Shannon here: Bettie Boswell shares insight into her real-life romance and how it influenced her fictional romance. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Jan 15th – 31st to enter the drawing for an e-book copy of her Romantic Suspense, Hidden Talent, plus 3 other titles. Deadline: Feb 7th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Bettie:
Holding Hands, Holding Hope
Romance can start with a simple glance or a brush of one hand against another that changes a relationship forever. I was attending a Bible college when I met my future husband years ago. We first met each other when a mutual friend invited us to an event at his home church. Two cars of students traveled for several hours to spend the weekend at the restoration of a historic building on the church grounds. We played a friendly four on four touch football game during that weekend. My husband’s team lost because he let me tag him with my hands whenever he caught the ball. After we returned to campus he offered to drive me to an event sponsored by the college and our dating started.
Because of the conservative nature of the campus, holding hands was the best way to start a relationship. We went to movies, ate at inexpensive restaurants, strolled around campus, and studied together with our fingers entwined. When we worked our way up to our first kiss, it was a little awkward because he was almost a foot taller. Our solution was to kiss good-night with me standing on a curb with his feet planted on the ground. We still look back and laugh at our fun way of parting for the evening. Yes, we still occasionally share a kiss utilizing a curb or a step.
In my latest romantic suspense, Hidden Talent, cartoonist Leah is under threat due to a rescue mule she is protecting on her ranch. As a recluse, she is pushing her comfort zone to attend a comic convention for promoting her comic strip and new graphic novel. But, someone wants to know where to find her rescued mule named Sylvester. The criminals have sent messages to that effect and she is living in fear. So, she hires Carlton as her body guard for the convention. He is doubtful that she really needs protection until a costumed character approaches her author’s table and delivers an in-person threat.
The couple’s attraction starts with admiration of good looks, but they both resist anything personal because of events in their past. Both have experienced failed romances. As the action picks up from the criminals, the couple is forced closer and closer as they deal with open threats, car chases, and betrayal from someone she trusted. When they find time to take a break, they grab a quick meal at a restaurant. Their hands brush and everything changes. Here’s the excerpt where that takes place.
Excerpt from Hidden Talent by Bettie Boswell:
“Tell me what happened.” Leah slid onto the bench seat facing the front of the restaurant, anxious to hear the news.
Carlton sat next to her. Close. Nice. His hand grazed hers and she accepted it.
A smile crossed his face. “I hope you don’t mind.” He lifted their clasped hands.
She shook her head and tightened her grasp as a tingle danced up her arm. “I would like to hear Mark’s report.” Warmth flooded her chest when she looked into his eyes.
Bettie again:
Taking Leah’s hand was an act of hope for Carlton. Leah’s reaction was a feeling that made her chest warm with yearning. When young couples hold each other’s hands their hearts give way to hopes for the future. My future husband and I often spoke of hopes and dreams as we held hands and wandered the campus where we dated.
I have always loved reading Christian romance books. Simple things like hands binding a couple together are clean and wholesome ways to show love. As a writer, I now hold that power in my hands as I put words on the page. I pray my words will bring hope to someone’s life.
While romance plays a big part in my stories, finding love for God has a more important role in the novels I write. Carlton struggles with trusting God after the accident that left him with a crippled leg and other possible complications. Leah struggles with fellowshipping outside of her home worship with her ranch hands.
Life often throws troubles and complications our way. Novelists are told to provide their characters with plenty of troubles, especially in a suspenseful tale so that there is something to overcome. God has provided a way to overcome by giving us Jesus. The apostle John references this in his writing.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? KJV
I pray my readers will see actions of hope, forgiveness, and overcoming–from hand holding to a relationship between a couple and their Lord.
Question for readers: What role did holding hands play in your own, or a family member’s romance?
January Book Bundle #2
My Journey in Fiction Writing by R.F. Whong, Nonfiction, Newsletter signup download
A Heart to Protect by Judith McNees, Contemporary Romance, e-book
Hidden Talent by Bettie Boswell, Romantic Suspense, e-book
Visible by Darlene Corbett, Romantic Women’s Fiction, print
About Bettie: Bettie Boswell has always loved reading and writing. That interest helped her create musicals for church and school students. Eventually she decided to write and illustrate stories to share with the world. Her publications extend from short books for children to Christian adult novels and from fiction to non-fiction. Her works also include magazine articles, and contributions to lesson plan collections, devotionals, and short story anthologies. She is a minister’s wife, church musician, former teacher for preschool to college students, mother of two grown men, a daughter-in-law and a grandma of three. She loves the arts and shares her doodles, and photography from her daily walks, on social media. Learn more & connect:
Bettie’s Youtube Bettie’s Google Home Bettie’s Facebook
Bettie’s Twitter Bettie’s Goodreads Bettie’s Bookbub
About the book – Hidden Talent:
After an injury, Carlton Marsh leaves his federal position to work security. His first assignment is protecting paranoid author Mara Shore, a pen-name for reclusive Leah Beach. The threat becomes real at a comic convention when criminals threaten Leah for information about an abused mule her rescue ranch acquired. She recently added the mule’s picture to the comic strip she creates for each weekday. Carlton will do his best to protect her, but mules aren’t on his list of favorite animals. During his last federal case Carlton, a mule ran him down, reinjuring an old wound and ending his hopes of ever walking without a cane. Will his injuries hinder his ability to protect his client as attacks increase from an enemy that wants to destroy her mule?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Bettie’s other titles?
Need extra copies for gifts? Get your copy/copies now!
Forest Glen Suspense Series Hidden Talent Bettie’s Books
Come back Jan 29th for Darlene Corbett!
The first time my great grandfather took the hand of my great grandmother, he said he knew then that he would forever love her. they were married 66 years before she died.
Sweet. Next year will mark 50 years for us!
A bunch of us from the Singles group at church enjoyed an outing to a local amusement park. The little car I was in carried four passengers, two women friends in the front, me, and then Chris. I thought he was cute and funny, he had good comments in Bible study, and he’d taken me to tea at a bookstore for my birthday a few months before. Our group undulated on and off rides at the park, talking and laughing and just having fun together. As we rode home, everyone tired out, talk in the car quieted down. Then suddenly, I felt a strong, warm, hand folding over mine. My startled glance at Chris caught him smiling at me. I left my hand in his. It’s been forty years, and holding hands with my husband is still one of my favorite things to do!
What a wonderful story! Hands really make a connection.
Hand-holding in my romance is about connection and reassurance.
It says: I’m here. We’re okay. You’re not alone – even in the ordinary moments.
My husband reaches for my hand even while driving, resting it on the console between us. That’s not performative romance – that’s muscle-memory love. The kind that doesn’t need words or eye contact. Just touch.
Hand-holding keeps intimacy alive in the smallest, most faithful way. It’s steady. Grounding. Almost sacred in its simplicity.
Not fireworks every day – but fingers intertwined through traffic, errands, and years.