Alfonso

Alfonso Cucinotta is sick of life on a farm with more family than he knows what to do with. Philadelphia Howe is headed for California with her father, the only family she has.

Alfonso came to the Weaver farm in 1874 with six of his siblings after a seventh – his older sister Bella – became a mail-order bride. Eight years later, he's still there – and wishes he weren't. But two sisters have wed and moved off, so Bella is committed to making sure he stays put. For now, he's stuck chopping wood, picking fruit, making sausages and dreaming of a day he can go out on his own – while working hard to leave his childhood anger and bossiness behind.

Philadelphia has spent her whole life tagging along with her father as he travels from one base ball club to the next, first as a player and later as a manager. A snowstorm traps her and Papa with the Weavers, and she discovers a new sort of life with a big, boisterous family – and the handsome but taciturn Alfonso. Eventually, though, the roads will clear, and she'll have to decide whether she'd rather stay there or follow her father to Silvertown and his next club.

Throw in mystery, romance, humor, loud Italian arguments and a coach driver who may be more than he seems, and strap yourselves in for another Weaver family adventure!