REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, & GIVEAWAY
If you like novellas with a twist, then you’re in for a
treat. Ask Me to Marry You is a marriage of convenience meets mail order bride…
er, groom. She wants to keep her ranch. He wants to keep his freedom. Can they
both find what they’re looking for in each other?
Audra & Dillon band together to save her ranch, the
Diamond D, from the clutches of Jess Fairbanks, who wants to expand his land
with the land from the Diamond D. Meanwhile, Audra tries her best to be salt
and light for Dillon as he has questions of a more ever-lasting nature.
Ask Me to Marry You is a quick-moving western romance with a little
twist. It is a standalone novella in the Brides of Evergreen Series. We see
a brief glimpse of Dent (yay!) from Hang Your Heart on Christmas, but the story
will make sense even if you haven’t read the first in the series (which you
should). I
enjoyed Ask Me to Marry You as much as Hang Your Heart. An easy read, it kept
my interest and left me wanting more.
MEET HEATHER BLANTON
 |
| "I believe Christian fiction should be messy and gritty, because the human condition is ... and God loves us anyway." -- Heather Blanton |
A
former journalist, Heather is an avid researcher and skillfully weaves truth in
among fictional story lines. She loves exploring the American West, especially
ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden
horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence
Rock, and even held an outlaw's note in her hand.
Heather is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the Romance in the Rockies series [which I recommend]. Christian Westerns is the genre that lets her write about strong pioneer women and men who struggle to find God and then live out their faith in real ways. Romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God, and a perfect reflection of how he loves His children: sacrificially and lavishly. Heather's stories aren't preachy or cheesy, but she hopes they are heart-warming, realistic, illuminating, and glorifying to God. Like good old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and more than a touch of suspense.
What did you like best about writing this
story?
I'm always wrangling for ways to come up with a plot twist or
find a different treatment for a genre. When I was asked by author Susette
Williams if I would like to include a story in her new mail order bride
collection, I immediately wanted to find a way to set the traditional version
of the plot on its ear. I remembered an article I'd written about a female
doctor in Colorado who couldn't attract patients because of her gender. I knew
I had the reason for an "arranged" business deal/marriage that was
plausible: discrimination. Audra can't get hands to work for her because she's
a woman.
Who is your favorite character & why?
Dillon is my favorite character because he has a lot of layers to
him. This is a short novella, so I held back some of his history, but I hinted
at. Believe me, though, it's coming.
What is a beloved tidbit from the story?
There is a scene in which Audra finally decides Dillon may use her
dead father's saddle. She needs to let go of her grief and he needs a symbol of
authority.
On what are you working now?
A romcom set in 1943 Cheyenne, WY. A fun love triangle in the vein
of While You Were Sleeping and The Proposal, it's steeped in World War 2 and
1940's history! Love, Lies & Typewriters will be out in November!
What are four frivolous things you love?
Coffee, wine, popcorn, and pizza. Though I do NOT consider
those things frivolous. They are in my survival kit!
You can learn more about
Heather Blanton and her work
Giveaway open to US residents 18 or older and will be chosen randomly with the odds of winning based on the number of entries. Winner must contact Lanna within 30 days of contest end.
