Guest Post: Frances Hoelsema Gets Mushy

Hey all! Brad here. I recently asked bloggers to help me out promoting my latest release, my non-fiction book on discipleship, and I assured them that I would be happy to return the favor when the time came. It's the decent thing to do, after all. Well, Frances Hoelsema was one of the authors who stepped up to help. She writes romance and asked for the chance to spotlight her Neighbors series on my blog. I was happy to oblige. Her post is below. If these books appeal, why not check them out?

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Are you the kind of person that enjoys a clean, easy-to-read, feel-good, great-ending love story? If so, Frances Hoelsema has the books for you!

GROWING UP NEIGHBORS:
Genre: General Fiction/Young Adult/Sweet Romance

In November 2014, Frances's debut novel, Growing Up Neighbors, was published, and since then has gained great reviews. From "brilliant" to "believable" and all the good in between, Growing Up Neighbors is a book that is sure to please. This is the first in what she calls her Neighbors series, a series of three standalone novels that revolve around a romance amongst neighbors.

Blurb: Little Deborah Harrington stared across the street the day the Michaels family moved in. Who was this family? Would she even like them? Nicholas Michaels hated the fact he had to move away from everything and everyone in his life, but his feelings change when he meets the Harringtons. Deborah and Nicholas become the best of friends, and as the children grow up, their friendship deepens. But when tragedy strikes, will this cause them to part ways? Or will it perhaps make them realize they may have stronger feelings for one another before it's too late?

Excerpt:

When Deborah made sure she was alone with Nicholas, she started to talk to him.

“Hey, Nick. It’s me, Debbie," Deborah said, reaching for his hand as she sat down next to him.

"I came by yesterday to see you, but didn't get to stay long. I'm hoping today I’ll do better.”

She spent a few moments in silence with him, just being with him and watching all his vital signs. It had in fact appeared that there was no change, but Deborah remained optimistic.

Nicholas’ weak and lifeless frame still seemed strange to her. She had no idea how to handle someone who was in a coma or what to say to them. So she just figured she’d talk to him like any other time they talked.

“Your mom’s a mess, you know. I saw her today so that I could get some things to bring to you and you could see how worried and sad she is. She wants you to pull through this. We all want you to pull through this. I’m sure she’s been here to see you. At least I hope so. Has anyone else visited you?”

Duh, he can’t answer that, Deborah thought, feeling stupid for even asking.

Good thing no one else is here to hear me talk to myself.

After sitting in silence for a while, Deborah decided to give talking to Nicholas another go.

“So I have no idea what to say to you because you’re in a coma. Maybe I should just pretend you’re sleeping. Then again, I don’t talk to sleeping people either,” Deborah slightly chuckled.

“I can’t wait for you to wake up so I can talk to you about everything that’s happened lately. I want to tell you about my graduation and plans for the future. Or at least I thought I had plans. I’m not sure I’ll stick to them if you’re not well.”

Deborah sat still for a moment, thinking about what she had hoped to do in the next couple of months. Before Nicholas’ accident she was extremely excited and sure she knew what she wanted to do. She even had everything set in stone and picked out. All she had to do was wait a while longer for it all to unfold.

However, now that one of her closest friends was lying in a coma for who knows how long, she didn’t really care if she went through with any of it.

Hopeless romantics of all ages have enjoyed this book, as will you! Growing Up Neighbors is available in print and on kindle, all through Amazon. Just go to www.amzn.com/B00PJGYW40 and select the formatting of your choice. As always, Growing Up Neighbors is #FREE on Kindle Unlimited! Can't beat that :)



NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS:
Genre: Contemporary Romance

March of 2016 marked the release of Frances's second book, Next Door Neighbors. This is book two in her Neighbors series. Although a new release, there has been great response to it, with one review stating they "loved it" and were "glad it ended the way it did".

Blurb: Elena Montgomery, an elderly victim of fibromyalgia, has two main loves in her life: Brian, her attractive and hard-working son; and Jill Stevens, her caring friend and next door neighbor. When Brian and Jill meet for the first time, they have a chemistry that no one can deny. Although Jill finds herself wanting to get closer to Brian, she believes she can’t. Being hurt in the past, she vows to remain single the rest of her life, thinking it’s better not to love than to love and get burned. Brian, on the other hand, wants to get to the bottom of her fears and show her that not all men are the same. He is determined to win her trust, her heart and her hand in marriage. Through pain, passion and pursuit, will Brian be able to prove to Jill what true love is all about?

Excerpt:

For the few brief seconds that they gazed into one another’s eyes, Brian’s urge to kiss Jill grew intensely. If there was ever going to be a moment to display his affection, this was it. Brian slowly, eagerly leaned over to just inches before Jill’s lips, stopping just shy of delivering their first kiss. Excited she didn’t move away, he reached his destination, brushing his lips with hers.

Their kiss started off gently, softly. It was tender and sweet. The longer it lasted, though, the more Jill had melted into it, and the deeper and more passionate it became.

She needed him.

He needed her.

But a moment later Jill froze. The heat between them instantly turned to ice as she abruptly pulled away from what the two of them were enjoying just seconds ago.

Puzzled, Brian asked, “Is everything all right?”

She couldn’t do it. As much as Jill admitted to wanting Brian and as great as their kiss was, traveling down that road again was too big a risk. And with him leaving soon, she didn’t want to start something she could never finish. Shaking her head, she said, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I can’t allow myself to get involved with you or any other man again.”

Providing no other explanation, she completely freed herself from Brian’s hold and ran out of the room.

Brian followed swiftly while shouting, “But I’m not like…”

With the slam of a door, Jill was gone.

Next Door Neighbors is also available in print and on the kindle. Please visit www.amzn.com/B01D8XZJ1U if you would like to purchase. And, like Growing Up Neighbors, this novel is also #FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Frances Hoelsema is a wife and mother residing in Michigan where she gets to enjoy all four seasons, autumn being her favorite. After earning a degree in business and transcription, she now gets the best of both worlds by working from home as a real-time writing manager for an international transcription firm.

In her spare time, Frances thoroughly enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, shopping and loving on her cats. She is also an avid reader and writer that loves to engage with others through social media.

Some concepts that Frances stands for are positive parenting, homeschooling, clean eating and pursuing a relationship with Christ instead of pursuing religion. She also believes in never giving up; that everyone should keep pursuing their dreams.

Frances loves to imagine a good story and write it to life so she’s always busy working on her next novel. If you would like to find out the latest news from her, please visit her blog at: www.franceshoelsema.wordpress.com.

You may also connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/frances.hoelsema.author or on Twitter: @FrancesHoelsema.