The Story Behind "The View from Coral Cove" by Amy Clipston

Today we have a special guest! Meet my author friend Amy Clipston. She's the author of The View from Coral Cove and she's here today to not only tell the story behind her story but to give away a signed, paperback copy! Read her guest post below for details. 

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The Story Behind The View from Coral Cove by Amy Clipston

The View from Coral Cove is my second contemporary romance book, and I’m excited for readers to get to know the main characters—Maya, Brody, and Ashlyn.

This book takes places goat a fictional North Carolina beach town named Coral Cove. I was first inspired to write it in June 2020 when my husband, Joe, and I took a day trip to the North Carolina coast on our anniversary.

It was the start of the pandemic, and Joe and I wanted to get away for the day. We got in our car and just drove to the beach. After spending some time at Oak Island, we decided to just drive and we spotted signs for Southport, NC—a town we hadn’t ever visited in the past. It’s located on a waterfront that is the mouth of Cape Fear. Later, I learned a few movies were filmed there.

As we drove into town, I immediately fell in love with it. Southport has a small town feel with streets lined with cute little stores—antique shops, cafes, a toy and candy shop, clothing stores, jewelry stores, restaurants—as well as beautiful historic homes. Joe and I found a place to park and then walked around the town. Since we are antique store fanatics, we took our time wandering through all of the amazing shops.

Joe and I ate lunch at a restaurant named Oliver’s, which is located on the waterfront, and as I looked out over the sound, I thought, “I need to write a beach book!” After we ate, we walked along the waterfront, strolled out onto a pier, and I took in the town and felt more and more inspired.

At that time, I had a contract for three standalone contemporary romances with my publisher, HarperCollins Christian, and the first book, The Heart of Splendid Lake, was already written. I had set The Heart of Splendid Lake at a fictional North Carolina lake.

I have always enjoyed the beach since I was a little girl when my parents and I would take day trips to Jones Beach on Long Island. I also lived in Virginia Beach, Va., for 15 years. My first “date” with my husband consisted of driving around Sandbridge Beach and discussing which of the oceanfront homes were our favorites. Joe and I also enjoyed taking day trips to the Outer Banks, where we would drive out on Oregon Inlet and spend the day.

My love for the beach and my discovery of Southport inspired me to brainstorm a contemporary romance plot. Not long after our trip to Southport, I had a brainstorming session with my editor, and we kicked around ideas for my book. My editor suggested that my main character would move to the beach after inheriting a house, and I suggested that my hero be a single dad who works as a veterinarian.

After our phone call, I took those ideas and ran with them. Soon my heroine, Maya, who inherited her great-aunt’s toy store, came to life in my mind. And Brody, the hero, was a veterinarian and a single father who also runs a cat rescue in memory of his mother.

The town of Coral Cove encompasses everything I love about the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, and Southport. Coral Cove includes the small-town feel of Southport with the stores and restaurants. It also has a sound side without the waves as well as the ocean side with the waves and the beautiful oceanfront houses, which is similar to The Outer Banks.

I hope readers enjoy visiting Coral Cove as well as getting to know my characters who live there.

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Author Bio:

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. 

She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. 

Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and six spoiled-rotten cats.

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Blurb for Amy’s book:

When a jilted romance novelist returns to the small beach town she once loved, she discovers not only inspiration but also a romance to call her own. 

Maya Reynolds is recently single after her fiancé chose to move to Europe without her. She's struggling with her heartache-along with her latest novel-when she learns she's inherited her great-aunt Cecelia's store in the small town of Coral Cove, North Carolina.

As Maya arrives and begins combing through her beloved aunt's belongings, long-held secrets from her family's past come to light. Soon Maya is questioning fundamental beliefs about who she is and the people she has always loved.

While working in the shop one day, Maya meets Brody Tanner-the town's local veterinarian. It's clear the handsome vet has some secrets of his own, but Maya cannot help but be intrigued by him and the spunky child she believes to be his daughter.

As Maya works to make ends meet, she and Brody grow ever closer. But will the pasts they're hiding from each other get in the way of a future together?

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Connect with Amy:
Facebook Page: facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks/
Instagram: instagram.com/amy_clipston/
Twitter: twitter.com/AmyClipston
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/2765728.Amy_Clipston
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/amy-clipston
Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyclipston/
Website: https://amyclipston.com
Online bookstore: https://amyclipston.com/shop/

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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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The Story Behind "What Remains True" (novel) by Nancy Naigle

Dear Reader friends,

Today, we're featuring my author friend Nancy Naigle and her NEW novel that releases today (May 3, 2022)!

Join me in wishing Nancy a "Happy BOOK Birthday" by leaving a comment for her at the end of this guest blog post.

Nancy is here today with the story behind her story and she's hosting a book giveaway! The winner will receive a signed, paperback copy of her featured novel. 

Enjoy!

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Story Behind the Story of What Remains True by Nancy Naigle:

Hey y’all! Nancy Naigle here, writing from my back porch in Patrick Springs, VA with a beautiful view of No Business Mountain. I’m so excited about my newest book release, What Remains True.

