Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 7

held captive four-year bookiversary!

Four years ago yesterday, Held Captive was submitted for publication. Four years ago today, Held Captive went live. Four years ago tomorrow, Held Captive was available to purchase in paperback as well as ebook.

So the dates are a little wonky, but basically today marks Held Captive's four-year bookiversary.

*cheers ring out and a trumpet sounds*

Y'all. In a way, it feels like just yesterday that this baby was published. And in another way, it feels like forever. Either way, I cannot fathom how this can be. This is proof enough that God is amazing and He can do abundantly beyond all we could ever imagine.

Anyway, aside from the existential aspects of this mind-blowing passage of time, I have a TON of epic stuff for y'all, so let's not waste any time in getting into it!

the book in celebration

If you're new here, allow me to introduce you to the book we're celebrating. Held Captive is my debut novel, written when I was twelve and published when I was thirteen. This (somewhat) epic pirate romance and redemption story isn't as infinitely fantabulous as I

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https://www.amazon.com/Held-Captive-Ladies-Seven-Seas-ebook/dp/B07PVWLCLQ

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introducing...her heart's home

*rushes in, breathless* HULLO, ALL!

Yes, I know, I disappeared for over two weeks, but I'M BACK! This month (like this whole year thus far) has been c r a z y. Editing, web design, life, VA work, church projects, writing, reading and reviewing - it's all taken first priority lately, folks. You know how it is.

ANYWAY. I have a very special announcement for y'all.

Your girl is being published in an anthology! And not just any anthology. I'm talking Springtime in Surrey, Wild Blue Wonder Press' Christian women's fiction (which includes historical and contemporary romance!) anthology! I am SO excited to join Kellyn Roth, Katja Labonté, Faith Blum, and several other amazing authors in bringing this project to life!

We'll have a cover reveal, preorder announcement, and all that fun stuff soon enough, but today I just wanna introduce y'all to my story, Her Heart's Home!

her heart's home

Deepdene House, Surrey, England

1921

Forced from her childhood home after her father was killed in action, Meredith Tate is forced to seek employment at Deepdene House—a noble mansion and gardens recently converted into a hotel—until she discovers the next step. Which most certainly does not include the brooding Captain Trevor Seaton, the fellow guest who always manages to catch her at her worst. Despite his gentle magnetism, Meredith is determined not to fall for a military man—but God may have other plans.

coming soon...https://video.wixstatic.com/video/9b8d7a_2095334edf534356b9d505f58d138dce/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Stay tuned for updates on Springtime in Surrey (including the GORGEOUS cover by the insanely talented Hannah Linder!) and more details about Her Heart's Home!

I'm excited to talk about the inspiration behind this story: the Deepdene House! This mansion-turned-hotel has a rocky but intriguing history! So y'all make sure you're following the blog to get notified when my next post comes out!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the blurb and aesthetic! Does Her Heart's Home sound like something you'd be interested in reading? Let me know in the comments below!

I love you all and am so thankful for y'all sticking with me through all the craziness! Y'all have a lovely spring!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#springtimeinsurrey #wildbluewonderpress #herheartshome #anthology #christianfiction #comingsoon #romance #historicalfiction #historicalromance #shortstory #novella #collection #smallpress #announcement #newstory

new release: identity by annabelle batie

Y'all, it seems like just yesterday that I was fourteen years old, uploading my book to Amazon, hitting published... (For context, I was fourteen when I published Prisoner at Heart.)

And now I get to support other young teens publishing their work! What a blessing!

The young author in question is Annabelle Batie, who justed released her first book on March 1st! (Also, isn't it interesting that her series is called Daughters of the Sea and mine is Daughters of the Seven Seas? ) I've gotten to know Annabelle through her blog (which is AWESOME! Y'all should definitely check it out!) over the last few months (maybe a year now?), and she's got so much amazing writing advice and fun content to share! Her debut novel promises to be even better!

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Identity!

about the book

Maria Brooks is just a plain orphan girl with a mysterious past. On the day of Maria’s sixteenth birthday, everything seems normal. From being required to do chores at the orphanage to being bullied by girls at school, nothing seems to be amiss. But when Maria goes swimming at the beach the next day, she discovers a secret about herself she didn’t even know: she’s a mermaid.

