LOVE STARTS HERE, Book 1
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Description:
Jill McCallister has no idea that a gift from her
quirky mother—a subscription to a genealogy website—will end up being the best
gift of her life. As Jill fills out the
site’s information, she discovers something incredible about her history. Her great-great-great
grandfather was the founder of a charming small town called Morgan’s
Grove. Eager to discover her roots in person, Jill drives from Colorado
to Texas, curious to see where the journey will lead.
At first, Jill visits Morgan’s Grove strictly for
research; she’s not looking for love.
But when she meets Rick Wright, the mysterious, handsome businessman
with trust issues, she can’t help falling for him—and for the town, itself. As
the holiday spirit kicks into high gear, Jill and Rick work together on a
project for the town’s winter festival, and the chemistry sparks between them.
But soon, it’s time for Jill to return to her
“real life” in Colorado. And the closer
Jill gets to Denver, the clearer it becomes—if she abandons Morgan’s Grove, she
risks losing a treasured friendship, a lasting love, and a place to call home.
MEET YOU UNDER THE STARS, Book 2
Description:
Chaynie Mayfield is the last person who should be heading up
the Morgan’s Grove library Valentine’s event. Ever since her boyfriend
dumped her last year—on Valentine’s Day—she’s had a hard time believing
in love.
When Greg Peterson, a handsome architect who happens to be her former schoolmate, is commissioned to oversee the library’s renovations, Chaynie’s spirits are instantly lifted. Greg helps her brainstorm the library's event, and together they create an “Under the Stars” theme that promises to deliver a magical night for the entire town.
The longer Chaynie and Greg work together on the romantic project, the deeper their attraction grows. But when her dream job comes calling, Chaynie must decide whether her future aspirations are worth the price of leaving a town, a family, and a library she adores--as well as a love she’s not sure she can live without.
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Novels in the (British) Chilton Crosse Series:
*Bestseller in 2015 - Romance/Women's Fiction at Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Available here
BOOK TRAILER LINK
Description: When Noelle Cooke inherits a cottage from her British aunt, she also inherits a cottage full of secrets--a locked room, an old journal, an art gallery in financial ruin. Noelle never planned to abandon her life in San Diego, never intended to move across the ocean to live in a tiny Cotswold village. But the idea becomes irresistible, especially with the possibility of saving the gallery.
And just when Noelle settles into her new village life and starts to discover the cottage's
mysteries, someone from her past reappears—her first love, Adam Spencer. But an impossible barrier stands between
them, and Noelle is forced to make a choice.
Will she risk her heart? Or will
she walk away…and lose him all over again?
Reviews:
"Brilliant, beautiful, and heartwarming. . . Five stars isn't enough. I'm hooked!" ~ Tina Moss, of Writing Your Guilty Pleasure
"I could taste the shepherd's pie, smell the paint on the canvas, feel the English rain...the perfect novel for a lazy summer afternoon." ~Bibliotica
"The kind of stuff classics are made of. . . It's about true love, family, friendship, old sins, forgiveness, secrets, and everything else." ~Fire Fairy of Bookaholic Fairies, Inc.
BOOK TRAILER LINK
Description:
Life seems
nothing more than a quick succession of busy nothings. ~Jane Austen
This is precisely how Holly Newbury would sum up her life. At twenty-eight, she lives in a charming Cotswold village, serving as caretaker to three younger sisters—a rewarding job, but a tedious one.
Soon, news of a Jane Austen movie filming nearby creates a snap of change in the air. The villagers become involved as movie extras, and Holly starts up an Emma book club in honor of the film. At the same time, Holly's own family drama plays out—her sisters experience heartaches and growing pains, while her widowed father finds new love in an unexpected place.
Most importantly, the film brings with it an American screenwriter named Fletcher Hays, who ends up becoming Holly's very own Mr. Knightley. But will she realize it too late?
Reviews:
"This turned into a satisfying read that left a smile on my face." ~Al's Books & Pals Blog
Soon, news of a Jane Austen movie filming nearby creates a snap of change in the air. The villagers become involved as movie extras, and Holly starts up an Emma book club in honor of the film. At the same time, Holly's own family drama plays out—her sisters experience heartaches and growing pains, while her widowed father finds new love in an unexpected place.
Most importantly, the film brings with it an American screenwriter named Fletcher Hays, who ends up becoming Holly's very own Mr. Knightley. But will she realize it too late?
Reviews:
"This turned into a satisfying read that left a smile on my face." ~Al's Books & Pals Blog
"I love this town and wish I could just jump in and live there....I highly recommend this book to all of you who love sweet and clean romance books with a cozy feel. I am looking forward to reading whatever Traci Borum comes up with next!" ~Christy's Cozy Corners blog
"The small town saga reminds me a little of the Mitford series by Jan Karon....Finding the Rainbow is everything you expect from a fan of Jane Austen." ~My Love: One Story at a Time blog
Available here.
Description:
One December night, in the sleepy Cotswold village of Chilton
Crosse, a drifter with a mysterious past collapses on George and Mary
Cartwright’s snowy doorstep. During the next few weeks, as Christmas
cheer spreads with a Dickens-themed festival, Mary nurtures the
stranger, Ben, back to health.
As Ben gains his strength and starts to trust Mary and George, he lowers the wall he’s so carefully constructed. But when Christmas Eve arrives, one of his secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past—and to rediscover the faith he’d lost months before. And on that holiest of nights, he finally begins to understand that mercy and forgiveness are meant for him, too.
