I love all the stories I write. They came out of my brain, so it makes sense that I love them too. But some stories hold a bigger piece of my heart than others.
Out of all of my books, I do have a favorite. This particular story was on my mind before I finished my first book. It’s a story I fought against writing but also a story I felt strongly needed to be told.
This was the book I felt more confident in my writing. This was also the book I struggled to finish. This was the book I was worried people wouldn’t read. And this was the book I thought might be criticized because it dealt with tough topics.
A Half Made Whole is my favorite book. What makes it even more special to me is that there are bits and pieces of people I know–their personal stories–woven into the words on the pages. Romance isn’t always pretty or perfect. Sometimes it’s hard, and I wanted people to see this story unfold and know there is hope.
When I started writing A Half Made Whole, I never intended it to become part of a series. It was one-and-done…until I finished it. Then I started thinking about a couple of the side characters, and they had a story too. Still, I only wanted to write standalone books. That’s what I set out to do. But this idea of creating a world where books and characters overlap became intriguing.
It’s funny how God can push you to places you never dreamed of when you trust Him. He put friends in my path who kept encouraging me to “write the series.” He also gave me more stories to write. Now I have a series of characters who could be your best friend, sister, or neighbor, and they go through real-life struggles just like you and I.
Do you have any favorites? I love hearing stories of how a book sticks with a reader and what makes it special to you.
When I thought I would never find someone that could see past my exterior, love had already won.
A Half Made Whole:
Our lives were forever changed…
I was living the dream until a misstep ended my career, and now I’m half the man I used to be. If I can’t fight fires, I don’t even know who I am. But my new occupational therapist is determined to help me figure it out.
Leighton is beautiful—inside and out. She’s also smart as a whip, and she believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. Amazingly, the more time I spend with her and her adorable daughter, the more hopeful I become.
But falling in love with Leighton is a terrible idea, right? She’s still healing from the loss of her husband, and it’s her job to help me recover from my injury. We can’t blur these lines. If we do, we might end up even more broken than before.
Then again, Leighton has this way of making me feel like anything is possible. She makes me feel like we can be whole again. Together. If I can learn to love the new me, can she let herself love me back even if it means risking her heart?
K. Leah is a hopeless romantic and adores a good Hallmark movie. Growing up in the South, she likes her tea sweet and coffee strong. Family and faith are what matter most and she wears many hats, including being a wife, mom, and graphic designer. Other than being creative with designs or stories, she likes to spend her free time escaping reality into the pages of a sweet love story.
I have some favorites from Debbie Macomber And Sherryl Woods. They have written some series where I have identified with the characters and what they are experiencing. There are many others too that are not part of a series. I really like it when a character stays in my mind long after I have read the book. It makes me want to read more books by that author.
I love series books. I’m a great fan of several of Susan May Warren series. I also especially love RomCom series like Liwen’s Over 40 series.
I have some favorite series books by Susan May Warren. I also especially love Liwen’s Over 40 RomComs.
When I was a young girl, I was introduced to my first historical romance book, “The Flame and the Flower” by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I have been hooked ever since. Romance books are always my favorite.
It’s always so interesting to hear about the process of writing, and how stories -and series – develop.
I think my favourite books have characters I really relate to, so I can come back and read them again and again. I also like some humour as that’s the sort of lines that tend to stick with me.
welcome. I have this happen with me regarding quilting. I will be in the middle of making one when another pops into my head and will not leave. what to do but make it. yes as a reader I have characters that stay in my head. many of them because they struck a cord in me that was needed at the time or because I personally grew from their lives/experiences.
I have too many favorites to try to keep track! Generally for a book to become a favorite it has to have engaged me in a unique way. Either a unique character, storyline, setting, etc. Or it created a unique experience within myself of how I related to the book in some way.
Debbie Macomber is one of my favorites! And I agree, it’s a great feeling when the character stay in my mind long after the book has been read.
I don’t have a favorite but I have been reading Jessie gussman latest series as I’m on her arc team I enjoy her books.
