One story is currently dominating the news headlines in the UK. A member of the Royal Family has been exposing all manner of dirty laundry—including unmentionables—in the runup to his new memoir, which was a bestselling book even before it was released.
An early reviewer of my latest book, Within the Storm, asked whether I’d been inspired by the royal autobiography and all the drama leading up to it.
I was not, but after my reader brought it up, I saw the parallels. A celebrity memoir is a key plank part of my plot. My main character Bethany, now a widow, was married to a famous actor. She wants to honour her late husband through a book about his life. But somebody else with an axe to grind is planning a tell-all memoir, promising to spill lots of dirt and ruin Bethany’s husband’s reputation.
My heroine races to get her book out first with help from her brother-in-law, Lukas. But although Lukas is helping Bethany, he knows things that his late brother kept hidden: things that would crush Bethany if she ever found out.
Within the Storm is a love story about the truth and secrets.
Some people weaponise the truth, using it out of malice in order to cause maximum damage. And some people hide the truth in a misguided attempt to protect those they love. Others are caught in the middle when painful secrets come to light.
I threw in a lot of family tension and scandalous secrets. Apparently I’m unable to write a story that doesn’t include a dysfunctional family somewhere.
Have you ever read a book that appeared to be ripped from the headlines or inspired by the news? I’ll be giving away an electronic copy of Within the Storm to two commenters who post by Thursday January 19th.
He hid the truth to spare her heart, even as it broke his.
Five years ago, Bethany lost her husband, a world-famous actor, in a freak accident. Since then, she has rebuilt her life away from the limelight in her small Norwegian hometown.
But her peace is about to be destroyed.
A vengeful co-star is preparing to publish a vicious tell-all book to smear her late husband’s name. Refusing to stand by and allow his memory to be tarnished, Bethany scrambles to release her own biography to celebrate his legacy. To make that happen, she needs mementos and stories from his childhood. That means swallowing her pride and asking for help from his brother, Lukas, who’s always treated her with icy indifference.
Lukas knew his brother never deserved Bethany. The selfish, narcissistic rogue swept her off her feet while keeping her in the dark about the unsavory and immoral corners of his life. The only way Lukas could protect his own heart and integrity was to keep Bethany at arm’s length and avoid blurting out his feelings for her. She deserved better… to be treasured and adored. Knowing he could never fill that role, he hid his attraction and his guilt, and allowed her to believe he despised her.
Now, as she turns to him to help memorialize his brother, Lukas faces an impossible choice. If he lets her discover the truth, he’ll open up a long-awaited chance to confess his feelings for her. But the full truth will also reveal his own role in hiding a closet full of skeletons.
Within the Storm is Book 3 in Milla Holt’s Seasons of Faith Christian romance series. Five friends were in the same wedding in a small Norwegian town over twenty years ago. Four bridesmaids, one bride. Now, two decades on, each woman learns that God’s timing is perfect as they find forever love later in life.
I write fiction that reflects my Christian faith. I love happy endings, heroes and heroines who discover sometimes hard but always vital truths, and stories that uplift and encourage. My family and I live in the east of England where we enjoy rambling in the countryside, reading good books and making up silly lyrics to our favorite songs.
No, I have not.
Thanks for your comment, Lori!
Actually, I have. It wasn’t like yours, coming out about the same time, though. I have also read books based on true stories, too. I have to say, your book sounds really good! Especially since your heroine has the same name as one of my nieces!
Interesting! I haven’t read the book but I was just read on “Pistols and Petticoats “ blog Robin Lee Hatcher’s account of how she was writing “All she ever dreamed #2” during the pandemic and discovered that it was partially set during the Russian flu pandemic of 1890.
Thanks, Trudy! I love the name Bethany. I often agonise over character names and swap them out a couple of times, but she just popped into my head with that name.
Wow, that is an interesting coincidence. She must have seen her research in an entirely different light. Thanks for your comment!
No I don’t think I have. Your book sounds like a great book.
I can not remember any
Thanks, Kendra! I think it’s a good book, but I’m biased, ha ha. :-)
Thanks for commenting, Jcp!
I do not think I have. And the Royals are getting rather tiresome. The poor queen is probably turning in her grave.
Your book sounds good.
I’ve read a couple that I thought were coincidentally timed, but I can’t remember which ones at the moment (I read a lot of books). Your book sounds so intriguing. I’ve put it on my wish list!
I don’t think I have. I’m not a big fan of tell-all memoirs. It just seems like bitter grapes to me, there’s nothing good that can come from airing dirty laundry for all to see.
Yes, Bonnie, my eyes now glaze over when I see the stories. It’s sad.
Aw, thanks Winnie!
I agree, Megan. I read a number memoirs and biographies while I was preparing to write my book, and there was a huge difference between the vindictive ones versus those that just wanted to tell a well-rounded story.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything based on news or headlines either. I’m not really a reader of recent biographies or Memoires, although I do like ones about historical figures.
Your book sounds really interesting. I sadly went to a funeral of an old friend this week, and it struck me how so many of us there were sharing stories of him as a way of memorialising. But all of us knew different aspects of the whole person, putting it together gave a whole picture of him. I suppose we never really know everything about a person, more so if they are keeping secrets.
Sorry for your loss, Ruthie. I lost my mother when I was barely in my teens, and one of my most treasured moments was an afternoon I spent with a friend of hers who knew her when she was a young woman. It was wonderful to hear her friend’s recollections and get to hear about a side of my mother I never knew.
not sure
Thanks for your comment, BN!
Yes, I have read a lot of Joel Rosenburg’s books. It seems like what he writes is right out of the headlines concerning the world events. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Ooh, I need to check him out. Thanks for your comment, Debra!
I can’t think of any, but your book sounds interesting! Although I will say that it seems like you can put a newspaper beside the book of Revelation and see a lot of parallels.
Kathy, that is absolutely true about Revelation reflecting current affairs. The second half of Romans 1 and Psalm 37 also appear to be ripped from the headlines.
Sounds like a great story, Milla! I don’t think so, other than something like true crime stories or those that say based on a true story.
Thank you, Sally!
Ooh, this sounds like a great book, Milla!
Thanks, Meghann!