Jennifer Slattery has been a guest on The Story behind the Story before, and we’re so thrilled to welcome her back. She has a new book out, Building a Family. Before we dive into the inspiration for the story, let’s find out a little more about it.

Can love for two little matchmakers unite their reluctant hearts?

Worried that Noah Williams is still the reckless bull rider she remembers, Kayla Fisher is convinced he isn’t the right person to care for their orphaned niece and nephew. Now she’s back home, determined to fight for custody. But Noah is a changed man, and he intends to prove it. When Noah and Kayla start falling for each other, could raising the children together be the perfect solution?

This sounds so good. What led you to write it?

About five years ago, my husband and I took in a teenaged foster child and attending foster-parenting classes. We felt an almost instant connection to many of the others in the class, but one woman in particular especially. She was adorable, always smiling, and had incredible insight not printed in our thick binder—in part because she’d once been a foster child herself.

She was fostering her nephews—her sister’s sons. And I couldn’t imagine what that must’ve felt like, the inner turmoil she must’ve felt. I don’t know if she was close to her sister, a drug addict, but regardless, it had to tear her up to see a family member completely destroy herself. But I’m certain she felt angry, too, and confused. This may be a sign of my age, but she seemed very young to me. Yet, she was Instantly thrust into motherhood and wanted to do right by those kids.

Man, did she love them. Her face lit up when she spoke about them, and, laughing, she shared numerous hilarious stories. Of things the boys had said or done or all the ways they snuggled close to her when sleepy. I thought of her situation, and those boys, long after the class ended. Of the joy they brought her, of the joy children bring in general. The adorable way they mispronounce words, how easily they’re amused—and distracted. 

Building a Family’s heroine took form before the story’s premise did. Kayla’s a successful, small-but-growing business owner who, prior to the story’s opening, hadn’t even seriously thought about marriage, let alone motherhood. But then, she learns her sister abandoned her baby niece and toddler nephew. Worse, they’ve been temporarily placed with her sister’s ex-boyfriend’s older brother, a man she remembered well from her high school days as a partier and former bull-rider. In fact, she blames him for his younger brother and her sister’s self-destruction.

He does as well. He can’t deny his brother followed in his footsteps. The fact that hero Noah Williams turned his life around and now dedicates much of his time to helping alcoholics and addicts turn their lives around doesn’t appease his guilt. He may not be able to save his brother—especially since he doesn’t even know where he is. But Noah can give his niece and nephew a good life.

So long as Kayla, their aunt, doesn’t try to snatch them from him and take them back with her to northern Washington. He worries, if she does that, with how deeply he loves those kids, he fears his heart might shatter. 

He’s equally worried what might happen to his heart if she sticks around for long.     

You can buy the book here.

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and national speaker who has addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. She hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast (https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/) and maintains devotional blogs found JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/)and on Crosswalk (https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/jennifer-slattery). As the founder of Wholly Love Ministries (http://whollyloved.com/) she and her team partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. Connect with her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/). When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Contact her through her website to book her for your next women’s event.

Jennifer is giving away a copy of the book. Follow the instructions below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much, Jennifer, for joining us!