Only Her Father Understood her Love of the Unknown and the Promise of-Distant Dreams. Caught up in the excitement of America's westward expansion in 1835, fifteen-year-old Carolina Adams falls in love with the railroad. Living in a society that decidedly looks down on such aspirations in a woman, Carolina longs to study more masculine subjects such as science and advanced mathematics. Fresh out of college, James must decide whether to join his father in the banking industry or pursue his own fascination with the railroad business. While recovering from an injury in a train derailment, James takes on a tutoring job at the Adams' plantation. He will serve as Carolina's teacher, but more important to his family, he will court Virginia, Carolina's beautiful older sister. Overwhelmed by her father's surprise of a tutor, Carolina applies herself to her studies, while Virginia uses all of her southern charms to elicit a marriage proposal from James. But when Carolina's and James' mutual interests lead to unexpected feelings for each other, where will their dreams take them? (c) Amazon.com

I enjoyed Pella and Peterson's other series, Ribbons West, immensely so I look forward to reading this series in the future!

Facing personal tragedy and the loss of her own true love, Carolina struggles to find-A Hope Beyond. Carolina Adams clung to the distant dream of America's westward expansion with the railroad as a promise for a bright future. But she finds life at Oakbridge, the family plantation, nearly unbearable. Confronted by overwhelming tragedies and injustices, as well as the loss of her first true love, Carolina struggles through her broken dreams to find a hope beyond. After breaking his wedding engagement with Virginia, Carolina's older sister, James Baldwin immerses himself in work for the B&O Railroad, the other passion in his life besides Carolina. But as he helps to build the line west to Cumberland, unforeseen forces work to keep him and Carolina apart forever. Desperate to escape the painful situation at home, Carolina moves to Baltimore and becomes a nanny to Victoria, a little girl whose mother has died. When the child's future becomes entwined with Carolina's through a shocking business proposal from Victoria's dark and brooding father, Carolina must choose between her own aspirations for love and the fate of an innocent child. (c) Amazon.com

I can't wait to read this one too!

Carolina and James Baldwin's wedding had been the happiest day of their lives, but now family problems and the ever-increasing demands of the B&O railroad are combining to challenge the newlyweds' continued happiness. When James' father desperately needs their help, Carolina struggles to forgive her father-in-law for past wrongs, driving a deep emotional wedge between the young couple. James is assigned to supervise the building of the distant Kingwood Tunnel, and he and Carolina decide to move their growing family from the comforts of their home in Baltimore to a small rural town in the Allegheny Mountains. No longer do they have to endure being separated, but soon the pitiful living conditions take their toll, and complications from both the severe weather and the escalating tensions among the Irish railroad workers conspire against them. A young Irish worker, Kiernan O'Connor, befriends the Baldwins, despite the protests of his brother. Young Victoria, Carolina's stepdaughter, is enthralled with the gentle, handsome Kiernan, but will the upper-class Baldwins ever consider him a proper suitor for their daughter? And will their friendship prevent James from stopping Kiernan's brother from carrying out his destructive plans before it's too late? (c) Amazon.com

This one sounds really good too!!