As Maria explores her newfound ability to change from mermaid to human, she finds herself in the midst of an underwater war that contains the secret to her past. In the midst of all this, she finds new friendship, but with friendship comes trust, and with trust comes risk. Will she be able to stand strong as the tidal waves of doubt crash against her?

snag your copy

You can now order Identity on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format for $6.25 and $14.95, respectively!

about the author

Annabelle Batie is a teenage author and book-enthusiast. She loves mermaids and all kinds of fantasy, and thoroughly enjoys reading and/or writing a good book. She is very passionate about her Christian faith, and she wants to share that passion with others. You will typically find her at her desk writing, playing the piano, or hanging out with her friends. She lives in Traverse City, Michigan, where she homeschools with her three younger siblings and parents. You can visit her on her website, www.annabelle.batie.com.

the tour

Wednesday, March 1

,Annabelle Batie - Tour Kickoff

Thursday, March 2

,Rhys-Marie Whitnell - Spotlight

,Kaytlin Phillips - Review

Friday, March 3

,Vanessa Hall - Spotlight

,Ava Coulter - Interview

Break for the weekend…

Monday, March 6

,Joy Calle Martinez - Spotlight

,Lorelei Angelino (Pinterest) - Spotlight

- Spotlight

Tuesday, March 7

,Mayim - Interview

,Kylie Beevers - Interview

Wednesday, March 8

,Grace A. Johnson - Spotlight

,Micah Collier - Interview

Thursday, March 9

Adele H. (Newsletter) - Review

,Rosie Rydell - Interview

Friday, March 10

,Annabelle Batie - Tour Wrap-Up

Okay, who here does not love mermaids? No one? Good! I don't know about you, but Identity sounds amazing! A coming-of-age story with a fantastical mermaid twist? YES, PLEASE!‍♀️

Are you excited for Identity? Have you already purchased your copy or even read the book? What's your favorite mermaid tail - I mean, tale? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#blogtour #newbook #newrelease #youngauthor #comingofage #youngadult #ya #yafiction #bookspotlight #fantasy

welcome to march! (february wrapup & march goals)

Well, February happened. And just like always, it happened in the blink of an eye. As I starting writing down all that I accomplished last month, I was quite honestly surprised that 28 days could yield such fruit—and yet not complete any of the major projects I had on my list.

Any of y’all been there?

Let’s face it, though, the highlight of the month of love was easily the release of none other than...drum roll, please…

Tell Me You Love Me!

After an entire year, last February’s dream became this February’s reality: a Christian romance anthology full of God-honoring, sweet, and tender love stories.

If you’ve yet to snag your copy, I urge you to! Trust me, you’ll want this collection on your shelf or Kindle, and you’ll want to support these young Christian authors!

Speaking of TMYLM, you may have noticed that my book page for it has not been updated with the purchase link yet. That, my lovelies, is because my site is undergoing serious renovations (y’all said not to change it, I said I must ) and I can’t update that page without publishing a half-finished site. But rest assured the new page and new design will be debuting soon—hopefully sometime this month, Lord willing!

what i did last month

So, last month’s goals were:

Release Tell Me You Love Me Complete four editing projects Write four reviews Finish three websites Begin writing Something Bright and Beautiful

Obvious, TMYLM was published, praise God! But all my other goals? Not so much. I designed two out of three websites (still pretty happy about that), wrote three out of four reviews, completed one editing project out of four, and did not write a single word in SBaB. In fact, progress on my novella Her Heart’s Home has been next to nil lately too, and it’s due to be completed in the middle of this month...which brings us to March’s goals!

this month’s goals

Basically do what I didn’t do last month...but I say that every time. Some new goals are to update my website, relaunch my Patreon, and post consistently on S&J Editor’s Instagram!

monthly progress

Um. Lemme think. Like 500 words in Her Heart’s Home, I think. It’s been...rough, writing-wise. Hopefully this month will be different, though! I’d at least like to write a chapter in SBaB and finish HHH.

reading highlights

Well, last month’s reading wasn’t quite as prolific as January’s...I read one novel, two short novels, and two short stories.

Naturally the top read was The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (review here), but The Lady in the Moneylender’s Parlour by Roseanne E. Lortz and Until We All Share Joy by Heather Wood were both so good as well!

top blog posts

February was a weird month for blog posts (and March is shaping up to be quite similar, if the fact that this post is semi-late is of any indication). I got out quite a few at the first of the month, since the tour for TMYLM and STL going on, but the end of the month was super spotty. BUT I did post two reviews, which was a huge plus!

