Alicia Hunter Pace: Meet the Brothers of Beauford Bend
Alicia Hunter Pace, aka the writing team of Jean Hovey and Stephanie Jones, introduce us to their Brothers of Beauford Bend contemporary romance series.
Alicia: Every time a writer starts a new series, it's a whole new world.
It's easy to understand why some authors overstay their welcome in a series. You know that world — everyone does. It's as comfortable there as chicken-and-dumplings day at the diner — which is Thursday, just like it's been for four books.
For me, the characters come first and the story follows. I knew the nucleus of the Beauford Bend stories right away. The heroes would be four hunky brothers who each held himself responsible for the tragic deaths of their parents and sister. After growing up in genteel poverty on an ancestral plantation, they would leave home, become wildly successful, and return with broken spirits.
The town of Beauford and Beauford Bend plantation — which would be characters every bit as much as the brothers — were harder. The last thing I wanted was to take my last town, rename the bakery, and the give the Junior League a different fundraiser. And just how had four young boys and their great aunt managed to hold on to Beauford Bend after the accident that killed the boys' parents?
But if Beauford was a town comprised of artisans and located a short distance from Nashville, it would be feasible to think that people in the country music industry, pro athletes, and tourists, would come from the city to purchase the expensive and unique wares available.
That left the plantation. If Beauford Bend was a special events business and venue, the farm would be saved and Emory Lowell, the heroine of Forgiving Jackson, could have a job and entrée into Jackson's life.
Armed with this setting, four books didn't seem enough anymore. There were a couple of additional artisans who had stories to tell so I added two novellas to the series.
The most important part of a project for any writer is to fall in love with the characters. It was not a hard job for me and I hope it won't be for you either. Meet the Beauford brothers, the women who love them, and a few of their friends:
Forgiving Jackson (novel, available now)
When a tragic fire at one of his concerts reopens old wounds for country superstar Jackson Beauford, he heads home for some peace and quiet — only to discover that stubborn Southern magnolia, Emory Lowell, has brought chaos to his family estate in the form of her event planning business and debutante school.
Nickolai's Noel (December novella)
An ice storm traps hockey pro Nickolai Glazov with quilt shop owner Noel Verden one fateful Christmas. As these two strong-willed folks, fall in love then fall apart, they'll learn that home is the place you hang your heart (not just your quilt or your hockey stick).
Reforming Gabe (February 2015 novel)
Once the NFL's best wide receiver, Gabe Beauford's been — literally — dropping the ball this season. After his team loses the Superbowl, he heads back to Beauford to hide and brood, but meeting independent and talented jewelry maker Neyland Mackenzie puts a new gleam in his eye. She needs saving, and he needs a project… But will his not-so-deft touch ruin her dreams and their chance at real love?
Redeeming Rafe (July 2015 novel)
Bull riding, cliff diving, plane jumping — if it makes most men quake in their boots, Rafe Beauford does it eagerly. But his wild lifestyle comes to a halt when he finds out that he's the father of not one but two toddlers. Taking the twin girls back to Beauford, he plans to leave them there to grow up with a nanny, but the woman he hires, widowed mom Abigail Whitman determines to show him the importance of family — and love.
Heath's Hope (September 2015 novella)
Love wasn't enough to meld the hearts of financier Hope Mackenzie and glass artist Heath Beckett. But now that she's back in Beauford, Heath's hoping to forge a new start with the woman he just can't forget.
Healing Beau (December 2015 novel)
Sick of being babied his whole life, youngest brother Beau joined the army as soon as he could. He thought he'd be a lifer, but an injury sends him back to Beauford without peace or a purpose. Knowing he can't heal until some truths come to light, an old friend Christian Hambrick, who always held a torch for him, wages a full-scale war on the past — and emerges with the secrets about what really happened the night of the fire.
Find out more at www.aliciahunterpace.com.