Grand Finale Blitz and Giveaway! THE SWEETEST HEART: Premiering on the Hallmark Channel (HEART’S DESIRE by Catherine Lanigan)

Launch – The First Heartwarming novel to become a Hallmark Channel Movie:
HEART’S DESIRE by CATHERINE LANIGAN

To say I’m thrilled about my book being made into a movie is an understatement. I’m blessed and so very appreciative to all the people who have worked for over four long and arduous years to make this happen. In the movies, the heroine (me) would get a phone call and someone (the publisher) would announce that Hallmark just bought my book. That’s the dream scenario. That’s not what happened.

I’m still keeping my promise, Jed. I will never give up.

Please join me on my Prism Book Tour for Heart’s Desire. It will air on Hallmark on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, which is the beginning of their SPRING FLING promotion. There will be lots of ads about our first Heartwarming book made into a film.

— Catherine

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Reading Is My SuperPower – Review

“Heart’s Desire reminds me all over again why I love Indian Lake and its characters. The small town is welcoming and quaint, with its own personality and atmosphere. At the same time, it’s close enough to Chicago to allow for a nice blending of the big city with the small town life. Through Nate and Maddie’s story, Lanigan explores our hearts’ desires – the way they evolve over time and the way they sometimes take a direction we weren’t anticipating. Every reader will be able to relate on this level to these characters, and in the meantime they are treated to a sweet romance and a not-sure-how-this-is-going-to-turn-out plot. Looking forward to its adaptation on the Hallmark Channel. Congrats, Catherine!”

It’s All About the Romance – My Favorite Romance Novels

Obviously, hands down my favorite would have to be ROMANCING THE STONE. Here it is 34 years later and it’s still a classic. The story still holds up and it’s funny. The lines are classic.

And so is the story. Even though the movie has been out of print for three decades, the movie is available on Amazon on DVD. So is JEWEL OF THE NILE.

For those coming to this blog, here’s an interesting tid bit. This past Wednesday, I had my pre-interview with the producer of HALLMARK HOME and FAMILY SHOW. Milena was terrific and we got along like old friends. Can’t ask for more than that. She asked me if there was anything in Romancing the Stone that was mine, since I’d written the book from the screenplay…

Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews – Review

“Once again Mrs. Lanigan has transported us back to Indian Lake. Where everything seems real including the characters. This is the second book I have read from this author. This book will keep ya turning the pages to see what is going to happen…

I really enjoyed this book and felt every moment of the story.”

Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang! – Favorite Romance Books

Truth be told, I’m a diehard Jane Austen fan. I could read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE again. But I don’t have the time and the pages are falling out. What’s worse, I’ve seen the movie, oh, thirty, forty times. What a waste of time, right? I know how it ends.

I read Gone with The Wind so many times, my mother thought there was something wrong with me. I studied The ART of the ROMANCE NOVEL as a course in college. My mother gave me her mother’s favorite romance novel from 1914, BEULAH. I hated the woman’s name, adored the story…

The Power of Words – Review

“Heart’s Desire, book #2 in Catherine Lanigan’s Shores of Indian Lake series, is a sweet and enjoyable romance – creative and well written. The small-town Illinois setting of Indian Lake is vividly conveyed, drawing me right in to the community and residents, making it a place I’d love to visit – especially Maddie’s café. Each story in this series stands alone; however, reading in order lets you revisit beloved characters and see how they are doing. But best of, this story premiers as a Hallmark Channel movie entitled Sweetest Heart on March 17! As an avid Hallmark fan, I’m excited to see Maddie and Nate’s story come alive on the screen.”

Heidi Reads… – Excerpt

She’d received beautiful flowers a few days ago, which was a first for her. Alex had even called her last night to make certain they’d arrived.

“Hey, beautiful. Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow,” he’d said, his voice filled with anticipation. He spoke in a sultry baritone she’d never heard during their office meetings. Their conversations had always been about profits, projected earnings and potentials.

“They’re just gorgeous,” she’d gushed. “So exotic. Especially for this time of year.”

“I like unusual and unexpected things. Were you surprised?”

“Very. I couldn’t figure out who would be sending me flowers.”

“Ah. That’s good,” he said. “I wanted you to have something special while I was away…” His voice trailed off as if there was something else he was going to say before he thought better of it.

“So I don’t forget you? Is that what you were going to say, Alex?

