Heidi McCahan's Blog, page 12

10 Favorite Inspirational Romance Novels of All Time

Hey, bookworms. I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish girls and sharing my Top 10 Favorite Inspirational Romance novels of all time. This is a tall order, by the way. How can I possibly name only 10??

I narrowed it down to books on my ‘keeper’ shelf, the rare few I’ve read repeatedly, characters who’ve come to mind several times over the years, and books that inspire me to be a better writer.

Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke. This is the first inspirational romance I ever read as a pre-teen. My piano teacher also carried a small inventory of Christian fiction and I remember begging my mom to buy the next in the series as soon as it was available.
Julie by Catherine Marshall. An intense read that we inherited in a box of books from a friend, I remember struggling to finish this one as a teenager because it was so devastating. Yet such a compelling read! This is also the novel that inspired my first inkling of wanting to write in this genre.
Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano. It’s been three years and I still think about the romantic tension in this novel. For real. An awesome hero and heroine. The romance between James and Andrea is soooo swoon-worthy.
Married ’til Monday by Denise Hunter. I’m a huge fan of this author and devour everything she writes. If I had to choose just one of her novels as a favorite, I think it would be this one.
A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade. While she has written many novels, the characterization and second-chance romance plot in this one has stayed with me. I love a flawed wounded hero who desperately needs the heroine’s love to heal him. A fantastic read and one I revisit often.
You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren. The first Deep Haven series book I read (out of order, I know), but I was hooked. The witness protection program, element of suspense, small town setting. Loved it all. I read everything this author wrote after this novel (starting to see a pattern here).
How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck. What’s not to love about a princess and an eligible bachelor prince? The whole Royal Wedding series is very enjoyable, but this one stands out for me as a favorite.
The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate. A masterfully written story. She is a phenomenal author with an amazing gift for pouring beautiful words onto the page. I love the two story lines intertwined in one, the historical aspects, pretty much everything about this novel is wonderful.
A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund. Another author who consistently generates captivating stories, this particular historical romance was unputdownable (a word I just made up, by the way). Loved the premise, the romantic tension, as well as the setting.
Long Way Gone by Charles Martin. This is an upcoming release that I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of. (Thank you, HarperCollins!) A compelling modern day story of the prodigal son that will stay with you for a long time. I’m still pondering the plot, thinking of the characters, reflecting on the take-home message and how God heals our brokenness. Don’t miss this one!

Your turn: do you have a list of favorite novels of all time? A stack on your keeper shelf you just can’t part with? Leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear about what you love to read. 

Happy reading!

 

 

 

Photo credit: Brigitte Tohm via Unsplash

Character Spotlight: Going Up South’s Dylan Conner

My friend, fellow author, and critique partner Janet W. Ferguson recently released the second novel in her Southern Hearts series, Going Up South. I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of this wonderful story. Dylan Conner is the hero of the novel and one of my favorite characters in this series. Character interviews and author insights into the creative process are very enjoyable to read, in my opinion. Perhaps you feel the same. Let’s let Janet (and Dylan) tell us more …

When a Character Won’t Leave You Alone

Character Spotlight: Dylan Conner

I’ve never had a character that was so much fun to write—or imagine! Dylan Conner made appearances in my first book Leaving Oxford as an actor (Think Hottest Man Alive) who had a crush on my heroine, Sarah Beth LeClair. He’d pop in wearing ridiculous disguises to visit her, from Aunt Bee to redneck hippie. He was funny and flirty, but had little interest in settling down. He thought maybe he could with Sarah Beth, but her heart was always elsewhere. When that novel ended, I just had to write his story. I had to figure out what made him tick. What a blast it was looking at feisty actor photos. I don’t think I ever settled on one in particular, but a mixture of different actors.

Here’s a few I looked at…

 

Swoon! Great choices, Janet. Let’s hear from Dylan…

Dylan, where are you from?

As an actor, I have a home convenient to L.A. in beautiful Malibu, California, but I grew up in the mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. I loved the mountains, but not the small town gossip. Malibu has the mountains and the gorgeous view of the pacific, so I have the best of both worlds. Okay, there’s gossip in L.A., too, but I have to work in the place.

Who is the most influential person in your life?

  I’d have to say my mother. She was my rock. And honestly, I probably sent her to her knees a few times. (Sorry, Mom) My father was a non-entity. Once he went to jail, we changed our names and washed our hands of the man, so she was all I had.

How did you end up becoming an actor?

  I was an only child in the mountains of a small town, so I played pretend to entertain myself pretty often. I thought I might do well acting. It seemed like a fun choice, so I worked my way through the University of North Carolina and then moved out to L.A., taking odd jobs behind the scenes. I had a lucky break with my first film, but that’s the way life works in Hollywood. Timing.

Did you see yourself settling down and having a family someday?

No. Never saw that one coming, but you’ll have to read the book. (Wink, wink)

Describe your ideal dream date? (Events and location, characteristics of the person with you, etc.)

A woman who’s real, doesn’t play games, and is confident about being her own person. There are plenty of women available who aren’t quite what they seem. As far as local, I’ve seen most of the world, so just give me some good food and conversation. Oh, and if I’m in the South, some AC.

As an actor, I’m sure you’ve traveled the world both filming and promoting your work. Name one place you’ve visited that changed your life and why?

I have been all over the world. Loved scenery in New Zealand, the food in Italy, the people of Honduras, but the town that changed my life? Oxford, Mississippi.

Any regrets?

I’ve made plenty of mistakes including movies with language and scenes I’m not proud of. Choices with women… I think I’ll leave it at that.

Please tell the audience something you’re proud of.

I’ve always tried to take care of my mother. She loved Victorian houses, so I had a replica of one of her favorite homes built on a mountain in Boone, North Carolina where she lives. Yes, I’m a proud momma’s boy.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

The unexpected gift of a son is my greatest gift, though the way that came about wasn’t ideal.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Oh wow. I love playing super hero. Flying like Super Man. How cool would that be? I jumped off a few things as a boy hoping it would work out that I was Super Man’s secret sun. Still have a few scars.

Which songs are on your playlist right now?

Everything from show tunes, old hymns, to alternative rock. Can’t nail me down to one kind of music. Just call me the music man!

If you’re bummed, who or what cheers you up?

It used to be a night on the town, but really that didn’t solve anything. Now I’d say, I walk in the great outdoors. I pray now, too. Go figure.

Coffee, tea, soda or energy drink?

All of the above. Cheers!

Thank you, Dylan. Great answers. I’m sure fans of this series will enjoy learning more about you.

Back Cover Blurb:

 No one told him he had a son.

Actor Dylan Conner is furious. Not only has he been left out of the child’s life, the baby boy has been given another man’s last name. Determined to be a better father than the sorry guy who’d left him and his mother, Dylan fights to ensure a significant place in his son’s life. Unfortunately, his bad-boy reputation overshadows his good intentions. Only one woman in this small town sees beyond his Hollywood image. And he’s falling for her. Too bad she’s the custody mediator.

After her scandalous divorce in the small town of Oxford, Mississippi, attorney Cassie Brooks has no intentions of practicing law again. The humiliating experience left a bitter taste for love, marriage, and her profession.

Now friends need Cassie’s help in  a custody negotiation, and her role demands she remain objective. She never expected to be drawn to Dylan Conner–the actor who everyone warns is bad news. Not only is the mediation at stake, but so is her heart.

 Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

Janet is active on social media and loves to connect with her readers via her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Going Up South is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iBooks.

Happy reading, friends!

 

 

Happy Book Birthday to Beth K. Vogt’s Almost Like Being in Love

Today award-winning author Beth K. Vogt releases the next novel in her destination wedding series, Almost Like Being in Love. It’s a great read and the perfect book to take with you to the beach or enjoy while relaxing by the pool or lake. For those of us in the states anticipating a long holiday weekend with ample opportunity to read, I highly recommend adding this one to your to-be-read pile.

