About the Book
Book: Wrapped Up in You (Real American Country Series Book 2)
Author: Jennifer Carr
Genre: Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release date: October 1, 2024
Nash Montgomery is always up for a good time. But when a senior prank goes too far, his baseball scholarship is put at risk, threatening the future everyone expects him to follow. The consequences earn him community service at a local youth center where he discovers a passion that defies the path he thought had been laid out for him.
Cassidy is a talented musician trapped under the weight of her mother’s ambitious dreams for her. Desperate to carve out her own identity, she struggles to find her voice amidst the noise of others’ expectations.
Their worlds collide in Nashville when both earn a spot on Real American Country, a new reality TV competition for aspiring country stars. As they navigate the pressures of the spotlight, they’ll have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.
Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
I’m Jennifer Carr. I’m a wife, homeschooling mom, baker, part-time farmer, social media addict, and an avid reader. I’m a lover of coffee, music, learning, animals, and writing.
I have a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Marriage & Family Counseling, and certifications in Life Coaching, Health and Wellness Coaching, and am a certified Brain Health Professional. I also taught high school AP Psychology for several years.
I’ve always loved writing. Complete transparency alert – I never set out to become an author. I know, that probably sounds unlikely considering, but it’s true. I sat down one day and decided I wanted to write a story because I needed to know how a dream I’d awoken from ended. It snowballed and turned into chapters and eventually into an entire book. When I finished that book, I needed to make sure my characters were OK and thriving so I wrote the second book.
It was at that point I realized that being an author was something I could see myself doing for a really long time. So, I’m still writing and loving every minute of it. When I’m not writing, there’s a good chance I’m reading and drinking coffee!
More from Jennifer
Wrapped Up in You is book two of the Real American Country Series. But don’t worry, it can definitely be read as a standalone! The series follows a reality television country music competition and some of the contestants as they pursue their dreams of becoming country music recording artists. This book follows the story of Nash Montgomery and Cassidy Raye Stanton as they each navigate the pressures of the spotlight. They’ll each have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.
Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.
One of my favorite things about writing this series is coming up with custom playlists for each book. If you love country music or just want to see what all the fuss is about, here’s the playlist that goes along with Wrapped Up in You: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hXjkRFytj9tPFpitHRdEf?si=d0209225ac1f41e0
Interview with the Author
- What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
When I think about literary pilgrimages, I don’t immediately think of physical places, but rather the journeys books have taken me on. Growing up, books were my way of exploring different worlds, perspectives, and time periods. My love for reading goes back as far as I can remember. My parents made sure we always had books around—fiction, non-fiction, all kinds. I was fascinated by our elementary school trips to the library, especially the thrill of pulling out encyclopedias to do “research.” I’d devour anything put in front of me.
In fifth grade, I had a teacher who was passionate about books, and she passed that love right on to me. She introduced me to Shiloh, Number the Stars, Bridge to Terabithia, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry—books that completely hooked me and felt like the pinnacle of reading at the time.
Interestingly, growing up, we weren’t allowed to read everything. For instance, Harry Potter was on the “No List” because it dealt with magic and witches, which weren’t allowed in our house. My sister, who was never one to rebel until she got her hands on the first Harry Potter book, teased me for years for not reading it. When I turned 30, I finally picked up the first book—and was immediately obsessed. I devoured the entire series in a week, marking my foray into the fantasy genre.
Over the years, my horizons have continued to expand, and now I can confidently say I’ll try reading just about anything once.
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Princess Bride, hands down. I think a lot of people know the movie (which is, in my opinion, one of the best adaptations in existence), but they don’t realize it’s a novel. And the book is so amazing because you get so many details about the characters and their backstories which enhances the movie in so many ways. If you are a fan of the movie, I highly recommend reading the book if you haven’t. You can thank me later.
- How do you select the names of your characters?
My characters’ names usually show up when they do! It’s funny, there have been instances where I name a character and then halfway through the manuscript I decide I don’t like the name for some reason and I’ll change it. Or there’s one draft I was writing where I named one guy Dan and another Danny and they had the same job and I didn’t realize it until I went back and proofread it and got confused! So Dan became Scott haha! I do try to stick to time appropriate names when necessary. If I’m writing “in the 1990s” then I hover around names I remember being popular then. I have found myself on the Baby Names website to double check!
- What was your hardest scene to write?
In Wrapped Up in You there’s a scene where Nash, the main male character, makes a hard choice. And as the reader you’re really hoping he makes the right one but in the end you want to slap him on the back of the head. Actually, now that I think about it, that happens a few times. But the one that was hardest to write was toward the end of the book.
I hate seeing my characters act human because I know they know better! But I also enjoy seeing it happen because I think it makes them more relatable.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
I have to give credence to the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal that I read in middle school. It was my first foray into “romance” and angsty love stories. I read them all more than once and wished more often than not that my sister and I had been twins because of it!
- If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
That is actually a lot harder of a question than you might think. I’ve sat here and thought about it, clicked away from it, then came back to it multiple times. If I knew then what I know now, I might would engage more in the technical side of writing and cared a little more about the grammar/punctuation/other technical aspects. It might have saved me a lot on editing fees!
But, I do think that every journey happens a certain way for a reason. And I’m comfortable with not only how I write now, but how I’ve grown as a writer and am able to appreciate it more at this stage of my life.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
Characters – always characters. It’s so bizarre to me how my brain works up stories, and it always starts with the characters.
The first book of the Real American Country Series (Fall When You’re Ready) started when I heard a song that immediately painted a picture in my mind about a couple who had been best friends since Kindergarten and one day they realized their feelings had become something more.They said, “This is our song, now tell our story!” So, I wrote it.
Wrapped Up in You centers on Nash and Cassidy. We only caught a glimpse of them in FWYR but I was hooked on their story from their brief appearance. I knew there was something there. So, I wrote it!
My entire life has been one big people-watching event. People fascinate me which is why I think my stories are very character-centric.
- Who is an author you most admire in your genre?
I love Jenny Proctor and she’s just gotten better with every book.
- What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Do I give the predictable answer???
I love to read. If I’m in the writing zone I might read a book or two a week. If I’m on a break I can put away 4 – 6 books a week.
I also host a podcast for creatives (Connected Conversations for Creatives) where I interview different kinds of creatives and talk about their creative journeys. And on Thursday nights I co-host a podcast for authors (The Authors’ Dilemma) where we talk about things authors deal with. So if I’m not writing I have plenty of things filling my time!
- If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
The easy part of that question is what I would cook. We’re in the South so we’re having BBQ–ribs, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw. As for who I would invite, that’s a lot harder. I think I’d have to say Jane Austen. I’d love to hear her thoughts on society, relationships, and how she crafted such witty, sharp, and timeless stories in a period where women’s voices were often overlooked. I’d ask her about the inspirations behind her characters and how she managed to balance humor, romance, and social commentary so effortlessly in her novels. Also, can you imagine Jane Austen at a BBQ???
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 15
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 16 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, January 17 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17
For the Love of Literature, January 18 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 20 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 21
Blossoms and Blessings, January 22 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23
Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 25
Stories By Gina, January 26 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, January 26
For Him and My Family, January 27
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 28 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a 6-Month Kindle Unlimited Subscription and an eBook copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.