When Love Inspires: Kristen's story

When Love Inspires: Kristen's story

Does Prince Charming exist?

Hallmark will tell you he does. He’s handsome, well-mannered, and romantic. He dresses really well, usually has plenty of money, and likely a college degree alongside his picketed-fence upbringing.

I grew up aspiring for this type of Prince Charming to become my husband. The kind who would play soft music and cook me a surprise fancy dinner every so often. A man who would buy me flowers every anniversary and Valentine’s Day, but then also “just because” while upgrading my diamond to diamonds—plural. The type of husband who would find a way to kiss me under the mistletoe and hold my hand in public.

Now, I love me some Hallmark Prince Charmings. The channel is on constantly during Christmastime, and each movie provides exactly what it intended—warm fuzzies.

But my Prince Charming looks very different than those I see on TV.

My husband and I started dating five weeks after I turned eighteen. It was the summer after I graduated high school. We were babies! We’ve been married over fifteen years now, and this summer will mark twenty years together. But he’s never bought me flowers. He’s never cooked me a meal and lit candles for ambiance. He’s never surprised me with a super fancy date night out on the town.

Even still, he’s the love of my life and each day with him only gets better. He’s practical, so he spoils me rotten with things like a new Mac computer for work “just because,” or thermal underwear to wear around the house ‘cause I’d told him I was cold (yes, this has really happened a few times in our twenty years). He works a very strenuous and physical job outside in the elements so we can live a beautiful life that allows me to stay home writing (which doesn’t pay the bills). He takes pride in building us a fire, inside or out, to keep us warm and cozy. He has an alpha-wolf personality but will still do anything I ask of him. He’s a protector at heart and devoted to our kids which means coaching their sporting activities whenever possible. He’s a Jesus-follower, and most know this about him very quickly by the way he lives his life.

So, while he may not be romantic according to the world, he is to me. And when I think about what inspires me to write sweet love stories, I believe my husband is why. I want my readers to see everyday men in my heroes—men they could come in contact with. Like my husband, the characters in my stories are flawed and most don’t adhere to the typical romance-style we watch on Hallmark. They are real men. They are rough and tough sometimes. They are practical, but also generous. They are doting but hold tight to their masculinity while doing so. They are handsome, but not always put together in the perfect suit or trendy model-worthy outfit.

They are the Prince Charmings of reality. They may not be typical, according to most romantic movies on Hallmark, but they’re absolutely worthy. They’re the ones we, women, encounter in everyday life. These men, those like my husband, are the ones who inspire me to write about love. They’re real Prince Charmings waiting to snatch you up as their princess.

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Author Bio:

Kristen holds a Master's degree in Theological Studies and served as a Children's Ministry Director for five years. 

She cherishes her Southern roots and currently lives forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. 

With the support of her husband and two children, she stays at home writing Christian fiction, allowing God to take the story where He needs it to go. 

Kristen blogs for Wholly Loved ministries at WhollyLoved.com and Crosswalk.com. She also loves serving her local church on their women's leadership and teaching team.

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Blurb for Kristen's book, Morning Star:

Addie McHenry, restoration home builder extraordinaire, catches her big break when the House to Home network contracts her to film a reality TV show focusing on how she brings homes back to life. She sets her sights on one of the oldest on Moanna’s beach and has to risk everything just to get it. 

Shane Armstrong moved from Savannah to his grandmother’s Moanna oceanside house when his world shattered five months before. He went on leave from his job as a Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer, hopeful his grandmother’s peaceful street will help him heal. The reality TV show’s arrival threatens this serenity.

But the construction and camera crews are nothing compared to Addie herself. She’s tough as nails, challenging, and superbly bossy as she works to get her way. But she’s also kind, hardworking, and has a relationship with God Shane can’t begin to understand.

With each encounter, Shane’s walls start to crumble as Addie brings more than just the historical home back to life, but him as well. Addie tries desperately not to enjoy spending time with the irritable and scowling boy from next door. He hides his heartache well, but she sees it there behind his prickly exterior. Soon she begins to uncover the sacrificial hero underneath the façade.

With both of them only temporary residents on Moanna Island, their thin ice relationship crashes to a halt. Can Shane return to his risky job with the Coast Guard? Does he even want to? And can Addie let him go and follow her dreams even when tragedy strikes?

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Connect with Kristen:
Website: https://www.kristenterrette.com
Amazon Author page: https://amzn.to/2RLmJ2t
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenterrette
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kterrette
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kterrette/

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