Shannon here: Hope Toler Dougherty shares insight into her real life romance plus a chance to win print versions of her entire Contemporary Romance Forever Series for US winner, or e-book versions for international winner. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Jan 23rd – 26th. Deadline: Feb 3rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Hope:
- What’s your favorite romantic restaurant?
My husband and I don’t really have a romantic restaurant, but I do have a funny story about eating out on one Valentine’s Day. It happened on a Friday night, and we wanted to go out to eat. Of course, we had no reservations. We tried three or four different places with waits for up to two hours, and we finally ended up at a local grocery store’s salad bar. It’s a nice market that caters to a discerning clientele, but still. It’s a grocery store. Friends teased us for years afterwards—“Where’re you going for your anniversary? Harris Teeter? Where’s he taking you for your birthday, Hope? Harris Teeter?” Hey, the salads were delicious. I’d go back.
- What’s a romantic gift your husband has given you?
I found a picture of a silver lapis ring when I researched my second novel, Mars…With Venus Rising. In
the story, the ring is an engagement ring. My husband showed the picture to a silver smith who always exhibits at our state fair. Artist Don Dye made the ring and used lapis from the North Carolina mountains. Here’s a picture. For me it represents my writing journey and how supportive my husband is about it. I love it…and him!
- How soon after meeting did you know he was the one?
I didn’t know he was the one on the night we met, but I knew he was different from the others I dated. Of course, he was cute to me, but he seemed to have his act together. He seemed solid and like a grown man. He made all the other guys I dated seem like boys. I was intrigued, for sure!
- Where did you go on your honeymoon?
I’m from North Carolina, and at that time, I hadn’t crossed the Mississippi River. We were looking at points out west, even in Canada like Banff because my husband had never been to Canada. On a business flight, Kevin met someone who lived in Sun Valley, Idaho and sold him on that location. We booked our stay and had a great time fly fishing, riding mountain bikes, watching some of the members of the US Olympic ice-skating team practice, and white water rafting down the Salmon River. What a beautiful state! I’d love to go back!
Question for Readers: What’s your funniest or most unique restaurant or dining out story?
About Hope: Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her early novels are Irish Encounter, Mars…With Venus Rising, and Rescued Hearts. Her Forever series includes Forever Music, Forever Home, “A Hatteras Surprise,” featured in Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams, and Forever Free.
She and husband Kevin delight in visits with their two daughters and twin sons. Learn more & connect:
Hope’s Website Hope’s Facebook Readers Page Hope’s Instagram
Hope’s Pinterest Hope’s Bookbub Hope’s Goodreads
About the book – Forever Free
Phoebe Sinclair combines her love of flowers and teaching to nurture a cut flower business on her grandfather’s land. She’s got her hands full growing the farm, growing her customer base, and dealing with her growing attraction to the aloof man who’s volunteered to help make her farming dream come true.
Can she focus on her main job, or will a pair of yearning eyes and a hurting heart divert her worthy goals?
Heath Daniels has resigned himself to a life of singleness as he watches his siblings couple up and set wedding dates. Tracking their happiness, however, is more difficult than he expected. A real struggle, in fact.
Feeling the old troubles from his college years creeping back to tempt him, he’s propelled to volunteer for manual labor, leaving him exhausted every day, but out of danger. His additional hours of agri-business, however, lead to different struggles with an intriguing farmer.
Does he have the strength to resist old temptations as well as a beautiful new one too?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Hope’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now! Hope’s Books
Come back Jan 26th for part 2 with Hope!
Thank you for having me on your blog, Shannon!
I loved hearing about your relationship with your husband. My husband’s name is Kevin, and I was impressed that he was a very solid guy too. I’m looking forward to reading more of your books.
Glad to have you, Hope. I probably shouldn’t share my funniest restaurant adventure. But I will. We were at a Mexican restaurant with my mother-in-law and father-in-law after church when our son was little. My mother-in-law and I went to the bathroom, then back to our table. When we left the restaurant, she was behind me. She said, “Well Shanny.” and started tugging at the back of my skirt. Yep, my skirt was tucked into my pantyhose. I didn’t go back there for a LONG time.
You survived, and now you’re laughing about it! Thanks for making me laugh, too!
I don’t go to a restaurant very often. So I really don’t have a dining out story.
I usually like eating from home, Diana, but every now and then a nice dinner out is fun!
My husband is a great cook so we don’t eat out much but he was a long distance truck driver I would go with him occasionally. It’s true what folks say- truck drivers know the best places to eat. I’ll admit I was a little nervous at some of the “restaurants” we stopped in but the food was always delicious! Congratulations on your latest book Hopey!
Our current favorite restaurants are The Plaza, upscale, family owned, local Mexican, and Italian Garden, local, family owned, that use their Sicilian grandmother’s recipes. Both are wonderful!!! So far, no dining mishaps at either of them! Thanx for the giveaway!!!
I love going to the Columbia Restaurant in Celebration, Florida. They have the best seafood paella I have ever tried.