Perfectly Imperfect by Kara Leigh Miller
Genre: YA Contemporary Christian Romance
Synopsis:
Isabelle Carson is charging into her senior year equipped with a handy checklist to ensure nothing goes awry. Things she didn’t account for: a hot, new guy who almost runs her over, a messed up class schedule, and a boyfriend who dumps her for one of her best friends. All of that pales in comparison to the threat of her dirty family secrets breaking free from the perfect façade she’s diligently maintained since the death of her brother.
Grayson Alexander is on his fourth school in as many years. Lakewood Valley High is exactly like all the others, with one shiny exception: Isabelle Carson. She’s smart, funny, beautiful— the perfect package. But Isabelle is hiding something, and Grayson is determined to do whatever it takes to win her trust, except step foot in another hypocritical church.
As Isabelle’s life spirals out of control and her carefully crafted, picture-perfect image begins to shatter, Grayson does what no one else can: he makes her laugh and allows her to be imperfect. With rekindled faith, Isabelle sets out to right all the wrongs in her life. But Grayson has been damaged by his own family secrets, and Isabelle will have to decide if the boy she’s falling for more and more each day is a right or a wrong.
welcome kara leigh miller
Welcome, Kara! I’m thrilled to have you on my blog today!
Tell us about yourself – including something not many people know.
I’m a stay-at-home mom to 4 kids, 3 pit bulls, and 6 cats. I’ve been married almost 12 years to a man worthy of being a romance-novel hero. I’m an author and the Editorial Director for Anaiah Press. When I’m not herding my family, I’m writing, reading, going to the gym, or playing Monster Busters on my phone. (I’m addicted to that game. Ha!) Something not many people know about me… Hmm… Well, I’ve never had a broken bone. Or the chicken pox. But I did have a rare childhood disease called Sydenham’s Chorea and Rheumatic Fever.
3 pits! They’re adorable by the way. I’ve seen cute photos. We have one old lady pit, a big sweetheart.
Tell us about Perfectly Imperfect in a brief paragraph.
Isabelle Carson used to have the perfect life, but it all began to fall apart when her brother died in a car accident. Now, her mom is an alcoholic, her father is a workaholic, and Isabelle is trying to keep up the facade of perfection. When new guy Grayson Alexander shows up, her facade, like her life, shatters. He makes her laugh and helps her realize that God loves everyone, imperfections and all.
What inspired the writing of this particular story?
I’m really not sure. LOL. I’d had this idea pop into my head about this guy parking a motorcycle in a bicycle rack and a girl calling him out on it—this turned out to be the opening scene of the book, which you can read for free here: https://www.karaleighmillerauthor.com/chapter-one-perfectly-imperfect.html. Once I’d written that scene, the rest of the book just sort of came to me. I heard Belle and Grayson’s voices so clearly, and they demanded to have their story told.
I love when a story takes shape from just one scene. It’s the best kind of organic writing!
What’s one reader pet peeve do you have?
Oh, man, I have so many. Hahaha. Being an editor makes it very hard to fall into a story and not pick it apart—my editor brain never shuts off. But I’d have to say my biggest pet peeve is head hopping in a story. Please, just pick a point-of-view and stick with it. I really don’t need to know what that one waiter at that one restaurant thought about the character’s dress. It’s not important.
What’s something you love that a lot of readers might hate?
Love triangles! This trope gets a lot of hate, and I get why, but I’m a sucker for a good love triangle. I want to have my heart torn in two as I agonize over the choice the character needs to make.
This is why we’re friends! Romance fanatics all the way. I also adore love triangles.
What’s the best part about your day job?
My day job is Editorial Director for Anaiah, which encompasses a lot of different tasks, but my favorite is working directly with authors on their manuscripts. There’s nothing better than seeing an author learn and grow as a writer after a few rounds of edits. And finding a new manuscript or author that I click with on every level is amazing, too. It’s so fun to squee with authors about their books and characters.
What’s the most difficult part about your day job?
Sending rejections. As an author, I know how much they suck, and I hate sending them. Whenever I get ready to hit send on a rejection email, I always hesitate and wonder / worry how the author will react. What if my rejection is the final straw, the thing that pushes them over the edge to quit writing or pursuing publication? I don’t ever want to make an author feel that way.
Can you tell us what’s next in your writing/publishing aspirations?
I’m working on a secular paranormal romance series—my personal homage to Twilight—that I plan to publish via my own publishing company, FireChicken Press, LLC. After that, I have a YA contemporary Christian romance series (that’s totally a love triangle 😉). Beyond that, I’m not sure… I’ll see where the muse leads me.
Tell us where we can find you.
Newsletter – https://eepurl.com/bn1wyD
Website: www.karaleighmillerauthor.com
Blog: www.karaleighmiller.blogspot.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kara-Leigh-Miller/e/B009L2V782
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3352132601
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMiller
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaleighmiller/
Thanks for sharing about Perfectly Imperfect and joining us today!