A perfect way to start the New Year is to devour a swoon-worthy read with a hot chef set in the beautiful Florida Keys. Grab your beach chair, hammock or cozy spot on the couch — this dreamy love story will have you begging for more. Check out my review, as well as some questions I had the chance to ask author Rochelle B. Weinstein about the book!
This Is Not How It Ends
By Rochelle B. Weinstein
Charlotte Myers has an unexpected seatmate on her flight back to Kansas City. This pretty, small town schoolteacher is immediately captivated by Philip’s charm, good looks and irresistible British accent. More sophisticated and generous than any man she has ever known, Charlotte is quickly swept off her feet — all the way to Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. Philip’s frequent business trips leave Charlotte lonely with too much time to contemplate her future. The ring placed firmly on her finger may not represent the life she once dreamed of. As Mother Nature tests the couple’s resilience with a hurricane approaching, a handsome chef at Morada Bay tempts Charlotte’s desires and it is the calm after the storm that slowly tears her apart. Have the tissues ready for this heartbreakingly beautiful story.
Did you spend a lot of time in the Keys? Why Islamorada?
My family and I love the Keys. It’s not a far drive from our home in Miami, and we treasure the beauty and simplicity. Morada Bay is one of our favorite spots and everything about it in the novel is authentic.
Was extensive research required to write this book?
I was introduced to NAET therapy because of some pesky late-in-life allergies and quickly became a patient of Carly Rachman, DOM and Leslie Fergang, DC. Through my own personal treatments and curious nature, this mother-daughter duo provided me with a wide breadth of information. The medical issues in the novel were, unfortunately, based on personal experience with someone I loved and lost.
Is Dr. Liberty based on a specific physician in the Keys?
No, Liberty is probably Leslie and Carly from the NAET clinic I spent many afternoons in! Liberty is a very special name though. One of the lacrosse moms has a daughter named Liberty, and I fell in love with the name. I get a lot of my names this way. Just meeting people randomly. Voila!
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the beginning of your writing/publishing journey?
The writing life is a wild ride. There will be good days and there will be bad. There’s satisfaction and there’s self-doubt. Rejection is part of the process and what separates success from failure. It’s all about getting back up again. You will never feel more joy and gratitude than touching a reader. The author community is mostly supportive. Knowing all this in advance will help any aspiring writer.
What can we look forward to next?
My sixth book is with my agent. I’m actually sitting here on pins and needles waiting to hear her assessment. It’s a love story within a love story and nothing is ever what it seems!
READERGIRL TIP:
Join the fun and meet author, Rochelle B. Weinstein at Hooked on Books in Islamorada. She will be presenting her new romance novel set in Islamorada on Monday, Feb. 10 at noon at the book shop located at MM 81. All are welcome and no RSVP is necessary!
