Bellingwood Books

She’s ready to bury her mistakes for good. Will following a trail of clues from a bygone era help her reinvent her future? Polly Giller is buzzing with energy. Leaving Boston and returning to small-town Iowa with the goal of renovating the old schoolhouse, the pragmatic problem-solver delights in the welcoming committee of capable older women. But her high hopes of reinvigorating the fading hamlet take a hit when two skeletons tumble out of the upstairs ceiling. Focused on putting dead history to rest and restoring calm, Polly desperately tries to ignore her handsome contractor’s beguiling flirting so she can ponder on the puzzle. But even as they riffle through the bones of the region’s past, her own painful baggage threatens to derail her fresh start. Will Polly’s vim and vigor crack a cold case and let her put down new roots? All Roads Lead Home is the feel-good first book in the sweeping Bellingwood cozy mystery series. If you like charming heroines, tangled histories, and tight-knit communities, then you’ll love Diane Greenwood Muir’s stroll down a country lane. Buy All Roads Lead Home to find the heart of happiness today! The paperback and hardback copies contain the ten Prequel vignettes written in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Bellingwood!

Polly Giller and her friends in Bellingwood are back with more stories to tell. The barn raising at Sycamore House promises to be an event that brings the whole community out. No one has ever seen anything like this before and no one wants to miss it.Dancing lessons from the gorgeous veterinarian help Polly get prepared for the hoe-down, but create havoc in her relationship with Henry. One of these days, Polly is going to have to decide whether or not she wants to commit to him, but she doesn't want to mess up a wonderful friendship if she messes up their relationship. While Polly and her team prepare for the barn raising and hoe-down, she also has to help Elise Myers, a young girl who has come to Sycamore House to stay while writing her doctoral thesis. However, Elise hasn't told Polly exactly why she's in the middle of Iowa. That little mystery knocks Polly out! Meanwhile, Lydia finds the dead body of a friend and discovers there's an unfinished note with some unfinished business. A big discovery by Polly and Sylvie will solve the mystery and change Polly's life one more time.Polly counsels young Jason that you have to learn to count on your friends when you're in trouble. The list of people she can count on to help her out continues to grow and she finds that she has a great big life in the small town of Bellingwood.

Polly Giller has had the worst luck with finding a good custodian for Sycamore House and the murder of her latest employee draws even more attention to her propensity for finding dead bodies. Sheriff Aaron Merritt just assumes that when she calls him, it's because she's found someone. The pool at the Elevator expands as the locals lay odds on Polly's next find. When Beryl Watson ends up in the hospital because of an explosion, the last thing she wants is to be a statistic in Polly's life.Sal Kahane, Polly's college roommate and best friend from Boston, comes to Iowa to see what all the fuss is about at Sycamore House. The city girl has to keep an open mind in order to understand why her friend loves living among the cornfields. Polly's relationship with Henry Sturtz, her contractor and friend, continues to grow. When he left town for a couple of months, she discovered how important he was.Polly takes a risk on a new custodian with a mysterious background and farm thefts disrupt the little town. She finds herself worrying about locking things up again; something she had ceased doing when she moved out of Boston. Things are never dull in Bellingwood and with the introduction of wonderful, new characters, Polly comes to a better understanding of herself and her relationship with this little town. All of the regulars are back with some stories of their own to tell.What treasures are uncovered? Read on.

Bellingwood Days are nearly here. The quilt show has relocated to Sycamore House and the woman in charge offends everyone she encounters. Polly Giller's protective instincts are aroused when the woman verbally attacks a group of boys from Chicago and then confronts a girl who is rough on the outside but exposes her tender heart in the presence of Polly's four Percheron horses.Polly's life is never dull. She plays in the community band, and is on the committee to select finalists for the Literary Competition. When Polly discovers another body, Sheriff Aaron Merritt wonders if he should put her on the payroll.Henry Sturtz is the first person Polly turns to when she receives a strange email from Ruth Ann Marshall. Her claim that she knew Barbara & Everett Giller when Polly was a baby, ignites fear and trepidation, since Polly had never heard of the woman, nor seen a trace of her in their home. All of a sudden, Polly's idyllic childhood seems murky and she questions the wonderful relationship she had with her dad.The friends you've grown to know and love all return and new friends are introduced as Polly's relationship with Bellingwood grows. Join her as secrets are uncovered and revealed.

It finally happened. One of Polly's guests dies. Right at her front door. Thomas Zeller, an author with a strong affection for Edgar Allan Poe, wakes Polly in the middle of the night with fatal stab wounds and she has to call the Sheriff, who threatens to buy her a Grim Reaper costume for Halloween. Zeller leaves behind a mystery for Polly to solve and she gets everyone involved as she uncovers his real motive for being in Bellingwood.As if that isn't enough, someone vandalizes Sycamore House and Polly can't imagine who might be that angry at her. She and Jeff Lyndsay are preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of Sycamore House with a Masquerade Ball and Lydia Merritt decorates the large foyer for Beggar's Night with a Haunted Hallway. With all of these things happening around her, Polly continues to meet new friends and build her relationship with Henry Sturtz. Everyone we know and love returns in "Life Between the Lines." Some of their lives get more complicated while others get more interesting. Kids grow up and new friendships blossom, but one thing they all discover is how important it is to have people around who will support you no matter what you need from them.

Change is a constant. Seasons change. People change. Life changes. Polly Giller's life has been filled with nothing but change since the day she decided to return to Iowa. As winter gives way to spring, it seems that more change is in the wind. The future opening of Secret Woods Winery brings the return of three young superstars to Bellingwood. They left to make a fortune in the computer gaming world and came home to do something completely different. The winery's lodge is being built just down the road from Sycamore Inn, an old strip hotel that Polly and her boyfriend, Henry Sturtz, are renovating. There are great changes in store for this little town in the middle of Iowa. When someone is killed at the winery, the one person who is going to find the body ... does. Polly can't bear the thought of calling the Sheriff to tell him it's happened again, but there's nothing else she can do. The mystery of Sycamore House's vandal deepens and Andrew Donovan introduces Polly to a new best friend. Both of these things threaten to change Polly's life in extraordinary ways and it is all she can do to hang on for the ride. Polly's life is in flux, but her friends stick close. When everything changes, her relationships keep her steady. Now, more than ever, she experiences the truth of that maxim.

