About the Book
Book: Love in the Headlines
Author: Penny Zeller
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: May 9, 2023
Can paper and paw prints draw these two nemeses together?
All Carleigh Adams wants is a relaxing evening. But Sullivan Theodore IV, her wayward Shih Tzu, has other plans. After escaping from home, Sullivan Theodore unlawfully enters what Carleigh assumes is a stranger’s house via a doggy door. Much to Carleigh’s horror, it is actually the home of her coworker and nemesis, Trey “The Irritating” Montgomery.
Trey Montgomery has had to work with “Quirky Carleigh,” his top competitor for the best articles at The Oakville Daily, for the past two years. It’s safe to say that she and her criminally-minded pet are his adversaries. Trey’s attempts to keep his distance from her are demolished when their boss thrusts them together as The Oakville Daily Duo, forcing them to work as a team on every. Single. Article.
Petty crimes and crazy shenanigans in Oakville soon draw Carleigh and Trey into doubling as detectives. When dogs, including their own pets, begin to mysteriously disappear, Carleigh and Trey join forces to uncover the culprit. As they work to report the daily news and solve the crimes in Oakville, can these two stubborn reporters find love in the headlines?
Faith, plentiful humor, and tender romance round out the latest Christian contemporary romance novel by Author Penny Zeller.
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My Review
Penny Zeller takes the reader on a fun adventure in this enemies-to-friends contemporary romance. The witty banter in the dialog and comical situations keep the story moving.
Carleigh and Trey are journalists who compete for what they each believe are the best assignments. When their boss pairs them together, their lives will never be the same. Forced to work as a team, they tackle each hilarious small-town story and slowly become friends.
My favorite part of this book was the amazing dialog between Carleigh and Trey. Zeller created a wonderful volley of funny and sarcastic zingers between them. I loved that Zeller made dogs a central part of the plot and characters’ lives.
The pace of the story moved well, but the romance developed almost excruciatingly slowly for my taste. The romance was light, clean, and sweet when it finally developed. I wish there would have been a scene where Trey proposed. Given all the bizarre things that happened to these two reporters, it would have been amazing to include a less-than-perfect scene of this. Maybe Penny will write one for her website or newsletter?
Fans of sweet, Christian romance will enjoy this story. It’s also suitable and appealing for a YA audience.
Genre: Christian Romance, Inspirational Romance, Small Town Romance, YA Romance
Location: Small Town
Time Period: Contemporary
Romance: Very clean. Light kissing.
Faith: Characters go to church, some Bible verses
Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Maplebrook Publishing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is the author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, bicycling/cycling, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, blog, and on Facebook.
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More from Penny
The Inspiration Behind Love in the Headlines
When the idea for Love in the Headlines popped into my head, I knew I wouldn’t have to go far to find the inspiration for Sullivan Theodore IV, the spunky and mischievous Shih Tzu in the story.
For, once upon a time, a little white puppy needed a home.
From the second my niece and nephews walked through the door with him, Sulley Jaxx became more than just a pet. He became a member of the family.
It’s definitely not uncommon for dogs to become members of families. However, Sulley’s adoption became even more special because of his new family.
Years ago, my mom suffered a serious accident and she subsequently became wheelchair-bound. Unable to live the active life she once did, she and my dad were blessed to be able to move into the “mother-in-law apartment” of my sister and brother-in-law’s house.
My niece, Ally, has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder, POTS, which can, at times, seriously interfere with her daily activities.
Enter Sulley.
My mom and Ally have what could only be considered as a “joint custody” arrangement. While Sulley’s favorite person is Ally, he is also quite partial to snuggling with my mom in her chair, and truly, my mom spoils him and lets Sulley get away with everything.
Sulley begs treats off a big softie known as my dad, aka Poppy, to his grandchildren, and Sulley runs like the wind with my nephew, Kolten. He recently gained a new admirer when my nephew, Seth, and his wife, Autumn, had their baby daughter.
And the inspiration behind the newspaper reporters? Back when video cameras were big, clunky, and oversized, my sister, cousin, friends, and I pretended to be reporters. We’d report and record the news, including some fun and very fabricated stories. Sometime I’ll have to do an archeological dig and locate those old VHS tapes.
I also wrote “articles” with friends and co-workers from my after-school job as the main characters of those articles. I wanted to be a reporter, and was blessed to be a photojournalist when my daughters were little. That launched my career as an author, my dream since I was in second grade.
Love in the Headlines takes readers on an enjoyable journey into a small, close-knit, American town where everyone knows everyone else. A town where faith and church are important. A slow-paced town where the newspaper’s main goal is to provide a family-friendly news outlet and everyone is excited when their photos or stories are featured. As Howard, the owner, says, “We should have an entire cache of great photos and well-written articles that will cause parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and everyone twice removed to purchase copies of The Oakville Daily.”
Love in the Headlines is a Christian contemporary romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope as the main theme. And, while most things in Oakville move at a relaxed pace, when a stranger begins committing crimes, including dognapping, Howard puts Carleigh and Trey, aka, The Oakville Daily Duo on the story. Will they realize their feelings for each other in the process?
With tender romance, faith, and abundant humor, I can’t wait for readers to meet Carleigh, Trey, Sullivan Theodore IV, Jaxx, and the rest of the gang.
Blog Stops
Pause for Tales, May 12
She Lives to Read, May 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14
Texas Book-aholic, May 15
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 16
Cover Lover Book Review, May 20
For Him and My Family, May 21
Bizwings Book Blog, May 22
Holly’s Book Corner, May 22
Splashes of Joy, May 23
Karen Baney Reviews, May 24
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Thank you for sharing your review of Love in the Headlines, this sounds like a cute story and I am looking forward to reading it myself
Thank you so much, Karen, for being a part of the Love in the Headlines blog tour!