Tag: Inspirational fiction

A New Book! By Me!

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

Isn’t she beautiful? This is my upcoming release, written with New York Times bestselling author, Rachel Hauck.

ONE FINE DAY releases May 24th, 2022.

A second chance for a first love…

Chloe Beason LaRue left Hearts Bend after high school, determined to never look back. She shed her unrequited crush on Sam Hardy, moved to Paris, went to pastry school, found a good job, fell in love, and got married. She was happy in France. Then her husband tragically died. Now, Chloe just wants to move forward…but when her mom’s health is in jeopardy, Chloe heads right back to Hearts Bend where she’s hired as head baker for Haven’s, the premier bakery in town. She has no idea that moving home will push her right into the arms of the man who broke her heart.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Sam Hardy has left Hearts Bend and not looked back. He has too many broken memories. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, he desperately needs to invest in something to safeguard his future. Haven’s Bakery is up for sale—and his business partner believes the deal is too good to pass up. He has no idea that the owners have hired the one girl he can’t seem to forget…and the last thing he expects is to be her boss.

Back in Hearts Bend for the first time in ten years and thrown together at Haven’s Bakery, Chloe and Sam have a second chance at first love. Indeed, the more time Sam spends selling donuts, the more he sees a new future. But when Paris beckons Chloe back, where does her heart belong? Can they find the recipe for leaving regrets behind and start something new?

Escape to Hearts Bend for a sweet story of romance, faith, and an unexpected happy ending.

Pre-order links: https://books2read.com/heartsbendonefineday

Book Talk Tuesday: HANGING BY A MOMENT

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

I’m so excited! It’s time to go back to Deep Haven, Minnesota with Andrea Christianson and Susan May Warren.

Hangin’ By a Moment is a story of second chances and of choosing to move past fears and trusting again.

Jack made some mistakes but he’s ready to embrace a new life in Deep Haven and put the past behind him. Unfortunately, the past seems determined to follow him.

Colleen Decker grew up in Deep Haven and left it behind. But when fear chases her home again, she finds the time-out she needs.

Jack is a former pararescue jumper and Colleen is a trauma nurse. They work together to help the newly formed Deep Haven Crisis Response Team. As they grow closer, they realize they each have secrets they need to share and issues they need to deal with.

I enjoyed this entry in the Deep Haven collection a lot. We met Colleen Decker in Susie’s previous book, YOU DON’T KNOW ME, so we know a bit of Colleen’s back story and why she ran from Deep Haven. Jack’s secret involves prison time for a mistake he deeply regrets. He knows it could have been much worse, but he still has a hard time forgiving himself and letting it go. It doesn’t help that it seems no one else will let it go, either.

I like how the authors showed Jack’s and Colleen’s journeys from broken people to healed and whole. The plot and characters grew organically. At times, Colleen’s assumptions about Jack seemed a bit misguided or naïve, but that’s a small quibble.

I highly recommend this book!

I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher. This did not induce me to write a review, favorable or otherwise.

Book Talk Tuesday: A Noble Masquerade

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

I told a friend that this was a great book. I’m not known to exaggerate, so she picked it up for herself. I’m waiting to hear what she thinks, because I loved it, but I could be a tiny bit biased.

A NOBLE MASQUERADE by Kristi Ann Hunter is a excellent book. I’m busy enough between writing and reading for pleasure and for reviews that I don’t often read series books anymore. I just don’t have the time. But I will look for the next in Kristi Ann’s Hawthorne House series.

A Noble Masquerade
A Noble Masquerade

Lady Miranda is puzzled by the … interest she is experiencing in her brother’s new valet, Marlowe. She’s about to embark on her fourth season in society, and is likely to remain a spinster since she refuses to marry a man who is interested only in the advancement his connection to Miranda’s brother, the Duke, can bring.

Marlowe is irritated that his attraction to Lady Miranda is distracting him from his purpose in her brother’s home: finding the spy who is selling England’s secrets to France. He’s been absent from British society for a reason and he’s not quite ready to resume his place, until this final job is done and done right.

Both Miranda and Marlowe are intriguing and compelling characters. I loved them both separately and together.