It's time to celebrate Polly's wedding to Henry. Her friends from Boston are coming to celebrate and as soon as the party is over, she and Henry are leaving on their honeymoon. In the middle of cleaning and preparing for her busy weekend, a man shows up. He says her father was his best friend in college and of course, we all know he needs her help. His nineteen-year-old daughter left home with a young man and they haven't heard from her in two months. The family is pretty sure the girl came to Iowa, but he doesn't have any idea where to start. Polly's friends can't believe she's about to get involved when she has so many other things going on, but how can she say no? The community of Bellingwood experiences a devastating blow and somehow a serial killer lands in town at the same time. At one point, Polly finally asks the universe why it seems as if her world explodes every few months. Let's not tell her it's because the author has come up with another story. Great new characters are introduced and we get to know more about some of our favorites. These stories are told from Polly's perspective, but she would always tell you that her friends are what's important. They make her life worthwhile. Without them, the story of Polly's life would be very boring.

Once things start falling apart around Polly Giller, chaos takes over and all she can do is hold on for the ride. Sylvie Donovan has finished school and things are supposed to be rainbows and unicorns. Not in Bellingwood. Her oldest son, Jason, has just started high school and isn't handling the transition well. Within the span of three weeks, his behavior has escalated to the point that she doesn't know what to do next. Her ex-husband shows up and the mere sight of him drains her confidence, returning her to the days when she lived with an abuser. Polly's little family is dealing with bedlam of its own. Jessie Locke is twenty years old and no matter how badly she wants to be an adult, she's making horrible decisions. When she runs away, Polly has to deal with a furious husband and a devastated little girl. Poor Rebecca Heater's life is already in disarray as she watches her mother's health deteriorate. The one constant through all of the storms that come is the friendships each person has developed along the way. Friends show up when you least expect it and are there when you need them. If there's one thing Polly knows and Sylvie is learning, it's that when you need strength to stand against the horrors of the world, you can find it in those who love you.

If Valentine's Day is coming, Bellingwood should be filled with hearts and flowers. That isn't true for one of the town's strongest couples. Polly is shocked when she discovers that Aaron and Lydia Merritt are in trouble. They've been her rock for two and a half years and now, things are a mess. Lydia is at a loss, Aaron has become silent and moody. To top it off, the dead man didn't wait for Polly to find him, he was killed right beside her. She insists that his death has something to do with Aaron's behavior, but the Sheriff's Department doesn't want to listen. That means Lydia has to bring in the big guns - Aaron's older sister. Helen Oswald is a force to be reckoned with and she can handle her brother like no one else. Too much time has passed since Lydia, Polly, Andy, Beryl and Sylvie spent an evening together and it's time to christen Sylvie's new house. No one wants to miss a party with these women and the time they spend together reminds them why they are friends and brings laughter to everyone. Polly's family continues to grow as we meet new characters and learn more about old friends. The paperback also includes the short story "One Perfect Honeymoon."

In The River Rolls On, Polly Giller finds her life in utter chaos and her activity restricted. She doesn't handle it well. There is only so much time she can spend inside her house before losing her mind.Two old friends unexpectedly arrive in Bellingwood to return Polly's freedom to her, but even then, every time she leaves, something happens to send her back to its safety. Sheriff Merritt has a dilemma in the midst of this. A girl has been killed. Everyone knows that Polly will find the body. But how is she to do that if they won't let her leave Sycamore House? Her own personal turmoil takes a backseat to the story playing out in the back room of the addition. A few minutes with Sarah Heater, Rebecca's mother, and Polly uncovers the deepest, most honest truths of life.

A quiet evening at home is rocked by an accident on the highway in front of Sycamore House. The car crash isn't the worst thing that will happen, but it is the first in a series of events that will disrupt Polly's easy summer. We all know that this is just the beginning of the chaos that will erupt around Polly Giller until it finally settles out and her life is changed.The beginning of the new school year is just a couple of weeks away. Andrew, Rebecca, and Kayla are going into seventh grade, leaving their elementary years behind them. This introduces an entirely new set of worries for kids who are just trying to figure out how to grow up. Change is enough to scare anyone and at this age, change happens every day.Characters are introduced to Bellingwood and whether they stay for a few days or much longer depends on the choices they make. From the knight errant to the new manager at the coffee shop, each person's unique personality knits them into the fabric of the community. Polly's big heart is tested by those she wants to trust and others that she wants to simply set aside. She is surprised at just how these people will find their way into her family's life.

It's the middle of October in Bellingwood and as Sycamore House prepares for Halloween, Polly finds herself embroiled in another mystery.Her kidnapper - Joey Delancy - has just been sentenced to prison.The trial was tough and Polly's memories haunt her while she sleeps. There's no time to wallow in that, though; her family and friends need her. Heath is locked in a shell that he desperately wants to crack through, but so far the only one allowed inside is Rebecca. Polly and Henry knew Rebecca would be a handful and she's proving that to be true. From her burgeoning relationship with Andrew, to standing up to bullies, Rebecca is wading right into adolescence with both feet.Like every other small town, Bellingwood is filled with interesting people and Polly meets more friends along the way. Tales of a haunted house in town escaped her notice until this year. Along with everything else. Polly isn't quite sure what to do with Rebecca's insistence that she saw the ghost - especially when she sketches it in great detail.Polly has to find the truth and we all know it won't be easy. It will, however, be an entertaining journey.The paperback version also includes the short story "Home for the Holidays."

