The Traveling Puppet Show — Susan Hart

Gretchen Wilder was a young woman of German heritage living near New York City in the late 1800s. Her life's passion was creating whimsical puppets and dolls for children, with dreams of one day opening her own shop and puppet theater. However, Gretchen lacked the woodcarving skills to fashion the puppet heads, often staring uneasily at her unfinished creations lurking in the shadows. Determined to make her vision a reality, Gretchen turned to a marriage broker to find a husband who could be her woodcarving partner. After an exchange of letters, she became enamored with Hans Kaessinger, a skilled woodcarver living in the rugged hills of Northern California. Though worlds apart, they sensed a spark that could unite their ambitions and hearts. And, their story begins.