Reviews:
"This Christmas tale is warm, cozy, tender and full of patient love. Find a warm, comfy chair... and get to know, Ben, Mary, George and Mac. Get reacquainted with friends from previous Chilton Crosse books as you read your first Christmas story of the season. Read it with a box of tissue." ~review from Katie's Cottage Books
"Traci Borum's story rivals, in my opinion, Jan Karon's tales. . . It is a sweet, joyful, well-written story. I look forward to more from Traci Borum." ~review from Chat with Vera
"This is the shortest of the three stories so far, but no less inspiring.. . . a wonderful Christmas story with fitting quotes from Charles Dickens at the beginning of each chapter." ~review from BigAl's Books & Pals
Savoring the Seasons, Book 4
Available here.
Description:
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As Ben gains his strength and starts to trust Mary and George, he lowers the wall he’s so carefully constructed. But when Christmas Eve arrives, one of his secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past—and to rediscover the faith he’d lost months before. And on that holiest of nights, he finally begins to understand that mercy and forgiveness are meant for him, too.
Reviews:
"This Christmas tale is warm, cozy, tender and full of patient love. Find a warm, comfy chair... and get to know, Ben, Mary, George and Mac. Get reacquainted with friends from previous Chilton Crosse books as you read your first Christmas story of the season. Read it with a box of tissue." ~review from Katie's Cottage Books
"Traci Borum's story rivals, in my opinion, Jan Karon's tales. . . It is a sweet, joyful, well-written story. I look forward to more from Traci Borum." ~review from Chat with Vera
"This is the shortest of the three stories so far, but no less inspiring.. . . a wonderful Christmas story with fitting quotes from Charles Dickens at the beginning of each chapter." ~review from BigAl's Books & Pals
Savoring the Seasons, Book 4
Description:
Julia Bentley has just
spent her fortieth birthday doing what she always does—baking treats for the
customers in her Cotswold bakery and taking care of her elderly father. She
doesn’t realize how stagnant her life has become until a younger man, Tristan
Hannigan, arrives at the village and shows interest in her. As Julia grows closer
to Tristan, he begins to season her mundane days and to challenge her
insecurities about herself and how she views the world.
But the relationship
is threatened when Julia’s doubts become too great, and the secret she’s afraid
to reveal creates a wedge between them. Will Julia choose the easy route, slipping
back into her daily routine and living without love? Or will she find the
courage to follow her heart and accept the love she deserves?
Reviews:
"Grab a big mug of tea, imagine yourself in the English countryside and savor this lovely romance." ~Sandra, Library of Clean Reads
"Happy Reading my friends -- this is one to savor." ~Cresta McGowan
"A satisfying read... let your heart flutter and savor each moment in this story." ~Katie's Cottage
Reviews:
"Grab a big mug of tea, imagine yourself in the English countryside and savor this lovely romance." ~Sandra, Library of Clean Reads
"Happy Reading my friends -- this is one to savor." ~Cresta McGowan
"A satisfying read... let your heart flutter and savor each moment in this story." ~Katie's Cottage
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Inspirations:
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| Della Sandifer, artist |
When she read my novel, my grandmother gave me a painting of an English village as a surprise for my birthday. It captures the feel and tone of the book in such a perfect way that I knew it deserved a place at the top of my site.
***
Occasionally,
someone will ask me what's inspired me to write a certain novel. And I
have no doubt that, for PAINTING THE MOON (as well as the brainstorming for the whole Chilton Crosse series), my inspiration was a trip I
took with my grandmother to the UK when I was seventeen:
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| English Countryside |
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| Balloon Festival in Bath |
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| Shakespeare's Home |
We visited the British Isles in a whirlwind 3-week bus tour. Seeing England in person---the busy streets of London, the quaint city of Bath, the countryside of the Cotswolds, the home of Shakespeare---is what inspired me to set my novel series there twenty years later. The hours spent on that bus, while everyone was asleep except me, soaking up all the still-vivid images of monuments and fields and people we passed, likely produced this passage (from PAINTING THE MOON):
"The moment they left London's congestion, something in the air changed. Noelle lowered her window to breathe it in. That something. That crisp, delicious, heady fragrance only the English country air could offer. Strong enough to clear her senses of the stale cigar odor that permeated the cab.
The sun winked at her through dark clouds, filtering shadow and light onto the ground. She took in everything: the clusters of sheep grazing the manicured, patchwork fields; the uneven, stocky stone walls that divided properties; the occasional abandoned cottages, hundreds of years old. Remnants of another time. All as picture-perfect as she recalled."
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THE MORGAN'S GROVE SERIES
My inspiration for this setting is very personal. I'm a native Texan, and I've always wanted to write a novel set in this amazing state.
I chose to create a fictional small town, Morgan's Grove, but the details are based (loosely) on real places like Round Rock, Georgetown, and Salado. I wanted to capture the charm and warmth of these small towns, so I sort of merged them into one fictional place where I could set my new stories.
I've lived all over the state of Texas--grew up in West Texas, moved to Central Texas for about 10 years, then settled in East Texas. For a bit, I lived in Austin, so that's where I chose to set my book series (on the outskirts, a small town that's located near the real Round Rock).
As well, LOVE STARTS HERE (Book 1) contains two special characters -- Corgis. I have a Corgi of my own, named Darcy (check my "Just for Fun" link on my author page). I didn't have to do a single bit of research to write those doggy characters. I know their temperament, personality, and physical traits very well.
Also in Book 1, I've included a gingerbread-themed storyline that hits close to home. In high school, I took a home-ec course, and my teacher, Mrs. Stephens, gave us her prized gingerbread recipe. I made it, loved it, and have been making those cookies yearly for the past 30 years. For this novel, I reached out and got her permission to include the recipe at the back of the book!
I'll be adding recipes for each new book in the Morgan's Grove series as I continue to write them (Book 2 has my sister's delicious "Mississippi Mud" recipe!).
