Romantic Reads: Heart's Desire

Interview with Linda Hoover about her book, Heart’s Desire:

Alexis: Why did you title this book “Heart’s Desire”? Explain the significance of your story title.

Linda: Early in the story, Julia tells her mother it’s her heart’s desire to marry for love. That struck me as the perfect title. The story is about her “heart’s desire.”

Alexis: Describe the heroine of your story (Julia). What makes her tick? What makes her beautiful? What makes her strong? What is her personality and outlook on life like?

Linda: Julia is youngest of four girls and a little spoiled. She’s intelligent, independent and a bit of a risk taker. She’s had more freedom in picking and choosing what gentleman she spends time with and if an offer of marriage came, her parents allowed her to turn it down. Because of this, she’s shocked when she’s informed of her father’s agreement to betroth her to Lucien.

Alexis: Why is Julia set on marrying for love and love alone?

Linda: Two of her sisters were maneuvered into advantageous marriages and neither is happy. Julia’s parents weren’t a love match and at times it’s obvious. Not to mention the examples she sees in their upper-class social circle. She doesn’t want to live like that.

Alexis: What is Julia’s relationship with her father like? In what ways does it threaten to place her in a love-less marriage?

Linda: Julia loves and admires her father. She’s always trusted in his protection and provision. His sudden decision to engage her to someone she doesn’t want is out of character for him. It’s confusing. She finds herself in a position where she’ll have to defy him or end up in a marriage like her sisters.

Alexis: Why did you choose to set this story in Boston, era 1880? Paint a picture of this time and setting with words.

Linda: I love history and Boston played a big part in our country’s beginnings. Beyond that, though, Boston in 1880 was full of things for young people to do. The story begins after the new year, so Julia and her friends bundle up and go sleighing, complete with sleigh bells, and spend time at the lagoon in the Public Garden ice skating. Julia and Jacob first see each other there. There are also lectures and concerts to attend in the evenings. All these things are open to everyone, regardless of social class. When the weather warms up, they go on picnics, walk in the park and ride the swan boats on the lagoon.

Alexis: Who is Lucien Harris and what role does he play in this story? How does he impact Julia’s life?

Linda: Lucien is the villain. He blackmails Julia’s father into giving his blessing on marriage to his daughter. Julia isn’t aware of the true circumstances and spends most of the time she’s with Lucien trying to change his mind. He represents the very thing she told herself would never happen to her.

Alexis: Who is Jacob Anderson and what role does he play in this story and in Julia’s life?

Linda: Jacob moved to Boston from a farm in upstate New York to work with his uncle in a jewelry store. He’s from the merchant class which makes him an unsuitable choice for Julia, but that doesn’t stop them from falling in love.

Alexis: What is it about Jacob that captivates Julia’s heart?

Linda: She would tell you it was love at first sight. A connection of hearts. Besides being handsome, he’s fun, gallant and caring. When she tells him about Lucien, he immediately wants to rescue her.

Alexis: What role does real-life faith in God play in the lives of your fictional characters?

Linda: Julia and her family go to church, but for most of the upper-class it had more to do with being seen going to church. Julia’s oldest sister meets someone who leads her to Christ and it makes a real difference in her life. She shares her experience with Julia and Jacob who also accept Christ.

Alexis: As the author, what brought you the most joy in writing this story? Why?

Linda: The characters were a lot of fun. One in particular, Edward, practically wrote himself. He’s not a main character, but is one of my favorites. I like putting them in situations they have to find their way out of and writing dialogue with sarcasm and humor.

Alexis: As the author, how does your faith in God impact the way you tell stories?

Linda: I pray daily that God will be the center of everything I do or say. For me that means the worlds I create are centered on God. My characters may not know him to begin with, or maybe they did and lost their way or are mad at him and feel justified in ignoring him, but before the story is over, they’ll come to know him and it’ll make a difference in their decisions and in the way their path ends up going.

Alexis: If you could step into this story (Heart’s Desire) and counsel Julia, what would you say? Why?

Linda: Being the author means I can speak through a character and that’s what I did with Katherine, Julia’s oldest sister. She shares her joy in finding new life in Christ and tells how he freed her from worry. Her faith in God’s presence and protection is strong and she encourages Julia, and later Jacob, to pray about everything, believing he hears and will answer according to what’s best for them. No matter what, they can trust him.

Alexis: As the author, what is your heart’s desire for the readers of this book?

Linda: I hope readers will be entertained by the story, but also be inspired to seek a closer commitment to God, or be encouraged to share their experience with someone who needs to hear what God can do.

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

Linda: I’d like to thank you, Alexis, for the privilege of being on your Romantic Reads blog. I enjoy the opportunity to reach potential new readers, and I’d like to invite everyone to stop by my website to learn more about me and my books.

~*~
Author Bio:

Linda lives in west central Ohio with her husband, daughters, grandson, two cats and a dog.  

She earned a degree in psychology from Anderson University where she learned the voices in her head were actually characters from stories waiting to be told.

Linda recently retired from the county’s public library system. It was the perfect place to indulge her love of young adult and Christian fiction. It was also a good place to build a long “To Read” list. These days she enjoys being a fulltime author in her home office, despite interruptions from family members and pets. Linda is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 

~*~

Blurb for Linda's book:

Julia wants to marry for love … But her father’s secret condemns her to a love-less marriage. 

In 1880 Boston, Julia Phillips’s father betroths her to wealthy Lucien Harris to cover up a tragic secret. She has no interest in Lucien, but Jacob Anderson, a kind jewelry store clerk has captured her attention. Can she put off Lucien long enough to convince her parents to accept a man who isn’t in the upper-class as her husband?

Jacob works with his uncle in Boston, but plans to buy land for a farm out west when he has enough money. When Julia walks into their store his priorities change. Their mutual attraction grows into love, and he wants to be the man she marries. But how can he with so little money?

Julia feels increasing pressure from Lucien to pretend she’s happy about the upcoming wedding. Then, she discovers the arranged marriage is based on blackmail. Her family will be ruined if she doesn’t comply.

Will God make a way for Jacob and Julia to have their heart’s desire?

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Buy Linda’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Linda:
Website: https://www.LindaHooverBooks.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/lindahooverauthor
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/lindahooverauthor

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:  

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Romantic Reads: Save the Last Dance

Welcome Susan C. Fischer to the blog! 

She's here today to share the story behind the heroine of her book,
Save the Last Dance.

Enjoy!

~*~

The Story Behind the Main Character of Save the Last Dance:

A guest post by Susan C. Fischer

In some way I identify with every character in my contemporary inspirational Christian Romance novels. I’ve written three novels so far, and there are bits of me and my personal experiences in all of them.

The main character in Save the Last Dance, Liz Everton, is a paralegal and one of the only female ranch owners in Florida. I’ve had readers tell me that she is the most likeable character in the first two novels (which centered on two other heroines) since she is a down to earth, intelligent, compassionate and loving individual with whom lots of women identify. She is in her 50’s, weighs a little more than she would like, and has problems learning to dance. Yet she takes lessons at a ballroom dance studio, anyway.

In Save the Last Dance, the prologue establishes that Liz has recently lost her father and is now living alone on their ranch. Her husband died ten years ago. However, I was determined not to focus on her grief or losses but on her resolution to live life going forward laughing and loving people as much as possible.

I know that everyone has had their share of grief and loss during this difficult time of fighting a pandemic while grieving those who have gone to glory, whether they are your family, friends, or lives which have been remembered in the recent protests in every state.

I fashioned the character of Liz to embody the strength and resilience that we all have deep inside which the Lord uses to help us endure the tribulations of this earthly life. Liz focuses on the future. She questions whether she should even be dating Pastor Isaiah Comstock, who lost his wife two years ago, due to his frequent remarks on their first date about his deceased wife. But Liz, being who she is, doesn’t stay silent and hurry to get away from him. She reprimands him on this weakness. Isaiah later regrets this and vows to change.