Remembrancy – Review

“Another engaging and warm read from Catherine Lanigan that, thanks to Hallmark, we can soon watch on the small screen. Between Maddie’s friendships, Nate’s family, and the small town, this story is a perfect fit for the channel that focuses on romance.”

I Am A Reader – Elements of Making a Memorable Movie

As my Heartwarming book, Heart’s Desire, comes to The Hallmark Channel, (re-titled THE SWEETEST HEART,) honestly, I haven’t had but a few moments to reflect on my favorite movies and what are the things that make my heart go ZING. But as I write these posts for this fabulous tour with Prism Book Tours, I realize that there are common threads for me.

Obviously, strong, emotional writing is everything. My producer, director husband, Jed Nolan, used to tell me that there was no way to repair a bad script. That’s why producers look so hard and long to find THE story that they want to spend a year, two years, ten years of their lives on. (Castaway took Tom Hanks 10 years to get a green light.) This isn’t play time. A producer will risk his money, his house, his reputation, sometimes his relationships, to see his film make it to the screen. That’s pretty daunting when you think about it…

Christian Chick’s Thoughts – Review

“I loved reading about Maddie’s quest to franchise her Cupcakes and Coffee Cafe. The whole process was fascinating—and complicated, as Alex, the investment firm employee helping her secure an investor, had more that business on his mind. Then, just as everything seemed to be going right with Maddie’s business (and with Alex), her ex-boyfriend Nate showed up. The scene where Maddie first saw Nate was one of my favorites in the whole book 🙂.”

Nicole’s Book Musings – Excerpt

Dark shadows filled Maddie’s eyes as she continued to look at herself. Was it possible that only today, the flutter of a memory of Nate Barzonni, her first love, a high school romance, had haunted her? Even now, as she recalled his blazing Mediterranean-blue eyes and the intoxicating, addictive kisses they’d shared, her emotions were a storm of anger and pain. Nate had abandoned her eleven years ago, and she still felt the heartbreak.

If she ever saw him again, it would be too soon.

But then, there was the very real fact of Alex’s flowers—real and aggressive. He was spinning her dream for her, and though he would be gone for nearly a month, he promised to call and text her often. He’d told her they were close to finding an investor. Alex knew there was nothing more important to her than her business.

Rockin’ Book Reviews – Review

“Another wonderful story by Catherine Lanigan. I love the story line and the sweet love story. The characters are awesome. It’s always so fun to remember them from another story.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone who loves to read a good romance with lots of extras.”

Hearts & Scribbles – Excerpt

Maddie walked into the main showroom and up to the front window where there was a step-up round riser. She lifted her skirt and heard the swishing of all the underskirts and the peau de soie next to the horsehair net. She stood still and looked at herself in the two cheval mirrors. The gleam of the light from the crystal chandelier overhead pirouetted off the crystals in the dress.

Mrs. Beabots clasped her hands together and brought them to her smiling lips. “You are a vision for my eyes, my dear!”

Sarah was dumbstruck and could barely speak. “It’s you, Maddie. The dress is like the angels made it for you.”

Thoughts of a Blonde – Excerpt

NATE BARZONNI HAD always been a man of single purpose and clear-minded goals. Never once had he thought his mind was incapable of reasoning out the best course of action for the highest possible good. He was a man of honor and conviction. He was a leader, and little swayed him off his chosen course or derailed him from his beliefs. He’d never been drunk, never used drugs, never lied or cheated. His mind was as sharp as a razor and as tight as a trap.

But that day, Nate was sure he’d lost all his senses and the entirety of his reasoning ability when he’d purposefully gone back to that bridal shop to confirm whether what he’d seen was real or a mirage. The shock of seeing Maddie Strong trying on a wedding gown was enough to rip his insides apart.

Book Reviews & More by Kathy – Excerpt

“I’m too busy for men.”

“So you say, but I wasn’t the one seeing an apparition of my former sweetheart out that window,” Mrs. Beabots concluded with the kind of sharp clip to the end of her comment that warned others that the Oracle had spoken.

