About the Book
Book: Wrapped Up in You (Real American Country Series Book 2)
Author: Jennifer Carr
Genre: Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release date: October 1, 2024
Nash Montgomery is always up for a good time. But when a senior prank goes too far, his baseball scholarship is put at risk, threatening the future everyone expects him to follow. The consequences earn him community service at a local youth center where he discovers a passion that defies the path he thought had been laid out for him.
Cassidy is a talented musician trapped under the weight of her mother’s ambitious dreams for her. Desperate to carve out her own identity, she struggles to find her voice amidst the noise of others’ expectations.
Their worlds collide in Nashville when both earn a spot on Real American Country, a new reality TV competition for aspiring country stars. As they navigate the pressures of the spotlight, they’ll have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.
Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
I’m Jennifer Carr. I’m a wife, homeschooling mom, baker, part-time farmer, social media addict, and an avid reader. I’m a lover of coffee, music, learning, animals, and writing.
I have a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Marriage & Family Counseling, and certifications in Life Coaching, Health and Wellness Coaching, and am a certified Brain Health Professional. I also taught high school AP Psychology for several years.
I’ve always loved writing. Complete transparency alert – I never set out to become an author. I know, that probably sounds unlikely considering, but it’s true. I sat down one day and decided I wanted to write a story because I needed to know how a dream I’d awoken from ended. It snowballed and turned into chapters and eventually into an entire book. When I finished that book, I needed to make sure my characters were OK and thriving so I wrote the second book.
It was at that point I realized that being an author was something I could see myself doing for a really long time. So, I’m still writing and loving every minute of it. When I’m not writing, there’s a good chance I’m reading and drinking coffee!
More from Jennifer
Wrapped Up in You is book two of the Real American Country Series. But don’t worry, it can definitely be read as a standalone! The series follows a reality television country music competition and some of the contestants as they pursue their dreams of becoming country music recording artists. This book follows the story of Nash Montgomery and Cassidy Raye Stanton as they each navigate the pressures of the spotlight. They’ll each have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.
Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.
One of my favorite things about writing this series is coming up with custom playlists for each book. If you love country music or just want to see what all the fuss is about, here’s the playlist that goes along with Wrapped Up in You: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hXjkRFytj9tPFpitHRdEf?si=d0209225ac1f41e0
Interview with the Author
1)What does success as an author look like to you?
Success as an author, for me, is about creating stories that readers connect with. It’s not just about having a large audience, but about knowing that my words moved someone, made them feel something deeply, or even offered an escape when they needed it most. It’s also about personal growth—pushing myself creatively with each new book and improving as a writer. Ultimately, success is having the freedom to do what I love and knowing that my stories have left a positive impact.
2)Which character did you connect to best in this book?
My connection with the female main character, Cassidy, runs deep. She’s a young woman with talent and passion but also carries around the weight of her mother’s expectations. Then she finds her voice. She seeks out what it is that makes her heart sing. Then she stumbles into love, heartache, and success–not necessarily in that order.
3)Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?
In Wrapped Up in You there’s a scene where Nash, the main male character, makes a hard choice. And as the reader you’re really hoping he makes the right one but in the end you want to slap him on the back of the head. Actually, now that I think about it, that happens a few times. But the one that was hardest to write was toward the end of the book.
I hate seeing my characters act human because I know they know better! But I also enjoy seeing it happen because I think it makes them more relatable.
4)What inspired this book?
I accidentally started writing a series I’ve dubbed Real American Country. It centralizes on a group of contestants who are selected to appear on a reality TV show for aspiring country music artists and that show happens to be called Real American Country. Book one (Fall When You’re Ready) was supposed to be a standalone.
Instead, characters kept demanding I write their stories. If you’ve read Fall When You’re Ready, you may have caught glimpses of Cassidy Raye Stanton starting around Chapter 42. And you really only see Nash Montgomery’s name mentioned in conversation. But for whatever reason, these two got my attention and I needed to know why. When I started prodding, they delivered. And that’s where Wrapped Up in You began.
5)Which author influenced you the most?
Oh, goodness, that’s a hard one. I’m such a diverse reader that it’s tough to say if one author has influenced me more than others. I’ve been shaped by so many styles, voices, and stories over the years that it feels like a blend of influences. That said, I once had a reader reach out and tell me that while reading my first book (No Matter What), she forgot she wasn’t reading a Karen Kingsbury novel. That was such a sweet compliment and definitely flattering, especially since Karen Kingsbury is such a beloved author in the genre.
But honestly, it’s hard for me to name a specific author because I wouldn’t want to compare myself to anyone. Every author has their own unique voice and journey, and I feel like I’m still discovering mine. What I can say is that I’ve been inspired by many authors who focus on emotional storytelling, deep character growth, and heartwarming connections—because that’s the kind of impact I hope to make with my own writing.
6)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
“…for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
1 John 3:20 ESV
Not to get too deep and personal, but I grew up in a home where shame was a driving force for repentance. Guilt was always very heavy even in the light of forgiveness. It took decades of letting the Holy Spirit reprogram my thoughts and my heart out from under that weight.
