Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places by Laura V. Hilton + #GIVEAWAY

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From Julie Arduini:

There is no way I could write without critique groups. I’m in two of them, and one includes Laura V. Hilton. Laura challenges me as an author, digging deeper for character, details, and plot points. She’s helped so many with her great eye and skills. As a reader, I’m constantly drawn in by her romances. When it comes to Amish Romance, Laura is my absolute favorite.  I think you’ll agree, too.

Laura is sharing today, and she is offering a print or eBook book of your choice. However, if winner chooses The Second Chance Brides Romance Collection or Christmas Admirer, they’ll have to wait for author copies.  USA only for print. Ebook anywhere.  Thanks, Laura, for sharing and offering the giveaway!

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places by Laura V. Hilton

Romance. Ah, I love it.

Years ago when I was a teenager, there was a shortage of Christian romance novels. This was before Janette Oke burst on the scene, saddles blazing, and threw wide open the doors for romance writers. The only writer back then that I knew of was Grace Livingstone Hill. Mom had her entire collection and I read them and reread them so many times I had them memorized.

And then I got a part-time summer job at the library in town. And they had these twirly paperback stands stuffed full of romances. Harlequin, both regular and super. American. Regencies. And more. Oh, bliss to the romance lover’s heart. I checked out a huge stack of them. Being used to Grace Livingstone Hill, I expected a clean, sweet romance. What was inside the pages of the book didn’t match my imagination. But, oh. My. Goodness. Wow. I’m sure my teenaged eyes popped.

Sadly, or maybe fortunately, my dad decided to check out what I was reading. And then he sat me down to discuss the book with me. How embarrassing! I about died. He even talked to my English teacher at school who talked with me about my bad reading choices. And then she singled me out to not read what any of the other kids in my class read, but she assigned the classics: Wuthering Heights, Call of the Wild, To Kill a Mockingbird, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and more. She was careful to steer away from romance so Gone with the Wind and Jane Eyre was not included. And the books were good. I enjoyed them. Inhaled them, but it didn’t fuel my need for romance. I got very good at smuggling a book or two in and reading it under the covers at night.

When I was about eighteen years old, Janette Oke came on the scene. And yes, I devoured her books. I stopped reading the paperbacks in the library and read Dad-approved novels with a strong faith message. I didn’t have to sneak around with them.

When I read Robin Jones Gunn I had a new favorite author. I remember reading in either an author interview or a letter by the author where she made a comment that “God is the ultimate lover. He is a relentless pursuer. He loves you so incredibly much that He gave it all for you.”

Yes. True, that. But one doesn’t think of God as being a lover when you are a teenager or young adult. Still, that quote stuck with me. Through the years when I dreamed of being a published writer. Someone like Janette Oke or Robin Jones Gunn. I didn’t want to write something Mom would be embarrassed to read and I knew Dad would discuss anything I wrote with me. So that meant clean. But while I’d given my life to Jesus by then, I wasn’t sold out to God. That came much later.

Now, there are an abundance of Christian romance novels on the market. Great authors who I collect every book they ever wrote. Historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, Amish… I can read my fill. And thanks to God, He allows me to write it too. My daughters are able to read any book on my shelves without worry. And they learn what a true godly man is. They get a strong faith message.

When I was older with young children, I heard Tracie Peterson speak at a conference. And she gave her testimony, sharing how she grew up—like me—smuggling books home from the library and how she made some bad decisions as a result. I am blessed I had parents and teachers who cared and didn’t want me to go down that road.

Thank you, Grace Livingstone Hill for coming first. Thank you, Janette Oke, for throwing the doors wide open for other authors. And thank you, Robin Jones Gunn, for writing words that stayed with me for decades. And last, but not least, thank you God for blessing so many other romance writers with the ability to share Your love and faithfulness to other romance readers.

The Christmas Admirer

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.

 

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?

As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?

 

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.

Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.

When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/  & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ 

twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

 Purchase my books:

 Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

 

 Leave a comment on who your first Christian romance author was that you enjoyed for a chance to be in Laura’s giveaway, details above. Eligible comments will be those published before August 1, 12am Eastern.

Julie Arduini (47 Posts)

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. The last book in the series, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, is coming soon. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She also blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband, two children, and chocolate stash. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com.


Comments

  1. HI Julie and Laura. I’m blessed to have grown up with Janette Oke, the Thoene’s, Tracie Peterson, and so many other awesome Christian authors. My favourite however, would have to have been the Thoene’s Zion series- those books changed my attitudes towards history, stories, romance and living a faith filled life. Thanks for contributing with great books that I have no problem recommending to my teenage students.
    Blessings:)

  2. My first Christian author was Janette Oke after seeing some of her books made into inspiring movies.

  3. Hi Julie and Laura! In the late 1960s while in high school, I also read Grace Livingston Hill romances that were available in the local library. Our small town was fortunate to have a Christian Book Store and monthly I used my babysitting and bakery job money to buy Christian books. Catherine Marshall’s books were my favorite, especially Christy since I wanted to be a teacher. These books I read and reread. Do not remember the other authors. When I got married, I donated all my romances to the church library. As a senior in high school my mom was not pleased with several best sellers that I was reading at the time. I too learned not to share all my books. As a German American in 1990s I read the Thoene’s Zion series. As an adult and pastor’s wife this series I shared with my mom and friends. Living in SW Michigan, we live within an hours drive of Amish Country – Middleburry, Shipshewana, and Nappanee, Indiana. Also visited the Amana Colonies in Iowa. Thanks for sharing .

  4. Janette Oke’s “Love Came Softly” series was probably my first Christian romance. I’ve read nearly every book she’s written. I also remember reading Jane Peart’s books. Now, I read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on!

  5. I remember reading Grace Livingstone Hill until I got tired of the duplicate plots :-) Now her books are fun to read again, in between all the others available.

  6. Janette Oke really opened the doors for Christian romance novels, along with her publisher, Bethany House, who took a chance by trying a brand new niche. Christian fiction at all began to come into its own then, really. Pickins’ had been pretty slim before that!

    Thanks for coming by today, Laura, and reminding us how far the Christian romance genre has come, and what a wide range is available today. I’m so blessed to be a part of this dynamic movement, and I know you are, too.

  9. Hi, Renate! I’ve lived in SW MI for years. Also have been to the Indiana and Illinois districts. My new book (coming fall of 2018) is set in the UP of MI.

  12. Thanks, Valerie! Valerie is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers, ladies. I’ve talked so many readers into giving her books a try.

  13. Hi, Laura! I enjoyed your post. I used to read Grace Livingston Hill too when I was young. I discovered Janette Oke books while working in the library at school as a teachers assistant. I was hooked! Thanks for visiting the Inspy Romance blog.

  14. I have read christian books for the last five years and really enjoy them. The authors create such wonderful stories that are clean reads and full of faith. Amish fiction is one of my favorite genres. I would love to read one of Laura’s books. Thanks for the great interview.

  16. I first enjoyed Christian books by Grace L. Hill and Catherine Marshall! Now there are so many wonderful books I want to read….need to be a faster reader! lol

  17. Great authors! I think I’ve devoured everything Tracie Peterson has ever written!

  18. Janette’s books were some of my first as a very new Christian. Love them.

  19. My joke is I had to move to Ohio because I read all the books in Upstate NY! There was a country library I used to visit that focused on Christian fiction. I loved it!

  22. I love that even with different sub genres in romance, we can suggest within our genre that they try the authors we know and enjoy. I know a lot of readers who tell me they don’t read Amish only to come back and tell me they know read Laura’s work.

  25. I used to read Steven King, John Saul, true Crimes and books like that but once I started reading Amish fiction I don’t read books like that any more. I mostly read Amish fiction since now there ius so many Amish fiction authors to keep me busy!

  26. The first Christian books I read were The Loves Comes Softly series by Janette Oke. I loved those! Then Beverly Lewis was next, she got me hooked on Amish fiction, and my love for Christian fiction has grown from there!

  32. Beverly Lewis was my first Amish author too. I discovered her with her second book, a clerk at Family Christian bookstore in Grand Rapids recommended her.

