14 Days of Sweet Stories: Whisper to My Heart by JoAnn Durgin

Book blurb for Whisper to My Heart by JoAnn Durgin:

The unlikely romance between a concert pianist and a construction worker. 

After a decade of touring the globe, Manhattan-based classical concert pianist Annalise Redmond needs a break. What’s a Juilliard-trained musician to do when she wants to live a “normal” life for six weeks? 

Weston Galloway, a former firefighter and member of an Atlanta-based construction crew, is as much into soul-winning as building the new bank in little Darling, Georgia.

Anna’s barely been kissed. Weston’s not looking for love. When these two souls collide in small-town Americana, is their time together destined only to be a precious memory or will they listen to the whispers in their hearts and dare to dream of a future together?

Throw in Anna’s quirky sister and brother-in-law, Weston’s challenging coworker, spirited employees at The Darling Diner, and a cast of lively townsfolk, and you won’t want to miss this journey to Darling!

Whisper to My Heart. A contemporary Christian romance celebrating love, faith, community, and family.

~*~

Excerpt from the opening chapter of Whisper to My Heart:

Anna cringed, waiting for the inevitable crash. The accident couldn’t have been prevented. Not really. She’d tripped over a child’s forgotten toy, sending that stack of slippery plates flying. Slapping her hands over her face, she waited for the impending wrath of Roz the Terminator.

Her first mistake? Rinsing her hands and then forgetting to dry them before bussing tables. Who knew there’d be so many details to remember? She’d thought this job would be easy. How could people do this for a living? After only three days on the job, she should turn in her apron and acknowledge the truth—she was a terrible waitress.

Wait a second. No crash. Only the sound of clattering, not shattering, plates. And people were…clapping?

“Go, Weston! You are the man!”

Splaying her fingers wide, Anna dared to peek. One of the construction guys who’d been sitting in the back corner booth—Weston, apparently—crouched in front of her. He attempted to stabilize the stack of wobbly plates in his hands while his comrades whistled, stomped, whooped, and hollered. Appearing unsteady, his forehead creased with a deep frown.

Anna wanted to tell his cronies to pipe down their rowdiness in case it made Weston nervous, but they probably wouldn’t listen. She glanced at the floor. Surely she’d missed one of the plates falling in the midst of all the loud cheering? Nope, no shards lay scattered across the hard floor. How had he managed to corral them without any casualties?

“Let me help you.” Anna started forward but then hesitated. On second thought, that wasn’t the best idea considering she seemed especially clumsy tonight. Who knew what chaos she might create? They’d probably both end up on the floor. That’d be interesting but would solve nothing.

“No problem. I’ve got them.” Weston’s focus didn’t waver, and he’d captured the attention of everyone in the diner. A slow grin spread across his face as he cautiously rose to a standing position—six feet or thereabouts of controlled muscle in a white but dirt-covered T-shirt and worn jeans. His light brown beard was neatly trimmed and curls peeked out from the bottom of his backwards Atlanta Braves cap. Cute guy.

Anna clapped with the others as Weston moved to the front of the diner and carefully deposited the plates on the counter. The other waitress, Candee, scooted beside her and leaned close. “Let him be your hero for the day.” She patted Anna’s arm and winked. “Every gal needs one of those. And every man wants to be one.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Walking over to the counter, Anna gave him a weary smile. “Thank you for saving my job. At least for now.”

They were only plates. She shouldn’t even care. But for some inexplicable reason, she did.

“Welcome. You looked like you could use some help. Glad I came in, well…handy.” Weston shot a disparaging glance at his clothing. “As you can see, nothing’s going to make me dirtier than I already am.” He lifted his baseball cap and scratched the side of his head. “Okay, that didn’t come out right.”

Maybe not, but she liked his deep, charming southern drawl. Baby blue eyes, offset by tanned skin, settled on her. “I’m Weston Galloway. And you are?” She appreciated how his gaze didn’t dip south of her name tag. In spite of how he was dressed, and the somewhat rough-cut company he kept, Weston seemed like a gentleman.

“I’m Anna. Anna Redmond. It’s nice to meet you.” Was it wise to give him her last name? At least she’d only given him the shortened version of her first name. The odds were against Weston recognizing her name or knowing who she was.

“You, too.” He started to wipe his hands on the front of his T-shirt. “I’d shake your hand, but it’s better if I keep my hands to myself.” His cheeks flushed, and dimples peeked out beneath his beard. “I’m saying all the wrong things tonight.” Laughing under his breath, he raised both hands. “I promise you, I’m not weird or anything.”

An embarrassed Weston was even cuter. If only he knew what a refreshing change he was compared to most men.

“Hang on a second. Don’t move.” Anna hurried behind the counter.

“Yes, ma’am.”

After lightly rinsing a paper towel in the sink, she squeezed out the excess water and then handed it to him. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Weston wiped his hands and glanced at her feet. “Is your ankle okay?”

“What? Oh, yes. It’s fine.”

“Good.” He tossed the used paper towel in the trash can beside the register. “Before all the excitement, I was coming to ask for our check.”

“Sure. I’ll have Candee bring it over to your table in just a minute.” Should she offer to comp their check? Probably not. Guys could be weird about a woman paying for things, and it might come across as odd. Besides, a woman working in a small-town diner wouldn’t be able to afford it, so it wouldn’t be a normal thing to do.

Normal. Above all, that’s what she wanted, what she needed. She hadn’t lived a normal life in so long, she wasn’t sure she remembered how. But she could try.

~*~
Author bio: 

In addition to Whisper to My Heart, USA Today Bestselling Author JoAnn Durgin is the author of eight novels in the beloved Lewis Legacy Series, as well as Prelude, the prequel to the series. 

Her other works include the Amazon bestselling Catching Serenity, Heart’s Design and its sequel, Gentle Like the Rain, the Wondrous Love Series, Echoes of Edinburgh, Perchance to Dream, Whisper to My Heart, The Christmas Challenge, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. 

A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn now writes contemporary Christian romance full-time and lives with her family in her native southern Indiana.

JoAnn loves to hear from her readers! Please feel free to connect with her online via the following sites:

Website: www.joanndurgin.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gr8treads

All of JoAnn Durgin’s books are sold exclusively on Amazon. com. Visit her Amazon Author Page for details, http://amzn.to/2jpDxOK

~*~
Book Review written by Elaine Holt and posted on Amazon.com on November15, 2016:

Title for book review: An Old-fashioned contemporary romance!

This review is from: Whisper to My Heart: A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel (Kindle Edition)

Another fabulous romance from JoAnn Durgin. A sweet story of love at first sight between Anna and Weston. Even when you are not looking for love, sometimes love finds you - in unlikely places. Anna is looking for a "normal" life and finds it in small town Darling, GA. Working her first job in a diner, she bonds with and is accepted by the locals in this town even though Anna will only be around for a couple of months. Along with the "normalcy" she meets Weston, a contractor temporarily working on a project in Darling. Weston is a man strong in faith and character. One of the highlights of this story is watching Weston live out his faith and standing firm against the sinful world and temptations that surrounds him. His desire to court Anna, like generations past, really warmed my heart. Can Anna and Weston have a future after they both leave Darling, GA? Can they remain pure and true to God's word, overcoming fleshly desires? What will Weston think of Anna when he finds out who she truly is?

JoAnn Durgin creates realistic characters that have every day struggles and flaws. They show us, the readers, how we, too, can live out our faith in everyday lives. I am hooked with every one of her books and I can't put them down! I love her writings and genuinely care what happens to her characters. You will too. JoAnn's books never disappoint.

~*~
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14 Days of Sweet Stories: "Home At Last" by Deborah Raney

Interview with Deborah Raney, author of Home At Last:

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book? 

Deborah: God sees and loves all of His children equally. And He has called us to love one another the way He loves us. Right now, we’re not doing a very good job of it in this country (The United States of America) and in this world. And that breaks my heart. If my writing can be one drop of water in a flood of love that brings healing, then I will feel my work was worthwhile.

Alexis: What can you tell us about your hero (Link Whitman)? Describe his looks, personality and heart for the heroine.

