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Cover Reveal!

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HOAOpinOn the cusp of revealing the cover for Her One and Only, the fourth and final book in my Porter Family series, I’m feeling nostalgic.

I love reading series and I’ve wanted to write a series for a long time.  After I was married and before we had children, I penned romances for the general market.  Way back then, I had dreams of writing a series.  I published the first book in what was to become a series entitled ‘Four Brides for Four Brothers’.  The series name was even branded across the top of the first book.  Alas.  I had a baby.  Because my books were mediocre-to-bad sellers, my publisher at the time didn’t offer me another contract.  Thus, my series turned into ‘One Bride for One Brother Plus Three Brothers As Secondary Characters That Are Clearly Meant to Have Their Own Books But Never Will.’

My writing ended on a sad note.  The series of my imagination never came to be.

Years later, I returned to writing.  This time, Christian fiction.  I still longed to try my hand at a series of romances starring members of the same family.

My publisher, Bethany House, graciously gave me the opportunity.

When I began writing the Porter series, my kids looked like this:

HOAO2

Now they look like this:

HOAO3I’ve “lived” with the Porters through four books that span eight years of time in the characters’ world.  I’m invested in them, their town of Holley, their kids, their friends, their relatives.

They’re my family and I truly hope that those of you who’ve read the books feel the same way about them.

Writing the Porters required a whole lot of this….

HOAO6Along the way, there were some moments that felt like this….

HOAO4And numerous moments that felt like this….

HOAO5But in the end, God was able to ‘bring to completion’ the work that He started.  I’m grateful!  I’m also sad that it’s over.  I’m relieved that it’s over.  I miss my Porter people.  I’m excited to fall in love with the new people whose book I’m currently writing.  Most of all, I’m just so genuinely pleased that I reached the goal that I set out to reach years ago.  God met me and equipped me.  For this mom of three, His power was sufficient.

Here’s the cover of Dru Porter’s book….

 

HOAO, 1

Here’s a sneak peek at the story line:

Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker.  His team hires executive protection agent Dru Porter as Gray’s bodyguard.  When Gray meets Dru, he’s indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him?

But Dru’s a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She’s also ferociously determined both to uncover the identity of Gray’s stalker and to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

The closer the clues draw them to Gray’s stalker, the more the danger rises.  The more Gray begins to thaw the heart of the dark-haired beauty.  And the more his own fear of trusting Dru is worn away.

Will Dru be able to protect her objectivity? And when the times comes, Gray’s life?

 

Her One and Only releases May 3rd, but a reader let me know recently that it’s already available for pre-order at some of the online bookstores.  So for those of you who like to plan way in advance:  ChristianBook is offering the paperback for a pre-order price of just $8.99! It’s also at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

What do you think of the cover, everyone?  What aspects of a series of connected novels most appeal to you?

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Becky Wade

Author at Bethany House
Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. She absolutely loves writing funny, heartwarming, and inspirational contemporary Christian romance.
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Comments

  1. Can’t wait to read Dru’s story! The cover looks great and she looks very much like I imagined her in my head!

    • It’s good to hear that the Dru on the cover looks like you imagined she did, Christy! The model is slim with the perfect shade of dark dark dark brown hair — just like Dru. 🙂

  2. The cover looks awesome and I am so excited for this book. This has been one of my absolute favorite series. I am crazy sad for this series to end. I have a total book crush on Bo and Ty and can’t wait to read Dru and Gray’s story. During a series, I love when the same town has a role and when the past main characters play a part in each book as well. You’re an amazing writer Becky!

    • Thank you so much, Shannon! As I’m sure you could tell, I have a book crush on the Porter brothers, too. 😉 And like you, I love revisiting the same place and the characters from prior books. It’s comforting! Over the course of the series, I believe those aspects give the books roots and a sense of richness.

  4. I love the pictures showing your ‘Journey’ while writing these books. I think the cover is wonderful and can’t wait to read it. My favorite part of connected series is the ‘checking in’ to see what the previous characters are up to. There is a different feel to the story if they are just friends or connected through a common thread, as opposed to family. I think it’s much easier to wrap yourself up in the family environment. And don’t torture your readers by dragging the series out to 25 books… 😒 For me, 3-6 books is plenty and then introduce me to another family to fall in love with.

    • “There is a different feel to the story if they are just friends or connected through a common thread, as opposed to family.” I agree, June! I’ve definitely enjoyed series about friends. But I love to read series about families the best.

  5. Aw, it fits so well with my imagination of her! Especially the more primary colors – the red and navy seems much more Dru than the pretty pink and purple and aqua for the others.

    Does the couple on this cover have a story too?

    • What a good point, Rachael! These colors ARE bettered suited to Dru’s personality than the more girly colors on the prior books. This cover couple’s story: Like the couple on the front of Undeniably Yours, these two are married and are friends of one of my editors (Raela Schoenherr). Thank goodness Raela has friends who are both adorable and such good sports that they’re open to posing for a book cover even though they’re not pro models!

  6. As readers, it is always bittersweet to see a great series come to an end as well. I always feel like the families have become my best friends and sometimes wonder what they are up to these days.

    I love the cover of this one, and can’t wait to get it on my reading list!

    • “I always feel like the families have become my best friends and sometimes wonder what they are up to these days.” Yes! That sums up how I’ve felt about my favorite series over the years.

  7. I love this cover! I have loved the Porter series, and thank you for enduring and persisting in writing, you are one of my favourite authors, and I have a confidence in purchasing a book of yours, knowing that it will be fully enjoyed…. Can’t wait for Dru’s story!!

