Once upon a time, there was a little girl who fell in love with reading romance novels. She spent hours curled up in a chair in the living room, zipping through the pages of books filled with nobility who took the chance on the girl from the wrong social strata, oil tycoons who found just what they needed in the girl they’d known as a college student before their ship came in, Wall Street wheelers and dealers who recognized that money couldn’t buy them love, and on and on went the list.
And she grew up to write romance novels of her own.
That little girl would be me.
And I have to admit, I still have a soft spot in my heart for a billionaire hero. (And I’ll even admit my bias to the hero needing to have all the money. While the heroine is who shows him just how empty that is without love. I’m sure there are some great female billionaires out there, but I haven’t run across them yet.)
I’ve thought it would be fun to write a billionaire for some time–but I’ve held back for a number of reasons. First, I really have tried to keep my books branded as relatable and realistic. That’s even my tagline: Relatable Characters. Realistic Faith. Romantic Ever-Afters. So a billionaire? Probably not super relatable OR realistic.
After all, who among us can empathize with someone who has more money than is easily visualized? As much as we all know money doesn’t buy happiness or solve all our problems, I think we’ve all also hit times in our life where we’ve been willing to risk it if someone wanted to drop the cash in our laps.
And realistic? Please. There are how many billionaires world wide? (And how many of them are actually single and attractive?) Plus, as believers, we want to see people with big wads of cash out there spending it in service to the Lord, not hoarding it so they can be a billionaire! (I’ve always loved the fact that JK Rowling has lost her billionaire status because of her charitable giving.)
That said? I still really wanted to write one.
But what would that look like? Could I do it and stay true to relatable and realistic?
As I mulled the idea, I got the opportunity to join the Love’s Treasure box set and make a run for the USA Today Bestseller list — something else I’ve wanted to do for a while now.
The combination sparked some creativity and after a little more brainstorming, I had a decent outline for a six-book series of sort-of billionaires.
Because I can’t just do things the normal way.
There is one for-sure billionaire — Joe Robinson, the hero of book 1, So You Want a Second Chance. He’s the owner and founder of a tech company that over the years has grown into five distinct business area. And he oversees them all–working more hours every day than he spends doing anything else. It catches up with him, and lands him in the hospital under the care of the one that got away.
The other five books in the series all feature folks who would like the chance to be billionaires. Thus the series is So You Want to be a Billionaire. Having just finished book 2, I’m super pleased with how the series is turning out and I think that readers who enjoy my books will also enjoy my take on this trope.
Even better? You can get So You Want a Second Chance (book 1) for free now through June 14th as a pre-order bonus when you buy the Love’s Treasure Collection. The collection is available on all ebook retailers for just 99c. Once you’ve ordered, you’ll just go back to the collection website and submit your information to start getting the bonuses. (They’re sent 2 at a time every couple weeks after the time you order.)
Book 2 of the series, So You Love to Hate Your Boss, will be included in the collection when it releases June 15th. And the remainder of the series is going to release one book each month starting in July.
You can find out about the Love’s Treasure Collection at the box website. That also has links to the set on the various retailers, information about the charity which will be receiving all the pre-order proceeds, and it’s where you submit your order info to get your bonus books.
Do you love billionaires too? Tell me why! Not a fan? That’s okay, tell me your major objections. Got a great Christian billionaire book to recommend? I’d love to know the title and author!
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.
Billionaires are fun to read.
I don’t mind billionaire stories. It’s just another ideal we like to escape to. Just like the men with broad shoulders, chiseled jaws and chests, abs and biceps that would inspire Michelangelo. And the ladies with classic beauty, hair that catches the morning sun with golden highlights and enters the hero’s presence to the accompaniment of an angel chorus. It’s nice to think about a world where there are no overdue credit card bills, luxuries to be enjoyed and lots of opportunities to say “Oh, wouldn’t that be nice” or “Wouldn’t that be fun.”
I enjoyed Dee Henderson’s romantic suspense novel “Unspoken”. It was, in fact, the heroine who was the billionaire. The problem you mentioned, that we really can’t comprehend such a vast amount of money, was dealt with in a very interesting way. The hero learned from the heroine’s accountant that her fortune (at a very modest interest rate) earned over $400,000 in interest *per day*. That is beyond comprehension. But, sure, aim the hose my direction for two or three days and I’m good to go. :)
Yay! I’m so glad you agree :)
Ha. A week of that interest would be plenty.
