Welcome Emily Conrad to Inspy Romance to talk with us about her new inspirational romance: To Bring You Back!
I’m excited about this release! Who doesn’t love a Christian musician?! And I love to hear about regional romances!
Thank you for having me! I’m excited to be here! I wanted to share about: Four Regional Romances to Transport You Around The Country – Even If You’re Stuck At Home
I’m writing to you from the passenger seat of our car somewhere in North Dakota, between Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Billings, Montana, where we’ll spend the night before driving to the next spot on our road trip itinerary.
This portion of the country has a feel all its own—wide open spaces, stretches of silence, rugged badlands and expansive grasslands dotted with bison, wild horses, and antelope.
But then, every area of the country has its own feel, and each region influences the lives of the people who live there in unique ways.
Though I’m privileged to get to visit many corners of our country on our trips, I also enjoy a deeper look at life in those places through fiction. Each time I pick up a romance with a strong local flavor, it’s like getting another vacation without leaving home.
If you’re looking for a getaway, here are some romances that are sure to transport you to different regions of the country:
1. Head west with This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche. Robbie and Keira venture to some far-flung locations in this story—Keira’s secretly the travel blogger Kat Wanderfull, after all—but she, Robbie, and Robbie’s adorable daughter, Anabelle, call Montana home. Follow along as the couple navigates old hurts for a chance at love and a future together.
2. Enjoy a stay a little farther west in lush Washington state in True to You by Becky Wade. Sloping tree-covered hillsides, picturesque waterways, and yes, even overcast skies form a lovely tapestry for this romance between bookish historical-village owner, Nora, and former Navy SEAL, John. With moments of sweet humor and a genealogical puzzle to solve, this story will keep you turning pages.
3. Venture south with a long-standing favorite author of mine, Janet Ferguson. We’ve been critique partners for years now, and I first started reading her work with her second book, but if you’re new to her Southern Hearts series, I recommend starting with her first, Leaving Oxford, which will take you to charming Oxford, Mississippi. There, you’ll meet (and fall in love with) quirky advertising guru, Sarah Beth, and former-celebrity-college-quarterback-turned-football-coach, Jess.
4. Escape up north to the serene shores of Lake Superior with To Bring You Back by Emily Conrad. Yes, that’s me! Northern Wisconsin and Michigan are some of my favorite places to visit, so I combined some of those locales to create the fictionalized town where I set my Rhythms of Redemption Romances. Enjoy the backdrop of a small tourist town on the shores of Lake Superior as you follow along with Adeline, a church secretary and hot dog vendor, as her now-famous high school crush descends on her quiet life with one goal in mind: to confront the past Adeline’s desperate to forget. This second-chance romance releases 8/16 and is available for preorder from many of the major online retailers. You can also enter to win one of 50 free Kindle copies through a Goodreads giveaway here. (Giveaway ends 8/7.)
I love it, Emily and thanks for the mention!! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Thank you!
More about Emily:
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. She is the author of the stand alone novel Justice and the Rhythms of Redemption Romance series, as well as a series of short stories, which she emails in installments to subscribers. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
About To Bring You Back:
He’s determined to confront the past she’s desperate to forget.
When Adeline Green’s now-famous high school crush descends on her quiet life, a public spotlight threatens to expose her deepest regret. After eight years of trying to bury her mistakes under a life of service, she’s broke financially and spiritually. The last thing she can afford is feelings for the man who took center stage in her past—even if he does claim to know the secret to her redemption.
Gannon Vaughn and his rock band, Awestruck, have conquered the music industry, but he can’t overcome his feelings for Adeline. When he hears she’s struggling, he sets out to turn her life around and win back the love he lost to poor choices eight years ago.
But when Gannon’s fame and their mutual regrets jeopardize their relationship anew, will grace be enough to bring them back to God and each other?
Get your copy here! Amazon
This is such a short list of regions, considering our country has 50 states and so many different regions! What are your favorite regional romances and where are they set?
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after. Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space. Connect with her at http://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/
I must say I do like books set in very cold climates. No particular regions, but since it does not snow here it’s a welcome change. Though I do think I would hate to have to cope with snow.
Being from Mississippi, I get that!
That is the benefit to “visiting” places through fiction- you don’t have to deal with the downsides like you would have to in person! Snow is pretty and Christmas wouldn’t feel right to me without it, but it sure can be work to shovel and drive in!
I love variety but I guess my favorite regional romances are set in the Appalachians. Thank you for sharing.
