It’s finally time to go back to Peacock Hill!
A Heart Rearranged, the 5th book in my Peacock Hill Romance series has been sitting rather impatiently on my hard drive for several months while I waited (rather impatiently, yet again) for my cover designer to have room in her busy schedule to get to me.
At long, long last, the cover is finished and the ebook, at least, is available for anyone who’s been waiting for the next installment. (Maybe even the paperback. At the time I’m writing this, I’m still waiting on the full cover wrap. But by the time you’re reading this, maybe I’ll have it and have everything uploaded and ready at Amazon. I guess we can only wait and see!)
Vanessa and Topher are, perhaps, my favorite couple yet at Peacock Hill (and that’s saying something as Matt and Azure had been holding on to that spot pretty tight.)
I had so much fun with Vanessa. In previous stories, Vanessa was…let’s call it abrasive. So how do you take someone who seems to make it her goal in life to annoy and offend everyone she comes into contact with and turn her into a heroine deserving of love?
Well, first, you remind yourself that everyone is deserving of love. After all, that’s the whole reason Jesus came. (Sometimes I have to preach this to myself.) And then you have to ask, why. Why is she building this wall of hostility to keep everyone out? Because in real life (and so, it would make sense, also in books), the folks that are the hardest to love are so often the ones who need it the most. They need it, but they’ve been burned so many times, they don’t expect it. And, in fact, would rather make sure you were clear on the fact that they’d rejected your love before you had a chance to decide to reject them.
Vanessa…my girl has some issues.
Topher didn’t end up being as happy-go-lucky as I thought he would, either.
But the two of them together make sense. And they help each other navigate some of their hurts. And in the end, I love this story so much and I hope that y’all will as well.
The picture above is a snippet of the cover. Want to see the full thing? (It’s so gorgeous!)
I love everything about this cover. I think, once you’ve read the story, you’ll be able to spot the scene it’s modeled after. Now, of course, there’s some artistic license going on here, but I knew I wanted them kissing under the pergola that’s at the back of the formal gardens on the Peacock Hill property.
In the mansion on which Peacock Hill is based, that pergola looks like this
but really, it’s close enough.
Let’s take a peek at the back cover copy:
Her professional life would be perfect, if he’d get out of her way.
Vanessa Fisher delights in providing the flowers for weddings and other social events. Except when Topher Adams is doing the cake. The man is always rearranging her centerpieces and deriding her job. It’s almost as if he’s doing it just to get under her skin.
Topher can get along with everyone—with the notable exception of Vanessa. That woman brings out the worst in him. It wouldn’t be a problem if she wasn’t so good at what she did. As it is, they keep ending up at more and more events together.
Something has to change, and Topher is man enough to take the first step.
When he drops by her shop with a peace offering, he walks in on a tense moment between Vanessa and her mother. Agreeing to be Vanessa’s date at a family dinner is easy. Having her in his debt is just a bonus.
Vanessa realizes spending time with Topher isn’t so bad. Maybe they could continue the charade for a few more weeks.
A fake relationship with Vanessa? What could go wrong?
It’s not like they’re going to fall in love for real . . .
A Heart Rearranged is available at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited. I hope you’ll take some time to get to know Vanessa and Topher (and if you’re new to the series, you can start with A Heart Restored – also in KU!)
Since it’s a new release and I enjoy giving things away – how about a chance at a paperback? Vanessa and Topher end up plotting to pretend they’re in a relationship for various reasons. If you were single, what circumstances would you need before you’d consider a fake relationship?
I’ll choose one commenter on Saturday to get a paperback of A Heart Rearranged.
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
Its a hard one but maybe for protection. having someone who is causing problems like stalking or harassing and needing a relationship to scare him away. By this person realising you have a boyfriend who comes around and is visible to make the other person go away.
(I think of this after being harassed by someone who has been offering super cheap rates to do gardening which makes me suspicious of the real motives. To the point when I keep saying know he says things that I say no its not happening in my yard and he responds with comments that’s why you need a man to tell you what to do.) In this sort of scenario a younger woman may feel the need to have someone around on occasion to scare the that person off and if they could mow the lawn would be a bonus.
Hi Elizabeth, the cover looks great:) This sounds like another great story. Hmm, I think the only reason I would consider a fake relationship- to make a dying parent happy/bring peace to a parent etc.
