Welcome back to Bridgeview!This is the first time we’ve visited in the Christmas season, although a couple of previous titles in the series waltzed through winter with a brief mention of it! This is also the first time I’ve written a romance featuring a 50-something couple.
What food is more symbolic of the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season than cranberries? Pumpkins and apples belong to earlier autumn when leaves are falling. But then cranberries kick in, along with ginger and peppermint. In keeping with the titling traditions of the Urban Farm Fresh Romance series, cranberries seemed the word to focus on.
And so the story’s heroine, Winnie Santoro, became the daughter of cranberry farmers on Washington’s Pacific coast and a lover of everything cranberry, which brought a certain cadence to the story.
Yes, I get that sometimes my titles are a bit of a stretch, but I think this one works. You’ll see when you read it.
Winnie was widowed in the fifth book in the series, Glimpses of Gossamer. #spoileralert At the time of Al’s death, their kids were ages 23-11, and two years later, she still has the youngest three living at home. The oldest, Dominic, is in his final year of med school and set to propose to his lovely girlfriend, Katri Jalonen.
Katri’s parents have been divorced for twelve years, and her dad has recently moved to Spokane to buy and operate a coffee roastery (there’s the other piece of local food in this story besides cranberries). Dominic and Katri ask Winnie to invite Katri’s dad for Thanksgiving dinner… and the rest is history, although, of course, there are many ups and downs along the way.
About Cadence of Cranberries
Winnie Santoro misses moments with her late husband, especially now that her older kids are dating. When her son asks her to invite his girlfriend’s dad for Thanksgiving dinner, she agrees, but is surprised to find the kind, handsome owner of her favorite coffee truck on her doorstep.
Charlie Jalonen retired early and bought a coffee roastery in Spokane. His marriage has been over for years, and he’s finally finding a place in his daughter’s life. But when her boyfriend proposes at a joint family Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie is thrust into a flurry of wedding bells, flowers, and music alongside a charming widow with vastly different ideas.
As Thanksgiving gives way to Christmas, Winnie and Charlie find they have more in common than their engaged kids. Could the cadence of cranberries be crooning a love song for them, too?
Cadence of Cranberries is currently available only on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited for the foreseeable future. It is also available as a paperback anywhere you shop for books online.
Enjoy the Pinterest board for this series here.
Psst: If you want to see what’s next in the pipeline and how far along I am on the next project, keep an eye on the Coming Soon page!
Love(d) Cadence of Cranberries! Read it in a day. So sweet. Yeah for second chances. And the power of prayer & focusing on Jesus, no matter what. And by the time stamp above, it took me about 8 hours to savor & finish it. As always, well-written. Humorous (“rail-hugging newbies” & the grumpy teen”was morally opposed to having fun” & little kiddies) Preordered the next installment, too.
I’m so glad I discovered Valerie Comer (Raspberries & Vinegar) early in 2016. Since, I’ve read (and listened to) over 30 of her books, and I’ve never yet been disappointed.