Mixed Signals

Welcome to Abingdon, Virginia. Small. Quaint. Historic. A place where laughter and grace walk hand in hand among timeless brick sidewalks.

Join the memorable cast of characters from Oldies 95 WPER for a novel filled with smile-out-loud humor, heart-tingling romance, and a touching story of grace!

Belle O'Brien has been "town to town, up and down the dial" in her ten-year search for the perfect radio station...and one good man. Is there any hope in a small town like Abingdon?

Patrick Reese, owner and general manger, is still licking his wounds from his last radio format fiasco—all Christmas music. Finally he has an oldies station of his own with a hand-picked air staff, including one young Belle from North Carolina.

David Cahill, the brainy, brooding engineer, grew up poor and troubled in Abingdon. Now he's back in town, determined to prove himself.

Frank Gallagher, the morning guy, has worked at a dozen medium-market stations over his career. A few (very few) people remember his days as "Frank the Crank" spinning stacks of wax in Memphis.

Heather Young does an evening all-request show. She is young and her inexperience will get her in trouble more than once, especially with the veterans on the WPER staff.

Burt "Indiana" Jones, the afternoon announcer, is the last of the "big boy" radio voices, moving up to his first gig as program director. Burt thinks He's So Fine by the Chiffons was the last decent tune recorded on vinyl.

Rick Anderson is the overnight jock, a local guy who runs the automation system. With his high-pitched, nasal voice, Rick steers clear of microphones.

Norah Silver-Smyth, Belle's charming landlady and wise adviser, a silver-haired beauty who discovers it's never too late to fall in love

“Mixed Signals was my sweet reward at the end of my demanding days…
a most satisfying treat!”
Jane Johnson Struck, Senior Editor, Today’s Christian Woman

“The prose was incandescent,
each character fully realized and unforgettable.”
Teresa Medeiros, New York Times best-selling author

Belle O'Brien, the woman behind the warmest voice in Virginia radio, has one problem: her oldies show is a solid-gold hit, but her love life is an off-the-charts disaster.

Her prospects for a husband are small-town slim. Will it be smooth-talking Patrick Reese, who launched her radio career? Moody but handsome David Cahill, WPER’s enigmatic broadcast engineer? Matthew the Methodist, her oh-so-available pastor? Or the mysterious radio listener who signs his letters to her, “All Ears in Abingdon”?

While Norah Silver-Smyth, proprietor of The Silver Spoon and Belle’s faithful encourager, cooks up her own delicious recipe for happily-ever-after, Belle embarks on a journey toward joy filled with humor, tenderness, and endless surprises in this winsome tale with two happy endings!

“Liz Curtis Higgs…has succeeded magnificently with her first fictional effort.”
K-LOVE News & Reviews

“Christian fiction isn’t known for humorous books, so this title is a special joy.”
Library Journal

“Great laughs, good solid story, surprises and twists, and great characters.”
Francine Rivers, author of Redeeming Love

“An outstanding and heartwarming debut!”
Angela Elwell Hunt, author of The Note

“One of the most delightful surprises I’ve had all year—
a first novel that moved me to both laughter and tears!”
Susan Wiggs, USA Today best-selling author

Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of twenty-two books, including her best-selling contemporary novel, Bookends, her best-selling historical novel, Thorn in My Heart, her best-selling nonfiction book, Bad Girls of the Bible, and her best-selling children’s book, The Pumpkin Patch Parable. As an award-winning speaker, Liz has addressed 1,500 audiences in all fifty states and six foreign countries. Before launching her writing career, Liz spent a decade as a popular radio personality. Mixed Signals was a Romance Writers of America Rita Award Finalist for “Best First Novel” and for “Best Inspirational Novel.”

Colorado Romance Writers awarded Mixed Signals their Award of Excellence 2000 in the category of "Inspirational Romance." The golden heart trophy is a beauty.