When the Wildflowers Bloom is in the running for the 2025 ACFW Carol Awards! What an honor to be listed alongside so many talented authors.
Winners will be announced in September.
Babies are a gift of God, a fact Marigold Parker knows full well.
Fourteen-year-old Marigold (Mary) Parker spends the summer of ’78 with her cousin and best friend, Sharon, biking the roads of their rural neighborhood in Pleasant Waters, North Louisiana. The girls while away the days at the local pond, listening to the BeeGees and talking about boys. Caring for her emotionally fragile mother is Mary’s only worry, until Sharon’s older half-brother finds Mary alone at the pond one day.
She can’t speak of what happened in the woods. The truth will destroy her family and cost her the relationships she holds most precious.
But secrets have a way of making themselves known, and when Mary finds herself pregnant, she’s forced to grapple with hard decisions. Babies are a gift from God. Mary knows this full well, but she doesn’t know how to deal with a pregnancy, or who to turn to for help.
Trials seem to multiply as Mary struggles to keep faith in the God her parents have taught her to trust.
Richly detailed and evocative, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again captures the emotions and the heart, vividly detailing the struggle of facing impossible choices, the true test of family ties, and of the hope found in new beginnings. Infused with both sorrow and faith, Marigold Parker’s tale is a story you won’t soon forget.
One of my favorite places to be is in a book. They are food for the mind and soul. I love sharing about my favorite reads and books both new and old. Here on the blog you’ll find recommendations, reviews, author spotlights and interviews, along with updates about my writing.
About My Novel Writing
I tend to write about people who are facing tough times. I’ve written about grief, eating disorders, abandonment, and other difficult issues. There isn’t always a romantic element, but when there is the romances are sweet. Endings aren’t sugar coated, but I always strive to leave my readers with a sense of hope. No graphic language, sex, or violence, just plenty of heart tugging emotion and laughing. My fiction has a slight to rich southern flavor, depending on the book.
I’ve joined up with another Apron Strings series, and this time we are all writing a story during the interbellum period, the years between WWI-WWII and all feature Mrs. Canfields’ Cookery book, as did the first Apron Strings series. The difference in the new series is that they are all set in a tearoom, and they are nonmagical fairy-tale retellings.
My novel, Della’s Song, is my first foray into writing fiction set in the 1930s, though the setting is familiar, remaining in the East Texas/ArkLaTex area. I picked The Six Swans as inspiration. This added an extra challenge of many brothers,something I didn’t think through.
I always have to make things just a little harder than necessary.
My family is a gospel group, so there is music, and unlike the original fairy tale, this story has a little romance.
In the wake of a devastating train accident, Della Swan’s world is shattered. Her father and brother are forever changed, and the Swan Family Singers have no choice but to depend on the charity of formidable Aunt Leticia, proprietor of the Hotel Fairwood.
Of Della’s six brothers, only two remain with her at the hotel: Quiet Max, the youngest, and Frank, the pianist who lost his arm—and his heart for music. The rest are sent away to school or work. Aunt Leticia believes the children must learn to make their way in the world, effectively banishing them.
During Father’s recovery, the repercussions of his head injury make one thing clear. Life as the Swans knew it, traveling the south and sharing gospel music, may never return. Yet Della clings to the belief that God isn’t finished with her family or their calling and sets a plan in motion to bring them together again.
When she develops an unexpected bond with Clayton Miller, the hotel’s reserved, long-time employee, his steady presence reminds her there is often more to people—and situations—than meets the eye.
Did you face any particular challenges while writing your novel? Can you tell us about that and how you managed to overcome those challenges?
Into the Promised Land is based on my grandparent’s true life story of coming to faith. I wanted so deeply to preserve Grandpa and Grandma’s story for future generations but didn’t want it to sound like a biography, so I gave them voices, thoughts, and personalities.
It wasn’t until about halfway through my first draft that I started having doubts about my ability to bring them to life in a way that honored their real lives and didn’t leave my family scratching their heads. Figuring out which emotions to amplify and which stories to omit was challenging.
