A visit with the adorable Sharee Stover

Lenora Worth

I had a chat with one of the new authors on the Love Inspired team and one of my blog partners here. I first met Sharee Stover in Denver at the RWA conference. We were chatting at an afternoon get-together and when I said I was going to the drugstore to replace some things I'd left at home, she asked if I could get her some eyedrops. Of course. What happened after that was a true comedy of errors. A friend and I trekked down the street to the drugstore, both armed with lists of what people needed. Then our phones stared pinging with more requests. After that, it was snapping pictures to send back and forth and making calls to make sure we were picking up the right products. I think the sales associate was ready to boot us out, we became so loud and we were laughing so much! But I got Sharee what she needed and we made the exchange later. The beginning of a beautiful friendship. And y'all know I love to shop--even for eyedrops! How could I refuse this beautiful face?

We are so proud of Sharee. Her first book with LIS came out last April. Here's the intriguing cover:

https://amzn.to/2SALmPI

Tell us about your writing journey and first sale. We both know that was exciting.

I started writing about eight years ago and the process has truly been a wild ride. Writing for Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense is nothing short of a dream come true. And as much of a planner as I am, I can say the process completely took me by surprise! I had been working on my story for a while when I responded to a Facebook post by my now editor for blurbs in March of 2017. She was snowed in. I’ve never been more grateful for snow! I sent my blurb and that sent the wheels into motion. I had to make revisions, but by July, I received THE CALL. I was beyond thrilled and could barely speak through my giant-face-consuming-smile. I screamed, did a little happy dance, and of course, told everyone I knew!

Here’s the full story:

http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/2017/10/getting-the-call-meet-sharee-stover/

 

What made you pitch to Love Inspired? What do you like about writing for LI? What has been a challenge?

I attended a local RWA conference when I’d finished my second book and pitched my romantic suspense story to one of the editors. She was gracious and although my story didn’t get picked up, the information I gained in that conference made me want to write for them all the more. I also met several authors who write for Love Inspired and everyone spoke so highly of Harlequin and the wonderful way they treat their authors. I wanted to be a part of the Harlequin family. 

I love writing for LI because there’s wonderful support, both from the editorial team and my fellow authors. I love reading the stories LI provides. They’re clean and always leave me with that satisfied feeling in the happily-ever-after, and in the case of LIS, full of great nail-biting suspense.

One of my challenges is to find the story that hasn’t been done yet, or to be able to create a new spin off an old theme. As Ecclesiastes says, there’s nothing new under the sun, so I have to dig to find innovative story ideas. The other is to shut off my internal editor and just write without trying to get everything perfect on the first draft.

What message do you hope to give to your readers? And have you had a really great reader letter that uplifted you?

My tagline is Redeeming Suspense because my message is that there is always redemption with God. He takes the messiest people and loves them into the beautiful people he created them to be.

One of the best letters I got was from a total stranger whom I met at a book signing. She said God had put me right where I needed to be that day, so I could meet her and she could buy my book. She said she wasn’t even looking for a Love Inspired Suspense, so she knew it wasn’t by chance that I was there signing that day. That was huge!!

Tell us about your life? Family, pets, favorite activities?

I am married to my real-life hero and have three amazing children ages 9, 18 and 20. They’re my biggest cheerleaders and I am so grateful for their love and support. My husband is a law enforcement officer so he’s also my writing subject matter expert. We have two spoiled dogs, an elderly schipperke-miniature pinscher mix and a five-year-old German Shepherd.

Our family is pretty boring, and we like it that way. My eldest daughter and I both love to read, so lock us up with a stack of books and we’re thrilled. My son is gifted at auto mechanics and is always tinkering with his car in the garage. My youngest daughter is fascinated by dolphins, so I get regular lessons on all things dolphin related. Hubby and I love to take long walks with our dogs too.

What book are you reading now? Any favorites?

I am always reading several books at once, and at the moment I’m reading The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jamie Jo Wright. She’s an amazing writer! Although she has scared the tar out of me a few times. I’m also reading Fugitive Pursuit by Christa Sinclair and An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti. And of course, I’m constantly reading books on craft so I’m knee-deep in Story Trumps Structure by Steven James.

