LiteraryScape

Crystal Caudill’s debut novel is sure to have you hooked and hog tied from beginning to end. The mystery, adventure, and romance will keep the pages flying through your fingers.

            Part of what keeps Crystal’s readers engaged is the amount of true history is woven into her novel. She has spent an incredible amount of time researching the start of the Secret Service and their cases on counterfeit money rings in the 1800’s. Her characters are fictional, but the cases are real!

            Broderick and Theresa are surround by men and women of God who point them in the right direction as they fight for the truth and their lives. Here are some snippets from a couple of my favorite scenes from Counterfeit Love.

“We’re barely speaking.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s your fault, not God’s.” Lydia gentled her tone as she took both of Theresa’s hands in hers. “I know you’ve been struggling, but no matter what happens or what you think you’ve lost, you cannot lose God. He pursues you with an unstoppable passion. He wants to be with you, and sometimes it takes stripping everything away for us to realize how much we need Him. If you have nothing left, then turn to the One you do have. He’s there waiting.” (Crystal Caudill, Counterfeit Love, p.210)

Abraham speaks truth to Broderick about his choices concerning Theresa.

“Don’t take my allowing you to see her as approval. God called us to be heads of our households, and it takes a mature man in Christ to put the needs of his wife above his career. You’ve been lying to yourself about what choice you made. You have one chance to make things right.” His mouth twitched. “If you don’t, you’re paying for my hotel room. Theresa’s still awake in the guest room. Upstairs, last door on the left.” (Crystal Caudill, Counterfeit Love, p. 213)

            Abraham and Lydia Hall are wonderful supporting characters as come along side our hero and heroine to help them on their journey to God and truth.

            LiteraryScape gives Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill 3 lassos! Our book club was hooked, and hog tied, and we guarantee you will be too! Check out our mystery, romance, and adventure ratings below.

Mystery Level = Latte

Romance Level = Mocha

Adventure Level = Latte

*Rating levels: Espresso=very little/an expression of it: Mocha= a medium amount: Latte= A lot

**Lasso Ratings: 1 lasso=throw and a miss 2 lassos= hooked 3 lassos=hooked and hog tied.

1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels.

Do you find yourself buried in worries and overwhelmed by anxiety? I must admit this happens to me more often than I like. Most days I am doing fine, but it just takes one incident or news of a struggle that a family member is facing, to trigger the worry.

Now, how often do you take that anxiety and give it to God? Or do you ever feel like Greta from Jody Hedlund’s novel A Cowboy for Keeps?

In the novel A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund, the

heroine Greta struggles with feeling as though she is

unwanted and burden to everyone in her life.

God was surely weary of all her problems. Why would

He want to hear from her again, with one more trouble.

(p. 249 Jody Hedlund, A Cowboy for Keeps 2021)

If you have felt like Greta or feel like her now, I want to remind you of what Jesus said in John 16. In verses 16 through 33 Jesus is speaking about His name in prayer. Let’s zero in on John 16: 23 & 24.

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

I want to encourage you to cast your cares upon the Lord and boldly pray over your worries in Jesus’s name. For our God is mighty and his shoulders are big enough to carry your load!

I will leave you with this thought: God does not see you as a burden, instead He eagerly awaits to answer your prayers.

Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels.

Have you ever been wounded by the words of others? I’m guessing everyone is raising their hand. I’m not sure anyone goes through life without ever hearing an unkind word said about them or to them.

Now here’s the hard question. Have you ever wounded someone with your words? You may not be raising your hand now, but most likely your heart is pricked by that question. We are human and therefore imperfect which means we sometimes lash out with our words.

Proverbs 12:18 says, Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

In the novel A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund, the

hero Wyatt struggles to overcome the words of death

his stepfather spoke to him.

"The truth is," Rusty continued with a harder jab, "you

were a failure, and you'll always be a failure." (p.89

Jody Hedlund, A Cowboy for Keeps 2021)

God’s word has much to say about our words, because God knows how our words can speak life or death over someone. Think about the reckless words and insults that have been slung at you. How long did it take for you to overcome them? Are you still wrestling with them? If you are I want to encourage you to give those words of death over to the Lord and let Him speak truth into your life.