To help overcome these challenges, I sought feedback from both my family and my critique partner. Having both perspectives really helped find the right balance. I’m so pleased that the feedback I’ve received from family members tells me I found the right balance to capture the spirit of my grandparent’s personalities and the story.
Writing is hard work, and I can imagine that the extra pressure honoring your grandparents was stress producing. I’m so glad you persevered and found the support you needed to finish.
Were there any “special ingredients” in this story?
While during a trip to Ohio to do research, my aunt showed me this little flannel patch. On the back, it had a little sticky note that said—from Niagara Falls while dating. No one knew the origins, but grandma and grandpa always shared they visited Niagara Falls as young adults. I knew then I would include a Niagara Falls chapter! Of course I made something big happen there =).
What a neat bit of inspiration!
Writing a book is a huge commitment. Why did you choose to tell this story over any other?
When I started, I didn’t know if I could finish. I always had trouble with discipline; I would lose interest in a task before I completed it. I thought this might be my one shot at writing a book, so it had to be something good. Writing about my grandparents gave deep purpose to the story. It just wasn’t a work of fiction–it was deeply personal. I believe the best stories always come from this deep personal space, having something to say and having a way to say it.
I agree, and that’s a wonderful way to put it.
If your novel were a song, what type of music would it be? Did you have a specific song that seemed to go with your story?
Love this question because I believe every book has a soundtrack. The soundtrack to Into the Promised Land was “Golden Hour,” an album by Kacey Musgraves. When I was halfway through writing my book, she came out with another record, “Deeper Well.” Those two albums I listened to over and over as I wrote.
Now you’re making me feel major nostalgia because I haven’t listened to those albums in a while. Kacey’s lyrics feature questions and delve into profound human emotions. It was the vibe of Into the Promised Land.
Now for a fun question or two.
Early Riser or Night Owl?
Early riser—up at 6–do my devotions and then work on my writing till around 7:15 — then it’s off to work!
What’s the funniest or most unusual thing that’s ever happened to you while you were researching for a fictional story?
This happened after I published Into the Promised Land. I had a reader who reached out to me on Facebook Messenger. They were a distant relative by marriage—she was so inspired by one character that she searched until she found their death certificate. I joked with her that she was a better researcher than I was. I had the obituary, but it didn’t even dawn on me that the Amish would have filed death certificates! I was so grateful for the extra insight that piece of research provided.
What’s next?
My next book is a Christian literary novel. I hope to finish it sometime by the end of 2026. It’s been so fun to write and like Into the Promised Land–God always teaches me something with every book. I’ll give you a sneak peek:
Haunted by a decade-old murder in his congregation, a Mennonite pastor reluctantly agrees to serve as a spiritual advisor to the condemned killer on death row. As buried truths surface, he risks his ministry, his ties with the victim’s family, and faces the ultimate test of faith in the fight to save his new friend from execution.
The Kindle version of Into the Promised Land will be available next, along with plans for the audiobook as well. If readers are interested in the story and seeing pictures, please visit my website sarahheatwole.com. They sign up for my newsletter, and I will mail a free copy of a recipe booklet and pictures I put together as a thank you.
Thank you for visiting on my blog today, Sarah!
About Sarah
Sarah Heatwole is a writer of Mennonite heritage from Hartville Ohio. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she holds a BS degree in Social Work. Her short stories have been published in Clean Fiction Magazine, and her debut, Into the Promised Land was a semi-finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest. She lives in Smyrna Tennessee with her husband, and three children.
Growing up in the shadow of the Great Depression, Andy Troyer longs for more than the hunger and hardship plaguing his family. When his father becomes a minister, their prospects improve, but Andy’s restless spirit still yearns for something beyond the bounds of his Amish community.
In a neighboring district, tragedy shatters Sylvia’s sheltered world. In the depths of grief, a vivid dream leads her to an encounter with Jesus that changes the course of her life.
When Andy and Sylvia’s paths cross, they discover a shared longing and love that deepens as they embrace a new faith together. But following Jesus means jeopardizing the security of family and community, forcing them to choose between clinging to tradition or risking everything to answer His call.
Inspired by a true story, Into the Promised Land is a timeless tale of love and loss, courage and forgiveness, and the life-changing power of God’s redeeming grace.
I’ve been feeling a bit more contemplative than usual these days.
As one year closes and another begins, I’m considering the collections I’ve gathered over the last twelve months. I don’t mean my dust catchers, which I have aplenty, but the other collections. Quiet victories and unexpected lessons, laughter and a few tears. Ordinary moments that God used to teach me more than I realized at the time.
The story we live leaves its mark on us, shaping the way we see the world and, hopefully, leaves us wiser.
I pray God blesses us all with moments of connection, sparks of inspiration, courage to chase dreams, and small joys to fill all the days of the new year.
Have you made your reading list for 2026 yet? Looking for a romance to add to you reading list for 2026? This promo features 26 wholesome romances, including my book, Joann.
Here’s another listing I joined with a selection of free stories. I am sharing a sample chapter of my work in progress, The Fields of Mercy, for this promo. Follow the link to download. I’d love to know what you think of it. https://books.bookfunnel.com/freewithamy/wihgq5ihpb
Talking today with fellow Carol Award finalist Denise M. Colby!
What was one (or two) of the most enjoyable moments you had while writing When Plans Go Awry?
Since this was my debut novel, I had twelve years to work on this book, so there are many ways I could respond to this. By far the most enjoyable was making all the writing friends along the way. The encouragement, the help, the feedback. I couldn’t have published this book without all of those people who have helped me in some way throughout this journey. From a writing perspective, I would take a class such as point of view, or a workshop on the dark moment, and then write a scene from what I learned. To have the idea click and it fit within my story. I thoroughly enjoyed writing the banter between Luke and Olivia. They do not want to like each other. They have other plans. Finding ways to put them near each other and see how they reacted was fun. I also enjoyed creating the character Bert, who is a rooster who has become a favorite with readers.
Finaling with your debut is an incredible accomplishment! Making friends along the way is so rewarding as well.
What was the greatest disappointment you faced in your writing journey thus far, and how did you overcome it (or who helped you overcome it)?
I entered a lot of contests. I think I counted more than twenty-five. The feedback wasn’t always positive and I’d have two choices. Give up or try again. Sometimes I made the changes, then the next year, my scores were less. I would end up confused, disappointed, and having a hard time picking myself back up. I’d take a break, eat a lot of chocolate. I pleaded with God asking Him if this was what he still wanted me to do. Every time I was ready to quit, he would place someone in my path to give me the encouragement I needed. A small win as a semi-finalist in the Genesis, or someone to meet with me for coffee and review my scenes. One thing was I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to show my kids by example of not giving up. So I kept writing. Rewrote scenes. Continued to attend workshops and writing seminars.But I second-guessed myself all the time.
And then I realized something. Authors and readers are different. And will all have different opinions. It was time for me to make the decisions (along with God’s guidance) on what this story should be. That was a little freeing. And when things came together. Then I was able to land in a critique group with writers that understood my writing. The feedback was so valuable. And encouraging.
How wonderful to find your tribe. And a wonderful lesson on perserverance.
Did you discover anything about yourself as you were writing your book? Can you tell us about that?
I realized I have a grit. Not necessarily a thick skin, but grit. As a young teen, I had a dream of dancing at Disneyland, so I chose to go to college nearby. That first audition (with 700 other teens) was heartbreaking. I cried. Wondered why I couldn’t be good enough. But I went back. Took me three auditions to finally land a part in the parades. Huge lesson for me in never giving up.
Writing wasn’t a dream until later in life. And I ignored God’s nudging for a long time. English was not my best subject in school (math was). I did not want to take on learning something new. The desire to do this was all God. But I’ve listened, been obedient, and have learned so much about story, people, and myself. As a writer we have to decide on a lot of things. Figuring those things out has taught me how to take chances and try ideas out. My faith has grown because I’ve leaned on the Lord through the ups and downs and as I learned to be a bit bolder for Him when I share with others that I write Christian fiction.
Why did you choose historical fiction as your genre?
I love to read historical fiction. I love historical nuggets and I wonder what it was like to live in a different time period.
Do you have a favorite short scene or quote from your book? Why did you pick that one?
Olivia was taking a walk and came across a mean bull. Luke had to scoop her up on his horse and get them both to safety in a small shack. This is right after, before it was safe to go out again. I love the banter between them.
His tone ruffled her more than she cared to admit. “Please don’t raise your voice at me.”
He raised his hands in the air in surrender. “Sorry, but you weren’t listening.”
“Well … you’re being a brute,” Olivia retorted
“I’m used to people following my directions,” he stated.
“You mean orders?”
“Are you saying I’m bossy?” He closed the distance between them until he stood so close, she saw his nostrils flare and his left eye twitch.
But she held her ground. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
He took another step closer.
His warm breath tickled her cheek. Her heart pounded, waiting for him to fire back, but his eyes searched her face, then landed on her lips. A not-so-uncomfortable tingle flowed through her.
He smirked, and a small dimple appeared on his right cheek. “I can see the events of today have taken a toll on your otherwise highly educated mind.”
She wrinkled her nose at him but didn’t respond. So much for him being a knight in shining armor.
What are you working on now?
From the beginning, I wanted to write a series of five women who all came west to teach in one-room schoolhouses in California. When Plans Go Awry is the first teacher, Olivia Carmichael. The second book released in May of this year and it’s titled A Slight Change of Plans, and the heroine is Jenny. I just completed the manuscript for the third teacher, Lydia. So now there’s two more I plan to write.
But then the side characters called out for attention.
I have a novella, called No Plan at All, launching on November 4 that came out of this first novel (When Plans Go Awry). It’s a prequel (set two years earlier) and is the catalyst to Luke’s story arc. I wanted to write her perspective of why she left because in my mind she had a good reason.
Also from this first book, When Plans Go Awry, came an unexpected connection between two characters, so I plan to start writing their story as a Christmas novella.
I’m looking forward to the new stories you come up with. Thanks for visiting with me today on my blog.
About the Author
Denise M. Colby writes historical romance sweetened with faith, hope, and love. She finds history fascinating and contemplates often how it was to live in the 1800’s.
Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist and placed 3rd in the Historical Romance category of the OCRW BBB contest.
She treasures the written word and the messages that can be conveyed when certain words are strung together. An avid journal writer, she usually can be found with a pen and notepad whenever she’s reading God’s word.
Every year Denise chooses a word to focus on. For 2025, her word is FLOURISH! Sign up for her newsletter at her website denisemcolby dot com or you can follow Denise on facebook or instagram.
Denise’s Newest Release
Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned.
Sarah Anne Baker never wanted to be anyone’s burden. But hours after losing the Godmother who raised her, she faces an impossible choice: marry her late fiancé’s brother—or flee into the unknown. With fear as her only companion, she places her trust in the one man leaving town that night—the enigmatic traveling peddler known only as Mr. Smith.
Alexander Sinclair walked away from his noble title in Scotland to live a quiet, hidden life. Peddling wares from town to town has given him peace, free from the weight of expectation. Until a desperate young woman crosses his path. He can’t turn her away… no matter the cost.
Together, Sarah and Alex set out on a journey through loss, healing, and a bond neither expected to find. But as secrets surface and choices demand to be made, both must decide: cling to the lives they planned—or risk everything to embrace the future God has written for them.
A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever.
Olivia Carmichael escapes her past to become the next schoolmarm in the small ranching community of Washton, California. Her plan? Live a quiet spinster life alone, never to depend on anyone again.
Luke Taylor selected a mail-order bride to help raise his two younger sisters and protect his broken heart. His plans don’t include being responsible for the beautiful new schoolmarm, who threatens his resolve between his need to stay away and his need to ensure her safety.
Along the way, Olivia’s carefully laid-out plans are challenged at every turn, and Luke’s mail-order bride is not what he expected.
With the help of the entire town and its wily rooster, can Luke and Olivia learn to trust again?
The holidays are a joyful time, but let’s be honest, they can also be overwhelming. Between gift shopping, family obligations, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to forget to slow down and breathe. One of my favorite ways to find a little peace during the holidays is surprisingly simple. Reading! (You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?)
While reading may not be the cure for everything, ten or twenty minutes with a book can feel like a mini-reset during a stressful December day. Free reads are a wonderful way to unwind without adding anything else to your budget.
