Guest blog: Linda Shenton Matchett and Love Under Construction *Prize of E-Book to Chosen Commenter

Dear Readers.

By the time you read this, it will be beautiful spring. Linda is such a planner--I'm entering this in November! Hope 2026 is going great for you. :)

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

I’m Linda Shenton Matchett, originally from Baltimore, Maryland but currently living in central New Hampshire. I’m very outgoing, and most people notice my sarcastic humor shortly after meeting me. 

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

Love Under Construction is set in 1914 and is part of The Chocolate Chronicles which are partly inspired by Milton Hershey and his wife, Kitty. Here is the blurb:

Can two stubborn people tear down the walls of independence to find love?

Nadine Krause took in boarders to help her family climb out of debt after her father’s death. Business has gone well, and she’s earned enough to expand the house. When her brother’s friend agrees to take the job - the only man in town willing to work for a woman - sparks fly. But not the good kind. Or are they?

Looking for something different, Leo Albrecht takes a project working for Nadine Krause, the spunky owner of Cocoaville’s favorite boarding house. An easy job. Then he manages to injure himself and needs her help to finish making it nearly impossible to ignore his growing attraction. Should he break his rule of not mixing work and his personal life?

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

There was a lot of research into construction methods and what materials were available in 1914. We previously owned an 1850 house that required a lot of renovation and repair which my husband took care of. He was a great resource as well as a couple of YouTube channels by experts in vintage remodeling. An example of this is that drywall was invented until 1916, two years after my book is set. Understanding the processes is one thing but describing them so the reader can visualize and not be bored is another!

Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two?

Interestingly, we found that the worst of the past renovations occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. The work done in the 1920s and 1930s was beautifully done. We had one “incident” during which my husband was renovating the pantry in the kitchen, and when he removed the last of the shelves, the ceiling and walls fell in. Whoever did the work didn’t nail or screw anything down, just “propped” it all together. We also found a live wire stuffed behind a wall in the basement. There was other evidence of poorly executed DIY electrical work. Sometimes, we wondered how the house hadn’t burned down!

Readers:

·         Have you ever lived in a “old home,” (more than 100 years old?)

·         What’s your worse experience with a DIY project?

One commenter will win an ebook edition of Love Under Construction before it releases!

Share your social media and buy links!

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lindamatchett

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author_linda_matchett

Newsletter signup: https://BookHip.com/BKQNLMN 

Thanks for hosting me!

You are very welcome, Linda, and I love the pictures! Blessings, Christina