At the same time ask Him to help you use your words to speak life into those around you. For His word says that the tongue has the power of life and the tongue of the wise brings healing. In a world full of hurt and riddled with sin, we need more people speaking words of life into and over people.

I’ll leave you with this thought: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

            Debut author Crystal Caudill draws her readers in with this action packed, mysterious novella. Counterfeit Truth will have you hooked, and hog tied from the nail-biting opening scene to the celebration of love ending scene.

            Our heroine Felicity is quite the determined lady. Having spent her whole life trying to win her father’s approval, she finds herself in quite a pickle that only our hero Hayden can get her out of.

            Hayden’s been in love with Felicity for a while but doesn’t realize it. The comical prodding of his mother helps open his eyes to his true feelings for this feisty woman who has captured his heart.

            If you enjoy romance stories with mystery and adventure, then Crystal Caudill is the author for you! LiteraryScape book club gave Counterfeit Truth an overall rating of 3 lassos! We gave the romance level an espresso rating, adventure a latte rating and the mystery level a latte.

            Crystal has become a new favorite among our book club! We can’t wait to bring you more from her Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series, next week! Visit Crystal’s website to learn more about her upcoming releases!

            Be sure to sign-up for our newsletter below and stay up to date on the latest reads in the historical Christian romance genre.

            Looking for more great reads? Check our Book Buying Guide for our top picks!

What led you to become an author?

            Jody has been writing practically her whole life. When she was in Junior High, she entered a writing contest and won! This was a defining moment in her career as a young writer.    

Who was the easiest character to write for Colorado Cowboys?

            Dylan was the easiest character for Jody to write based on her connection with him as a prodigal son. She herself was a prodigal child and one of her children was too.

Who was the hardest character to write for Colorado Cowboys?

            Jody found Catherine to be the hardest character to write because she is lying for part of the story, and it was difficult to make her a character that readers would like.

Who was your inspiration for the character Judd?

            Judd isn’t based on just one person, but rather a combination of wise people Jody has known.

What actors could you see playing each of the heroes in Colorado Cowboys?

            You might be surprised to learn that Jody googled hot cowboy pictures to get her inspiration for each of her heroes in this series!

Can you tell us about some projects you are currently working on?

            Jody is currently working on a few projects, but if you’re a fan of her Colorado Cowboys series you’ll be happy to know she is working on a Colorado Cowgirls series. This series will follow some of the other characters you’ve come to love in Colorado Cowboys!

How can our listeners connect with you?

            Visit Jody’s website www.jodyhedlund.com to sign-up for her newsletter and to follow her on social media!

Be sure to listen to the episode to get the full scoop from Jody!

If you enjoyed this series and want to share it with your friends, consider purchasing our book club kit for just $17! We can guarantee you’ll have lively deep discussions and fun with our discussion questions, trivia and BINGO games! Visit www.literaryscape.com for more information.

Do you want to dive deeper into the biblical principles Jody has woven into this amazing series! Check out our reading companion journal. It will take you through the entire series and provide you with scripture and reflection questions to enhance your reading experience! Click here to learn more!

Today’s the day! The fifth and final installment of Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series is finally available!

The Last Chance Cowboy is the perfect ending to such an adventurous and romantic series. Dylan is a flirt like no other, but he’s now a man of God. His story will have you laughing, crying, and swooning!

Catherine is the perfect picture of innocence and damsel in distress. Her reactions to Dylan’s forward flirtations will having laughing and blushing. When her past lands on her front door, you’ll love her even more for choosing to do the tough but right thing.

Jody brings the entire McQuaid family back together for this unforgettable prodigal son story. You won’t be able to put this one down as the McQuaid men ride to save Dylan’s lady love!

Be sure to get your copy today!

Want to share the fun with your friends? Check out our Colorado Cowboys book club kit filled with discussion questions, trivia, and BINGO!

