
Ever wonder how authors create couples who are mad enough at each other to separate, but not so mad that readers throw the book across the room? Let me take you into the messy kitchen of crafting a marriage-in-trouble romance…
When I started writing Small Town Harmony, I knew I was attempting one of the trickiest recipes in the romance cookbook. Marriage-in-trouble stories require a precise balance of ingredients. Too much conflict, and readers lose faith in the relationship. Too little, and they wonder why the couple separated in the first place.
Key Ingredients: Building Believable Conflict
Here’s a peek at my recipe development process:
First, I needed two characters with legitimate grievances. But like any good chef, I had to taste-test carefully. Some conflicts were too bitter (abuse was off the menu entirely), while others weren’t substantial enough to threaten a marriage. I needed problems that felt real and relatable, but not unforgivable.
Then came the crucial ingredients: lingering love, shared history, and that spark that made them fall for each other in the first place. These had to be folded in gently, showing up in small moments and memories that reminded readers (and the characters themselves) why this relationship was worth fighting for.
Taste-Testing: Adding Drama Without Bitterness
Of course, no marriage story would be complete without watching our characters make some… let’s call them “questionable” choices along the way. Readers might want to grab these characters by the shoulders and give them a good shake. But that’s exactly what authors want—readers so invested in the relationship that they’re mentally yelling, “Can’t you see what you’re throwing away?” Because those feelings only come when readers can see how good these two could be together.
The secret ingredient? Hope. Every good romance needs it, but in a marriage-in-trouble story, it needs to be sprinkled in with extra care. Too much too soon feels unrealistic. Too little, and readers lose faith. Finding that balance meant adding just enough sweet moments between the bitter ones, like sugar in a complex sauce.
Pressure Cooking: The Small Town Setting
All of this had to simmer in the pressure cooker of a small town setting within a close-knit family and church community, the fishbowl of a celebrity couple, where private pain becomes public spectacle, and everyone has an opinion about your marriage.
Serving It Up: Reader Reactions
How do you know when you’ve got the recipe just right? When early readers tell you they’re emotionally invested in both characters, rooting hard for their reconciliation, and staying up late to finish “just one more chapter.” I’m deeply grateful (and more than a little relieved!) that early reviews are calling this my best book yet. Like any chef, there’s no better feeling than hearing your dish hit all the right notes.
Small Town Harmony releases in one week, and I can’t wait to serve it up to readers. I hope you’ll find it has just the right blend of complex emotions, authentic conflicts, and earned forgiveness—with a satisfying helping of hope for dessert.