The top post was on writing enemies-to-lovers right, which was so fun to put together in honor of Valentine’s Day! Close behind was the release day post for TMYLM! Also, if you haven’t checked them out yet, I had a few underrated posts on writing fight scenes, strong heroines, and more! I’m trying to post more writing advice and tips (per y’all’s request), so hopefully you’ll see even more this month!

follower updates

I’m sure I have tons of stuff to tell y’all, but I cannot remember for sure. But I am excited to share that I’ve started building custom Wix websites (and redesigning current ones) for stupid cheap! I have only ONE slot open in April, so if you’re interested in a new or updated Wix author website or blog, now’s the chance to commission one!

guest appearances

I think I’m missing a post or two from the last couple months, but the only guest post I remember doing is this one on editing/proofreading for free on Writers’ Vision! Stayed tuned for a guest post on Joy Calle Martinez’s blog this month!

How did your February go? Was there flowers and chocolate involved? What was your top read? Any goals for March? I wanna hear all about it in the comments, folks!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#monthlyupdates #monthlygoals #monthlywrapup #readinghighlights #topblogposts #followerupdates #websitedesign #monthlyprogress #writingprogress #wrapup #goals #welcometomarch #guestappearances #guestpost #tellmeyouloveme #reading

review: the sound of light by sarah sundin

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let’s face it, I’ve never read a Sarah Sundin novel I didn’t like—and I’m sure the same goes for most of y’all too! There’s something about how she weaves war and intrigue with romance and faith, with a dash of delicious mystery and suspense, that makes for an altogether amazing and adventure page-turner.

The Sound of Light is no different! I loved how we got to see the war from Denmark’s perspective (something that’s becoming a wee bit more common after all these years of Germany, France, and England-set WWII novels), and how Sundin wove in the all-too-relatable theme of standing up for what you believe in and if staying silent really makes any difference. And, of course, once again, I adored her characters!

Henrik was wonderful—even though he’s not quite my favorite of Sundin’s heroes (Dan will always take the first place spot for me)—and I appreciated his humility and his strong desire to do good, no matter what. That said...I want a hero like Hemming now. One who’s not as intelligent and suave as every other romance hero, but is still precious and sweet in his own way (Rocky Balboa, anyone?). No offense to Henrik, but like Else, I fell for Hemming.

Speaking of Else...gosh, she was so good too! (Yes, I’m saying that about a heroine! No way! ) I mean, she managed to be the incredibility intelligent, just-as-good-as-the-men, mental-butt-kicking heroine every other female MC strives to be...while also being gentle and compassionate and open-minded and humble, which are the exact qualities most bad-butt heroines miss. So a round of applause for Else and how Sundin wrote her character, shall we? *applause rings out*

(On that note, I truly appreciate how, like in When Twilight Breaks, Sundin is able to address period-accurate sexism while never coming off as feminist or modern!)

Another aspect of The Sound of Light that I appreciated was how Sundin spared me the emotional drama!!! Thank goodness!!! I feel like she’s taken advantage of such drama in her past books, so this one broke the mold! The romance was sweet and tender and subtle, and Else and Henrik communicated most of the time—and when they didn’t, they still managed not to be whiny babies. So yay! (Y’all know me; I’m no-nonsense about this sort of stuff. )

Of course, there are and will always be wee little things I can nitpick at, but none of my pet peeves kept me from thoroughly enjoying this story! The Sound of Light is as unique as its title and enriched with historical events and timeless struggles, taking us on a poignant and challenging journey to discover the heart of courage that has endured for generations.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

about the book

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

snag your copy about the author

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of The Sound of Light (February 2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), and four WWII series. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris, received the 2022 Christy Award, When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists, and The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. She enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

Have you read The Sound of Light yet? Or...*gasp* have you read a Sarah Sundin novel you didn't like? (Doubt it.) What are some other WWII books set in Denmark, or other less-commonly-written-about countries? Share all about it in the comments!

yours in spirit and script, grace

#christianfiction #historicalfiction #review #bookreview #romance #historicalromance #worldwar2

review: all the lost places by amanda dykes

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve been hearing absolutely amazing things about Amanda Dykes for years, but when I first read one of her novellas in The Kissing Tree collection, I wasn’t impressed. The “pizzazz” in her writing that everyone lauded never caught my eye.

Then came December. I received an ARC of All the Lost Places in the mail, which I’d requested to read because I am a sucker for anything set in Italy and because I was determined to ferret out what made Dykes so beloved.

(Before I got started with ATLP, I also read a few of her free Christmas short stories and was pretty impressed, but short stories vs a novel? I had to see that for a myself…)

So I cracked open the pages of All the Lost Places (even though it’s a paperback copy, so there was really no “cracking” involved) and was transported into what is truly a masterpiece of a story.

