About the Book

Book: Ronnie

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet Romcom

Release Date: June 12, 2024

She’s literally stuck in her engagement…

…He’s trying to keep her there.

But when you take the couple out of Texas, is the romance lost too?

Ronnie Webb has broken her engagement to the love of her life, Carlos (Cal) Garcia, or would have if the stupid ring would come off her finger.

To find the space to get over him and the rest of what is going wrong in her life, she leaves her dad’s Texas ranch to visit her aunt and family in Kokomo, Indiana.

But hanging out with the Weather Girls, especially with their cardinal in the sycamore legend sending out strong vibes, Ronnie’s love life may not be as dead as she thinks.

Carlitos can’t believe the letter Ronnie left him right before Christmas—his last one at home before his enlistment starts. However, his broken wrist might just be the break he needs to get Ronnie back before it’s too late.

But what does this native Texan know about mid-western Hoosier romance?

And can he learn, or is this the end?

Ronnie: A Sweet, Quirky Romantic Yarn is book five in the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. Inspired by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ 1960’s song of the name, this charming tale with a bit of western influence finishes off 1972 and brings you into the New Year in Kokomo, Indiana.

You will enjoy this sweet and wholesome romcom with a touch of western flavor because everyone dreams of their own cowboy romance.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

• What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

The most challenging part, I think, was trying to write a cowboy flavor to it. I mean, I’ve got Kokomo imprinted in my mind. I’m writing about the place where I grew up, at least until my junior year of high school. But even though I live in Arizona, I’m limited on knowing what all goes on on a ranch. Plus, the ranch was in Texas. Some of my husband’s farm days could translate over, but understanding how Carlitos viewed his home, his rodeo job, that called for some research.

I also had a tough time writing the first scene. Started it more times than I can count. It was important to see Ronnie as wounded and scared, not self-centered. And of course, I needed to get at least a chuckle in there. It’s okay to deal with hard subjects, but I also need to leave my reader feeling good.

• What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

This book is special because it gives the readers who’ve been following this series and the one that came before—The Weather Girls—an update. Usually for this series, the girls and their families just pop in for cameos, or because there’s a connection to their business. Plus, of course, we have to have the cardinal in the sycamore make his appearance. But it was fun to have Sunny and Pat back and expecting since their romance started it all.

If this is the first book of mine that someone picks up, that’s not a problem. All the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue books are meant to be read in any order. But as a nod to those who’ve followed them all, I had fun getting them caught up without dragging the story down.

• How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

Honestly, I rarely know what Biblical truths God will reveal in my writing as I start. It often comes out in the push-pull of what the character must go through and why they don’t want to. And, for some crazy reason (ahem) God sort of points out where I need the message too. I often have to finish the first draft to figure the message out completely.

That being said, with Ronnie, the message was loud and clear from the beginning. And yes, I’ve struggled with fear, just as she does. The verse that keeps knocking on her door is the same one that has helped me in my battles.

• Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

There’s probably a little of myself in my female main characters though it’s more for helping to understand her than to inspire her. I think there’s also a bit of my hubs in the hero as well, because he’s mine. However, here’s a little secret I’ve only told one person. Carlitos was named for one of my former students. I was blessed to have him in my class several times—it worked out that I was his preschool teacher before I started teaching a third/fourth grade loop. By the time he was in third grade, I’d gotten to see how gifted he was with math. I made the hero in the book gifted with language though instead. Carlitos is now a husband and father. When he responded to a FB happy birthday message, I told him I’d used his first name in the book. He bought it before I could give him a copy.

• What is your next big goal as an author?

I want to keep writing as many books for this series as I possibly can, though I think I’ll need to take a break and write something else so as not to get bored with it. I want this to remain fresh.

That’s one reason I’m working with another author on a different trilogy. She is adept at tugging on the heartstrings. I’m bringing the lighter side. The problem is we’re both busy, but we both have an opportunity to pitch the idea this fall, and we’ll see what happens. If it works out, it most likely will be traditionally published rather than indy.

I think working with another author who gets my writing (she’s my editor so she really does know my style), and who I respect and enjoy her writing voice, can help us both to reach a new level.

I’d give you more information, but until things are finalized that’s about it. Oh, I can tell you the idea is based on three mondegreens from 1960s music. A mondegreen is where you hear the words and can’t make them out, so your mind substitutes what it thinks it hears. One famous example is from the song “Groovin’” by the Young Rascals. There’s a line in the bridge that, correctly sung, is “You and me, endlessly” but a lot of radio listeners thought it was “You and me and Leslie.” That’s a mondegreen.

About the Author

Historical Christian Romance author, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

More from Jennifer

In the first chapter of Ronnie, Carlitos comes home to his mom making his favorite, Pozole. It is a Mexican soup, and the first time I had it was at my neighbor’s house. She has given me her recipe and permission to share it with you all. Two things to keep in mind: first, she and I had to work to translate this from Spanish to English. We did our best, but if you don’t understand something, just give it your best shot—or ask me. I might be able to figure it out. Maybe. 😉 Two, she usually makes big batches of this, and she cut it back for a “normal” size. So feel free to adjust as needed.

Most of all, though, enjoy!

Pozole Recipe by Araceli Estrada (my amazing neighbor and friend)

Ingredients:

For meat pot-

4 lbs. of bone-in pork loin

½ white onion–diced

1 head of garlic—clean off the paper

2 bay leaves

1 T oregano

1 T ground cumin

1 T powdered chicken bouillon

1 large can of hominy

For chili sauce-

10 chili pods

10 Ancho chilis

10-15 black pepper corns

4 cloves of garlic

For garnish—

Shredded cabbage

Diced onion

Sliced radishes

Chopped cilantro

Chunked avocado

Lime wedges—to squeeze over

Directions:

Place in a Dutch oven, the pork loin, the half onion, the head of garlic, the bay leaves, the oregano, and cumin. Add enough water to cover up to ¾ of pot. Bring to a boil and then heat. Simmer for 2 hours stirring often and skimming off the foam.

Slice open chilis and remove seeds and membranes. In a second pot, add chili pods and Ancho chilis. Cover with water and bring to a boil. After two minutes, turn off heat and allow chilis to rest in hot water for at least ten minutes. The chilis should feel soft and pliable.

Remove from water and put into blender with black peppercorns, 4 cloves of garlic, and a cup of water. Add water a little at a time, careful to not add too much. Puree until smooth. Then pour through a strainer into the meat pot.

Strain the hominy and add it plus the chicken bouillon to the meat pot. Salt to taste. Allow to simmer while preparing the garnishes.

Set garnishes out so guests can choose. Serve with warm tortillas.

(From Jenny: Not sure home much this will serve, but it is so good!)