Please help me welcome Amber Cross to my blog, and stick around to learn more about her latest book, A Full-Bodied Love.
What inspired you to write this book?
Lisa did. She was a minor character in Tender Possession, a best friend in Open Door to Love, and she just kept “getting in my face” and screaming at me, “Write my book!” so I did. I was also inspired by a little boy with spina bifida and my youngest daughter who spent five years in a wheelchair.
What can you tell us about your main characters?
Roger is Glen’s older brother from book one in this series-A Precedent for Passion. He is thoughtful, generous, funny, and dependable. He lost his wife when their second son was just a baby, so he doesn’t waste time or energy trying to control things he can’t control. Instead, he works hard, cares for those around him, and has a good time when the opportunity presents itself.
Lisa is Jonnie’s best friend in book three in this series-Open Door to Love. She is friendly, funny, and doesn’t take herself too seriously though she deals with some pretty serious challenges. She lives every day in full color and celebration mode and makes it her mission to spread joy to others.
What research you did do before writing this book?
I contacted the Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England and asked if any of their members would be willing to answer questions for me. Within twenty-four hours I had two board members agreeing to, and just a couple hours later that number was four. I sent them a list of questions, some intimate, and combined their real-world, practical answers with information from medical sources to represent Lisa accurately.
I also contacted a cousin in Maine with a list of questions about modern-day dairy farming. As a kid, I learned to milk a cow our family kept, but Roger’s farm is a commercial enterprise. She answered everything from the temperature at which milk is stored to the amount of time each cow spends on the milk carousel.
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your heroine’s bed?
Her cat! A spoiled marmalade feline named Mischief.
Stray gems or beads-Lisa has a side business making jewelry (plus she makes her own costumes.)
A yoga mat. Lisa does a series of exercises first thing every morning. She has health challenges others don’t, and needs to start her day with stretches.
How about the hero’s bed?
A pair of slippers. Roger is that kind of guy. He works hard, but when his long day ends, he relaxes.
Sadie! A mongrel, blind in one eye, completely devoted to him.
Maybe his hockey stick. Roger plays a pickup game every Sunday morning after chores.
If you met Lisa on the street: She would strike up a conversation with you and within minutes you’d be an old friend.
If you met Roger on the street: He would greet you with a nod and move aside so you have plenty of room to pass.
When Roger relaxes, he likes: A glass of red wine, reading an autobiography, or watching a documentary on television.
When Lisa relaxes, she likes: Rock music-the louder, the better-and working in her craft room.
Together, these two are spontaneous, funny, generous, and steadfast. They have to work through some serious challenges and fundamental differences, but true love is worth fighting for.
More About this Book:
A Full-Bodied Love won The Founders' Award at the Fall in Love With New England reader/writer conference 2021
Every book I write features a wine from A Hard Row to Hoe winery in Chelan, Washington. The title of this book is a play on wine descriptions and Lisa’s physical challenges.
Full-bodied means to be heady, mellow, lusty, mature, potent, rich, and strong.
I hope this love story represents those elements.
About the book
A Full-Bodied Love
Author: Amber Cross
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat level (if over PG13): Steamy
Blurb
Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she’s not stupid. If this guy needs a cover date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It’s not as if handsome men fall all over themselves to ask her out. Most don’t even see her. Sure, they know there’s a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there’s a woman in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick?
Roger Plankey didn’t know what he was missing. Health, prosperity, friends, and family, he thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk’s office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?
Grab your copy today!
Peek between the pages...
“If you’re running from the law, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
A woman leaning out of the town clerk’s service window pointed to the police department across the hall. She wore a black felt witch’s hat, and orange pumpkins dangled from her ears, as brilliant as the smile on her face.
Well, well, well.
“It’s not the cops I need,” he admitted, approaching the window and thrusting his hand out in greeting. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Roger Plankey.”
“Lisa Kirkpatrick.”
Her skin was soft against his work-roughened palm, her beautifully manicured nails a sharp contrast to his blunt-tipped square fingers. Halloween decorations sparkled on the black-painted ovals, but nothing shone from her left ring finger. He checked.
“Are you new here, Lisa?”
“I’m the deputy clerk. I work when Maisie needs a day off.”
“Ahh, that would explain why we haven’t met before.” Reluctantly, he took his hand back to retrieve paperwork from the inside pocket of his canvas barn jacket. “I’ve got a bunch of vehicles to register.” He passed the documents through the window, letting his gaze wander over her pretty face while she scanned them. Brown hair curled against the brim of her witch’s hat and caressed the nape of her neck. Thick eyelashes feathered high apple cheeks, and when they lifted, her hazel eyes reminded him of spring rain on the meadow.
About the author:
Amber Cross was raised on a family farm in New England, one of a dozen siblings, each one inspiring her writing in some way. She still lives in that same small town with her husband and the youngest of their five children. She loves spending time in the woods, in the water, and watching people because every one of them has a unique and fascinating story to tell.
Connect with Amber Cross
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Interesting mix of research topics for the book!
ReplyDeleteThe defi itinerary if full bodied says everything I need to know to already love your heroine!
ReplyDelete