Deborah: Link is the fun-loving little brother in a big, boisterous family. His older sisters dote on him. His only brother, a U.S. Marine, died a hero, and Link lives somewhat in his shadow.

Alexis: What can you tell us about your heroine (Shayla Michaels)? Describe her looks, personality and heart for the hero.

Deborah: Shayla is a product of her parents’ loving, but difficult interracial marriage. She struggles to discover who she is, in her own right, but also in Christ. She’s been saddled with the huge burden (but also joy) of raising her niece and caring for her father after her mother’s death.

This is how I pictured my characters: 

Alexis: What brings Link and Shayla together? Do they like each other at first? Why or why not?

Deborah: Shayla has met Link before (and likes him very much), but doesn’t realize at first that it’s him when they meet again on an icy morning after Link almost runs over her niece with his truck!

Alexis: What does Link not like about his life as a bachelor? Does he have issues with him being the only single person in his immediate family? Explain.

Deborah: Link is definitely starting to feel the pressure from his sisters and family. He would like to be married and have what his siblings have—love and family—but he’s not willing to rush into anything just to satisfy his sisters’ matchmaking whims.

Alexis: What role does Chicory Inn play in this story?

Deborah: The Chicory Inn is symbolic of the warmth of home, the love of family, and the coming together in Christ of many diverse people. It is the setting of two weddings in Home At Last, and it has been, of course, Link’s childhood home.

Alexis: Shayla is biracial with an African American Dad and a White American Mom. Was it challenging for you to write her character? Why or why not?

Deborah: Just as it is when I write any character who is different from me—whether in gender, age, occupation, economic status, religion, or race—it is a challenge to assume the point of view of someone very different from yourself. I know that I’d better do my homework if my character is to be believable. When I write from a male character’s point of view, I often holler down to my husband, “Is this something you would say? How would you feel if…?” Or if I’m writing a character who’s closer in age to my kids than to me, I’ll shoot them an e-mail and ask, “How would you say this? What word would you use?” Of course, knowing a wide variety of people, having watched a ton of movies and read a ton of books, I’ve learned a lot about people who are different from me. But I admit I’m surprised by how often I guess the answer wrong to those questions!

Writing a biracial character was no different. I’ve never experienced being biracial, and I’ve never been in an interracial relationship. So I did what I do with every novel: I found real people to interview who have experienced those things. I also asked them to read my finished manuscript and to be very honest about whether I was writing realistically or if I’d gone off track.

Alexis: Why is the maternal side of Shayla’s family so hostile to Shayla?

Deborah: The simple answer is: sin. Perhaps it began as fear, or an unwillingness to learn to know someone different from them. But the bottom line is that they let the sins of of racism and hate infect their family, and Shayla and her family suffered because of it.

Alexis: Why did the paternal side of Shalya’s family embrace her but her maternal side did not?

Deborah: Racism seems to be one of those “sins of the fathers…visited upon the children…” kinds of sins. My own parents taught us to love all people. They treated everyone the same, and it seemed to just come naturally to follow their example. But sadly, for children who grew up in homes where hate and racism ruled, they leave home with those same ugly attitudes and judgments—and worse, they pass them down to their own children. 

Alexis: Shayla’s had a rough life. How did you as the author, use her pain to propel her into her purpose?

Deborah: I’ve learned in my own life that God can take our pain and turn it into something useful, make us teachable, make us compassionate. Turn ashes into beauty. I wanted that kind of redemption for Shayla.

Alexis: What role does your characters’ faith in God play in this story? Explain.

Deborah: I usually write about how faith makes a difference in my characters’ reactions to the trials and tragedies of life. In my own life, God has made all the difference, so I want to explore that phenomenon through my characters as well. 

Alexis: What role does the bakery, “Coffee’s On” play in this story?

Deborah: As the Chicory Inn business is a backdrop for Link’s life and home, so the bakery is the backdrop for Shay’s life. She’s practically grown up there and can’t imagine any other way of living.

Alexis: What makes Shayla and Link fall in love?

Deborah: They discover that they have much more in common than they have differences. They genuinely respect each other. And they genuinely like each other. They make each other laugh. And they’ve each learned some important truths about life from the other.

Alexis: What challenges do Shayla and Link face when they go out on dates as an interracial couple?

Deborah: Until Jesus returns and the New Heaven and New Earth are established, there will always be jerks on this earth. And each of us is likely to cross paths with a jerk or two in our lives. Shayla and Link, because of the differences in their outward appearance, run into more than their share. But as they grow into God’s calling for them to be together, they also begin to notice the positive reactions of some people who encourage and cheer them on, despite the challenges. 

Alexis: What’s the moral of the story?

Deborah: The entirety of God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation is a story of redemption and reconciliation! Christ’s death on the cross, which reconciled us to God, is the essence of the love we should have for one another. If we all lived and walked in His love, reconciliation would happen every minute of the day.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: My favorite part about writing this story was __________________ because __________________________.

Deborah: My favorite part about writing this story was the love story between Link and Shayla, and how they became “parents” to Portia because love makes the world go ‘round! I love exploring the intricacies of family life and the beauty of godly romance between a man and a woman.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Deborah! Do you have any final comments?

Deborah: Thank you for the great questions, and for giving me a chance to talk about my series and this newest book in particular!

~*~
Author bio: 

Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. 

Twenty years and thirty books later, she's still writing. She and her husband traded small-town life in Kansas, the setting of many of Deb’s novels, for life in the city of Wichita. They love traveling to visit four grown children and seven grandchildren who all live much too far away. 

Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.

~*~
Blurb for Deborah's book, Home at Last: Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor without ever intending to. Now he’s stuck in a dead-end job and, as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters’ efforts to play matchmaker is getting hard to bear as Link pulls extra shifts at work, and helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.

All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled two worlds. Her mother's white family labeled her African American father with names Shayla didn't repeat in polite––well, in any company. Her father’s family disapproved as well, though they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After the death of her mother, and her brother Jerry’s incarceration, life has left Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan, and Shayla responsible for them all. She knows God loves them all, but why couldn't people accept each other for what was on the inside? For their hearts?

Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling in love with the little girl’s aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee’s On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society’s view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the sometimes-ugly world around them into something better for them all?

~*~
Buy Deborah's book, Home At Last: 

Amazon: bit.ly/2kvJ1HO
CBD: http://ow.ly/ooSH308H5aA
Abingdon Press: http://www.abingdonpress.com/deborah_raney

~*~
Connect with Deborah:
Website - http://www.deborahraney.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/deborah.raney
Twitter - https://twitter.com/authordebraney
Blog - http://novelgarden.blogspot.com
Amazon Author page - http://amazon.com/author/deborahraney
Instagram - http://instagram.com/deborahraney
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/59414.Deborah_Raney

~*~
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14 Days of Sweet Stories: "Restoring Love" by Jennifer Slattery

Interview with Jennifer Slattery, author of Restoring Love:

Alexis: What is the inspiration behind your story’s title, Restoring Love?

Jennifer: Restoring Love picks up, in some ways, where Beyond I Do left off. The two stories are each a standalone, but in my debut novel, we catch a glimpse of Angela—before Christ. And man, is she blowing things, deeply hurting her daughter in the process. But then, she encounters Jesus Christ and He begins to change her trajectory. So, in answer to your question, I knew I needed to write Angela’s post-Christ story before I’d even finished writing the other. 

Alexis: Restoring Love is “missional fiction”. What does that mean for your readers?

Jennifer: Mission fiction is like any other story but with an added slant—it touches on the theme of outreach. So, for example, in Restoring Love, two of my characters feel led to reach out to a single mom and her kids. 

Alexis: What lessons do you want your readers to learn from your characters?

Jennifer: That God’s love is amazing! It can and does transform us, heal us and set us free. 

Alexis: Let’s talk about your story’s hero, Mitch. Why is he passionate about his work as a contractor and house-flipper? What is it about the restoration process of old houses that he loves so much?

Jennifer: He’s always loved working with his hands, and he has a fondness for traditional Midwestern homes with their covered porches and massive, old-growth trees with leaves that turn vibrant in the fall. He loves the history of Omaha that he sees in so many of her distinct neighborhoods, and he wants to help preserve that. He wants to restore those places that capture the traditional Midwest feel so they can remain. 

