I thought it might be a good idea to update you on my writing life since there might be new readers (hello!) and it’s honestly been awhile since I’ve been specific here.

My genre is Christian romance with small town settings. To narrow that more, I use Upstate NY settings because that’s where I spent 34 years and those little towns are gems rarely used in fiction. My passion is to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ through surrender. All my books contain a surrender issue with a chocolate mention.

My tagline?

Encouraging you to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and—one day—the chocolate.

Julie Arduini

For what seems like a decade but is more like five years I’ve been working on the Surrendering Hearts series. I lost a lot of writing time when my mom was sick and passed, but the first book, Anchored Hearts, is available, and the second, Repairing Hearts is well on the way.

I’d love for you to learn more.

The series premise is what happens when a family with an unique birth story stays in the spotlight due to tragedy? From there, each book features a Hart sextuplet who finds their own identity and tries to discover a love like their parents shared.

I am so in love with the Hart family.

The books go in birth order so Anchored Hearts tells Jordyn’s story. She’s used to taking care of everything and everyone but now that the sextuplets are grown, they don’t need her help. Their father is more independent with his life change, and even her work is different. Not being in control puts Jordyn in a spin, especially when she’s paired with no-nonsense reporter Spencer Collins.

The feedback has been positive and encouraging. Readers relate to Jordyn and love her family.

Repairing Hearts tells Ryan’s story. He’s the loner that went into the Navy instead of college. He’s back in the Finger Lakes area but purchased a home outside of Watkins Glen to start a life apart from the chaos his large family brings. The house is a dump and Ryan agrees to be part of a home improvement reality show brother Evan created to help him out of the financial sinkhole he’s in.

Thing is, the reality show is split in two. The first show is all about Ryan and his quest to find a project manager. Repairing Ryan’s Heart has little to do with hammers and nails and more to do with dating drama. The contestants are female and want Ryan as their soulmate. Everyone but BJ Wallace, a quiet Wisconsin hardware store employee with secret ties to the Finger Lakes. Will her secret help Ryan and his hurting heart or destroy him?

This book has been fun to write. I’m not a reality show watcher per se, but I have a friend who is and she helped me craft the ins and outs of the show. Every book needs a villain, and Raini Bly is a contestant with her own secret. She’s going to win or else. My critique partners seethe when they see Raini’s name, so I know I’m on the right track!

Evan will be next in Building Hearts. As the sextuplets celebrate their 25th birthday, it’s time to renovate Ryan’s house. The project manager from Repairing Hearts works with the crews and each Hart sibling has to re-do a room. Evan, known for his scheming and entrepreneurial ways isn’t enjoying the spotlight like he thought he would. Can he find his place with his family and experience a future where he isn’t alone?

James will be next, and I’m still working on his plot. He’s currently a student teacher, so his story will have an education background, and I have a few twists in mind…

Kelly is after that, and I don’t have too much started with her yet. I know her love interest, and he is going to create TONS of conflict.

Paige is last and I have a bit stashed away in my notes on her. The siblings are learning how deep their shared trauma has affected Paige, and they are grieving for her. When it’s time to explore her full story, she’s going to surprise her family and come in contact with someone from a previous book…

I hope you are as curious about the Hart sextuplets and the Surrendering Hearts series as I am. In the image you can see that Anchored Hearts is available on Amazon, and my older books are also available there, but other places as well, including eBooks/online library apps. Search “Julie Arduini” and I believe you will find my books at either low cost or free. Enjoy!

What book/sibling sounds most interesting? Why?