Just look at that cover! Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s even prettier in person. The blue is a warm, washed denim color which is just perfect with a rugged cowboy hero and a back drop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In 2019, I released a novel titled Christmas Angels set in the fictional mountain town of Antler Creek, North Carolina. A beautiful setting along the barn quilt trail, the story had a cast of neighbors and merchants that absolutely stuck with me. I found readers loved it too, and so I was so excited when I had the chance to return to Antler Creek in this book written for WaterBrook Press.

I’ve been a long-time rodeo fan, traveling as far as Vegas to catch events including the National Final Rodeo for years. The sport is fast and exciting, and sometimes scary too. It’s so much easier to watch if you don’t have a personal relationship with someone out there competing! It’s also no secret that I had never ridden a horse until I was 52, but I fell in love with trail riding and the beauty of this world from the saddle—taking it all in from between the ears of a horse.

Those two things had me dreaming up a smart, competitive cowboy who is laser-focused on winning the national title this year. He’s not just a rugged cowboy though. This guy is smart, educated, has long-term goals and even bakes a mean strawberry pie. Sounds perfect, right? Well, he has his troubles too, and he and his parents have been estranged since he chose rodeo over the medical career he’d gone to college for to appease his father. Pair this “I only have eyes for rodeo” guy with a gal who is fresh out of a divorce from a husband who is bellyaching over his alimony check, and we have two people who have anything but love on their minds for sure.

Of course, life is always changing and these two are in for some interesting challenges along the way, but they have a wonderful community and friends around them to keep them on the road. I just love that about Antler Creek.

Fans of Christmas Angels will be delighted to see that Krissy, owner of Hardy House: Fine Linens & Gifts on Main Street, is back and we get to know her better in this book. Maizey is still doling out unsolicited advice at the Creekside Café, and Matt and Liz are still cozy at Angels Rest and doing up parties that the whole town gathers for too.

I found so much joy writing this story and the growth that both Adam and Merry Anna go through is beautiful. I can’t wait for you to join me in Antler Creek, and I hope you’ll let me know what you think after you read it, and I’d love to hear your ideas for another visit back.

I’m beginning to think of Antler Creek as my annual time-share vacation resort.

Join me!

Hop over to my website www.nancynaigle.com to sign up for my newsletter for updates about new books, sales, and the new movies on the way too! 

Visit www.nancynaigle.com/whatremainstrue today and read the first chapter of What Remains True FREE and download lots of fun goodies like bookmarks, barn quilts to color and even jigsaw puzzles and a word search.

Hugs and Happy Reading!

Love,

Nancy

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Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. 

She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career as an SVP for Bank of America and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm.

Now enjoying an early retirement from the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, trail riding on her Palomino, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home.

Nancy's 2021 release of The Shell Collector debuted in the top #20 on the ECPA Bestseller list.

Several of Nancy's books have inspired made-for-television movies. Watch Christmas Joy, Sand Dollar Cove and The Secret Ingredient on the Hallmark Channel and Hope at Christmas on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Nancy wrote the novelization for the first three Hallmark Original Movies in the popular Christmas in Evergreen series too.

Sign up for Nancy's newsletter to stay up-to-date on everything going on with her story worlds.

Nancy also enjoys collaborating with other authors on projects like her humorous women's fiction, Seasoned Southern Sleuths Cozy Mysteries previously known as The Granny Series co-written with Kelsey Browning. Honey, these are not your momma's grannies.

Stay in touch with Nancy through social media and her newsletter.

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Blurb for Nancy’s book, What Remains True:

An uplifting novel about three months that may change three lives—and lead to love—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle. 

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek?

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care.

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too.

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Buy Nancy’s book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, indieBound, GooglePlay, iBooks, Kobo or Audible

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Connect with Nancy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyNaigle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancynaigle/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancynaigle/

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*United States of America Residents ONLY may 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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14 Days of Love: The Key to Love

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Betsy St. Amant.

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Book Blurb for The Key to Love:

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas.

She never expects it to go viral—or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery.

He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn't always look the way we expect—and maybe that's a good thing.

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Author Bio:

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over fifteen inspirational romance novels and novellas.

 

She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two total opposite young daughters, a collection of coffee mugs, and one fur-toddler in the form of a mini-Schnauzer.

Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a cold brew with vanilla cold foam.

She blogs frequently at www.ibelieve.com, a devotional site for women.

Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com.

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Buy Betsy’s book on Amazon, Baker Book House or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Betsy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetsySt.Amant
Twitter: https://twitter.com/betsystamant

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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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14 Days of Love: When It Storms

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Lisa M. Prysock.

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Book Blurb for When It Storms:

When C.E.O. Alexander Brantley hires a public relations specialist from Glitter, Ltd. to do media damage control for Seventh Floor, Inc. after a fashion disaster involving one of his company’s designs, he has no idea his former teen crush is at the helm of the reputable firm.  

Glamorous, breathtaking, and all grown up, Jane Sheldon—the former girl next door—is taking on the assignment personally. Can he keep her safe in the midst of his storm? Dare he trust her with classified information when other matters begin to spiral out of control, submerging them into turmoil, and putting them on the run for their lives?

Jane returns to England on her private corporate jet, anxious to see Alex again after so many years, but all sorts of things have begun to go wrong. Their lives are constantly in danger. It appears as if someone wants them dead—but whom?

Get your copy of this sweet and clean, inspirational, faith-filled, Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense novella today! Easily read as a stand-alone.

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Author Bio:

Lisa M. Prysock is a USA Today Bestselling, Award-Winning Author of Contemporary and Historical Christian Romance. 

She resides in a rural area near Louisville, Kentucky with her husband of 24 years. Empty nesters, they are reclaiming the household when she isn’t writing the next novel. 

She loves touring historical sites, all things old-fashioned, sketching, and cross-stitching. 

She tries to work out on a regular basis—sometimes an epic fail—and attempting new recipes. 

Lisa loves sharing her faith in Jesus through her writing.

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Buy Lisa's book on Amazon

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Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.LisaPrysock.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaMPrysock
Lisa’s Reader Group, The Royal Riders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/500592113747995
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LPrysock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LisaPrysock

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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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14 Days of Love: Her Next Dance

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Susan C. Fischer.

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Book Blurb for Her Next Dance:

Outspoken attorney and single mother, Lauren Miller, is trying hard to earn a living in a firm where her boss takes over her cases and has no respect for her.  

Her only escape is in taking dance lessons with single dad dance instructor, Marco Gonzalez. 

Although she senses a possible attraction to Marco, she struggles to trust him, remembering her ex-fiancé who abandoned her. 

Will Lauren and Marco's passion for dance turn their friendship into love?

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Author Bio:

Susan Fischer is an author, Christian Mediator, and speaker. 

She leads a worship service in her community and is active in several other ministries and groups.

Susan has a Juris Doctor degree from Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law) and has practiced law in both Michigan and Florida for over 30 years.

She has a son and daughter in law who live up north and she currently resides in Bradenton, Florida, near a dance studio and her favorite beach.

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Buy Susan's book on Amazon

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Connect with Susan:
Website: www.susanfischer.org
Email: info@susanfischer.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.fischer.7186
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susancfischer

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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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14 Days of Love: The Practical Pretender by Danni Roan

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Danni Roan.

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Book Blurb for The Practical Pretender:

Penelope Pembroke is a no-nonsense businesswoman whose only indulgence is the Book Club where she revels in the chance to let her hair down and gush about her modern-cowboy dreams.

  

When a purple haired matchmaker starts making waves in Penelope's safe haven, she is convinced that the woman is milking the Book Club as a publicity stunt. Even after seeing one of her fellow club members disappear, allegedly into her own happily-ever-after, Penelope can't believe that she could actually be whisked away into her dream romance.

Dewis Faremore is desperate to save his ranch. He's been fighting alone for years to turn the place around and keep his step-brothers from selling, but only one thing can preserve his heritage and home. Dewis needs a wife or at least a fiancee to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

When a pretty stranger in a smart business suit drops almost at his feet can Dewis persuade her to help him out or will her lack of faith in a matchmaker turned fairy godmother leave him nothing to call his own?

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Author Bio:

Danni Roan, a Christian author, has always been a storyteller and that unique talent has translated well into the western romance genre. 

Danni’s characters are real, genuine and come alive on the page. To date, Danni has two western romance series, The Cattleman’s Daughters and Tales from Biders Clump, as well as several stand-alone novellas in the Strong Hearts: Open Spirits group. Danni has also participated in several multi-author projects including Whispers in Wyoming (a Christian Contemporary Western Romance series) and the much anticipated Alphabet Mail-Order Brides series. 

Danni has Bachelors of Missiology and a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Danni has taught English and ESL, for over fifteen years both overseas and at home in the United States. These skills and her experience with people from all over the world have given a special flavor to her writing which only adds to the authenticity of her characters. 

Danni lives with her every-day-hero of more than twenty-seven years in a thirty-six-foot camper that they are using to tour the United States, adding new life to the setting and drama of her books. She is very proud of their son who is studying at the University of Florida. You can follow Danni’s adventures on her blog as well as reading about them in her work. 

Danni is a member of the Pioneer Hearts Authors and Readers group on Facebook and loves working with and interacting with so many talented friends. She has made lasting connections and feels that she is a part of something bigger than herself. 

Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Danni feels a connection to the land and loved riding over the verdant hills of western PA on horseback throughout her youth.

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Buy Danni's book on Amazon

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Connect with Danni:
Website: https://www.authordanniroan.com/
Blog: https://www.authordanniroan.com/blog-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dannisdreamers

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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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14 Days of Love: The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend Amy Clipston.

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Book Blurb for The Heart of Splendid Lake:

Bestselling author Amy Clipston transports readers to a picturesque lakeside town in this heartwarming contemporary romance. 

Brianna is the youngest of the three Porter sisters and the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an expert boat mechanic, helping him run their small resort with cabin rentals, a convenience store, and a marina.

When Brianna’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson.

As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake.

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Author Bio:

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. 

She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories.

She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.

Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and six spoiled rotten cats.

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Buy Amy’s book via her online bookstore

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Connect with Amy:
Facebook: facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks/
Instagram: instagram.com/amy_clipston/
Twitter: twitter.com/AmyClipston
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/2765728.Amy_Clipston
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/amy-clipston
Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyclipston/
Website: AmyClipston.com

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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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Stories of Love: 12 Christmas Romances (Introduction post)

Dear Blog Readers,

I'd like to introduce you to a NEW Christmas holiday book series to be featured on my blog next month! 

