I love day’s like this. I get to shout out about one of my favorite books of the year, one of my favorite authors, and a dear writing pal!!
Charlotte O’Shay, one of my ubertalented Wild Rose Press sistahs, has a new book releasing today, titled ALWAYS, ALMOND FUDGE. It’s part of the wonderful One Scoop or Two series from WRP and I was honored to read the book prior to publication. You can see my review at the end of this post, but here’s a hint: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I’m gonna give it over to Charlotte now so she can tell you a bit about this wonderful story.
Charlotte….take it away.
Hi Peggy!
I’m thrilled to visit you.
Thanks for letting me shout-out about my just released novella, Always, Almond Fudge, part of The Wild Rose Press’ One Scoop or Two series.
Here’s what people have asked me about the story.
Isn’t this out of your usual genre?
Absolutely. I’ve only written contemporary romance so far. This story is a 20th century historical starting in 1941. (Can you believe we are twenty years into a new century already?)
It’s also a sweet romance. I typically write steamier stories.
Why write historical?
I want to stretch myself as a writer and historical romance is a challenge. Language, lifestyle, dress, and the drama of the WW2 era— I had to get myself into the proper head and research to get details and the atmosphere right.
How does this fit into the One Scoop or Two series?
Summertime (in the northern hemisphere), seaside, and ice cream are what link all of the stories in this series. When I thought about those words my immediate vision was of a sweet, in name and deed, romance that starts on the eve of America’s entry into World War Two.
What inspired the characters of Merry and Anthony?
My parents. Like Merry and Anthony, there’s an age gap between them. My father had to ask my mom’s employer if he could ask her on a date. (She had a summer job as a waitress in a resort.) He was very much like the character of Anthony— a city kid, a stellar natural athlete, whether baseball, swimming, horseback riding, ice skating, you name it. He loved to sing and cook, too! Just a happy go lucky guy who always told us when he met our mom for the first time, “I fell like a ton of bricks.”
Always, Almond Fudge
Blurb
On a lengthy car ride to their annual seaside vacation, a mother recounts the true story of a sweet family tradition.
It’s the summer of 1941 in the seaside town of Langford, Rhode Island, and seventeen-year-old Meredith Franklin works as a server at Seymore’s Ice Cream Shoppe. When aspiring baseball player Anthony Fanelli strolls into the ice cream shop, his teasing banter leads to romantic sparks and dreams of forever love.
Their whirlwind courtship comes to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941, when America enters World War Two, forcing the couple to put their future on hold.
Decades later, a treasure trove of wartime letters details the romance of Merry and Anthony and the sacrifices of a generation.
Buy Links Books2Read Universal Buy Link
(click above link for Amazon, Kobo, Apple/IBooks, Barnes & Noble Nook & Google)
Excerpt:
But jeepers, if anything could sidetrack a girl it would be Anthony Fanelli. If anyone could turn a determined woman’s head in the direction of romance it was this handsome fellow who’d smiled big and placed his hand over his heart when he saw her sitting in the stands. Merry had blushed to the roots of her hair, hair that was pinned to the side in deference to the ninety-something degree heat. She’d worn a navy skirt and a simple white polo—Rockets colors. A few of the Langford folk had looked her way at Anthony’s public display but Merry simply smiled and tilted her chin in response. It didn’t matter what stories they might carry back to her parents. Nothing would ever mar the memory of the first time she saw Anthony play.
A little about Charlotte O’Shay
Award winning Author Charlotte O’Shay was born in New York City into big family and then married into another big family.
Negotiating skills honed at the dinner table led her to a career in the law.
After four beautiful children joined the crowded family tree, Charlotte traded her legal career to write about happily ever afters in the City of Dreams.
Charlotte loves to challenge her heroines and heroes with a crisis and watch them figure out who they are while they fall in love.
You can connect with Charlotte here:
WEBSITE // INSTAGRAM // TWITTER// PINTEREST// FACEBOOK PAGE// BOOKBUB
The ONE SCOOP OR TWO series are all novellas by Award Winning and Bestselling Authors of the Wild Rose Press. See a complete list of the books available in the One Scoop or Two series at The Wild Rose Press, here: OSOT
Pssst… more books are planned for 2021!!!
My review of ALWAYS, ALMOND FUDGE is here( Hint: I LOVED IT!) : AAF
Peggy Jaeger, Author 