I just realized I’ve failed to share much of The Christmas Vow with you all. How about you meet the main characters today?
Anyone up for that?
First, here’s what the story is about:
He returns home to bury his best friend and his past,
never expecting to fall in love with the woman who destroyed his heart.
Columbia River Pilot Adam Guthry reluctantly returns to his hometown of Hardman, Oregon, to pay his last respects after the sudden death of his life-long best friend. Emotions he can’t contain bubble to the surface the moment he sees the girl who shattered his heart eleven years ago.
Widow Tia Devereux escapes her restrictive life in Portland, returning to the home she knew and loved as a girl in Hardman. She and her four-year-old son, Toby, settle into the small Eastern Oregon community, eager for the holiday season. Unfortunately, the only man she’s ever loved shows up, stirring the embers of a long-dead romance into a blazing flame.
When her former father-in-law, a corrupt judge, decides he wants to raise Toby, Adam may be the only hope she has of keeping her son.
~*~
What do you think? Want to find out more?
From the other books in the Hardman Holiday series, we already knew Arlan Guthry had a brother, Adam, who moved to Portland after their mother passed away.
We also knew he worked as a pilot on the river.
Beyond that, Adam was a bit of a mystery… which gave me plenty of room to work with when I developed his character for this story.
With the assumption he and Arlan would share some characteristics, he had to be tall with dark hair and blue eyes. Since Adam is the older brother, I decided to make him bigger, brawnier, and dimple-cheeked. (Who can resist dimples? Not me, but I digress.)
David Nail looks exactly as I pictured Adam. Tousled hair, boyish appeal…
and dimples. (Swooning!)
Hello, Adam.
He can also come across as wounded or stern. After all, the woman he loved since he was six ripped out his heart and left it in shreds before marrying someone else. Eleven years later, he’s still hurt and angry. Even though he refuses to admit it… he’s still in love with her.
Devin Kelley is a perfect Tia. From those incredible cheekbones to her smile – she is how I envisioned Tia.
Convinced Adam Guthry was never, ever going to ask her to marry him, Tia went to visit her aunt in Portland for a few weeks the summer she turned eighteen. Instead of coming home (as Adam expected her to do), she married an attorney, who leaves her a widow.
Despite the heartbreak, she’s endured, Tia still has a strong sense of humor. And she needs it with her active little boy and his crazy feline.
Meet Toby (Thomas Kapanowski). Isn’t he adorable! I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I had writing his character.
Toby is full of mischief and giggles, with a sweet little spirit that melts his mama’s heart on a regular basis. He’s in love with the pastor’s charming daughter, and has big plans for their future.
And last but certainly not least to the cast of characters is Crabby -Toby’s cat that operates under the misguided notion he is a watch dog.
I couldn’t leave you without a teaser, so here you go…
~*~
Full of eager anticipation, Tia screamed when a weight dropped onto her shoulder and bounced off her lap, using Adam’s head for a springboard before speeding off in a blur of white.
Startled, Adam jumped to his feet, dumping Tia onto the floor as he frantically reached for the pistol he’d left on the other end of the table. Sudden realization that their attacker was only Crabby forced a growl out of his throat. He set the pistol back down and ran a hand through his hair.
“I swear, Tia, I’m going to find that cat and turn it into a pair of fuzzy mittens!” Adam’s chest heaved as he glanced around, frustrated and angry the cat had disturbed their amorous interlude.
Tia sat on the floor, watching the impressive form of Adam’s chest rise and fall as the situation went from frightening to entirely humorous.
The hand she clapped over her mouth did nothing to stifle her giggles…
~*~
The Christmas Vow releases Nov. 12! I can’t wait to share Adam and Tia’s story with you!
For more fun insight into the book, check back tomorrow.
