#authorinterview – Page 17 – Avonna Loves Genres

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

Book Description

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes the little-known true story of a Nazi plot to kill FDR, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill at the height of World War II.

In 1943, as the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape—an assassination plot that would’ve changed history.

A true story filled with daring rescues, body doubles, and political intrigue, The Nazi Conspiracy details FDR’s pivotal meeting in Tehran and the deadly Nazi plot against the heads of state of the three major Allied powers who attended it.

With all the hallmarks of a Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch page-turner, The Nazi Conspiracy explores the great political minds of the twentieth century, investigating the pivotal years of the war in gripping detail. This meeting of the Big Three changed the course of World War II. Here’s the inside story of how it almost led to a world-shattering disaster.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch dives into the 1943 Nazi assassination threat against the Big Three world leaders. As the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape; an assassination plot that would have changed history.

A true story filled with daring rescues, body doubles, and political intrigue, The Nazi Conspiracy details the pivotal meeting in Tehran and the deadly Nazi plot against the heads of state of the three major Allied powers, Russia, US, and England. A bonus is the backstory on what was happening during WWII, including the Holocaust and thoughts of how the Big Three would structure the war. As with all books by these authors readers get a thrilling plot with gripping details.

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Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?

Brad Meltzer: I saw in a half page newspaper article years ago this story. It said that there was a plot to kill FDR, Churchill, and Stalin at the height of WWII, an attempted assassination by the Nazis. I found this detail that FDR was hiding in the back of a beat-up sedan, while his actual motorcade had a body double in it. Josh and I decided to answer the threshold questions why was FDR hiding and who was going to murder him? We point out how this is imperfect information because so many documents were destroyed over the years.

EC: What do you believe-was the plot a hoax or reality?

BM: Either the assassination attempt was planned, or Joseph Stalin pulled one of the greatest scams in all of history and tricked FDR and Churchill in the height of WWII. My personal belief is that this was a credible threat. The one person who never changed his story was the head of the Secret Service Mike Riley. With the big three together, they were a tantalizing target for the Nazis.

EC: Why is Mike Riley so important?

BM: He is the one who looked the Russians in the eye, their evidence, their MO, and assessed the threat. He really believed to his dying day that this was a real plot to kill all three.

EC: Why did you touch on the hatred of the Jewish race?

BM: Whenever Josh and I start these books we ask, ‘what is the book about?’ We included the Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden at the height of WWII. There were 20,000 Nazis cheering with a picture of George Washington surrounded by Nazi banners. A speaker there said if George Washington was alive today, he would be friends with Adolph Hitler. We also included the details of the Holocaust which is relevant today. The Holocaust started with slogans, propaganda, rallies, and book bans. A group of people pointed at others and said, ‘they will take away our way of life.’ We are seeing it repeat now.

EC: Why the background history?

BM: People think we punched the Nazis in the jaw and saved the day. But this is not the story. The US did not want to be in WWII. WWI was not too far in the background, there was the depression with the stock market crash, and FDR was to save the country from ruin. There were other priorities. Josh and I wanted to put in the context to understand the only reason the US entered WWII was because of Pearl Harbor. For context, we put in how Yamamoto, the architect of Pearl Harbor, was assassinated by the US to show how assassination was a valid and common weapon of WWII.

EC: What was the role of the Nazi Franz Mayr?

BM: In his late twenties, a Nazi spy, a zealot in Tehran. The reason he is so vital is that he was the one to convince the Nazis about the plot although he is not a part of the actual plot, getting arrested months before. The Germans completely believe they can drop paratroopers into Tehran without being seen as the US, England, and Russia meet for the Tehran Conference. Oddly, it is his arrest that foiled the plot.

EC: Who is the true hero?

BM: I think there were two heroes. First, the Soviets, who captured the 36 Nazi paratroopers and found out about the plot. The other hero is Mike Riley who assessed the threat. You cannot have one hero without the other. If Riley did not believe the information the Russians provided about the plot it could be a disaster. It takes one believing the other.

EC: Why had the storyline shifted?

BM: During the Cold War since the US did not want the Russians to be seen as the good guys. Suddenly it was given the name of Operation Long Jump. There is no proof it was ever called it. Josh and I showed in the book how the stories became exaggerated, shifted, and changed.

EC: You also have in the book the relationship between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin. Please explain.

