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Behind the Writing of A Carpenter for Catherine

Tell us about the background for the theme, what inspired it or why you wanted to write in this setting, or with play with these tropes?

I became involved with MAP’s (Multiple author projects) from a friend of mine. I signed up to participate in the Mail-Order Papa series as an entry into MAP’s and interestingly enough (after I signed up for a bunch more) this one was planed so far out in advance that it ended up being the most recent ones form me to release. I adore the “surprise you’re a Papa” theme in these clean, sweet romances. This also sparked me to want to write more Mail-Order men, so I started the Mail-Order Husband Series.

Was there something major that happened in your personal life while writing this?

This story is an inside nod to a relationship I had in my life. In a Carpenter for Catherine, Chase is intentionally written as a reserved man with a good heart who is slow to bond with people. Catherine comes to adore the honorable man she knows is under the surface, beneath his fears and insecurities. In their Happily Ever After, Catherine perseveres with kindness and patience with her new husband; and by continuing to do right by his new family, Chase perseveres over his nerves and mental illness.

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Synopsis:

A widowed seamstress with two young children, a carpenter who believes marriage is the answer for his future, and a mail-order marriage that will either solve their problems or set the house ablaze!

Seamstress, Catherine Miller’s happily ever after was stolen from her when she became a widow. With two young children and her job as a seamstress, maintaining her home and small farm is proving to be more than she can manage alone. She makes a difficult decision, based on what she needs—a husband. Though love is all she really wants, can she dare to risk giving her heart away again for a second chance at romance? “I want help…but not at the sacrifice of love.”

Carpenter, Chase Lewis, has almost everything he wants—great friends, a quiet life, and a booming business in the city, but he’s missing one thing. Love. Unfortunately, the love of a good woman is hard to find when crippled by nerves and fear. He comes up with a plan, but can he trust his unusual idea? “I’m ready… I think.”

Will Catherine and Chase work together to build a handmade partnership that’s tailored to both their needs, or will the weight of their situation bring the roof down?

A sweet and clean stand-alone novella in the historical, Mail-order Papa Series.

Read A Carpenter for Catherine today to read a story of love, courage, and compromise!

Note from the author. Chase is intentionally written as a reserved man with a good heart who is slow to bond with people. Catherine comes to adore the honorable man she knows is under the surface, beneath his fears and insecurities.
In their Happily Ever After, Catherine perseveres with kindness and patience with her new husband; and by continuing to do right by his new family, Chase perseveres over his nerves and mental illness.

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