Saturday, April 4, 2026

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Book: Petticoat Ranch

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 10, 2026

From beloved author Mary Connealy comes a delightful Western adventure brimming with danger, laughter, and unexpected romance—a tale of a resourceful widow, a rugged cowboy, and the ready-made family that will steal his heart. Perfect for fans of Tracie Peterson and Karen Witemeyer.

Sophie Edwards has survived two years in the Texas wilderness with four daughters and her wits. When a stranger falls injured near her hidden cabin during a thunderstorm, she discovers he’s the spitting image of her late husband—because Clay McClellen is her husband’s twin brother, a man who never knew his brother existed.

Clay came to Texas seeking justice for his brother’s murder. What he finds instead is a ready-made family, a rundown ranch, and a fiercely independent woman who doesn’t need rescuing—even when danger comes calling. Sophie may have pulled him from a flooded creek, but Clay is determined to be the protector she deserves, whether she wants one or not.

As vigilantes close in and old enemies resurface, Clay and Sophie must learn to trust each other and God’s plan. But can a mountain man used to solitude embrace life with four talkative daughters? And can Sophie open her guarded heart to love again—especially when the man looks exactly like the husband who broke it?

A heartwarming tale of second chances, faith, and finding love in the untamed West.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

More from Mary

Petticoat Ranch is my husband’s story.

My husband is a cowboy…or rather he’s a Nebraska cattleman. Our ‘horse’ though we used to have horses, is now a pick-up truck and a four-wheeled rig that can crawl all over rugged land.

My Cowboy grew up in a family of seven sons.

His mom was about the coolest, nicest lady ever born…a living embodiment of ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.’ She could tell stories of chaos and mayhem for HOURS and just laugh. I loved her.

Then I married My Cowboy and we had FOUR DAUGHTERS.

My husband spent his whole life confused.

And example of a usual conversation:

My Cowboy: Why won’t they stop crying!?

Why won’t they stop giggling?

Why won’t they stop TALKING?

Me: Um, cuz they’re girls?

He was constantly befuddled. He loved them (still does) so madly but they did NOT make sense to him.

That’s Petticoat Ranch.

A mountain man comes to find his brother’s wife…his brother died and he’s come to ‘rescue’ them. Except they’re unbelievable tough and competent and, well, maybe they could use a little rescuing, life is tough in Texas for a widow and her four children and, in a weak moment, she agrees to marry this man who looks EXACTLY like her husband. A man she never knew existed.

And there they are. Her and her four tough Texas daughters.

Him who’s pretty much never seen a woman in his life, and certainly not a CHILD.

Now they’re married about twenty-four hours after she found out he existed…and they have to figure out how to get along.

I try really hard to thread that needle where a man is befuddled by a woman…but he’s not stupid. A woman is exasperated by a man…but she’s got a good heart.

I shove them together…and leave them to try and get along. If someone is trying to kill them, or steal their ranch, or whatever horrible outlaw is in the book, that adds to the fun.

I shove them together and then leave them to figure out how to get along.

I love Petticoat Ranch. I’ve done this kind of book many times, the mountain man who’s never been around women. The feisty lady rancher who’s used to being in charge. And never did I find that sweet spot quite as well as I did in Petticoat Ranch.

One of my very favorite books.

Ah, tough, self-sufficient Sophie. She really can use the help and he really does look exactly like her dead husband.

Ah, confused but definitely attracted Clay. He’s trying to take care of her and take charge…and she’s not cooperating.

She was definitely in charge when his brother was alive…he was kinda cranky and inept. Why won’t Clay just let her run things?

All those tough little Texas cowgirl daughters who can’t quite figure out if this is they’re pa, given back to them by God…or if this is some new guy that they are desperate to make love them, when their real pa was so desperate to have sons.

I love that Wild Heart Books is re-releasing Petticoat Ranch.

Thank you Wild Heart for giving it another chance at life.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 24

Texas Book-aholic, March 25

Holly’s Book Corner, March 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 26

Jodie Wolfe, March 27

For Him and My Family, March 27

Devoted To Hope, March 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 29

Book Holds and Jello Molds, March 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts , March 30

She Lives To Read, March 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 31

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 1

Vicky Sluiter, April 2

Sydney Schmied Books, April 2

Cover Lover Book Review, April 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4

Labor Not in Vain , April 5

Stories By Gina, April 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/0Pzml/petticoat-ranch-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Petticoat Ranch starts off the first book from Mary Connealy's Lassoed in Texas series. When I am looking for a fun and heartwarming read, Mary Connealy is my go to author. Petticoat Ranch was just what I was looking for. I adored the story between Clay and Sophie. The two had great chemistry and it was delight to see the two interact with one another. I loved this adventure and taking this journey with them.