I like both series and stand-alones! Some of my favorite series are Blackwater Ranch and Wolf Creek Ranch, both by Mandi Blake. The Jewel series by Hallee Bridgeman is great, as is the Dixon Brothers. The Spark Brothers by Liwen Ho are also excellent, and I love the Heart Lake series by Jo Grafford. Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor is also a great series, with some “side characters” that are especially memorable, like Charley. Everyone, whether like fish tacos or not, wants to go to Charley’s and get fish tacos!!
I love series books too!
Romance books are my favoirte too.
I always try to write relatable characters. It’s one of the thing I most enjoy when reading a book.
That’s interesting that it happens with something besides writing. So cool that you get ideas for quilts too.
I agree with all of this!
That’s wonderful. Authors appreciate our ARC readers so much.
Mandi is one of my good friends and also one of my favorite authors.
I have read so many books that some are becoming a blur. The one series that really stands out for me is the Eagle Harbor series by Naomi Rawlings. That lead to the Texas Promise series when one character in the last book of the Eagle Harbor series went to Texas. I am anxiously awaiting for the last book in that series to release next month and see where the next series will take me.
There are other series I really enjoyed, too. The 2 by Hallee Bridgeman mentioned in Trudy’s post are very good. Sylvia Price has some good Amish series, too. I am getting ready to start the Easter in Gilead series after I finished book in am reading.
A Half Made Whole sounds very good.
Hi , your series sounds great! I love reading book series, I love to follow the characters as they grow and mature, and I love stories that have situations in them that everybody has dealt with or is still dealing with at the time. I loved the book Forgiveness Road. Thank you so much for writing about characters like this, which, make situations more real. Have a great weekend . God Bless you and your family.
There are stories and characters that will always stay with me.
I hope you’ll be able to read it someday!
Thank you so much!
I agree… some books I don’t think I could ever forget.
interesting title
I don’t usually have favorite books but I do have authors that I love and always pick up their books!
I think I need to add some of these to my TBR since both ladies have been mentioned a few times!
It reflects the book perfectly!
Me too!
Stories where the characters have to work hard to love as God would have them to and show what relationships can look like when one chooses to love even when it’s not easy tend to stick with me.
I think you would like my stories :) That describes them perfectly.
I would have to say the ones that stick with me the most are ones where I can identify with the characters to a point that they feel just like friends or family. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
One book that I really enjoyed and remember is ‘Redeeming Love’ by Francine Rivers. I have enjoyed a lot of her books.
I love the concept of a series of related characters, and I think that’s why I enjoyed Liwen Ho’s Spark brothers series so much. I look forward to reading this series! :)
Once my mother-in-law asked for prayer for a book character in her Sunday School class. lol!
That’s one of the first romance books I ever read. It was really good!
I hope you enjoy it!
I have a few favourites for different reasons. When calls the heart by Janette Oke because it got me back into reading.
Sisterchicks do the Hula because it made me want to go to Hawaii (actually most of the sisterchick books are special.
The time rift by Liwen and David Ho is a book that sticks with me because of dejuvu.
I love series and am always sorry to see them end. I have read and enjoyed some of the ones above. I bought a book at a used book sale that I’m enjoying that is mid series, so I’m trying to figure out how to find the rest of the series.
When you read books and you feel right there in the story with the characters Have a Blessed Week
Those sound like great books and great reasons.
Good luck finding them!
I love that feeling!
I enjoy a good series. It’s fun getting to catch up with older characters as you read about new ones.
Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli is one my favorites from last year :)
I can’t really pick a favorite because there are too many. I have enjoyed the series written by Susan Mallery, Amy Clipston and debbie Macomber.
Hard to pick a favorite. There are so many great ones I have read through the years. The ones that usually stick with me are the ones with characters that I relate to so well that they start to feel like friends. Also, stories that are so touching, heartwarming, or inspiring in some way that I feel like it has left an imprint on me.