About the Book

Book: Love’s True Measure

Author: Lori DeJong

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Shannon Trent has dedicated her life to ministering to teens, even as she hides secrets that haunt her past. Born into privilege, she’s built a simpler life away from the expectations of her influential family. She’s content on her own, believing that to open her heart would mean unearthing her deepest shame. But when her charming neighbor stirs feelings she’s never allowed herself to entertain, his lack of faith provides the perfect excuse to keep her distance.

Hunter Kavanaugh has spent years chasing his dream career. But when his mother’s sudden death leaves him the sole guardian of his teenage sister, his carefully curated world begins to crumble. Struggling with grief, anger at God, and the demands of his job, Hunter is surprised when Shannon’s unwavering faith begins to resonate with him—and her ability to connect with his sister draws him closer.

As Hunter and Shannon navigate their growing bond, unexpected challenges force them to confront their fears and priorities. Both must either choose to trust God’s plan is far greater than their own, or risk losing the love of a lifetime.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is an award-winning contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty-plus years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter graduated from college and settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with her husband, and the sweetest grand-dog ever.

Lori loves to write about love and romance and all that fun stuff, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly.

Lori’s debut novel, “Love’s True Calling”, Book One of her True Calling Series, was the 2020 winner of the Scrivenings Press Novel Starts Contest, winner of the 2022 ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, 2023 Scrivenings Press Contemporary Book of the Year, and a doubl-finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards. “Love’s True Home” was released in 2024 and is a 2025 Selah Awards finalist.

More from Lori

As soon as Shannon Trent showed up in chapter one of my debut novel, Love’s True Calling, I knew she had a story. That there was something underneath all that joy and spunk that haunted her. That she felt she had to hide.

Although born to a life of privilege, she doesn’t want her name to be the measure of her worth. Determined to live a simpler life, she dials in to her faith, only wanting to be and do whatever God says she should be and do.

Hunter Kavanaugh, on the other hand, has overcome the instability of his teenage years to forge his own path. He’s made something of himself by his own grit and determination, and he measures his worth in terms of his success and the things it provides him.

When these two literally run into each other outside their building, his grumpy disposition, and obvious high-powered job, leave Shannon unimpressed. No matter how handsome he might be, she has no intention of getting to know this neighbor any better.

But God …

When these two meet up again, a friendship blossoms. Her heart threatens to take her somewhere she’s never been before, but his unbelief gives her the perfect reason to keep her emotional distance.

When God gave me this story concept, I was a little intimidated. Would I be able to convey the heart of a good man who didn’t have faith? Would I be able to flesh out a woman who had an abundance of faith yet still harbored shame from her past?

But as I started writing this story, I fell in love with these two and their journey to discover the true measure of their worth … and the true measure of love.

Author Interview

What is your favorite genre of books? Why?

• My favorite genre to read is the same one I write – contemporary romance. I also enjoy Western Historical romance, but they all have to have a happy ending. I don’t enjoy books that leave me sad or grieving for a [main] character I’ve just spent hours or days with. In romance, I know there’s always going to be a happily-ever-after. But knowing that, the writer has to make the journey interesting and compelling. I love books that don’t shy away from deep topics but also mix in a bit of lightness, showing well-rounded characters who have some personality and a sense of humor. I hope that also comes across in my own books.

Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

• Before I was contracted, I would stick with one manuscript at a time. Now, I might be working on a new manuscript when the edits will come back on the previous one from my content editor or my line editor. So I have to set the new wip (work in progress) aside to work on edits, send those in, and go back to the new one. It can be a challenge at times moving from project to project and going back and forth between characters, but it’s all a blessing to be able to do what I love.

How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

• That’s a very good question. They say “write what you know,” but I’m afraid that would make for a very boring book. Haha! I love writing about things I find interesting, and I do a lot of research. However, the faith messages in my books always come from my heart, if not from personal experience. So, I guess the things that come from my own life are my faith and that they’re all set in the State of Texas.

How do you relax after a long day of writing?

• I love to read, so that’s a great way to wind down. If I’m particularly brain-tired, I’ll chill out in front of a cooking or baking competition show or watch episodes of Jeopardy! that I’ve recorded, since they’re on during the day. And I love curling up on the couch with my dogs. My husband doesn’t particularly care for cooking shows, so he watches Netflix documentaries in his study. Haha!

Do you have extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

• I don’t really outline at all. I’m a more seat-of-my-pants sort of writer. I’m very character-driven, so I do a lot of character development and usually the plots will take shape from there. I identify the five major plot points, then write scenes more or less off the top of my head from point to point. I usually have a lot of scene ideas before I start the actual writing and make specific notes, so when I get there, I’m reminded of my original thought. I get great ideas at some of the weirdest times, and if I don’t jot them down, I’ll never remember them later.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, August 2 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, August 3 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 4

Artistic Nobody, August 5 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6

Guild Master, August 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 8

Fiction Book Lover, August 9 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, August 10

Vicky Sluiter, August 11 (Author Interview)

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, August 11

Texas Book-aholic, August 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 12

For the Love of Literature, August 13 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 14 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 15 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54274