*brain implodes*

Everyone was right. Amanda Dykes’ writing doesn’t just have “pizzazz”…it has spirit, life, an entire poem hidden in every sentence.

I know there are some people who prefer cut-and-dry writing who wouldn’t enjoy Dykes’ prose, but I am no such person, so I was swimming in the beauty of it all. Dykes made not only the heavenly setting but also the emotion and history and mystery of it all come to life in the most vibrant of colors, and I am simply impressed.

But the most beautiful? THE CHARACTERS. First of all, WE HAD A MALE MC. Y’ALL, THAT WAS AMAZING. I get so tired (if you haven’t noticed) of reading the same ol’ cabron-copy cookie-cutter female, so believe me when I say that Daniel was (1) the absolute best and (2) such a refresher. His character was so intriguing and simply a pleasure to read. He was well-written with an emotional journey, and at the same time, he was an admirable, relatable hero. Just all-around amazing, y’all. I need more male main characters (not just love interests) in Christian historical fiction/romance, please and thank you.

On that note, Sebastian was also a five-star hero, and I honestly could’ve read a whole book from his POV.

As if two phenomenal dudes wasn’t enough for this girl, Dykes gave me two equally wonderful heroines, and I could literally cry. Y’all. Vittoria and Marianna were what this genre, what this world needs, out of female characters these days. They were tender and sweet, headstrong and independent, compassionate and caring, genuine and authentic. I loved them. They weren’t at all like female POV characters—i.e., whiny, cliché, feminist-y, or inauthentic. They were real, and they did a fabulous job of supporting the main men, while also bringing their own flair and flavor to the story.

Plus the secondary characters (especially Massimo) were *chef’s kiss* bella, bella!

So, my only qualm with the entire novel actually has to do with my man Danny-boy. His arc felt incomplete. Like, it was amazing, on the fast-track to character developmental success, until the ending was wrapped up just a wee bit too quickly and his arc loosely knotted up. But otherwise, I can’t complain. This story was too mysterious and dark and profound and inspiring and immersive to have more than one minimal qualm.

And y’all. This technically counts as dual-time, and let me just say...authors are upping their game. These last few dual-time novels I’ve read have been actually good, so unique, with each timeline equally interesting and woven together seamlessly—and this one is no exception! I fell in love with both Daniel’s journey and Sebastian’s life story and devoured every word in both timelines.

Speaking of devouring words...even though the story itself was kinda light and subtle in the faith and spirituality department, the author’s note literally made me tear up. It was...so beautiful and edifying and inspiring and enriching and gorgeous and I just...augh. I can’t. It was by far my favorite author’s note ever, and such a pleasure to read.

So...I did it, y’all. I solved the mystery of why everyone loves Amanda Dykes. And know I love her too.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

about the book

When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the canals of 1807 Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastian Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastian must make choices that could alter not just his own future, but that of the beloved floating city.

Decades later,Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden in regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastian Trovato.

snag your copy about the author

Amanda Dykes is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. She's the winner of the 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten title, and the winner of an INSPY award for her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are. She’s also the author of Set the Stars Alight (a Christy Award finalist), Yours is the Night (recipient of the Kipp Award), All the Lost Places (starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Foreword), and three novellas. Find her online at amandadykes.com.

Have you ever read any of Amanda Dykes' books? If so, did you fall in love with her writing too? What are your thoughts on male MCs? Read any good Italy-set (or Venice-set) books recently? Let me know all about it in the comments!

yours in spirit and script, grace

#christianfiction #historicalfiction #review #bookreview #romance #historicalromance #splittime #dualtime #historicalheroes #heroes

enemies-to-lovers: the beauty of the trope

In honor of Valentine's Day, R.M. Archer, Kellyn Roth, and I have joined up to bring you three fantastic posts about some the top romance tropes! Y'all be sure to check out R.M. and Kellyn's posts here and here!

If you’ve hung around the romance reader community long enough, you’ve probably seen/heard all the opinions out there on enemies-to-lovers (also known as hate-to-love) romance. Personally, I hang around the anti-TikTokxic community, where tropes like enemies-to-lovers are bashed because they’re considered toxic. And some of them (not naming any names, but basically all the ones that are famous on TikTok) really are toxic.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not the trope itself that’s toxic but rather how it’s written/portrayed. There’s actually a certain beauty, if you will, to enemies-to-lovers romance, which is one of many reasons why I love writing it so much!

