Guest Blog: Julie Arduini and Clean Sweep *E-Copies of Clean Sweep AND Building Hearts to U.S. Resident

Dear Readers, this author wanted to get ahead and created her own format--and I love it! I sometimes get so busy that I don't send the questions until close to the date. So, I appreciate all the help I can get! Hope everyone is well and please join me in welcoming return author, Julie.

Julie Arduini writes small-town romances featuring Christian surrender themes and chocolate mentions. She’s the author of the series SURRENDERING HEARTS (Anchored Hearts, Repairing Hearts, +four more). Her other romance series is SURRENDERING TIME (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged). She also co-wrote a YA/Women’s Fiction series with her daughter, SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ (You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, You’re Brilliant). Her stand-alone romances include MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. In 2025, she joins Leah Atwood, Robin Bayne, JoAnn Durgin, Dawn Kinzer, Lisa Prysock and Lori Soard with the small-town romance series Dogwood Creek Matchmakers. Julie maintains a blog at juliearduini.com and Substack. She resides in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Learn more by visiting her at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.

Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you.

I’m Julie Arduini, Are-due-we-knee, and I live in Northeast Ohio. People tend to notice my gray, curly hair. I didn’t plan on either, but the color wouldn’t keep and my hair turned curly when I turned 50.

Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.

I’m thrilled to introduce Clean Sweep, a Christian small-town romance novella that is Book 6 in the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series featuring Leah Atwood, Robin Bayne, JoAnn Durgin, Dawn Kinzer, Lisa Prysock, Lisa Soard, and me. Each novella can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. The series is fantastic!

Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace.

After a public breakup leaves Abbi Gearheart humiliated and heartbroken, she escapes to Dogwood Creek, Tennessee, hoping to rebuild her life far from the spotlight—and even farther from athletes. With her new cleaning business and the gentle encouragement of stained-glass artist Alicia Caruso and the fellow Dogwood Creek Matchmakers, Abbi begins to find peace in the quiet rhythms of small-town life.

Seth Chamberlin is a beloved coach, teacher, and mentor at Dogwood Creek High. His faith runs deep, but so do the wounds from a strained relationship with his father. When he meets Abbi, he’s drawn to her strength and vulnerability, but she’s made it clear that friendship is all she’s willing to offer.

A powerful sermon on forgiveness challenges them both. For Abbi, to release the pain of betrayal, and for Seth, to seek reconciliation with the father he thought he’d lost. As they walk separate paths toward healing, could God be gently sweeping them toward something more?

A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender.

Small-town charm and rediscovered dreams are always in season in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee.

Share one thing that you found difficult or challenging about writing this book.

The biggest challenge I had writing Clean Sweep was my vision. Last year I was diagnosed with congenital cataracts. This year the situation declined, quickly. I also have astigmatism. Once the eye doctor figured out what was going on, it took months to schedule the surgery. There were times I wrote with my laptop to my face. I was nearly done writing when I had the first surgery was completed. I couldn’t wear glasses, so then I finished Clean Sweep with an amazing eye, and an eye with very low vision.

I thank God not only for the opportunity, but for the words and ability to write. I never had great eyesight and thought I’d most likely have to give up writing and driving. By the time you read this, I will have near perfect vision and no glasses.

I’m so grateful for my critique partners, Beta readers, Lori Soard, and JoAnn Durgin for going through and checking line by line. They knew my situation and made sure Clean Sweep was without the issues my vision brought to the experience.

Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two?

Clean Sweep features Abbi Gearheart, a Youngstown marketing manager who endures a humiliating viral heartbreak. The pain is so deep she creates a fresh start in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee with her own cleaning business, Clean Sweep.

Have you had a viral moment? Is there one you’ve seen on social media that left you with a smile?

Share your social media and buy links!

To purchase Clean Sweep: https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Sweep-Contemporary-Christian-Matchmakers-ebook/dp/B0FVWDWSH1

              To purchase the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series, including Clean Sweep: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS1WPYMK

Follow Julie Arduini across social media: https://linktr.ee/JulieArduini

Thank you, Julie!