About the Book

Book: Heart of Gold

Author: Lacy Williams

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 11, 2023

They survived a harrowing near-death experience. Can a poignant family Christmas bring them together?

Ida needs a quiet Christmas at home to rest and find her footing again. But her boisterous family is anything but quiet and things only get worse when her U.S. Marshal brother brings home a prisoner for the holiday—the same outlaw that saved her life.

Tom Seymour discombobulates her. He’s arrogant and unrepentant. But when she’s forced to nurse his injuries, she realizes that his persona is all a facade. The man underneath is wounded and kind and in need of redemption.

But Tom must make a choice between his old life and the chance to make a new one with Ida. Can she trust the man he is becoming or will he betray her?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see in Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published sixty books in a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at http://www.lacywilliams.net/vip .

More from Lacy

Do you like “stranded together” stories as much as I do? Being stuck in an airport, a snowstorm, a wedding weekend… Yes, please, to all of the above.

But has it ever happened to you in real life?

Twenty-plus years ago, when I was a freshman in college and before I started dating my handsome hubby, I dated this other guy.

We met at a mixer during the first few days of the semester and hit it off pretty quickly. Classes started, we saw each other a few times socially.

He was pledging a fraternity and invited me to go with him to a co-ed overnight trip.

And then when we got there, he sort of just… disappeared. For hours. I finally found him and then followed him around… until I finally got the hint. Sometime in the days between when he’d invited me to the float trip, and when we arrived, his feelings changed.

It was SOOO awkward for the rest of the night and then the next day. Not the place and time I wanted to be ghosted. And it was worse because I’d ridden down with a mutual friend and had no way to get the two-plus hours home until the next day.

It wasn’t a romantic or fun time. More like a disaster.

A disaster is exactly what my heroine Ida thinks about being stuck with ex-bad guy Tom for Christmas. They get snowed in with her family (and her deputy older brother) and at first it is awkward.

And then… it’s not awkward anymore.

By the time the snow melts, Ida has caught feelings for Tom.

You can read this story free in KU or win a copy through this giveaway! Ida and Tom’s love story is called Heart of Gold.

-Lacy

Interview with Lacy

What book is currently on your bedside table?

I am currently reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. It’s an eye-opening look at productivity and intentionality. Definitely making me think, which is something I like in a non-fiction book. With non-fiction books, I wade through them and take my time.

Can you share with us something about HEART OF GOLD that isn’t in the blurb?

It’s a Christmas book, so I needed my hero (who is penniless and and ex-con) to be able to give my heroine something that he could make/create. Let me tell you what a rabbit hole spiral I can get into looking for historical Christmas gift ideas… It’s a big one. Alice-in-Wonderland-sized. I did find the perfect gift, one that required him to have a little help from the heroine’s niece and nephew to pull off: a thaumatrope. There’s a symbolic meaning for the design the hero chooses, too…

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

I always love a bad boy hero who is redeemed, so Tom is my guy. He starts out the book facing prison time and with a mission to escape. And surrounded by Ida’s big, noisy family. He doesn’t know what Christmas is all about, he’s never celebrated before. And he gets drawn in to everything. Making popcorn garland. Playing games with the family. The togetherness. How could he not be changed? Tom was really fun to write about.

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

I was coming off of terrible burnout at the end of the pandemic when I wrote this book. I was under a tight deadline and not even sure whether I could write at all. Writing about a family that my readers loved helped me remember what *I* loved about these characters and that made the process a little easier, though there were still some late nights and early mornings as I worked toward my deadline!

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

The best place to find up to date info is on my newsletter. Readers can subscribe here:

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5aan9m8zwb and even get a free book.

Second best place is my website http://www.lacywilliams.net

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

My next project is A TRAIL UNTAMED, my fall release in the Wagon Train Matches series. I cannot wait to start this book. We’ll meet a new character who sneaks onto the wagon train, my heroine currently lost her voice in a terrible accident, and there’s a cat! Readers can visit Goodreads and add this book to their “Want-to-read” shelf and they will get updates as the book progresses.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 16

Alena Mentink, May 16

Texas Book-aholic, May 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 19

Connie’s History Classroom, May 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Christina’s Corner, May 21

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 22

For Him and My Family, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 25 (Author Interview)

Kristina Hall, May 25

Cover Lover Book Review, May 26

Vicky Sluiter, May 27

Splashes of Joy, May 28

Sheila’s Reading Corner, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lacy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/2606e/heart-of-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway