ISLAND CHRISTMAS - Kimberly Rose Johnson - One Free Book

Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson writes sweet inspirational romance. She married her college sweetheart 25 years ago. Her hobbies include reading, watching chick flicks, playing the piano, long walks with her hubby and their yellow lab, drinking coffee, and eating way too much dark chocolate. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science and is a member of ACFW.

Island Christmas

Mountain Brook Ink

October 30, 2015

Should Rachel take a risk, or play it safe and possibly lose the man who could help fulfill her dreams? 

Welcome back, Kimberly. How would you classify the genre of your novel?

I have always thought of my writing as contemporary romance, but it actually sells better in the women’s Christian fiction genre. I’m not sure why, but it may have something to do with my covers. I’ve learned since expressing my vision for the covers to my publishers that romance readers like to see people on the covers and the first three books in this series do not have people. I’m hoping the next book will. J

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--As a kid I wanted to be a secret agent when I grew up.

--When I first started writing I wrote romantic suspense, but never sold any of those manuscripts. I switched genres to contemporary romance and sold the first one I wrote.

--I changed my major three times in college. I started as an elementary Ed major, switched to piano performance, and ultimately ended up with a degree in Behavior Science with a minor in music.

I changed my major three times in college, too. I started as an English major, then changes to speech, and finally went with Drama. Please tell us a bit more about the plot of your novel.

Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son, but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island. She is grateful when new friend Chris Campbell offers support as she faces obstacles with her new job and new life. She cares for Chris but must decide if she is willing to risk her heart to a man with an uncertain future.

A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris Campbell comes to Wildflower Island hoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B and B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs. 

What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her/him.

Rachel is a courageous young widowed mother who has worked hard to get where she is, but life keeps knocking her down.

All the men in Chris’s family have died young from heart attacks. Chris believes this could be his fate as well and has worked hard to stay heart healthy, but when it’s not enough he moves to Wildflower Island for a slower pace. While there he meets Rachel and her young son and suddenly he’s not content to accept his family history.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Chris would be played by Bradley Cooper and Rachel would be played by Alexis Bledel—I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and would be honored to have her play the part. J

What is something in your writing-industry experience that made you laugh or at least smile?

Several years ago at one of the summer Oregon Christian Writer’s Conferences Liz Curtis Higgs was the keynote speaker. My goodness she is funny. I think I was crying at times from laughing so hard.

I love to listen to Liz Curtis Higgs. She was one of my first online writer friends, way back in the early days of the public Internet. What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? Why do you recommend it?

I just finished reading My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. At first I wasn’t sure I would like it because it has two stories within the storyline, one takes place in present day the other several hundred years ago. Then I realized how important one story was to the other and how you wouldn’t have the present day story without the historical one. It was exceptionally well written and a page-turner. It’s also part of a series so there is a continuing mystery thread.

I also really liked Kept by Sally Bradley. This book is unlike most books Christian books I’ve read. It’s one of those stories you need to read to understand what I’m saying, but I couldn’t put it down.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently writing Island Hope the fourth book in the Wildflower B and B Romance Series. This book will release in April 2016. The release spread between books is farther on this one. I hope readers will subscribe to my newsletter so I can let them know when it releases. It’s easy to subscribe from my website at kimberlyrjohnson.com.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website J kimberlyrjohnson.com

I am a contributing blogger at http://www.inspyromance.com/

All my books are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Kimberly+Rose+Johnson

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Since this is a Christmas book, what is your favorite Christmas memory?

I’ll share mine. When I was a kid my family drove to California to spend Christmas with my Grandma. We were still traveling Christmas morning and had stopped at a rest stop. In those days, seatbelts weren’t required, and my sister and I sat in the back of our Datsun pickup on beanbags. There was a boot that connected the back to the cab. Anyway, my parents stopped to give us our Christmas stockings and handed them to us through the boot. She opened our gifts in full view of anyone who cared to watch through our windshield. I’ll never forget this one woman who stood there the entire time with a big smile just watching my sister and I enjoy our Christmas morning stocking at the rest stop. J

Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this new book with us. I enjoyed reading the first two in the series, and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of this one. I know my readers will be eager to read this one as well.

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