I don't know about you, but I love a good fairy tale... throw in a few twists and turns and an unlikely romantic lead, and you've got me hooked. Listen in and see why I'm eager to read the whole Crown of Promise series and especially, Hold Her Close . note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Expectations, disappointments, out of character behavior, threats to the kingdom. What doesn't Hold Her Close have in store for us? Hanna Currie ...
Mar 17, 2025•36 min•Season 6Ep. 413
What happens when you add apocalyptic elements to a dystopian world and splash a bit of sci-fi in it? Exodus 2065. Listen in as I chat with author Zach Samo about his exciting genre mashup! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. While I am not an expert on spec-fic, I've never quite heard of anything like this, especially in Christian Fiction, which I find refreshing. I also loved that Zack has created a lot of YouTube content aroun...
Mar 15, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 12
One of the best things about historical fiction is when authors show parts that we might not know as much about. Listen in as I chat with Tara Johnson about the Irish slaves sent to the Americas and the abolitionists who tried to put a stop to slavery altogether! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Too few books show the full scope of the ugly slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, but Tara Johnson has kicked off an excellen...
Mar 10, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 411
EEEP! Suspense and K-9 protection? What more could you want? How about it written by an author with lots of experience with fast-paced, exciting Christian romantic suspense novels under her belt? Listen in while Terri Reed and I chat about her latest Love Inspired Suspense novel. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Author of dozens of books,many of which are published by Love Inspired, Terri Reed knows how to deliver everything r...
Mar 08, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 410
Carrie Walker brings us back to the characters we met in Emma's Hero with Right Before Their Eyes and again tackles some really difficult topics. Listen in to learn why this series is one of my most anticipated reads! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. The Faith Endures series is really focused on Mason... but it shows him in the light of others and his interactions with them. So we see more than just his personal story. I reall...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 409
Book two in the Jaguar Oracles series is out and wow! Things are getting intense in Texas! Listen in to see what adventures away in this next exciting installment note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I seriously love the premise of this series. How often do we forget "our name" (our identity) in Christ and need a wakeup call! And is it just me or did we start this environmental mess in Eden? I mean, we didn't have to fight nature ...
Mar 01, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 408
I've always been a huge fan of children's fiction, and these new chapter books featuring a dog who thinks he's a knight fighting dragons in search of "the orb of power" and other adventures is exactly the kind of thing kids love! Listen in to hear about the exciting Kickstarter coming up. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. If singing, dancing vegetables (fruits, really) aren't your kids' thing, then perhaps dogs storming the "ca...
Feb 24, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 407
Okay, Old West outlaws are a staple in Western fiction but... a reluctant outlaw? A French reluctant outlaw? Listen in to see why I was determined to read this book the minute I read the synopsis! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Kylee Woodley's new Outlaw Hearts series promises to be a fresh take on a familiar genre. We had a great time chatting about the books' settings, the history of the time, and more! The Bandit's Redemp...
Feb 22, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 406
Eclectic authors are right up my alley, and Tabitha Caplinger is no exception. Listen in and see why I bought The Castle Rose before we finished our interview! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Fantasy of all sorts (light or deep) seems to be Tabitha's strength, but when you mash up Beauty and the Beast with Phantom of the Opera and set it in New Orleans... Add in beignets and... well... score! The Castle Ros e by Tabitha Capli...
Feb 17, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 405
One of my favorite books of 2025 has been The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens. Imagine my surprise when I learned she also has done historical romance with Biblical retellings--and I'd read one! Her latest is The Scarlet Ribbon. Listen in to see how she managed such different genres! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. This Rahab retelling set against the backdrop of the War for Independence promises to tear at the he...
Feb 15, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 404
With her debut romance novel, Ready to be Loved by You , Enewerome offers readers not only a wonderful slow-burn romance but also an exciting look into Nigerian culture (and food!) Listen in to see why I popped this book on my Kindle Unlimited shelf before we finished speaking! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. While I loved learning about the Nigerian culture Enewerome put into her novel, I have to say talking about why she wr...
Feb 10, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 403
A new historical romance series is coming, Bounty Brothers. Listen in to discover what to expect from the series and the first book, Unwavering Faith. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. As a lover of "the damsel in distress" trope, Melissa LaShure gives it a fresh twist in this series. I'm excited to find out what it looks like. Even better, book two is coming out in May/June. And... don't forget, you can only get the books on h...
Feb 08, 2025•36 min•Season 6Ep. 402
Valentine's Day is coming, and with it come thoughts of love, romance, and all things pink and red hearts, right? I've compiled a list of contemporary books (I left out historical this time) that might just tempt you if you haven't read them yet. Listen in to see what I thought of these books! The Books (note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon: Comes out February 18th. RomCom. The GoodReads Giveaway: ...
Feb 03, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 401
As much as many of us read to escape the evil in the world, sometimes we need to get a picture of what we're fighting against, what people are dealing with, what to pray for. Authors like Cher Gatto do the hard work for us. Listen in and see what we'll get for the sequel to Something I Am Not. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Cher is back with more about Billy, but wow. We so often think about getting people out of these terri...
Feb 01, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 400
If you're looking for a Christian thriller with international impact, Faith Ijiga has a wild ride full of twists and spins just waiting for you. Listen in and see why I am crazy excited for the new Ryder Jackson series! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Faith Ijiga, a native of Nigeria, has a few books out there, but her new Ryder Jackson series promises to be something extra special. Codes and ciphers combine with the CIA and ...