Liz embodies the philosophy I’ve followed in spite of many losses: to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10 (ESV), “…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” In addition, Jesus wants all of us to have our what we desire as long as we don’t lose our focus on him. According to Psalm 37:4 (ESV), “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

All of us endure loss in our lives. But we also need to remember to thank God for giving us the grace and strength to bounce back from personal losses and difficulties because we are not alone. He is always with us. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 28:20 (ESV), “…I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

~*~
Author Bio:

Susan C. Fischer is an author, Christian Mediator, and speaker with several ministries. 

She leads a Bible study group, is a member of the Order of the Daughters of the King, and is active in the Inner Healing Prayer Ministry. 

She obtained a Juris Doctor degree and has practiced Personal Injury Law in Michigan and Florida for over 30 years. 

She resides in Bradenton, Florida near a dance studio and her favorite beach.

~*~
Back Cover Blurb for Save the Last Dance:

Strong and confident, paralegal Liz Everton is one of the only female ranch owners in Florida.

Having been a widow for many years, she strives to live life to the fullest on her own. So why is she attracted to the minister of her small, community church?

Pastor Isaiah Comstock is a widower who is fascinated with Liz's wisdom and beauty. Being an introvert, he forces himself to interact with his parishioners and to go to ballroom dance classes where he may be able to dance with Liz. 

When a weather emergency forces them together, can he overcome his past mistakes and church gossip to turn their friendship into love?

~*~
Buy Save the Last Dance on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Susan:
Website: susanfischer.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanfischerbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susancfischer
E-mail: susanfischer.author@gmail.com

Interview with Melony Teague about her book "A Promise to Keep"

Interview with Melony Teague about her book A Promise to Keep:

Congrats on writing and publishing your debut book, A Promise to Keep! I thought it was a spectacular story, but that’s just my honest opinion! *wink* 

Let’s talk about it …

Alexis: When was this story created in your imagination? Tell me about your creative process.

Melony: I started writing the book in 2018. I wanted to write about a high school reunion and all the emotions that go with that, especially a 20-year reunion. Once I’d gotten past chapter three and got a sense of who the characters were, I fell in love with them. They pretty much took on a life of their own after that. Although I had a synopsis to start with, there were some surprises, and surprise characters that demanded an entrance along the way.

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Melony: I wrote this book because I wanted to be able to take people on a journey for a few hours – an escape from the messiness of life, if you will. And, in the process I hoped to write a story that would not only entertain but be meaningful.

Alexis: Tell me about the heroine of your story, Savannah Sanderson. What does she look like, sound like and act like? What are her primary passions in life?

Melony: Savannah Sanderson is a research librarian and she was born in South Africa, but is now living in the USA. So she has a South African accent (just like I do.) She has caramel colored, long hair and blue eyes. Her passions are books and reading. She hasn’t had much time for anything else since she has been a caregiver for so long.

Alexis: Tell me about the hero of your story, Michael McCann. What does he look like, sound like and act like? What – or who – is his greatest dream?

Melony: Michael McCann is a technical rescuer. He is tall, and has longish hair – just above his shoulders. He has blue eyes. Michael is, well, you’ll find out more when you read the book. And as for his greatest dream, well, you’ll also have to read the book for that, but here’s a hint: he thinks his dream is unattainable.

Alexis: Why doesn’t Savannah recognize Michael when she reunites with him right before their high school reunion, even after he clearly has not forgotten her?

Melony: Michael McCann is not the boy he used to be in high school, and most of us can relate to this. Life changes you and teaches you lessons, sometimes hard lessons. Michael is no different and he struggles with his “who I was then” and “who I am now” persona.

Alexis: What is it about Savannah that makes her completely unforgettable to Michael?