"Stories of Love: 12 Christmas Romances" is a 12-day series that will start on Dec. 1 and end on Dec. 12, 2021. 

Each day, a Christmas holiday book written by one of my author friends, will be featured here on my blog! 

Here's where it gets extra special: Each of the featured authors have agreed to give away one signed, paperback copy of their book to the winner of their book giveaway contest that will be hosted via Rafflecopter. If you're one of the winners then you should have the book in your hands before Christmas Eve!

I hope that you will enjoy "meeting" these authors and falling in love with their beautiful stories!

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA

Founder of "God is Love" blog

Romantic Reads: The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston

Interview with Amy Clipston about her book, 

The Heart of Splendid Lake

Congratulations on the release of your new novel today! Happy BOOK Birthday to The Heart of Splendid Lake! Let’s talk about it …

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Amy: I enjoy reading contemporary romance novels, and I wanted to try to write my own. I came up with the idea for The Heart of Splendid Lake, and my agent and I pitched it to my publisher. I’m so grateful for the chance to share this story, which is very close to my heart.

Alexis: How did you dream up these characters? Did you use real-life people/movie stars as inspiration?

Amy: A few characters were inspired by people in my life, and some of the names are also special as well. As for Scott Gibson, the real estate mogul, he is loosely based on Jack Gibson, my favorite character on the television show “Station 19.” Some of Scott’s backstory is based on Jack’s on the show, but I’m not going to give that away. For Brianna, I imagined actress Olivia Holt, and for her fiancé, Taylor Reese, I envisioned Alberto Frezza, who also is an actor from “Station 19.”

Alexis: What was the most challenging part of writing this story?

Amy: It was nerve wracking to venture out of Amish fiction, the genre I’ve known and loved for so long. Amish fiction is comfortable for me, and I had to challenge myself to try something new. I learned a lot from writing this book, and I believe it has helped me grow as a writer.

Writing contemporary romance is much different from writing about the Amish, which means I had to think about romance from a different perspective. In an Amish book, holding hands on the porch and watching a sunset is romantic, but in a contemporary book, a romantic scene can take place in a hundred different places. I know what I love about contemporary romance books and movies, so I did my best to channel that into my book. I went through some tough edits, but I’m happy with how the book turned out. I can’t wait to see what readers think.

Alexis: Describe the lakeside town setting of this story. What makes it special to your main characters?

Amy: Splendid Lake is a fictional town set in the mountains of North Carolina near Asheville, but in my head I see Schroon Lake, which is a real lake located in the Adirondacks of New York. I spent many summer vacations at Schroon Lake as a child. I remember swimming in the lake, shopping in the little downtown area, and going to the one-screen movie theater. I based the shopping area in Splendid Lake on the little town of Schroon Lake as well and incorporated some of my favorite stores there—the year-round Christmas shop and other little gift shops, an ice cream parlor, and a mini-golf course.

My main characters love the little town, and it’s home to Brianna. It’s where she was born and raised as well as where she wants to stay. She loves the lake and the cherished memories it holds for her.

Alexis: Brianna is the heroine of your story. Tell me about this character. What does she look/sound/act like? What are her hopes and dreams? What is her greatest fear and most troubling flaw?

Amy: I imagine Olivia Holt as Brianna. She has blonde hair and brown eyes, and she is petite. She rarely wears makeup, and she’s most comfortable in casual clothing. Her favorite outfit includes jeans, purple western boots, and a purple hoodie. She sometimes wears a baseball cap emblazoned with a Mustang logo. She enjoys working on boats, and she also has an appreciation for cars. Her hopes and dreams are to settle down at Splendid Lake and keep running the Splendid Lake Cabins and Marina resort, which is her family’s legacy. Her greatest fear is losing her family, and her most troubling flaw is stubbornness and having difficulty asking for help.

Alexis: Why does Brianna choose to stay in the town of Splendid Lake but her sisters choose to leave?

Amy: Brianna loves her lake and the family memories that she has created there. It’s truly her home, and she can’t see herself living anywhere else. She wants to keep the resort alive since it’s part of her family’s legacy.

Alexis: Being an expert boat mechanic is a unique role for a heroine! What made you decide to give her this profession and make her excellent in a trade that most people only think men do?

Amy: To be honest, I chose to make her a boat mechanic in order to create a unique heroine. While Brianna can rebuild a boat engine and work on her Mustang, she also has a feminine side. I wanted to write a memorable heroine who has many layers.

Also, I live in a house with two car mechanics and a third in the making, so I’ve grown accustomed to car talk. I thought it would be fun to have a heroine and hero bond over cars. In fact, I had a lot of fun writing about cars. I asked my older son to choose Scott’s cars, and he told me two of his dream cars. I included many car references, and some of the cars mentioned in the book are vehicles we have owned. And for extra fun, I included a true story about one of my husband’s old Gremlins. Also, Brianna’s dream car is my dream car, but readers will have to check out the book to find out what it is.

Alexis: What does Brianna love most about her home, the resort she runs, and her profession?

