Please join me in welcoming Sherry Kyle to the blog this week. She’s here to share how her new release, Road to Harmony, came to be. First, here’s a glimpse into what the book is about.

It’s 1907 and a cattle thief is loose in Harmony Valley. Elena Seifert wants to help her father guard his dairy farm, but everyone thinks that’s a man’s job. When her childhood sweetheart returns to Harmony, her heart is torn between Jonas Bollinger, her secret love, and Lars Rissler, the wealthy middle-aged store owner her parents hope she marries.

Jonas never imagined he’d be back in Harmony Valley, but his pa isn’t well. When Jonas makes a promise he wishes he didn’t have to keep, he is torn between loyalty to his family and the woman he has loved since he was a boy.

While a dispute among dairy farmers stirs up discord in the Valley, the thief continues to strike. Is a truce possible so everyone can live in harmony? And will Elena and Jonas find the inner peace to choose love and still do what is best for their families?

Sounds like a fun read, Sherry. What inspired you to write it?

I enjoy setting my stories in real places along the California coast, and when I discovered the story behind this small town, I knew I had to write a historical romance about it. Yes, Road to Harmony is based loosely on actual events. In 1907, rivalries and feuding among dairy farmers caused chaos in the valley. After one shooting death, a truce was called. From then on, all agreed to live in harmony, and named the town Harmony as a symbol of their truce.

During the time I was writing the first draft, a writing friend and I visited Harmony Valley and the nearby coastal town of Cayucos where Lars Rissler, the shopkeeper, owns his store. It was fun stepping into the pages of my manuscript and imagining my characters in that setting.  I could picture Elena and Jonas living and working their families’ dairy farms among the hills of Harmony Valley as they struggled to find inner peace.

You can still visit Harmony today! The old-time creamery and historic structures have been repurposed to house a glassblowing studio, blacksmith’s gallery, garden shop, pottery store, music studio, and the Harmony Café. If you enjoy a glass of wine, Harmony Cellars Winery produces award-winning wines and offers a remarkable view of the coastal countryside.

I love to connect with my readers!

You can find me here: www.sherrykyle.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Sherry Kyle is the award-winning author of books for tween girls, including The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style and Love, Lexi: Letters to God. She also writes novels for women set along the coast of California where she makes her home with her college sweetheart and their four children. When she isn’t writing or hanging out with her family, Sherry spends her time reading, having coffee with friends, and decorating her beach home.

Thanks for visiting with us, Sherry, and taking us to a very charming sounding town.

Sherry is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky winner. Follow the instructions below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for joining us, Sherry! It’s been great to have you.