Melony: Michael and Savannah were close friends, so he remembers all the things he liked about her back when they were both teenagers. He remembers her quirky ways and her South African accent. He has to deal with some regrets from their past, and reconnect and rekindle their friendship. I love this line from Michael as he describes Savannah: “Women were generally confusing enough—but this was Savannah, who took confusing to a whole new level.”

Alexis: Why does Savannah prefer to escape into happily ever after fiction stories than face the real world and deal with people who don’t live in books?

Melony: Savannah, being widowed, is trying to protect her wounded heart and needs to grieve and heal. It’s understandable that she’d rather risk her heart on a fictional hero, rather than a real life one who might break her heart.

Alexis: What was your favorite scene to write in this story? Why?

Melony: Oh goodness, I had so much fun writing many of the scenes in A Promise to Keep, but I think the ones I loved the most is the ones with a certain character who likes to watch the weather channel and his spat with Donovan Radcliffe. I guess I had so much fun with it because both of these characters showed up and staked their claim. I like characters like that.

Alexis: If you could sit down with Savannah at your local coffee shop for a girl talk, how would you take your coffee and what would be the first topic of your conversation?

Melony: I actually prefer a latte, with a shot or two of espresso. No sugar. I rarely drink straight coffee. I’d chat to Savannah about books. We share a love of romance novels and the classics, so there would be much to talk about.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember the most about A Promise to Keep?

Melony: In A Promise to Keep, Michael McCann says this to Savannah: “The things in my life that bring regret are not so much things I did. More like things I didn’t do. Words I should have said. Moments I should have cherished. It’s funny, but in hindsight, I see them all clearly. It’s harder to recognize an opportunity you’re missing while you’re in it.”

We can all relate to this. It’s a reminder to us as readers to enjoy every moment and be present. Regrets are often about what we didn’t do as a result of fear or for other reasons. What hits home is the fact that we sometimes don’t see the opportunities right in front of us and we are always looking ahead, searching for that elusive thing that will make us happy. Sometimes, we already have it. I think we can learn from Michael’s mistakes.

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

Melony: In closing, I’d like to say thank you for hosting me here! I hope readers will be inspired when they read the book, and I look forward to hearing from readers.

~*~
About the Author:

Melony Teague writes contemporary romance with a dash of humor, she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words, and she believes everyone has a story to tell.

Melony is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the co-author of As the Ink Flows, a devotional for authors.

Her fiction debut, A Promise to Keep, releases on Jan 21, 2020.

Melony was born in South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her handsome husband, their two teenagers, and does the bidding of her two adorable cats.

~*~
About the Book:

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. 

But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the décor to do it.

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.

Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero? 

~*~
Buy Melony's book on Amazon 

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Connect with Melony:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melonyteague/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelonyTeague

12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways: Toni Shiloh's Christmas story

Let's welcome my author friend Toni Shiloh to the blog today!

She's here to give away a copy of her sweet holiday story, 

Deck the Shelves: A Heartfalls Romance.

I've read this book and must tell you that it's my absolute favorite 

holiday story written by Toni!

~*~

Meet Toni:

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. 

Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Virginia Chapter.

You can learn more on her website at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

~*~

Here's the blurb and cover for Toni's book, Deck the Shelves:

Kendall Jackson is the proud owner of Heartfalls’ bookstore, The Cozy Shelf. 

Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she’s missing that leading man. Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance—the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding. 

Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving. 

Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves?

~*~

Connect with Toni:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonishilohwrite

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gcMfqT

~*~

Enter this e-book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN Toni's book,

Deck the Shelves, by filling out the entry form on the

Rafflecopter widget below:

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12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways: Julie Lessman's Christmas stories

Let's welcome my author friend Julie Lessman to the blog!

She's our first guest for my blog's holiday series, "12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways" and she's certainly the most generous because she wants to give away a bundle of SIX e-books to EACH of the six winners of this book giveaway contest!

