SPOTLIGHT: House of Belonging by Andrea Thome @andreathome #hessecreekseries
House of Belonging
(Hesse Creek #3)
by Andrea Thome
Welcome to my Spotlight of House of Belonging!
Continue below to learn about the book and the author. Then keep scrolling to read an interview with Andrea and an excerpt from the book!
Seamlessly blending romance, drama and suspense against the
picturesque backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, author Andrea Thome is releasing
her third novel, “House of Belonging” on June 5, 2018, completing her
award-winning Hesse Creek Series.
“House of Belonging” follows Laina Ming, a chef
opening a new concept restaurant in Aspen, Colorado, as she unexpectedly and reluctantly
falls for handsome local, Logan Matthews. Chemistry between them builds, despite
Laina’s initial hesitation stemming from an upsetting breakup with her ex.
Renowned chef Laina Ming walked away from the culinary
spotlight and an unhealthy relationship—one that still haunts her a year later.
She’s trying to start fresh in the Rocky Mountains, opening a concept
restaurant on the banks of the Roaring Fork River, where she hopes she’ll be
able to express her passion for food and bury her heartache.
Horse rancher Logan Matthews moved to Aspen to be near
his sister and her husband, grateful for his newfound family. Since a chance
meeting with Laina the previous summer, Logan’s been enchanted. But she doesn’t
want anything to do with him—which makes her all the more appealing.
Despite
Laina’s efforts to protect her heart, Logan has been on her mind, too—and he
has a way of turning up in the most unexpected places. Can they learn to
trust one another and finally find the sense of belonging they’ve both been
searching for?
ANDREA
THOME is a former broadcast journalist, having covered both sports and news
during her career. In her novels, she explores some of her favorite travel
destinations, from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to the Colorado
Rockies, painting rich backdrops that become characters themselves. Thome lives
in Chicago with her husband (a retired Hall of Fame baseball player and their
two children. She spends her spare time traveling and pursuing her other
passion—photography. See a sampling of her photography and learn more about her
books at www.andreathome.com. “House of Belonging” follows “Seeds of
Intention” and “Walland” in the award-winning Hesse Creek Series.
INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA THOME
What will
fans of “Walland” and “Seeds of Intention” like about “House of Belonging?”
I’m hopeful that fans who’ve read the first two books will
enjoy revisiting some of their favorite characters, while learning a little bit
more about Logan and Laina, who they’ll get to know in this third book. I’m
excited about how the series as a whole comes together in this story.
What do you
want new readers to know about your books?
I write my books for my friends. Which means I write them mostly
for readers who are looking for an escape and want to spend the precious free
time available to them with compelling characters in beautiful places. And it’s
no secret at this point that I love a happy ending. I’m hoping to balance out
some of the negativity in the world with something that makes people feel good.
Why did you
decide to set your newest book in Aspen, Colorado?
I consider all three of the books in the Hesse Creek Series
to be destination love stories. The locations are as much characters in the
book as the people are. I hope I was able to express my love for the beautiful,
cultured, and still wild town that is Aspen. It remains one of my favorite
places in the world.
One of the
main characters in “House of Belonging,” Laina Ming, is a chef. Are you a
foodie?
I’m not really a huge foodie, but I fancy myself someone who
appreciates art, and in this case, food as art. My husband and I had the
pleasure of experiencing Aspen’s Food and Wine event last summer, and I was
blown away and obviously inspired by what the chefs created. It was fun to
write about the food that Laina creates, and a blast to write my first
“restaurant review.”
You’re the
photographer behind all of your book covers. Where was the image of “House of
Belonging” taken?
The image on the front cover of “House of Belonging” was
actually taken in Tennessee a long time ago. It’s a nod to the genesis of the
series having been set there. I thought it bookended the series nicely, and the
symbolism of the single empty swing juxtaposed perfectly with my characters
finally finding their sense of belonging as a whole.
“House of
Belonging” is the third and final book in the Hesse Creek Series. Is this an
emotional finale for you?
Yes and no. I’ve loved living in the world of Walland for
these three books, but I’m excited to have the freedom to create something new.
That said, the Hesse Creek Series will always hold a very special place in my
heart, no matter how many books I go on to write.
Which
character will you miss writing about the most?
I could never pick just one; I’ve loved them all so
much!
What’s next
for you?
I’m working on a brand new series, set in the
Pacific Northwest. It centers around three brothers, and they are pretty
interesting guys, so far. I can’t wait
to see where this first story leads me!
EXCERPT
Laina turned to
fix herself a vodka and soda, and as she was squeezing a lemon wedge she felt
someone ease up next to her. She knew who it was before she turned to face him.
“You know, you
really should open a restaurant. That
was some dinner you served up tonight.” Logan smiled at her, that same cheeky
look he’d given her during the ceremony. “Just a shame you weren’t out here to
enjoy it with us.”
He reached
around her to grab the bottle of vodka to make himself a drink, brushing up
against her ever so slightly in the process.
The effect was as if someone had run a feather across her bare neck and
shoulders, and Laina involuntarily shivered at the intrusion of her personal
space.
Logan noticed
her stiffen, and he stifled a smile. “Sorry, I just figured I’d need something
a little stronger if I was going to get up the courage to ask you to dance. I
mean, a guy can only handle so much rejection from one person, so go easy on me
if the answer is no.”
He’d added ice
cubes and a splash of Pellegrino to the vodka in his glass while he spoke, and
now he was stirring his drink and trying to gauge her response to his offer
while he did so. This was the closest
he’d been to her in weeks, so he took the opportunity to study her while he
awaited her answer.
Logan felt
that, with her flawless skin and jet-black hair, Laina was the most exotic
woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Her last name spoke of an Asian heritage, but he
knew from a quick Google search that she had Italian roots too. He didn’t think
she looked like she belonged to either ethnicity. No, she was definitely one of
a kind. She studied him curiously with eyes that were somewhere between brown
and green. He couldn’t decide which.
“Here you are.
I knew you’d try to wriggle away when I turned my back.” Van had sidled up next
to Laina, sliding his left arm around her waist protectively. He reached for a
sip of her drink before handing it back to her with a wink.
Laina watched
in amusement as Logan’s face fell just for a moment before he regained his
composure. Van wasn’t
through with him yet. “Who’s this, Laina?” He looked squarely at Logan. “Friend
of the bride or groom?”
Logan steeled
himself with a sip of his drink before extending his right hand in greeting.
“Logan Matthews. I’m a friend to both actually, but I’m also the brother of the
bride. And you are . . . ?”
Logan knew
exactly who this man was. Chef Donovan Laird had been the talk of his dinner
table, at least among the ladies, but Logan wasn’t going to give the man the
pleasure of divulging that awareness. He’d heard his sister and India giggling
about the handsome Scot and pondering whether there was anything going on
between him and their mysterious girlfriend.
Apparently,
there was.
Van just
laughed, extending his own hand to meet Logan’s. “I’m Van. Nice to meet you. Your
sister and brother-in-law are good people.”
Van turned his
attention back to Laina. “Now, you promised me a dance, lass, and a dance we’ll
have.”
He nodded at
Logan, who mumbled something unintelligible as Van ushered Laina out toward the
pulsating mob of revelers. They hit the
dance floor in time for a song that Laina loved, so they jumped right in.
Laina leaned
forward to shout over the music into Van’s ear. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”
She pulled back to watch the grin bloom across Van’s handsome face, and there
was her answer.
He moved closer
to respond. “I predicted that coming a mile away. I’ve seen the way he looks at
you, and I know you’ve been doing your best to get him to bugger off since last
summer. So I thought I’d help drive the point home.”
They laughed
together, enjoying the freedom of cutting loose after such a long and stressful
night of cooking. From all outward appearances, anyone would have thought they
were a couple, thanks to their comfortable way with each other.
Logan was still
watching from the edge of the dance floor, wondering how he’d read her so
wrong. He knew Laina had been doing her best to avoid him, but he also thought
he’d felt chemistry when she’d caught him staring at her during the ceremony.
He hadn’t been
able to help himself.
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