This week I’m hosting Hannah Alexander with The Wedding Kiss, Trish Perry/Debby Mayne with Love Finds You on Christmas Morning, Penny Zeller with Hailee and Debra Clopton with Her Rodeo Cowboy. If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (September 11th) evening.
Interview with the heroine from Love Finds You on Christmas Morning–“‘Tis the Season” by Trish Perry
Nikki Tronnier, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I guess you could say I have a gift for flavors. I’ve had training with Armand Gaudet, one of the best chefs in Charlotte, but before then—even before culinary school—I just seemed to know what flavors would compliment each other. So I come up with some combinations others would never consider, and then people are pleasantly surprised (usually, anyway), by the results.
What do you do for fun?
Fun? Um, I have fun at my job. I live in Harvey Fennicle’s mansion, along with the rest of his personal staff. I enjoy my time there, serving as his personal chef. I can just see my sister, Hannah, rolling her eyes about this answer, because you asked about fun. I do try to get out and do things with people from my own generation. I actually met an interesting young guy the other day while I was walking Harvey’s dog. Maybe something—something fun—will develop there.
What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I don’t always shy away from confrontation, but if that confrontation might lead to hurting the one I confront? Yes, I dread that. A lot. I prefer to confront people who are mean.
What are you afraid of most in life?
I don’t want to lose touch with my past. With the people from my past—my family in particular. I miss my great-grandparents and grandparents.
What do you want out of life?
So much. I want to be hugely successful with my efforts as a chef, whether it’s working for Harvey or eventually opening a restaurant of my own—but I wouldn’t leave Harvey until . . . well, until he no longer needed me. And of course I want to follow whatever path God has in mind for me. I try to pay attention to any clues He throws my way. But I think I want what most people want. A family. A loving husband. A couple wonderful kids. A home.
What is the most important thing to you?
Family has become especially important to me over my years away from my hometown. I have very fond memories of my childhood here in Cary, and I hope to draw my family (current and future) together the way we were when my grandparents and great-grandparents were still around.
Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I must admit to being a romantic. I love Jane Austen, the Brontes, Victoria Holt, and Susan Howatch. That kind of thing.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
You know how I said I put off confrontation if it could lead to hurting the one I confront? I also put off being frank if I think it might lead to my getting hurt. I mean, I haven’t had many romantic involvements in my life, but I’ve had enough to know how much it hurts when they crumble. So I guess I’m a bit of a people pleaser. I’d like to be a little more comfortable with being forthright and facing the consequences of that openness.
Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
I don’t have a pet of my own, but my employer, Harvey, has a crazy little terrier, Riley, who fills in as my substitute pet. I’m not responsible for Riley’s care, but I occasionally help out and walk him. And I love when he decides to spend a little down time with me in my quarters. There’s nothing like a good book, a cup of tea, and a warm, cuddly pup at your side. (I’m picturing my sister rolling her eyes again—she was always the more adventurous one in the family.)
If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
Now that you’ve got me thinking about those classic romance novels, I have to say I’d enjoy a trip back to England around the turn of the 19th Century or so. I know there would be many aspects of my visit that would be more difficult than what I enjoy here, but I’d be interested to get first-hand experience with the social mores—with men who were real gentlemen and women who were both delicate and quietly strong. But if I’m choosing, I’d choose to be one of the wealthier citizens. I think life was very hard for many people in that time and place.
Heroine Interview from Love Finds You on Christmas Morning–“Deck the Halls” by Debby Mayne:
Lillian, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
My family struggles to make ends meet. Years ago, my father had an accident in the factory where he worked, so now I support the family by working at Joachim’s Five and Dime.
What do you do for fun?
Between work and helping Mama around the house, I don’t have much time for fun. If I did, I would probably enjoy quilting or some other form of needlework. I might even try my hand at a little gardening.
What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I generally put off getting myself something new because we’re so tight on money, and I worry that we won’t have enough left for essentials.
What are you afraid of most in life?
After meeting William at a Christmas party last year, my biggest fear in life is letting go and falling in love with him. He’s interested in me, and he’s persistent, but we are from two very social classes. I’m afraid he’d get bored with me.
What do you want out of life?
I would like to not have to worry about my family so much. Daddy has been depressed ever since his accident, and Mama can’t leave him alone for very long. If things were different, I would love getting to know William Tronnier better.
What is the most important thing to you?
The most important thing in my life is family security.
Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I wish I had more time to read. If I did, I would devour every dime novel I could get my hands on. Please don’t tell Mama. She would never approve.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about myself, it probably be my hair. I love the stylish bobs so many of the fashionable girls wear these days. When they come into the five and dime, I can’t help but stare at their hair with longing.
Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
Oh, no, we don’t have a pet. It takes every penny I earn to feed the people in the family. If I could have one, I’d probably choose a cat that would curl up beside me as I read my dime novels. A girl can dream, can’t she?
If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
If I could travel back in time, I would find a way to warn Daddy that he was about to get his leg crushed. That way, he would still have his job at the factory, and we wouldn’t be in such dire straits.