About the Book

Book: Lilac Cottage

Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels

Genre: Historical Romance, Christian Fiction

Release date: April 12, 2023

Inspirational Contemporary Women’s Fiction from Award-winning Bestselling Author Carrie Fancett Pagels

Lilac Cottage – set on Mackinac Island, Book 2 Mackinac Cottages Series

Out of options, after losing her job and apartment, Rachel Dunmara “camps out” at her deceased Grandmother’s cottage on Mackinac Island. Next door, her childhood nemesis, Jack Welling, is overseeing his family’s remodeling of their home on the West Bluff. When Rachel’s new boss, at a local coffee shop, pushes her to work as Jack’s assistant, for her second job, can they mend their rift?

Kareen Parker, widowed in the past year, returns to the island to share long-held information with her son and to transition ownership of her resort to her son. Her grandson befriends Rachel, who was banned by her family from associating with the Parkers.

After a summer full of secrets that are finally revealed, can three families be healed?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carrie Fancett Pagels is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over twenty Christian fiction books. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! Raised in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, you’ll find her most summers at the Straits of Mackinac—where many of her stories are set.

More from Carrie

Why I Wrote Lilac Cottage

I had felt the Lord nudging me to write a sequel to my first-ever Women’s Fiction, Butterfly Cottage (after writing 20+ Historical Romances in Christian Fiction). I travel up to the Straits of Mackinac each summer to do book signings, library visits, and to see family and friends. At several of my book signings at the Island Bookstore, on Mackinac Island, I had readers ask if I had a sequel planned for Butterfly Cottage. I met a lovely young reader at one of the signings, who worked at Lucky Bean, my fave coffee shop in the world and it is on the island. Rachel asked me about plans for the next book and I thought – what if I had a young heroine who worked at Lucky Bean for the summer? Ya know, most authors stories start with the what if. So, I also tossed around the notion of what if Rachel was actually camping out in one of the mansions, called “cottages”, up on West Bluff? That spawned my plot thoughts.

When I work, I percolate an idea. I also will not pursue writing a story unless God’s hand is on it. So, I first submitted my will to His. I got the go ahead. I also got a lot of other stuff: Norovirus, Covid, a root canal and crown, a bleed on an optic nerve, and also what I thought might be a heart attack but thankfully it was only my Rheumatoid Arthritis, oh and did I mention recurrent shingles? Yup—all that. So, I figure there must be a reason this book needs to be written for me to have confronted such opposition from the enemy.

This is my very first novel where the main characters are all saved and are all newbies as far as being refreshed in their faith. At my church, one of the pastors preached about how new Christians are so on fire for the Lord and how they are often different from those of us who have been saved for a long time. I wanted to have that reflected in this novel.

I know people have strong feelings about the pandemic. I wanted to make sure I had written something that included some reality of what the winding down was like in 2022, which is when the story is set. My father was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and I always felt that authors from that time didn’t include enough references to how this affected people. I didn’t dwell on Covid in this novel, but I did touch on it in I hope realistic ways, such as shortages of workers.

Whew! One other reason I wrote some of the characters in this book was to give one of my continuing characters, Mrs. Hampy Parker, some redemption. She’s been a Co-dependent in two of my books (Butterfly Cottage and Behind Love’s Wall) and it was time, since she’s now in her early 80’s, for her to get free from that. I enjoyed the new start her character got and it was inspired by one of my friend’s real-life stories.

Thank you for being part of the tour!!! And may God bless and keep you!

Interview with Carrie

Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.

I am “semi-addicted” to Olay skin care products and like to buy them for family members too! I ran out of my stuff one summer when I was up at the Straits of Mackinac for a couple of months and realized just how much I need this stuff!

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Child of God. But you might mean – creative, Christian, loving.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

Joyce Meyer’s devotional, Beginning and Ending Your Day Right. This is an amazing devotional I have used for years and I wore out my first one and replaced it with a new hardcover copy. I am currently listening to Suzanne Woods Fisher’s new novel on audible.com and Secret to Happiness is so good!!!

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey?

Love connecting with readers, especially in person like at book signings.

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

Kareen Parker was a very conservative young woman in college in the 1960s at Bryn Mawr, but what a frenemy did impacted the rest of her life. She has a number of revelations to make, but the result of that friend’s behavior now really has to be disclosed as Kareen is now in her mid-seventies and as a newbie Christian she feel a conviction to finally share the truth.

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

I can relate to Rachel. I’ve been down and out like her. I once didn’t have the 25 cents I need to run my sister’s and my laundry back in the 1970s and a neighbor swapped me out my 24 cents for a quarter so I could. Rachel, in the story, believes she’s just lost everything. But she’s just getting started. In fact, that’s the inspiration song for her journey—Just Getting Started, and I remember feeling like that as a young woman in my twenties just trying to make my way.

What were the highlight or key challenges you faced when writing this book?

Oh my! It took two years to write this book due to major health challenges that I mention in the Author’s Notes in the book. Norovirus, Covid, root canal, optic nerve bleed, and my RA causing heart attack symptoms were some of the challenges! I figure the enemy isn’t happy about how some people are going to be spiritually affected in a positive way by this novel.

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

Forgiveness, mercy, and God’s provision.

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

www.CarrieFancettPagels.com or connect with me on my author page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cfpagels/

—that’s where I mostly hang out on social media.

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

Next year I’ll be releasing two novellas, published with Barbour, where the rights have been returned to me. One is set in colonial Virginia (Shenandoah Hearts) and the other is set in 1896 on Mackinac Island (Love’s Beacon). Both will be expanded from their earlier versions. Readers are asking me about another novel in the Mackinac Cottages Series and I’m praying about one set in 2024 with Carter Parker as the hero.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog and for your interview!

Blog Stops

An Author’s Take, May 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 3

Blossoms and Blessings, May 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 4

Betti Mace, May 5

She Lives to Read, May 5

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , May 6

Texas Book-aholic, May 7

Mornings at Character Café, May 7

For Him and My Family, May 8

Mary Hake, May 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 10

Connie’s History Classroom, May 11

Holly’s Book Corner, May 11

Sylvan Musings, May 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 13 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 14

Christina’s Corner, May 14

debs book review, May 15

Books I’ve Read, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize package of $70 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Lilac Cottage, and a copy of Butterfly Cottage!!

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/25f56/lilac-cottage-celebration-tour-giveaway