Amy: Brianna loves her lake and the family memories it holds for her. It’s truly her home, and she can’t imagine living anywhere else. She enjoys working with her hands and being out in her father’s shop. She appreciates that the resort has been passed down through her family. It’s her dream to spend the rest her life there, running the resort and raising a family.

Alexis: Brianna’s father dies unexpectedly and that sends Brianna into depression. Was she a Daddy’s Girl? Describe her bond with her father and tell me what they shared in common.

Amy: Brianna was not only a Daddy’s Girl, but she also had a special bond with her father. Brianna was more interested in following her father out to his shop than helping her mother in the kitchen. She considered her father one of her best friends, and they talked about everything.

Alexis: How does Brianna’s relationship with her father affect how she relates to men? Does she want to marry a man like her dad? Explain.

Amy: Brianna admires her father and she wants to marry someone like him—loving, easy to talk to, respectful to women, encouraging, hardworking, caring, and thoughtful. Her father always told her that she could do anything she set her mind her—especially when it came to being a mechanic. He told her to never let anyone tell her that she wasn’t capable because she was a woman, and those are words she lives by. She often hears his encouraging voice in her mind when she faces a problem.

Alexis: Scott Gibson is the hero of your story. Tell me about his character. What does he look/sound/act like? What are his greatest strengths and worse weaknesses? What are his dreams for his life?

Amy: Oh, I love Scott! In my mind I imagine Grey Damon, who plays Jack Gibson on my favorite show, “Station 19.” He’s tall and has thick, light-brown hair and baby-blue eyes. He’s thoughtful, trusting, and giving—almost to a fault. His strengths are that he’s hardworking and has a great business sense. He and his best friend built their own commercial real estate firm. His weakness is an occasional internal battle with low self-esteem, despite all of his accomplishments. He dreams of having a family of his own since he had a tough upbringing, but I don’t want to give away too much of his backstory.

Alexis: Why did you choose to make Scott’s profession that of being a real estate broker? What does he love about his job and how does his work play a role in this story?

Amy: I made Scott a real estate broker so that he would have an interest in the resort and also sort of be Brianna’s adversary since he wants to buy it. His interest in the resort and his background working in construction brings Scott and Brianna together but also gives her a reason to not completely trust his intentions. Scott loves his job because he not only built his own company, but he also has a stable income, which was his dream after his tough upbringing.

Alexis: What are Brianna’s first thoughts about Scott other than how handsome he is?

Amy: When Brianna first meets him in the Scott in the bookstore (literally bumps into him), she’s at first embarrassed, but she’s captivated by his sense of humor and their easy banter. Not only do they have an instant attraction, but they seem to just click. She would never dream of cheating on Taylor, her fiancé, but she also enjoys her short conversation with Scott. She’s intrigued by him.

Alexis: What was Scott’s first impression of Brianna? Why?

Amy: Scott also felt the same connection to Brianna that she felt toward him when they first met. He’s not only struck by how attractive she is but also by how they immediately began teasing each other. Scott, however, noticed her engagement ring, and he knew she was off-limits. At the same time, he also didn’t forget her. He recognized her when he met her again on the beach, and he wanted to know more about her.

Alexis: What is it about Brianna that makes Scott want to pursue her and win her heart?

Amy: Scott is immediately drawn to Brianna. However, he’s aware that she’s engaged and respects that. He would never dream of trying to come between her and her fiancé, Taylor, but he almost can’t stop his heart from longing for her. He enjoys their playful banter that comes naturally to them. He also is intrigued by her mechanical abilities and love of cars, which they bond over. Scott feels comfortable with her, and their conversations come easily. He believes that Taylor doesn’t treat her the way she deserves to be treated, but he tries to keep his opinions to himself.

Alexis: What is it about Scott that makes Brianna want to explore a relationship with him?

Amy: Scott calms her, but she doesn’t realize it until late in the story. When he sits quietly with her on the beach in Chapter 1, she almost instantly calms down. His presence is a balm to her soul during many of her tough times in the book. He also listens to her and offers her help, even when she insists she’s doing just fine by herself. He seems to know what she needs without her having to ask. She also enjoys his sense of humor, their fun conversations, and his love of super-cool cars. And he’s also really handsome, which doesn’t hurt!

Alexis: What brings Scott and Brianna together and what threatens to drive them apart?

Amy: They are brought together by the resort as they work together to get it ready for the summer season, and they are driven apart by Brianna’s loyalty to Taylor. Their doubts about their feelings for each other and how they could possibly make a relationship work is another roadblock. Scott also doesn’t believe he’s good enough for Brianna, and Brianna sometimes wonders if his intentions are true or if he’s only helping her to get the resort.

Alexis: What does Brianna’s fiancé think of Scott? How does he feel about this competition?

Amy: Oh, poor Taylor! He immediately feels threatened by Scott the first time he meets him and from then on, he can’t stand the sight of him. Taylor is furious every time he finds Scott at the resort, but at the same time, he’s never around when Brianna needs him.

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

Amy: I hope readers find that The Heart of Splendid Lake is a wholesome, inspiring story about family and finding strength through tough times. I hope readers find solace and encouragement in the book.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Amy! Do you have closing comments?

Amy: Thank you so much for hosting me on your awesome blog! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get to know you and also to share my book with your readers.