Enjoy this special treat because it's only happening once (the other authors are not giving away these many books but they are each giving away at least one, so stay tuned)!

Now let me tell you a little bit about Julie and her wonderful Christmas stories:

This is Julie:

Author Bio:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. 

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

 ~*~

These are Julie's books:

Book Blurb for A Light in the Window:

A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story (Award-winning Novel)

One Woman. Two Men.

One stirs her pulse, the other her faith.

But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy, a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues, catches the eye of two of Boston’s most notorious. Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are best friends with a bond like brothers … until they meet one woman neither can have.

Overseeing St. Mary’s Christmas play—A Light in the Window—Marcy wrestles with her attraction to both. But when disaster strikes, she’s destined to discover the play’s message firsthand. For although two men have professed their love, only one has responded to the light in the window.

Here's the video for A Light in the Window: http://bit.ly/1ROm4d6

~*~

Book Blurb for A Whisper of Hope:

A Whisper of Hope — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

She’s desperate for a baby.

He’s desperate for an empty nest.

Love is desperate to surprise them both.

With a husband dead set against adoption,

Charity O’Connor Dennehy has barely a whisper of hope

for more children. But if hope doesn’t disappoint …

will it be enough to find a precious bundle under her tree?

~*~

Book Blurb for The Best Gift of All:

The Best Gift of All — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series): 

She longs to be the perfect mother.

He just longs for his wife.

Until they receive ... the best gift of all.

Everyone knows Lizzie and John Brady have the perfect marriage.

But when Lizzie’s desire to be a good mother

eclipses her desire for her husband, the honeymoon is definitely over.

Can the spirit of Christmas heal their hearts when Lizzie gives John the best gift of all?

~*~

Book Blurb for A Dream Fulfilled:

A Dream Fulfilled — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

She’s always dreamed of a best friend.

He’s always dreamed of a large family.

Until hope intervenes with a dream fulfilled.

Katie O’Connor McGee learned early on not to let anyone get too close. Picked on mercilessly in school because of an unsightly handicap, she kept everyone at arm's length, including three big sisters seven to fourteen years older. As far as Katie was concerned, friends were meant to be restricted, not embraced.

But when she meets Arlene Campbell and her little girl, Addie, during playtime at a park with her own children, she discovers a friendship for which she’s waited a lifetime. A dream hidden deep in her soul she didn’t even know existed until she connected with a woman who would change her life forever, teaching her the depth and sacrifice of true friendship.

Luke McGee has dreamed of having a large family since he roamed the streets of Boston as a virtual orphan, finally finding a home—and his heart—in a marriage to Katie O’Connor and their two young girls. However, once Katie’s time and affection shifts toward a new friend who needs her, it creates turmoil in Luke’s happy home. It doesn’t help that as Director for the Boston Children’s Aid Society, Luke works long hours providing homes and hope for troubled children on the streets.

But when he reaches out to one hardened little boy, his hope to make a difference suddenly coincides with that of his wife’s, sowing the seeds of a dream fulfilled for them all.

~*~

Book Blurb for A Gift Like No Other:

A Gift Like No Other — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

Her dream is writing.

His is the perfect wife and mother.

Until God fulfills them both with a dream like no other.

Twelve years ago, Faith O’Connor happily gave up her dream as a copywriter to become a wife and mother, clinging to her husband’s promise she could return someday. But when the opportunity arises to write for the Boston Herald again two days a week, her dream hits a snag … along with her marriage.

To Collin McGuire, family is everything because he never really had one of his own. Raised by a father who died early and a mother who didn’t care, Collin is determined to give his children the very best with a full-time mother. But when he denies Faith her dream, he soon discovers he’s denied his own as well … until Christmas day brings a healing through a gift like no other.

~*~

Book Blurb for The Gift of Grace:

The Gift of Grace — A Frontier Christmas Novella (formerly part of the Cowboy Christmas Homecoming Collection):

She’s the Accident to His Prayers …

Pastor Cole McCabe isn’t sure he’ll survive the holidays

with his new housekeeper and nanny.