One of Bellingwood's favorite characters is about to reveal more of her history. Beryl Watson comes from a long line of ... well, interesting personalities, and once Polly finds a body buried in an old family cemetery, those ancestors and their stories are told. We find out how closely tied Beryl is to the founding of Bellingwood and are introduced to her present-day family. The mystery of who was in the cemetery leads to a treasure hunt, while Polly discovers something incredibly fun about the haunted house she and Henry purchased just after Christmas. Her son, Heath, has to face demons from his past while his brother, Hayden, worries over decisions for his future. Life never slows down in this Iowa town and the new coffee shop, Sweet Beans, has become an addiction that is difficult to shake. What could be better for frazzled nerves and high stress than a cup of coffee and something wonderfully sweet to eat? Join the wonderful people in Bellingwood as they look to the past and the future in this latest adventure.

Polly Giller dreams of bringing the old Springer House back to life. In order to do so, she is willing to put in her share of backbreaking work, as long as the house's secrets don't end up hurting her. Renamed for the original owner, the Bell House is only beginning to reveal its many stories. This chapter takes us back to the early days of its existence and Iowa's contribution to the whiskey trade. There might be no such thing as ghosts, but don't tell that to the Bell House.Rebecca's birthday and Mother's Day are coming up, but before they can celebrate, something frightens Stephanie Armstrong enough to grab her sister, Kayla, and run. Rebecca is devastated at losing her best friend, Jeff Lyndsay is beside himself at the loss of his right hand gal, and Polly has no idea how fix the situation.Sal Kahane had been enjoying a perfectly wonderful pregnancy until her mother's announcement that she would be attending the baby shower. Nobody was expecting that. Lila Kahane sees life through a very different lens than her daughter and makes for a fascinating guest in Bellingwood.Chaos has erupted once more around Polly. All she can do is hold on to her friends and family as she finds her way through the turbulence ahead.

While the entire town of Bellingwood scrambles to prepare for the Sesquicentennial, Polly Giller discovers a body in an unexpected location - the bed of her truck. Sheriff Merritt and his crew arrive on the scene and their next revelation gives her pause. They've been suppressing the fact that the killer is intent on getting Polly's intention, leaving notes to her on the bodies. Aaron Merritt is also certain that the killer is watching to ensure she finds each body. As Polly worries about keeping her family and friends safe, she is thrust into a second mystery. The Bell House, a former hotel, fell into disrepair over the last seventy years. Polly and Henry purchased it and while the family is renovating it, someone breaks in and rips copper pipe from the walls, creating a hideous mess just in time for the town's celebration. Bellingwood's Chief of Police is pretty sure he knows who did the damage - someone who has hated Polly from the first time he met her.Through it all, the town of Bellingwood keeps changing. Friends get married, kids grow up, family members arrive out of the blue, and two little boys who want nothing more than to love and be loved creep into Polly's heart. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

When school starts, life should settle back into a normal routine, right? Not in Bellingwood and not for Polly Giller. Rather than normal or routine, chaos erupts all around her. The school year has just begun and her kids face upheaval in their personal lives, Henry's parents lives turn upside down in mere minutes, and then, of course, Polly finds the body of someone whose life caused stress for her family and whose death could bring even more trouble. Work on the Bell House will not move quickly enough for any of them. Hayden and Heath worked diligently all summer and it still doesn't feel as if they'll ever be finished. At this point, running water would be enough. The old building continues to reveal mysteries and surprises; things that don't appear until the walls and ceilings have been ripped away. No one in town knows what it's all about. This one might take some time to unravel. To top it all off, Polly's birthday is coming up. She doesn't have time to think about that - not that she really wants to anyway. But even with everything that happens, family and friends are there to offer love and support. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Polly Giller is having difficulty motivating people in town to dig into a mystery she uncovered at the Bell House. Finding two metal boxes hidden in an old fireplace mantle might change that. In fact, she's about to insist.In the meantime, life at the Bell House is never boring. The chaos of construction, moving, growing kids, life ... there's always something going on. Thank goodness for terrific friends and endless amounts of coffee. Even when she should be doing something else, Polly finds a reason to drop in at Sweet Beans Coffee Shop and Bakery. Sometimes all it takes is seeing a friend's car parked in front.Aaron Merritt and his deputies are trying to find out who is breaking into the homes of elderly women. So far, the thieves haven't gotten to Bellingwood, but they've been in other parts of the county. It's just a matter of time. Little do those men realize it, but Bellingwood is the last place they want to show up. This is a community where people watch out for each other, and once they hit Polly's radar, she's not afraid to create a little chaos of her own to stop them.The townspeople are becoming a bigger part of Polly's life every day. You will get to know many of them better in "Marks in a Lifetime" and, like Polly, you'll fall in love with these fabulous characters.

The end of the school year brings chaos, something Polly Giller is fast coming to understand is a new normal for her life with multiple children. The little boys, Noah and Elijah, added after-school sports to her schedule and Rebecca's extra-curricular life is expanding. There's no time to rest.While preparing for Heath's graduation party, Henry tosses another bombshell at Polly. He and his father are considering the purchase of an old farmhouse north of town. Would she be interested in renovating it into a bed and breakfast? There's no time for that, but the price is too good to pass up - how can she say no? One look at the property has Polly terrified of getting out of her truck. She knows exactly what might be found in that haunted-looking house. That doesn't stop what's about to come next. Pretty soon no one will get in her truck to go for a drive.Not only that, but the town is hit with a rash of fires, the work of an arsonist who operates with no rhyme or reason. The lives of her friends are threatened and disrupted, leaving Polly as frustrated as the rest of the community. While the mysteries aren't connected, they both end up close to home.Welcome back to Bellingwood. It's never boring, always fun, with friendships to last a lifetime.

