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Surprising Directions
Sweet Ridge Hearts follows a New York marketing executive whose boyfriend steals her idea and promotion, leading her to move in with her cousin in a small town, where she rediscovers herself and finds a new chance at love. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to show how the big, city life isn’t always what it’s hyped up to be. I also wanted to thread a story for Katy and Christine, so Christine could have her happily-ever-after too. Christine had already fallen in love in Book One, but I needed to resolve the long-distance relationship. So, that’s when I created Katy, her cousin, who embarks on her own journey in the small town of Maple Ridge and became my protagonist.
I enjoyed the romantic relationship between Katy and Derek; it is not a whirlwind passion-filled fling, but rather a slow-building and relatable connection. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it, or was it organic?
I knew they both had to grow and evolve in order to be open to a new relationship. I knew what their flaws were and had some ideas of how they would work together, but often things appear organically. That’s what I love about writing—the way characters can take the writer in surprising directions.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My dad was a Vet, and I wanted to show how we need to support our troops better when they return home with PTSD. I wanted to show his healing process. And for Katy, I wanted to encourage readers to follow their dreams, even when it’s scary to face our fears in doing so. I’m a big believer that dreams do come true.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next book is another small-town, sweet romance being published by The Wild Rose Press, called Forever Kind of Love. We are in the editing trenches now and don’t have a release date yet. I imagine it will be the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
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Yet even in country-quiet Maple Ridge, Katy’s skills can be useful, and she’s prepared to jump in to help Christine win a competition for her Sweet Ridge Bakery. What she’s not prepared for is handsome bakery manager Derek Higgins.
A veteran dealing with the aftermath of PTSD, Derek is a lone wolf, and he likes it that way. Being forced to work with a spirited businesswoman and her healthy ego is a challenge every step of the way. But the stakes are too high for him to give up helping his boss.
As the competition heats up, so does the chemistry with Katy—until she’s offered a new job in another city. Now she has to decide whether to take a risk and start her own company, or become the creative director of a new, successful firm, which is everything she ever wanted. At the same time, Derek must face his own issues when personal tragedy wraps him in survivor’s guilt, leaving him unable to forgive himself for past actions.
While Derek seeks to heal the wounds of a haunting past, and Katy searches for the courage to face her fears and forge a new path, what will become of their relationship?
Sweet Ridge Hearts
In Sweet Ridge Hearts, Susan Bagby crafts a warm and heartfelt tale about second chances, personal growth, and rediscovering what truly matters. The story follows Katy Flanagan, a New York marketing executive whose ambition is stymied when her idea is stolen and her promotion handed to her boyfriend, who then breaks up with her for professional reasons. Disillusioned and raw, Katy escapes to the cozy town of Maple Ridge to stay with her cousin Christine. What follows is a touching journey of healing, love, and self-discovery as Katy gets involved with Christine’s thriving bakery business, meets new friends (and a certain handsome veteran named Derek), and begins to see that life’s sweetest rewards often come from unexpected places.
I didn’t expect to get so emotionally tangled up in Katy’s story, but Bagby’s writing pulled me in from the start. The dialogue felt real, like listening to people I know. Katy’s frustrations at work, her heartbreak, even her stubbornness, all rang true. I found myself nodding when she stood up for herself, and I felt every sting of betrayal she faced in those early chapters. Bagby has a knack for painting a scene so vividly. Her style is clean, never stuffy, with plenty of down-to-earth charm that makes you forget you’re reading fiction. The plot may follow familiar beats, but the emotion behind each moment is fresh.
What really stayed with me, though, was the book’s heart. This isn’t just a romance, it’s about finding your footing when everything you thought you wanted falls apart. Katy doesn’t just swap the city for the country and magically find love. She works through her own mess. She grows. And Derek is not your typical brooding hero. He’s quiet, strong, layered with past pain, and gently healing alongside Katy. The themes of redemption, trust, and building something lasting—whether it’s a career or a relationship—really resonated with me. There’s a sense of community and purpose woven throughout that gave the story its soul.
I recommend Sweet Ridge Hearts to anyone craving a feel-good, heartfelt read with depth. If you’re tired of flashy romances and want something real, with characters who mess up, grow, and try again, this book’s for you. It’s perfect for curling up on a cold weekend, letting it tug at your heartstrings, and walking away feeling a little more hopeful.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B0DJ9WLBD4
LITERARY TITAN 