 

Back cover blurb:

She’s won a luxurious dream wedding–now all she needs is a groom!

Winning an all-expenses paid destination wedding in Colorado might seem like a dream come true for some people–but Caron Hollister and her boyfriend Alex Madison aren’t even engaged. How is she supposed to tell him that she’s won their wedding and honeymoon when he hasn’t asked her to marry him? And while everyone says they’re perfect for each other, how strong is a relationship when it’s built around protecting secrets?

Realtor Kade Webster’s business savvy just secured his company’s participation in the Springs Tour of Homes. He never imagined he’d run into Caron Hollister–the woman who broke his heart–right when Webster Select Realty is taking off. When Kade learns his home stager won’t be able to help him with the Tour of Homes, he vaults past all the reasons he should avoid Caron, and offers her a temporary job helping him on the project. This time, their relationship is purely business–Realtor to Realtor.

Spending time with Kade again has Caron questioning who she is and what she wants. The man intrigues her–at times infuriates her–and reminds her of what she walked away from. Has she been settling for what everyone expects of her? How can Caron say “I do” to one man when she’s wondering “what if” about another?

My review:

There is so much to love about this novel. Almost Like Being in Love is a satisfying read involving a second-chance romance (one of my most favorite tropes) as well as a nuanced plot that examines the deeper issues of addiction, co-dependency, and the heroine’s struggle with gaining her father’s approval. This is heavy stuff and the author approaches each of these issues from a Christian worldview, offering fans of this genre a hope-filled message which both inspires and reminds us of God’s love. I tried to pace myself and savor each chapter, but ended up devouring the whole novel in one weekend. I look forward to more from this talented author. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for a complimentary paperback copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

Readers can connect with Beth via her website as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Promotion for Almost Like Being in Love continues throughout July, so watch social media for more opportunities to connect with the author. Of course, grab a copy of this fabulous novel at your favorite retailer.

10 Great Reads for the Often Vigilant Mama

It’s that time of year when bookworms everywhere roll out their summer reading list. Woot! I’m linking up with the ladies at Broke and Bookish and their annual ‘Ten Books We Plan to Put in Our Beach Bag’ blog post.

Let’s be honest. In my world, very little reading gets done at the beach or beside the swimming pool. Our kids just aren’t self-sufficient near the water yet. I’ll spend approximately seven days at the beach this summer. Maybe eleven if I’m lucky. Our kids will be in school for eight of the next twelve weeks, which means our weekends and evenings will probably be spent at the local pool. I do not have a nanny or a mother’s helper. (Virtual high fives and fist bumps if you do, though. No judgement here). I do, however, have one fabulous husband who shares my love for reading. He also does more than his fair share of the parenting when we are at the beach or pool, which makes me feel guilty for sitting and reading when he’s doing all the work.

See? I’m wrestling with some serious first-world problems here.

My point is, there are about forty-eight books I’d like to read this summer. Realistically, I’ll probably tackle eight of the titles on the following list, reading late at night and when I’m in the school carpool line.

But logistics never stopped me from making a list. I’ve been a mother for twelve years now and I still like to pretend that this might be the year that I will get to read a book at the pool or the beach. Somehow I always succumb to the requests of “Hey, Mom, watch this!”

If you spend most of your summer staring longlingly at that unopened book in your pool or beach bag while you watch your kids splash in the surf or perform that amazing dive or underwater handstand or demand that you  throw those pool rings for retrieval aprroximately 233545 times … this list of novels might be for you, often vigilant mama.

I think you’ll enjoy these compelling, well-written novels that will keep you turning those pages … even if you only manage to read a couple paragraphs at a time.