Blessings:)
Hi Elizabeth! Eye catching cover. Well worth the wait. Tough question if I were single, what circumstances would I need before I’d consider a fake relationship? So many factors to consider – where one lived, career or lack of career, and family. Most likely to please family – parents or grandparents. If I lived in a metropolitan area for companionship and maybe financial reasons since cost of living is so high. Best wishes. Happy writing.
That’s a great reason! And…maybe something I’ll incorporate into a future plot because yes!
Oh that’s a great reason too! I could do a whole fake relationship series 😂
Thanks, Renate!
I struggled with why it would work too – but you’ve got great reasons as well. Loving all these ideas!
Maybe in a life or death situation I might consider a fake relationship if I was single. Congratulations 🎈 I love the cover.
Thanks!
I’m trying to think of a life or death situation that could be solved by being in a relationship. Maybe that ties back to a dangerous stalker or some such.
Elizabeth, I love this cover! Holiday in Handcuffs is my favorite movie. Her family want her to bring her boyfriend, her boyfriend had dumped her, so she is forced to find someone to bring along.
Thanks!
And yes! I’ve seen that movie, it’s hilarious. I’d forgotten it.
Movie wise I also like The Proposal for a good fake relationship.
I am really enjoying this story as all the other books in the series. I am half way done and can’t wait for the conclusion. Great book!!!!
Yay! I’m so glad.
Hello Elizabeth I would only be in a fake relationship because of my family Congratulations Love the cover!
Because your family expected you to be in a relationship or to protect them or something else?
Thanks! I love it too :)
I am single, so I’m going to say a fake relationship for financial security. Or, to give a parent peace of mind before they pass.
I can see peace of mind being a great reason.
Thanks, If I was younger I would have felt more fear from him. As it was I thought due to the cost he was charging at more than 3 times less than what most charge and half the minimum wage, he was either cheating our welfare system and possibly on drugs (we have a big issue here). I have been told if he comes back to get his name and tell him I will report him to the police if he comes back. Thankfully he hasn’t but hes been twice and he knew more about me than I would have expected. I also thought he would use it as a chance to look around the yard to see what he could steal. I know its the wrong thing to think but it was what he made me think.
Just had a thought what if its the hero who is the one who needs a fake relationship. What if he is and awkward, has a stutter and is often tormented and made fun of by his work mates and friends and family. They tell him he will never have a date or get girlfriend.
One of his work mates is a kind hearted heroine who is so sick of hearing him belittled decides to do something. She then takes him out and tells him she wants to pretend to be his girlfriend after telling him she admires his character and the fact he never retaliates.
Maybe at the same time she can help him grow in confidence.
Scary!
I’m glad he hasn’t been back.
Aww. I love that! That would make such a fun story.
I…am definitely going to have to do more fake relationships!
I am super excited that this is out in paperback!! I LOVE the cover – especially the songbirds. :)
The only reason I can think of for a fake relationship would be to dissuade a stalker.
Definitely getting rid of a stalker is a great reason!
And those songbirds – I love them so much. They’re on all the covers if you look for them. :)
I don’t think I’d ever fake a relationship. Mostly because I’m terrible at keeping false information straights and I talk a lot to those I’m close to, so there no way it’s remain a secret. I do think it’d be super fun to do, if I wasn’t married, though!
I’m really excited to read this book! I’ve read the rest of the peacock hill books and have been eagerly waiting this one!
I like fake relationships…in stories lol
It’s very hard to imagine being in one myself… I think I would have trust issues :)
Keeping the fact that it’s not real a secret would totally be the hardest part of the whole shebang.
Oh! Good point! That could definitely be an issue 😬
I’m looking forward to reading this one. Loved the other books.
I think probably I would consider a fake relationship to help out a good friend, but never with a stranger… and not sure about just people pleasing reason. I’d have my doubts.
Oh I don’t think I could with a stranger either. Definitely someone who was some sort of friend. Even it was more frenemy than true friend.
I love this kind of trope because it’s something I can never imagine myself doing. I love reading about the scrapes the pretend couple gets into how they eventually fall in love. Kind of like marriage-of-convenience type stories.
Sometimes you hear/read about someone faking a romance or engagement because a loved one (think parent or grandparent) is dying and they want to see you settled/happy. I could see doing that…
The tropes that we can’t see ourselves doing are definitely fun!
Yes! I definitely can see that working out in a book and maybe in real life (although there was a movie where I remember they did that and then the mom was miraculously healed and the guy wanted to back out…was it Moonstruck? Might be.)