A Story of Love, Loss and Hope
(clean military romance)
Summary:
Amanda knows three things about her life – she loves living in Tacoma, she wants to be a teacher and she will never marry a man in the military. Yet, when Lucas comes into the coffee shop where she works wearing a flight suit, he starts to change her mind about her future. She is determined to just be his friend, but the chemistry between them is undeniable and their relationship survives through two deployments and him being on work trips almost half of the time After they get married, they move across the country to Charleston, S.C., and Amanda finds a job, which helps somewhat with the loneliness of Lucas being gone a lot. She thought she was prepared for life as a military wife, but then she starts finding out the true sacrifices military families make.
Buy The Ring on Amazon.
Available as a paperback, Kindle version and audiobook on Audible.
The Story Behind The Ring (spoiler alert):
I’ve been around the military my entire life, so it’s no surprise that my first novel is tied to that world. I started mulling around the idea for my first novel while we lived in Alaska.
We had been fighting the War on Terror for years now and it seemed the families of the fallen were being forgotten and overlooked.
A college friend’s brother was stationed up in Alaska and stayed with us for a while. His Army friend had left behind a widow and daughter after being killed in action and he made it his mission to check in on her and make sure they were doing as well as they could be doing.
So, I thought and thought and brainstormed and finally got an idea for a storyline …
It wasn’t until we moved and I had some alone time flying from New Mexico to California to pick up our van from the ship that I was able to start writing. I got a few pages done that weekend and then didn’t look at it again until a few months later when we were getting settled into our house in Missouri.
I couldn’t find the file.
It was gone.
And, then life got busy and I started back on my classes for my masters degree.
And, we moved again to Ohio.
And, then I started guest blogging and working for the local newspaper.
And then a different book idea came to me that would go well with the type of blogging I was doing. So, I started writing a different book. I rewrote it three times.
Then, I went back to writing the first book I wanted to write during NaNoWriMo. I worked on editing it and then that’s the first one that was published. Technically, the second book I wrote was the first one published, but it was the first book I ever started writing.
I wanted to tell a Gold Star story, as hard as it would be. My husband was still active duty at the time and going to the war zone occasionally.
I also wanted a twist to the story, but one that actually happens – a baby born after his or her father has passed away.
I cried when I wrote the scene where the wife finds out her husband has died. I poured my heart into writing The Ring.
But, all this was after I had written my first novel, Life After. I was querying and querying to agents with no traction, so I started writing another book.
After finishing The Ring, I started querying and querying and then I finally got a yes ….
… but not from an agent. An independent publisher out of the U.K. saw potential in The Ring and the contract offered looked fair. They would do the cover design, layout, getting the book into easy markets like Amazon and Barnes & Noble and we would split the profits.
I had to hire an editor out of pocket since they didn’t offer that service.
You can find them at BLKDOG Publishing.
Reviews of The Ring:
“Absolutely loved this! Although I will warn you that if you start reading this you won’t be able to put it down! I stayed up till 1 in the morning reading this! (Did cry a little at the end though, it has a very bittersweet ending!)” – Teresa, Amazon review
“Although every couple’s story is unique, if you’re marrying into the military, this book could be a good look into what military spouse life can be like. The main characters are very believable – you could’ve sat down with Amanda over coffee (okay, probably several coffees) in real life and heard her tell the story. I look forward to seeing what Sarah Anne Carter writes next!” – Jen, Amazon review
“Sweet love story! I like how the author incorporated so many real world details and everyday life into the story. I felt like I could relate to Amanda, the main character, and be friends with her! This novel gives some great insight into military family life – I know I learned a lot from it and have a greater appreciation of what those families go through. Overall, a charming and emotional story!” – Shannon, Amazon review
“I love a good sweet, clean romance, but normally I take mine with a guaranteed happily ever after… this time, however, that wouldn’t have been as meaningful and precious as this military wife’s love story deserved. The realistic detail is truly wrenching, and beautifully done.”
– Michelle, Goodreads review
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