It's the middle of summer and Bellingwood has been relatively quiet so far. That's all about to change.Polly wakes up on a Monday morning ready for another fun week spent with her friends and her family. The fence around the back yard has been replaced giving the kids and the dogs a safe place to play. Renovations on the three upstairs bedrooms at the Bell House are nearly finished. and it won't be long before Polly regains control of the living room and dining room.A short walk through the cemetery is all it takes for her world to turn upside down. You might think that should be enough, but it's only the beginning of a very long day. A phone call tosses Polly's life into chaos and she soon realizes that is going to be the norm for the next few weeks. The donkeys are stolen from the Sycamore House pasture, frightening both Polly and her horses. Rebecca continues to test boundaries and in a surprising twist, Noah and Elijah stumble across an unexpected group of new friends. In the middle of it all, Polly rediscovers just what it means to have friends who will unexpectedly show up to take care of you.Welcome back to Bellingwood. Come for the chaos, stay for the fun.The short story - Break Through the Clouds - can be found at the end of the paperback version.

It's been five years since Polly Giller met new friends in Bellingwood. Her moving into town was the beginning of something amazing and that has never changed.Zombies are supposed to be the walking dead, not the lying down in the middle of the elementary school parking lot dead. This wasn't how Halloween is supposed to end. But she's Polly Giller and this is Bellingwood. It's just the beginning of this book's adventure.Strangers in ski masks attempt to break into the Bell House - for what, Polly can't imagine, but she and the dogs chase them into the cemetery where they escape from. The family has been lax in letting friends and neighbors know how to get into the house. The question is, who would take advantage of that? From small surprises to large ones, Polly's friends and family have plenty to share. Thank goodness, she has people around her who stay strong and steady when changes threaten to disrupt her life.Thank you for the first five years. I have the best readers and friends in the world ... Diane. The Christmas short story - The Most Wonderful Time - can be found at the end of the paperback version.

Winter has taken hold in Bellingwood. Boots, coats, roaring fireplace, blankets, snow days - the Bell House is prepared for nearly anything.Nearly anything ... Let's see. Where shall we start?Rebecca's first big party following the Winter Snowball Dance fills the house with joy, but high school kids don't have much sense sometimes. The next day, a quick trip to Boone turns Polly's family upside down. Hayden and Cat's Christmas announcement will bring changes - something that everyone is excited about. Henry and Polly trained to be foster parents and while the Bell House can hold more people, are they ready?In one of Polly's most heart wrenching rescues we meet Shelly Nelson, taken from her family at a young age. Suddenly, she shows up again five years later. The young woman has been through inconceivable hell and trusts no one, yet her heart desperately wants to believe that there is goodness in the world and she can be safe again.In a world filled with brokenness, we look for those who remain steadfast in the midst of the storm. The Giller-Sturtz family has at its core - strength, love and stability. When Polly's stamina ebbs, she is restored by her friends who, in their selfless love, give each other unending support.Winter may have taken hold, but spring is coming to Bellingwood.

Graduation, a wedding, and a baby, oh my!Jason Donovan's graduation party is at the Bell House. You'd think that after all of these years of preparation, Sylvie would be ready for this day. She's not. Especially when her ex-husband shows up with his new girlfriend. As soon as Polly and her family are finished with that event, it's time to prepare for Hayden and Cat's wedding. It won't be that easy. One day there are a few nerves and excitement and the next ... chaos. Extended family on both sides threaten to ruin the day. You won't want to miss Lydia and Beryl's take on a shower / bachelorette party. Those two women know how to have fun.Sal and Mark Ogden's baby is due. She can hardly wait. That is, until her mother announces that she will be coming in from Boston to help. With only two days' notice, Sal is in a panic. Her mother's presence is far from comforting. Polly has too much going on to do anything but listen and commiserate.Those events only skim the surface of what Polly has in front of her. Sometimes it isn't the big events that strip us down. When everyday life wears us out, we learn to look for hope in the little things, and in those who care for us through thick and thin.

Summer in Bellingwood should be a chance to relax and gather strength for the beginning of the school year. That certainly hasn't been true for Polly and her family.Rebecca and Beryl visited the East Coast, meeting Polly's friends from Boston and seeing the sights. When Rebecca returned to Bellingwood, she discovered that Andrew Donovan wasn't the same person she knew before she left. Everything changed - and none of it was good.Hayden and Cat just returned from their honeymoon to Niagara Falls, while Aaron and Lydia are finally home from their trip to Atlanta visiting their son, Jim, and his girlfriend, Kate. It's a good thing everyone is back where they belong. Polly will need them soon.Polly and Henry's neighbors moved away and though the house sold, they have yet to meet the new family. Moving Day is finally here and the excitement is more than Polly's little boys can stand. The new neighbors are about to disrupt their quiet street. New kids to play with, new friends, and an unexpected mystery nearly tears everyone to pieces. Couple that with the disappearance of another favorite character and Polly finds herself in over her head.She needs strength to get through this and finds it where she always does, in her family and friends. It's good to call Bellingwood home.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Polly's world explodes. The bed and breakfast is ready for occupancy. One last walk-through. Marie Sturtz, Betty Mercer, Judy Green, and Polly are all thrilled with the work that has been done. Bellingwood is excited for one more sure sign of growth in the small town. Thanksgiving weekend and the big grand opening are coming up. This ambitious undertaking by the three families is a legacy they are all proud to reveal.While preparing for the upcoming holiday, Polly finds she can wait no longer to uncover information regarding the existence of a sister to JaRon and Caleb. The right person to ask would be their mother, but after her release from prison, she dropped out of sight. Parties to plan for, family with surprising news, an insurance payment from the diamonds found in the cemetery last year, friends, and family. Everything is in place for a glorious Thanksgiving.But it's never that easy in Bellingwood. Even when it all falls apart, Polly and Henry find their strength in the people that make up the community. They laugh, they cry, they hug, they hold on to each other. Through it all, they discover that "Thankful is just a different word for love."The paperback also includes the short story, "That Road Before Us."

