Drawn together like magnets, they navigate trouble with illegal squatters, family expectations, and fire. Will they finally be honest with each other, or will their secrets tear them apart?
Today, we meet the main character in a new book who hides a lot behind her unassuming job as a massage therapist. Let’s hear from the lead in Mary Pat Johns’ latest.
Jenny: Hi. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Vi: Hi, I’m Vi Summers. I work as a massage therapist at Peeps in Valiant, Texas. I simply love helping others de-stress. Going for walks on my property is my personal way of de-stressing, but there have been problems with squatters, making it dangerous to be out there alone. It’s aggravating, but Rory says he’s working on a solution.
Jenny: Squatters? Well, that’s not your typical construction problem. So, what is happening in your life these days?
Vi: I’m having my childhood home remodeled! It’s been a lifelong dream, but it wasn’t until I came to terms with Daddy’s death that I realized it. It’s an old Victorian, in desperate need of repair and updating, but both Daddy and Rory said it has good bones.
Jenny: So, who has been bringing you the most surprises lately?
Vi: Rory Spence, my contractor. At first, I was very turned off by his flirty personality, but he’s proved the perfect person to help me turn my dream into a reality.
Jenny: What is the biggest challenge you face right now?
Vi: Rory wants more than a working relationship, but I can’t risk more. If he knew my past, he’d crash through concrete to get away.
Jenny: You’ve certainly got me intrigued! Now, just for fun, tell us a little about your favorites:
Vi: Sure. Let’s give it a go!
Food: I want to try Rory’s mashed potatoes. I didn’t get even a taste when he made them on Thanksgiving. I was too busy falling in a hole.
Quote or Scripture: I miss Daddy, but I know he’s with Jesus. So my current favorite is 1 Corinthians 15:54-55. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Sound: I love the sound of the lake water on my property. Always changing, never the same. It’s my comfort zone.
View: My favorite view is the lake on my property. It sustained me during a very difficult time in my life. I want to share the peace and healing it brings with others.
Jenny: Those are some fascinating answers. I can’t wait to read more. Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Vi: I could use some encouragement. I didn’t ask for this handsome redhead to take over my every waking moment, but he has, and it’s more than I can handle. I’m trying to trust the Lord. Sometimes, however, it seems He’s on Rory’s side.
Jenny: It sounds like you are on the right track. You should trust in the Lord. I have a feeling that He is not taking sides. He loves both of you so much!
Note to readers: It’s always fun to talk to a character from a book. Vi sounds like someone it would be fun to know better. Here’s a little more about the author of the Lovin’ on Red, Mary Pat Johns, as well as a little more about the book and how you can get your hands on it.
One last thing: Is there a particular place that brings you peace, the way being near the lake helps Vi? Tell us about it in the comments, and you could win an electronic copy of this great new book.
Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from years of teaching speech and writing. She’s written devotions for an online publication and had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She currently writes a weekly faith column for the local newspaper. Countin’ On Jesse, her first novel debuted in Sept, and book 2 of the Valiant series, Lovin’ On Red, will release in April. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war.
She lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.
Speaking of good books: Here’s a little more about Lovin’ on Red
He has everything … except what he wants most.
Rory is a wildly successful contractor with all the right connections. He has everything, except the woman who sees past his missing foot. If only the tiny redhead he’s insanely attracted to would go on a date with him, it could work, but Vi refuses.
Licensed massage therapist Vi Summers needs her childhood home remodeled, and Rory Spence is the perfect man for the job. Only he’s the last person she wants to work with. Despite Rory’s reputation as a flirt, his tender attention to getting her house right helps Vi see into his heart. Too bad her past mistakes prevent a future relationship.
Here’s how you can buy the book, and connect with Mary Pat.
Lovin’ On Red purchase link: https://scrivenings.link/lovinonred
FB link: https://www.facebook.com/marypatjohnsauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marypatjohnsauthor/
Website: https://www.marypatjohns.com
Don’t forget your comment!
Thanks, Jenny, for letting me, or rather, Vi, appear on your blog.