~*~
Author Bio:

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing “career” began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories.

She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America.

Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte (NC) and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and six spoiled rotten cats.

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Book purchase links for The Heart of Splendid Lake can be found on Amy’s website: https://amyclipston.com/books/the-heart-of-splendid-lake/

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The Heart of Splendid Lake book blurb:

Bestselling author Amy Clipston transports readers to a picturesque lakeside town in this heartwarming contemporary romance. 

Brianna is the youngest of the three Porter sisters and the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an expert boat mechanic, helping him run their small resort with cabin rentals, a convenience store, and a marina.

When Brianna’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson.

As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake.

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Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_clipston/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyClipston
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2765728.Amy_Clipston
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-clipston
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyclipston/
Website: www.AmyClipston.com
Online bookstore: www.gumroad.com/amyclipston

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Romantic Reads: Chasing Her Dream

The Story Behind Jennifer Slattery’s story Chasing Her Dream:

In the spring of 2019, landowners across Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota experienced perhaps the worst devastation of their lives. Ranches that had been in their families for generations, destroyed. Cattle swept away. Homes desolated. Decades of investments, consumed, leaving many wondering if they’d find the resources to rebuild.

But as hard as all that was to see, those things aren’t what stand out most in my mind. When I think back on the floods, I most remember the every day heroes that stood beside their neighbors. The hours upon hours that volunteers invested, digging through the rubble, praying with the hurting, or simply sitting beside them as they processed it all.

During times of crisis, that’s often when the best of humanity rises up to offer a hand, a kind word, a gentle smile. To offer themselves.

That was the spirit I wanted to capture, and perhaps even inspire, in my latest novel, Chasing Her Dream. I wrote the first draft while parts of my state remained inundated, while articles still circulated of extreme kindness and generosity. Of community members shouldering one another’s burdens in tangible, memorable ways.

I wanted to portray, and perhaps even inspire, that depth of care in my latest novel, Chasing Her Dream. Through the sacrificial actions of Rheanna Stone, the single mom who opens her already struggling Texas ranch to a large number of abused and neglected horses. Through Dave Brewster who risks losing his flooded Wyoming ranch aside to help her. And through the community that sacrificially and steadfastly come alongside them.

Demonstrating the beauty and healing that can occur when we seek to love one another.

We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “It takes a village.” Admirable words, right? Inspiring?

But may that catchy slogan do more than inspire. May it motivate and mobilize us all to find little ways to spread joy, offer a hand, and be the friend that our neighbors, coworkers, and fellow residents need.

And I’m speaking to myself here, because it’s all too easy for me to remain tucked in my office, oblivious to the world, the struggle, occurring without me. I experience joy and intense fulfillment, however, and the pleasure of God, when I widen my view.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and international speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. 

She’s the author of six contemporary novels maintains a devotional blog found at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.

She 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 partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

She is also the host of the podcast Faith Over Fear, which you can listen to at LifeAudio.com.

~*~
Blurb for Jennifer's book, Chasing Her Dream:  

She needs his help…

But can she trust him again?

After she inherits her uncle’s mismanaged ranch, single mom Rheanna Stone’s not sure she can also handle saving abused horses from a nearby property. 

So when rancher Dave Brewster offers to stay in town to help, she can’t say no—even if he left her once before. 

As they grow closer, old secrets are uncovered…but can they heal past heartbreak to give themselves a new beginning?

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Buy Jennifer's book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target or Walmart

Romantic Reads: Husband Auditions

The Story behind the story Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

To my husband’s great relief every time he hears me mention my next novel, I’m not actually holding Husband Auditions. It’s just the title of my book.

I got the idea for this story from a popular article that was making the rounds on social media a couple years ago. It included a list of ways to attract a husband in the 1950s. Ideas included everything from crying softly in a corner to painting your phone number on your roof for pilots to dial. I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if a modern-day woman decided to try this list out.

I took the article to a writer’s conference and invited others to help me brainstorm. Peter Leavell, being a history professor, was particularly intrigued by the suggestion of carrying a hatbox around. He said, “Ooh…a hatbox.” To which I responded, “Only you, Peter.” And thus I had to make him a character in my book.

The story revolves around Meri Newberg being the last of her friends to get married, which means she inherited her best friend’s magazine list at her wedding. Meri’s then forced to move into her brother’s house since she’d been roommates with her best friend, but she’s in a funk and feeling like a failure.

Kai Kamaka, her brother’s roommate, is a cameraman for the local news and has no ambition to get married, but he does want to get hired to work on a local television show for which he needs a demo reel. He sees Meri’s list as an opportunity to start a YouTube show and thus make a name for himself. He’s the last man she’s looking for, but as he films “Meri Me” and becomes her new best friend, she starts to wonder if he would ever change.

My author friends and I couldn’t help laughing as we plotted, which is how I knew the book was going to be a romantic comedy, but I also wanted it to have a strong message about healthy relationships.

I’d just recently read a self-help book called The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick, which talks about seven heart issues that create dysfunction. One of those issues is laziness. This is something I’ve seen many women deal with in our society—they have husbands who don’t want to get up off the couch to help out. The men are likable and have redeeming qualities that made their wife fall in love with them, but the wife didn’t realize how hard their marriage is going to be when she has to do all the work. I wanted to offer some insight to women dealing with this since you don’t see lazy heroes in most books.