Another stress reliever for me is making small items from my fabric scraps. I’ve seen the felt bookmarks around social media, but could not lay my hands on any so used what I found.
For this teacup book marker I used a Christmas print, a scrap of brown cotton, and medium weight fusible interfacing for the cup and zig-zagged the edges. The string is cotton crochet thread and ends with a bit of natural muslin (which is really too thin for zig-zagging even after fusing the interfacing.)
I thought I had some red fleece I could use to cut out a tiny heart and stitch on the tag, but I must have used it all up. I found a red button and an already threaded needle with red thread, but no spool of red!
I love finding bits as I go along and making things up as I go.
This Christmas, join a scavenger hunt that combines the joy of Advent with the excitement of a daily clue featuring 24 Christian authors (including yours truly)!
How The Scavenger Hunt Works
Each day from December 1–24, those who sign up will receive one email featuring a new author, a fun clue, and a special freebie just for you. Every day you follow along, you’ll be entered into the Daily Prize Draw, and if you win, the featured author will contact you directly and send your prize straight to you.
To enter the Grand Prize Draw on December 25, simply collect your clues throughout the month and fill out the “Here Are My Clues” form on December 24. Make sure to submit it before the day ends so your name is included in the Christmas Day drawing.
It’s simple, festive, and full of surprises.
How to Join
To participate, simply click the link, fill out the form, and prepare your inbox for 24 days of festive mystery and bookish joy.
YA Fiction from Carol Award Winning Author Donna Jo Stone
Sometimes the only way to hold on is by learning to let go.
For sixteen-year-old Nina, communicating her emotions is ridiculously hard. She expresses those best through art, the one thing she’s good at. When she’s chosen to design the school mural, she’s ecstatic. It’s a chance to connect with Mom and make her proud, because even though they don’t always see eye to eye, Mom always loves Nina’s art. But Nina’s joy is cut short by the news that her mother’s cancer has returned, and this time it’s terminal.
Nina can’t accept Mom’s decision to refuse further treatment. There must be a way to save her. If Mom won’t find it, Nina will.
Consumed by her obsession to find a cure, Nina risks alienating the people she needs most—her friends, her family, and the boy who only wants to help.
Is it better to let Mom make her own choices about treatment, or should Nina keep pressing for a miracle, even if it builds an emotional wall between them?
“A gripping, heartrending, and yet ultimately hopeful journey of a family struggling with grief and autism.”–SOPHIA L HANSEN, critically acclaimed author of Water’s Break
“Promise Me Tomorrow takes a deep dive into the real struggles young adults face today—from the tension with family to the emotional rollercoaster of first love, while increasing awareness and understanding of sensory processing and autism spectrum challenges.
Donna Jo Stone brings her characters to life through rich, detailed development, capturing the insecurities and angst of adolescence. Her portrayal of teens—especially Nina—feels authentic, focusing on what connects us.”–FELICIA BRIDGES,Award-winning author of the International Mission Force Series
Talking today with fellow Carol Award finalist Jayna Baas.
Tell us a little bit about your research process. Have you taken any trips for research?
Reading (and reading and reading) has always been my primary means of researching. I live in rural northern Michigan, which is not very close to most Revolutionary War sites—at least not the locations I write about!
In 2023, however, I was privileged with the opportunity to visit Kings Mountain National Military Park and walk up the hill where southern Patriots fought the battle of Kings Mountain, featured in Patriot at the River. I was pleased to find that the scene I had already drafted didn’t require too much rewriting, meaning I’d used a fairly effective combination of maps, journal entries, and other historical sources. But I did discover that it would be much harder than I’d realized for my hero to know what was happening on the far side of the hill!
When I start researching a new story, I always start with a flyover view of the period and its major events. Then, once I’ve decided on the story itself, I go back over my research sources multiple times and really zoom in on pertinent details. I spent quite a bit of mental energy chasing down a definitive answer to whether or not the British regiment of Highlanders wore kilts at the battle of Cowpens, but that would have been wasted time if I had ultimately decided not to write about that battle at all. (Spoiler: The 71st Regiment of Foot did wear kilts when they first came to America, but by the time Cowpens rolled around, they were most likely wearing campaign trousers.)
