Shannon here: Jenny Carlisle takes us on a tour of the romantic setting for her Crossroads series, the Ozark and Ouachita mountains of Arkansas. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a print copy of winner’s choice from her Women’s Fiction titles – Hope Takes the Reins, Faith Moves Mountains, or Love Never Fails, U.S. only. Deadline: Feb 1st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Jenny:
Mountains or Beach? When I am asked this question about favorite vacation locations, I usually answer “Yes.”
For pure relaxation, nothing beats sitting in a beach chair feeling warm sun on my face and being lulled by the repetitive splashing waves. For people from the landlocked state of Arkansas, a beach vacation is a big event, and extremely exciting.
However, when I’m asked about a romantic destination, the mountains win every time. There is something exciting and powerful about driving on a winding road, up, up and even higher up. Towering pine trees on each side of the road add mystery and comfort at the same time.
When my husband and I started dating, I was delighted to find out that part of his weekly routine was driving some of those curvy roads to spend Sunday afternoons with his grandparents, who lived in the Ouachita mountains of Arkansas. From the family’s property just off Highway 10, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the top of Thornburg mountain. I instantly felt I was meant to be there. Evidently, his grandpa had the same idea. This man who didn’t waste words posed an important question on my first “meet the family “ visit. I’m not sure he even said “Hello” before he looked my James in the eye and asked, “When are y’all getting married?”
Soon, I was introduced to one of the family’s favorite picnic spots, Petit Jean Mountain. Along with an abundance of natural beauty, Petit Jean boasts a legend about a young girl who disguised herself as a boy to accompany French explorers when they traveled up the Arkansas River in the late 17th. Century. The sailors dubbed her “Petit Jean” or “Little John”. Unfortunately, the young woman died on the mountain. Some versions of the legend say that she was scorned by a lover and leaped to her death. Others say she died of disease. Either way, the sailors were saddened and buried her at the crest of the mountain. Tourists still visit the gravesite, which has a tremendous view of the Arkansas River far below.
Another mountain in the area, Mount Nebo, has been a gathering spot for well over one hundred years. Vacation homes were built at the top of the mountain, even though there is only one very narrow and curvy way up and down. The wealthy residents spent their days traveling from east to west each day, following the beauty of the sunrise and sunset. Today, it provides a launching spot for adventurous hang-gliders, who soar gracefully to the valleys below. Many couples begin their married lives here.
My personal favorite, though, is Mount Magazine. The breathtaking view from the highest point in Arkansas is beyond amazing. I visited once when the fog was so dense, you couldn’t see past the hood of your car. I resolved that day, to return for a better view.
When summer has a stranglehold on my favorite state, the temperature at the top of the mountain is a full ten degrees cooler than at the base. Mount Magazine is home to many species of plants and butterflies that are rare in the rest of the state. A hotel or lodge has housed visitors here since the early 1900s. The original lodge burned in 1971, but was rebuilt and modernized after the State Park was established in 1983.
Romance abounds, as each room includes a balcony overlooking the tremendous view. There is no better way to spend an evening with your sweetheart than dining at the lodge before enjoying a glass of my favorite non-alcoholic muscadine grape juice, sold at the lodge, on the balcony. Once you arrive on top of this mountain, there is no hurry to go back down. Big deep breaths of the clear mountain air invite you to stay as long as you possibly can. Southern hospitality and relaxation fill you with peace.
When I wrote my Crossroads series, there was no question that it would be set in the Arkansas River Valley. I created a fictional small town, but the characters love spending as much time as possible in the mountains near where they live. My hope is that my readers will want to stay long enough to share in the romantic adventures of the Caldwell and Billings families. The Ozark and Ouachita mountains of Arkansas always stir my heart and remind me of God’s love. I hope they do the same for my readers.
Question for Readers: What is the most romantic location you have visited?
About Jenny: Jenny Carlisle fulfilled her childhood dream when Scrivenings Press published her first Christian Fiction novel, Hope Takes the Reins in March of 2022. Her series continued with Faith Moves Mountains in 2023, and Love Never Fails in 2024. A long-time columnist in Ouachita Life Magazine, she was well known for sharing her encouraging views about life with readers all over the southwest portion of Arkansas. Two collections of those columns were included in self-published non-fiction books, Turn, Turn, Turn, and To Everything a Season. A Christmas novella, Rejoicing with Joy is included in the Scrivenings Christmas collection, A Gift for All Time.
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and a past president of the Arkansas Chapter.
Jenny retired from a career in Human Resources with the State of Arkansas. She and her husband, James live in the central part of their favorite state, where they worship with a service-oriented congregation of the Church of Christ. They love spending time with their three married children and eight grandchildren who live in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Between those visits, they stay busy and active at the local fitness center and volunteering with the JOY group (Just Older Youth). Learn more & connect:
Jenny’s Website Jenny’s Facebook Jenny’s Facebook Author Page
About the Crossroads Series:
The Crossroads Series takes place in and around a fictional town, Crossroads, Arkansas. Two families from neighboring ranches meet through a local rodeo. The Caldwell girls and the Billings boys begin to see each other in a new light as grown-up problems emerge. They have conquered barrel races, calf-roping, and even snorting bulls. You’ll want to see how they manage to deal with monumental changes and loss, while discovering that trusting in God’s love can keep them on the right path.
Hope Takes the Reins, Faith Moves Mountains and Love Never Fails will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with a smile.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Want the entire series?
Get your copy/copies now!
Come back Jan 22nd for Charlsie Estess!
Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog, Shannon. Even when the winter weather keeps me inside, I long to be stranded with my favorite sweetie in a mountain lodge. Hopefully my Crossroads series tempts my readers in the same way.
It would be probably be a beach in northern Spain that I went to last summer. We went on a long hike and ended up at the beach. It was very nice.
That sounds magical. I have never been to Europe, but I would imagine it is beautiful.
St. Thomas since that is where I went for my honeymoon.
We haven’t made it to the Virgin Islands, but the Caribbean is beautiful!
Hmmm…most romantic is definitely the mountains. That is why my husband and I honeymooned in the Canadian Rockies in Banff and Jasper. But we also have our romantic memories from Mt. Magazine also…since he took me up there early in our dating days. He took me home to meet the family and then took me up to the top of Mt. Magazine. This would have been in 1999 before the State Park officially opened and several years before the current lodge would be built. So, even though most of my memories up there do include the lodge, my first memory of Mt. Magazine is of walking around the footprint of the old lodge (that burned down in 1971) in the moonlight. So, I am intrigued by this series and think I really need to read it.
Ooh! I haven’t walked around up there in the moonlight. Ultra romantic!
A secluded mountain cabin!!
You are talking my language!
I have a winner! Cassie Larson won the drawing. I appreciate Jenny for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.
Fun! Cassie’s book is on the way soon!