Six authors, five islands, and all the romance and happily-ever-after you can handle.
Flipping Hearts Week of Fun
July 27th – August 2nd
Don’t miss the week long buffet of post and prizes hosted by your Independence Islands authors.
All I know is DIY
There isn’t much that I am willing to do myself, well that my husband isn’t willing to do. Me? I sit in the other room, per his request, and pray that the good Lord keeps him safe. He is notorious for being accident prone–car accent, hatchet in leg, third degree burns on arms and belly, motorcycle accident, slice hand open with drywall knife, falling five feet off a trailer while sitting on a motorcycle, and several sprains (Yes, I have become proficient in at home first aid.). No matter the number of battle scars he carries, he still insists on doing things himself. Whether it is car repair, plumbing, electrical, or home remodel; he wants to do it. I can’t blame him though, it isn’t cheap to have a professional come in and do it, but he at least recognizes when he needs help and has a list of buddies with various skilled trade jobs to “Show him the way”.
Our most recent project.
Three years ago, we bought this beautiful Victorian home built in 1900. It had been owned by a Bachelor for some years and there were certain aspects of the house that just weren’t even close to fitting the age of the home (Yes, most of the character was stripped over the years. the 80’s were not kind to this beauty).
Take my dining room, for example – yes, that is a display case from a store, built into the wall. the desk, though it looks useful, was short even for me. Let me tell you, it was solid. too solid.
Before 
Demolished desk 
1900 wallpaper-tried to save 
Demolished cabinet 
Under cabinet 
Current state
But wait, there is more.
Because the living room and the dining room flow into each other, we wanted the flooring to be the same in both rooms. So we also had to remodel the living room. Now this was a much bigger task.
During the 80s, It was a cool thing to have a stone fireplace. We’re not talking about the Fieldstone fireplaces you see now. No, we’re talking about granite stone. That white rock that is expensive but cannot be cleaned at all. So we decided to take it out. What we found under the cheap, beige tile on the hearth was not some thing we expected to find. Yes, that is the original porcelain tile put on the hearth in 1900. And yes that’s the base of the fireplace. We wanted to take the entire fireplace out all the way up to the ceiling because the chimney is gone and it stops at the ceiling. That was an undertaking we just did not have the time or the finances to do. Maybe later.
we saved about ten bricks 
we did save enough pieces that I am putting a frame together with.
I will say, it turned out pretty well though. I cried when we had to cover up the original hearth But it is still there. When we do sell this house we will make sure to tell the future owners that it is there preserved as best as we possibly could. We didn’t restore it because you can’t find these tiles. These are a brown green color and all I found were green and pink.
We have not completed the trim yet because of the price of lumber. We want to create our own trim instead of using the cheep contractor trim. So we are willing to take our time for that.
After some floorboards, drywall, putty, and paint anyone who didn’t see that area before wouldn’t know that we filled in a fireplace. Good job, babe!
can you see why we didn’t keep the floors 
Yes, we have done a lot to this house and there is so much more to do. Some of the projects we will do ourselves like putting a shower in our half bath so that there is a public bathroom. But some projects we will hire out like our master bed and bathroom remodel, siding, and a new roof.
The pictures below are a couple more DIY projects that we tackled that weren’t too much to handle.
Needless to say, we’re not afraid of a little DIY around the house.
When a hurricane rips through Hooper Island, a tidal wave of TV crews follows and upsets the locals.
Brooks Crawforth agreed to volunteer crews helping to clean up and repair things on the island, not a whole home and garden series on the total renovation of several houses and a bit of cleanup on the side. He’s furious, and the show host is spitting nails at the person who blew it in the first place.
His and his father’s jobs are in jeopardy, the islanders are about to kill him, and that crazy show host blames him for her assistant’s last-minute, “you’ve-got-to-sign-this-now-or-we-can’t-come” contract.
One more thing. Did she have to be so cute?
He’s got even more trouble, though. Islanders are starting to blame Mallory Barrows for the invasion. Not only that, there are rumors of dismantling the association and allowing tourism on the islands. How’s he supposed to fix this mess?
They can’t stand each other, but if they can manage to flip off the enemy switch and flip on some cooperation, maybe their hearts’ll get flipped, too.
This “enemies to romance” novel introduces the next island in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
Author Stops
Melissa Wardwell – July 28th
Join Chautona Havig, Kari Trumbo, Rachel Skatvold, Tabitha Bouldin, Carolyn Miller, and myself as we take you to the Independence Islands.
The Independence Islands–a group of seven fictional islands off the
coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Their history began pre-colonial
period and continues until this day.
Mimosa is large, touristy, and everything the lower five
islands don’t want theirs to become. However, locals do miss
having some of the amenities that come with higher populations and those
dratted tourists. They’ve always voted to keep strangers from destroying
their tranquil lives, but with a changing world, will they have to adapt
to modern revenue makers?
Enter Mallory Barrows. Her family has lived on the islands for over a
hundred years. She’s back, and she’s got a plan to help the
islanders and a few savvy businesswomen at the same time with a
one-of-an-island kind of business model.
Welcome to Hooper Island
Starting July 2021
Welcome to Elnora Island
Starting January 26th 2021
Links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission
at no extra expense to you.
Bookers on the Rocks
by Chautona Havig
If they aren’t fighting, no one is having an affair, and they actually enjoy each other, why is Tessa and Ross Bookers’ marriage on the rocks?
Heart Pressed
by Melissa Wardwell
Two wineries, old feuds, generations of traditions. When Amara Martin and Dante Greco meet, sparks fly that may ignite more than romance.
Matchmaker’s Best Friend
by Kari Trumbo
When they dated ten years ago as teens, it almost destroyed their friendship. So Pen Reece did the only logical thing. She lied about how she felt—and still feels—about him. She’s still paying for that lie.
Elnora Monet
by Rachel Skatvold
Only God can transform two broken pasts into a work of art. When Carly Mulligan volunteered to make house calls on Elnora, she never imagined treating the richest cat on the islands or falling for its arrogant owner.
Stealing the First Mate
by Tabitha Bouldin
Being single and content turns out to be tougher than Darcy imagined, and when she begins doubting everything she’s ever known, long-time friend and secret admirer, Nigel decides it’s time to admit his mistakes, tell the truth, and trust God for the outcome.
Regaining Mercy
by Carolyn Miller
When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the “wrong side of the island” just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Dermott has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.
Merriweather collection
Starting July 2020
Dual Power of Convenience by Chautona Havig
All they wanted was a happily-never-after. It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again. So what’s Richard doing back on Merriweather?”
Scrumptious Independence by Melissa Wardwell
Armed with an inheritance she never expected and orders on how to use it, Beth sets off for Merriweather Island and fulfillment of a lifetime of dreams.
Or so she hopes.”
Secret Beach Boyfriend by Kari Trumbo
She met Rafe on the beach when she was just five and it seemed like fate tied them together. When a chance encounter returns him to the islands twenty years later, Annie finds her beach friend has grown up and now needs her help.”
Her Merriweather Hero by Rachel Skatvold
Falling in love wasn’t in Tyler’s orders, but a new deployment to Iraq is. How can he convince Kendall not to go AWOL when she hears? What can he do to convince her that they’ll make it… together?”
Mishaps Off the Mainland by Tabitha Bouldin
Everything’s falling apart, and Mel’s dream transforms into a nightmare. She thought this was what God wanted for her life, but can you blame her for second-guessing everything?”
Restoring Fairhaven by Carolyn Miller
Max much prefers the fictional world to the real, and the gardening girl’s interruptions mean he’s driven from his writing cave far too often for his liking.
How’s he supposed to craft stories with her distracting him all the time?”
I hope you will sail along with us as we travel through the islands. It is sure to keep you entertained and wanting more. Stop back for more information as it comes available, this journey will last for a quite some time. Until then, feel free to pre-order these amazing stories and share images. Let’s spread the word.
