Shannon here: Caroline Powers shares insight into her characters’ romance from her debut Contemporary Romance, A Future and A Hope. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: March 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Caroline:
Hope May Come From Unexpected Places
We’re here today with Sara Kelly who’s agreed to give us the scoop on Larkyn and Gabe the main characters in A Future and A Hope.
Sara, thank you for agreeing to share with us. Tell us how this romance began.
Sara: I’m afraid my friends weren’t interested in romance. It took a couple of accidents to get them to notice one another. Even after that, they never would have made it without some help from God.
Interviewer: Oh my. That bad?
Sara: Absolutely, yes. You see, Larkyn’s first husband died in a hit-and-run and he’s sort of like the elephant Larkyn brings into every room. She’s fixated on her grief. Gabe is my fiancé Cisco’s cousin. Gabe lost his leg in Afghanistan which ended his Army career. He’s come to stay with Cisco while he figures out his life.
Interviewer: Not very promising for a romance.
Sara: You’ve got that right. But Gabe is Cisco’s best man and Larkyn is one of my bridesmaids, so they can’t exactly ignore each other.
Interviewer: You mentioned accidents. What happened?
Sara: As far as I knew they collided at my engagement party, but I found out later that wasn’t the case. Then Mother Nature intervened with another doozy which could have gone either way, but I kept hoping, and as Larkyn’s best friend, I made it my goal to meddle wherever I could.
Interviewer: (laughing) Good for you, Sara.
Sara: Without giving too much away, a scene from my party will show you what I mean.
Interviewer: Great. Let’s go to the party now.
Excerpt from A Future and A Hope by Caroline Powers:
The fake ficus tree in the corner offered an excellent place to hide, but instead, she piloted through the bodies to the kitchen. Without her husband at her elbow, a job might help with this solo plunge. Matthew, why aren’t you here?
Ah. Half of the couple of honor had her hands elbow-deep in the sink.
“Sara. What are you doing here? Go chat with your guests.”
Sara turned. Her normally ivory complexion, set off by a cloud of coppery curls, glistened pink. She held an ice pick at a dangerous angle. “We need a lot more ice, but it’s all stuck together.”
One quick look confirmed—the ice had probably softened just enough to re-freeze in an unusable clump.
“You go. I’ll figure it out.” Larkyn took the weapon from Sara’s hands as if disarming a sleepwalker. “Leave it to me.”
“Thank you,” Sara gushed. Her leopard-print palazzo pants and black halter top made a daring combination. “I’ve barely said hello.” She paused at the threshold and grimaced. “Can you pour another ginger ale into the dispenser in the dining room?”
“Go,” Larkyn nodded with shooing gestures.
Now for the ice. A tentative stab at her target did nothing useful. In a frenzy of chopping, she attacked again and produced a few chips and puncture wounds.
A poke around under the sink yielded trash bags. Perfect. She chased the slippery clump into one and sealed it with a twist tie. A drop to the cement would crack open this ice. Matthew had done it before.
She gathered her bundle into a frigid hug and carried it to the door. Pushing through backward, she stumbled down a step she forgot existed—and collided with solid flesh. Muscular arms kept her upright.
“Whoa, there.” Her rescuer released her once her balance had been restored.
“Oops, sorry.” She turned, and the stinging cold forced her to drop the ice. The bag struck the concrete, and she shook her arms. The two regarded each other warily as Larkyn took in the unusually short dark hair, tanned complexion, and intense brown eyes.
She pulled her gaze away. Grieving widows didn’t stare at gorgeous men. “Excuse me. I need to break this ice up.”
“A likely story.” His lopsided grin brightened his striking eyes.
Heat set her cheeks on fire. This could not be happening. An entire pint of mint chocolate ice cream had finally put the incident on the road behind her. Relax. The biker survived. Be more careful. Let it go.
What was he doing here?
She uttered the only words her brain could form. “Excuse me.” Never mind Sara’s ice or Sara’s party. She took off on feet with a mind of their own, leaving the bag behind.
In the safety of the foyer, she stopped to breathe and take stock. Running home was not an option.
Question for Readers: Relationships require forgiveness to survive. Have you ever felt called to forgive a person who wasn’t sorry? Have you ever found it harder to forgive yourself than someone else? Why do you think that is?
About Caroline: Caroline Powers has always found it easier to process life through writing, a practice that stood her in good stead through years of personal emotional healing and ministry to others. When the nudge to put her wisdom and insight into a novel became undeniable, learning to create fiction began.
Improving with the help of peer critiques she completed several drafts and watched the plot evolve. Her unpublished manuscript of A Future and A Hope placed in the finals of the romance category in the 2022 Genesis contest for unpublished authors before being chosen for publication.
Caroline is a native of Denver, Colorado, but moved many times in the course of her early life. Her home for the last forty-five years has been in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina with her husband Dan. The two visit family frequently in Albuquerque/Placitas, New Mexico, and Houston, Texas. She loves sopapillas, chili rellenos, Texas brisket, and dark chocolate in any form. Caroline is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, International. Learn more & connect: Caroline’s Website
About the book – A Future and A Hope:
When Larkyn Wagner barely misses hitting a bicyclist with her car, visions of her husband’s death by hit-and-run overwhelm her. The victim, Gabe DeSantis, a recently discharged Army veteran who lost his leg in Afghanistan is plenty ticked until he sees the remorse of his attacker. By the time the lovely widow departs, he’s almost sympathetic.
Neither expects to meet again, but another collision awaits.
While Gabe fights for a new start outside the military, Larkyn pines for the love of her life. What will it take to ignite the attraction both refuse to acknowledge?
The characters will draw you in, but it’s the message that will linger after you turn the final page.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win?
Get your copy now!
Come back March 17th for Amanda Cabot!
Hey Caroline. Glad to have you here.
Yes on both questions. I’ve found the best way to forgive someone is to pray for them. It’s hard not to forgive if you’re praying for someone. This can work on forgiving yourself too by praying by yourself not to make the same mistake again.
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Yes. I know what God has called me to forgive others so I try my best to do so. It is hard for me when that person’s behavior does not change. I am reminded that forgives is so I do not let sin make me a prisoner and impede my relationship with God.
I have a winner! Lual Krautter won the drawing. I appreciate Caroline for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.