My name is Tate Sullivan, and I’m here to talk about how quickly things can change. It’s kind of shocking, really.
I’m the second-born in a family of four boys. Both my parents work for my grandfather’s hotel empire, although they divorced about fifteen years ago. My mother claimed my dad was a workaholic.
It’s not a lie.
She moved us boys to small-town Kansas, where she’d grown up in Gilead. You might have read about the place in some of the Easter in Gilead romances? Check out Her Unlikely Hero, about my buddy Connor – hey, I’m in that story, too…
What? Get back to the point? Okay, fine. The workaholic thing.
As we got older, Dad pulled us back to Chicago and the family business. Voila! An entire family of busy beavers. My older brother got married, and they had a baby. Even in just a couple of years, their relationship began to suffer under the same strain as our parents’ had.
Wally and Ashley decided to attend a marriage enrichment retreat, along with her sister and brother-in-law. The couple they’d named as guardians for their one-year-old son, Jamie.
And the helicopter went down, killing all four of them.
Excuse me a moment. I need to take a deep breath. It’s been… hard. Wally and I weren’t super close the past few years, but he was my brother, you know?
They’d left Jamie with his grandmother for the weekend. And now the weekend had no end. I went back to Gilead to help Mom, since I could log on and work from anywhere. She took the loss of her firstborn hard, as you might expect. And having a toddler in the house 24/7 was very challenging for her. (I took my evenings, since Jamie goes to bed early, and played Peter in Gilead’s passion play. But I’m not supposed to be talking about that all the time. )
So, I offered to take over with my nephew. I was kind of shocked when Mom said yes, to be honest, but I was up for it. The kid needed a break. So we did the whole legal guardian thing… and then Grandfather summoned my brothers, cousin, and me to Montana. Not back to Chicago where our corporate offices are.
Seems he’d bought a ranch. The previous two sets of owners had tried to turn this property into a resort (aka dude ranch) but ran out of money. Not a problem with Grandfather; he has deep pockets.
So I’m driving to Jewel Lake, Montana, and no one saw fit to warn me that a toddler could scream for two entire days because he doesn’t want to be buckled into his car seat.
And that’s when the NEXT big surprise happened. I was angling onto an off-ramp lane with Jamie shrieking in my ears, when…
Wait, what? I shouldn’t tell them?
Oh. Sorry, folks. That’s apparently in the first chapter of my novel, A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy. You can read it there…
Pardon me? MY story? I’m no cowboy. I’m a city boy, office grunt in Grandfather’s hotel biz. Not only am I over all the surprises in my life, but a wedding is not going to be one of them.
Right? Right?
Hey, did anyone see that author lady slip out of the room? Because I’m not sure if she heard me.
Everything hit all at once. Tate Sullivan became the guardian of his young nephew after his brother’s death, and now Grandfather has bought a failing guest ranch in Montana. Tate’s used to handling their hotel empire, but moving halfway across the country and learning an entirely new, rural business model is a challenge, especially with a toddler in tow.
Nice girls finish last… or that’s what it seems like to Stephanie Simpson when her ex-boyfriend, a pastor, proposes to a former bad girl. It’s not that Stephanie wants her ex to rethink his life choices, but would it be so wrong to move on as swiftly as he has? A quick wedding to that cute wannabe cowboy with the adorable toddler might get her what she wants. After all, it’s clear Tate needs a helping hand.
He’s a Christian, just like she is. What could possibly go wrong?
A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy releases in August! Have you preordered your copy?
What about you? Have you had months or even years where it seemed like you were being hit by one curve ball after another? Want to talk about it?
Are you interested in reading A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy? I’m offering two commenters an advanced reader copy (e-book only, worldwide). If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please comment before Wednesday, July 19. Winners will be notified and then announced in the Sunday Edition.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Renate says
Happy Saturday Valerie and IR readers. It is blueberry season in SW Michigan. Blues are my favorite fruit. Lots of health benefits. Been an excellent fruity season in Michigan – strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches and apple trees are packed full of fruit.
While I am not fond of the sub genre cowboy romance – I love the connect with Chicago, Gilead and Jewel Lake. Love going back to settings in your other series. Book preordered.
Over my 70+ plus years life has thrown a few curve balls. First on my 39th Birthday (1989) when my dad had his second bypass surgery and almost passed (he made it to 96), our family of 4 was getting ready to move from Chicago to SW Michigan, I was constantly in tears until I figured out oops I was pregnant. Hormones! But God was good. My youngest son is a blessing.
The second major event was July 1997 when a fire destroyed our home and all we had. We were thankful to make it out alive. The most difficult part was keeping our boys’ spirits up – ages 19, 16, and 7.
Yes life throws us curve balls. But my German Christian parents and all their friends taught me valuable lessons of resilience during WW2. They all survived at the hands of the Russians, much like is going on in the Ukraine today. So my curve balls were minor. Only my house burned – not the entire neighborhood. We could still go to work, we had schools and a hospital and stores. God was in control.
Looking forward to your book. Best wishes. Thanks for the blog.
RuthieH says
Really looking forward to this one – love the Gilead connection and it’s great hearing from Tate’s point of view as well as Stephanie’s on the blog previously.
Two things in my experience result in constant curve balls – house renovations and young children lol.
Lori Smanski says
Welcome. Oh but this sounds like a wonderful story. I would love to be in the draw for it. I have recently started to read western contemporary books. I have started with Jessie Gussman and LOVE them. I would love to give this book a chance also. When my mom got cancer I became her care giver during the day. This was tough. A few years after mom died, dad got really sick and again I became his care giver until he had to go into a home. Not much later I had to make the difficult decisions. Now my husband is POA for his mom and it is another tough hurdle in life.