Jan 27, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 399
As an author writing stories featuring Muslims yielding to Christ, Um Daoud provides a unique perspective to contemporary Christian fiction. Listen in and learn how that looks in the life of a Muslim! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Writing about Muslims in different Islamic predominant nations, Um Daoud shows the vast differences between different schisms and cultures. I think I was most fascinated by the way Muslims will re...
Jan 20, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 398
Author of the beloved Blood of Kings series, Jill Williamson has teamed up with Sunrise Publishing to bring four new books in a spin-off series, Blood of Kings-Legends. Listen in to learn what's coming next in this series! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Listening to Jill talk about this new series got me wildly interested in it. I've already bought the first book of the original series and I'm a few chapters in. So far, I'm ...
Jan 18, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 397
Sometimes authors have to to extreme lengths to share their stories with their readers. Liz Tolsma learned about a part of her family history she'd never known, traveled to Poland, learned more, and then braved a horrible cold to come on the podcast to tell us all about it. Listen in and learn more about What I Left for You. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Book three in the Echoes of the Past Series, What I Let for You offers...
Jan 14, 2025•31 min•Season 6Ep. 396
What do you get when you take inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe and mix it into a contemporary romance? Finding Nevermore by Kelly Jo Wilson (which I just typed as Jelly Ko... great!). Anyway, Listen in to learn more and see the exciting Kickstarter that's coming! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. We talked about so many cool things (and laughed even more!) What did we talk about? Well, how about how Revelation 1:18 and Psalm 12...
Jan 10, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 395
I have a special place in my heart for debut authors... especially when their novels sound like something I can't possibly put down. Jayna Breigh ticks all the boxes with her legal thriller, The Hunted Heir . Listen in to how Jayna used her legal experience and her love for Los Angeles to craft this story! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I had a BLAST chatting with Jayna. We bonded over our love of books, our shared experienc...
Jan 07, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 394
When I heard about Laurie Christine's Dragon Slayer Bible series, I was so excited. I mean, Bible stories retold as fantasy elements? Listen in and learn what happens with Seth, the third named son of Adam and Eve goes on a quest to find out more about this Chosen One and how to defeat this dragon. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. My brain is going into over-drive as I consider all the things that Laurie Christine could do wit...
Dec 06, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 393
When I heard about Karen Witemeyer doing fairy tales in 19th-century Texas, I knew this would be genius. But when I heard about Cloaked in Beauty , a mashup of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, her genius took on new proportions. Listen in to see why. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. A girl with a fortune and someone eager to kill her to get it? That might sound familiar, but nope... Witemeyer has taken a whole new t...
Dec 03, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 392
Beloved Biblical and historical fiction author, Tessa Afshar has a new series beginning, and wow! Persian history comes to life as we get to know Roxannah and how she became not only a cook in Queen Esther's house but also... the queen's friend! Listen in to learn more. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. This new series focuses on fictional women who could have interacted with Queen Esther and even has "excerpts from the queen's...
Dec 02, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 391
Author of historical, Amish, and contemporary women's fiction, Suzanne Woods Fisher has moved from Cape Cod and ice cream to the South and flowers. Listen in to learn what you'll find in this new series of novellas (all available in one book!) note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. "Flowers are in the business of happiness." Isn't that the most delightful picture? If that doesn't make you want to read more about flowers, nothing wil...
Nov 30, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 390
Always ready with a variety of excellent new books for us, Roseanna M. White has two recent releases-- An Honorable Disguise and of course, Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor. Listen in to learn more about these two books and the ones coming next year! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I couldn't imagine what on earth would possess someone to call their home, "Sugar Plum Manor," but of course, Roseanna managed to pull that off beaut...
Nov 29, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 389
The queen of research questions that freak out the experts, Patricia Bradley is back with the final book in the Pearl River series. Listen in and learn what happens in this book and where she's taking us next! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Revenge, second chances at a first chance, and a story that hits close to home with our present political climate (and all before it was a thing!), Bradley has a lot going on in this book...
Nov 28, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 388
Beloved author Robin Jones Gunn is back with another fabulous friendship series. This time, different friends are going off on once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Listen in to see what tea has to do with elephants... and friends. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. So far it's a three-book series. We NEED more books so read, review, and beg the publisher for more FRIENDSHIP books. Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn Ever since they...
Nov 27, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 387
Readers who fell in love with Adelaide in All My Secrets will be excited to read this Christmas novella, Waiting for Christmas. Listen in and see why this book has all the vibes of beloved Christmas classics. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I love Christmas, and Gilde-Age stories with their strong contrasts between the wealthy and poverty-stricken offers great fodder for stories, but add in a bit of "fish-out-of-water" and a ...
Nov 26, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 386
College in Ireland? Sign me up! Colleen Marie has a fabulous new series with all things Irish and horses. Listen in to learn more. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I haven't read a lot of new adult fiction, but Teagan's Treasure is definitely going on my list. I love the idea of a mystery combined with all things horses and Ireland! Woot! Teagan's Treasure by Colleen Marie Teagan O'Reilly has one goal upon graduation to be acc...
Nov 25, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 384
When I say Mesu Andrews is Brave to tackle the subject of David's wives (at least the first six of 'em), I'm not being "punny." That said, she is! As hard as it is to see beloved Bible heroes doing stupid things, firmly convinced it's "of the Lord" when... really? How often do we do the same thing? Listen in to learn why she wrote David and his first two wives the way she did. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Tackling the firs...
Nov 24, 2024•51 min•Season 5Ep. 384