  8. I have loved this series; the new cover is beautiful! The great thing about series for me is that I typically go back and read them all over again (I have already done that with the three books to date) from time to time. It’s really nice to have all of them at once and be able to observe details that tie the stories together that may have been missed reading them a year apart. Bravo on some great stories!

    • “It’s really nice to have all of them at once and be able to observe details that tie the stories together that may have been missed reading them a year apart.” Right! It’s certainly true that as readers we’re able to pick up on threads and details much better when we read the books one after the other, instead of one per year. I had the ideas for all four books in my head when I started writing the first one. So, for instance, I introduced Silver Leaf in book 1 in anticipation of book 3, made the whole family Cowboys fans in anticipation of Dru’s book, brought in Amber in book 1 with the plan of bringing her back in book 3, etc.

  9. Yay! I’ve been anxiously waiting for Dru’s story since we first met her in the first book. I have a feeling her story will be my favorite! Countdown to May begins now.

    • Thanks, Brittaney! I have to say I had a GREAT time writing Dru’s character. It was a great deal of fun to live in the (often high-heeled) shoes of someone so brave, blunt, feisty, and good with a gun. 😉

  10. I am so excited! I agree with what someone else said…reading what the other characters have been up to. It’s like a family reunion. I love the Porter gang….especially Ty. I look forward to getting to know Dru better. Definitely bittersweet!

  11. Love the cover! Connected novels gives me a whole story of the family or town. Having many connected elements create this bond, like I’m part of it, knowing them, feeling their journey. It’s great. And I love the photos of your family!

    • You’ve articulated my highest hope for my series: that readers would FEEL a part of it. That’s what I treasure about series as a reader. That sense of investment and ownership.

  12. Love the cover!It fits my imagining of Dru! I cannot wait to read her story, it sounds awesome! I think I love connected series because you get more of the character’s lives than just their book! Family series are my absolute favorite so I was ecstatic when I found out about this series! Thanks for sticking through the ups and downs to bring us readers this awesome series!

    • You’re welcome, Abbi! I think we all enjoy getting a glimpse into the happily ever afters of the couples that we got to know in the early books in a series. My Stubborn Heart, my first book for the Christian market, was a stand-alone novel. Not part of a series. One of the most frequent questions I receive from readers about that story is, “Are you going to write more about Matt and Kate?”

  14. It’s gorgeous!!! I can finally picture her, she’s everything I had imagined. Now to wait as priestly as I can for release day!

  15. Love the cover, Becky! A perfect complement to the rest of the Porter family books. I’ll be very sad to say goodbye to them. You’ve done a great job at making the reader care for the Porters. Even my husband can’t wait for your next book. 🙂

    What I love about connected books is that, when the series is well-written, the characters become alive to the reader and you feel you know them like friends. The hard part comes when the series ends and you have to say goodbye.

    • Absolutely! I adore books best when the characters ‘come alive’ for me and I no longer feel that I’m reading about them. Instead, I’m living their story out WITH them. Thanks for everything, Brenda. And kudos to your husband for reading romance!

  18. I didn’t even know there was going to be a cover reveal until I checked my email and just about jumped out of my bed in excitement!!! It’s gorgeous, Becky!!! <3 <3 <3 I can't wait!!

  19. I really love this cover. I can’t wait to read Dru’s story, and I think it is a good way to end your series. Though I will definitely miss my Porter friends.
    Can’t wait!!
    Becky

  21. Dru looks very much like I pictured her while reading the other books in the Porter series. The Porter family books are some of my all-time favorites! (I loved “My Stubborn Heart”, too!) My favorite part about a series is knowing that after I finish one book, I have another to look forward to that I will most likely enjoy just as much.

    • Thanks for reading my Porter books, Elizabeth! I loved this, “My favorite part about a series is knowing that after I finish one book, I have another to look forward to that I will most likely enjoy just as much.” Very true! The ability to look forward to something is half the fun. Anticipating opening birthday and Christmas gifts has always been my favorite part.

  24. Wish I had time to comment on the great cover and your description your own “relationship” and journey with the Porters, but I have to go pre-order the book now!!! So glad you came back to writing, Becky.

  25. Congrats! I love this one, Becky and that the designer stuck with a theme for this series; your covers are always so cheery and romantic. Cannot wait to read Dru’s story and eventually, learn more about your new project. All the best.

  26. Yay! Can’t wait, Becky! I know how you feel about the Porters because that’s how I feel about the O’Learys! I’m in the home stretch of the last O’Leary book and it’s a little sad! But fun, too!
    Blessings on your writing!
    Sue

  27. I love the cover and I also love the Porter family. I am so excited for Dru’s story and to hopefully get an update on the rest of the family as well. This is definitely I will read again and again.

    • Thanks, Lisa! Yes — you’ll get an update on the entire family in Dru’s book. Every prior character will make an appearance. And one or two of the prior characters might even get an entire secondary storyline….

  28. Great cover! I like series like this one because I don’t have to “get acquainted” with all the characters. And if it occurs in the same town, typically there are other aspects that are already familiar. I have really enjoyed reading about the Porter family and look forward to this book.

    • Thanks, Edward! You’re right. The familiarity of a series — both with the family members and the setting — is something to appreciate, isn’t it? Each book should be like coming home. Or a comfy robe. Or a favorite dessert…… 🙂

  29. I LOVE it!! What a great cover to bookend this amazing series! Becky, you write at the top of the game for contemp romance! I always love your beautifully crafted stories and I’m so glad we have another to look forward too 🙂

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