BM: It was precarious at best. FDR pivoted and adjusted. He believed in his ability to charm the other leaders. He is the middleman who held it all together because Churchill and Stalin hated each other.

EC: What do you want readers to get out of the book?

BM: To entertain, to inform, but also to warn people. Good people should not stay silent. Anti-Semitism is at an all-time high since it has been tracked by the ADL starting in WWII. People should appreciate the freedom we have now.

EC: What about your next books?

BM: There will be some children’s’ books including Wonder Woman out in a few months. Then I am working on the novel sequel that brings back Zig and Nola. It will take a few years to come out.

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: High Mountain Tracker Series by Freya Barker

Book Descriptions and Elise’s Thoughts

The “High Mountain Tracker” four book series by Freya Barker has characters people will root for within a very suspenseful plot. The characters are strong, mature, and range in age from their late thirties to middle age with both the hero and heroine having histories and hang ups to navigate. In each book there are strong independent women facing off against alpha-males. It is a modern-day western suspense with added doses of romance.

The first book in the series, High Meadow has Jonas Harvey facing off with Alex Hart. He has a business that tracks domestic terrorists, criminals, and missing people with his retired Special Forces buddies, Fletch, Sully, and Bo. Jonas also has another business, the High Meadow Stud Horse Ranch where he and his ex-military friends work on the ranch.

Alex and her friend Lucy have a business that rescues abandoned and abused horses as well as dogs and a donkey. New to the area, they would have to build the rehabilitation reputation of their farm. But everything is put on hold until escaped convicts are found because they have decided to set up their terrorist operations on Alex’s land. Jonas feels the need to protect her even though she makes it clear she and Lucy can protect themselves. As they work together a chemistry is formed that leads them to become intimate.

High Stakes has Nella Freling searching for her sister Pippa who has gone missing in Montana. No one in law enforcement will help so she tries to contact Fletch Boone, a highly recommended tracker. Nella’s first interactions with him goes badly since he is rude and an overall jerk.

They decide to work together to find Pippa since Fletch realizes that Nella had no sense of self-preservation, and her stubbornness got her into trouble in more than one circumstance. She went off into the mountains looking for her sister with no idea what she was doing and Fletch needing to rescue her multiple times. The couple bond over the search but each has insecurities that they must overcome before the relationship becomes solid.

High Ground has Pippa Freling recovering from the attacks after being rescued by Nella and Fletch. Pippa has decided to make roots in Libby Montana to be closer to her sister. Unfortunately, she got pregnant after a one-night stand with Sully Eckhart, one of the trackers and a ranch hand. She is resentful and angry since he never contacted her after that night, basically ghosting her. But after hearing he is the father; he becomes very protective of Pippa. Eventually they decide for the baby’s sake to get together, realizing that they are more alike than not.

The suspense happens after Pippa has inadvertently become involved in a murder case. The FBI has her as a suspect in a five-victim murder investigation. This also puts her in the scope of the killer. Now Sully and the team must protect her and work with the FBI to clear Pippa’s name and find the true killer.

High Impact focuses on the backstory of Lucy Lenoir. She was a common thread throughout the series, always helping the other heroines. Lucy was there for everyone. She was content to run the horse rescue and horse therapy alone and be in her own company. This story has Lucy attempting to overcome her past and hiding from it. She ran away from an abusive situation and has tried to reinvent herself. But after Lucy suddenly becomes the center of threats, framed for a murder, and has her rescue animals attacked, she realizes her past has caught up with her.

Bo Rivera is content to work with his “brothers” on the ranch and helping with the tracking business. But watching his friends finding someone to share their life outside the business has created some longing for more in his life. Being misled and trusting too quickly almost had him burned so he is very careful when it comes to women. But he feels a draw to Lucy that he can’t seem to ignore. The attraction that has simmered between Bo and Lucy for a while keeps growing and Bo appoints himself to watch over Lucy and find the person responsible for threatening her. All these stories have plenty of drama and suspense. There are twists and turns, surprises, and dangerous situations. Wanting to learn more about these mature characters’ lives will keep readers turning the pages.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Why the hero and heroine chapters in each book of this series?

Freya Barker: It was not a conscious decision. I have had that in every book I have written. I have found books written from a single point of view to be unbalanced. I want to be inside both main characters heads to show more of their personal evolution and thought process during the book. Readers get both perspectives from an event that happened. It enables me to explore behind the scenes when something happens.