Valerie Comer says
Blueberries = yum. I’ve been eating them nearly daily for months! They are my toddler grandson’s favorite food (that and cheddar cheese) – a love I gave to the toddler in this story!
I didn’t realize we had shared 39th birthday trauma. That’s the day my dad passed away. My 39th definitely ranks at the bottom of all my birthdays.
But YES God is in control. Some days I am hanging onto that much more tightly than others.
Valerie Comer says
Oh, isn’t that the truth? We’ve been renovating for over a year with probably a year to go as we are doing most of it ourselves. Hopefully not more than another year, but check back spring of 2024 and ask me how it’s going LOL.
And kids. It was fun to write a toddler boy into this one. Jamie is the same age as my grandson so I had ready inspiration!
Valerie Comer says
I’ve read quite a few of Jessie’s! She’s got a great writing voice and I love the spiritual truths often woven in. She and I are both in a multi-author set releasing this fall called Once Upon a Starry Night. The link is on the Books page here at IR :)
Got your name in the draw bag ;)
Trudy says
Oh, my, I really would love to read this one!! I enjoyed his part in the Easter book, and he needs a HEA!!
Valerie Comer says
He really did need his own HEA!
Kendra Muonio says
COVID started then my mom found out she was expecting baby number 13 then my grandma passed away my brother had a major surgery scheduled for April 2020 but had to get rescheduled for may 2020 because of COVID they were down their for 5 weeks my sister in law had my first niece in August 2020 then my mom had my baby sister in October 2020 then sister got engaged November 2020. The last few years for our family has been busy as my grandpa needs 24 hour care do in April we moved him into our apartment at our house he says we need to pray that he can die soon so he can go see his wife soon that is in heaven. My mom thinks it’s weird to think that before COVID she didn’t have my baby sister or any grandchildren but by the new year she will have 8 grandchildren.my brother has 3 daughters age 2,1 and 4 months.my other brother has two sons 2 and 7 months and due with baby 3 in January and my sister has a 1.5 year old son and is due end of October with baby 2
Valerie Comer says
Covid was full of nasty surprises! I’m glad it brought your family some pleasant ones, as well :)
Texas Momma says
We’re in the midst of a season of curveballs….I’m know someday I’ll see the good God is working for us, but right now it’s just so incredibly hard. 😔
Marcia Smith says
A new series. What a great surprise! I am excited about several new books, tied back to previous books that I enjoyed. And winning an advanced copy would be another surprise. Either way, I have another good book to look forward to. Yeah!
Valerie Comer says
I’m so sorry to hear that. Offering a prayer on your behalf right now.
Valerie Comer says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the new story.
Margaret Nelson says
I’ve got the book pre-ordered, but would love to read it early :-) I’ve loved all your books!!
Valerie Comer says
Thanks so much, Margaret!
Kathy Blair says
Hi, Valerie! I’m looking forward to reading Tate’s story. I’m like Margaret, though; I love all your books!
Valerie Comer says
Aw thanks! I hope you enjoy Tate and Stephanie’s story :)
bn100 says
sounds interesting
Valerie Comer says
Thanks!
Debra Pruss says
Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Valerie Comer says
Thanks, Debra!
Lilly says
“Good girls finish last” Sometimes it seems like that in life, right? all my good girl friends and I are single, several after disastrous relationships with men who did not appreciate them, one is a single mother and another decided not to have a relationship again as long as it was not serious after her heart was broken at 18 ( good choice) at 26 I saved myself all the problems of immature or not serious relationships but of course… I have never dated anyone.
On the other hand…good guys usually go through the same thing, right? They seem to finish last, go through love disappointments or not be appreciated. That’s why I love stories where two people who “finish last” happen to be each other’s number one.
Wait…that sounds like a name from a romantic novel! “the last is the only one”. The boy is not the last one for being the last one in a long list of relationships, the girl is that none of them have ever been chosen.
Valerie Comer says
Ah, Lilly. Thank you for sharing. Feeling like one is finishing last isn’t a good feeling!
Margaret Bunce says
I love the whole Jewel Lake and Gilead scenario. Stephanie has a lot of adjustments to make to her life!! So does Tate, of course, but it’s Stephanie’s hang ups that scream “Dange!” to any relationship!!
Will be great! Looking forward to the new series!
Jeannette says
Lots of curved balls, like my son in ICU after a major intestinal op (17 repairs and 4” removed, while my son-in-law is in the oncology ward having ‘death’ chemo prior to a bone marrow transplant.
That wasn’t the only time- Several times I was in CCU with a heart problem and my three year old was in a different hospital with pneumonia- my poor husband and other two children!
By God’s grace, we all got through our problems and we have avoided hospitals for over five years! And trust for many more!
Marina Costa says
I like cowboys and good surprises. I am sure nobody likes bad ones… but they exist.
Fondee Bruce says
I married my high school sweetheart 36 years ago and we’ve had 10 children. And my husband is a pastor. Large family, ministry, home schooling…. Daily surprises and adventures. But life is messy and beautiful. It’s hard, but worth it.
I love plans and projects and lists and schedules… I have ideals, but I live with interruptions and chaos and surprises. It’s called life. 🙂
Valerie Comer says
I married my high school sweetheart, too! But the rest of the story is different, but life is still messy and beautiful, and I’m thankful for it.
Valerie Comer says
Oh, yes, Stephanie’s hangups are fully exposed when we are in her point-of-view! Hope you enjoy.
Valerie Comer says
Wow, that sounds stressful, but I’m so glad to hear you and your family have overcome, by the grace of God!
Valerie Comer says
Sadly, there are often bad surprises, but we can be thankful for God’s love and grace, even then.