It's my joy and honor to bring to you not an author interview but a fun character interview. Penny Frost McGinnis released her debut novel Home Where She Belongs recently and is excited to present to you Sadie Stewart.
Before we meet Sadie, allow me to introduce you to her story.
Home Where She Belongs by Penny Frost McGinnis
Tired of being a pawn for her father and an emotional punching bag for her ex-boyfriend, Sadie Stewart runs away. She leaves behind a lucrative job, at her father's financial company, and narcissistic, abusive ex-boyfriend, Bryce Shaw. Her heart longs for a peaceful, simple life on beloved Abbott Island in Lake Erie, Ohio where she spent magical summers with grandparents she adored.
On the island, Sadie takes over her grandparents' small island home and her gram's rental cottages. With a fresh start on the island, she tries to push the past behind and dig in to make the rental business thrive. As Sadie and her dog, settle into her new home, her thoughts wander to Joel Grayson, her teen crush. As soon as he crosses her mind, she dashes the thought away. Not ready to share her heart with anyone, she pushes herself to finish her tasks.
Joel Grayson left the island long enough to train at the Police Academy. The folks in the community trust him, even with his failures. Before Sadie's grandpa died, Joel had promised him he'd look after their cottages, with a secret hope Sadie might return. When he's on patrol and finds a woman on his friend's property, he bristles until he realizes his dream girl has come home.
Sadie recognizes Joel and immediately guards her heart. Her experience with Bryce left her untrusting and hesitant. Even handsome and kind Joel won't tempt her to open her heart.
When someone is set on sabotaging Sadie's future, she seeks Joel's help. As they are drawn together, Joel wants to protect Sadie as a police officer and a friend. Sadie begins to trust Joel and allows the wall around her heart to crumble, just a little. As Joel tries to find the person behind the menacing, Sadie fights to build her rental business and latch on to the peace she longs for.
Even as Joel and Sadie grow closer, a dark cloud hangs over them. Ugly graffiti, a fire, and threats cause Sadie grief. She wants to believe in God, the way her grandparents did and longs for the peace that passes understanding, but her heart hesitates to trust anyone.
Joel needs to place his past behind him and allow God to work in his heart. In his attempts to protect Sadie, he falls for her all over again, even though she keeps her distance.
Will Joel and Sadie overcome their fear and lack of trust? When they discover who is sabotaging Sadie's future, can they stop them? Will two broken people find their path to love?
Home Where She Belongs is a romance with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope, as Joel and Sadie discover what it means to trust in the God who loves them.
CC: Hi Sadie! It is so great to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers?
SS: Hi, I'm Sadie Stewart. I moved to Abbott Island recently to resurrect my gram's cabin rental business. Grandpa and Gram both passed away and left me their home and two cabins. I haven't been back for a while, but it's time for me to leave my old life behind and start fresh.
CC: New beginnings are so hard but always needed. So what's your role in this story?
SS: I'm Sadie, the heroine of the story. After a heart-wrenching experience, I finally claim the property my grandparents left me after Grandpa's death. On Abbott Island I work to revive my grammy's cabin rental business while trying to break ties with my ex-boyfriend and ignore my father's pleas to return to his company to work. There is a hero for my heroine, sweet Joel. I knew him from visiting my grandparents every summer, but haven't seen him in years. Kind of makes you want to find out what happens, doesn't it?
CC: Who is your least favorite person to deal with? Why?
SS: My ex-boyfriend. After we dated for awhile, he showed his true colors, and let's say, they were ugly. I no longer want anything to do with him, but he won't give up.
CC: Discovering who we are after we return to our faith, or even start our faith, can be a difficult road to walk. How would you describe the hero of the story?
SS: The hero, Joel, is a police officer. We met when we were kids and kind of grew up together in the summers. After I went to college, we lost touch. He's a kind-hearted man who cares about the community, is loyal to his friends, but keeps his hurts to himself. Did I mention he's handsome with beautiful eyes? I have to call on him for help, way more than I want. His sister Lucy is one of my dear friends, and she loves to give her brother a hard time.
CC: What is your biggest fear?
SS: My biggest fear is failure. I was raised to succeed, and I don't always feel I can.
CC: What's one of your happiest memories?
SS: One of my happiest memories is sitting on the porch with my grandpa while he whittled and I sketched.
CC: What is your favorite holiday? Why?
SS: My favorite holiday is the fourth of July because I spent the summers with my grandparents on Abbott Island and got to be part of the celebration. We had an island-wide picnic, swam, and watched fireworks. Two of my best friends, Lucy and Joel, lived on the island.
CC: Do you enjoy family gatherings? Why/why not?
SS: Not with my family. As a child they amounted to making a good appearance for the sake of my dad's business. On the other hand, I loved being with my grandparents. They were the best people I knew.
CC: If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
SS: I long for peace and people I can trust.
CC: How do you view God in your life?
SS: I know God is real, and I learned about His love through my grandparents. I'm not sure about my own beliefs yet, but I sure hope He hears my prayers.
CC: What the worst thing that every happened to you?
SS: My ex-boyfriend abused me. You'll find out more about that in my story.
SS: I do. Rosie is my Golden Retriever. Grandpa gave her to me just before he died. She's the sweetest animal, loving and loyal.
About Penny Frost McGinnis:
If Penny Frost McGinnis could live in a lighthouse or on an island, she would. Instead, she and her husband are content to live in southwest Ohio and visit Lake Erie every chance they get. She adores her family and dogs, indulges in dark chocolate, enjoys fiber arts, and grows flowers and herbs in her tiny garden. She pens romance novels with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope. Her life's goal is to encourage and uplift through the written word.
Connect with Penny: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon
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