Please join me in welcoming Shannon Due Dunlap to the blog today to talk about her new contemporary romance, Lone Star Sweetheart! Y’all, this book is SO CUTE!! I had the privilege of reading an early copy of it, and you can see my review below:
LONE STAR SWEETHEART by Shannon Sue Dunlap
SERIES: Sweetheart Series #1
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Scrivenings Press
RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2023
PAGES: 251
affiliate links used
gracious words
by Shannon Sue Dunlap, author of Lone Star Sweetheart
For years, writing was my secret. Something I did in my own safe space. The world around me thought I was a music teacher, and I didn’t entrust my author dreams to many. But after I received my first publishing contract and was accepted by a literary agency, I opened up.
Maybe I felt legitimate. Like I’d earned the author stamp of approval. I talked about my books. My excitement. My works-in-progress.
I started to expand my dreams. Plans for a new project generated an excited fervor in me. One day, I shared my idea with a friend.
And they cracked a joke.
It wasn’t mean-spirited. I imagine they saw an opportunity for a funny punchline and grabbed it. But they also stole some of the joy from my day. It took years for me to hold out my writing aspirations for all to see. And a few ill-timed words pricked my heart.
The irony of the situation struck me. I’ve also been known to be a tad…blunt. I wondered how many times I’d done the same thing to others. Sacrificed their self-esteem for a witty quip.
Have you ever said something you wished you hadn’t?
Just me?
My heroine in Lone Star Sweetheart could relate because Katherine suffers from a terrible condition – Big Mouth Disease. Here’s an excerpt showing her struggle:
“Gracious words,” she muttered under her breath. “Remember. Gracious words, girl.”
Easier said than done. She’d been a straight shooter all her life. Ready to tell it like it was. Until an unexpected conviction hit her one morning when she was reading the book of Proverbs. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Had her words ever brought healing to anyone? Doubtful. She wanted to be a honeycomb, but her blunt speech was more akin to apple cider vinegar.
Long after I’d written this passage, something occurred to me. Were the gracious words Proverbs referred to only sweet to the person who hears them? What if there’s a double meaning in this ancient bit of wisdom. I imagine we’ve all lambasted ourselves about a time when we spoke up and wounded someone.
The guilt quickly follows and lingers like a bad cold. But if we coat our words in honeyed graciousness, we ensure our own peace of mind along with the listener’s.
Sounds good to me.
I want my words to bring healing not hurt. To slide down smooth like honey not burn like acid. It’s difficult to be gracious. Like my heroine, Katherine, I expect I’ll mess up more than once. But the important thing is to keep trying until my speech is so sweet that even the bees buzz around me.
Shannon Sue Dunlap writes books with a dose of laughter and a spoonful of love. One of the greatest compliments you can give her is saying her stories made you laugh-out-loud. She likes Dr. Pepper, singing tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, and Jesus. Her latest novel Lone Star Sweetheart is available at her Amazon affiliate link, and you can check out her new traveling blog at www.travelhacksandsnacks.com.
Sign up for Shannon’s mailing list at shannonsuedunlap.com to receive a free, sweet romance novella.
Shannon Sue Dunlap is offering a print copy of Lone Star Sweetheart and a $10 Amazon gift card to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap?
This looks.like a good book
I love to read romance books.
me too 🙂
Seems like a cute read, I look forward to reading it!
The cover pulls me in
it is cute!
New author for me.
I love the title & the cover!
I love a character without a filter. Nice cover.
she’s a lot of fun 🙂
I loved this interview and look forward to reading the book!
yay! It’s such a cute book 🙂
It sounds amazing
it is so good!
Sounds like a good story.
yes!!
This sounds like a cute book with a fun cover.
it really is!
Looks like a fun book!
it’s so much fun!
I want to read LONE STAR SWEETHEART by Shannon Sue Dunlap because I like the Lone Star State!
yay!!
Delightful and captivating.
sounds like a good book.
it is!
Great post. It sounds like a sweet story too.
yes!!
Opposites attract story? It’s interesting but seldom true in the real world.
oh i don’t know – my parents were very opposite and they remained deeply in love until my dad’s death in 2021 <3
This looks like a fun romance, I would love to check it out.
i hope you do – it’s lots of fun!
Such a cute cover! 🙂 I’d love to read this book.
the story inside is even cuter 🙂
I would love to read this Inspirational Contemporary Romance as they are one of my favorite genres. This one has a cute cover.
yay!
Sounds really great
it is!!
well the cover is eye grabbing and two the blurb sucks me in big time!
yay!
My parents were opposites and were married 72 years. Thank you for sharing.
aww i love that, Lucy!
It looks like a fun book. I like the faith element.
lots of fun & the faith element is spot on.
It sounds very good
it is!! Lots of fun, too 🙂
Sounds good.
it is!
Always in the market for a ‘new-to-me’ author.
this one is lots of fun!
Sounds interesting! Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway1
such a cute story!
not often you hear someone described as having a passionate, unfiltered temper known as a shrew and yet a Christian. Sounds like she might need as much work as the man who doesn’t currently believe in God.
I would love to read this book as it sounds like a sweet romance read. I like the cover.
it’s a super cute story!
Sounds like a fun one!
it is!
Congrats on the book. Very cute cover.
I need a fun summer read. I liked the excerpt!
yay!!
This sounds like a good book
it is!
I look forward to reading a new author. Book sounds like a good read.
it is!
Well, it sounds like a good read.
it is!
It sounds interesting.
it’s a lot of fun 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love contemporary romance novels and this one sounds interesting.
it is really fun!
looks like a fun one
It sounds like a fun read!
it is!!
The book seems like an interesting read.
it is super cute!
Sounds fun
it really is!
I love romance books but politics not so much.
it doesn’t really delve into politics 🙂
It’s always fun to discover a new author! This sounds like a fun contemporary romance.
it is!
It sounds cute!
it really is!
I want to read this book because the blurb is intriguing.
yay!
It sounds like a cute book but actually goes deeper!
yes! exactly
The book’s setting in Texas could offer a charming backdrop, and the promise of a heartfelt romance between the main characters might engage readers who enjoy emotional and tender love stories.
I enjoy a good love story.
I need to read this!
It seems to be a sweet read.
The Inspirational Contemporary Romance, Lone Star Sweetheart, sounds like a fun book to read. I enjoy this genre.
It sounds like something I would really enjoy reading.
Since I live in AR, I like anything from the south. Thank you
Sounds like a cute book!