The spying subplot was a bit disappointing. I expected the culprit to be one of the main characters. That would have upped the emotional stakes for Miranda, Marlowe, and for the reader. I won’t give away the guilty party, though, so you can judge for yourself. I could be wrong.

Overall, I loved the book and the romance and will definitely buy the next one in the series. I’m looking forward to reading Miranda’s brothers’ and sister’s stories.

———————–

Kristi Ann is a writer acquaintance and a 2014 Golden Heart® Dreamweaver sister. I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House for review purposes. I’ve been honest in my review.

Spotlight Thursday: Piper Huguley

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous18 Comments

 

We’re visiting every week with some of my fellow Golden Heart ® finalists.

PperToday I’m pleased to introduce you to Piper Huguley from Georgia.

Welcome, Piper! Tell me about your GH Finalist manuscript. Is this your first time entering/finaling?

A Virtuous Ruby is the first book in my “Migrations of the Heart” series. These books are historical romances about five African American sisters who journey from the south to the north between 1915-1936 during The Great Migration. Each sister leaves home for love or finds love when she arrives at her destination–my hometown of Pittsburgh. Ruby is the oldest sister. A Champion’s Heart, the fourth book in the series, was nominated for the Golden Heart in the Historical Romance category. That book is about the baby sister, Cordelia.

Sounds fascinating! Best of luck to you, although since we’re in the Inspirational category, I should probably wish you God’s blessings!

Now for the really important question: chocolate or peanut butter?

I see where I’m supposed to say both, so I guess I will. Primarily in the form of Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs or whatever holiday shape the candy takes: pumpkins, trees, valentines. Now there won’t be anymore until Sept. 1….*sniff*

I’m so with you on that one! I love all the Reese’s products. Anyway, what’s your day job?

I’m an English professor at Spelman College. And no, there is no summer off this year.

Tell me a bit about yourself. Family, hobbies, etc.

I am married and I am the mother of one child–a man-sized 12-year-old boy child with size 14 feet. Besides reading and writing (my son believes I collect books as a hobby), I love taking my son places and exploring the world through his eyes.

Yes, I tell my husband all the time, “Not needing another book is no reason not to buy one!” Speaking of books, who are your favorite authors?

For what I call my “work people” I read Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Langston Hughes. I also like Theodore Dreiser and Jhumpa Lahiri. For my “pleasure reading,” I enjoy Siri Mitchell, Serena Miller, LaVryle Spencer, Philippa Gregory and Beverly Jenkins.

Best vacation spot? Wherever I can discover unknown history. That is the most fun for me.

Are you coming to San Antonio this summer and what are you looking forward to most? What are you wearing to the awards banquet?

Yes, I am coming and combining it with our family vacation so we will all be there. I’m looking forward to spending some time with my family and seeing my author friends, old and new. It’s going to be exciting. When I was shopping for conference clothes last year, I found a black and white colorblock dress on the clearance rack and I bought it, thinking that I might need it sometime. It turned out that now was the time!

That’s awesome! I love those little serendipity moments in life. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

I don’t usually do nature, but… I like those Spanish moss trees in Savannah with all of the moss hanging from them. Those trees have always fascinated me.

What did you do/think when you got “the call” on March 26th?

I was ready to hunker down and see who made it in the Inspirational category. I had put in two entries to help keep the category open. However, I had also personally asked a number of people to enter to help the category stay open since it had been cancelled last year. I wanted to see which one of them would be nominated. I saw a FB friend had been nominated in Romantic Suspense and I was in the middle of sending her congrats, when my phone rang with a strange area code. I thought, “That can’t be for me.” But it was on my phone! I was shocked because my Ruby has been around the block more than a couple of times. I didn’t think that story would be nominated, but it was!

Congratulations! What are you currently working on?

I am preparing my novel The Preacher’s Promise for self-publication at the end of July. The prequel novella, The Lawyer’s Luck will be published on July 1.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond Carrie!

Thanks for stopping by, Piper!

You can find Piper online at:

Twitter: @writerpiper
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/piperghuguley
Blog: http://piperhuguley.com