EC: Are your books more mystery or romance?

FB: I think I do a pretty good balance, leaning on a little more suspense. The label romantic suspense for me creates pockets of tension through misunderstandings. I want to include everyday events that people experience in real life. This puts the characters in a context on how they interact to life.

EC: Why the title in a sentence of each story?

FB: I try to do it, so the title becomes purposeful with an intent and cohesiveness. Everything gets tied in including the title. I will sneak it in, knowing the readers’ enjoy trying to find it.

EC: How would you describe Alex, the heroine of High Meadow?

FB: Independent, motivated by idealism, emotional, passionate, strong, determined, big- hearted, and pragmatic. She is a bit of an earth-mother type. She has preconceived ideas which can make her a bit naive.

EC: How would you describe Jonas?

FB: He is a traditionalist and old fashioned. He has lived in a male dominated environment, being surrounded by ranchers and having been in Special Forces. He is considerate and can be a charmer when he wants to be. Jonas can also be open-minded.

EC: What about the relationship?

FB: It is a mature relationship. Neither is looking for a partner, yet there was some chemistry both could not ignore. There is not a lot of angst, emotional situations, in the relationship, but more a cerebral approach. I am not a fairy tale writer and want it to be real. I hope I reflected that they could talk about misunderstandings and their feelings. In the beginning Alex is guarded but not for long, because she was willing to open to a possibility.

EC: In the book, High Stakes, how would you describe Nella?

FB: I wanted to write a contrast to her sister Pippa who went missing. Nella is the stable one. At first view, each sister appeared unmatchable. Nella is determined, cautious, stubborn, gutsy, headstrong, and direct. Because she is a librarian, she has become very sheltered, and kept her world as a very small safe environment. She found herself after her sister disappeared.

EC: How about the hero Fletch?

FB: He was in the background in the first book, High Meadow. I love grumpy characters considering three of my four brothers are cantankerous. These types of men have a softer core that they protect by portraying themselves as grumpy. He likes to avoid people, does not know how to communicate but is loyal and caring. Fletch is a bit of a hermit and does not have the patience to deal with other people’s stupidity.

EC: The relationship between Nella and Fletcher?

FB: At first it was condescending with him being bossy over her. They eventually found trust with each other. They were an unlikely combination until they were thrown into a dire situation. They saw each other in a different light. Nella’s determination to expose herself to danger has Fletcher seeing her as naïve at first.

EC: In High Ground how would describe Pippa, the heroine.?

FB: She is like me since I have an interest in traveling in a camper. She is colorful, exuberant, adventurous, unpredictable, a Tomboy, non-traditional and non-conventional. She is a rebel.

EC: How about the hero Sully?

FB: Protective, possessive, formidable, confident, kind, and complex. He is a decent and strong man. Underneath there are levels of insecurities.

EC: How about the relationship?

FB: Everything changes once Pippa finds out she is pregnant from a one-night stand with Sully. At first, she is angry, hurt, and vulnerable. Then they became supportive of each other. It was a process because they were forced into the situation with the unexpected pregnancy. This is based on reality since I just witnessed it with my daughter. She found out she became pregnant by her friend. The friendship had to evolve into something else. They chose to forge a relationship and some of that was portrayed in the book. I wanted to bring up the real issue of health insurance and how it affected the characters’ decisions.

EC: The latest book of the series, High Impact has very emotional topics?

FB: Yes, this book was heavily loaded in terms of Lucy’s background who was abused. I wanted to show how the heroine, Lucy was raped, bullied, manipulated, and lost control. Lucy lived a lie for years, basically hiding in plain sight.

EC: How would you describe Lucy?

FB: From the first book on Lucy is portrayed as someone with a chip on their shoulder and someone who is hiding something. Anti-social with trust issues because of what she went through. She is also independent, stubborn, strong, sarcastic, and defiant. But she can be compassionate by establishing a horse therapy site for those who were raped or abused. For me, horses were a comfort. It is a way to teach people to trust again. She is extremely complicated and has many layers because she is a survivor. She is an observer, someone who sees herself as an outsider to avoid scrutiny.

EC: How about the hero Bo?

FB: Tenacious, relentless, a flirt, egotistical, cautious, and caring. He likes to joke and rib his peers. Because he is black, I wanted to show how difficult he had it. At the same time, I wanted to show how he does not view himself much different.

EC: What was the role of Bo’s mom, Zuri?