Before you turn your nose up, humor me for just a second as we explore the themes of a well-written enemies-to-lovers romance.

love overcomes prejudice

There’s a reason why the world is in love with Pride and Prejudice, and one of those is the theme of overcoming prejudice and seeing people for who they really are. Whether the enemies-to-lovers (or ETL) romance is based on workplace rivals, arch nemesis, or opposing sides of a war, the hero and heroine are bound to have some prejudice against one another, be they large or small.

ETL romances center around those conflicting prejudices and, most importantly, how the hero and heroine work to let go of those and see each other as fellow humans and deserving of love and understanding. Putting yourself aside and someone else first is noble and biblical, and a lesson we could all learn!

relationships take work

But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

One of my absolute favorite parts of ETL romances are all the trials the hero and heroine face…and rise from stronger and more secure in their love for each other. They may turn the tide of a war by uniting two opposing forces, or they may simply learn to share the coffee machine at the office—whatever the case, there’s always a lot of work that goes into an ETL relationship, and it’s that work and effort that cultivates and stronger and longer-lasting relationship for your hero and heroine.

Plus, it makes the romance all the sweeter once they emerge from the fire as gold!

love is more than lust

I guess this is what a badly written ETL romance will teach you, but it’s still a valid point. Many other romance stories and tropes can get away with a shallow, attraction-based romance—but not enemies-to-lovers. There isn’t such a fine line between love and lust when the characters are enemies, so their persistence in overcoming the obstacles, desire to put their love interest over themselves, and the shift between “I hate you” to “I love you” has to have a lot more behind it than just lust.

Hence why most badly written ETL romances are seen as toxic—because they do focus more on lust and view it as enough to break down the barriers of hate. But despite what pop culture will lead you to think, lust is only strong enough to get you what you want and leave you feeling hollow, empty, and ruined once you have it and see all the destruction in your wake. (Y’all excuse the sermon. ) Love, however, is a force as strong as death (Song of Solomon 8:6) that can redeem hateful relationships to love stories, restore selflessness and compassion, and renew hearts to purity and peace.

So why do I love enemies-to-lovers so much when other readers and writers turn their nose up at it? Why do I adore writing and reading the trope? Why do I think you should give it a try once in a while? Because it truly is (or at least can be) one of the most beautiful romance tropes out there!

What are your thoughts on enemies-to-lovers romance? What novels have really pulled it off and made you appreciate the power of love over hate? What is your favorite romance trope and why? Do you wanna know how to write an ETL romance that embodies these themes? If so, check out this post HERE!

yours in spirit and script, grace

#enemiestolovers #romance #romancewriting #romancetropes #tropes #love #hatetolove #hatetoloveromance #favoritetrope #tropes

tell me you love me is here!

HAPPY RELEASE DAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and happy Valentine's Day too.

To show our love for readers and our appreciation for the beautiful love of Christ, twelve authors and I (alongside the lovely Issabelle Perry) spent the past year crafting a collection of love stories that are sure to inspire and entertain...and now the day has arrived that this amazing anthology makes its debut into the world!

To celebrate, I have a very special giveaway for just for y'all! (Because what's a book release without 7,000,000 giveaways?) So y'all stay tuned 'til the end for details on how to win!

spread the love

Want to show your support for Tell Me You Love Me? Consider ordering a copy! TMYLM is now available for purchase on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats!

If you've already read and enjoyed TMYLM, we would love an honest review on your platform of choice!

Check out the links below to find your way to spread the love!

wanna learn more?

Interested in character Q&As, story aesthetics, and author interviews? Want to learn more about this anthology? Would you like to read some of the amazing stories that just barely missed making it into the final twelve? Then check out all of my TMYLM-related posts here on the blog!

enter to win

No more ebook giveaways, folks. Nope, this time, one very special US winner will receive a ✨PHYSICAL✨ copy of Tell Me You Love Me in the mail!!!

Entrants must be 18+ OR have their parent's permission and be comfortable sharing their mailing address. The winner will be announced in the comments of this post and the contacted by email on February 18th!

To enter, all you have to do is comment on this post! If you'd like extra entries to increase your chances of winning, share the link to your review of TMYLM in your comment OR let me know you ordered your copy!! One winner will be randomly selected from the commenters!

I am SO excited for TMYLM to be in your hands now, y'all! I pray y'all enjoy this anthology and experience the love the authors have poured into their beautiful stories!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

yours in spirit and script, grace

#tellmeyouloveme #releaseday #anthology #giveaway #entertowin #valentinesday #shortstories #christianromance #romance

enemies-to-lovers: how to do it right

This romance trope everyone calls toxic is actually supposed to be one of the strongest and most beautiful relationships out there. Why? Because, to get to a place of unconditional love, the hero and heroine have to go through a lot of conflict. They have to learn honesty, communication, forgiveness, and more before their romance can blossom—unlike other relationships, in which these traits aren’t cultivated until after the romance starts.