Brandilyn Collins and Terri Blackstock are two of my favorite authors, but there’s too many to name. I read in pretty much all genres except sci-fi/fantasy.

We thank Sharee for chatting with us and I'm glad to have her as a friend and fellow writer. 

Sharee had a question for me--so here goes:

What’s the best advice you received as a writer?

I think the best advice I received was to never compare myself to others. To stay focused on my voice and my writing style. That’s what I try to do. I read a lot of my favorite authors to learn and to enjoy and to pick up on the beat of the story. But I stick to my path and follow my instincts on how to continue my career and how to create the stories I love. People will sometimes push their agendas on you and your career but if it’s not the right time for you, then you have to stand your ground and do what works best in your life. With all the opportunities we have today—this is the best time to be a writer!

(PS--a shout out to Margaret Daley, our other blog partner here. Margaret will post more over the coming months!)

Another Side to the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance

Many of the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance write more than their Love Inspired Books. Here are some of this month's other new releases. Just click on the covers or buy links to purchase them. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

Exposed

by Mary Alford, Virginia Vaughan, and five other authors

HALLOWED GROUND (Mary)
After a terrorist attack claims the life of her partner, CIA Agent Erin Sandoval would not have survived Blake's death without the help of fellow agent, Jax Murphy. When Erin's unit is deployed to Afghanistan to find the elusive terrorist the CIA believes responsible for taking Blake's life, the mission proves to be a setup, wiping out almost the entire team. As the only survivors of the attack, Erin and Jax must cut through a wealth of lies and misdirections to uncover the killer's identity. Yet nothing prepares them for the truth, and the biggest threat to their survival might prove to be their growing feelings for each other. When you're running for your life, the most dangerous place to fall is in love.

FOR LOVE OR MONEY (Virginia)
Amy Sullivan left everything familiar to meet an aunt she didn't know she had. She's searching for a family connection, yet gets much more when she's named sole heir to her aunt's fortune. But someone in this sleepy, southern town doesn't want Amy to live long enough to collect that inheritance. Deputy Tate Mitchell is determined to discover who wants the money for themselves--and who is willing to kill Amy to get it.

A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection

Buy: Amazon 

Amish Christmas Wishes

by Mary Alford

DANGER IN AMISH COUNTRY
In the shadow of the Mission Mountains of Montana, a nightmare is about to come to life.

Facing her first Christmas since her father’s passing, Hannah Christianson must put aside the desires of her heart to one day have a family of her own in order to take care of her younger brother and sister. Yet when an unexpected stranger comes into her life, he possesses the power to rekindle all those longings.

Mason Lambright is the grown up version of the boy who has haunted Hannah’s dreams since she was a little girl. From the moment Mason stops in at her family’s café, Hannah feels a connection to him.

Banned Amish dairy farmer Mason Lambright is running from allegations that brand him a murderer. Desperate to reclaim his place in the Plain world once again, he ends up at the Mission Valley Community searching for a new beginning. But Mason’s unexpected appearance brings with it a hint of something far darker when another man arrives in the valley shortly after Mason. Everything about the intimidating stranger makes Hannah fearful. Who is this man, and why has he come to her peaceful Mission Valley community? The answer will be far more deadly than anything she could have imagined.

Haunted by a recent the fire that took the life of his mother, Mason recalls a similar one when he was a young boy. The little girl with silver hair that he saved from that fire. The mysterious man running away who warned Mason to keep his mouth shut. The feeling that something evil lurked nearby waiting to pounce.

Mason is struck by how much Hannah reminds him of that young girl from childhood. He is convinced their lives are connected in spite of the impossible. Hannah has never lived anywhere but Mission Valley.

With Christmas just days away, will Hannah and Mason unravel the secrets from their joined past and find the love they’ve both been searching for? Or will their dangerous history take away their chance at happiness…along with their lives?