Polly never expected the utter chaos that would come from adding a four-year old to her life. And she had no idea how much love and affection Cassidy would need in order to move past the trauma she experienced before moving into the Giller-Sturtz household. On one of the few days that Cassidy spends with Henry's mother, Marie, Polly is free to have lunch with her husband. He wants her to meet the man they hope will join the Sturtz Construction team, giving Henry breathing room. When the new employee doesn't show up and doesn't answer his phone, Henry's disappointment is palpable. He has to start looking again. The bed and breakfast is under construction, Alden's Corner, the strip mall on the edge of town is nearing completion, and new employees are moving into place at Sycamore House. Rebecca and her friends are looking for jobs, Cat and Hayden are busy with mid-terms, and Polly holds on to whatever small bits of sanity she can, knowing that spring break is just around the corner. In the midst of her upside-down, crazy week, Polly meets a wonderfully kooky new friend. Just when you think the feistiest women already live in Bellingwood, another one shows up. You will love this crazy character. She is the perfect antidote to stress.Polly Giller's journey takes wild and woolly turns and detours, but friends and family make it a trip no one wants to miss.

A spy camera discovered in a room at Sycamore Inn. A dead body in a parking lot. Shoplifting at the General Store. Restoring a grand piano. Friends show up from Boston. An unexpected visit from Bellingwood Police. A family celebration. A parade. Family fights. Big decisions.What do all these things have in common? They fill Polly Giller's life the two weeks before Independence Day. No matter how often she insists her life is boring, none of her friends accept that nonsense. Even though her family is home for the summer, things are far from boring at the Bell House. The boys are busy with summer activities, Rebecca has a job and a car, and Cassidy has found her dearest friend in Agnes Hill. Time spent at Sycamore House with friends both old and new reminds Polly how much she loved being part of the action. She has to find a way back there.We met Jon and Ray Renaldi in Book 1: All Roads Lead Home when they rescued Polly from Joey Delancy, her former boyfriend. When Joey showed up in Bellingwood in Book 10: The River Rolls On, Jon and Ray arrived on the scene to ensure Polly's safety. Why are they back now and why do they behave as if they know Agnes Hill? No, boring will never describe Polly's life. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Polly is back! And things have changed. Sycamore House isn't the same place she left when her family moved to the Bell House. Now that she has an office in the building again, Jeff Lyndsay is ready to make changes to accommodate the growth they've had. It won't be easy telling Henry that he needs to tear out walls he so painstakingly built for her. Changes in Bellingwood always bring new challenges. Jeff wants to buy a building downtown. Imagine his surprise when he takes Polly to see it and she finds ... you guessed it ... a body. He thought he was safe from her shenanigans. That's not all they find in that building either, deepening the mystery surrounding the murdered man.While the sheriff's department helps Polly with that, Henry is talking to Chief Ken Wallers and Bert Bradford of the Bellingwood police department about break-ins that are happening in his employees' garages. The guys are good about locking up their trucks and tools, so who is stealing from them?Bellingwood Bed and Breakfast is finally complete and ready for occupancy. The grand piano that Len Specek and crew have been restoring for Polly is finished and ready to be delivered. She has just enough time to schedule a quick recital. How this woman keeps up with everything that happens in her life is beyond me, but she never stops. It's much more fun this way.Welcome back for another visit. Listen for the sounds of family, friends and even the animals who call Bellingwood home.

How many changes can happen to one woman in a week and a half? For Polly Giller, the number isn't easily defined. It started as a quiet afternoon at Sycamore House. Cassidy was asleep, the boys were playing, Polly was working. Cat's baby shower and the open house for the bed and breakfast weren't happening until the weekend. Halloween was over a week and a half out. Everyone was healthy. What could go wrong?Caleb and JaRon asked to play in the hallway because it was too cold outside and they were tired of sitting in Polly's office. Since it was Monday and the building was empty, why not? JaRon's shriek and Caleb's panicked plea for help yanked Polly from her chair. The moment her feet hit the floor, the tumultuous path for the next ten days was set into place. Who better to handle it than Polly? Who better to support her than family and friends. The desperate young stranger who needed someone to offer hope called out for one person - Polly Giller. It will take everyone in Polly's circle to make a miracle happen. That's the thing about hope. We all have a part to play, no matter how large, no matter how small. We can do something. We have to do what we can.

Polly Giller is out and about early on a Saturday morning, driving through Bellingwood with Noah and Elijah, after picking them up from an overnight church function. When she comments on seeing Ralph Bedford's orange pickup truck in a strange driveway with the driver's door open, Noah tells her the truck hasn't moved since last night. Even the boys know what Polly might find when she heads for the front door of the house.It's spring break in Bellingwood and this event is only the beginning. Engagement photoshoots bring friends into town, a new baby unravels poor Cat, a new dog in the house adds fresh excitement, and a rushed trip to the ER with Jason introduces a friend we'll get to know better down the road. Add to that, renovation in the auditorium at Sycamore House, a funeral (who puts the fun in funeral? Bellingwood does), and a curious mystery to solve and you know that Polly is holding on with all she has. Rebecca is planning a party in the foyer, Sal needs a plumber, and Beryl is still trying to trip up the local bartenders. It never really stops. But that's the life we all know and appreciate.Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Moving Day has come and gone for Bill and Marie Sturtz. Their old house is empty and they are starting a new chapter. Little do they know that this is the beginning of another thrilling and turbulent period in Polly Giller's life. A trip to the library with the three youngest children the next morning brings the catalyst, but no one knows who the young man is or why he was killed. Even though his blood trail leads back toward Sycamore House and he warned of more death, Polly hasn't uncovered the rest of the story yet.Agnes Hill asks Polly to help her check on a friend. There's an abusive ex-husband in the picture. This can't be good.A panicked phone call from Beryl Watson sends a terrified and emotional Polly out of Sycamore House to get her friend and rush to the hospital in Ames. Her whole world turns upside down in a heartbeat.Polly's roles as mother, wife, and friend are all tested in just two short weeks. Even when she thinks that she's alone and the worst that could happen is right in front of her, she knows better. There is always peace to be found in the storm.Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Bellingwood wasn't prepared for hundreds of strangers to descend on the little town because of a video game release. It happened anyway. Downtown Bellingwood was taken over by outsiders - young and old, wearing costumes and carrying fake swords. The festivities for the Sword Lords II release center around Doug Randall's new comic book store, Boomer's Last Stand. The store is also the focus of angry vandals. What began as nasty graffiti got much worse. Is the dead gorilla's curse real?Shops are filled with people ready to spend money and every capable person is put to work. Polly Giller moves from the coffee shop to the comic book store, to Sycamore House, Greene Space, and out to the bed and breakfast to help hold her friends together.Once the game release festivities were past, Polly hoped for rest. Not in Bellingwood. A thief's audacious break-ins disrupt her neighborhood, while accusations are aimed right at her household. To top it off, Polly's fortieth birthday is on the horizon. No one has talked about any grand plans. Maybe they will let her get away with a small celebration. A dinner with a few friends, a party with family. That would be enough. You know better, right?Welcome back to Bellingwood.