So how you do accurately and authentically write an enemies-to-lovers romance? How do you avoid the overdone methods and cliches that undermine the beauty of the trope?

create believable conflict

So many times, ETL stories come off as petty and pathetic, based on a simple misjudgment or youthful mistake that doesn’t constitute a full-blown rivalry. Instead of basing your characters’ disdain for each other on “he’s on the opposite football team” or “she beat me in the school spelling bee,” give them a REAL reason to be enemies. Are they on opposing sides during a war? Did the hero kill the heroine’s father? Did the heroine keep the hero from pursuing the love of his life? Was the hero really an undercover spy?

And if you want to go the prejudice or miscommunication route, take some pointers from Pride and Prejudice. Sure, it started as a simple insult, but in an era that valued reputations and appearances, a snide comment dug deep. But Austen didn’t stop there; she piled the conflict high by giving Mr. Darcy an uncharacteristic attitude (at the time, most gentlemen were sociable and amicable instead of aloof and introverted) and introducing Mr. Wicked—I mean, Mr. Wickam.

All that to say, continue building the conflict between the hero and heroine over the course of the story; utilize the norms and ideals of the time/culture; and ALWAYS make sure the characters’ personalities and values are what the conflict stems from. After all, if the heroine is a saint who sees the best in everyone, it’s doubtful she’d hate one random man; or if she has no qualms with ex-cons, she probably won’t pick a fight with a certain one.

Don’t expect your plot itself to carry the story; take advantage of your characters, their arcs, their lifestyles, etc., and use them to craft conflict that’s genuine and believable!

ask yourself...

- What’s the conflict between your hero and heroine? Is it believable and accurate for their time/culture?

- Why does this cause conflict between them? How does the conflict impact each character?

establish a physical connection

So, you’ve established that your hero and heroine are on opposing sides in a rebellion in their politically-twisted kingdom. Their conflict is believable, authentic, and external. All the pieces are falling into place… Or are they?

You see, to even bring about a romance in general, you must connect the characters. Either they’re neighbors, coworkers, or fellow parents at a PTA meeting—whatever the case, there must be a reason for them to be together. And I mean that both physically and emotionally.

To connect your characters, focus on two things: their roles in the plot and their character arcs. Are the hero and heroine tasked with spying on the same governor? Has the hero been sent to kill the heroine? Does the heroine rescue the hero despite (or in spite of) his allegiances? Ask yourself, how are they physically connected in the plot? How do their stories entwine?

As easy as it seems, you can’t just throw them both in the same castle and have them bump into each other a few times and call it chemistry. There has to be a reason—even if that requires separating them for a period of time too!

Now, about their character arcs...those have to entwine as well! Is the hero on the wrong side and the heroine reveals the truth to him? Are the heroine’s motives impure and the hero shows her a better way? Is the hero set on sacrificing himself for his cause and the heroine gives him something greater to live for? Think about what kind of impact the hero and heroine will have on each other. If it’s positive, there’s romantic potential...but if you find they only have a negative impact on each other, then you might wanna jump ship, if you know what I mean. Ask yourself, how will my hero and heroine change over the course of the story? And how will they each play a role in the other’s arc?

ask yourself…

- What’s the plot of your enemies-to-lovers story? What journeys do your characters go on?

- How are they physically connected in the plot? How do their stories entwine?

introduce an emotional connection

There couldn’t possibly be something you’re missing, could there? Your plot is practically perfect, and your characters fit into it like puzzle pieces, and yet...somehow, the romance falls flat. It feels contrived and forced, probably because you feel like you’re forcing your characters to fall in love when they just don’t want to.

A lot of times, we can lean too heavily on the plot and making sure everything revolves around how the story is supposed to go that we forget who the characters are; and that’s a grievous mistake in any story, but especially enemies-to-lovers. If you don’t know and understand your characters and authentically write them, then either their rivalry falls flat or their romance does. Or both.

So, to make sure the transition from hate to love is smooth and realistic...to make sure your characters stand out apart from your intense plot...to make sure there’s actually good reason for them to fall in love, you have to showcase who they are.

Are they stubborn and proud? Or misguided and deceived? Why have they chosen the side or stance they have? Why do they initially refuse to like the hero/heroine? Things like life experiences, worldviews, culture, family, and more influence who your character is and why they do/think what they do, so consider them as you craft your characters’ backstories, reactions, and motives.