Perennial Favorites: authors who almost always have a summer release that I eagerly anticipate reading each year

Elin Hilderbrand  Here’s to Us
Karen White  Flight Patterns
Mary Alice Monroe  A Lowcountry Wedding

Inspirational Romance & Women’s Fiction: my favorite genre and this summer has several great new releases

Beth Vogt Almost Like Being in Love: A Destination Wedding Novel
Catherine West The Things We Knew
Susan May Warren’s new Montana Fire Series: Where There’s Smoke , Playing With Fire, and  Burnin’ for You

New-to-Me Authors: titles recommended by other voracious readers

Amy Reichert Luck, Love & Lemon Pie
Laura Dave Eight Hundred Grapes

There you have it. My summer reading list. I hope you enjoy a few minutes of peace and solitude this summer. If you have a chance to read any of these novels, leave a comment here and let me know what you think. Happy reading and pass the sunscreen.

 

photo credit: Autumn Mott via Unsplash

 

Five Minute Friday: Grow

Do you find that our culture is obsessed with ‘growth’? Not just the act of growing, but also the most efficient means of measuring it, as well?

I do.

We think and talk a lot about ‘growth’ at our house.

The middle child isn’t as tall as the oldest, a fact that none of us can ignore. To make matters worse,  his little brother is gaining quickly. Cue the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It isn’t enough to play soccer and have fun. One also wants to score a goal and be the star of the show. If these objectives aren’t achieved, the day is ruined. Tears flow in the car on the way home from the field.

I wish I could say in these moments that I’m a fount of parental wisdom, kicking the heartache and disappointment to the curb with pithy words of encouragement.

But here’s the thing: I covet those achievements, too. Not on the soccer field, because that’s not where I define my worth.

I do, however, want overnight success in most other areas of my life … A best-selling novel, a multi-book contract with a Big 5 publisher, children who love and follow after the Lord, the ‘perfect’ marriage, gourmet meals on the table every night, a clean house, meaningful and fulfilling relationships with my friends … I could go on and on.

The truth is, I want all of the growth and none of the dirt. If I’ve learned anything on this parenting journey it is that perfection is a dream-killer and a joy stealer. We aren’t defined by what we achieve. But God does desire to make us more like Him. Much like the beautiful sunflower He created, He wants us to reflect His glory and often that requires discomfort. Pain. Trials. Challenges.

Stop.

If you aren’t familiar with Five-Minute Friday, it’s a wonderful community of artists, writers, dreamers who gather virtually each week and write for five minutes on a given prompt. If you would like to join in, click here. Also follow the #fmfparty on Twitter for laughter, encouragement, and perhaps new friends, too.

Your turn: tell me about a time you’ve experienced growth in your own life. Leave a comment below. I love connecting with readers.

 

photo credit: Papaver Rhoeas via Unsplash

quote: Laurie Jean Sennott

The Ten on Tuesdays: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

By far the most frequent question I receive from readers is, “Where do your ideas come from?”

The follow-up question is generally something about how I gather the details to describe the settings in my novels. The short answer is that I subscribe to the ‘write what you know’ philosophy. Initially I wasn’t quite brave enough to tackle a setting I know nothing about or couldn’t comfortably research by surfing the web of internet goodness. I’m starting to branch out a little bit and write about professions or settings that intrigue me or I have less experience with.

I read the Broke and the Bookish blog and today’s Top Ten Tuesday post prompt is about sharing our favorite or most-frequented websites. Due to my writing goals and slight social media obsession, there isn’t a whole lot of frivolous website-visiting going on these days. But I do rely heavily on blog posts, newspaper and magazine article archives, and royalty-free stock photo image sites for information and inspiration.

Currently I’m working on a novella called More Than Words. It features a Coast Guard helicopter pilot and a speech pathologist who meet up again in Astoria, Oregon after dating briefly in college. Just for fun, I’ve included a picture of a Coast Guard helicopter. I believe it is quite similar to the one flown by Jake, the hero of More Than Words. While I have dear friends in the Coast Guard who are very helpful when it comes to working out the finer details of life as a young officer, I’ve still done a fair amount of research to get a better understanding of what daily life is like for these aviators.

