Character Spotlight ~ Victoria Bylin’s Kate & Nick with a giveaway

Until I Found YouMeet an advertising executive and a daredevil in

Victoria Bylin’s

contemporary romance

Until I Found You

Bethany House

The Story

Finding each other was only the beginning . . .

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It’s Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate’s rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She’s not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn’t expect to be swept off his feet by the car’s occupant. He’s made a vow–no dating for a year–but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he’s met Kate Darby. . . .

Introducing Kate & Nick

Kate Darby

Brief physical description

Kate has shoulder-length auburn hair, blue eyes that are almost turquoise and an easy smile.  She works in advertising and knows how to dress, but she prefers comfortable jeans to a business suit.Amy Adams

Resembles…

Actress Amy Adams (Picture attached)

Strengths and weaknesses

Kate is organized, competent and determined. If you need something done fast and done well, she’s the person to ask.  At the same time, that competence is a liability. She’ll work her fingers to the bone trying to meet unrealistic expectations.  Her other strength is compassion.  She cares deeply about people and it shows.

Quirk (if any)

With her advertising background, she sometimes thinks in slogans. She jokes about keeping all the balls in the air, going with the flow, and rolling with the punches.

Your inspiration for the character

Kate is a modern woman with real life problems, and she’s struggling to understand God and faith in that context. I went down that same road, and I see her every day in grocery stores, churches and offices.  Come to think of it, I see her in the mirror!

Background to the story

My first 14 books were historicals set in the Old West.  The world was a much different place than it is now.  Courtship largely took place within the context of family and community.  If a couple went on a buggy ride, a spinster aunt would come along as a chaperone, or maybe the heroine’s pesky little sister would be in the back seat.

Now we have tremendous personal freedom. But with freedom comes responsibility.  Until I Found You is about that balance and some of the hidden costs.  Kate is heavy into her career. She loves it and has worked hard, but she loves Nick too.  To use one of her clichés, life can be a juggling act.

Nick Sheridan

Brief physical description

Colin FarrellSix-foot-two. Lean build with broad shoulders. Brown hair, brown eyes. A bit of scruff now and then.

Resembles…

Nick looks a lot like Colin Farrell

Strengths and weaknesses

Nick’s biggest strength is his courage. A daredevil at heart, he’ll dive head first into just about any situation. He’s the author of a travel guide called California for Real Men, which includes a chapter called “For Daredevils Only.”  He’s not a cautious man!  That strength is also a weakness. He drives too fast and sometimes acts before he thinks. At least he did in the past. A major trauma slowed him down, but he still tends to race to trouble.

Quirk (if any)

Nick has a knack for getting speeding tickets.

Your inspiration for the character

Nick was inspired by all the wonderful men in my life–my husband, our two sons and my father.  They’re the kind of guys who run to trouble, not away from it.  I admire their courage and greatly appreciate all they do for their families.

Background to the story

When it comes to the balance between personal freedom and responsibility, Nick knows what happens when things go awry.  No spoilers, but he’s had a trauma that led him to seek God and His grace. I think most people have something in their lives they’d like to change.  Until I Found You is a romance first, but it’s also about the human need for our lives to matter.

Thank you, Victoria!

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23 Responses to Character Spotlight ~ Victoria Bylin’s Kate & Nick with a giveaway

  1. I enjoy stories from almost every time period but I enjoy contemporary because it relates to today. They experience the same things we do, well except the fiction part 🙂

  2. Allison Nicole

    Modern day romance opens up a lot of story lines, where as historicals don’t have women in the military or bodyguards etc.

  3. I like contemporary romance, because it’s easier to identify with. The people have the same types of problems and goals. It’s easier for me to read and takes less concentration. It gives me an idea of how someone else might feel and react to things I’ve had to deal with.

  4. I enjoy a large variety of time periods and I’m not sure if I can really pinpoint what it is I like about contemporaries. I enjoy a good story and it really doesn’t matter when it’s set! I will say that contemporary books seem to be better in the suspense department!

  5. Melissa Oldaker

    What I enjoy most is that I can often relate to the characters and the things they are going through.

  6. What appeals to me is a believable story that challenges my faith along with entertaining me. I also enjoy a story with characters or a setting completely different from my life.

  7. This was such a good book. LOVED Nick!

  8. Also enjoyed Kate.

  9. I tend to enjoy novels from many time-periods, but contemporaries definitely hold an added appeal because of how easy they are to relate to.

  10. Brittany Keating

    I think I enjoy contemporaries because I can relate to the culture, day to day activities, and the settings…As much as I love historical because they offer an escape into a different time period, culture, etc…

  11. I usually read historical fiction, but have been quite a few contemporary fiction books recently and find that I relate to the characters and situations a lot!

  12. I love contemporary settings. Makes it easier for me to relate.

    Oooo I love who she chose. This sounds gooood.

  13. Contemporary novels are more relatable to me as a reader. I know in essence ‘there is nothing new under the sun’ and all time periods have problems/struggles, but it’s much more easy to relate to issues in this present age.

  14. I like contemporary stories because the characters face issues that my older grandchildren deal with, and gives me a different perspective than what I dealt with at their ages.

  15. Yay for another contemporary romance – love them. Like Juju said, it’s easier to relate in a contemporary world which is why I am drawn to them.

    Victoria – LOVE who you chose as your characters. Amy is perfect for a leading lady and Colin has always been an actor I’ve like. Excellent.

    Cannot wait to read/review this one.

  16. Hello Rel, I like your picks to describe the characters in this book. I can see these two together.
    I love this kind of book for to me they are real down to earth. Things you expect to see around your everyday living. Something that might even happen to you. Usually relates to something you can associate with. The book has a neat cover, except I am one who likes to see their faces. I would love to win this book. Thanks for a chance. Maxie

  17. I had this one sitting on the shelf and I wasn’t sure if I was going to read it or give it to my sister… I may have to read it first..

  18. I really don’t have a preference of historical or contemporary romances. I like both. What does appeal to me about contemporary romances is that they are sometimes a little easier to relate to (it’s harder to relate to someone in the 1800’s).

  19. Thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments! Contemporary romance has always been my favorite subgenre, but the first books I sold were western historicals. Contemporaries are more relatable, but historicals take us to new worlds. For me, it comes down to the characters. And it’s all good!

    • Victoria Bylin » I agree, Victoria. It’s all about the characters! That said a great setting always helps. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  20. Candice Valdez

    I like both historical and contemporary romances. I love the contemporaries because they are easy to relate to.

  21. I like the in contemporary romance novels, the situations the characters find themselves in are much easier to relate to and to be able to apply the Biblical lessons to my own life.

  22. I enjoy the relatability of the characters and events in contemporary fiction.

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