My readers may well remember my features and reviews of Julie Lessman’s stories were firmly in the historical romance genre, and very high on the romance scale! Like me, most readers were introduced to Julie through her engaging Daughters of Boston series, published back in 2008! I can hardly believe it has been that long ago.

Since then Julie has released over 20 historical romance novels and novellas, a contemporary romance series, and now this talented writer has released a romantic suspense novel, The Secret of Emerald Cottage! I’m delighted to have Julie back at Relz Reviewz to chat about her new book, new genre, and new characters!

I hope you enjoy revisiting with Julie once more and be sure to check out her fun giveaway mentioned below!

Over to you, Julie…

She’s sweet & cozy mysteries. He’s fun & cozy flings.
Till a deadly secret reveals not-so-cozy things.

Twenty-six-year-old Molly Stewart—ex-Navy nurse and former evidence technician for the Charleston Police Department—has been burned by love. So when her friend, Pastor Chase Griffin, begs her to move to scenic Lake Loon to be a nurse and companion for Miss Lilly, his elderly landlady, she jumps at the chance. The secluded and cozy cottage on a clear mountain lake seems the perfect place to heal from her fiancé’s betrayal as well as indulge in one of her greatest passions—cozy romance. First with reading them by the bookcase and then hopefully, if dreams come true, solving them one day as a licensed detective. But when Miss Lilly’s estranged great nephew shows up, it’s no mystery as to why he and Molly butt heads. Because it only takes one stolen kiss—while she’s sleeping, no less—to discover he’s an even bigger player than the ex-fiancé who broke her heart.

When international playboy and Irish soccer star Brec McGill learns his long-lost great aunt is in a coma from a drowning accident, he rushes to her side. Not only is he anxious to reconnect with his only living relative he spent summers with as a boy, but her cottage on Lake Loon, Georgia is the perfect respite to heal from game injuries and escape a tabloid scandal. At thirty-three he’s disillusioned with the game, his fiancée, and life in general, craving nothing but a little peace and solitude to get his head on straight. But when he discovers his aunt’s cottage is not only inhabited by a crusty Aunt Lilly he hasn’t seen in ten years, but a pretty prude of a nurse as well, his plans take a nose-dive in the lake. Because suddenly it appears not only was Aunt Lilly’s accident no accident … but somebody out there wants to see them all dead.

Bookchat with Julie Lessman

Share a little about your characters, Molly and Brec.

Margaret Lorraine (Molly) Stewart is a 25-year-old former Navy nurse whose fiancé just cheated on her, so naturally she jumps at the chance to get out of town. Enter her good friend Chase Griffin (from my Isle of Hope series), who encourages her to become the caretaker for his 88-year-old landlord at Lake Loon, Lillian Mariah “Miss Lilly” McGill at her cozy “Emerald Cottage” near Isle of Hope, Georgia. Disillusioned with love, all Molly wants is peace and quiet in a secluded setting to take care of both her battered heart and sweet Miss Lilly while pursuing her dream to write cozy mysteries.

International Irish soccer star Breccan Adam Fabian McGill is seeking both sanctuary from a tabloid scandal and to reconnect with his long-lost aunt following an accident where she almost drowns in the lake. A fun and flirty playboy, Brec hasn’t met a woman he couldn’t charm yet … until he meets Molly, whose broken heart provides the perfect defence against the notorious player. But when it appears the woman they both love—Miss Lilly—is in danger, Brec and Molly forge a friendship that becomes as deep and complicated as the mystery that threatens them all.

NOTE: For more hunky pictures of Brec and the rest of the characters in The Secret of Emerald Cottage and a very cool trailer/video my talented hubby made for me, check out my Journal Jots blog.

PLUS … I also have a BIG contest going on right now on my blog, where you can win a $50 gift card, a signed copy of The Secret of Emerald Cottage, a character named after you or a loved one in my next book and a signed copy, and other giveaways.

What drives them in life and relationships?

Badly wounded by her fiance’s betrayal, Molly has to learn to trust all over again. Through the gentle spiritual mentoring of Miss Lilly, she is driven to seeking a closer relationship with God, both in her friendships and any future romantic relationship she may have.

Brec wants nothing more than to forget his painful past and the God he blames for causing it. But when he meets Molly, her faith both challenges and entices him, driving him to try and win both her approval and that of his aunt.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives:

Romantic. Mysterious. Challenging. Inspirational. Fun.

What is Brec’s greatest challenge?

Forgiving first himself, then God, and then his father.

Molly has had lots of life experience in her 25 years – Navy nurse, evidence technician, broken engagement – and she has big dreams. How does she cope with significant change?

By sharpening her focus on doing things God’s way in her life.

Share a favourite line or passage from the book that made you smile (either because it was fun, or you thought, “That was some good writing I did there!!!”)

The best way I can do that is with a meme of one of my favorite scenes—where Molly and Brec meet for the first time. It always makes me smile. And if anyone wants to read the entire first chapter, they can do so on my Journal Jots blog.

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

Wow, that’s a hard call because I really fell in love with Miss Lilly in the third and final book of my Isle of Hope series, His Steadfast Love, where her character just took over the pages of any scene she was in. In fact, that was one of the reasons I wanted to give Miss Lilly her own book, and I’m glad I did. But since I love heroes, I have to say I also thoroughly enjoyed writing Brec. He’s just a deep-down nice guy who got off on the wrong foot for a season or two, so it was a delight to delve into both his humorous and fun side as well as his tormented past in order to bring him all the way to salvation.

Which character gave you the most grief?

Hmmm … I would have to say Alan Murray, the Supreme Court Justice nominee because I really didn’t know which way to take him, so I’d start off one way with his personality, then end up going another.

What emotions did you experience writing this book?

LOL … I went from pulse-pounding excitement over a totally new venture for me … to confusion as to how to accomplish trying to stump people in a realistic and unique way. I actually found that I had to write the book backwards, starting with the ending and working my way to the beginning so that I could make sure I got any twists and turns right as well as planted realistic red herrings.

You are most well known for your historical romance novels – what made you decide to turn your hand to contemporary romantic suspense?

As I mentioned above, I had always hoped to write a novel centered around Aunt Lilly and her nephew (whom I mention in His Steadfast Love). So after I started watching Hallmark mystery movies with my hubby, I thought it might be fun to tie in a mystery aspect. The only thing is—as a die-hard romance writer—I didn’t really cotton to the typical romantic suspense formula of 80% suspense/20% romance, so I decided to do 50/50. The other reason I wanted to write this book was to hopefully initiate some crossover into my Isle of Hope series, which for me is actually a ministry of sorts, especially book 1, Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love, which deals with how God taught me to forgive my own father.

What’s in your writing pipeline?

I am happy to say that I am 1/3 of the way through my second WW2 novel, A Hope and a Prayer, which I plan to release in early spring. This is book 2 in The Cousins O’Connor series, which is an offshoot of my Irish family-saga that began with The Daughters of Boston series and The Winds of Change series.

Thanks for spending time with us, Julie!

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2020, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

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