FB: She was a bit of comic relief. Zuri showed how loyal he was to his mom and their relationship anchored him. She is pushy, sharp-tongued, and is how Lucy’s backstory becomes prevalent becomes she probed her.

EC: What about the relationship between Bo and Lucy?

FB: She never likes to show public affection which put their relationship off-balance. Bo was smitten with her. He became frustrated with her lack of communication. She has self-protective instincts which holds her back.

EC: Next books? Are you going to write about any of the secondary characters from this series?

FB: By the time I was writing the last book the side characters played a role. I am thinking of either doing a spinoff, a next generation, or just continue the books with the secondary characters becoming main characters. There will be more books with a fictional timeline moving forward in years.

My next book, the sixth in my “Arrows Edge series,” titled Edge of Trust, is out in March. In Durango the head of a motorcycle gang is married to an FBI Agent. One of the gang members is matched up with a bartender. She is a rebel, like Pippa. In the story there is a murder, a sex club, and organized crime.

THANK YOU!!

***

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower

Book Description

Set in the fan favorite Amish village of Harvest, Ohio, the latest novel in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s Amish Matchmaker series brings back the unlikely sleuthing duo of an Amish widow and her zany, thrice divorced best friend. Will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, small-town mysteries, wholesome romance, and inspirational fiction.

Millie’s decidedly not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, gambler Gerome Moorhead, in small-town Harvest, Ohio. With him is the very young, new Mrs. Moorhead, aka “Honeybee.” Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome is already a widower .

When a large wood carving at the cozy Munich Chalet falls on “Honeybee,” all eyes turn toward Lois. Who else would want a tourist—a complete stranger—dead? And half of Harvest witnessed Lois’s enmity toward the young woman. Suddenly Millie must put aside her sewing needle and flex her sleuthing skills. She’s no stranger to a murder investigation, after all, and if she doesn’t learn who killed Honeybee, Lois could go from Millie’s boisterous best friend to her horrified prison penpal . . .

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Elise’s Thoughts

Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower is a fabulous cozy mystery that takes place in Harvest Ohio. The duo of Millie Fisher and Lois Henry are back. They are the Odd Couple since Millie is Amish and Lois is English and very flamboyant. Beyond this, readers also learn a bit about the Amish culture, beliefs, and problems. In this story Flower delves into the drug problem among the Amish.

As in all the books in the series Millie and Lois make a formidable sleuthing team. They must investigate the killing of Paige Moorhead, the wife of Lois’ latest ex-husband, gambler Gerome Moorhead. She gets hit on the head by an oversized cuckoo clock that fell. Unfortunately, Lois become one of the main suspects. Millie aka the Amish Marple is determined to find the real killer, and Lois makes sure she is included in the sleuthing.

Readers learn a little more about Lois’s backstory. They will laugh as she carries around a huge purse a la Mary Poppins’ satchel. It seems she has everything in it but the kitchen sink. The purse matches Lois’s personality, colorful, full of spirit, and very outspoken.

People will find themselves quickly drawn into the story and mystery. They will eagerly flip through the pages to find out what happens next. The characters are fun and quirky, and the story has many laughs.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?

Amanda Flower: I wanted to write about Lois and her relationships, since she was married three times. I introduced her last husband. I also wrote about the world’s largest cuckoo clock that is in Ohio Amish country. I did not use it specifically because it is so beautiful, has been restored, and is beloved by the Amish. I made up another cuckoo clock that fell and crashed on someone.

EC: Lois and her purse reminded me of “Let’s Make a Deal” TV show?

AF: I did know that people brought things in their bags, trying to have what was asked for. My mom had a purse like Lois’s. It was large and vibrantly colored and pulled a lot of crazy stuff out of it. This is where the inspiration for that came from.

EC: The drugs and alcohol in the Amish community?

AF: There is a real problem. In rural Ohio there is an opium crisis because it is so inexpensive and easily accessible. In the last decade it has come to the Amish community. I wanted to make people aware. Per capita drug use is higher in the rural counties. The more Liberal Amish districts will go to hospitals for medical conditions, although I never heard someone going for drug therapy. Drug use is more whispered about than out in the open. In the book, I had a crisis center being created.

EC: Lois’ backstory?

AF: In future books I want to have Lois find a partner because she is a hopeless romantic. In this book she realized she has not made the best decisions when it comes to men. This is setting up the next book.

