After over 200 rejection letters, I spent four intense years studying the craft of writing. Certain I’d learned all I needed to know, I prepared to go to my first national conference, back in 2005. I’d submitted my latest manuscript to a publisher and was waiting to hear back from them. I felt good about this book. And I had a meeting with the editor at the conference so I could cinch the deal. Until mere weeks before the conference and my meeting, I got a rejection. I was bummed. Really bummed. So bummed, I almost didn’t show up for my meeting.
In the end, I kept my appointment. I was a nervous wreck and decided to ask the editor why they rejected my book and try to get some pointers from her. So I told her about the book, this preacher’s wife was killed by a drunk driver two years before the beginning of the story. During their marriage, he’d sent her white roses on important dates. Since her death, he takes them to her grave on important dates. In the first scene of the book, he meets the florist who’s always done the white roses. And then her brother ends up getting the position of associate pastor at the preacher’s church, so they’re in close proximity. Of course, there’s an attraction, but he’s not over his wife and even though she’s a Christian, she feels incapable of being a pastor’s wife.
I didn’t tell the editor, but I wrote the book to deal with my feelings since my husband had answered the call to preach after sixteen years of marriage. I’d been a Christian since my teens, but the title of pastor’s wife, gave me that deer in the headlights look. The book helped me deal with those fears.
The editor was great. She told me it was a nice story, but it needed more conflict. Then she asked who the drunk driver was. I explained, just some guy who’s not in the book. She asked if it could be the florist’s brother. Not really, without a ton of rewriting. And I liked her brother. But after the meeting, my brain whirred. And I came up with the perfect drunk driver. And then the WHOA came! But I learned at the conference, I had a ton more to learn. Finally, three years, a setting change, and lots more learning, and the puzzle pieces fit into place. I had two publishers interested in the book. 
And in 2010, White Roses became my first published title.
Since then, I’ve tried to have a WHOA in every book. The book I’m currently revising, before my agent shops it around, has a big Whoa. But it’s a delicate balance. I want to reader to be shocked, but then think, oh yeah, she hinted here and there, why didn’t I see it? Have I put in enough hints, too much foreshadowing, or too little? I don’t have a clue, I know what happens. And all my critique partners have read it, so I’m out of fresh brains.
Working on the book got me to thinking about the stories that have Whoa moments that I’ve read. They stick with me. These are the books I keep thinking about long after I read them. And often end up rereading.
The first book that made me go Whoa and think about the characters for months later was Mending Places by Denise Hunter. I won’t ruin the plot, but WOW, this book. I never saw it coming. Until it did. And then I was like, WHOA, she gave hints and prepared me for it. And then, WHOA. I couldn’t stop thinking about those characters. I tried to tell my husband about it. But he’s not a fiction reader and totally didn’t get it. What a moving book. Wow. In fact, this whole series has WHOA moments I never saw coming. And made me think about the characters for months to come. Actually, all three books in this series have WHOA moments – Saving Grace and Finding Faith round 
out the rest of this WHOA series.
Becky Wade’s True to You gave me another WHOA moment. I never saw it coming, but the hints were there. I thought about the characters for months. And Becky did a great job of working around the WHOA so the reader was certain the characters had their happily ever after. Like a puzzle, all the pieces were there, but I didn’t put them together. Until WHOA.
Denise Hunter got me again recently with Autumn Skies. This one had been in my TBR pile for a while, but I’ve been so busy. Finally, I
carved out time. I was reading along, enjoying the story, falling in love with the characters, and then WHOA. Again, all the pieces were there, but I didn’t connect them until Denise skillfully did it for me. And I thought about the characters and their WHOA for weeks. I have to find a book discussion friend who likes to read Inspy Contemporary Romance, so we can start our own little WHOA moment book club.
So what books have given you a WHOA moment? Did you see the reveal coming? Or were you broad-sided, but then thought back and realized the clues were there? Don’t share any plot reveals, just share your WHOA moment books.
I’m giving away a print copy of The Cowboy’s MIssing Memory, US and international. Deadline: Oct 17th. I’ve got a busy day today, but I’ll try to check in often. It may be evening though before I can chat.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
thanks for sharing today. I love books that give me that WHOA moments. one series was by Mary Connealy. The High Sierra Sweethearts. and by Laurie Larsen Preacher Man. there have been others, but these two still stand out in my mind.
Hi Shannon! I just started Autumn Skies!!! I was already looking forward to it – now I’ll be looking for the WHOA!! Lol! I need more in my word count – maybe I’ll come up with a WHOA of my own … 😘
I can’t think of any
I love reading books that give me that WHOA moment. I have read quite a few but I cannot remember the titles😕
I have too many!! One that really sticks isn’t a contemporary romance at all, but This Present Darkness.
