Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: You’re never too old for romance! Christine Layne’s love story shows that it’s never too late to find your passion, even if your first attempt at love and career success doesn’t pan out. Christine, can you tell us about Love Hops?

Christine: After moving back to Colorado from Los Angeles, Lena Bouras began picking up the pieces of her broken life. Her cheating ex-boyfriend ruined her trust. Being unjustly fired from her interior design job obliterated her confidence. The worst blow of all, though, came at the loss of the one person who supported Lena throughout all her endeavors—her mother.

Escaping to her now empty, memory-laden childhood home, Lena worked toward letting go of her old life. But, when her 40th birthday ended up being another failure, it reminded her of what she was missing. Disappointment weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Until Del flipped her world upside down—literally.

Handsome and charming, Del Stratton was the complete opposite of everything she looked for in a man, not to mention he owned a brewery and Lena didn’t drink beer. She promptly dismissed any idea of pursuing a relationship with him. Even though her stomach flipped every time he smiled.

Despite her best efforts, Lena found herself unable to avoid Del. Slowly, she learned to give up her old life, and embraced a new one with him. For the first time in years, Lena felt happy.

But, when an opportunity for all her old dreams to come true presented itself, it forced Lena to choose. Falling in love with Del was easy, but Lena had to decide whether easy dreams with him were better than the ones she worked so hard for in the past.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Christine: I wrote this book because I have always imagined a romance happening in a brewery. It was inspired by one scene in particular: the beer tasting scene. It went much differently when I first imagined it (much spicier), but as I developed the story, I changed it to fit the flow. Now, it’s perfect.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read?

Christine: My reading preferences range from romance to horror and lots of things in between, but the one book I can always suggest is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It has something for everyone and is still one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read.

Sabitha: Excellent choice! If an aspiring author came to you for advice, what would you tell them?

Christine: My advice for becoming a better writer would be to A) read, read, read in the genre you wish to write, B) be brave enough to let others read and critique your work, and C) be open to helping others.

Sabitha: I love that you included C. So, what’s your next writing project?

Christine: My next project is due out in the late spring of 2024. It’s my first enemies-to-lovers story, Mud, Love, and Chemistry. It follows two college students as they navigate their warring feelings while also competing for a coveted internship after graduation. It’s loads of fun!

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Christine: Love Hops and my debut novel, Because of Blake, can both be found on Amazon! Readers can follow me on my social medias for updates: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Threads (@christinelayneauthor), and X (@Chrislaynelove).