Beauty in the Binding: Author Interview: Once Upon a Horse by Helena Smrcek

Once Upon a Horse JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Once Upon a Horse by Helena Smrcek, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Once Upon a Horse
Series: The Vets of Heavenbrooke County #1
Author: Helena Smrcek
Publisher: EverWind Press
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance

In the charming Heavenbrooke county, where country life meets big-city dreams, 28-year-old accountant Stella Barkley is about to discover that sometimes love arrives when you least expect it.

After a flat tire leaves her stranded on the side of the road, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue—Dr. Jason Alba, a dedicated veterinarian with a heart as big as his ambitions. Their initial encounter sparks an undeniable connection, aided by Stella's spirited Jack Russell Terrier, Milkbone, who takes an immediate liking to Jason thanks to his pocket full of treats.

As their paths intertwine, Stella finds herself drawn to Jason, despite their differing views on farm life and future aspirations. Their budding romance takes unexpected turns, especially when a mysterious missing horse from a local breeder, Enrique Rodriguez, complicates matters.

When Thanksgiving arrives, Jason becomes Stella's unexpected hero, saving her from a culinary disaster and charming her city friends with his warm spirit. But just as their relationship begins to flourish, a crisis emerges in the barn: the missing mare, Starling, is discovered in distress, leading Jason to perform a life-saving surgery that brings them even closer.

However, secrets and misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart. Stella’s desperate attempt to protect a champion mare sends her on a collision course with both Jason and Enrique, forcing her to confront her choices and the future she thought she wanted.

When Stella realizes that her life in Heavenbrooke may be over, she pens a heartfelt goodbye letter to Jason, leaving it at the church where their story began. Alone on Christmas morning, she grapples with loneliness and regret, only to be surprised by the appearance of the man who stole her heart.

Can a simple letter and the magic of Christmas lead them to a second chance? Will they find a way to bridge the divide between city and country, love and loyalty?

Join Stella and Jason on a heartfelt journey of love, loss, and the enduring power of second chances in Once Upon a Horse. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, this tale of unexpected connections and the bonds we forge will leave you believing in the wonder of love.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Also Available

About the Author

Stella pulled on her favorite hat, the only remnant of her ski gear, and exited the truck. A quick inspection confirmed her fear. A flat. She shivered and shoved her hands into the deep pockets of her grandma’s parka, thankful for the warm pair of comfy Sorel boots.

Had anyone from Rogers and James Public Accountants Inc., her former downtown employer, seen her allowing Milkbone to ride shotgun in her grandpa’s pickup, they wouldn’t have believed their eyes. Thankfully, the chance of that happening was virtually zero.

Milkbone scratched at the window.

“No,” she said sternly, patting the pockets for her cellphone. The wind picked up. If only I remembered to throw a tool bag behind my seat.

Stella took off the cable knit mitts and tapped her phone to life. The frosty air nipped at her fingers. No service. Hoping for the impossible, she crossed the road. No luck.

She needed to get to work fast. Mr. Barnes insisted the store always be open on time, with no exceptions. The delivery guy never waited. And as if on cue, Milkbone changed his tactics to whining.

Stella did a quick 360 and scanned the seemingly endless fields stretching on both sides of the road. No farmhouse. She had been driving through this stretch for months now, not considering the possibility of becoming stranded with no help to be found.

About the Author

Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author, screenwriter, public speaker and writing coach. From her romantic suspense series to women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and humor, and her latest favorite, dual timeline historicals—like a box of chocolate truffles—she loves them all. With a passion for storytelling sparked by her grandparents, Helena Smrcek weaves heartfelt tales that explore themes of faith, love, and redemption.

Connect with Helena by visiting helenasmrcek.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Once Upon a Horse?

Helena: When my husband and I bought our first farm, we didn’t know much about country living. I wrote Pitchforks and Pedicures that pretty much candidly describes our experience. We have met so many great people along this journey, who were most helpful and introduced us to farming. One of them was Sarah, who worked at our local feed store. As I got to know her better, I discovered that she rescued horses. I took her out to lunch. We talked about all kinds of horse related things, and she told me about her recent trip to Kentucky. Our conversation turned to race horses, and that opened a whole new world to me, and a story was born.

Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Helena: I’m a fast writer, so I’d say about two months.

Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Helena: When I started to research this story, I had no idea how complex the world of thoroughbreds is. And by no memes do I claim that I understand it now. It’s a combination of deep passion, science and life-long commitment. I hoped to crack open the door for my readers, so they can take a little peek, without getting overwhelmed with facts and figures. I hope I have accomplished that.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Once Upon a Horse?

Helena: I like this quote, because it captures the relationship between Stella and her rescue dog Milkbone. Once Upon a Horse is not only a love story between Jason and Stella, but it also portrays the love for our pets and animals. These creatures make our lives so much better, with their unconditional love, as well as their occasional mischief that makes us smile. I wanted to capture that in this story.

“All right.” She held the door open for him. “Go in and check.”

Milkbone zoomed straight to his doggy bed behind the counter, fetched a stuffed duck chew toy, and brought it back to the front door.

“See, no one took it,” she patted his head. “Now, let me get to work.”

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Helena: It was in the summer of 2020, at a writers conference when one of the most accomplished authors of our lifetime looked at my work (I wrote for magazines until that time) and asked me what I wanted to do. With barely enough confidence to form a complete sentence, I told him I wanted to write a novel. His reply astonished me, because right there he gave me his address and told me to send him three pages of my manuscript. He agreed to mentor me, and walked alongside me, as I learned how to write fiction.

Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Helena: Hmm, most readers may not know the names of my three goats. Rosie is the first goat I ever bought, and that too is a funny story which may end up in a book one day. Carmen is a sweetheart, and a great milker. Her daughter Iris is much like her mom, and comes to me when I call her name. If my husband allowed me, I would house train them, because at times they listen to me better than our dogs.

Q: What are you currently reading?

Helena: I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker.

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Helena: I like romantic suspense, and also clean romance. But I also read biographies and historicals.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Helena: I love to garden. My husband built several raised beds for me, so during the summer I spend a lot of time tending my vegetables, and of course the flower gardens around our house.

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Helena: I do love summer, because we spend a lot of time outdoors. Living on a farm is fun, but also a lot of work. Summer brings tomatoes, berries, and of course hay for our goats. I love the sounds, the wonderful scents and also the opportunity to host BBQ and share all the God’s beauty with our friends during the beautiful, sunny days of summer.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of all 3 books in the Alicia Yu FBI series plus Once Upon a Horse!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 9, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 16, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Winner location limited to where Amazon will ship. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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