EC: Next books?

AF: The next book in this series comes out this time next year titled Dating Can Be Deadly. Lois is dating a couple of guys. I am going to Pinecraft, the Amish retirement community in Florida to research about it. Millie and Lois will have a girl’s trip there.

The next Candy Shop Amish book is called Blueberry Blunder and comes out in April. Bailey is in the process of building her candy factory. Unfortunately, a general contractor was corrupt. He gets murdered inside the job site. At the same time, blueberries are a popular crop in Ohio and Harvest has a Blueberry festival. Both series are continuing. I told my editor I will write them as long as they will contract me.

THANK YOU!!

***

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan

Book Description

London, 1933

At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.

Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.

From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is a heartwarming story with heartfelt characters. In this current period, when there is so much decisiveness, reading stories like this reminds people how working collectively brings everyone together. Ms. Ryan has hit a home run.

Elsa and Hattie are the most unlikely individuals to become sister-like friends. As with her previous books, Ryan writes about two strong women who work together for a common goal. These two women attempt to save the lives of Jewish refugees during WWII. In the mid-1930s, Londoner Hattie Featherstone, an aspiring artist, falls in love with opera and after hearing Elsa Mayer-Braun sing paints a picture of her. While Elsa is in London, Hattie gives her a picture she painted of the famous opera star. Wanting to return the kind gesture, Elsa invites Hattie and her sister to see a performance.

Meeting backstage at several performances all three realize they have a lot in common, becoming close friends. Hattie, the painter, her sister Vera, the writer, and Elsa, the opera singer, have in common a medium where they express themselves. As the Nazis gain more and more power, they band together to help people escape them, including Elsa’s Aunt Malvina, who is Jewish and living in Germany. A network is built to rescue as many Jewish people as possible.

The mystery of the story comes into play after Elsa is arrested in 1943 and taken to a concentration camp. Who betrayed her and will she survive the harsh conditions of Bergen-Belsen?

The characters were brave, kind, loving, and resilient during a dark time in history. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as the story has suspense, danger, and intrigue. This is a novel that will stay in readers’ thoughts long after they are finished.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?

Renee Ryan: In 2013 I was at a conference working on my previous historical novel, The Widows of Champagne, and was told about this person’s autobiography, Ida Cook. She was a British typist who ultimately became a Harlequin Romance writer. But more importantly, she and her sister Louise rescued 29 Jews from Nazi persecution. They would go to Opera Festivals and help Jews escape through that route. I did the ‘what if’ and slowly the story came together. Instead of a sister book like the Cooks I wanted to make it a friendship book of unlikely people.

EC: How did being partially Jewish affect Elsa?

RR: Being part-Jewish she felt she needed to help Jews escape the Nazis to survive. Because her late mother wanted her to hide her heritage and change her name, she had Elsa’s aunt raise her as a Catholic. This drives Elsa on so many levels.

EC: How would you describe Elsa?

RR: A musical prodigy who loved her art form so much. She was desperate to be great, but also had a fear of falling short. She has guilt feelings that things came so easy to her. She always wanted to share her wealth. She is lonely, independent, dignified, optimistic, kind, grateful, and strong. There is also a naivety which was willful, refusing to see people who they really were.

EC: Is Wilhelm, Elsa’s husband, an evil character?

RR: A lot of Maestros have some of his traits. They know they are good, the best of what they do. Everything regarding the show falls on their shoulders, the leader. With Wilhelm, he could spot Elsa’s talent. But beyond that Wilhelm was arrogant, conceited, ruthless, selfish, greedy, optimistic, and smug.

EC: The relationship with Wilhelm and Elsa?

RR: Because she lost her parents at such a young age she is struggling with this grief. Part of her attraction to Wilhelm is because he was so much older than her that there was this parental feel. He was really smitten with Elsa in the beginning, wanting them to be a superstar couple. Elsa could not see beyond his charm and was mesmerized by him. She tried to ignore his negative traits. As Elsa became more independent, he lost control over her and became a mentally abusive husband. His attraction and admiration for her turned to possessiveness, always loyal to himself. Wilhelm was a complete narcissist who was consumed with controlling Elsa’s life, career, and future.

EC: How would you describe Hattie?

RR: Based loosely on Ida Cook. A dreamer. She was a rule follower, yet defiant at times, impulsive. Hattie was also bold, courageous, and stubborn.