Petticoat Ranch will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read sweet and clean historical fiction. I look forward to the next installment from the Lassoed in Texas series.

I received a digital copy of Mary Connealy's Petticoat Ranch from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Spotlight Book Tour and Giveaway: Her Own Legacy, Book 1 of the Chateau de Verzat Series by Debra Borchert

Book Details:

Book Title:  Her Own Legacy, Book 1 of the Chateau de Verzat Series by Debra Borchert
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 870 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Le Vin Press
Release date:   Sep 2022
Tour dates: Mar 13 to Apr 3, 2026
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: No explicit sex scenes or bad language, but one of the main characters is illegitimate. Violence of the French Revolution included, but no gore.

Book Description:

A captivating tale of courage, betrayal, and resilience set against the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution

To save her world, she must risk losing it.

Chateau Verzat’s vineyards have sustained generations, but ancient laws forbid unmarried women from inheriting land. Countess Joliette de Verzat secretly manages her estate, haunted by the fear of losing everything for herself and her people.

Revolution erupts, chaos descends. She risks her life to save her forbidden lover amidst the turmoil and flees to Paris where she uncovers a shocking truth: her illegitimate half-brother, Henri, is the rightful heir.

Now hunted by her father’s killer, Joliette must trust those she has saved to protect her and help her reclaim her legacy. But as she faces impossible choices and dangerous enemies, she must also confront her own desires and the true meaning of family.

For fans of strong women and forbidden romance, Her Own Legacy is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for self-determination. Experience the passion and turmoil of a woman defying tradition to claim her rightful place.

Buy the Book
Amazon
Apple ~ B&N ~ KOBO
add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Debra Borchert has had many careers: clothing designer, actress, TV show host, spokesperson for high-tech companies, marketing and public relations professional, and technical writer for Fortune 100 companies. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Writer, among others. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and independently.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical French fiction. Her work has been honored with a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice, Publishers Weekly BookLife Editor’s Pick, numerous awards--including: Winner Best Book Series, Page Turner Awards and the Independent Author Award, Runner Up, and many five-star reviews.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

Guest Post:

Fashion & Fiction

As a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, I try to weave my knowledge of history, fabrics, and style in my historical fiction novels. Fabrics and fashion also happen to be my passions, and I delight in the discoveries my research often reveals.

For example, on a recent trip to a local museum, I noticed one of the 19th century gowns was displayed inside-out on the mannequin. The work was so fine and beautiful, I didn’t immediately notice that I was looking at the wrong side of the gown. It was then that I discovered the fabric loops and cords that ran in vertical lines on either side of the back of the gown. When the cords were pulled, the fabric gathered into a bustle, and the tighter the cords were pulled, the higher the bustle sat on the woman. The contraption looked like the inside of soft-fold Roman drapes we use today. Very impressive technology for the 19th century that is still employed today, albeit in drapes, not so much gowns.

Accuracy is very important to me, so I believe the devil is in the details, but I don’t give the devil free reign. In “Her Own Legacy,” I had to be familiar with fashions for both the nobility and peasantry.

Prior to the French Revolution, women carried their belongings in Hanging Pockets that were embroidered and hung from a cord worn around their waists and hidden amongst the folds of their over skirts. When fashion changed from huge voluminous skirts to Grecian column-like silhouettes in the late 1790s, thanks to Josephine Bonaparte, there was no place for those bulging pockets to hide, so, designers created the very important bag, held in the hand with a handle. Bag + Handle = Handbag!

Pockets haven’t disappeared and as a matter of fact, I won’t buy jackets, sweaters, pants or skirts without them. Also, I’m guilty of wearing a hip bag aka, fanny pack. My contemporary romance protagonist is a hip-bag-wearing fashion designer who tries to invent a bathing suit with a built-in life preserver in “His Last Christmas Gift.” I learned there is no such thing as a swimsuit with a built-in life preserver for a very good reason.

Enter the Giveaway:

Monday, March 30, 2026

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart by Andrea Boyd

About the Book

Book: Chancing the Frontiersman’s Heart

Author: Andrea Byrd

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 24, 2026

From Andrea Byrd comes a stirring tale of faith and courage on the Kentucky frontier—a story of second chances, steadfast love, and the family bonds that sustain us through life’s darkest hours. Perfect for fans of Lori Wick and Janette Oke.