And yes, we definitely look to ideals in our fiction–even in the more realistic novels.
I love the rich/poor trope which I think is why I like billionaire stories. I’m definitely interested in reading your billionaire series! Is the only way to get the first two books in your series by ordering the box set or will they be releasing separately? Are the other books in the series in the box set or will we order those separately as they release later in the year?
Right now that’s the only way but once the box releases in June, I’ll put book 1 up. Books 3-6 will all release individually, one per month starting in July. Book 2 will be only in the box starting in June and then out of the box and released on it’s own in September – so after the others, but they all stand alone that reading out of order is fine.
I’ve only read one and I enjoyed it very much. Yours sound great!
Thanks! There are some good ones out there when you’re in the mood to try others.
I totally agree with you about the reality of a billionaire! I cannot wait to read yours!
Yay! I hope you love them. I’m having fun writing them.
I didn’t used to like Billionaire books, until Alexa Verde and Autumn MacArthur wrote theirs, and now I’m reading Jo Grafford’s Billionaire series as they come out, and I’ve decided they can be really good!! Yours sounds good, too!!!
I didn’t used to like Billionaire books, until Alexa Verde and Autumn MacArthur wrote theirs, and now I’m reading Jo Grafford’s Billionaire series as they come out, and I’ve decided they can be really good!! Yours sounds good, too!!! I’ll look forward to them!
I’m not a fan of billionaire books in general. I will definitely read yours, because I like your books. I’ve liked books that have rich people in them (like Dee Henderson’s that Lincoln referenced above, and Carol Moncado’s royalty books), but the focus is not on their wealth.
Billionaire stories aren’t my favorite, but I’ll read them sometimes. Right now I’m a little tired of the trope and am trying to find only Christian fiction. Most billionaire books are just sweet. And even though I’ll read them, I’m needing something more meaningful right now.
My favorite billionaire story is “A Change of Fortune” by Traci Hunter Abramson. It made me rethink how I handle my money and how I choose to invest in others.
I love your stories, so I’ll be looking for this one.
Alexa and Autumn’s are super fun. I enjoyed them quite a bit.
Mine are definitely not focused on the wealth – and honestly I have a nagging thought that die hard billionaire readers will probably be disappointed with them, but oh well :)
There definitely are a lot of just sweet books in general right now. I’ve seen that several authors I enjoy who used to write Christian are now just sweet. It’s sad.
I’ll have to look for that one I’m always looking for new books to read.
Thanks!
I think Billionaire books are good, one can dream. And books take us to places we have never been or we will never go. I love reading different genres . I don’t know any Billionaires personally,but I think some can be very nice and some can not be very nice, just like everything else. I’ll keep on reading the books. :) Have a Great weekend and stay safe. Thank you for this great post.
Dreaming is definitely fun – and you’re so right, billionaires (in books or in real life) are people too. I don’t know any personally either (wouldn’t that be fun?) but sometimes when they’re splashed across the headlines I feel badly for them.
I’m not into billionaires. I find rich people pretentious.
Love a billionaire book. A girl can dream, y’all.
I really haven’t read many billionaire books but your series sounds really good!
not sure I have read any I have read some about spoilt rich kids which put me of that sort of book.
It really would depend on the story. I know a lot of self made million and billionaires you wouldn’t know how rich they are because they don’t boast about it and often still drive a cheaper car also many give a lot away. These people I could handle reading about. But if they are the ones who brag about being rich or are really flashy then I struggle.
The historical with the rich upper class heroine and hero who have been born into privilege and laud it over everyone turned me of sorts of stories.
Hmm. I guess I haven’t found that to be limited to only rich people. That’s, to me, more about the work God needs to do in someone’s life.
Yes!!
Thank you! If you want to try one in the meantime, I love Hannah Jo Abbott’s billionaires.
I definitely agree. I don’t love the stories about the spoiled and mean and flashy ones. Thankfully, those don’t tend to be the Christian billionaires so it’s less of an issue.
I have not read a Billionaire story yet. I’m a bit wary of them because I think I might have a hard time relating to them & one thing I love, are characters who I can connect with.
Guess I’ll have to try a Billionaire book by one of the authors mentioned here (including yours Elizabeth) to see what it’s like :-)
I’m good with billionaires as long as it’s close to reality :)
I found out by accident that once I started following Amish authors, I started receiving offers from other Christian writers. Then that leads to more emails and recommendations. I almost felt overwhelmed!