Sarah’s eyes tracked from Mrs. Beabots back to Maddie, who was clearly confused and still a bit shaken by the vision or ghost or whatever it was she saw. “Maybe it was just all the excitement of these gorgeous gowns and dressing up. Maybe…”

Paulette’s Papers – The Trouble With Loving Films

If you watch WHEN CALLS THE HEART on The Hallmark Channel, you’ll recognize Andrea Brooks. She plays the nurse to Paul Greene’s character. These are lovely ladies whom it was my privilege to meet. If all goes well, we will be meeting again. I have to write a book for Andrea, but I’ve had her character, Chloe in my head for years!! She’s an actress. Oh, to have that heart broken. Sorry, Andrea. But I told her that on set. She was good with it…

underneath the covers – Excerpt

Nate believed that people didn’t change their core personalities as they matured. Even at seventeen, Maddie had been compassionate, kind, bright, fun and deeply loving.

There had been times during his stint in the navy and later in med school when he’d remembered all too well what it was like to be with Maddie. To love her. As much as he wanted back then to return to Indian Lake and sweep her off her feet, he couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t have been true to himself. He’d sacrificed love in order to be the cardiac surgeon he was today.

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Film Fun

January, 2018

As I was sitting on the set, freezing in the unheated vacant old Cupcake café that we were shooting in. Ironically, the owner was in financial straits, which is the crux of the conflict for Maddie Strong…. she’s about to lose her business if she doesn’t get funding and expand —we heard that Hallmark was going to change the title from HEART’S DESIRE to THE SWEETEST HEART.

I could already hear the grumbling from Harlequin and my mind flashed back to an executive meeting I had in Los Angeles in January of 1984…

Among the Reads – Review

“It’s always interesting to find a new author only to discover they have been writing for a long time. Catherine Lanigan has written many books, and I imagine they are all as good as Heart’s Desire. 🙂 …

The author did a great job in conveying deep emotion and creating a realistic love triangle. The story went one direction and then another, yet it still made sense given the history and Maddie’s insecurity. Once you thought everything was going well, a new conflict arose.

Overall, it was a great story and just the right length.”

Wishful Endings – Excerpt

Maddie stared at Nate. She didn’t know if she’d turned to ice or fire. She felt afraid and bold all at the same time. She told herself again that Sarah had been right. She was seeing a ghost.

Somehow, she managed to gather the courage to put one foot in front of the other, and with half the town staring at her, she walked across the dining room.

Streams of sunlight came through the huge windows that overlooked the lake as Maddie made her way around the chairs and tables, never taking her eyes off Nate. She didn’t hesitate as she pushed through the French doors to the Garden Room and came face-to-face with Nate.

Faithfully Bookish – Excerpt

Maddie sank into her office chair and ran her fingers through her hair. “Wow. A real investor.” She stared at the phone. Alex.

She felt the blood in her veins turn to ice as she faced the unknown. She balled her fists. “I can do this,” she told herself and glanced at herself in the antique gilt mirror she’d hung on the wall next to her desk so that she could always check her hair and lipstick before greeting customers. “I can do this. I want to do this. I will succeed in doing this.”

Her gleaming green eyes stared back at her. The girl in the mirror seemed genuinely confident. It was not bravado. She believed what she said.

Locks, Hooks and Books – Review

“Heart’s Desire is a delightful read that I thought was worth sitting down for a few hours. It is heartwarming, cute, sweet, clean and romantic. I did not care that it was slightly predictable. Definitely, worth putting on a reader’s must read list. I give it a well-deserved 5 stars and look forward to reading others in the Shores of Indian Lake series, as well as, more by Catherine Lanigan.”

Brooke Blogs – Behind the Scenes on a Film Set

My husband used to say that making a film was no less work and no less hands than building a city. Though THE SWEETEST HEART is a television film on The Hallmark Channel, and certainly not TITANIC (which my agent worked on, by the way, for over two years), it’s mind-boggling what goes into the making of a film.

Sure there are folks out there who video some footage, put it together and post on YouTube. That’s not the kind of film I’m talking about.

One of the reasons this film looks so delicious, so lovely is the eye of the director, Steve Monroe. Yes, he was friendly and funny and had a great story about his kids jumping naked on the family trampoline at home in LA, while we were all freezing and wet in Vancouver. But, he was incredibly concentrated on the film. EVERY aspect of the film. I watched while he blocked the actors. As he created the lighting with his team. Along with the Director of Photography, there wasn’t an aspect overlooked…

Janice’s Book Reviews – Review

“Love the story of Maddie and Nate. I am looking forward to seeing the movie of it. . . . Also I lot of other great characters in the book. I loved the name of one.”

Hardcover Feedback – Review

“Heart’s Desire was a captivating story that had me hooked from the bridal shop scene…