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Debut Author Spotlight: Lena Hendrix

 

I recently had the opportunity to read an ARC of Lena Hendrix's debut romance.  I really loved it (see my review below).  I contacted the author so I could feature her here on my blog.  I would love to have readers get to know her and her work.  I believe there is a bright future for her in the indie romance world.  Read on to learn about Lena, "Finding You", and what I loved about her work.



About Lena Hendrix:

(The Official Bio)

Lena Hendrix is the author of steamy, contemporary romance novels. Her love of romance started with her grandmother’s Harlequin paperbacks and now Lena’s stories are full of heart, humor, and plenty of strong Alphas with marshmallow insides-she likes her coffee hot and her heroes hotter!

Lena lives in the midwest with her husband, three children, and two derpy Australian Cattle Dogs. When she’s not writing or devouring new novels, you can find her hiking, camping, fishing, and sipping a spicy margarita!


(The Unofficial Bio)

I'm 37 and started writing a month before my 37th birthday on a whim and FELL IN LOVE! I grew up reading Harlequin romance novels and in middle school/high school had a dresser drawer full of Nora Roberts's books! I write stories that are super steamy but center around two complicated people who need to get their act together. 

I own 15 chickens in the suburbs and have a garden bigger than our first house! I love to be outdoors. My debut novel, Finding You, was a passion project that NEEDED to be written. 


Continue further down this post to read the Q&A I had with Lena and learn more about her.



About "Finding You":


I never thought I’d find her. 


Finding You, an all-new second chance romance from debut author Lena Hendrix is available now!


Blurb: 


After eight years in the Marines, I’m still looking for the mysterious woman I’ve obsessed over since her first letter. When she shows up in my small town, I’m thrilled. 


But when she turns out to be my brother’s best friend--and the girl he’s always loved--I’m caught between the two people who matter to me the most.


I’m a Marine, which means honor and duty run deep. Joanna is off-limits. That would be a whole lot easier if she hadn’t already agreed to help run my brother’s fishing guide business for the summer, forcing me to work side-by-side with the woman I’ve fantasized about for years.


I try to keep her at a distance, push her away, man up. But she draws me in without even trying, and I can’t get enough of how she makes me feel. I’m stealing moments with her, and I know it’s wrong. She may not be my brother’s girlfriend, but I know a landmine when I see one.


How can a good man choose his heart over his honor?




Buy Link:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w6x5Oe

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/findingyou

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2PEJB7U




My Review:

#MilitaryRomance #SmallTown #WoundedHero #HealingLove #BrothersBestFriend #DebutNovel #ARC

5 STARS

The wounded hero returns home to find healing and love.

This is the author’s debut book, and it is a winner.  It is written in first person from a dual POV.  It is the first in an interconnected series but there is no cliffhanger, and it ends with a wonderful HEA.

The story opens with Lincoln, serving in combat as a Marine and being injured.  After he comes home to the small town of Chikalu Falls, Montana, the story moves forward two years.  I loved Lincoln.  The wounded and damaged hero is my favorite and the author did an excellent job with him.  I really appreciated that the author understands the military and the difference between Marines and soldiers.  I also appreciated how she deals with Lincoln and the struggles he has after he gets home.  I found his character to be complex and tough with a heart like a soft gooey marshmallow.  I love the symbolism of the Valkyrie and how it impacted his life.  I love that Joanna’s letters gave him that thread to hang onto in the war zone.  It was easy to understand how he was torn between his honor code, his desires, and his feelings for Joanna.  I also loved that he recognized that he had some baggage and he felt she deserved more than he could give. 

Joanna is a fabulous heroine.  I felt like I really understood her and how she felt like she never quite fit.  I love that she wrote letters to Lincoln while he was overseas, but I also understood why she avoided him after he came home.  I loved her strength of character and her determination to succeed.  I also really loved her competence in the outdoors as a guide.  I really appreciated her acceptance of Lincoln where he was and her ability to not push him to share more than he could at any given time.

I really enjoyed reading as they got to know each other.  The passion and the hot times between them were perfect for their story.  I really loved the feelings they develop for each other so quickly and the connection they share.  The pace and plot were very good, and I had a hard time putting the book down. This debut novel captured me completely.  I am impressed and I cannot wait to read more by this new author.


Lena was kind enough to answer some questions for this post in a Q& A via email. I really enjoyed getting to know her and I hope you do too. 


1. In Finding You, Joanna is an expert fisherwoman.  Do you fly fish? And if so, have you ever fly-fished in Montana? (I can't help but picture "A River Runs Through It.")

So I am an avid angler - I’ve been fishing since I was a kid! But...I have not gone fly fishing...yet! It’s a bucket list item for me for sure. Also...A River Runs Through It is one of my favorite movies! 

2. I feel like you did an excellent job describing Lincoln's difficulty reentering society after his injury and honorable discharge from the Marines?  Have you had personal experience with soldiers returning home that you would like to talk about?  How did you get to a place where you were able to describe his feelings so accurately?

My dad is a Marine but he was lucky in that he did not see active combat. Though he does tend to be strong and intense and his loyalty to the Marines is a big part of who he is. I’m sure that leaked into the writing! I have friends whose husbands have struggled with PTSD and I’ve seen how small things like eating out or taking the family to the zoo can be tricky. 


 3. What is your favorite thing you are currently growing in your garden?

Ooohhh tough one! Currently my garden is bigger than my last house! Haha. I grow and can a LOT. Current favorite? Probably strawberries because they make great jam, pie, & I love to just pick & eat ‘em!

4. Do you have any funny chicken stories you would like to share? (I grew up on a farm and the animals always seemed to provide us with entertainment.)

The chickens are hilarious. I have always been a suburban girl who should have grown up in a small town. The chickens all have their own personalities and that cracks me up. Crabby Patty lives up to her name!

5. I have never had a spicy margarita.  Do you have a recipe to make one?  (If not, I can see if I can find one to include.)

Girl...spicy margarita is my jam. Muddle a few slices of Serrano (or other favorite spicy pepper) in the bottom of a salt rimmed glass, add ice & your favorite margarita. Yum! 

(Me: making a note to add peppers to this week's grocery list so I can try this.)

6. With your writing process, do you find you are a plotter, or a writer who writes as it comes to you (pantser)?

I have the bones of a story (maybe even a few scenes). I know I want to hit points A, B, &C. But other than that, I’m a total pantser! I love seeing where the characters take me! Once I was re-reading a section & thought, “oooh! This is good. I wonder what happens next?” Then I laughed so hard when I remembered that I HAVE TO WRITE IT! 

7. Have you found that there is a time that you write best during the day?

I love a good mid-morning write - preferably outside in the sunshine but that’s a rare occurrence! 

8. Do you like to listen to anything while you write, or do you prefer quiet?

With three kids, 2 dogs, & 15 chickens, it’s never quiet! 🤣 I prefer some quiet if I can get it but I’ve gotten used writing in chaos. 

9. Since you started writing, what is the thing that has surprised you the most?

I’ve been surprised at how a story can grow and change. As a pantser, I’m always surprised! 
 
10. Joanna guides some hiking and fishing trips that are pretty amazing. What is the longest hike you have done? Have you ever done a trip like the ones she guides?

I’ve done a few guided trips. My husband is super outdoorsy so we’ve done a lot together. Our favorite thing is to map out a trail and hike it! 


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