Summer Blog Hop - Welcome Regina Andrews!

Welcome to my blog, Regina. What is your new book about?

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit. I am delighted to be here. This book is very exciting to me, as it is a re-issue that I am looking forward to having people enjoy.

THE PERFECT PROPOSAL centers on Lindsay Richardson, a quiet elementary school teacher, whose world is turned upside down when she becomes the assistant to Dean Singleton Copley, one of the nation’s most dynamic business leaders in the high-powered corporate world. Lindsay’s father recently died unexpectedly and the school where she was teaching could not allow her time off to take care of her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. Thanks to a chance encounter with one of her father’s friends, businessman Mr. Copley Sr., she is offered a position at his company. When she arrives at work, she discovers she will be working with Dean Jr., the dynamo – not the kindly elder Mr. Copley who knew her father.

This time in her life is a test of her faith, her courage, and her strength. Her questions extend to not knowing what the Lord expects from her regarding her new boss, a dashing bachelor so different from her on the surface. Lindsay begins to see that Dean is scarred from situations in his past. Only faith gives Lindsay the strength to deal with the many challenges of her new position, all her personal crises, and the turmoil in her family life.

Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

Actually I read an article about a situation like this on the Wedding page of our Sunday paper many years ago. The two met at work and lived happily ever after!

I love “happily ever after” stories. What kind of research did you do for this book?

It was crucial to understand Alzheimer’s disease. There were many questions I had to research, and facts I had to verify. Such as, for example, the matter of a patient wandering away from the house, which is a scene in the book, or the phenomenon of “sundowning”, which also occurs. I tried very hard to treat the entire subject of Alzheimer’s disease and its ripple effect with the utmost respect and dignity. Additionally, I had to research a bit about the various social clubs at Brown University, which involved several enjoyable visits to the University’s facilities.

Did you put real experiences from your research in this story?

At one point I served as a member of the Senior Citizens Governing Board in Rhode Island, and much of my experience from this appointed position could be applied to the subject matter of this book.  The “research” in this case was my actual life experience.

Wow! To use your own experiences is fantastic. You love to write Inspirational Romances. What intrigues you most about writing these love stories? 

To me, the most exciting aspect of Inspirational romance is that unlike a traditional romance with two main characters - the hero and the heroine, an Inspirational romance actually has three main characters – the hero, the heroine and God. That dynamic creates a fluid, vibrant paradigm that propels the story along without my having to construct it, because it is not just the hero and heroine’s thoughts or the way they relate to each other that propels the plot along. Rather, it is the hero and heroine’s relationship with God in addition to their relationship to each other directly impacts the storyline. And since it is a romance and we can be assured of a positive outcome, the path towards that evolves very naturally in my stories. It is guided by human foibles, triumphs and actions -- all held within the loving heart of God.

 Thank you so much for having me visit! 

1. 

   Award-winning author Regina Andrews, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, grew up in the seaside village of Barrington, about 20 miles South of Providence. After graduating from Providence College she earned her degree in American Civilization from Brown University. The author of numerous works including romantic fiction, plays, essays and articles, Regina is currently working on The Sterling Lakes Series. Regina is involved in numerous community organizations, and is a radio host for In-Sight, an association for the visually impaired. Her hobbies include travel, museums, theater, reading, chorale singing and gardening. She and her husband share their home with a semi-feral cat named Queen Tiana, whom they rescued from a shelter.

To learn more about this author, visit her website at http://www.reginaandrews.com. You’ll find all her books at this site. Here is the link to THE PERFECT PROPOSAL:

http://www.writers-exchange.com/The-Perfect-Proposal.html

Here are some more links where you can find her books:

Writers Exchange E-Publishing
http://www.writers-exchange.com
* Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Writers.Exchange)
* Amazon
(http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=%22writers+exchange+e-publishing%22),
* Smashwords
(https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=%22writers+exchange+e-publishing%22),
* Barnes & Noble
(http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/-writers-exchange-e-publishing-?store=allproducts&keyword=%22writers+exchange+e-publishing%22)

From Regina's upcoming release, REFLECTIONS of the HEART:

Cascade closed her eyes, willing her mind to imprint the scene on her heart. The mist, the water, the fall foliage, the gazebo...it all created a mosaic that was the picture of her life.

"This is Sterling Lake. This is me. At least, who I used to be."

She opened her eyes and turning the key in the ignition, drove away into the night.

Two hours later, she pulled into the underground parking garage of her condo complex in Boston's trendy Beacon Hill neighborhood. Lively chatter spilled over from the streets outside as she got into the elevator and pushed '10'.

All the way up, images of Sterling Lake swirled in her minds' eye. Bobby Ryan, her first kiss, in the gazebo. Summer band concerts under the stars at the gazebo. The May procession and crowning the statue of the Blessed Mother in the gazebo. Ice skating in the winter, from the gazebo. And most of all, Dan. How had she strayed so far from there?

"It's like Fr. Greene said. I can't run away from who I am."

The elevator doors parted silently and she stepped out.

"Cascade."

She caught her breath. "Dan?"

"I'm here now, Cascade. And I love you forever."

Her eyes searched his face. "After what happened? All that I did?"

"You are amazing, Cascade." His eyes crinkled. "But - human."

Memories of the troubles she had caused swirled through her. "I never meant any harm."

"Amen." His warm arms wrapped her in faith and love.

Follow the links below to read my fellow tourist’s stories. Remember, we all used the same picture and had to limit ourselves to 250 words.

Sue Roebuck at http://worldofgood-gina-blogspot.com
Regina Andrews at http://kayleighmalcolm.blogspot.com/
Kayleigh Malcolm at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=hl
 Ann Tracy Marr at http://susanroebuck.com