Enter Kai. He’s lazy but lovable. One of my pre-readers even labeled him in their “top five” list of heroes, while another one said, “He’s perfect because he’s different.” My publisher was actually worried about this at first. They made me give him more redeeming qualities in the beginning so readers wouldn’t be disgusted and put the book down. Apparently, it worked.

The story practically wrote itself. And the end is what one endorser calls, “Better than an easy happily-ever-after.”

Life can be happy even when it’s not easy. Really, it’s all the characters’ challenging and embarrassing moments that make the story fun for us. Then seeing them overcome their challenges can help us overcome our own.

My own challenge is that I was diagnosed with cancer before I sold this book to a publisher. Through my chemotherapy, I didn’t have the energy to write anything new, so I thought about this book. I imagined the different scenes and dreamed of the opportunity to share it with you. The fact that you are reading this article means my dream is coming true.

I’m also cancer free now, though I did have to go in for another surgery recently. Thankfully, my husband is taking good care of me. Had I ever actually held my own husband auditions, he would have been the clear winner.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. 

Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about.

Her books have since earned Top Pick in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky just filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. She also writes nonfiction for SpiritLed Woman.

To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

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Blurb for Husband Auditions:

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding—a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"—she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love—Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

~*~

Buy Angela's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Angela:
Website: www.angelaruthstrong.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ang_strong/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-ruth-strong
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4746114.Angela_Ruth_Strong

Romantic Reads: Until June

The Story Behind Until June by Barbara M. Britton

Over the years, I have heard authors say that they were writing the book of their heart. I didn’t understand that terminology until I wrote Until June. I’m known for writing Biblical Fiction, so why should I release a WWI Historical? Throughout my life, God was preparing me to write Geoff and Josephine’s story.

Veterans hold a special place in my heart. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the Vietnam War. I remember the conflict from television and the conflict from growing up in the home of the Hippies. I thought it was sad that men who had fought in battle had to come home and not debrief from their memories. Many soldiers had to hide their service in Vietnam. We understand now that many servicemen and women experience post-traumatic stress disorder and need to talk about what happened during their time of service.

Fast forward a few decades. My family and I were on an Alaskan cruise excursion outside of Juneau, Alaska. We visited the Taku Glacier Lodge and heard how a WWI veteran and his caregiver had lived at the lodge. In winter, the Taku River would freeze, and the man and his caregiver would be shut off from society. A man and a woman alone in a lodge? Seems isolating, but perhaps the veteran liked the solitude. Characters and a storyline began to develop in my mind.

I wrote Until June about a severely injured veteran and an inexperienced caregiver residing in a remote lodge due to the severity of the veteran’s wounds and the pandemic of 1918. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish my story. I continued writing other stories—stories from the Bible—and forgot about my Historical.

One day, my son texted me that someone had “stolen my story.” No writer wants to get a text like this one. My son had seen a movie trailer for “Me Before You.” The movie was about a quadriplegic man and his caregiver who happen to fall in love. Yes, this was the same trope as my Historical. When I read the blurb to “Me Before You,” I discovered the ending was nothing like my book. My character, Geoff Chambers, overcomes his hardships and disabilities from war and grabs hold of life again. The character in “Me Before You” (Spoiler Alert) chooses to end his life even though he has fallen in love with his caregiver.

Was it time to see if my caregiver-trope story would be accepted by a publisher and show readers that no matter how hard life gets, it is always worth living? Would I be able to show readers the honesty of a veteran’s struggles? Or that caregiving is a rewarding, yet a draining task? Could two people who needed healing find it in God and help each other along the way?

Eleven years after I began writing about Geoff Chambers and Josephine Nimetz, their story saw the light of day. Pelican Book Group published Until June in June of 2020—during a pandemic.

Each new day is a blessing from God. Geoff and Josephine grab hold of that realization after a little conflict and tension, and a lot of love from an author.

~*~
Author Bio:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. 

She is published in Biblical Fiction and loves bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Her WWI Historical Until June released in 2020.

Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

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Book blurb for Until June:

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge to escape the influenza of 1918, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran, Geoff Chambers.

Geoff makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the “runt” sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted amputee, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively. Though, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

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Buy Barbara’s book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Barbara:
Website: www.barbarambritton.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14983213.Barbara_M_Britton
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/barbara-m-britton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-M-Britton-173432342754243/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraMBritton

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Romantic Reads: Heartfelt Romance

The Story behind the Heartfelt Romance stories 

Runaway Romance and Follow Your Heart by Miralee Ferrell

A number of years ago, my editor with Summerside contacted me, saying they were in desperate need of a book set in Sundance, Wyoming, for their Love Finds You line, and asked if I had sold one that I’d written yet. I said no, but my agent was shopping it as a three-book series.

Long story short, their contracted author had some kind of setback, and she was unable to fulfill the contract and turn in the book on time. They offered it to me, but at a lower rate than I or my agent wanted to accept. Finally, I reluctantly decided to move forward and give up my plan of using it as the first book in a new series. After all, I’d first written it thinking it might be a good fit for the LFY line.