Kentucky Territory, 1782

When Dawn agrees to travel west with her cruel stepparents, she has one goal—to reunite her young stepsister Mary with her uncle at Bryan’s Station. But a chance encounter with Jacob McFadin, her childhood sweetheart, changes everything. Despite her missing left hand and the scars of rejection she carries, Jacob sees past her differences and offers marriage to help protect them on their journey.

Jacob has spent years trying to prove himself as more than just the youngest McFadin brother. When he recognizes Dawn, the girl who captured his heart years ago, he knows God has given him a second chance. But his desire to finally make a name for himself threatens to tear apart their fragile new family.

As they face the perils of the Kentucky wilderness and escalating tensions with British and Indian forces, Dawn and Jacob must learn to trust in God’s plan—and each other. When violence erupts at Bryan’s Station, they discover that true worth isn’t found in grand achievements, but in the boundless love of family and faith.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Andrea Byrd is a small-town wife and mom from southern Kentucky who harbors a deep love of days gone by, expressed with pioneer skirts and a once-in-a-lifetime ride in an authentic biplane. She seeks to respect the past, giving voice to those that came before, while reminding readers that no aspect of their past defines them.

More from Andrea

As a reader of historical fiction, I love reaching the end of a novel and reading the author’s note to learn how real people and events inspired the written words. Now, as an author myself, I try to provide the same for my own readers and Chancing the Frontiersman’s Heart is no exception.

While the Siege of Yorktown is considered the last major battle of the revolutionary war, ten months afterward, American forces would suffer great losses at the Battle of Blue Licks. During this conflict, more than sixty Kentuckians would lose their lives.

However, what intrigued me most about this piece of American history was actually the events leading up to it. The Battle of Blue Licks was a result of a skirmish a few days prior: the Siege of Bryan’s Station. In what is now Lexington, Kentucky, a fortified settlement was attacked by Delaware and Shawnee warriors, as well as Canadian Rangers.

Playing a vital part in the station’s ability to withstand the attack, of course, were the women of Bryan’s Station. During this conflict, the women would do more than simply provide support though. They would put themselves directly in harm’s way, venturing outside the safety of the settlement walls, in order to fetch water from the spring. Though Bryan’s Station was surrounded and they could be descended upon the moment they left the fold, the women (and girls) marched forwarded with heads held high to do what had to be done.

As soon as I learned of the women of Bryan’s Station and their act of bravery, I knew I had to weave these historical events into this novel. I hope you find their story as inspiring as I did!

Happy Reading!

Andrea Byrd

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, March 28

Books Less Travelled, March 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 30

Bizwings Blog, March 30

lakesidelivingsite, March 31

Sylvan Musings, April 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 2

Devoted To Hope, April 3

For Him and My Family, April 3

Abba’s Warrior Princess, April 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 5

Bigreadersite, April 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 6

Jeanette’s Thoughts, April 7

Mary Hake, April 7

Fruitfully Planted, April 8

Holly’s Book Corner, April 8

Lyssa Loves Books, April 9

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 10

Pause for Tales, April 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/KhGOn/chancing-the-frontiersmans-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart starts off the first book from Andrea Byrd's Wilderness Romance series. I thought it was a wonderful historical romance. I adored the story between Dawn and Jacob. It was beautiful watching it unfold between the two. It was great going back to their time and feeling like I was right there with them. It was full of love, history, danger, and adventure. I had no problem reading it from cover to cover in one sitting.

Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read sweet and clean historical fiction. I look forward to the next installment from the Wilderness Romance series.

I received a digital copy of Andrea Boyd's Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Book Tour and Giveaway: Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles by Michael Albergo

Book Details:

Book Title: NATIVE SPECIES - A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles by Michael Albergo
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 240 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Electric Torch
Release date: March 2026
Content Rating: PG -13: Some F-words, religious profanities, crude terms; one very tame non-explicit sex scene

Book Description:

It is 1928, and the future is unwritten.

When widowed Professor Horace Jennings reluctantly volunteers to search for a missing student, he trades Rhode Island for the West Coast. This isn’t Providence; this is Los Angeles. And as his hired detective warns him, bootleggers, museum thieves, and crooked cops are no company for a sherry-sipping professor and his precocious protégé, Helen Parker.

But the truly dangerous characters aren’t criminals.

In fact, they aren’t even human.

Shila Ghiss, a scientist from a subterranean race, desires only to experience daylight. One day, she gets her chance—if she is willing to help reclaim the surface from humanity. She’ll need to become human, to learn about powerplants, facial expressions, and hair care. She’ll need to do something awful. But her mentor and his followers are planning to do something far worse—something apocalyptic.