Alexis: Why did you decide to set your story in the Midwest? Which state is it set in?

Jennifer: This story is set in Omaha, Nebraska, where I’ve lived for the past four years. I never would’ve expected to fall in love with this area—with it’s insanely hot summers and bitter cold winters. But I did. I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful, four distinct seasons, the amazing arts culture, the people who truly are some of the kindest and most welcoming I’ve encountered, and the overall flavor of the place. 

But Omaha’s got its hard, too. Generational poverty. Single moms trying to do better for their kids but feeling like everything’s stacked against them. Kids wanting to dream but stuck in a vicious cycle of struggle, fear, and loss. In Restoring Love, I wanted to show the beauty and the hard, to put the two together, to show that love—God’s love—truly can turn the ugly into good. 

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine, Angela. Why is she filled with regrets? Why did she move to the Midwest? What is it about her life that she doesn’t think is perfect?

Jennifer: You can see much of Angela’s story in my debut novel, Beyond I Do, a novel that centers largely on her daughter’s journey. In that book, we see Angela living selfishly, using others and then discarding them for men. She’s made many poor decisions, and those choices have greatly hurt those she loves. 

But then she encounters Christ, and He begins to restore the relationships she destroyed. More than that, He begins to restore her from what she had become into the beautiful, grace-filled and grace-giving woman He created her to be. 

Alexis: Describe Angela and Mitch’s meet-cute. What were their first impressions of each other?

Jennifer: When Mitch first encountered Angela, dressed like a much-too-old eighties pop queen, he found her...strange. Perhaps a bit comical and...intriguing. When he learned she was house sitting for a military family he knows and cares about, he determined to keep an eye on her—for the family’s sake. 

When Angela encountered Mitch, she had one thought—that man is handsome! But a second thought immediately followed: I have no business thinking that way. With her relational history, she determined to steer clear of men, but, well, life has a way of unhinging our most determined plans.

Alexis: Mitch’s mission is to restore old houses. What is it that Angela is working on to restore? 

Jennifer: Angela wants to restore her life. She’s made such a mess of things, and as a result, she’s come to believe a lot of self-defeating lies—like she’s a failure, unworthy, unable. And yet, God continues to surround her, encouraging her to keep stepping forward. Because He’s got a plan. An amazing plan, one she is uniquely able to fill. 

Alexis: Why is Mitch struggling to keep his business afloat?

Jennifer: House flipping can be a huge risk. One never knows what’s lurking behind the walls, so to speak. In other words, a flipper can purchase a home that appears to be stable only to begin the restoration process and find the electrical work is shoddy. When this and other problems occur, the house flipper can go into debt quickly. 

In addition, Mitch and his business partner are holding on to a few other properties besides their current project. The market hit a down slope, and they’re having trouble selling homes they’ve plunked money into restoring. Then there’s the fact that they’ve rented out other property to people who struggle financial, and whom Mitch feels a great deal of compassion for. As a result, he’s constantly juggling his desire to do what is best for the business and what might be best for his tenants.

Alexis: What mistakes from her past is Angela working to overcome?

Jennifer: She has numerous mistakes, but her biggest desire is to locate and reconnect with her mother, whom she hurt deeply. Angela wants to pay her mother back for money she stole from her, decades previously, and to, hopefully, rebuild the relationship they had before Angela became rebellious. 

Alexis: What’s the moral of the story?

Jennifer: That Christ transforms—lives, hearts, and entire communities. 

Alexis: What was your greatest challenge and greatest joy in writing this book?

Jennifer: My greatest challenge was presenting Bianca, a single woman who Angela feels called to help, authentically but also in a way that those who’ve never traveled in her shoes can understand. If you’ve never encountered generational poverty and don’t understand the dynamics of it, you might be tempted to judge Bianca. Maybe even to strongly dislike her. But if you can step back and understand her history, her perception, her struggles, and her limitations, then I believe you’ll view her (and women like her) with more compassion. 

