I’m full of celebrations this week!
At the start of the week I turned in the manuscript to the latest Love Inspired book, it will be the sixth book in my Goose Harbor series. I’m also sharing the first ever glimpse of the cover for Apple Orchard Bride, which is the fifth book in the Goose Harbor series!
What do authors do after we turn in a book? Honestly, since I juggle a full-time day job, a family, and a writing career, I usually hit send on a manuscript and the very next day I keep my nose to the grind and work on whatever is next.
But not this time.
I’m going to savor a little free time. I’m going to relax and I’m going to read a TON! I can’t wait. Fall starts this month (sorry friends in other parts of the world where that isn’t the case) and it’s my *favorite* time of year. I kid you not, I get irrationally excited about it all. I’ve intentionally set aside time this season to spend with my family and fully enjoy September and October. Pumpkin farms, bonfires, apple picking, and hayrides will all be happening!
Can I tell you a little about Apple Orchard Bride? You might have heard an author use the term “heart-book” before. Every book we write has a little piece of us inside of it and we care about every character that crosses our pages, but some are just … extra special. Apple Orchard Bride is one of my heart-books. The heroine, Jenna Crest, has lived in my mind and within scribbled notes dating back more than ten years ago. For those keeping track, that’s BEFORE I ever started writing books. Her story and struggles tugged and weighed on me.
Once I started writing, Jenna got tucked away. I knew she belonged in the community of Goose Harbor, but she was younger when the series started and I had to wait until the right time to introduce her. Finally we got to meet her in The Single Dad Next Door, the third book in the series, and then it finally came time write her book. And now in January 2017 it’ll be in your hands!
One of the great things about Jenna’s story for me is that it takes place in fall (I DID tell you that’s my favorite time of year, right?). Jenna’s father runs an apple orchard and as he struggles with a diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Jenna comes home to take care of him and the orchard. What Jenna doesn’t know is that her father has also hired Toby, Jenna’s childhood best friend. Jenna had a huge crush on him in high school but (clueless) Toby broke her heart without even realizing it. Jenna’s been through some traumatic things since her and Toby parted ways and I just love them and how they both heal.
So without further ado … here is the cover for Apple Orchard Bride:
What do you think? When the art department sent it to me I was jaw-to-the-table stunned by how beautiful it is! Jenna and Toby are perfect and the whole scene speaks of how God redeems even the worst, more terrible things that can happen to us. I feel like it’s a cover that breathes hope. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Sticking with the Goose Harbor theme I’m going to give away TWO copies of Small-Town Girl (book four in the Goose Harbor series) to people who comment today. You can comment about the cover or with suggestions of books, movies, and/or shows you think I should watch/read during my down time in the next two months. I especially love a good romance and anything that’ll make me happy sigh! I’m looking forward to your suggestions.
A coffee drinker, avid reader, and chocolate aficionado, Jessica is multi-published and writes sweet romance for Love Inspired. She holds degrees in both Communications and Biblical Studies and has worked as a zookeeper, a librarian, camp counselor, horse wrangler, housekeeper, and finance clerk, but now loves her full-time work in municipal government. Jessica and her family live in the Midwest.
Love the cover Jessica, it looks sweet:) For me, Spring is here, but I don’t think that the temperatures have caught up yet!! Maybe by Christmas it will warm up…! Have you ever watched/read Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South? So lovely, heartbreaking, romantic…ahh. Enjoy time with your family:)
Living in SW Michigan with many apple orchards, the cover of your new book is delightful and accurate. After an extremely hot summer, the temperatures finally feel like falls in the air. Yesterday my husband and I took a country drive with the windows and sun roof open. So nice to be enjoy the fresh air. The apple orchards are ripe unto harvest with golden delicious and my personal favorite honey crisp. This year there will be an abundant apple harvest. Michigan ranks third in the US for apple production. Hopefully they are at my favorite farmer’s market this morning.
As a Michigander, we have several amazing cozy mystery writers whose stories have Michigan settings. A fall favorite is Peg Cochran’s Berried Secrets: A Cranberry Cove Mystery. Cranberry Cove is an imaginary small SW Michigan town. Peg Cochran is from Grand Rapids, but she visited a cranberry bog at De Grandchamp Farms in South Haven. The farm is giving hayrides to watch the harvest Saturday, October 15.
My favorite romantic movies are Hallmark movies. Hallmark’s Fall Harvest movies begin Saturday, October 1. My favorite from last year was “Harvest Moon” about a pumpkin farm.
Jessica, I already have a copy of Small-Town Girl, my weekend read. Happy Labor Day! Enjoy our beautiful colorful Michigan.
Your book cover is really pretty! Hope you enjoy your down time for the next few weeks! Fall is great where I live (Northern CA) because the weather finally cools down!!
Lovely! And I also adore fall. :) enjoy all your fall activities.
Lovely cover. Did you have any say in choosing the cover?
Gorgeous cover and I can’t wait to read it!
If you make it to MI this fall, let me know and I’ll meet you at the orchard! ;)
The cover is gorgeous. My daughter just got married and her photographer loves to do outdoor pictures like that.