The book was published in the late summer of 2011, a very fast turnaround time. A couple of years later, I got word that a Hollywood production company had optioned several of the LFY titles, including mine set in Sundance. Three Love Finds You movies were made and aired on the UP Channel over the next two years, but nothing more was said about Sundance.

Then, in 2015, I received an email from Chevonne, the associate producer who had made those movies, followed by a phone call. Imagine my surprise when she asked if I’d be willing to write a book for them. They were no longer producing the Love Finds You books into movies and were working on a totally different project for UP, a possible three-movie series, and she hoped I might be able to work with them. As anyone would be, I was curious as to why she’d chosen me. 

Chevonne explained that she’d optioned Sundance two or three years earlier and loved it. Of the thirty-five or so titles she’d read of the line, that was her favorite. However, UP didn’t want to make historical or Old West movies, so she’d had to shelve it.

During that time period, I’d gotten my rights back to all of my LFY books and had retitled them Finding Love in Last Chance, California; Finding Love in Tombstone, Arizona; and Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon. Love Finds You in Sundance became Outlaw Angel, and all four are still in print.

Here’s the amazing part: I came very, very close to turning down that contract offer with Summerside for Sundance. I was disappointed in the advance and royalty rate, and shortly after they released it, they sold the line to Guideposts, and that company didn’t continue the line much longer. Understandably, sales waned on their final releases. I was disappointed with my sales from that final book as all three of my others had done quite well.

For a long time, I wished I hadn’t taken that contract and held out for one with another company for a three-book series. However, had I done that, I doubt Runaway Romance or From the Heart would ever have been written. It was Sundance that grabbed Chevonne’s attention and caused her to contact me.

Since then, I’ve been blessed to get to meet Chevonne and her husband George (the producer) a couple of times, and we’ve developed a friendship. We chat often on the phone or email, and I’ve been able to help brainstorm several projects. Right now, we have three movies that have been filmed, and two of them, From the Heart (aired on Hallmark in early 2021) and Finding Love in Mountainview (based on the book Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon) will release later this year on Hallmark as well.

I am currently working on Finding Love in San Antonio, only I’m writing that one with a good friend and new co-author, Kimberly Rose Johnson, for possible release with Hallmark in 2022.

God has indeed blessed me, and He’s allowed me to learn so much that I didn’t know about the movie industry—it’s a ton of work, it moves very slowly, but it contains wonderful people who I’ve loved getting to know.

~*~
Author Bio:

Miralee Ferrell is a traditionally published, award-winning, best-selling author of 25 books.

  

Her most recent novel, From the Heart, released in October 2020 as an ebook/and print and on The Hallmark Channel. She is the owner and publisher at Mountain Brook Ink, as well as the speculative line, Mountain Brook Fire, a traditional house in business since January 2014.

She is also the lead acquisition editor at MBI and loves encouraging debut authors. Miralee lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two black cats, sixteen chickens, and one very spoiled little dog.

~*~
Blurb for Runaway Romance:

When a reality TV star meets the reality of life, will it be her downfall or her salvation? 

Ann Stanway had it all—a starring role in a reality show, an adoring boyfriend, and a sparkling future with limitless possibilities. Until the rules changed and the life she’d thought was real no longer existed. Leaving L.A. seems like her only option, and she lands in Kentucky at a quiet Amish inn—as far removed from her past as possible. 

Now she knows what was missing in her life—peace, true friendship and, dare she hope, a man who accepts her for who she is—or at least who he thinks she is. 

Hunter Lewis is intrigued by the new woman staying at his friend’s Amish inn. 

Annie appears to be what she claims, but she’s secretive and won’t open up. He’s been burned by a woman before and can’t tolerate deception. But his interest in Annie is growing, and the attraction seems to be mutual—until something happens that makes Hunter question everything he’d thought was real. Dare he risk his heart, when he’s certain Annie is keeping secrets?

Can their new romance withstand the pressure, or will Ann choose to run again?

~*~
Buy Runaway Romance on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Blurb for Follow Your Heart:

Can they give first love a second chance? 

Kathy Yoder left her Amish community ten years ago and became a successful travel guide writer, which took her to exotic places around the globe. Her personal life includes a man back home who adores her and wants more than friendship, and a career she could only have dreamed of as an Amish teen. 

Everything seems great until a phone call comes out of the blue. The sister she hasn’t spoken to for years leaves a message telling her their father has died. The call comes too late, and Kathy missed the service—and it appears, her sister doesn’t intend to forgive her for that, or for leaving all those years ago.

Isaac Mast has never forgotten his first love, Katrina Yoder. When she comes back to settle her dad's affairs, he’s reminded of his life before Katrina left the Amish community. However, a lot has changed. He married, had a daughter, lost his wife, and his life moved on. He’s committed to his Amish community, but Katrina is an Englischer, with both feet firmly planted in the modern world.

When a revelation about Isaac comes to light, Kathy decides to take things into her own hands. Will her decision destroy even the friendship they once had, or possibly bring them together?

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Buy Follow Your Heart on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Miralee:
Website and newsletter signup: www.miraleeferrell.com
Facebook group: (20+) Miralee Ferrell Fan Group | Facebook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miraleeferrell
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MiraleeFerrell/