  34. I first started reading Janette Oke and Beverly Lewis. I was hooked. I have also enjoyed Robin Gunn’s Gardenias For Breakfast. I read it over and over. I collect Beverly Lewis and Janette Okes Books. Im always looking for new authors. I have this thing that i look at my books and if i would be embarrassed for one of my grand daughters to read it , then it has to come off the shelf. I have this book that is such a favorite that the cover is worn and almost off. It is ” To Love A Bent-Winged Angel by LaJoyce Martin. If you havent read it, try it. It will truly touch your ❤️

  35. One of the first adult christian authors I remember reading is Lauraine Snelling. I love her Red River books.

  36. My mother introduced me to Grace Livingston Hill when I was a teenager. I devoured her books. I saved them in a box for one day when I had a daughter. I had a nice collection. Years later sadly my daughter turned her nose up at them…. way way back Harlequin was not a racy and steamy as they are today just like TV. The times they are a changing! I enjoy the Harlequin Love Inspired series though. Nice, clean, enjoyable!

  37. Hi Julie, thanks for inviting Laura today. Laura, thanks for sharing your story. I can see now how I was blessed to have found Robin Jones Gunn’s novels at a very young age and read “Dad-approved novels” that model my teenage years. Her Christy Miller’s series was the highlight of my romance reading and I’m glad she’s moved from young adult to novels (bringing Christy herself to experience marriage and motherhood about the same time I did) and I’ve recently enjoyed a lot the Sisterchicks and Glenbrooke series as well as recent Finding Father Christmas. (Janette Oke never really caught my eye, but I’m very happy there are several Christian romance writers today and the options to read clean romance are also good.)

  45. I can’t really say that I have a favorite Christian author. I love Amish fiction authors, Janette Oke and Kingsbury. I have been an avid reader since 3rd grade when I started ready Little House on the Prairie, The Bobbsey Twins and The Hardy Boys.

  46. I’d have to say the same, Janette Oke was my first Christian romance writer I discovered after making my own choices on Godly reads :-) I also read some of the Grace Livingston Hill books. Before then I read the regular Harlequin novels but they began to leave a bad taste in my mouth. One of the first series books I read was Lauraine Snelling’s Red River series. I soon discovered Beverly Lewis for Amish & then stumbled onto the Love Inspired/ Heartsong Presents paperbacks and it exploded from there! Now many years later, I have hundreds of choices at my fingertips, so many authors and genres to fill my need for a good, clean Godly romance :-) I think if I made a list of all the authors I love; it would fill volumes of pages, lol!

    Such a fun “interview” Laura, I really enjoy getting to know authors outside of their writing :-) Thank you for the giveaway too!

  47. You are a new author to me, and I loved getting acquainted. I will definitely look for some of your books. I “cut my eye teeth” on Grace Livingston Hill and later on Robin Jones Gunn and Janette Oke. Love swee, clean romance.

  48. I love Laura V. Hiltons books. The firdt Amish book i read was Wanda Brunstetter’s book. From that point on evrtything Amish. Thanks to all the Amish authors!@@

  49. I came quite late to the Christian fiction scene. The first book I read was Esther by Angela Hunt. And I was totally wowed. Since then I’ve been gobbling up Christian fiction and loving every minute of it. So thankful for the authors, especially of the YA genre since I can share these books with my kids and their friends…

  50. Wow!! i have so may that do come to mind, but I would consider Beverly Lewis, Shelly Shepard gray, and Wick.

  57. Renate, do you still live in SW Michigan? I do also! Juliear, I work at a small country library, that also has a wall of inspirational fiction! It is our library director’s favorite genre so we are very fortunate! My first inspirational author was Jan Karon. I forgot a book to read at lunch and my best friend’s book was sitting there . I read it and loved it! She told me that was book.#3 and to start with #1. My dear friend from Girl Scouts introduced me to Grace Livingston Hill in the 1970’s . Prior to that I never knew this genre existed! I love it and rarely read anything else.

  59. The first Christian author that I read was Beverly Lewis. Since then, I have read a lot of Christian fiction from a lot of different authors.

  60. My first Amish author I read was Suzanne Wood Fisher. It was a whole new world opened up to me!

  61. I would have to say Janette Oke was my first Christian Author, and Beverly Lewis. My first Amish author was Wanda Brunstetter. I have read so many Amish books by different authors, they are all so good. I couldn’t pick just one nowadays!

  69. My first Christian author was Grace Livingston Hill.
    and No, I’m not “that” old.

  70. Janette Oke was my first experience with christian fiction also. Followed closely by Gilbert Morris and his house of Winslow series.

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