About the Book
Book: Intentional Fires (Book Two in the Sunrise Crik Series)
Author: Rebecca McLafferty
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Release date: June 10, 2024
A
widowed Christmas tree farm owner and her fiancé, a forest service
special agent, deal with fires, thefts, and a 90-year family
feud—stretching them to the snapping point.
After experiencing an attack, theft, and arson on the family Christmas tree farm, newly engaged Toni Stevens searches for those responsible, including disputed historic records. With two boys and a mother to support, the pressure is on her to increase profitability of the tree farm. Who is trying to ruin her? Can she put a stop to the generational feud?
Toni’s fiancé, U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Sam Duncan is hunting down a potential arsonist turned murderer. His rugged paths uncover Montana drug runners, feudal secrets—and a host of emotions that were buried alive.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Wisconsin
resident Rebecca McLafferty began her writing
career by co-creating a writers’ group and hosting writing
conferences on her alpaca farm. Married for 51 years, mother of
two, grandmother to five, and an Aussiedoodle mom, Rebecca
cherishes writing, reading, and fellowshipping. Author of
Intentional Fires, Intentional Heirs, and Devotions
for Country Living: Prayer-Enriched Fields, she loves getting
to know readers
More from Rebecca
There is a saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Rebecca McLafferty totally agrees!
Rebecca is the author of the Sunrise Crik Series, which consists of action-packed romantic suspense novels set in current-day Montana. She and her husband have vacationed and explored the Livingston to Bozeman area where this series takes place. The town of Woodridge is fictious, but a number of area establishments mentioned within her stories are real.
The phrase “The Big Sky” was coined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie in his 1947 novel of that name. In addition to the obvious vision of unobstructed sky, Big Sky Country—to Rebecca—represents big dreams and big faith. It symbolizes the backbone of Montana!
Are you wondering how Rebecca can authentically write about growing Christmas trees? It’s because she and her husband owned Country Memories Farm in Wisconsin where they raised alpacas, and planted and grew Christmas trees! She also operated Country Memories Mercantile (now downsized to an online store). Their love of educating others evolved into an operation that hosted school, family, and community events. That’s why she loves to interact personally with people from all walks of life!
And are you wondering how Rebecca knows about police department operations—even drug smugglers? She worked for a tourist-town’s police department—a fascinating place to get ideas!
Rebecca admits to having worked dozens of unusual jobs (great discussion material for another time). She wondered why she experienced such diverse occupations before God revealed to her that she needed authenticity for her novel writing. What she hasn’t experienced herself, she has visited or thoroughly researched.
The title, Intentional Fires implies forest fires. That’s obvious. But there are other types of fires that burn intentionally. Internal fires can sustain a 90-year feud and lifetimes of unforgiveness, resentment, and broken dreams. Do you suffer from an internal fire?
- Whether you live in Montana or dream of visiting the west . . .
- Whether you have an entrepreneurial spirit that wants you to succeed . . .
- Whether you want to fall in love, rekindle your faith, or root for an underdog . . .
Come and experience the heartfelt struggles that Montanans fight with all their might to protect.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 22
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 23
Stories By Gina, March 24 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 24
Blossoms and Blessings, March 25 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 26
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 27 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 28
A Reader’s Brain, March 29 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 30
Guild Master, March 31
For Him and My Family, April 1
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 2 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, April 2
Holly’s Book Corner, April 3
Vicky Sluiter, April 4 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate
her tour, Rebecca is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon
gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54181
Interview with Rebecca
What has been your greatest writing achievement to date?
Odd as it is, my greatest writing achievement was neither writing or publishing. Military families move a lot. Taking college classes was challenging. In July of 2023, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in English and Creative Writing from Liberty University. I am a writer of Christian books, so this Christian collegial experience was invaluable. Now I feel qualified to write, publish, and speak.
I’ve published two Christian fiction novels in the Montana-based Sunrise Crik Series. I’ll finish the third in the next months. I also published a devotion book.
During my jr. high years, I entered a ‘Voice of Democracy’ contest sponsored by the VFW. I read my winning paper on the radio. That experience changed my life. I loved writing the paper, and I loved public speaking.
My greatest writer/reader achievement comes when someone relays how they connected with a character, or how their relationship with Jesus grew.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve created? Tell us about them.
One of my favorite characters isn’t even a heroine . . . or is she?
Retired SMSgt. Mary Jane Martin enlisted in the Woman’s Army Corps (WAC), which became regular Army in 1943. She retired at 38. Details are spoilers.
Have you ever heard of Deborah Sampson?1 In 1782, she disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She served for three years, taking part in several battles before her true identity was discovered. She even removed a musket ball from her own leg so as not to be discovered!
Retired SMSgt. Martin possesses the tenacity of Deborah Sampson. And she possesses the eccentricities of Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. Nobody ever knows what she’s going to do, and it’s usually outrageous. She is present throughout the series, in some books more than others.
Give us an insight into your faith in the Lord.
My relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in my life. Without that, everything falls apart. I am so grateful that my husband, and my daughter’s family, feel the same way. We shine with the reflection of God’s love.
My father was a WWII veteran and an alcoholic. I would find him occasionally reading the Bible, but it was never spoken of. Church seldom happened after a Saturday night binge. I loved visiting a few school friends and watching their families interact. They prayed and talked to God as if it was perfectly normal. Out loud! Oh, how I wanted that.
At age nine or ten, our pastor visited my mom during a domestic abuse call. Out of the blue, he invited me—a girl who yearned for church but only attended a few times each year—to narrate our church’s Christmas play. While I read the Luke’s Christmas story, Jesus came alive to me. I asked for his forgiveness and invited Him into my heart. Many years later, in 2010, after the tragic death of our son, I rededicated my life to Jesus. And in 2022, my husband and I were water-baptized.
We live for God, every day, all day. I often read Romans 10:14-15, which says: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
My writing, speaking, and fellowshipping is my calling. 😊
Tell us something unique about yourself.
I used to wonder why God provided me with mind-blowing jobs. I’ve worked in personnel, legal, political, real estate, law enforcement, and education. I taught cake decorating and baking, and love animals. Then I realized—God is preparing me to write!
For nine years, my husband and I owned an alpaca farm. We also grew Christmas trees (hence the Intentional Fires’ heroine). I ran a cozy country store in the barn with a “Christmas All Year” corner. That store was dear to me!
Young and spunky, I wore a Dale Evans cowgirl costume (yes, fringe and all). I loved cowboy life. My husband and I lived in Arizona and we’ve visited Montana. I’m a cowgirl at heart. This series takes place in a town between Livingston and Bozeman. Did you ever hear the saying, “Every day is a new adventure in Montana”? My stories exactly!
Is your book part of a series?
Yes, and I’m thankful for that. The Sunrise Crik series will consist of six books, all set in or near Woodridge, Montana. The books are Intentional Heirs (released), Intentional Fires (released now), and I’m writing book three, Intentional Motives. I’m planning for three more stories in the series after that.
Characters overlap stories, and some will surprise you. There is always a law enforcement or U.S. Forest Service side of the story, and there is always an entrepreneur who is struggling. And God holds the key to the stories’ themes which usually center around God’s love, redemption, and forgiveness.
I always love hearing from readers. They can email me at mclaffertyenterprises@gmail.com or visit our website at https://www.mclaffertyenterprises.com/author-rebecca.
Thank you so much for graciously offering this interview. It was a pleasure!
Rebecca McLafferty
1 https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/deborah-sampson
