Mary A. Felkins: Romance, New Orleans, Gumbo, a Giveaway & More
Mary Felkins and I had way too much fun chatting during this Zoom interview. I hope you enjoy hearing from her as she talks about her writing and upcoming Contemporary Romance release, Sweeter With You.
She’s giving away winner’s choice of a paperback or ebook of the series prequel, This I Promise You. The winner will also get the hero’s recipe for Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and a custom sticker featuring the fictional bakery, The Pear Tree, which gets center stage in upcoming book two. It’s also noted in the prequel and book one.
Be sure to comment below by December 27 for a chance to win!
Join the conversation. Do you enjoy reading Christian Contemporary Romance? What about a hero and heroine who are opposites and butt heads at times? Have you ever been to New Orleans or read a book set there? What questions or comments do you have for Mary?
Be sure to comment below by December 27 for a chance to win the series prequel, the gumbo recipe, and a custom sticker!
This I Promise You by Mary A. Felkins
Click the book cover for purchase link
What if finding your heart’s desire means entrusting it … just once more … to the one who broke it?
It should not have come as a surprise to school Teacher Adelyn Ormond when she was jilted at the altar,
Promises are meant to be broken.
When her supervisor tasks her with galvanizing support for a local food bank, she directs her energy toward the underprivileged in her community—some of whom are her own students. Problem is, the responsibility requires her to involve celebrity chef, Bryan J. Carlyle, her almost-husband whose participation assures great results.
For all his success, Bryan hasn’t come up with a recipe for how to be restored to his family. Doesn’t help that abandoning Adelyn threatens to spoil his reputation and ruin his career. But when he encounters hungry children scrounging for food behind his restaurant, he agrees to get behind Adelyn’s worthy cause. The collaboration with Adelyn might shed light on the incriminating image he’d discovered minutes before the ceremony—her lip-locked with another man after the rehearsal dinner.
Can Adelyn trust Bryan to make good on his promise—without risking her heart? Will the love that led them to the altar be the key ingredient for reconciliation? Maybe. But his absence on the big day to which he’d committed might be beyond forgiveness.
Mary A. Felkins is an inspirational romance author and blogger at www.maryfelkins.com. Her debut novel, Call to Love, is set in Hickory, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband. They have four young adult children. She is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and My Book Therapy. The unmerited gift of a large, unopened bag of Peanut M&Ms® or an episode of Fixer Upper will lure her from her writer’s desk. Upon introduction, if she likes your first or last name, expect to see it used in one of her upcoming novels.
Connect with Mary: Website / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest
Please share Mary’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her books!
If you missed last week’s interview with Ashley Clark, find it here.
Deena Adams
As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
12 Comments
Deena Adams
Congratulations, Linda! You’re the winner of Mary’s giveaway. Look for an email soon.
Teresa Moyer
Enjoyed the Zoom interview.
Deena Adams
Thanks, Teresa!
Linda Kish
I do enjoy reading Christian Contemporary Romances. I have neveer had a chance to get to New Orleans, but I would like to go. It seems like such a nice city .
Mary A. Felkins
Hi Linda, New Orleans has its lovely, rich historic parts but other parts which are light years from family friendly. In this prequel, I enjoyed the juxtaposition of rich, high end cuisine and the issue of hunger. The French Quarter, of course, is definitely worth visiting!
Deena Adams
Maybe we’ll both get to New Orleans someday, Linda.
Dana Boersma
I enjoy reading Christian Contemporary Romance books. I love when the characters are opposites and figure out how to come together. I have never been to New Orleans, but I would love to visit someday.
Deena Adams
I enjoy the banter between opposites in fiction too, Dana, and it’s fun to see them overcome their differences and embrace each other. Thanks for stopping by!
Mary A. Felkins
Hi Dana, this story is full of differences – a juilted bride who deals with the issue of hunger among her students matched up with a celebrity chef who tosses food out daily if its not to standard. But in romance, love wins the day!
Dana McReynolds
I love reading Christian Contemporary Romance! A hero and heroine who are opposites and butt heads at times sounds interesting. I’ve never been to New Orleans (but going this spring for a cruise) and can’t think of a book set there that I’ve read. But I would love to!
Deena Adams
Hi, Dana. Enjoy your upcoming cruise! Maybe you’ll get to read Mary’s book before you go. 🙂
Mary A. Felkins
For someone like me who is conflict-averse, I love writing characters who are an “impossible” match and banter back and forth. The jilted bride trope was a new one for me and I had to dig deep to consider how that must have felt for the heroine when cornered into working alongside the jilting chef. It magnifies God’s ability to work in and through stubborn defences to give them what their heart is really after … love! The French Quarter in New Orleans is not to be missed! Thanks for commenting, Dana!