To save both species, she’ll have to work closely with these bizarre, unpredictable humans and become both traitor and savior. She’ll have to decide who she is, and which native species will write the future.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

A professional engineer and graduate of MIT (engineering and humanities), Michael Albergo writes character-driven speculative fiction rooted in real-life early 20th century locales, people, and events. He teaches at New York University and is an avid player of board games and role-playing games. Native Species is his first novel.

connect with the author: website ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

My Review:

I found Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles to be a fun and entertaining novel from Michael Albergo. It is a great debut for this author. It did take me a few chapters to understand as to what is going and who was who. Once I caught on, I was captivated. I was often on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen from scene to scene. It was a story of two worlds colliding - human and reptiles. I am not one to pick up this type of book, but have to admit that it was intriguing. I am a history lover and loved that I was taken back in time to Los Angeles and clashing with fantasy. I thought it was a fantastic story making me wanting to find out how it would end for the characters.

I am going to give Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who love to read fantasy and science fiction. I would be curious to see what other books Michael Albergo will be releasing the future. I believe this one is worth a read and not to be missed.

I received a paperback copy of Michael Albergo's Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition by Joy Michelle Austin

About the Book

Book: Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition

Author: Joy Michelle Austin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Release Date: March 17, 2026

Lily
Days before her wedding, Lily Wentworth’s carefully planned future is shaken by an unexpected turn. Unsure how to move forward, she turns to the one person she has always trusted—her father.

Rick
Determined not to let their darkest years define her, Rick Wentworth offers Lily the journals he wrote during the season he fought to keep her safe and survive one day at a time.

As Lily reads, she begins to uncover not only the truth of what they endured, but also the fierce, steady love that carried her through—and the strength she may need now.

Half Agony, Half Hope: The Dear Lily Edition is a clean, closed-door story of resilience, family, and the love that shaped two lives.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Joy Michelle Austin is an award-winning novelist writing contemporary fiction. Her debut found an immediate audience among readers drawn to heartfelt stories of healing and second chances, launching the Jane Austen’s Men series. She also wrote The Seaside Sleuths and the Bridal Batter Blunder, a cozy mystery tie-in project for young readers.

Joy draws inspiration from real stories of courage, grace, and the quiet heroes found in everyday life, crafting fiction for readers who seek hope, honesty, and heart in contemporary storytelling.

She is the recipient of the West Coast Christian Writers Encourager Award and the Walt Disney Legacy Award—an honor given to fewer than 1% of Cast Members worldwide for embodying Disney’s “Dream, Create, Inspire” legacy.

Through her blog, The Joyous Living, she connects with thousands of readers who share her love of culture, storytelling, and meaningful living. She lives in Southern California with her dog, Captain Hastings.

More from Joy

Half Agony, Half Hope was not a story I set out to write lightly.
It was an answer to a call God placed on my heart as a survivor of sexual assault—a call to tell the truth without exploiting it, and to create hope without diminishing the pain. From the beginning, I knew this would be a heavy debut novel. I also knew I wanted it to be clean, faith-centered, and redemptive.
The decision to tell this story through the eyes of a man was intentional. So few novels explore male survivors with compassion and dignity, yet one in six men are sexually assaulted. Their stories are often hidden, misunderstood, or minimized. Rick Wentworth’s journey exists to say plainly: healing is possible, faith is not erased by trauma, and masculinity is not diminished by suffering.
Because of the weight of Rick’s past, much of the abuse in Half Agony, Half Hope is veiled. I wanted readers to feel the truth of what he endured without being retraumatized themselves. Still, after the book released, readers told me they longed for more gentleness—more space to breathe inside the story.
That is how the Dear Lily Edition was born.
Lily was Rick’s hope and grace during the darkest years of his captivity. In the cellar, she was the reminder that love could still exist, that innocence could survive, and that God was not absent—even there. Their bond became the quiet heartbeat of the story: a wounded man learning how to hope again through the steady, healing love of a child.
At its core, Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition is a story of survival and faith—but it is also a story of a father and daughter choosing trust and hope despite hardship, and building a family where brokenness does not get the final word.

Blog Stop

Simple Harvest Reads, March 21 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, March 22 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, March 23 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 24

Fiction Book Lover, March 25 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, March 26 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26

For the Love of Literature, March 27 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 29 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, March 30 (Author Interview)

Fruitfully Planted, March 30

Stories By Gina, March 31 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, April 1

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 2 (Author Interview)

Books, Books, & More Books, April 3 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a Kindle copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/DEiCR/half-agony-half-hope-dear-lily-edition-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition is part of the Jane Austen's Men series by Joy Michelle Austin. This is my first introduction to this author's work and it will not be the last. I enjoyed reading Lily's story and seeing everything unfold for her. I thought it was a sweet tale of discovery, love, and hope. It was a heartwarming book and loved it.

I am going to give Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean contemporary fiction. I would be interested in reading the other books from the Jane Austen's Men series, as well.

I received a digital copy of Joy Michelle Austin's Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Spotlight and Giveaway: Bernadette: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Twist by Jennifer Lynn Cary

About the Book

Book: Bernadette: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Twist

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy

Release Date: August 4, 2025

She’s supposed to be a small-town girl…

…He’s billed as America’s biggest heartthrob.

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?

Tiny Bernie Sawrey is perfectly happy fixing carburetors until her stepmother ambushes her with a blind date. The catch? It’s with movie star Garrett Lomas, Bernie’s secret celebrity crush and the reason she’s haunted the drive-in alone her entire adult life.

There’s just one teensy problem: Bernie’s about as Hollywood-ready as a rusty muffler.

But when her dad’s garage faces financial ruin, suddenly playing Kokomo’s answer to the girl-next-door doesn’t seem so impossible, if it will help. How hard can it be to fake being normal for a few weeks?

Meanwhile, Gabe Lomas thought being his identical twin’s stunt double only involved driving race cars—not impersonating him at charity events in small-town Indiana. But when the movie studio execs set up the deal and Garrett’s fiancée says no way, Gabe trades his helmet for a fake smile and a very real problem.

The problem? Bernie Sawrey, all five-foot-nothing of her, with enough quirk and innocence to charm the grumpiest producer. That’s the problem.

Gabe is falling for her hard, only she thinks he’s his famous brother.

And she just might be falling for him too.

Now he’s caught between protecting his brother’s career and protecting his own heart. Because telling Bernie the truth might send her racing away—but not telling her guarantees he’ll lose her when she finds out.

Return to 1973 Kokomo, Indiana, where the cardinal in the sycamore knows that love—like a good engine—runs best when all the parts are genuine. A sweet, hilarious tale of mistaken identity, small-town charm, and finding love when you’re not even being yourself.

You will enjoy this sweet, quirky tale of secret twists, because sometimes the best love stories start with a little white lie and maybe a bit of motor oil.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Historical Christian Romance author and three-time Selah Award nominee, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty-plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy, as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

More from Jennifer

As I put this series together in my head, certain books were right there, laid out, easy to have a handle on them. But with Bernadette, I knew two things: she was a tiny spitfire, and the first line of the book had to be someone calling out her name. Why? Because that’s the way the Four Tops started the song that was my inspiration. Sort of. Actually, that is the only thing I used from the song.

I also wanted to introduce my readers to other places I remembered in Kokomo during the 1970s. I’d only been to the Kokomo Speedway once, and all I could remember was that it was loud. It was my one and only date with a longtime friend who had been an on-again, off-again boyfriend of my best friend. After we moved to Arizona, I had a chance to go back home for a few weeks before my senior year. Cheryl and Jim were no longer an item, but I’d been friends with both. Jim asked if I wanted to go to the races and I agreed. Can’t remember if we took his motorcycle or not, but I did ride with him once or twice on that trip. The funny thing is, we knew we were better as friends, and especially with the long distance between us, that was all either of us wanted. We remained friends for many years before we lost contact—I got to meet his wife and daughters, and he met my husband.

About the time I was starting this book, as the plot ideas were coming together, one of my sweet sisters from our Bible study group succumbed to cancer. Debbie was a sweet light, and I wanted to honor her. I asked her family if I could use her name in the story and they agreed.

Finally, I think every girl remembers the first boy to ask her to go steady. The thing is, I’m not sure who it was. From kindergarten through fourth grade, I went to school with the Richardson twins. Both were sweet and funny. Mike was the more outgoing, Mark was quieter.

I remember one time going to their house and making Christmas ornaments from straws after we learned how in school.

One day I got a phone call. I’d learned to tell them apart in person, but on the phone, not so much. I got asked to go steady. My dad had already informed me that ten-years-old was too young, so I blamed it on Dad and declined.

A few minutes later, I got a second phone call. Again I was asked to go steady and had to say no. The thing is, I never knew who asked first!

After that year we moved across town though I kept in touch with my friends. It was only about two-three years later that I learned Mike had died from an accident. It wasn’t my first intro to death, but it was concerning someone my own age.

It’s been almost sixty years since I last saw Mike Richardson, but I still remember him with fondness. Another reason I had twins in this story. If only I knew which twin had asked me to go steady first.