18th National Indie Excellence Awards
Winner—Regional Fiction: Southwest
The Renaissance Sisters
Book 1 of The Inn at Verde Springs Trilogy
By Wendy Cohan
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
What would you do if an aunt, who you were just getting to know, left you a ranch you’d never seen, 1,500 miles from your rainy Northwest home? Newly-single Harper Crawley seizes a second-chance at happiness.
With the ink not-yet dry on her divorce papers, landscape designer Harper Crawley meets up in Santa Fe with her sister Paige for the reading of their late Aunt Sabina’s will. Major surprise—the Crawley sisters are now the co-owners of a derelict ranch in Verde Springs, New Mexico. Despite its sagging chicken coops and a resident bat colony, Harper falls in love with the juniper-covered hills and walls of red rimrock surrounding the neglected property. Soon, Harper is stuffing herself with Maggie’s enchiladas and flirting with local contractor Caleb Johansson—while his adorable five-year-old daughter Ellie wanders the ranch with their two rescue pups. Aspen groves and fields of flowers miraculously thrive in the high desert as Harper works hard to create the garden of her dreams. Then, out of nowhere, Ellie’s mom, Mariah, returns after a traumatic two-year absence. Money troubles threaten the ranch, and Harper’s ex appears like a serpent in their newfound paradise. But when the Crawley sisters put their stubborn heads together, they’re magically unstoppable.
Spotify Playlist for “The Renaissance Sisters”
Genre/category: Contemporary and Western Romance/Women’s Literary Fiction
Where to buy:
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023938690
Paperback ISBN: 9781950495375
e-book ISBN: 9781950495405
Print and epub available worldwide to booksellers and libraries via Ingram. Request from your favorite independent bookseller or your library.
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Press release including virtual press kit:
Click Here (includes author photos & book cover)
Meet The Author
Review Quotes:
“Wendy Cohan’s The Renaissance Sisters is a charming debut, sure to garner readers who appreciate women who reinvent themselves and find new paths. She pays homage to the resilience of New Mexico and the human spirit in the first of a promising trilogy.” —Jo-Ann Mapson, author of Owen’s Daughter and Blue Rodeo
“This contemporary romance set with heart and clean steam captured me right from the start. I loved the characters--sisters Harper and Paige, as they work to transform an inherited ranch in New Mexico—and their gorgeous contractor Caleb. Place is equally important, and author Wendy Cohan uses painterly details to make The Land of Enchantment vividly come to life:
’So, this is it, Sabina,’ she said, doing a little one-eighty and taking it all in, from the backdrop of blue-shadowed mountains to the drifts of goldenrod and asters, late roses in bloom, fragrant purple lavender, and cheerful yellow sunflowers that towered over her head.
The high desert path to love is strewn with tumbleweeds and Wendy reveals the intimate working out of relationships with a deft hand and knowing heart...This reader is thrilled to know Wendy promises more joy with two upcoming books in The Inn at Verdes Springs Trilogy. Enjoy!” —Literary Redhead’s Reviews, Goodreads
“I received an ARC of this lovely romance from the author, and I'm so glad I did. Ms. Cohan has crafted a gentle love story, with warm and relatable characters, but for me, the setting was every bit as appealing. I've never visited New Mexico, but after reading this book, I felt like a native. The vivid descriptions of the plants and landscape were better than any guidebook.
Following sisters Harper and Paige as they rehabbed a former chicken ranch into an inn and wedding venue oozing with New Mexico charm was like reading a how-to manual for creating an idyllic desert getaway. And for plant-lovers like me, the descriptions of the gardens were magic.
If you’re looking for a satisfying and inspiring read, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Renaissance Sisters.” —Alison Henderson, author of Unwritten Rules, Boiling Point, and Second Wind (Cypress Coast Series)
“With its interesting characters and gorgeously described northern New Mexico setting, The Renaissance Sisters integrates two of my favorite themes: a worn-down property getting loved into new life and flawed people starting over again. I lost myself in Cohan's story of two strong-willed, independent sisters passionately carving out a brand-new place for themselves, after unexpectedly inheriting a run-down chicken ranch. The sensory details of the scenery, along with the compelling characters made for a lovely, feel-good read. Cohan weaves the intrigue of romance with the authentic challenges of life-changing events, love and loss, and finding community.” —Lynne Bryant, author of The Mother Gene
Media Kit
Link to media kit here (which includes author photos, sales sheet, excerpt from the book, book club questions & book cover)