EC: How would you describe the sisters’ relationship, Vera and Hattie?

RR: Also, based on Ida Cook since she became the romance writer in the story. Vera was the older sister who became mother-like to Hattie, grounding her, and preventing Hattie from diving off the proverbial cliff. Vera was Hattie’s Jimmy Cricket, a voice of reason.

EC: Describe the relationship between Hattie and Elsa?

RR: Both lost their mothers at a young age. This brought them together. Hattie’s mother passed on her love of art to her, while Elsa’s mom passed on the love of music. They were kindred spirits. Hattie found her own dream within Elsa’s dream, after hearing Elsa sing opera. Hattie admired Elsa. They became friends very quickly. It went from devoted fans, to friends, to allies, to sister-like where they were very loyal to each other.

EC: What was the role of Elsa’s Aunt Malvina?

RR: Through her story I was able to bring in the information about Jews since she was Jewish. They lost their jobs, dignity, and citizenship, and could get arrested at any given time. One of my goals with this story was to show how Jews could not just leave Germany and Austria because of the strict immigration policies of unoccupied nations, who would not let them in. I also wanted to have Elsa have a personal reason to build a network with Hattie and Vera. She feared for Malvina’s survival. Elsa handed Malvina’s care into the sisters’ hands. The aunt was the glue that brought all three together.

EC: Was opera sort of a character?

RR: It was the connection between all the characters. It plays every kind of role including the setting. It is how the characters’ meet, stay together, and what drives them. The clandestine work was able to happen because Hattie and Vera attended opera festivals in occupied countries. Opera is Elsa’s life and it inspired Hattie’s art. I had to learn a lot about opera. Through the opera scenes readers can see the pain, sorrow, joy, and hope of the world and characters. Opera is highly dramatic and emotional, and the era was highly dramatic and emotional.

EC: What about your next book?

RR: It is titled The Paris Housekeeper and comes out this time next year. It has three women: one who is Jewish, an American, and a girl from Brittany. The American is an heiress and the other two work at the hotel Ritz in Paris. The story is how they navigate German occupation. I wanted to show that the Germans did what they did because of the Jewish race, not just the religion. I also show how the Nazis get help from other nationalities in the treatment towards the Jews.

THANK YOU!!

***

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Wyoming Christmas Reunion and A Cowboy Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis

Book Descriptions and Elise’s Thoughts

Wyoming Christmas Reunion and A Cowboy Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis are the last in two different series, the Blackwells and the Monroes. What makes a Melinda Curtis book special is the different emotions the readers take along with the characters, making the story very realistic.

Wyoming Christmas Reunion is book five of a compilation of stories by five different authors, Anna J. Stewart, Amy Vastine, Carol Ross, Cari Lynn Webb, and Melinda Curtis. Everything comes to a head in this book along with the mystery settled. The Blackwells of Eagle Springs must thwart those who want to turn the ranch and town into a developed area with a lake.

This story has Helen and Nash Blackwell divorced because of his alcohol problems. She realizes that she has never stopped loving Nash. He is dealing with trying to help his family save the ranch and legacy that his grandmother built by training cutting horses to sell for top dollar. He is also fighting his feelings for Helen who he believes deserves better than him.

After Nash makes a wild bet that Helen can win the cutting competition, they are forced to spend a lot of time together considering Helen hasn’t ridden since a childhood incident caused her injuries. She reluctantly agrees to train if Nash is willing to work on the issues that caused the breakup of their marriage. Communication is their biggest obstacle because Helen wants to discuss her feelings about their past and Nash would rather keep his feelings to himself. A welcome character is their son Luke who brought humor and sweetness to the story.

A Cowboy Thanksgiving is book twelve in the “Mountain Monroe Family series.” This story has both the hero and heroine needing to overcome childhood issues and finding a family. Maxine was orphaned at a young age and passed around to family members, never feeling like she was wanted. Her insecurities are enforced after her marriage implodes where she once again feels abandoned. She accepts an invitation for her and her four-year-old daughter Luna to come for Thanksgiving in Second Chance Idaho. There she meets Bo Monroe.

He always feels no one is taking him seriously because of his good looks. To make matters worse one of his cousins is reviving the Monroe Holiday Challenge, a weeklong event of fun and games, something Bo has never won. One of the teams will be Bo, Max, and Luna. To her surprise, Max finds herself warmly embraced by the huge Monroe family who has gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving and compete in the Monroe Holiday Challenge. While competing Max and Bo get to know each other and realize there is a strong attraction.