My favorite and most informative blog posts regarding Coast Guard helicopter pilots and the role of search and rescue are:

“A Day in the Life of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka” by LT Adam Merrill. Click here for an interesting perspective on the demands of a busy search-and-rescue air station in a challenging environment.
“Day in the life: Amanda Harris, Helicopter Pilot” by Erica Murphy. A unique perspective from one of the Coast Guard’s female aviators.
I haven’t watched recently, but I did enjoy the first season of The Weather Channel’s Coast Guard Alaska on TV. Episodes might still be available on Hulu if you’re interested.

I know less about speech pathology than I do about the Coast Guard. A child in More Than Words (who is also the hero’s nephew) has decided to stop speaking. He requires professional therapy from the heroine of the story. This aspect of the plot was inspired by two stories I read regarding selective mutism. Incorporating a child into my cast of characters is a lot of fun for me, but one that doesn’t speak is a bit of a stretch for my writing muscles.

“Selective Mutism: How a Six-Year-Old Was Finally Cured of Her Anxiety Disorder” 
“After Eight Years of Silence, We Finally Got Our Daughter to Speak”

I’ve noticed fans of clean romance tend to gravitate toward novels with small towns and close-knit communities so I try to incorporate a festival or a community event unique to the novella or novel’s setting when possible. Astoria has an annual regatta days that I can’t wait to incorporate into the plot.

My final favorite websites for inspiration and encouragement in the writing life are:

Pinterest
Pixabay
RomanceUniversity
Seekerville

There you have it. A peek behind the curtain at the making of a novella. Would you like to see the cover of More Than Words? 

I thought so.

Totes adorbs, right?

You can’t read it yet. Mostly because I haven’t finished writing it. Good news, though. Newsletter subscribers get to read it first and read it for free as soon as it’s ready. So make sure you subscribe to my quarterly-ish newsletter and watch for an announcement about More Than Words later this summer. There’s a clever little box for that on the right-hand sidebar of my website. I won’t spam you, sell your address, or anything unsavory. Only the good stuff: like a free novella coming soon and other exclusive benefits. Currently, a subscriber receives the first chapter of a yet-to-be-published novel once you opt-in.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m super grateful for you, dear reader. This gig wouldn’t be much fun without you.

helicopter image credit: Pixabay

ebook cover design: Najla qamber designs

Play Ball! Covering Home is FREE for a limited time

Happy weekend, friends. To celebrate the beginning of professional baseball season, my second novel, Covering Home, is free for Kindle e-readers. Woot! Don’t miss this fun, clean romance reviewers have described as, “…a definite home run!”

Download here and start reading today. Promotion is valid through 4/11/16.

If you’re active on social media, would you please consider sharing this post? Word of mouth is a powerful tool and I’d really appreciate your help. Thank you so much!

 

Five Minute Friday: Are you Surprise Averse?

Yep. This pretty much sums up how I feel about surprises.

Maybe it’s the time change that started my week off on a rough note and seemingly made my people cranky and more prone to petty arguments, or perhaps it’s the pollen infiltrating our lives and filling our heads with goo that has me viewing today’s writing prompt in a negative light. All week I’d planned to jump back into the Five Minute Friday gig. When I saw the word ‘surprise’, my immediate thought was, “Man, I hate those.”

Webster calls it differently, but I define a surprise as a rude interruption of my well-ordered plans that wields the potential to drive me to tears in an instant. Hmmm. Control freak much?

I can’t write a negative post like that on a beautiful Friday afternoon, with spring blooming in every direction outside my windows. It just seems wrong. There’s two sides to this surprise thing, right?

An unexpected gift in the mail from a friend who somehow knew encouragement was needed

A deposit in the bank both unearned and undeserved but someone graciously bestowed it, anyway

Unconditional love from our children (I’m always surprised by how quickly they forgive and move on)

Beautiful sunsets and signs of a new season exploding everywhere

A well-written novel from a favorite author with an unexpected plot twist

These are just a few ways I was pleasantly surprised this week. It is hard sometimes living in a fallen, broken world. Our much coveted smooth sailing is often threatened by surprising turn of events. Thankfully we are children of the King, who surprises us again and again with the gift of his unmerited favor.