Interesting and pretty area! Are you from there?
Any favorites featuring that area? I really enjoyed Pepper Basham’s A Twist of Faith.
I love any and all settings! Small town, big city, doesn’t matter to me! Anywhere across the country works, and overseas, too!
I love a good story!
So many great places to experience!
I love this book!
Isn’t it great!
Thank you, Toni! You know, I haven’t visited New York City, but I enjoyed getting a glimpse of it in your book, The Trouble with Love!
I like stories set in the mountains (large or small) in areas that have four real seasons. Of course, that bears a strong resemblance to where I grew up so what can I say? I have had the privilege of traveling quite a bit for work, family and pleasure so I can appreciate a lot of different settings. The temperate hill country is where I connect the most, though.
Thanks, Emily for sharing these reading opportunities. I look forward to reading Gannon and Adeline’s story when it comes out! And thank you, Janet, for hosting!
It does sound like a wonderful area! Mountains are lovely.
Thanks for joining the conversation, Lincoln! I do love the mountains and try to visit them often – when I can’t in real life, through fiction is a nice alternative!
First, I just pre-ordered this book! Can’t wait to read it. I have a thing for the popular guy gets the normal girl kind of story. Second, I must admit that I never care about setting. Unless it’s a genre where setting matters like Gothic Lit. Then I care because setting is another character. Personally, I like wide open spaces so when a book is set in one I can picture it better in my head but I read for the characters more than the place.
I know Emily appreciates you! I am a character-based reader too!
Thanks so much for pre-ordering, Nicole! I will say that characters are more important than setting to me too, even if setting is a nice addition, you know? Wide open spaces make for great settings!
I don’t have favorite regions, I love them all :)
Makes sense to me!
Nothing wrong with that! Great stories can happen anywhere!
Welcome Emily. I love the cover.
It’s so cute!
Thank you, Shannon! I’m thrilled with the work my cover designer did!
I really enjoy small town stories probably because I live in one :-) But I’ll read any setting really. I also like ones set outside of the states, it’s like arm-chair traveling without the cost or leaving my house.
Arm chair travel is cheaper for sure!
Cheaper and no jet lag! I must like small-town settings too, since I keep seeing stories in them. Ha!
I love books set in the South.
I write them because I’m from there, LOL!
You’re in good company! I’m grateful the are so many authors doing a wonderful job with Southern fiction!
Hi, I love the sound of your book and the book cover is Beautiful! Thank you for sharing about it and thank you for sharing the other authors books, they all sound like great reads! Have a great trip and stay safe. God Bless you and your family. Have a great weekend.
It’s a great novel!
Thank you, Alicia! I hope you have a great weekend as well!
I live in northwestern Ohio. It is always fun to read a book that is set in an area around where I live. I cannot say that I have a favorite location to read. I enjoy esaping where ever the location takes me. Thank you so much. God bless you. Congratulations on your new release.
I’d like to know more about that region!
Thanks so much for chiming in! There’s so much beauty to discover in every state, isn’t there? I take special notice when a book is set in my state, too. :)
I love books set in Wisconsin. Congrats on the new book, Emily. It’s a winner.
Sounds like you’ll be a fan of Emily’s!
Thank you, Barbara! I so appreciate your support!
I love books set in Canada!! I’m from there & one author lives here & I love her books.
I know Valerie Comer is from there :)
Reading fiction set in your own region by someone who knows the area can certainly highlight all the good things! One of my critique partners lives in Canada so I get to glimpse new facets of life there through her work!
I especially love stories set in my home state of South Australia. There is such diversity and so much camaraderie that it makes a great backdrop. Enjoy your trip!
Oh, any recommendations for books set there? That would be an amazing setting!
I’d love to go there, so I can set a book there!
I live in Arkansas, and I would love to see more books set here!
Colorado is my favorite vacation destination. I have really enjoyed books set in the Denver area by Carla Laureano (Supper Club series) and Brandy Bruce (After the Rain).
Colorado is a favorite for me too! My sister lived there for a while, so I got to visit the area more than I otherwise would’ve! So pretty!
Arkansas is pretty! I haven’t been in a long while and would like to go back.
I’ve heard those books are great you mentioned!
I like reading stories that are set in locales I’ve been to, no matter which state. It’s more interesting to me to visualize the area the story is set in as the action unfolds.
Makes sense to me! I also enjoy visiting a place I’ve read about in a novel – that helps me look around for details to appreciate that I might’ve missed otherwise!