It had been months since the last time Polly found a dead body. She didn't miss it. Life was busy enough with her family and businesses. Now, they were preparing for spring break, end of the school year excitement, and then graduations. Rebecca was graduating from high school, Heath from college and Hayden would finish his masters program. Time was moving too fast and Polly was certain she'd never be ready for the changes those graduations would bring. Releasing her kids to their own lives wouldn't be easy. She might not be prepared, but they certainly were. Heath was looking for his own place to live and Rebecca was ready for college and her future.Bright and early on a Saturday morning, Henry and Polly were in the office, having sent Rebecca off for a day to Des Moines with Beryl Watson. They didn't expect to hear noise in the kitchen and upon investigation, discovered that JaRon had rescued a friend from terrible circumstances. He'd been hiding Wyatt Post in the basement overnight for months, so the little boy had a safe place to stay. Oh, and the dead body? You can bet that when Polly told Henry she was thankful for the quiet, she realized she had jinxed herself. It was only a matter of time. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Everyone knows how busy the month of May can be. Polly is smack dab in the middle of graduations, birthdays, Mother's Day, end of school ... and then she finds the body. Surely you didn't think Polly Giller could get away with handling only one thing at a time, did you? Rebecca's eighteenth birthday happens on the same day as Heath's college graduation. The entire weekend is filled with parties and out-of-town guests. Cassidy encounters a girl who seems bent on separating her from the good life that she is living with her adopted family. Elijah can not figure out how to keep his mouth shut and Heath is ready to move out of the house. The man who was killed isn't from the area, but it seems that he has gotten to know some interesting people. Which one of them might have had reason to murder him and dump his body where it would be found? It's on Polly to discover the truth behind the murder. Even her friend, Deputy Tab Hudson, knows who will end up uncovering the murderer. All Tab can do is make sure Polly is safe. New friends, new businesses, new adventures. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

After three weeks of dorm life, Rebecca is finally coming home. Everyone is excited to see her again. It's good Polly didn't schedule much; events spontaneously burst from nothing and their Labor Day weekend is filled to the brim. An extra grocery run was expected; the additional event was not. As she leaves the parking lot, no one but Polly is surprised when she's the only person who sees a body tumble down the hill. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. The location couldn't have been worse. Sheriff Merritt and Deputy Hudson arrive on scene before Polly has to deal with too many angry passersby. A slew of car thefts in the region is wreaking havoc on people's lives. No one's vehicle is safe; the thieves aren't choosy. It is pure misery when a theft hits close to home. Once the excitement of Rebecca's weekend at home passes, Polly's life fills with friends and family from Bellingwood. Nothing ever stays the same. Everything changes. New jobs, new lives, and a new family in the Bell House neighborhood. Things are never dull in this little Iowa community. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

The beginning of Rebecca's holiday break promises to bring great fun. Everyone is looking forward to her being home. The house is decorated, parties have happened, gifts are purchased and wrapped. They're ready. You didn't expect it to be that easy, did you? On a trip to pick up Christmas gifts, Polly and Henry pull over when they see a man stumbling on the side of the road. He dropped to the ground before Polly got to him. We all know the drill by now. It was time to call Sheriff Merritt. One week before Christmas. How could this happen? Who was Frank Mansfield? A nasty, ugly man who wielded power like a hammer. His money was the only thing he had going for him. Polly was thankful Henry was with her that morning after she heard the bitterness he held for Mansfield. That kind of anger might push anyone to murder. The hardest thing to tell Aaron was not that she found another body, but that Mansfield's estranged daughter had returned to Bellingwood. A sweet young woman who was here to search for a friend who had gone missing. The last person this woman wanted to see was her father, but she had every reason to kill him. Polly worried that an opportunity to remove the threat to her and her son had arisen. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Mondays at Sycamore House are quiet and a great time for Polly to work without interruption. But what happens when the crazy stuff erupts before she gets to work? A dead body, Henry's phone is found by a stranger on the highway where an accident occurred, a young classmate dies bringing pain to a heart that has experienced too much, one of Polly's children is injured, a young girl is unexpectedly pregnant. Polly's quiet Monday blew apart. What of Tuesday? A friend north of Bellingwood discovers a child walking along the gravel road. Are Polly and Henry available to foster? The obvious answer is yes, but first, Polly must confront a petty tyrant of a man in the children's ward of the hospital. Sheriff Merritt wades in to keep her from making a bad situation worse. The frightened child is forced to be alone, which breaks Polly's heart. Relief comes in the form of Rebecca returning home early for spring break. Her arrival is the beginning of sanity. Polly's friends step in and help where they can, but her daughter is old enough to understand what Polly needs in the small moments. They only have a week, but it is enough to bring life back to normal. Friendships might be tested, family might be pressed, but the one thing Polly believes is that love gives her the resources to overcome it all. She'll be ready for whatever is next. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

