Hello everyone!
Kyra Jacobs, here, trying to contain my excitement during release week for my latest contemporary romance novel, ONCE UPON A SUMMER NIGHT. This is the final book in my Bourbon Falls series, each of which put a modern twist on a classic fairy tale. For SUMMER NIGHT, Cinderella was the featured retelling. And, yes, Hannah Brooks is finally coming home. The question that remains is: will she stay?
I honestly couldn’t wait to write SUMMER NIGHT, as it was “talking to me” from the start. So when we decided to place it at the end of the series, I had to put those characters and their journeys to Happily Ever After on hold. And though this story was on my mind from the get-go, ironically, it proved to be the hardest book of the series to write.
Because everything had to be perfect.
Hannah’s return. Noah. Chase. The Brooks family. The town. The Brooks sisters. Mrs. Harper and her sisters. (Come on, you know you loved them!) The bookstore. Everything.
After one painful first draft, and some empathetic coaching from my amazing editor, I finally got out of my own way and let the story write itself. And let me tell you, when a story brings an author to tears for all the right reasons multiple times in a story, that’s when we know we got it right. (Happy tears, mostly. You’ll have to trust me on that. )
Plot struggles aside, it was second nature writing about summertime in Indiana. I has so much fun writing about the things that I did in my childhood and as the mother of two boys.
Baseball. Playing catch with a Nerf football. Cookouts. Pet goldfish. Going to the park. Swimming in ponds. Dealing with stormy weather. Dessert. Neighbors.
Family.
In book three, we get to take a deeper look into the main Brooks family. You may even be surprised by a few things you learn about them. But those past experiences had to be there to make the Brooks family come to life. Because all families face trials and tribulations. Difficult times shape us, force us to either grow and thrive or shrink and wither. Sometimes, results come quickly. Other times, they do not.
But that’s the beauty of the resilient human spirit—it’s in our DNA to keep trying. To overcome. To love.
Thankfully, no fairy godmothers or glass slippers required.
I hope you enjoy your return visit to Bourbon Falls in ONCE UPON A SUMMER NIGHT, and that Hannah’s homecoming story gives you all the right feels. Let me know how you enjoyed SUMMER NIGHT and follow me on social media for upcoming glimpses of my next series, in the works now!
Wishing everyone a safe and magical summer,
Kyra
About the Author.
Kyra Jacobs is an extroverted introvert who’s always called Indiana home. Growing up in the Midwest means she’s well-versed in fickle weather, pork tenderloins that don’t fit on a bun, and sarcasm. Putting her Indiana University degrees in Public Management to good use by day means Kyra does the bulk of her writing late into the night. Fueled by caffeine and funny memes, she weaves humor and chaos into her stories, which range from sweet romance to mysteries and even paranormal/fantasy.
When this Hoosier native isn’t at a keyboard, daydreaming through her fingertips, she’s likely outside, elbow-deep in snapdragons or spending quality time with her sports-loving family. Kyra also loves to bowl, tries to golf, and is an avid college football fan. Be sure to stop by kyrajacobsbooks.com to learn more about her novels and ways to connect with Kyra on social media.
