Finally Forever Food Scene and Recipe from author Karin Beery

Finally Forever Food Scene and Recipe from author Karin Beery
Sunday, March 31, 2024 by Sally Jo Pitts

Categories: Books & Food / Recommended Books

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s novel scene and recipe comes from Karin Beery’s Dancing with the Stars-inspired novel, Finally Forever.

Caroline (the heroine) is surprised to hear her sister, Chris, invited Ben (the hero) to dinner.

Here is the scene:

“I’m here!” The front door opened, and Chris clomped in wearing tennis shoes, black yoga pants, and a Traverse City High School tank top.

Caroline rolled her eyes. “Did you come straight from school?”

“I had a late meeting.” Her sister’s blonde braid swung over her shoulder as she helped herself to a soda before joining Caroline on the couch.

“Where’s the salad?”

“Ben’s bringing it.”

Her mentee? Caroline stifled a groan. “Why’d you invite him?”

“I called him after you told me he was in town. He’s staying with his parents, so I thought he might want to get out of the house.” Chris’s eyebrows rose. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“I guess not.” She’d hung out with other coworkers outside of work. At least he was bringing the salad.

A breeze stirred through the apartment again, swirling something stale and damp through the air. Leaning toward Chris, Caroline sucked in a deep breath. “Why do you stink?”

“End of the school year. I don’t have any clean clothes left in my office.”

“Gross. Take a shower and you can borrow something of mine.”

Chris’s hazel eyes—the same as their mother’s eyes—widened. “Can I wear that green sundress with the holes on the bottom?”

“They aren’t holes, it’s lace, and it’s in my closet.”

Chris hopped up and disappeared into the bedroom.

The shower turned on at the same time someone knocked on the front door. Caroline opened it to Ben. Unsure what to say, she went with, “Did you bring the salad?” He held up a large bowl full of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. “Wow.”

“Were you expecting something else?”

“Well, yeah. Chris usually brings a salad in a bag and I have to put it together.”

He laughed. “Sounds like Chris.”

Author Karin Beery shares the salad recipe Ben impressed Caroline with.

Fruit and Arugula Salad

For the recipe go to Investigatin’ Recipes above under Investigator’s blog or Click Here.

More about Finally Forever:

Former competitive dancer Caroline Novak dreams of leaving the corporate world to work with special needs women at the Pathways non-profit, but the organization can’t afford a full-time director. All-American defensive end Ben Allen was on his way to the NFL when a knee injury sent him home and into the same office as Caroline, his best friend’s older sister. When Pathways participates in a Dancing with the Stars-inspired fundraiser, Caroline quickly volunteers, and Ben joins her as the local “star.”

It doesn’t take long for Ben to realize it’s more than a dance competition, and Caroline is more than his best friend’s sister, but after two failed engagements, she’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man. When the NFL calls Ben, it looks like his dream might finally come true—but it could cost them the championship and Caroline her heart.

About the Author:

Author of hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance, Karin Beery lives in northern Michigan with her husband and pets. They drink too much (decaf) coffee, put up their Christmas tree the first weekend in November, and do their best to live every day for the Lord.