History is so fascinating! I love the little odd things history research turns up.
What’s the most interesting or unique thing you’ve come across as you were researching for your novels?
I don’t know if this would qualify as interesting or unique to anyone but myself, but it’s one of my absolute favorite research moments to look back on: Early on in the process for Patriot at the River, I decided that my character Rane Armistead would be a deserter from the Royal Navy. This led me to conclude he would have been aboard the British fleet that rendezvoused off Cape Fear, North Carolina, in 1776, but I really didn’t have much historical context beyond that.
Then, quite by coincidence, I started rereading Colonel Ethan Allen’s narrative of his time as a prisoner of war. Ethan Allen has always been an interesting figure to me, and his capture of Fort Ticonderoga “in the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress” used to be one of my favorite stories of the War for Independence. So imagine my surprise and delight when he described the ship that transported him from England to the Colonies for trial—and it was the very same ship the fictional Rane Armistead would have served on.
Just like that, I had officers’ names, descriptions of shipboard conditions, and a record of what my character might have experienced during his time at sea. Most of those details didn’t make it into Patriot at the River, but they allowed me to use Ethan Allen as an influence in Rane Armistead’s story, and his account has proved invaluable in recent weeks as I’ve worked on a short story featuring Rane’s experiences in the Royal Navy.
Can you remember the first time you realized you loved writing stories?
I’ve made up stories for as long as I can remember, and I started writing them down as soon as I learned to write. One of my first books ever was a beautiful creation of construction paper, tape, and crayon, titled Little Spring Valley and telling the story of a pretty little valley through each season. (It got quite boring and quite repetitive quite fast.) Then there was a short story about a pet spider owned by a boy named Lester Billy Frognoodle . . .
Frognoodle is a fantastic name! It sounds like you are like many authors. We seem to love story from an early age.
Who was the most influential person in encouraging you to write? Can you tell a little about an interaction you had with them and how that interaction impacted your writing?
My mom has always been my greatest cheerleader, and early on she received the official title of Chief Brainstorming Consultant—always willing to act as a sounding board while I figured out how to get my characters out of the latest corner I’d written them into.
Outside my own family, one of my pastors (now retired) gave me some advice I’ve never forgotten. When I wrote my first full-length novel, Preacher on the Run, I asked him if my characters were biblically justified in their resistance efforts. His answer: “You have to write what people actually believed back then.” During the Regulator Uprising, the focus of Preacher on the Run, Bible-believing Christians believed they were doing the right thing by resisting corrupt government.
Ever since that conversation, I’ve remembered his advice when I run into issues that might seem controversial to modern readers, and it really takes the pressure off. It’s not my job to tell readers how they should feel about history; it’s my job to be accurate. And it’s a wonderful feeling when I do my best to simply tell the truth about history and discover it really does resonate with modern readers. Times change, but people don’t, and as one of my characters is fond of saying, “The truth will hold its own.”
Thanks for talking with us today, Jayna.
Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is the award-winning author of the For Liberty & Conscience series and serves as director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with courageous characters and biblical truth. Sign up for a free short story, book recommendations, and more at booksbyjayna.com.
The fight he got wasn’t the fight he wanted.
It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally.
But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches his settlement fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home.
Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before his settlement goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first.
“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a phone, asking her landlord to come to dinner.”
Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.
Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?
To Do… 17. Finish unpacking 18. Drink coffee 19. Ask Gilbert to marry me
********* This is a no-door, kisses only romance with beautiful raw emotions and silly and wonderful characters.
My Thoughts
The main character, Cordelia, or CJ as she would rather be called, is absolutely adorable and has personality plus. And of course, I love, love, love the Anne of Green Gables references. Cordy presents as possibly having ADHD. The dialogue is fast paced, and the main character finds herself in awkward situations from time to time.
You may be able to predict that Cordelia/Cordy/CJ does not initially tolerate her Gilbert’s attention even though she is very attracted to him. Cute situations, fun side characters that fill out the story, and a lot of heart.
Donna Jo Stone 
