Spotlight & Giveaway: Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Annie England Noblin to HJ!

Hi Annie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Spring Fling!

Hello! I’m so excited to be here.
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Spring Fling is about rekindling of a long, lost love. Mylie and Ben haven’t seen each other since the summer they graduated from high school 10 years prior. Ben returns to the small town of Clay Creek for what is supposed to be a short stay to sell his familial home, but his feelings for Mylie are just as strong as they ever were, and unbeknownst to him, Mylie feels the exact same way. The only hold up is, well, themselves.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“So you’re telling me Ben Lawrence, the nerd you’ve been in love with since sixth grade, is back in town, and you threatened to shoot him?”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Clay Creek is a fictional town set in the rural Arkansas Ozarks, but it’s loosely based on the town of Mountain Home, which is located on a beautiful lake in Baxter County, Arkansas. Every time I picture Clay Creek, I think of Mountain Home and all the memories I have on the lake with my friends and family.
• Granny is based on my great grandmother (whom I never got to meet), Zelpha Barnes Newcomb . She was a chain-smoking, fiery redhead who just happened to be married to a Pentecostal preacher. She didn’t mince words, and she didn’t take any shit, either. She and Granny are an awful lot alike.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

I think, for both of them, realizing that the other “gets them” early on in life is what gives them an unbreakable bond. Both Mylie and Ben are outcasts in their own way, and having each other makes them feel much less alone.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Any part with Fat Tony the raccoon made me laugh. Sometimes the scenes with Granny made me emotional because I lost my own grandmother, whom I was very close with, in 2021. I miss her and her wisdom a lot, even though she and Granny are/were very different people. My grandmother was a real LADY. And Granny, well…you’ll see.

Readers should read this book….

if they like the cozy (and slightly chaotic) vibe of small towns coupled with strong female characters and found-again love.

Was that too much? Not enough? I never know what to say here!

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’ve recently taken a writing hiatus for the last year, and it’s been quite healing. I have a few irons in the fire right now, and I’m hoping to have a draft of a new novel finished sometime this year.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A print copy of SPRING FLING by Annie England Noblin

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Do you think a lost love can be found, even after a decade or more?

 
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Excerpt from Spring Fling:

Mylie’s favorite part of the day was driving home from work, especially during the springtime. She was too tired and cranky in the morning to appreciate the beauty of the Ozark Mountains, but at night, when everything was quiet and the day was wearing off, Mylie felt like someone had created this entire expanse of earth just for her. In a few weeks, the tourists would be coming in droves. They’d be gearing up for the big Spring Fling fishing tournament next month. Hook, Line, & Sinker played a huge role in the festivities. They were one of the biggest sponsors of the tournament, and they even had an all-women’s team this year to compete.

Nearly all of the business in town sponsored the tournament in one way or another. The Cracked Egg, the best restaurant in town, did the most. Her friend Melissa, whose family owned the place, had already pledged to make this year the best year yet.

There was a lot to think about, but not right now. Right now, it was just a few days into May, and everyone was still shaking off the chill of winter. The mornings were cool, but the afternoons were warm, and Mylie loved it. Spring was in the air, and right now, she had time to enjoy the calm.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Rekindle your belief in the magic of first love and the charm of small towns with Annie England Noblin’s delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Sarah Adams.

Spring is in the air and Mylie has everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.

After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.

Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.

Told with Annie England Noblin’s signature wit, cozy charm, and a dash of spice, Spring Fling is the perfect friends-to-lovers read.
Book Links:  Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Annie England Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She graduated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English and communications for Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She spends her free time playing make-believe, feeding stray cats, and working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs.
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