Now, what is it about them that’s so lovable? Are they loyal and steadfast? Are they compassionate and tender? Do they offer something—support, friendship, stability, etc.—that the other character never had? Highlight their good qualities and strengths and how they impact their potential love interest, because when you can connect your hero and heroine emotionally as well as physically, you’ve got a beautiful love story in the making!

ask yourself…

- What words describe your characters? What are their good qualities?

- How do your characters connect emotionally?

entwine the themes of your story

The themes and messages of your story don’t just apply to the ending or the climax of the individual character arcs; it also applies to your romance and how it unfolds. Themes of honesty and communication will mean struggles of deceit and confusion in the hero and heroine’s relationship; forgiveness and mercy will mean bitterness and judgment; humility and understanding will mean pride and prejudice.

Jane Austen did it best; she was fully aware of the themes of her novels and not only how they impacted the characters individually, but how they influenced the characters’ relationship. Enemies-to-lovers especially can have heavy themes like the ones above, and making the relationship grow along with the characters as they work past their flaws will make it even more authentic and strong.

Try making a timeline of your character arcs and a timeline of their romantic relationship and see how they overlap. When your characters realize they’ve been blind or cold or prejudiced, they’ll begin to see their enemy in a new, loving light, and their relationship can morph into something more. This natural transition will make the pacing and progression of the romance smoother and more realistic.

And don’t forget that relationships are part of a person, not separate from them and who they are. What they learn on a personal level will apply to their relationships, and vice versa. Entwine them and watch your characters deepen and blossom!

ask yourself...

- What are the themes of your story?

- How do the characters grow as people, and how can that affect their relationships—specifically with their love interest?

let them grow together

So, your characters are learning to be understanding, honest, and open-minded. They’re beginning to see where maybe they were wrong and their “enemy” was right, or how they can build a bridge to unite both sides, or how maybe they aren’t so different after all. They’re growing on a personal level and reaching the climax of their character arc…

But that’s not the end.

Not only are there lessons to be learned as an individual, there are lessons to be learned as a couple. As your hero and heroine navigate their blossoming romance, they can encounter past hurts and fears, people who oppose their relationship, and other hurdles. Just because they aren’t trying to kill each other anymore doesn’t mean everything’s all fine and dandy.

You need to give them battles. Whether you feel like the romance is boring and unrealistic or not, there still needs to be leftover conflict and new struggles they have to overcome—just like in a real-life relationship! Not only will your readers see how well the hero and heroine compliment each other and are just plain meant to be together, your characters will also grow closer and their relationship will be stronger.

This is probably where most people get upset with ETL stories. They fall in love all of a sudden with their sworn nemesis (who happens to be super hot), and everything is just peachy! But that’s not how real life works, and so your story shouldn’t follow this structure. Just like Romeo and Juliet, they still have a lot to work past and overcome to be together. ETL and forbidden love are two sides of the same coin, so keep that in mind as your story progresses!

ask yourself...

- What kind of struggles can your characters endure?

- How will they grow stronger through it?

to sum up...

Before you even start writing, you need to establish conflict between your hero and heroine that’s believable and real (i.e., something beyond “he dumped milk on my head in the third grade”). As you begin developing the conflict and rivalry, you need to connect your characters and entwine their stories—both physically and emotionally. Once the time comes for them to see beyond their enmity, you’ll need to showcase who the characters actually are, what makes them lovable and redeemable, and how they build each other up and have a positive impact on one another. Don’t forget that the themes of your story have a huge impact on your romance, and your character arcs should mirror the progression of their relationship. Speaking of their relationship, just because they’re falling in love doesn’t mean all’s right with the world; they’ll still encounter battles they need to overcome to grow stronger!

Basically, take things slow and steady. Don’t rush the story and push for your hero and heroine to fall for each other; let them take each step at their own pace (and don’t be afraid for one to fall before the other...it makes for PERFECT angst, just sayin’). Follow patterns of reality before you keep pace with other books and story structures, and make each element of their relationship believable instead of over-hyping small things.

Of course, the best advice I can give ya is to listen to the Lord first, your characters second, and NEVER listen to yourself. Seriously. God has a marvelous plan for your story, and only He knows what great works He’ll do through your books—so follow His guidance foremost. And instead of listening to your head, how you want your story to unfold, and what the internet (minus me, of course) tells you, follow your gut and your characters. Because, trust me, they have minds of their own, and if you don’t let them have free reign from the beginning, they will take your story over when you least expect it!