Buy: Amazon 
 

Faithful Women: Legacies of Grace

by Belle Calhoune, Cate Nolan, Leah Atwood, and Christina Lorenzen

Four Christian romance novellas inspired by legendary Biblical women.
Eve: Eve Douglass has worked hard to recover from opioid addiction. In doing so, she's reinvented her life in Bay Shore, Cape Cod and held fast to her dream of one day opening her own bakery. When she meets handsome veterinarian, Flynn Samuels, Eve finds herself struggling with her attraction to him. Ever since the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend, Adam, Eve has steered clear of relationships. But Eve knows God wouldn't want her to walk through life alone. As she and Flynn begin a relationship, Eve struggles with the knowledge that she still needs to make amends to those she's wronged.

Hannah: Can God bring together what man has torn asunder?

Hannah and Kane Winthrop had it all—until the challenges of infertility drove a wedge between them and threatened their marriage.

Like her biblical namesake, Hannah is a woman of prayer, and she never stopped praying for a child.

Sometimes God answers our prayers in unexpected ways, and for Hannah that means a chance to be the guardian of two young children while their mother is deployed.

Will this opportunity give Hannah and Kane a chance to rebuild their marriage, or will it reinforce their differences and drive them apart forever?

Ruth: Ruth Baker has lost her husband. Unsure of what the future holds, she clings to her faith and her six-year-old daughter, Mara, when she travels to her grandmother’s beachside home in Pebble Shores.

Eli Hamill has felt the pull to put down roots. After years of buying and selling houses, he’s doing something he’s never done before – living temporarily in the beachside house he bought from an elderly widow. The last thing he’s looking for is an instant family.

Can an old house filled with loving memories and a sweet little girl show two lonely people what the future can hold?

Mari: A chance encounter in the aftermath of a storm takes Mari Armfield on a path of discovery that leads to a newfound faith in God. As her faith grows, she realizes that her life can’t stay the same. She has tough decisions to make, including the future of her relationship with her boyfriend Steve.

Steve doesn’t believe in God, but he’ll support Mari in her new walk. As her faith deepens, his concern grows. How can their relationship survive paths that aren't compatible?
Mari is a fictional novella inspired by the biblical woman at the well.

Buy: Amazon

A Match Made in Williamstown
by Jean C. Gordon

Ellie Alexander is In love. And the only thing sweeter would be if Libby, her unmarried, unattached granddaughter, could find the same happiness. Maybe with a little help from her and her beau Blake Parker …

Libby Schuyler has avoided dating since her break-up with college-sweetheart Jack Parker. Out of nowhere, Jack shows up claiming Ellie is swindling his grandfather, Blake, through a travel agency partnership they’ve formed. Libby and Jack team up to protect their grandparents and get to the bottom of Ellie and Blake’s business and romantic relationship. While Libby and Jack fight their reignited attraction, Ellie and Blake conspire to bring the two together.

Inspirational Romance Novella

Buy: Amazon | B&N |  Kobo | iBooks 

To Love
by Laura Scott

Eager for a fresh start, Jazz McNally throws herself into renovating her grandparents’ mansion in time for the grand opening of the McNally Bed and Breakfast. When vandals strike, she accepts help from drifter Dalton O’Brien. Dalton is willing to lend a hand, until it’s time to move on. But when danger escalates, Dalton soon realizes that protecting Jazz is a threat—to his heart.

Inspirational Romantic Suspense
The McNallys Book One 


Buy: Amazon | B&N |  Kobo | iBooks 

Runaway Princess Bride
by Lenora Worth

After making a serious misjudgment about the man she was about to marry, Cara escaped to the one place she always felt safe–her family’s ranch. She wants to evade the paparazzi and hide her near disastrous mistake from her family, while she tries to figure out what’s next.

In need of peace after a tumultuous year supervising the building of Castle’s first technology store, Aidan Castle escapes to the Double L Ranch. When he enters the den, he’s shocked to find a woman sleeping in a wedding dress. Worse, he recognizes her as the beautiful socialite he kissed at Castle’s costume ball. He’d felt that night was special and when Cara left, he’d lost a little piece of his heart.

Cara has no place to go, and Aidan’s not sure he wants to kick her out. When a winter storm traps them in, their attraction and bond become undeniable. Cara opens up and Aidan can’t resist playing white knight and offering to scrub all details of her secret love life to save grace with her powerful brother. But then, he discovers secrets that make him question everything. Can he trust her?

