Grace Burrowes and M.L. Buchman: Favorite Authors

Judith is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual practices that nourish the soul and celebrates the journey from relationship to romance.

One of my favorite authors is Grace Burrowes. I’ve lost myself for many hours in her historical romance novels. Imagine my surprise when Genre-ista M.L. Buchman talked about a joint project he’d done with Ms. Burrowes!

Big Sky Ever After is a Montana Romance duet. Matt’s book is Nathan’s Big Sky. I loved the story of a New York City chef ending up at a ranch in Montana. Culture shock and much more. As a reader my warning is “Don’t read Nathan’s Big Sky” on an empty stomach!

Ms. Burrowes’ Tartan Two Step has a culture shock of another kind. Magnus Cromarty travels from Scotland to Montana to check out a Phenom in the world of whisky brewing. Little does he know that the young woman he picks up at the bar is who he’s looking for.

One of the reasons I wanted to read these two stories is because I’ve enjoyed both authors’ earlier books. However, I especially wanted to read more of Ms. Burrowes contemporary romances. While I learned more than I ever knew I wanted to know about whisky distilling, in Ms. Burrowes SweetestKisses series, set in Maryland her background as a family law attorney is put to good use.

Because of my own background in child protective services I was particularly aware of how she portrayed the system that is in place to protect young people. In the child’s best interest was a concept that gained momentum during my years working in the CPS system. And Judge Jean Lewis, one of our circuit court judges, was known nationally for her work in using the “in the child’s best interest” standard in juvenile/dependency court.

I’ve completed the first three Sweetest Kisses books and am looking forward to reading the next and even more of Ms. Burrowes' contemporary romance. Not that I won't be spending time with her historical romance novels. I can see my keeper shelf holding more and more of Ms. Burrowes stories!

My caveat is this: there are child protective services workers who are conscientious, compassionate and genuinely care about the children in their caseloads. They do look at what the child wants and what is in that child’s best interest. However, I truly do understand and appreciate that if that CPS worker showed up in Ms. Burrowes’ stories, conflict and drama would be lost.

The reality is there are CPS workers as portrayed by Ms. Burrowes and there are also attorneys who do the easiest not necessarily the best for their young clients. For some attorneys working in family law or juvenile court is beneath them, drudgery, a thankless duty. I’m grateful Ms. Burrowes portrays lawyering in a child’s best interest as a higher calling. Making a positive difference in a child’s life only makes our society and our country stronger.

I'm always interested in your thoughts. Please let me know how important authenticity is to you as a reader?

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On Writing Contemporary Romance

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

I’ve lived a fairly long and varied life. I’ve had several different careers. The common thread in everything I’ve done is ‘education’ or ‘teaching’. From starting as a classroom teacher in my early twenties to now as an author, my goal is to share something I know about that may assist another person to create a happier life for themselves.

What a great first novel! Just finished reading Lily by Judith Ashley, and loved it. While romance is not a genre I usually read, I found the characters so interesting and well-developed that I was captured by the story, looking forward to what would happen next. As part of a sacred women’s circle myself, it was nice to recognize the supportive bond among the group of women, and to realize how that loving, spiritual bond helped Lily to grow through the difficult challenges of old fears. Now I am looking forward to reading Elizabeth, the next book in the series. G.G.

My time as a child protective service worker was a challenge but through it all, my focus was to support parents in being the best parent they could be. And, when that best wasn’t what the child needed, to find a home that did meet the child’s needs.

As an adoption worker, my goal was to educate the prospective adoptive parents about what to expect when adopting an infant or an older child. Challenges awaited them regardless of their direction. Their decision was to include which challenges would be easiest for them to handle.

Working in law enforcement (there were no corrections officers where I worked, we were all deputy sheriffs), I wanted the women in the jail where I was stationed to learn something that would be a positive in their lives when they got out. I set up and ran a program that allowed the women to make crafts and sell them at the local county courthouse after Thanksgiving. They always sold out!

I am one who finds it difficult to quiet my mind and body long enough to read a chapter or two in a book at one time. Judith Ashley’s Lily caught my attention in the first chapter and held it tight until the last page. I found myself wondering what character I would be in the book and responding as if I was a friend of the characters! Romance, personal growth, and a supportive spiritual circle…how can one not become wrapped into this book? KJ

For two years I worked in Public Welfare. My clients were anyone age 18 and older who was other-abled or over 65 or in a nursing or rehabilitation facility. With limited resources, learning how to use everything available in the best way possible to create the best lifestyle possible was important.

I was educating my clients and I was being educated at the same time. That education helped me establish myself as a case manager and guardian as well as an After Hours Emergency Responder for vulnerable adults.

Being an educator is part of who I am. It may not be in the job description, but I find a way to bring the knowledge I have to support others in creating a better life for themselves.

The characters and essence of Ireland leaped from the pages of this book right into my heart and mind. I could see and hear the characters and picture the surroundings. The author accurately represented the practice and spirituality of those who identify with the Goddess and know She also resides in each of us. Ms. Ashley also emphasizes that the bond of close women friends should not be forsaken because of a bond with a lover. She shows us that there is always a way to compromise to preserve both bonds. As a romantic novel this was delightful. M.M.

And that’s what I do with my stories. Ordinary women who’ve had normal life challenges (domestic violence, infidelity, post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injury, rape, homelessness, etc.) find a way through the dark times into the light of unconditional love.

Is their path easy? No. Their life experiences have taught them to be leery about trusting anyone. But because of the bond created by being part of a Sacred Women’s Circle, they are able to take the leap into the void and find their happily-ever-after.

One of my goals in writing these stories is to pass on to others, ideas about how they might handle difficult situations.

Have you ever gotten an idea that helped you solve a problem by reading a romance novel? Would love to hear your story!

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley