And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is trust the one that feels right for you—even if it looks different from what you expected.

(That might be harder for the moms than the kids, if I’m being honest.)

So now I’m curious…

Have you ever taken a leap like that—chosen a path that didn’t look like everyone else’s?

A Sugar Creek Moment

There’s still snow on the ground, but the sun is warmer now. Coats hang open. Smiles come easier. Somewhere between winter and spring, love feels a little lighter—no less steady, just hopeful. Like the promise that what’s coming will be worth the wait.

Until next time,

💛 River

Book Shares

She’s chasing the love she thinks she wants. He’s standing right in front of her.

Olivia Nelson has never been afraid to go after what she wants. As a baker in Hollywood, she’s learned to be tough, determined, and painfully aware of everything she’s been told she should be. When her lifelong dream of true love still feels out of reach, Olivia decides it’s time for a reset.

Step one: the gym.

Step two: become the woman she thinks love will finally choose.

Cristian Reyes has spent years helping others transform their bodies, but what he really wants is something simple—a woman to come home to, a life built on connection rather than appearances. He never expects to find her in the form of a warm-hearted baker who doesn’t see herself the way he sees her at all.

As workouts turn into conversations and friendship deepens, Cristian falls hard. Olivia, meanwhile, keeps searching for Mr. Right, completely unaware that the man who believes in her most is already by her side. Sometimes love isn’t about becoming someone new. Sometimes it’s about seeing what’s been there all along.

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Every town has a first story, and every heart has a first spark.

Marissa Clarke never imagined leaving the city for a tiny seaside town, but Mahone Bay offers the fresh start she’s been craving. Independent and curious, she hopes to find a place where she can finally belong.

Caleb Moore has spent his life in Mahone Bay, building furniture and quietly supporting his neighbors, while keeping his heart carefully guarded. When Marissa arrives, his easygoing routine is unsettled, forcing him to face a fear he’s never named—letting someone in only to watch them leave.

As harbor mornings and local traditions draw them closer, both Marissa and Caleb begin to question the walls they’ve built around themselves. Can they risk opening their hearts and discover that the best beginnings come when you least expect them? In this prequel to the Harborlight Seasons series, readers will be drawn into a story about finding home, friendship, and the gentle spark of first love.

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