How about you? How do you feel about surprises? There’s a fabulous community of writers gathered here, sharing their thoughts on ‘surprise’. Click on over and join the fun. Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

photo credit: Tania VdB via Pixabay.com

Top 10 Swoon-worthy Quotes from Books + Movies

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish are hosting a Valentine’s-themed Top Ten Tuesday. Too fun to pass up. I’m sharing my top 10 swoon-worthy quotes from books and movies, because I’m a contemporary romance author and also, hello, #NottingHill.

I love these lines from one of the all-time great novels in the history of the world. (Yes, I love Pride and Prejudice that much). Well done, Miss Jane!
I really, really, really did not want to read The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James in college. Sorry, Dr. Bloxham, but I must speak the truth. Henry and I, we just aren’t on the same wavelength. But this quote. Oh my. Is it not the essence of what it means to truly love another?  “It has made me better, loving you. It has made me wiser, and easier, and brighter. I used to want a great many things before, and to be angry that I did not have them … Now I really am satisfied, because I can’t think of anything better.”
Another novel on my list of please-don’t-make-me-read-this: George Eliot’s Adam Bede. Again, my apologies to Dr. Bloxham for whining. George Eliot’s work taught me so much about literature. I suppose I’m a better reader and author for tackling these challenging novels. This quote was pinned on my bulletin board and scribbled in my journal numerous times. Such a beautiful word picture.
“I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.” -Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), You’ve Got Mail. Then Joe Fox says, “Don’t cry, Shop girl…”  Swoon! I could watch that movie a million times.
“…I love her and it is the beginning of everything.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
The chemistry between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in Notting Hill was phenomenal. The dialog, quirky cast, tension within the scenes … they just don’t make rom-coms like this anymore.
“When each partner loves so completely that he has forgotten to ask himself whether or not he is loved in return; when he only knows that he loves and is moving to its music–then, and then only are two people able to dance perfectly in tune to the same rhythm.” -Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
“I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
“When I met my wife, it was so clear. I just knew. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home, only to no home I’d ever known. I was just taking her hand to help her out of a cab. And it was like… magic.” -Sam (Tom Hanks), Sleepless in Seattle
I haven’t read The History of Love, but I discovered this quote and thought it was totes adorbs. 

That’s all, friends! Thanks for stopping by. If you’d like to share your own list of romantic literary quotes or any other Valentine-themed bookish post, click on over here and link up.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Twelve Sweet Reads

Fans of clean romance won’t want to miss this awesome giveaway. Twelve eBooks from ten authors are up for grabs. Many thanks to author Keely Brooke Keith for pulling this together. Entering is easy–click here for the Rafflecopter link featured on Keely’s author blog. Happy reading!

eBooks included in the Love Sweet Love! Giveaway
The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith
Finding Beth by Linnette R. Mullin

Falling for Alaska by Shannon L. Brown

God’s Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert
Unraveled by Heidi McCahan

Finding Peace by Melaine D. Snitker
Reverie by Christina Yother

Chain of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson
Blue Hydrangeas by Marianne Sciucco

Her Imaginary Husband by Lia London

Uncharted Redemption by Keely Brooke Keith

Reliance by Christina Yother

Official Sweepstakes Rules:

No purchase necessary to enter. Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the United States. Sweepstakes begins Feb. 8, 2016 and ends midnight CST Feb. 15, 2016. Odds of winning dependent upon the number of entries. Grand prize includes one ebook copy of each title listedhere. Winner will be selected at random and notified by email. Once winner notification email is sent, winner must reply within 7 days. Once winner confirms email address, the ebooks will be emailed to the winner’s email address. First name and last initial of winner will be announced, all other information will be kept private. Sweepstakes sponsored by the participating authors. Void where prohibited by law.