In celebration of her latest release, Candace has graciously offered to give away a hard copy of the book (US Only). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends April 7, 2017.) If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information. Good luck!
A Word from Candace...
Hi Leslie!
It’s a delight to be here with you and your readers—thank
you for the hospitality.
Today I thought I’d offer a short, fun glimpse “behind the
scenes” in the writing of this hopeful story.
I promise it has zip/nada to do with red pencil edits, deadline panic
attacks, or the correct use of semicolons.
It has everything to do with a question every author
is asked: “Are your characters
real people?”
The usual author disclaimer is NO (in a sentence of
carefully worded legalese just inside the cover). But I make no such promises about minor characters
who often, in a major way, add just the right flavor to a story. Not only are
they “real people,” they are often READERS.
Yes, really. I get a
total kick out of spontaneously inviting readers into my stories as characters.
I usually do this via Facebook, totally impromptu, and so far nobody’s turned me
down. Good folks like . . .
WILMA M who
appears as a neighbor to the heroine in Trauma
Plan:
. . . Her next door neighbor clutched a
handful of envelopes against her purple blouse, the other hand holding fast to
the leash of her rambunctious border collie. “Got some of your mail delivered
to my box.” Wilma stepped closer, blinking as Riley’s string of motion sensor
floodlights lit her hair like moonlight on Colorado snow . . .
THENA C, real
life poet, who became our hero’s aunt in By
Your Side:
. . . Fletcher smiled. Thena was a published
poet. He hadn’t had a birthday he could remember—to date—when he didn’t receive
a targeted verse or two. Or a single visit when she didn’t proudly proclaim, “I
speak in rhyme . . . but not all the time.”
SARAH P, who
donates countless hours to kitten rescue, continued her good work in Maybe It’s You:
“We’re a no-kill
shelter,” Sarah assured her. She scratched Marty’s chin. “We’re of a mind here
that every animal deserves a second chance—as many times as necessary.”
Our daughter-in-law, WENDY
M, became “Dr. Wendy” in Step by Step.
And . . .
Also in Maybe It’s You,
I borrowed the husband of reader ANN S
to become handyman “Jerry Rhodes.” Then—in a first for this author— I made it a
family affair by welcoming Ann onboard, adding her elderly mother AND
her two adorable dogs:
. . . “He brought his dogs,” Piper announced,
her eyes lighting. “Wiener dogs. I mean, doc-sunns.”
Celeste smiled.
“Long-haired dachshunds. So sweet and comical. They’re named—”
“Gibbs and McGee,”
Piper blurted, squeezing her hands together with obvious delight. “After the TV
show. You know.”
Sloane nodded. “I do.”
They are adorable, aren’t they?
I love that my novels
are peopled with real friends. I like the genuine flavor they add to my
stories. And I smile each time I read those scenes. I hope you do, too.
Now, let’s turn that smile into a chuckle or two with a last
inside glimpse into the making of this book. Here’s a short collection of BLOOPERS from my Maybe It’s You author video. Enjoy!
My review...
ER nurse Sloane Ferrell thought she had escaped her
past by changing her name and address. The pain from her past has made her
distrustful, and she keeps her distance from others, for fear of them finding
out the truth. Micah Prescott is a volunteer crisis responder who is
desperately trying to fill a void in his life. He also wants to improve the
image of Hope Hospital, and he thinks Sloane’s recent act of heroism can do
just that. Micah will have to convince Sloane to trust him first, which will
require both of them to face their pasts.
This book is the highly satisfying conclusion to the
“Crisis Team” series. Sloane was quite different earlier in the series, but she
has developed into a vulnerable and very likable heroine. Calvert’s background
as a trauma nurse adds to the realism of the storyline. Themes of grace,
forgiveness, and redemption are woven throughout this touching, hopeful tale.
It contains an appropriate blend of romance, medical drama, and action.
Difficult topics, such as sex trafficking and alcoholism, are handled in a
tactful manner.
One of my favorite lines from the book is: “God never
defined you by the past, but the enemy will try to confine you by it.”
Definitely a good reminder!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy, but I was not required to leave a review.
Opinions are my own.
Amazon link for purchase...
http://amzn.to/2lvLaAV
About Candace...
CANDACE CALVERT is a former ER nurse and author of the Mercy Hospital, Grace Medical, and Crisis Team series. Often called “medical hope opera,” her stories offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency medicine. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, Candace makes her home in northern California.
