When Maggie MacAuley returns to the small coal town of her childhood, she has no intention of staying. Her life is in Chicago now. There's nothing to keep her in Skingle Creek ... nothing but the discovery that a man who has lived most of his life for the children of Skingle Creek is no longer the hero of Maggie's childhood but seems destined to become the love of her life. In Maggie's quest for independence, she finds her greatest strength in sacrifice...

"A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather's grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea."--

"When an explosion kills men and damages the CR Mining Company, the Bodens realize their troubles are not behind them as they thought. Shadowy forces are still working against them. Cole Boden finds himself caught between missing his time back East and all that New Mexico offers. Sure he fights with his siblings now and then, but he does care for them. He enjoys running the mine and, when he's honest, he admits that Melanie Blake captures his interest...

Maggie MacAuley and her friend Summer Rankin try to help Jonathan Stuart, a respected teacher in the one-room schoolhouse, hold onto hope when his cherished flute is stolen.

"From debut novelist Maris Lawyer, The Blue Line Down is a breakneck tale of betrayal, loyalty, and unexpected homecoming. Jude Washer wants to run: away from the coal mines where he is destined to work, away from his father's abuse of his little brother,away from the prison-like confines of his village. Whispers of unionizing ripple through the small West Virginia mining town. When the mines take Jude's brother away from him, Jude takes matters into...