About the Book

Book: Waitin’ On Paige (Romance in Valiant Book Four) Author: Mary Pat Johns Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: July 8, 2025

All he wants is to reclaim her love… Tavo Morales has returned to Valiant, Texas, to stir the embers of a relationship with the woman he has never stopped loving, but hidden reefs from his past threaten to destroy his future. Paige Munoz wants her new event planning business to be a success and won’t let anything stand in her way. But the path she’s on to make her dreams come true proves dangerous. Is the love Tavo and Paige once shared strong enough to survive his secrets and her stubbornness?

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About the Author

Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from teaching speech and writing. She has written devotions for an online publication, had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, and wrote a column for the Victoria Advocate, a local newspaper. Countin’ On Jesse, her first novel debuted in 2023, and books 2 & 3 of the Valiant series, Lovin’ On Red and Glitter and the Grouch released in 2024. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war. She writes Christian romance because when we see life through the hope of Christ’s sacrifice, we find that happily ever after is God’s idea.

More from Mary Pat

The ending of a series is always bittersweet. I will miss the characters, but I remind myself they are in a good place. Kind of like my grown children. They have their own lives to live, and I’m not as “hands-on” as I was during their formative years. If you weren’t around for the beginning of this series, no worries. Each book tells its own story. In the meantime, stay tuned. I have other stories to write. That said, I probably won’t wander too far from Valiant—the strong, safe place where it all began.

Interview with the Author

Do you read books in this genre? If so, who do you like to read?

Yes, I read books in contemporary romance, but not as many as in the genres of romantic suspense and historical romance. For contemporary romance, I love Becky Wade’s books. For romantic suspense, Lynn Blackburn is my favorite. She nails the romance part of it every time. And for historical romance, Laura Frantz wins the prize. Her gift for lush setting details makes the story a rich experience.

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

A cup of Constant Comment tea is my go-to. The sounds of home comfort me and enhance my creativity. And the smells. My husband bakes bread and many other goodies. When the aroma drifts upstairs, I know he’s made something delicious.

What inspired you to write this book?

It was the last book of the series, so how could I not finish? LOL. Aside from that, I loved Tavo and Paige’s story. Both of them were normal functioning adults who had abandonment issues hidden so deeply, they weren’t even aware of them. It took the right set of circumstances for their issues to surface. (And lest anyone think I knew this from the beginning, I did not. It revealed itself to me as I went along. That made it extra-special because it allowed me to encounter the story as a reader instead of a writer.)

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

Family time is special to me. I love to play board games, especially with my husband and grandchildren. Being at home writing fulfills me like nothing else. Aside from my office, the kitchen is my favorite place to be. It’s fun to try new takes on the same old food ingredients. And, of course, I’m always reading a good book!

What is one question you would like readers to ask you? What would be your answer?

My favorite question for readers is, “What’s next?” I’ve always got an idea in the works, and I appreciate their input.

Once I’ve told them my idea, I always ask, “Is this something you’d like to read?” Their answer helps me to know if I’m on the right track.

Other times, a reader friend, or even a random stranger, will say, “I’ve got an idea for your next book.” I always listen, but unless it’s someone very close to me, I don’t attach much weight to it because they’re usually just making conversation. On the other hand, my husband, who doesn’t read for fun, had a dream about a story that helped me envision a new series.