Hi, I read The Cowgirls Redemption and I loved it! Your book sounds like a great read and I love your book cover! Have a great week.
This was a very interesting post. I hadn’t thought about the ‘whoa’ moment before, but thats what moves a book up a star or two for me. Its nice to see some things coming, but really fun to be surprised in a story.
I love hearing about how writers develop stories, it’s tempting to think that writers just sit down type it out and there’s a book done – but I know there’s a lot more to it than that! I think you’re right about the WOAH moment, it can really make a story.
I can’t think of any right now, but there are so many books that do have the Whoa moment that it would be hard to choose just one.
The first book that comes to mind is The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell. It made me want to read it again. It’s been a long time since I read that one, so if I read it now, I might have been able to figure out the whoa moment ahead of time. I figured out the last one I read by Denise Hunter, but it was still super sweet and made me tear up. What a great story. Thanks for sharing!
Also, I can’t even remember the whoa moment in True to You. Falling for You is the one that stuck with me. I love how different people are affected differently by different books.
It’s me again. Just want to say that I’m intrigued by The Cowboy’s Missing Memory. Books with hidden identities are my jam.
Most books I read tend to have those moments. I like the surprises.
Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli
Mary is really good at whoa moments, Lori. Sadly I haven’t had reading time to try Laurie’s. Once our son is married next month, I plan to relax with some serious reading time.
You’ll love the book, Regina. Happy writing and whoaing :)
Try the ones I mentioned, Kendra. Every book needs a WHOA moment. In my opinion anyway.
I bet you remember the characters and stories, though, Lori. The WHOA moment is what makes a book memorable for me.
I haven’t read that one else, Trudy. Though I’ve heard a lot about it. I did read the Screwtape Letters. That whole book was WHOA.
I haven’t read that one, Alicia. I’ll have to check it out.
Hey Jan. I like my WHOA moments anywhere in the story. But it seems most are toward the end. And then I’ve read the books where the author let’s the reader in on the WHOA but not let the characters find out until later in the story. I like those too.
I wish it was that easy, Ruthie. My family has always thought I should be to run errands for them and run around shopping or whatever they need or want me to do and magically have a book done. You have to stay home a lot to write a book. They’ve never understood that concept.
fun puzzle
I’ve read a lot of WHOA books, Patricia. The ones I mentioned were just my favorites.
I’ll have to put that one on my tbr list, Angela. You must be smarter than me.
Me too, Angela. And I love that there are so many authors to satisfy different readers.
Thanks Angela. It was fun to write.
Me too Mary. I pretty much don’t read a 2nd book by an author if there’s no WHOA moment.
I haven’t read that one either, Natalya. I love discovering new to me authors.
Thanks bn100. I love my puzzles.
U don’t have to enter me in the giveaway cause I already have read the book.
The Premonition of Withers Farm had a whoa moment for me.
Gone Girl for me.
The ones that I am sharing are romantic suspense books. It would be Sami A. Abrams’ Twin Murder Mix-up and Darlene aL. Turner’s Explosive Christmas Showdown (I read as an ARC.) Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I’ll have to add that one to my list. Thanks Lucy.
Eek, Linda. I’ve heard enough about that one, it might give me nightmares. Suspense keys me up. I like to read for relaxation. But maybe someone else will add it to their list.
God Bless you too, Debra. I’m just not tough enough for suspense. It keys me up. But thanks for the suggestions.
I do remember White Roses. I don’t remember all the details but I do remember enough.
There have been lots that give the Whoa moment but just cant think of titles right now. I know one of Janet Tronstads had a moment which was what I call a hidden gem that I still remember something I know an author doesn’t want revealed in a review.
Toni Shiloh’s To Win a Prince had a few where things suddenly made sense.
And Penny Zellers last historical had a Huge Whoa moment (ok I thought of a few). It was Where the hero had his own Whoa moment in a moving scene that had me crying and I don’t cry easily at books.
I’ll have to look into Janet Tronstad’s titles. And To Win a Prince has been on my TBR list for a while. I’m contemporary all the way though. I love when a book makes me cry, Ausjenny.
It was from one of the LI sets (with 6 authors.) it was Doctor Right (Alaskan Bride Rush, 3)
Thanks. I’ll add it to my list.
I can’t remember a particular one but I’ll start looking in the books I’m reading
That sounds fun, Mary. I’ll be looking for WHOA moments too.