Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Once Upon a Belated Prequel…

by

I know, I know. Prequels come before the story. But prequels are harrrrrd (she says, in her best tweenage whiny voice…) and authors (me, anyway) want to jump right into the fun main stories. And so, even when I branched out into writing cowboy romance in *cough* 2018 *cough* I didn’t write a prequel for this new sub-genre.

Even though I knew which couple I’d give that story to, I didn’t write it. Instead, I wrote all six books in the Saddle Springs Romance series and then all six books in the Cavanagh Cowboys Romance series, always kind of cringing that I was then inviting these readers to join my newsletter list and receive a totally unrelated novella in a different sub-genre as their gift from me.

Until last fall when I was invited to participate in a multi-author box set of Christmas novellas for the fall of 2023. I don’t join many of these, mostly because I don’t want random novellas lying around without purpose! But then I thought of a purpose… what if I took this opportunity to write that belated novella that comes BEFORE the Saddle Springs Romance series?

And so The Cowboy’s Forever Crush – Meg and Eli’s romance – was conceived. I had to skim back through the series to remind myself what I’d already written about them. Meg, especially, was woven throughout as two of the six stories were her siblings’ tales. As the ideas coalesced and came together, so did my excitement.

I’m super stoked to share The Cowboy’s Forever Crush with you in the multi-author collection Once Upon a Starry Night, releasing in October. Reserve your copy today and look forward to twelve brand-new Christmas themed romances from Christian authors you love!

It’s been eight years since Eli Thornton’s father took his family and fled the Flying Horseshoe Ranch after a devastating accident. Now Eli’s back to make amends, but he definitely didn’t expect to run into his best friend’s sister he’d crushed on as a teen.

Meg Carmichael emerged from her era of rebellion with a baby, a battered heart, and a new appreciation for Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. But when Eli, now every inch a man, accepts a job as mechanic for her family’s guest ranch, this single mom finds a gentle, godly man who might love her and her son forever. If she can let him.

How can a teenage crush mature into a forever love?

Pre-Order Once Upon a Starry Night here!

Interested in reading an advance reader copy of The Cowboy’s Forever Crush? I’m offering two readers a copy (e-book only, worldwide). If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please comment before Saturday, August 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.”

Psst – in other news, A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy, the first story in my third cowboy romance series, hits Kindles next week! The special price will disappear shortly after release, so don’t put it off if you’ve been waiting to reserve your copy.

Valerie Comer (341 Posts)

Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.


Comments

  2. The story sounds interesting as does the whole boxset. Don’t enter me as I have a few books I have to read and am already over committed. (I thought by now I would be reading again but am still so tired that I tend to fall asleep watching tv at night)

  3. Hi Valerie! Once Upon a Starry Night is on preorder. Always enjoy reading multi author boxed set especially those set at Christmas. Only familiar with 4 of the 12 authors in this set. So fun to explore new authors. Thanks for the backstory.

    This morning after a rain storm Monday night we have fall like temperatures in SW Michigan – 54 degrees (12 degrees Celsius). Oldest son’s family lost power in the storm for 15 hours, so son and grandkids were at our house. Glad we live nearby. Grandchildren are getting ready for school – school starts on August 28. Best wishes.

  4. Sounds intriguing! Pretty sure I’ve already ordered the box set, but will double check! So looking forward to our first story in the new series, too!

  7. I like later prequels, I’ve read a few and it’s always nice to have some extra time with characters from a series you’ve enjoyed.

  9. This sounds really good, and I must say, I love the cover!! That blue background brings out those blue eyes!!!

  11. I love cowboys & I love Christmas stories so this sounds right up my alley! I read The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion last year as part of my annual “I’m only reading Christmas books from Thanksgiving till New Year’s” celebration & loved it! I’m excited there’s a prequel….I honestly love a good prequel that comes along after the rest of the books! But I’m weird like that 😂

  12. It looks good! And I’m looking forward to that boxset. :) So many great authors!

  15. Sounds like a busy summer out your way! And the fact I didn’t know many of the other authors in the set well was a drawing point for me. It’s a great way for readers and authors both to broaden our horizons!

  25. It sounds like a great read and the cover is Gorgeous! (not entering this ebook giveaway, but thank you)

  27. I’ve got the box set on pre-order, but I do like having the individual book to put in my Valerie Comer collection on my Kindle, instead of having to remember which box set it’s in! And an excuse to re-read the series – fun!

  29. Cowboy romance and Amish romance are two things I’ve found I love even though I thought I wouldn’t at first!
    How convenient that the Christian market is full of them.

  31. Prequels are interesting even when they come after the main story. I think they add further dimension to the characters you enjoyed reading.

  37. I have pre-ordered Once Upon a Starry Night. I cannot waith. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  39. I’m excited for this to come out! Sometimes a belated prequel is more fun because you get to revisit people and see glimpses of who they became later on.

  43. The Cowboy’s Forever Crush sounds like a fun book to read.

    I enjoyed reading about your process for writing this prequel. It was interesting to read how you wrote “backwards”.

Discover more from Inspy Romance

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading