Law student Brooke Sherman leads an enviable life, with an impressive
education, a prestigious internship, and an ambitious boyfriend who any
girl on campus would love to date. But one phone call shatters
everything: her father, the optimistic man who insists on buying lottery
tickets and dreaming big, has terminal cancer. Desperate to get home
and predictably unable to rely on her boyfriend, Brooke finds an
unlikely hero in the form of her classmate.
Jason Ramsey has had a
crush on his study partner Brooke for months, but he’d never encroach
on someone else’s girlfriend—even if the guy doesn’t treat her the way
she deserves. But when he learns of Brooke’s father’s diagnosis, Jason
steps up to help however he can. In the weeks and months following,
Jason is Brooke’s rock, and after Brooke’s breakup, Jason becomes much
more than just a friend. But even as they plan for a future together,
things get complicated: Brooke’s father had a dying wish, that his
daughter buy one last lottery ticket. She never dreamed that fulfilling
that wish would jeopardize a future with the man she loves.
Author Interview
Life Is What It's Called - Why did you decide to write a new
contemporary romance novel vs. another action/spy thriller?
Traci Hunter Abramson - When I first started writing,
contemporary romance was what I read the most. This particular story has been
floating around in my head for literally decades, and it finally took shape a
couple years ago.
The first contemporary romance I wrote,
Chances Are, was a complete accident. Every time I tried to write a
suspense scene, my sense of humor got in the way, and it turned into a romance.
At that time I discovered a secret. When I need a fun break from suspense, or
when I need to get a book out quickly without dealing with the CIA’s review
process, writing a romance is a refreshing change.
Life Is What It's Called - How does the writing process of
contemporary romance vs. action/spy thriller differ?
Traci Hunter Abramson - The biggest differences are the
pacing and the complexity of the plot. The pacing for a romance develops so
much slower that I often have to rewrite my romances to get the timing down
right. I also love that in a romance, I don’t have to juggle so many complex
subplots as I do in my thrillers. Instead, I’m able to enjoy the characters
without worrying someone may try to kill them.
Life Is What It's Called - What have you pulled into this
story from your own life?
Traci Hunter Abramson - The idea for a A Change of Fortune stems from spending my teenage years living with my dad after my
parents split up. My father started buying a lottery ticket every week, and he
would talk about all the things he would do when he won. Eight years ago, he
passed away after a short battle with cancer, so I drew from my emotions from that
experience, as well as from my dad’s earlier dreams, to create the main
character’s father. Their small farm is also reminiscent of the little farm I
lived on when I was a teenager, only I lived in small town Arizona rather than
Delaware.
Paul, the godfather in the story, is
based on my real godfather, who is also named Paul. A lot of my Uncle Sam’s
wisdom and life lessons have also seeped into this book, right down to the
Mickey Mouse watch my uncle wore to remind him not to let life get too serious.
Life Is What It's Called - Are there more contemporary
romances in your future?
Traci Hunter Abramson - Absolutely. I have one which has
already been accepted for publication next year, as well as a novella that will
come out in the spring of 2021. I expect going forward, I will write two
suspense/thrillers each year and one contemporary romance.
Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope fans will gain
from this story?
Traci Hunter Abramson - I hope people will enjoy riding
along with me as they explore some of the life lessons and values that the
important people in my life have shared with me over the years. Helping others,
working hard to make your dreams come true, and always being true to yourself
top the list.
Life Is What It's Called - How long does it take for
you to write a book?
Traci Hunter Abramson - That’s a loaded question. It can
take me anywhere from a month to six months to write a book depending on how
many projects I’m working on at the same time. My average is around two to
three months.
Life Is What It's Called - What was your favorite scene from
this book to write?
Traci Hunter Abramson - I think my favorite scene to write
was actually the one when Jason comes home to his apartment and finds his
roommate packing. It was a simple glimpse of college/graduate school life, and
it was the scene where I discovered who Jason was and what he wanted in life.
When I first started writing,
contemporary romance was what I read the most. This particular story has been
floating around in my head for literally decades, and it finally took shape a
couple years ago.
The first contemporary romance I wrote,
Chances Are, was a complete accident. Every time I tried to write a
suspense scene, my sense of humor got in the way, and it turned into a romance.
At that time I discovered a secret. When I need a fun break from suspense, or
when I need to get a book out quickly without dealing with the CIA’s review
process, writing a romance is a refreshing change.
Review
A Change of Fortune was a fun summer read. I enjoyed the characters' blossoming romance. It was interesting to see how the different characters reacted to the idea of fortunes, greed, and money. The theme seemed to run rampant in the book and you could see it from many different viewpoints. The lottery topic was well researched. It was interesting to see how Brooke reacted to her change in fortune and how she had to take most of it on by herself. The romance was light and interesting. The only part that felt like a reach for me was how easy and fast it was for the characters to get a job with a law firm. The law firm didn't ask for a record of their grades or resumes. It seemed unrealistic to me. Otherwise, the book was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to contemporary romance fans. It's a clean, wholesome read. Learn more about
A Change of Fortune by clicking
here.
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post. The giveaway is run by the publisher.