Now, there’s so much freedom in knowing that when God forgives, it’s complete—He takes care of it fully. It’s a reminder that even when my heart condemns me, God’s grace is greater, and His understanding surpasses everything. I no longer have to carry that guilt, because His love and forgiveness are far more powerful than my self-condemnation.
7)What is your vacation spot?
There’s a semi-private beach at The Gulf near where I grew up that I love visiting. It’s my favorite place any time of year. I’d live there if I could convince my husband the 4 ½ hour commute would be worth it…
8)What are you reading right now?
I just picked up Lynn Painter’s Nothing Like the Movies. Before that I read Jenny Proctor’s Once Upon a Boy Band. Loved it!
9)Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.
This is a fun question because I could be really poetic and tell you that before me stretches a majestic 24-inch monitor, towering like the gateway to a thousand universes, with over 100 tabs glimmering like portals to untold realms of knowledge and possibility. Surrounding this digital masterpiece is a kingdom of creativity—fidget toys galore, spinning, clicking, and twirling, offering endless distraction and inspiration. A regal pencil sharpener stands like a sentinel of sharp wit, while a grand pen holder overflows with an explosion of color—gel pens, pencils, and flair pens, each one a sword ready to carve out brilliance on the blank page.
A towering stack of spiral notebooks and loose notes threatens to topple like a paper mountain, housing secret ideas and half-formed masterpieces, while a daily planner, flanked by multiple forms of White Out like noble soldiers, holds the meticulous plans that dictate the rhythm of life. Sticky notes flutter in the breeze of inspiration, casting their multicolored glow across the desk like tiny flags marking great adventures.
Above it all, the wall calendar reigns supreme—a glorious mosaic of multicolored sticky notes, each one a monument to meetings, tasks, and appointments, carefully orchestrating the flow of time and creation like the master schedule of a vast, thriving empire. From this seat of creative power, worlds are built, stories are born, and the chaos of inspiration is harnessed with brilliance.
But that might be excessive. Instead, I’ll just tell you that from my chair I get to look at a large computer monitor, a few fidget toys, and lots of paper full of notes I’ve made over the last couple of years!
10)If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?
(We’re going to assume I’ve memorized the entire Bible and can recite it verse-for-verse.)
If I had to choose one book on a deserted island, it’d be Enjoying Your New Found Freedom on a Deserted Island. Who wouldn’t want a step-by-step guide to thriving in solitude? It would teach me everything from how to build an epic palm tree hammock to gourmet coconut recipes. Plus, it’d help me embrace my new life as a castaway with, hopefully, some handy survival tips. If I’m stranded, I want to live my best island life.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 15
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 16 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, January 17 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17
For the Love of Literature, January 18 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 20 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 21
Blossoms and Blessings, January 22 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23
Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 25
Stories By Gina, January 26 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, January 26
For Him and My Family, January 27
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 28 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a 6-Month Kindle Unlimited Subscription and an eBook copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Twelve-year-old Ginnie West has always been haunted by her mom’s tragic accident—and by the fact that her mom’s prized trick-riding horse, Eternal Love, was sold shortly afterward.
Monique is a bestselling author, a certified Farland Fiction Coach, and an empowerment speaker, dedicated to championing the underdog, in both her writing and real-life adventures.
A country boy by birth and by choice, Gary spent his youth working on the family farm, for local farmers and ranchers, on horseback or playing sports. Offered scholarships in Agriculture and Advertising Design, he opted for the bright lights and big city. Eight years in the advertising field convinced him that wasn’t where he wanted to be.
What do you do when your life’s work lies in ashes at your feet? When your heart and body are broken and your faith shattered?
Joy combines a life- long love of history and a deep passion for the Word of God to write stories, inspired by her own faith journey. She lives on the beautiful North Wales coast, amidst abbey ruins and ancient pilgrim paths.
To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize of a $35 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!
In this collection of four heartfelt novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness–and love–remain elusive.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and why. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.
Who Kissed Who First?
Mindy Steele is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over a dozen novels and novellas in Christian fiction. Raised in Kentucky timber country, Steele has been writing since she could hold a crayon on the wall and lives in northeastern Kentucky—where many of her stories are set.
To celebrate her tour, Mindy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!
When Florida Panhandle police officer Abbi Kincaid obtains a coveted position on the Bay County dive team, she has no inkling her first mission will be anything but routine. Recovering a murder weapon eighty feet below the ocean surface is a simple assignment until Abbi finds herself face-to-face with a mutilated body.
Kathy Cassel is the author of more than a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunner, Catching Hope, and 2023 Selah Award finalist and Christian Indie Award finalist, A Thousand Lies. Dead Weight is her first adult suspense novel and the first book in the Abbi Kincaid Suspense series.
To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize of a copy of the book and a $40 Books a Million gift card!!
Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides in the beautiful Hill Country, northwest of San Antonio. After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Valerie and her husband, Glenn, moved to Texas, his home state. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs.
To celebrate her tour, Valerie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
She’s the happiest person he’s ever met. His world has turned upside and he’s in no mood for Christmas. Will these coworkers find middle ground as they head into the holidays?
Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.