A new child in the house is testing Polly's capacity for mothering. She's never cared for someone so young and even if Delia makes it easy, Polly's life demands that she ... Uh oh, did she forget Delia again? This is a new challenge. Irene Walcott, the premier piano teacher in Bellingwood for years, retired before Elijah had a chance to know her. While clearing out her home in preparation for a move to live near her children, she contacted Len Specek about selling a baby grand piano. Elijah overheard the conversation and insisted this is the one thing he couldn't live without. Little did he know what would transpire because of that desire. Life in Bellingwood is busy and exciting as the end of the school year approaches. The eighth-grade graduation party for Noah and his classmates brought his newest crush to the Bell House. Then, Polly clashed with the girl's grandfather over a community event proposed by Sal Ogden. Even as the gentleman opposed bringing the event to town, he met Polly on common ground as they sat together in a hospital waiting room, worried over a friend in surgery. Conflicting opinions mean nothing when compared to a person's life. New relationships, parties, growing up and growing older, announcements and challenges are commonplace in everyone's life, but they are special in the life of this small town. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Polly's friends and family are madly preparing for the upcoming Sycamore Arts Festival. Rebecca arrives home from her trip with Beryl Watson to Greece with less than three weeks to ensure she's ready for the onslaught of artisans and crafters. The stress of the festival, exhaustion and sleep deprivation, while also worrying about her sophomore year of college all conspire to drag her back to adolescent behavior. To top it off, a stalker targets young women in Bellingwood. His list includes Rebecca. Because one crisis isn't enough, Heath asks Polly to look at a house on a property east of town. He knows this presents an opportunity to the universe and demands that she allow him to be the first person to enter the house. Having Polly find a body in a house he might someday purchase and renovate isn't ideal for him or Ella. Little does he know that when the universe wants Polly to find a body, she will do just that, no matter how hard Heath or anyone else works to avoid the situation. When she calls Sheriff Merritt, his response was unexpected, yet surprisingly appropriate. New relationships and old friendships, a few unexpected opportunities, and a surprise or two are all earmarks of a visit to Bellingwood. Polly and Henry's kids are growing up. While they meet new challenges, they also remind us that they still have much to learn. Becoming a responsible young person is hard work. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

The moment Polly relaxed because things felt normal, she knew it was a mistake. Henry offered to take her away that very night. If only. Raising kids isn't easy. Raising kids that experienced trauma in the past? Difficult. Raising a kid who won't talk about any of it? Frustrating. Caleb, now in seventh grade, has gotten caught up with a group of kids out to cause trouble. He's become sullen and angry, stubborn and aggressive. Reports of vandalism around town are filtering in. Polly fears those same kids are the perpetrators. It isn't only Caleb. Her friends are also trying to figure out what's happening with their children. Problems are bubbling over at school because an older student there is preying on children's fears and lack of confidence. Who? Why? What's the end game? The trouble has to be bigger than seventh-grade angst. That would be enough for most people, but not Polly. Not only has she found a dead body, but she and Henry are considering an exciting venture with Sal and Mark Ogden. Rebecca's roommate experiences a horrific crisis and the new sheriff's deputy is asking odd questions. What is he up to? Henry's business is surging. It's short-term, but his long hours make everything more difficult at home. Polly 's guilt over taking so long to realize that Caleb was falling apart weighs on her. This will require more coffee. Not only for the caffeine, but for the companionship that comes with it, whether at Sweet Beans, Sycamore House, or her own kitchen. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

If you think the fortieth book in the Bellingwood series will be an easy ride for Polly Giller, you'd best think twice. She doesn't make it through the first chapter before her world is upended. It takes everything she has to get through the next part of her day. Her friends want to help, but even in the midst of Polly's exhaustion and worry, they need reassurance everything will work out. Next thing on her list? The employee Christmas party that she and Henry host is only a few days away. Lexi, Jeff, and everyone else will help, but Polly doesn't even have her dress yet. Rebecca's return from college gives them a perfect opportunity to look at new clothes. It's fun to have a daughter who sees you differently than you see yourself. The Monday after the party brings an entirely new set of concerns. An investigator from the state asks Polly questions implicating her in the murder. Sheriff Merritt told her to answer with honesty, but it didn't take long to realize she needed help and protection. Where else to find that, but Boston. One phone call was all it took for the Renaldis to swoop in and set up shop. The plot continues to thicken as they approach Christmas. While Polly is caught up in the mystery, her family and friends continue to live their lives. All she can do is hold on for the ride. Old friends, memories, and old stories all wrap up to close out the first ten years of Polly's life in Iowa. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

It had to happen. Tab Hudson gets into Polly's car and they head straight into a crime scene. Since Tab is still on desk duty while recuperating from her encounter with a murdering investigator just before Christmas, Sheriff Merritt will get the call. Anything else would turn the world upside down. Three days later, Polly and Henry return to the area where she'd found the body. What they discovered does turn the world upside down. Not only for Polly, but for the entire community. She's unearthed terrible things since moving back to Iowa, but this unveils a secret that terrifies Bellingwood. Anxiety permeates the foundation of safety that folks in Bellingwood rely on. They continue with their day-to-day activities, but wonder what it was they had missed for years and years. How could they not know what was happening in their own back yard? And there's more. Jack comes to Polly and Henry, desperate because the sister he is finally connecting with has gone missing. Is she part of the first mystery or is another one about to come crashing in on the little town? To top it off, strangers swarm into Bellingwood. Reporters, bloggers, and lookie-loos from all over are there to uncover dirt from the regular rumor mill. For the first time since she bought Sycamore House, Polly is ready to run away and never look back. How will she ever uncover the truth and assuage the fears of people who have become her friends? Finding her way through to the end will require Polly to lean on her friends and family. Welcome back to Bellingwood. 655