Both these books are about family helping family. The theme is overcoming obstacles and working together to achieve a goal. What makes the stories even more enjoyable is the banter between characters.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: You wrote the finale in this Blackwell series titled Wyoming Christmas Reunion?

Melinda Curtis: In talking about the Blackwell series, I decided to write a story based on the Kevin Costner series Yellowstone and his character but turning it into a sweet romance. I thought what a normal person would do if they were in an accident and had to kill their favorite horse because it was so injured. This would probably ruin their life. I took Kevin Costner’s character in a different direction. I had to tie all the threads together.

EC: How would you describe Helen?

MC: Boisterous, diplomatic, timid at times, blunt, and can be calming. She was brash and confident but found it safer to retreat from hardship so at times she was timid. The old Helen was pushier and more assertive, while the new Helen was withdrawn after the divorce. Then she came to realize if she wanted to have that life again, reuniting with her ex-husband Nash, she had to bring back some of the old Helen.

EC: How would you describe Nash?

MC: He carries a lot of weight on his shoulders from his past. He needed to find a way to forgive himself and move forward for all his past mistakes. He is proud, caring, troubled, impulsive, protective, and stubborn. I have this book quote about Nash, “All the Blackwells rolled into one. Stubborn like Denny (grandma). Kind like Adele (sister). Driven like Levi (brother). Clever like Wyatt (youngest brother). And bossy like Corliss (older sister).”

EC: How about the relationship?

MC: She ended her engagement to Phil because he treated her like an accessory and wanted to shove it in Nash’s face, “I have your woman.” He never loved her but used her to flaunt his power to the Blackwells. Just as she had to face her fear of riding a horse, she had to face her fears with Nash. They are funny, both are driven with a lot of pride. Nash’s accident affected both. He feels he is damaged goods, not good enough for her with regret, guilt, and helplessness. She feels frustrated, shut out, and alone because of the accident.

EC: What is the role of Christmas?

MC: It is a great time of year to embrace family and have forgiveness with peace.

EC: What about the other book, A Cowboy Thanksgiving?

MC: I wanted a light and breezy story with some emotional undertones, an easy, fun read. Since this is the last book in the series, I wanted to highlight many of the past characters, including my favorites like Shane and Franny.

EC: How would you describe Bo?

MC: Just like my husband, very competitive. He is the good-looking one whom people thought that is all to him. He has a chip on his shoulder because of his pride. He can be protective, a charmer, presumptuous, and a planner.

EC: How about Maxine (Max)

MC: She always felt she is the one no one ever wanted since she was abandoned by so many family members and her husband divorced her. Max felt she never belonged. She is very guarded, very bright, shy, and wants to be a part of things, but from a distance. She is also tough, vulnerable, determined, and a spitfire.

EC: What about the relationship?

MC: She thinks he is too pretty for her and does not care what he thinks about her. This attracts his attention because he is feeling there is more to me than just my good looks. They sparred a lot. Max wants to be friends and sets boundaries to protect herself. Max saw Bo’s large family as a way to experience unconditional love, emotional security, and a sense of belonging.

EC: Why the Holiday Challenge?

MC: Because ranch was a theme. I put in scarecrow stuffing, the roping, the sleigh decoration, gingerbread house making, and being in winter, skiing.

EC: What about the role of children and dogs?

MC: I love them. They make me laugh. Hopefully, the readers saw them as comic relief. I enjoy putting them in my stories just as dogs and children are in real life. They have so much personality and can be inconsistent. They show loyalty.

EC: What about your next book?

MC: A Cowboy Worth Waiting For comes out in February. It is about a woman who is starting a matchmaking business for ranchers and rodeo riders. Her first client is a rodeo star and her best friend’s widower. This will be the first in my “Rodeo Academy Series” with six books. All the heroes have been fostered.

In April, It Happened One Night comes out where a man and a woman spend the night together years ago. Now they bump into each other years later.

THANK YOU!!

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Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Christmas Wedding Crashers by Amy Vastine

Book Description

’Tis the season…
To prevent a wedding!

