Love By The Book, by Cara Lynn James - Free Book

Back Cover Blurb:
Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover her quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father's teamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance-until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old niece Nell.
In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion.
Yet old habits die hard and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds.
When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God's true love.

This is the 3^rd book of your series Ladies of Summerhill published by Thomas Nelson:   What inspired this series of books?

The setting was my inspiration. My mother was from Newport, Rhode Island so I spent a lot of time there as a child. I have wonderful memories! I toured the mansions (called cottages) of the Gilded Age millionaires and I found their extravagant and ostentacious life style really amazing. They built American versions of European palaces and then stayed in them for just six to eight weeks in the summer. They had an army of servants to cater to their every need and whim.

Summerhill is based on one of the older cottages. It’s a rambling Queen Anne style, not built of limestone or marble like the newer and more famous ones. All three of the books are set at Summerhill during three consecutive summers at the turn-of-the-century. All of the families are different, although some of the characters appear in two or three of the books in minor roles.

What is your favorite character trait to write about?

I like to write about strong willed people, especially heroines. Sometimes willful characters can be quiet types. They don’t have to be feisty or out going.

Do you outline or are you a panster?

I’m both. I know the beginning, middle and end of my story before I start writing. My synopsis is fairly detailed so when I get lost writing the middle of the manuscript (and I usually do) I can refer to the synopsis. I also use Michael Hauge’s plot structure, although I don’t follow it exactly. But it keeps me on track. That’s the important thing—moving forward in the right direction.

I can’t outline from the beginning to the end without leaving lots of holes. Normally I’ll write down what has to happen in each section and then come up with possible scenes. These may change as I begin writing. Sometimes I’ll add to my original idea.

The most important thing is not to get lost and go down dead end roads. In my real life I’m directionally challenged, and I’m afraid I’m no better when it comes to plotting out a novel. So I try not to deviate too much. It can be such a time waster.

But on the other hand, I’d find it so boring to know exactly where I was going and how to get there ahead of time.

Do you give your characters some of your own personal traits or do they take on a life of their own?

Even though I try very hard to stay out of my characters’ lives, I imagine I slip in from time to time. Since I probably don’t know myself as well as I think I do, I’d have to admit there might be a lot more of me in my story people than I want. But for the most part, I think they’re their own people.

What is the silliest thing your characters have done that took you by surprise?

Actually this is a rash thing, not a silly thing. In Love by the Book the heroine, Melinda, decides she can’t wait for Nick to return, so she goes off on her own to find her kidnapped niece. She doesn’t think she’s endangering herself, but that’s because she doesn’t think it through. Very foolish!

I can’t think of anything really silly, but I might add some silly behavior in my next book. Good idea.

If you could travel back in time what time period and place would you go?

That’s easy! I’d go back to Newport, Rhode Island during the Gilded Age, around 1900. I’d be one of the privileged millionaires, just like the characters I write about. Over the years I’ve read a lot about the people (Vanderbilts, Astors, Goelets etc.). Surprisingly, they weren’t any happier than most people. They had many of the same problems ordinary folks had—even money problems. When you have millions (billions in present day $) you worry about keeping it and how it effects your family. It might ruin your children. They might become lazy, bored because they can have or do anything they want, careless about spending. Will someone want to marry them for themselves or only for their money?

That said, I’d like to try being too rich for a while!

I’d go to Newport because it’s such a beautiful place with a wonderful summer climate. The ocean fascinates me. When I was a child I loved to sit on the rocks and watch the waves crash and feel the salt spray and the breeze.

Where is your favorite place to write?

On my sun porch. But it’s often a busy place and not always private or conducive to working. I also work at my office corner in my bedroom. When I want comfort I sit on the bed. That’s decadent, isn’t it? I’ll work anywhere as long as it’s quiet and I can concentrate. Once I’m interrupted I have difficulty getting back in my writing zone.

What are you currently working on?

I’m finishing a story called A Path toward Love. It’s set at a ‘great camp’ in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state during the Gilded Age. My characters come from the same high society as my ‘people’ in the Ladies of Summerhill series.

In A Path toward Love my widowed heroine returns to her family at their great camp determined to put her unhappy marriage behind her. She never wants to take the risk of falling in love again. But of course it’s not that easy! And circumstances won’t allow it.

It’ll probably be released next spring.

What is your favorite hobby?

Reading. It’s always been my favorite hobby. I enjoy all kinds of books—romance, women’s fiction, romantic suspense, mysteries, historicals, thrillers. You name it, I’ll read it, except for science fiction, paranormal and fantasy. I wish I read faster. I should be able to since I have enough practice. But I enjoy every word of a well written book.

I was captivated by the first sentence of this book! I know readers will eat it up. Congratulations on your series. I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you, Salena.

By purchasing through these links you help support this blog. We appreciate you!

Follow Cara at her website:

www.caralynnjames.com

Want to win a free copy of Love By The Book? At least 10 people have to leave a comment or there isn't a contest! Tell all your friends! Don't miss out!!! Spread the word!

Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!