School is out. Kids are busy. Polly is ... doing what Polly does. Which means that you will be just as exhausted as she is by the end of the story. Life turns upside down in Bellingwood, but a week later, it is all put back to rights. The young family, Maria Wooden, her two daughters, and her brother, Tommy have settled into the home that Lorianne Sutter forced Polly and Henry to purchase. They were finally feeling hopeful about their future. Then the lights went out. Someone broke into the house. Maria is panicked. Her only thought is to get away from the place that she has made into a home because her abusive husband is in town to hurt her little family again. Things only get worse when Polly finds a body in the field behind the house. What in the world is going on over there? Is it really the husband or is it something else entirely? Friends come into town and take Polly away for a night of relaxation at The Hub, the vacation home Polly and Henry share with the Ogdens. Barely out of town, Polly receives a phone call. More problems with Maria. Instead of trying to force a night of fun when trouble is on the horizon, she and her friends head back to Bellingwood. With this crew, they can have fun wherever they are. Families grow and friends take care of each other, no matter what. Even when life is more difficult than it should be. Welcome back to Bellingwood!

The kids are back in school and Polly is bored. Not because she has nothing to do, but because her life feels mundane. Every day is the same. Even the possibility of finding a dead body doesn't create much trouble for her. She's done that already and everyone knows what to expect. It's been a long time since she's invested herself in a major change - whether it's rescuing a building, an animal (or many) or a person. Her kids, though they're normal and require parental management, are living their lives. Henry is incredibly busy while working on the new elementary school and community center going in north of town. Lives around her expand and change, while hers remains ... the same. A small brown box shows up in her office. She doesn't think much of it, her mind is elsewhere. Confusing contents could be a threat, a plea, or something much different. Lives are about to change. As for what we all know is coming, Polly never fails. In a strange moment, she finds a woman's mother. Dead. Anger and pain that took root in that household years ago has again spilled out into the world. This time, it finishes destroying two lives. Home should be safe. Polly's home fills with her friends and family as often as possible. When the back yard is full, when her dining room table is jammed with people and food, when they have to keep expanding in order to feed everyone and care for each other, when love explodes because it is a choice made without hesitation, that's home. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

A hit-and-run, a taser, and a gun. Squatters, entitled women, the body of a young man. More blood in a room than one person can lose. A manager whose family life is falling apart. Animals who require an emergency visit from Doc Ogden. An assistant who is barely hanging on because of her success. Hammers, wrenches, and mauls, oh my. Days in the life of Polly Giller. To top it off, the holidays are here, bringing parties and the largest family gathering the Bell House has seen yet. There is nothing peaceful and quiet about this season. Thanksgiving, family photographs, the Girls' Rule annual gathering, kids' cookie decorating day, and the Sturtz / Giller staff party. That should be enough, but those are only the highlights. Polly and Henry's kids are busy at school and with their lives. Four new children are beginning to settle in. They bring years of history and traditions to the household, worried that those things will be lost now that they have joined such a big family. Searching for ways to comfort and assure them that they are important individuals will take time and hard work. Every day brings something new and every day, the one person Polly can rely on to be her strength shows up. So do her friends and the rest of her family. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Another school year is nearly at its end and that can't happen soon enough for Polly Giller. She loves having her kids at home. You know that Polly shouldn't take walks by herself, no matter how much she needs the relief that only time with Obiwan will offer. Beryl is worried about her friend, Andy, who is itching to get involved with another young woman. A couple moved into the house next door to Andy and Len, and the tales those walls could tell. Loud fights occur regularly, scaring Andy for the woman's life. Come to find out, Beryl also has a stalker who has been emailing her for several years. She's blown it off, but things seem to be getting more serious. Rebecca is worried for her friend, which means Polly is soon to be involved. Rebecca's end of the year art show, her birthday dinner in Des Moines, and her move home are experiences that are scary, exciting, and show how much she has grown up. Changes are in store for Rebecca's friends, Polly's friends and family. You have to read it to believe it. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Bellingwood Days are nearly here. Heath's wedding is nearly here. What does that mean for Polly Giller? Pure and utter chaos. It's a good thing she's learned how to manage life in the midst of it all. Better yet, it's good that she has the support of her community - both friends and family. Without them, Polly wouldn't be able to do any of it. When a local podcaster asks to interview Polly about the growth Bellingwood has been experiencing, she reluctantly agrees. This is a task better suited to her staff, but he insisted on speaking to her personally. Their initial meeting didn't go quite as planned. Out of the blue, a friend of Polly's from elementary school is back in Iowa and looking for her. She hasn't heard from Annie in years - more than she cares to remember. At the mention of her old friend's name, memories flood Polly's mind. Why has Annie come back? What is she looking for? Why is she insistent on finding Polly? The answers are surprising. Kids, friendships, families, summer activities, lives that unravel while others knit together in beautiful ways. It's all part of life. Welcome back to Bellingwood.

Friday night, she found a body. That should be enough for one woman. Not if you're Polly Giller. Monday's excitement: vandalism, discovering a car in the ditch, a call from the high school about one of her boys, a Molotov cocktail in the Sturtz's back yard, and finally, a furious Cassidy. Is this enough? We're getting close. The vandals suddenly step up their game, and everyone in town is nervous about who they'll hit next. What is going on and why are they targeting Bellingwood and its environs? When Polly meets the mother of the murder victim, how can she help but become involved? The poor woman needs to know that she isn't alone. Since her family can't be bothered to come to Bellingwood, Polly is on tap to help clean out an apartment. No one was prepared for what they were about to discover. Bellingwood is never boring, and neither is Polly's life. Whether she's caring for strangers, spending time with her friends, or loving her family, something is always going on. She wouldn't have it any other way. Life and all that it brings is important. Welcome back to Bellingwood.