Holly Hayward is shocked when she learns that her great-uncle is planning to marry Jonah Drake’s grandmother. Have they forgotten about the bitter generations-old Hayward-Drake feud? Now Holly is determined to thwart the disastrous Christmas wedding—even if it means teaming up with her nemesis, handsome and way-too-perfect Jonah. But crashing one forbidden romance might just be the beginning of a completely new one…

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Christmas Wedding Crashers by Amy Vastine is a great holiday read. People should refererence to the McCoy-Hatfield feud that involved two rural families.

In this story two elderly people, Randall Hayward and Clarissa Drake announce their intention to get married. The problem is that the Haywards and Drakes have a major family feud. The Drakes come off as superior, the haves, while the Haywards are the have nots who have struggled to succeed. When the families hear about the Christmas wedding, they decide to do all in their power to break up the couple.

Great niece Holly Hayward is enlisted along with grandson Jonah Drake to have the wedding canceled. They first try to show the elders how incompatible they are with each other. After all, Randall likes rodeo stuff, being rough and tumble, while Clarissa likes to volunteer at all the Christmas trimmings. But, instead of seeing each other as mismatched they realize each is willing to do a give and take.

Instead of succeeding at their plan, Holly and Jonah realize that they also have a lot in common and their assumptions from the high school years are unfounded. Holly begins to see that Jonah is caring, kind, and funny, while Jonah sees that Holly is spirited, intelligent, and daring.

Although there are some scenes that are heartbreaking, most of the story will put a smile on readers’ faces. The banter is fabulous, allowing people to take the journey with the characters.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Did the McCoys and Hatfields influence the story?

Amy Vastine: Right. I like the idea of family rivals. This is the second to last book in the “Stop the Wedding series.”This one had an older generation getting married, somebody’s grandma with the family not happy about it. The rival family had an elder who was an uncle.

EC: The rivalry?

AV: The Haywards are considered vandals and thieves, while the Drakes were arrogant, liars, and rescinded a land plot. The Drakes are the wealthy rancher family, and the Haywards are the workers. It stemmed from the Drake great-great-grandfather who promised land for work to the Haywards. After he died the family did not follow through to give the land, making the Haywards feeling cheated. This created hard feelings throughout generations. Oliver Drake is the epitome of the arrogance who had a cushy upbringing.

EC: How would you describe the grandson, Jonah Drake?

AV: Scholarly, book smart, but not totally relationship smart. He is not aware of how he came across. He is very black and white. If someone said something incorrect, he would correct them. He did not think about how that person called out would feel. He is a rule follower, compassionate, protective, honest, and patient.

EC: How would you describe Holly?

AV: She is street smart, sassy, and sarcastic. She is loyal to her family to a fault. She is funny, interesting, a hard worker, creative, and savvy. Holly is also direct, competitive, tough, and confident.

EC: What about the relationship?

AV: In high school, Holly felt Jonah intentionally made her feel stupid. She assumed it was because Jonah always felt superior. The family feud gets in the way. Initially, they think they are so different, but when they spend time together their assumptions go out the door. Both think oil and water will never mix but end up as a delicious salad dressing. They realize they have more in common than they thought. As they work together, they drop their guard. The older couple noticed that there was a connection between Holly and Jonah, before the younger couple did.

EC: What about the older couple Clarissa and Randall?

AV: They met at the little local diner. Both lived long lives and found someone who made them happy. They realize it is causing some drama, but they do not let it get in the way of something good. Clarissa is very kind, gentle, and accepting. Randall makes her feel like a Queen. He is a charmer. They enjoyed the fact that they were not the only crossovers who could see that there does not have to be this forever long family feud.

EC: What about Holly’s sister Maisey?

AV: She did not even know what the family drama was, living her own life. She did not realize who is mad at who and why. She is not burdened by other people’s old hang-ups. She was left out of the nonsense. Maisey does not live in the past and only cares about what is happening in her world.

EC: Why those events?

AV: I spent one whole day brainstorming as many Christmas activities as I could, writing my own Hallmark Christmas movie. There had to be a Christmas Tree Lighting, a gingerbread contest, an ice-skating rink, and the Frontier Freeze based on the Polar Bear Plunge in Chicago. I thought of events that strongly represented Randall and other events that strongly represented Clarissa.

EC: Next book?

AV: It is the last one in my “Stop the Wedding series,” titled Texas Runaway Bride coming out in August. The heroine is a people pleaser. After canceling her wedding day, she decides to visit this little town in Texas that her grandmother talked about. She runs into a widowed Sherriff with a four-year-old boy. She is offered the job of live-in nanny.

THANK YOU!!

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