The greatest joy was getting to explore Omaha with my husband. Our date nights often turned into research trips, and we were able to visit some places right here in the Metro in which we live, that we’d never been to before. And even those we’d frequented numerous times—we began to view them differently, through the lens of the story. It was such fun! 

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jennifer! Would you like to share any closing thoughts?

Jennifer: To those who haven’t been to Omaha, and maybe those who think Nebraska is one big cornfield—come check us out! This is a great city with lots to do!

~*~
Author bio:  

Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. 

As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefly, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. 

When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

~*~
Blurb for Restoring Love:

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. 

Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She's almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. 

As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband's incarceration. 

While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

~*~
Buy Jennifer's book:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ CBD

~*~
Connect with Jennifer:
Website – www.JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenslattery/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/

~*~

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14 Days of Sweet Stories: "A Match Made in Heaven" by Liz Tolsma

Interview with Liz Tolsma, author of A Match Made in Heaven:

Alexis: Why did you choose to set your story in the 19th century? Would this be a historical romance? 

Liz: With Barbour romance collections, they prefer that stories be set in the second half of the 19th century. Every now and again, like in the collection I have coming out in July, they will accept other time periods. But mostly, it’s 19th century. And yes, they always have to be romances. 

Alexis: Tell us about your hero Len Montgomery. What does he look like? Sound like? Act like? Describe his heart and life goals. 

Liz: He has deep-set eyes, a square-shaped face, and light brown hair that tends to stick up every which way despite his best attempts to slick it back. He’s tall and muscular. He has a deep voice. He’s sweet, and even a little insecure. He’s a pastor with a deep love for the members of his congregation and wants to do right by them. He wants to be a good pastor. 

Alexis: Is there a special reason why you made Len a pastor? If so, please explain. 

Liz: Yes. He needs to be a pastor because someone writes him asking if there is a young lady in his congregation of impeccable character who might be interested in being his bride. 

Alexis: What is the inciting incident that starts your main characters on their journey? 

Liz: As I stated above, he gets this letter asking for a potential match. The letter gets out to the newspapers around the country, and letters pour in, asking for Pastor Montgomery to make matches for them. Len can’t keep up with all the mail, so the lovely postmistress offers to help him. 

Alexis: How did you dream up a character like Mr. Kimble? He seems very interesting. Why would he have a problem finding a woman to marry him without asking Len for help? 

Liz: Mr. Kimble is based on a real person who wrote to a pastor (and I believe he probably wrote to many, many pastors), asking if he might have a woman in his congregation might be willing to marry him. It could be because he was a rancher, and that’s a difficult life. It might be that he had children, which complicated matters. Things like this still happen today. I know of several couples who have been “set up” by their pastors. Young men writing churches within their denomination, asking if there are any single women in their congregation who share their beliefs who might be interested in a courtship. As far as I know, these have been very successful marriages. 

Alexis: Now for my readers who may not know, what is a “postmistress”? 

Liz: A postmistress is a woman who runs a post office. She’s the one in charge. In a small town in those days, she might be the only postal employee. It was not an uncommon position for a woman. 

Alexis: Let’s talk about your heroine Cora Thomas (the postmistress). What are her strengths and flaws, dreams and duties? What makes her feel alive? Why? 

Liz: She is very caring and giving. She always brings flowers to those who are sick or sad. She can be a little overbearing, and some don’t like or understand why she always quotes Shakespeare. Her dream is to be a postmistress in a bigger town. Being able to help others, to bring them joy, is what makes her feel alive. She does it because it also brings her joy. And whatever you do to the least of these my brothers, you do to me. A rough paraphrase of Matthew 25:40.

Alexis: Why did Len’s mentor from seminary warn him to not become romantically involved with any of the young women in his congregation that he leads? 

Liz: I’m a PK (pastor’s kid), so I know the behind-the-scenes workings of a pastor’s life. I can only imagine if a pastor became involved with someone from his congregation, the tongues would wag. And if the relationship ended, it could cause great difficulty for that pastor, and perhaps even division in the church. While I’ve never heard of a pastor warned against this, and in fact have known pastors who have married members of their congregation, I could imagine a well-meaning older pastor giving a younger man this type of advice. 