I would recommend the authors at inspyromance :-)! I would also recommend Grace Livingston Hill. She wrote books and supported herself and her two daughters at a time when there weren’t many choices for a woman to support herself. She was widowed at least once.
That definitely is a beautiful cover!
After a hot and humid summer here in the south, I’m looking forward to fall as well, Jessica.
As for your cover…WOW! It’s really beautiful, and the bouquet is popping off the page.
I love the cover Jessica. The wedding gown is so pretty and romantic. Enjoy your time with your family this month. Hope autumn is beginning to shine in your area. Finally turning a little cooler here in the mountains of West Virginia. October is the perfect autumn month here with all of the array of colors on the trees.
I love the cover, it’s gorgeous! If you are looking for a good book, try The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck. I’m 3/4 the way through and I’m loving it.
I agree – the cover is great!
The cover looks great .
I am like you,I love fall.
It something about the crispness of the air as the traces of summer disappear.
My favorite colors are burgundy,.rusts. oranges, purple, colors that just envelope you and comfort you.
Your timing is perfect, and so is the cover, since it is apple harvesting time here as well. I am certainly glad because it also means cooler temperatures :) Thanks for the insight.
Gorgeous cover! Enjoy your Fall Break. May I recommend my own novella, Team Bride, which is a short read set in autumn? ;)
Hi Jessica,
The book sounds so delightful and the cover looks great! January is a long ways away, but I guess we’ll just have to be patient.
I too love the fall. I was born in the fall, got married in the fall, and… (this part is a mix of feelings)….start back to work every fall. I love the colors and how they change, I love how the air is crisp and how it just calls for a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and snuggling down with a good book.
I love this cover. My family lived in Winchester VA for 19 years and that place is called the “apple capital of the world”. Seeing this cover reminds me of the big “Apple Blossom Festival” that is held each year. I look forward to reading the story.
I loved the cover. It’s beautiful. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I really like Fall and Spring. There’s nothing like the explosion of colors in eaxh season.
*each season
cover is beautiful! I suggest reading Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s Rodeo series or any of Karen Kingsbury’s books
I’ve collected every single Goose Harbor book except Small-Town Girl and I’m thinking Apple Orchard Bride will be a favorite. Call me superficial, but a great cover helps. :-)
Beautiful cover! I always hold my breath when I get that email and get the first glimpse of my cover.
I so can’t wait to meet the older Jenna, Jessica! I’ve really enjoyed the Goose Harbor series of books and very much can’t wait for Apple Orchard Bride! I just adore that cover :-)
As you know, no need to enter my name as I’m part of your J’s Crew! These books are delightful, blessings to everyone entering to win a copy! I hope you love Small Town Girl as much as I did. Jessica’s a wonderful writer :-)
Sorry everyone! My internet got knocked out unexpectedly due to construction/upgrading cables in our area so I wasn’t able to come and comment back to everyone until today. THANK YOU for all the cover love.
I *love* North & South and own it. Mr. Thornton?? *swoon*
I still have “Harvest Moon” saved on my DVR because I loved it so much! It’s often on in the background while I’m writing :) I’m looking forward to Hallmark’s Fall Harvest movies too.
Northern CA is such a beautiful area! I have relatives there. Enjoy your fall.
Thanks! It’s 70 today! I’m thrilled.
At Love Inspired we fill out paperwork called an “Art Facts Sheet” or AFS for short. In the AFS you describe 3-4 different scenes from your book and there are also places to describe the main characters as well a the themes in the book. After that, it’s in the very capable hands of the art department! Sometimes they go with a scene you described and sometimes they don’t (I’m happy to say this cover is in Apple Orchard Bride!)
Goodness, yes! I’d love it! Big A still needs to meet your crew. We usually make it to the Saugatuck area at least once. What was the name of the apple orchard we went picking at last time?
Thanks for the recommendations! I love the writers at inspyromance too :)
Thank you!!! I love it!
The art department knocked it out of the park!!
October is my *favorite* month all year!
I know a lot of people who like that book. Thanks for the recommendation
I can’t wait to hold it.
Waking up to the crispness is the best! We have a large deck were I like to have coffee on the weekends. I’ve stayed inside for months (I hate summer) and am excited to start using the deck again.
Visiting apple orchards and pumpkin farms are two of our highlights every year :)
It’s on the list!
The great thing about Love Inspired is that it *says* a January release but that means it’ll usually hit shelves in the bookstores by mid-December!
The “Apple Blossom Festival”! That sounds like so much fun. Might have to put it on my someday list ;)
Agreed! The colors! The smells! And I can check my mail without getting sweaty :)
I love Shannon’s Rodeo series!
That means a lot!! Goose Harbor is a special little place.
Exactly! And then when it’s a book that’s really special to you … it makes loving that cover even so much more important!
Do they live near me?! I live in Lodi!
*hugs* Trixi you made my day!
They’re in wine country.
That’s what Lodi is known for! Our annual Grape Festival is coming up this month!
Gorgeous cover and I just read the Goose Harbor book you mentioned! I loved the clash between the minimalist and the hoarder.
The cover is lovely!
I too love fall, in fact a girlfriend and I went to an Apple Festival today after church?
Love the cover of your book! Would love to win!