In Becca Kinzer’s laugh-out-loud Christian romantic comedy Not What We Pictured, a perfectly planned proposal goes hilariously wrong and strands a determined photographer at a charming Tennessee bed and breakfast, where unexpected romance, family healing, and a reminder of God’s treasured identity await.
Meet Becca Kinzer
Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she’s worked as an ICU nurse for over twenty years. After handling plenty of real-life stress and drama on the job, she pours her energy into writing lighthearted romantic comedies that bring laughter and heart to readers. A classic-movie lover, she weaves in subtle nods to old films and actors throughout her stories.
Fun Fact: I used to be a runner and completed a couple of marathons back in my twenties. Even though I don’t run anymore, the lessons in perseverance I learned on those long miles still shape and inspire my creative life every day.
About the Book: Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer
What happens when a well-meaning sister tries to create the perfect marriage proposal… and everything goes hilariously wrong?
McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best-laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?
Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.
With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.
If you’re craving Christian fiction that delivers big laughs alongside genuine heart, Not What We Pictured is pure delight. Becca Kinzer’s warm, witty voice makes you feel right at home in a story that celebrates God’s treasure in every person—no matter their background or past mistakes. This Christian romance blends lighthearted fun with deeper themes of forgiveness, identity in Christ, and second chances, making it perfect for fans of clean, feel-good contemporary romance. You’ll laugh, root for McKenna and Nate, and walk away reminded that God sees us as His beloved—no performance required.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Becca: At the beginning of the story McKenna is simply trying to help her younger sister have a perfect marriage proposal experience. But like a lot of my stories, that simple endeavor soon turns into a comedy of errors. Interwoven in the chaos, however, are themes of forgiveness and learning where our true sense of identity comes from, especially when complicated family dynamics are involved.
What is the heart of the romance?
Becca: I’d say the heart of this romance is how a false first impression can still eventually lead to true love. McKenna and Nate’s personalities initially clash at the beginning, but as they’re thrown together in forced proximity and soon find themselves working together to repair a bed and breakfast, they discover they have a lot more in common than they originally thought.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Becca: I hope readers have a blast reading this story and are reminded that God absolutely treasures them no matter what their background or upbringing looks like.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Becca: All of Psalm 139 comes to mind, but especially verse 13 when I think about my character McKenna in this story. Since she was adopted, she questions whether she’s as valued as her sister, who was their parents’ biological daughter. I love how this verse reminds us that we are all cherished and special to God. As a writer I can sometimes be tempted to base my worth and value on sales, reviews, contest wins, and so forth. But this chapter and verse is such a great way to ground myself back in God’s love.
About the Author Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not busy taking care of sick patients or using up all the storage on her phone with pictures of her dog, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel. Not What We Pictured is her fourth novel.
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Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
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In this episode, Kelly chats with Heidi McCahan about her new book A Winter of Sweet Secrets, a Christian romance set in Alaska, and writing through seasons of uncertainty—and how God’s timing, even when confusing, is always right. Heidi opens up about her Alaskan childhood, the ministry impact of her family’s roadside café, and the publishing whirlwind that led her to sign nine book contracts in a single week. From the heart behind A Winter of Sweet Secrets to the behind-the-scenes reality of writing for both Love Inspired and Sunrise Publishing, Heidi shares candid insights, encouragement for aspiring authors, and powerful reminders about trusting God’s plan even when it’s not on our preferred schedule.
Heidi is a bestselling author of uplifting Christian romance set in small towns with big heart. With multiple published titles through Love Inspired and Sunrise Publishing, Heidi crafts hope-filled stories that reflect God’s grace in everyday moments. Originally from Alaska and now living in North Carolina, she’s a wife, mom of three, and a goldendoodle’s favorite human—often found with a good cup of coffee and a book that ends in happily ever after. Visit HeidiMcCahan.com
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Heidi McCahan’s New Book: A Winter of Sweet Secrets
“A sweet and heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and finding love in unexpected places. With charming characters and a small-town Alaskan backdrop, A Winter of Sweet Secrets delivers a delicious mix of romance, resilience, and a dash of mystery that will keep readers turning pages long into the night.” –RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author
What will it take to save her family’s candy company…and end a decades-long feud?
For generations, the Evergreen Candy Company has been a beloved small-town Alaskan tradition run by Jovi Wright’s family—until now. With her grandparents no longer at the helm, Jovi’s parents are considering selling it. When her sister calls with the news, Jovi hops on a plane back home to help rescue the family business. Her plan: launch Grammie’s salted caramel chews as a new product. But with Grammie’s memory fading and the recipe missing, Jovi has her work cut out for her.
Still reeling from being jilted by her fiancé, Jovi welcomes the distraction of trying to re-create the recipe from scratch. The distraction she’s not so sure about is single dad Burke Solomon. The disillusioned author and his adorable little girl have moved in to his late aunt’s cabin just down the road from her grandparents’ home, where she’s staying. And the discovery that their families have been feuding since before either of them were born is too irresistible to ignore.
With a looming deadline and the stresses of single parenthood, the last thing Burke needs is a bright-eyed optimist like Jovi next door. But he finds himself asking for her help adjusting to life in Evergreen more than he’d like to admit. And untangling the history of what happened to the friendship between his late aunt and Jovi’s Grammie provides an antidote to his writer’s block. But when Burke unearths several shocking family secrets, will revealing them settle the feud or bring everything he and Jovi have been working toward crashing down around them?
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
Finding Forevermore is available today!
Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.
Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.
Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.
As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.
Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.
Kelly chats with bestselling author Heidi Main about her latest Love Inspired novel, This Unexpected Texas Reunion. In this sweet Christian romance, Heidi explores themes of brokenness, forgiveness, and rediscovering trust in God. Readers will fall in love with high school sweethearts Brenna and Owen as they navigate second chances, a surprising reunion, and the healing presence of one very adorable pup named Lulu. Heidi also opens up about her faith journey, her love of small-town ranch settings, and how Christian fiction shaped her early walk with God. It’s a moving and joyful episode filled with inspiration and warmth!
Heidi Main is a repeat Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, a Holt Medallion finalist, and a Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers Reader’s Choice Award finalist. Her sweet inspirational romance novels celebrate small-town life, faith, and the beauty of second chances. Though she lives in the suburbs, Heidi dreams of acreage and horseback riding—longings that find their way into her novels through wide-open ranches and loyal horses. A perfect Saturday means relaxing on the deck with her husband and watching the many birds that visit their backyard.
Joshua 1:9, NKJV – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Heidi Main’s New Book: This Unexpected Texas Reunion
Rebuilding a life one paw print at a time.
After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. Recently widowed, Owen McCaw returns to his family’s ranch with his infant daughter to mend his estranged relationship with his parents and agrees to help out at his mother’s camp. As Brenna and Owen clash over every decision, they can’t ignore their growing connection either. When camp comes to an end, the two must decide if risking their hearts is worth a second chance at love…
From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
Finding Forevermore is available today!
Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.
Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.
Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.
As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.
Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.
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