Alexis: How does Len’s desire to not become “entangled” affect his relationship with and growing attraction to Cora? 

Liz: He is struggling to take this advice despite his growing feelings. He respects his mentor, and wants to follow what he says, but begins to wonder if it really was the best advice. 

Alexis: What role does faith in God play in this story and how did your position as a woman of faith affect your storytelling? 

Liz: The theme of the book is trusting God to work things out. Faith is woven throughout the story. Both of the main characters are Christians all the way throughout, but they grow in their faith over the course of the story. Just as faith is part of my every day life, so it is for my characters. 

Alexis: Why did you title this story, “A Match Made in Heaven”? 

Liz: Of course, there is the saying that a couple is a match made in heaven. Because Len is a pastor, and because the theme is trusting God to work things out, I thought it was a fun title that played to what the book was about. 

Alexis: If you were Cora’s mentor, what would you advise her concerning her feelings for Len and his position as a single pastor of a church? 

Liz: I would advise her to be prudent and act cautiously so as to not get the gossips going. I would tell her to take her time to get to know him and to not flaunt the relationship, especially in the beginning. 

Alexis: What about writing this story brought the most joy to your heart? 

Liz: I had so much fun with the Shakespeare quotes. Even though I studied him in college, there were sayings that I didn’t realize were his. I had just finished writing an intense WWII book when this opportunity came along, so it was nice to write something lighthearted. 

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most from this book? 

Liz: That you might have a plan in mind, but God might have a different one. And His plan is always best. 

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Liz! Do you have any final comments? 

Liz: Thank you so much for having me. These were great questions that I enjoyed answering!

~*~
Author bio: 

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels and prairie romance novellas. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their two daughters. 

She enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her blog, The Story behind the Story, at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

She is also a regular contributor to the Pencildancer blog and the Midwest Almanac blog.

~*~
Blurb for Liz's story, "A Match Made in Heaven": Pastor Len Montgomery receives an unusual letter from an Omaha farmer that turns him into the matchmaker he never wanted to be. 

But the match he most wants to make, the one with the town’s sweet, charming, and Shakespeare-quoting postmistress, may be out of his reach.

~*~
Read Liz's story when you buy the book, "The Matchmaker Brides Collection":
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Christianbook.com

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14 Days of Sweet Stories: Root Beer & Roadblocks story by Susan M. Baganz

Interview with Susan M. Baganz, author of Root Beer & Roadblocks:

Alexis: What makes your new novel an inspirational romance?

Susan: My characters believe in Christ and struggle with trusting Him through difficult circumstances…and of course, they fall in love! 

Alexis: Root Beer & Roadblocks is the fourth book in your series. What is the name of your series? Are the characters in each book connected somehow? Explain.

Susan: I call it the Orchard Hill Romances because the characters are all tied to a fictional church called Orchard Hill. Characters from previous books do make appearances in subsequent novels as needed. Sometimes they go to DeLuca’s Cucina and see Tony (Pesto & Potholes) or bump into Stephanie (Pesto & Potholes and Salsa & Speedbumps) or if they need an attorney, Roberto might appear (Salsa & Speed Bumps). Sometimes a secondary character introduced in one novel might become the main character of the next as is the case with Root Beer & Roadblocks. Johnny was Nikolos’s cousin and best friend in Feta & Freeway. Pastor Dan Wink who comes and goes through these novels has his own story releasing later this year called Bratwurst & Bridges. 

Alexis: How did you think of the title for your story, Root Beer & Roadblocks? 

Susan: The series started with Pesto & Potholes which as a metaphor for the journey my characters take. I’ve continued with the food/road theme combo as metaphors for every journey since then which has been a fun challenge. Up until this story, there had been an ethnic component but I dropped it for Johnny’s story and went American. Root Beer is mentioned in the story but the roadblock is the return of his cancer which could be a barrier to his happily-ever-after. 

Alexis: How does your story’s title relate to the journey of your main characters?

Susan: In Feta & Freeways it was revealed that Johnny had been diagnosed with cancer at the same time his wife divorced him. This was years before the story began. He’d recovered and the band started touring again. At the end of Feta & Freeways, Johnny announced that his cancer had returned. That’s when I knew he needed his own happily-ever-after story and came up with Root Beer & Roadblocks. 

Alexis: Your book touches on a very real-life issue: what to do with a dream deferred and trusting God to give you something better. How did you create this core conflict for your story? Which one of your characters is dealing with this issue and why?

Susan: Johnny Marshall, my main character in Root Beer & Roadblocks, had always wanted a big family. In the previous book, he revealed that not only had he lost that dream when his wife left him, but his cancer treatment had left him unable to have children. He adores kids and helps out in children’s ministry at church when he’s not on the road with the band. In writing his story I wanted to give Johnny more than he bargained for. Yes, his journey is hard and painful (as cancer treatment can be) which raises up in him a sense of hopelessness. What was left for him? What was the point in fighting this battle which as going to be far worse than the first one. He’d lost his dream of love and having a family and achieved all his professional goals. What was left? It was fun giving him more than he’d dreamed possible. 

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s hero Johnny Marshall. What is he like? Describe his looks, personality, and heart.

Susan: Johnny Marshall is based on a real-life person, Johnny Philippidis from the band Burlap to Cashmere. He inspired this story (and Feta & Freeways). He knows about the book although his health crisis was much different and I have no idea what his love life is like.

My fictional Johnny is a skinny guy with a little to no hair on his head and sometimes facial hair. He plays electric guitar and sings harmonies with his cousin and best friend. He’s typically and upbeat person but also quite humble about his giftedness. He’s secure in his faith and identity and maybe a little too self-sufficient. But like many of us, when life knocks us down repeatedly, he struggles to rise and is forced to rely on others to help him through.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine Katie. What is she like? Describe her looks, personality, and heart.

Susan: Katie has been swayed by her parents throughout her life. They were well-to-do financially and didn’t want her marrying a lousy musician. She bowed to their wishes and left Johnny behind after high school, going away to college to become a nurse.

Katie is compassionate, probably necessary as she works as a nurse. She has straight dark brown hair, cut kind of in a longer bob and parted at the side. She really makes some hard choices in the story that put her at odds with the old wishes of her parents and her brother to follow the path she believes God is leading her on.

Alexis: Why did Katie break Johnny’s heart? 

Susan: She left him after high school. Not a word. No letter, no phone call. Her parents didn’t forward his many letters which led Katie to believe Johnny had abandoned her. Johnny loved her and had wanted to marry her. He’d even designed a wedding ring for her which he kept all those years. 

Alexis: Now that Katie and Johnny’s paths connected again, is there hope for love restored? Why or why not?

Susan: There’s always hope but there are roadblocks to the happiness of both Johnny and Katie. It is a romance after all. 

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about your story? Why?

Susan: Life is hard and it can be filled with pain and dark days, but God has given us the gift of His presence as well as the body of Christ to help us through. In the midst of pain that sometimes seems like it will never end, God often has something good for us on the other side that we can’t even imagine. Maybe that will be heaven for some, but we shouldn’t lose hope. John Piper says that God is doing 10,000 things behind the scenes on our behalf but we might only see three of them. It’s hard to have that longer view.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Susan! Take care and God bless you. 

Susan: Thank you for having me here! God’s blessings to you and your readers.

~*~
Author bio:

Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. 

Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.

Susan speaks, teaches and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness.

She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church. Her favorite pastimes are lazy ones—snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.

~*~

Blurb for Root Beer & Roadblocks:

When God strips away all your hopes and dreams could you trust Him to give you something better? 

Johnny Marshall’s cancer is back . . . and so is the girl who broke his heart seven years ago. As Johnny struggles to find the will to live and fights his second round with the disease, he finds hope comes in small packages with an energetic little boy named David.

Years ago, Katie abandoned the one man she ever loved, having bought into her parents’ narrow views of finding a man worthy of her. In all those years, no one ever compared to Johnny. Now as a single mom of a young boy, she wonders if their reunion is right on time or is it too late for a future together?

~*~
Connect with Susan:
Website - www.susanbaganz.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/susanbaganz
Facebook - www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/silygoos/

~*~
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