Sweet Romance
Castles of Dallas 

Buy:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

 

Another Side to the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance

Many of the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance write more than their Love Inspired Books. Starting this month, we'll be featuring our authors' other new releases the fourth Monday of each month (except in December, when the fourth Monday is Christmas Day.) Here are this month's. Just click on a cover to buy one. And to learn more about these talented ladies, click on their names.

Love Comes Quietly
by Jo Ann Brown 

Unsure if she's ready to set down roots with the church district's local beekeeper Seth Eichner, Leah Kauffman instead finds herself going out on a limb and befriending the local Englisch botany professor and recent widower, James Holden, and his 5-year-old daughter, Abby. Leah understands the difficult heartache that the young child -- who hasn't spoken a word in over a year -- is experiencing. Leah lost her own mother at a very tender age, and even now she feels the loss of her mother as strongly as she did all those years ago. Is that why Leah is so drawn to the little girl ... or could it the growing bond between Leah and James that has her spending more time with the outsiders and dreaming about a forbidden life she knows she must resist?

Honor's Love Song
by Arlene James

Charlie Biggs lives up to his surname in size, talent, and commitment. Though he’s been blessed with much success, he’s waited 39 years for God to bring him the right woman. He doesn’t expect her to be familiar, untrustworthy, and a criminal. From the moment he discovers her battered and bruised beside the road, however, he can’t imagine himself with anyone else.

Cowboys Under the Mistletoe
by Deb Kastner and Danica Favorite

Bring Five Cowboys Home for the Holidays with New Stories from Best Selling Christian Romance Authors

Wilde About You by Deb Kastner
When their best friends' wedding is about to collapse the night before the nuptials, the best man, wrangler Matthew Wilde, and the maid of honor, Riley Weaver, must work together to make their friends' Christmas wish come true. Despite their differences and a family feud, can Matthew and Riley embrace the holiday spirit--and each other--before the clock ticks down?

Memories + Mistletoe = Love by Danica Favorite
Mallory McPherson’s act of desperation in accepting a long-lost relative’s Christmas invitation brings up difficult memories she doesn’t expect. Cowboy Nolan Masters knows what it’s like to come from a painful past. Can the lessons he’s learned bring healing- and maybe a happily-ever-after- to Mallory?

The Cowboy's Christmas Wish by Kristen Ethridge
Sarah Murdoch knew bringing her daughter, Jamie, halfway across the country to Port Provident, Texas would cause more anxiety than feel-good Christmas memories. But when Jamie bonds with Grant McCray, the owner of Beachcomber Stables, she begins to come out of her shell. Can this big-city mom learn to embrace small-town simplicity and let a heart-scarred cowboy make a little girl’s Christmas wish come true?

 Up on the Housetop by Liz Isaacson
Archer Bailey has already lost one job to Emersyn Enders, so he's beyond angry when he sees Emery at the ranch interview anyway. Then the owner of the ranch announces a contest to see which cowhand applicant can earn the most stars by Christmas. Whoever does will win the job. Will Emery and Archer be able to navigate the ranch, their close quarters, and their individual circumstances to find love this holiday season?

Home for Hope by Jessica Keller
When Hope Beckett crashes on Rider Longley’s property during a snowstorm, she wonders if life could get any worse. Running from her troubles, she can’t afford to stay in Bitterroot Valley for long. But Rider’s kind and steady personality makes it hard to leave, especially in the midst of the Christmas season.

The Woman Most Wanted
by Pamela Tracy

Did Tom Riley Arrest the Wrong Woman?
For six years, the Sarasota Falls police chief has been hunting the cunning beauty involved in his partner's death. Now here she is, back in his New Mexico town, her face a match to the one on the wanted posters. But the woman Tom Riley knows as Rachel Ramsey insists her name is Heather Graves.

Is Heather really as innocent as she claims? And what is he supposed to do about their undeniable mutual attraction? As his search for answers uncovers secrets in Heather's past, Tom realizes that Heather is the woman he most wants…