She’s caught fire to the kitchen, dyed his long johns pink,

and scorched nearly everything she cooks.

But he’s desperate, and she’s as destitute as they come.

Even though she’s no good with her hands,

Grace sure has a way with her heart.

She’s brought a warmth into Cole’s home,

added color to his daughters’ lives, and broken

down the wall he’s built up since his beloved wife died.

But when Grace’s past threatens Cole’s family,

she’s given one last chance to be home for Christmas ...

if she hasn’t burned it down yet.

~*~

Book Giveaway Details:

Enter this multiple book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a bundle of these books written by Julie Lessman, by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Interview with Melissa Tagg about her novel "Now and Then and Always"

Let's welcome my author friend Melissa Tagg to the blog and wish her a "Happy BOOK Birthday" because her NEW novel Now and Then and Always releases TODAY!

*Pause for cheers and congratulations!*

Isn't the cover of her new book gorgeous?

Today, you're in for a treat because we're going to learn so much about Melissa's new book via an author interview feature! 

Enjoy!

~*~

Interview with Melissa Tagg about NEW novel, 

Now and Then and Always (Maple Valley Book 1)

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book?

Melissa: I don’t know why, but when I first started thinking about this book (about three years ago, actually!) I was really intrigued at the thought of writing about a man who is incredibly broken, who has lost everything in his life. Which sounds incredibly melancholy, but really, it was so interesting for me to write because I kept thinking to myself, “What if I’d lost all that Marshall has lost? Would I fall apart, too? Would I lose my faith, too?” There’s even a spot where Marshall asks his sister if she could keep believing that God is good and that He loves her if she’d lost what he’s lost. And I was really asking myself that same question as I wrote it. Could I keep believing?

But on a lighter note, I also just had a huge hankering to return to Maple Valley! I’d sprinkled my previous Maple Valley stories with intriguing side characters and I just knew that one day they’d all need their own stories. Similarly, I first mentioned the Everwood B&B in my 2015 book, Like Never Before, and at the time I knew one day I’d circle back to it.

Alexis: Now and Then and Always is the first book in your Maple Valley series. What’s the focus of this new series? Briefly share story details.

Melissa: This new series is set in Maple Valley and it features a small group of tight-knit friends, most of whom are side characters from past books. Jenessa Bellville first appeared in Like Never Before (2015), Sam Ross first appeared in Keep Holding On (2016) and then again in All This Time (2017), and Lucas Danby first appeared in Keep Holding On.

Alexis: Let’s talk about the heroine of your story, Mara Bristol. What does she look and sound like? What is her greatest fear? What is her deepest dream? What or who makes her mad? What or who makes her happy? Explain.

Melissa: I’m going to let you discover some of these things through reading the book…for instance, I don’t want to tell you what her greatest fear is because that’s a big part of her story unfolding on the page. But I can tell you that she has something—or rather, someone—in her past that she fears. She’s also carrying around quite a bit of hurt and loneliness. She’s hungry to belong somewhere, to have a family even if it doesn’t look like a normal family. What makes her happy: cereal, the Everwood B&B…and Marshall.

Alexis: Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa sounds dreamy! Please describe the B&B and paint a picture of Maple Valley with your creative words.

Melissa: The Everwood B&B was first introduced in Like Never Before. It’s a sprawling and weathered Victorian house. But it’s also full of charm and personality. We’re going to see it come to life throughout this story...and discover its secrets. Maple Valley is a quirky small town, divided in half by a river that runs straight through the middle of town. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone…which can be hard for strangers to get used to, but more often than not, they end up falling in love with the place and the people who live there.

Alexis: Who is Lenora and what role does she play in this story?

Melissa: Lenora is the owner of the B&B. She took Mara under her wing months ago and invited her to stay and help run the place. You’ll discover she’s been gone for about five weeks at the beginning of the story. To learn more about where she is, you’ll have to read the book.

