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Today’s episode is extra special because it's our next BFF Book Club meeting! Each month, we dive into a new book, and today we're welcoming Cindy Steel to chat about her charming rom-com, Faking Christmas.

Cindy was raised on a dairy farm in Idaho. She grew up singing Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire songs at the top of her lungs and learning to solve all of life’s problems when milking cows and driving a tractor—rewriting happy endings everytime. She married a cute Idaho boy and is the proud mother of two wild and sweet twin boys and a baby girl. 

Episode Highlights:

• Behind the Scenes of Faking Christmas: Cindy shares how her husband’s career took them to the location that inspired this book, giving her a chance to revisit the place that stole her heart and bring it to life in her novel.
• The Depth of a Rom-Com: We dive into how Cindy layered complex emotions, like grief, into the story while keeping it filled with hope and humor, creating characters far deeper than what you might expect from a typical romantic comedy.
• Cindy’s Book Flight: Hear about the books that inspired Cindy while writing Faking Christmas, including one character who influenced Miles’ love for reading.

This episode was a blast to record, with a fantastic group of readers who brought thoughtful questions and perspectives to our discussion. Whether you’ve read Faking Christmas or are adding it to your TBR, you’ll love getting this insider look at the story, the characters and the author behind it all.

Connect with Cindy:

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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:

• A Christmas Spark (The Pride and Pranks series) by Cindy Steel
• The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
• Rebel Summer (The Falling for Summer series) by Cindy Steel
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
• Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Book Flight

• The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
• The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
• The False Prince by Jennif

📚 Looking for your next great read?
I’ve rounded up the books I can’t stop talking about — the ones I’ve recommended over and over again.

Download the list here: bookishflights.com/read/25books

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