So how will you be applying these tips? How can they help you write your ETL romance? (Follow-up question: what’s your ETL story about???) What novels have fantastic ETL romances? Let me know in the comments!

yours in spirit and script, grace

#enemiestolovers #romance #romancewriting #romancetropes #tropes #writingadvice #writingtips #characterarcs #plot #characters #hero #heroine #hatetolove #conflict #fictionwriting #characterization #characterdevelopment #pacing #realism #hatetolove #hatetoloveromance #conflict #romancewritingtips #favoritetrope #prideandprejudice #janeausten #mrdarcy #characterization #characterdevelopment #romeoandjuliet #forbiddenlove #themes #messages #connection

enter to win the anthologies (tmylm & stl blog tour)

God bless H.S. Kylian. I have been so off my game this year, but this girl has kept me straight and reminded me that I yet again forgot to post. *facepalm*

Thank y'all for putting up with my forgetfulness and incompetence. Y'all are the best.

ANYWAY. I have a special giveaway for y'all, but to enter, y'all must first read the blurbs about the two amazing anthologies we're releasing and answer a couple questions!

about tell me you love me

Tell Me You Love Me – a timeless collection of stories that truly understand the meaning of “I love you”

Twelve young Christian authors have come together, alongside romance novelist Grace A. Johnson and editor Issabelle Perry to show our world of depravity and cheap imitations of romance what love really means: faith, hope, and sacrifice.

These stories range from contemporary YA to historical to fantasy, and tell diverse, unique love stories that compel, captivate, and warm readers’ hearts with their sweet and authentic nature.

Featuring work from Michaela Bush, Saraina Whitney, Karynn Heckler, Margaret Copeland, Lucia Molano, Sarah Lawton, Brooklyn O’Brennan, Mackenzie Hendricks, H.S. Kylian, Lydia M. Jupp, Katherine Perry, and Amelia Cabot, the Tell Me You Love Me anthology is the collaboration of talented and inspirational young writers you’ve been waiting for!

about seize the love

Honoring the Love of the Savior

Agape. Eros. Philia. Storge

All forms of love… Seize the Love pulls readers into an anthology of stories all showing love. A love that honors God even as the reader flips the pages to find the story of a dying request, a random encounter, finding proof of God’s love, reunited siblings, caring for others, finding hope, love among the hard and easy, and more stories.

No matter the form of love, you’ll find stories sure to warm your heart, bring a smile or a tear, and hopefully remind you of the love of the One who created you.

Matthew 22:37

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Featuring various love stories sure to please the whole family.

February 7th

,Grace A. Johnson – tour kickoff

,H.S. Kylian – anthologies spotlight & giveaway

,Kaytlin Phillips – anthologies spotlight & giveaway

February 8th

,Grace A. Johnson – anthologies spotlight & giveaway

February 9th

,Rhys-Marie Whitnell – anthologies spotlight & STL review

February 10th

,Vanessa Hall – STL spotlight & anthologies giveaway

Weekend Break

February 13th

,Lilly Wiscaver – STL spotlight & giveaway

,Allyson Jamison – STL spotlight

February 14th – Release Day!

,Madisyn Carlin – STL spotlight & giveaway

,Lillian Keith – anthologies spotlight & giveaway

February 15th

,Kellyn Roth – anthologies spotlight

February 16th

,M. L. Milligan

February 17th

,Kristina Hall – anthologies giveaway

,Vanessa Hall – TMYLM review

Weekend Break

February 20th

,Allyson Jamison – TMYLM spotlight

February 21st

,Merie Shen – TMYLM review & anthologies giveaway

,Katja Labonte – anthologies spotlight

,Katja Labonte – anthologies review

,Abigail Kay Harris – tour conclusion

In honor of Seize the Love and Tell Me You Love Me’s release, we're giving away a digital copy of each anthology to one lucky winner! To enter, all you have to do is answer the two questions below! I will select a winner and contact them at the end of the tour! (Entrants must be 18 and older or have their parent’s permission to enter, and be comfortable with providing their email address to receive their ebook. No other information such as shipping address or credit card number is required!)

#1: How many authors are part of Tell Me You Love Me anthology?

#2: What four kinds of love are listed in the blurb for Seize the Love?

Leave your answers in the comments! I can't wait for one y'all to win! (Oh, and don't worry if you don't - there are plenty of other chances to win in the other tour posts, so be sure to check them out!)

yours in spirit and script, grace

#blogtour #dualblogtour #seizethelove #tellmeyouloveme #anthology #shortstories #romance #christianromance #love #entertowin #preorder #giveaway