Alexis: Let’s talk about the hero of your story, Marshall Hawkins. What does he look and sound like? What is his worst weakness? What is his greatest strength? What or who brings him joy? What or who hurts his heart?

Melissa: Again, I’m not going to answer every question here because some of it, well, I want you to discover by reading the book! But some things you’ll find out right away about Marshall—he’s full of pain and he’s not handling it well. He’s lost his daughter, his marriage has ended, and he’s forced to take a personal leave at work. He’s in a dark, dark season…and yet, even in the early chapters, we’ll see little moments of light shining through. I adore the guy!

Alexis: Why does Marshall feel like his life is falling apart?

Melissa: As I noted above, he’s just lost so much—his daughter, his marriage, and his job, although that last one is only temporary. He’s lost his faith, too, and he hasn’t handled his pain well. He’s basically been living in a fog for about two years.

Alexis: What brings Marshall to Everwood and what compels him to stay at the B&B for more than one night?

Melissa: Marshall winds up at the Everwood on a stormy night. He pulls over in a storm while dealing with a migraine…he goes inside to escape the storm and also to make sure the people inside are safe. As for why he stays…you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Alexis: What do Mara and Marshall like – and dislike – about each other? Why?

Melissa: Mara loves Marshall’s dependability, his strength (which he can’t even see in himself), especially his kindness. Marshall senses a mystery in Mara and being the detective he is, he loves that. He also sees her desire to belong and to save the Everwood and he greatly admires that. They do have different ways of handling pain and making decisions and that causes them to clash sometimes.

Alexis: What role do faith, hope and love play in this story?

Melissa: You’ll see both Mara and Marshall deal with faith in different ways—for Mara, her faith is really only a surface thing at the beginning of the story. For Marshall, he was once a man of deep convictions and belief but he lost that right alongside everything else two years ago. Marshall, especially, doesn’t really understand how to hope anymore…but he starts to get glimpses of what his life could be throughout this story. And love…well, this is a romance. So it plays a big role.

Alexis: What’s your favorite scene in this story and how fun was it for you as the author to create it?

Melissa: Truly, my very favorite scene is the prologue where Marshall first arrives at the Everwood and realizes it looks exactly like a picture he’s been carrying around in his pocket for two years. I wrote that scene way back in early 2018 after a long period of not writing. And then in the rest of 2018, I didn’t write much at all due to my big move and house renovation. But I kept coming back to those prologue paragraphs and rereading them and telling myself that someday I’d find time to write this story. I feel like those opening paragraphs kept giving me hope for the rest of the story.

A couple other favorite scenes include Mara and Marshall’s meet-cute and the final scene in the last chapter…and the epilogue, too, because it sets up future books.

Alexis: If you could take a trip with Mara and Marshall, where would you go? Why?

Melissa: Maple Valley! But since Maple Valley doesn’t exist, I think the three of us would have a blast traveling to the Smokey Mountains.

Alexis: Now for the quick questions! Answer in italics.

What’s your favorite color? 

Blue or green

Who are your favorite authors? 

Lori Benton, Joanne Bischof, and most recently, Amanda Dykes

What’s one book that you simply cannot live without? 

The Lady & The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

What is your favorite season? 

Autumn

Where is your favorite vacation spot? 

Anywhere my family is! But also, I love the Carolinas.

How do you take your coffee? 

Black!

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

Melissa: Thanks for having me! Can’t wait to get this book into readers’ hands. It’s a huge piece of my heart on the page, so it means the world to me when readers take the time to dive into one of my stories.

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Author Bio:

Melissa Tagg is the award-winning author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. She's a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl. 

Melissa's recent releases include a 2018 ACFW Carol Award Winner (One Enchanted Noel), an RT Book Reviews TOP PICK (All This Time) and a Publishers Weekly Spring Top Ten Pick (Like Never Before).

Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women's retreats. When she's not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever--not that she's biased--watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

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Book Blurb for Now and Then and Always:

“It was just a house. Just a weathered old house in a hidden grove, shuttered and still.”

Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known.

Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in.

Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.

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Buy Melissa’s book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Melissa:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaTagg/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/melissatagg/
Website – http://www.melissatagg.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Melissa_Tagg

When Love Inspires: Belle's story

When Love Inspires: Belle's story

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer.

I was the little girl who grew up across the street from a public library and devoured books as fast as I could check them out with my library card. I still can recall that exhilarating feeling as I dove into a Nancy Drew mystery or one of my favorites, Little Women. As a teenager, I fell in love with romance novels. I think the idea of happily ever afters made me feel as if all was right in the world. As an adult, I realize that’s not always the case. We live in a world where there is pain, sickness, suffering, war, poverty and so many more issues that aren’t uplifting.

Although I write in the inspirational market, my books also qualify as sweet romances.

As a writer, I can create a sense of peace and love. 

The world that my characters inhabit is a world that I create, so I have the power to incorporate all the characteristics that are important to me.

Writing sweet romance allows me to create happy endings in a world where happiness doesn’t always triumph over the bad things. It’s really gratifying when I received correspondence from a reader who lets me know that my book helped them through a hard time or gave them a heartwarming feeling when they read my words. It lets me know that the path I’ve taken is the right one.

I also enjoy writing romances where the characters respond to each other on an emotional level rather than one of physicality. Of course attraction is important, and I make a point to portray the chemistry between the hero and the heroine. But for me, I enjoy the sweet heat level. I actually think it’s harder to write a romance where the couples aren’t intimate because the intimacy has to be portrayed through dialogue and experiences, as well as the intensity of the characters. You have to build a bridge between your characters and increase the depth of their connection.

I love the idea that a teenager (much like my teenaged self) can pick up a sweet romance and read it without being subjected to overtly sexual content or material that is way over their heads. That means the world to me. They can still get a romantic read without squirming or feeling as if they’re reading something they shouldn’t be! When you write sweet romance there’s a promise that the content will be appropriate for teenagers and above.

When I attended an event at my daughter’s school she introduced me to a new friend and unbeknownst to me, my daughter had given her a book of mine to read. It was wonderful to hear from the young lady about how she loved the book and enjoyed reading heartwarming love stories.

Writing sweet romance is perfect for me since I love creating emotional reads that leave the reader feeling as if they’ve been on an uplifting journey with the characters. I feel very fortunate each and every day to be able to send these stories out into the world.

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Author Bio:

Belle Calhoune is a Publisher’s Weekly Best-selling author and a member of the RWA Honor Roll. 

She grew up in a small town in Massachusetts as one of five children. 

Although her mother was a doctor and her father a biologist, Belle never gravitated toward science. Growing up across the street from a public library was a huge influence on her life and fueled her love of romance novels. 

Belle is the author of ten Harlequin Love Inspired novels with four more contracted. She has indie-published the popular and best-selling inspirational romance series "Seven Brides, Seven Brothers." She was the first author to create a diverse Christian romance series. The Secrets of Savannah and Pelican Bay are both spin-offs of her debut series. 

Belle loves writing romance and crafting happily ever afters. When she’s not wrangling her two high maintenance dogs or spending time with her husband and two daughters, Belle enjoys travel and exploring new places. 

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Blurb for Belle's book:

Back in Love, Alaska, Joshua Ransom comes face-to-face with ex-fiancée Honor Prescott.

A single dad of an infant daughter, Joshua’s no longer the reckless cowboy who broke Honor’s heart. 

But discovering he’s selling his late grandfather’s land to developers puts them at odds. With the Diamond R’s fate unclear, so is their future. 

Will this second chance lead to Joshua being one of Love’s Alaskan Grooms?

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Connect with Belle:
Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Twitter and Website

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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