About the Book

Book: Beneath A Star-Lit Sky

Author: JL Crosswhite

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Release date: February 21, 2022

Small town girl looking to mend her broken heart…

…Small town boy needing to repair his reputation.

Who knew those simple goals could unearth life-threatening danger?

Holcomb Springs has a wild past, and the wilderness outside its borders hides a treacherous present.

Teacher Ella Sommer is ready to forget about her broken engagement and escape from running into her ex. An overnight hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail offers what she needs to clear her head and breathe out under the stars.

Ex-military Reese Vega left Holcomb Springs with a bad boy rep, but has returned wiser, longing for a fresh start in his hometown. His hiking tour business offers that opportunity, especially when he can get into the great outdoors and let his past evaporate into the mountain air.

When Reese and Ella are thrown together on the overnighter, what starts as a simple trek ends up being filled with danger when they stumble across something they weren’t supposed to see.

Can they put aside their history and use their wits to get out of this situation?

Or will it be too late?

You’ll love Beneath a Star-Lit Sky because while the wilderness can’t be tamed, the human heart can.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

JL’s favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She’s a mom to two, navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she’s thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!

More from JL Crosswhite

What does writing a book have in common with…

Compost?

I’ve got a new series with the first book releasing this month. The series is called Holcomb Springs Small Town Romantic Suspense, and the first book is Beneath a Star-Lit Sky. I like how this series and this book show how long the creative process can end up being for me.

Before when I’ve talked about where I get my book ideas, I mention that I call it the compost pile. Any of you gardeners know about the magic of compost. You take a bunch of unrelated kitchen scraps—coffee grounds, carrot tops, egg shells, lettuce that went bad, rotten oranges—and throw them in your compost pile. With the magic of decomposition, in about a year you have something wonderful for your plants.

The creative process is a lot like that for me. I get bits and pieces of ideas from all over the place—things I’ve experienced, places I’ve visited, a news story that stuck with me—and I toss them in my mental compost pile. When something has come together enough to actually be a story idea, it gets its own file.

The germination of Beneath a Star-Lit Sky began at least ten years ago. I remember being on a long drive and talking to my dad on the phone and somehow getting on the topic of criminals in the wilderness, particularly the Sidney Poitier movie, Shoot to Kill. A lot of things can go wrong in the wilderness, and having a bad guy after you just makes it worse.

As I was writing and finishing up the previous series, In the Shadow, I had been wanting to write a series set in a small town. I liked the idea of all the characters continuing to run into each other and being a part of one another’s lives, for good or for ill.

My previous books had been based in the Southern California beach town of Laguna Vista (which also exists only in my imagination). But if you’ve read any of the In the Shadow books, you might have noticed that they made frequent visits to the Southern California San Bernardino mountains.

Since I grew up at the base of these mountains and spent a lot of time up there, I wondered if I might figure out how to create a small town in the mountains. There are some up there, but I like creating my own so I can take liberty with things and not feel like I’m insulting any real town.

There was an old gold mining town—Belleville—that used to exist in an area called Holcomb Valley. I imagined what would have happened if that boomtown had continued on to become a resort town similar to Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead. I liked the idea of having a small town on the edge of the wilderness with all of the problems and possibilities it can bring. And it was within driving distance of Laguna Vista, so all of our old friends could come up and visit.

So the compost pile came together to truly cause my story idea to flourish and blossom into a full-fledged book! Toss in a few previous characters, and I had a ton of fun thinking about all the possibilities while keeping in touch with old characters who have become like friends. I hope you enjoy what’s to come. It’s going to be an adventure!

Interview with JL

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey? 

The people I’ve met along the way. At different stages in my writing journey I’ve met other writers from conferences and critique groups and workshops and retreats who have become dear friends. Other writer really get you, and they understand the ups and downs of the journey you’re on. It makes for some wonderful friendships.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

This is almost like asking me which of my children are my favorite. But I was thinking about this question the other day, and the characters in my first romantic suspense book, Protective Custody, lived in my head the longest. I spent years with Kyle and Heather, understanding who they were and the journey they were on. They also appear in other books as well. It was bittersweet when their book came to an end, but I’m sure they’ll pop up in future books too.

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

In Beneath a Star-Lit Sky, Reese and Ella both struggle with other’s acceptance of them. They’ve done a lot of things to garner love and praise, but both learn in this journey that God loves them just the way they are, that they don’t have to earn his love. And that perhaps someone else might just love them the way they are too.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

My website is JLCrosswhite.com

Instagram @jencrosswhite

Facebook AuthorJenniferCrosswhite

Twitter @jenlcross

Pinterest: pinterest.com/tandemservices

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19256530.J_L_Crosswhite

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jl-crosswhite

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08BX4LKFY

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

Beneath a Star-Lit Sky is just book one in the new Holcomb Springs Small Town Romantic Suspense series. Book 2, Under an Indigo Moon, will be coming out this summer. I’m so excited for this new series. And all our favorite characters from past series will make appearances too.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5

Texas Book-aholic, April 6

For Him and My Family, April 7

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 8 (Author Interview)

The Sacred Line, April 8

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 9

deb’s Book Review, April 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12

Inklings and notions, April 13

Guild Master, April 14 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 15

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, April 16 (Author Interview)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.L. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c575/beneath-a-star-lit-sky-celebration-tour-giveaway