Want to dive deeper into the Colorado Cowboys series? You’ll love our 25-day companion reading journal filled with scripture, thoughts of the day, and 5 minute journaling reflections.

Sign-up for our newsletter and stay up to date on our latest reads and recommendations.

Hold the phone! Jody just wrapped up her Colorado Cowboys series with the best story yet! I didn’t think she could pull me in any further than I already was with this series, but right after finishing The Last Chance Cowboy, I was ready to read it all again!! Seriously I had 45 sticky notes in this book alone out of the 100 sticky notes I used for the whole series! This is a story you won’t want to miss. Check out our inside scoop below!

Dylan is the prodigal son. We know from books 2, 3 and 4 (The Heart of a Cowboy, To Tame a Cowboy and Falling for a Cowgirl) how Dylan couldn’t resist the pull of alcohol, gambling, and sex. God finally gets a hold of his heart and watching this rake turn into a man of God is breath taking!

“Thank you for lettin’ me come back here. For giving me a second chance.” His whispered prayer settled in the silence around him, broken only by the nearby trickling of a creek filled with melting runoff. (Hedlund, Jody p. 34 The Last Chance Cowboy)

Jody does a wonderful job of bringing light to the consequences of our sins. She once again hits on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, purity. Dylan’s vices got him into a heap of trouble. God saved him and forgave him, but and others still had to face the consequences of their sin. This next scene really ties back into the scene with Savannah in To Tame a Cowboy as she talks about a lady not being free with her favors.

Not many entries later, Kit described how Dylan had proposed marriage and how she’d given in and slept with him, telling herself everything would be okay because they were getting married. The next few accounts dripped with anger after Kit discovered Dylan had left Chicago for Colorado and hadn’t bothered to say good-bye. (Hedlund, Jody p. 27 The Last Chance Cowboy)

She follows this scene up with a powerful reflection from Dylan. No one ever talks about the regret they have for not following God’s precepts and having sex outside of marriage. Jody brings this to light through Dylan.

But even has he opened the door, his guilt opened wide right along with it. He’d never been with a woman who hadn’t wanted to be with him. He’d always made sure of that. Even so, he’d still been wrong to give in to fleshly pleasures outside of the bounds of marriage. He regretted his immorality and wished he could go back and stay chaste. (Hedlund, Jody p. 40 The Last Chance Cowboy)

The humor Jody laces throughout this story will have you laughing out loud! You get to meet some new citizens of Fairplay, Colorado that you will fall in love with. Their humor comes in at just the right time!

“I’ve found evidence of another mouse, Sheriff.” The older woman’s delicate face creased with anxiety. “It’s gotten into my drawers and nibbled on some my garments. I’ll have you know, it’s eating my unmentionables.” (Hedlund, Jody p. 58 The Last Chance Cowboy)

Being the sheriff in an up-and-coming wild west town brings danger to Dylan’s front door, putting him and the ones he loves in danger.

“You know I’ll shoot you before you can pull your trigger.” Dylan continued. “And you also know I ain’t gonna miss.” (Hedlund, Jody p. 181 The Last Chance Cowboy)

With Dylan being our hero, you know Jody is packing his story with heat when it comes to the romance! He’s been a ladies’ man his whole life, but now that he is a man of God he focuses all his romance on one lucky lady, his wife.

He didn’t let her end the kiss so easily and angled in as though he had no intention of bringing this ship to shore. He made a soft groan at the back of his throat and skimmed his fingers up to her neck. As he deftly pulled the first pin form her hair, a hot current swept her along with a new, delicious bliss. She wanted him to keep going, wanted to see where this tide took them. (Hedlund, Jody p. 200 The Last Chance Cowboy)

As if the sizzling romance scenes weren’t enough, Jody packs a double barrel punch with Dylan’s irresistible flirtations! He is a gorgeous, honorable, new man of God that no woman can resist!

Dylan stretched his arms over his head and grabbed the rods of the metal headboard. “No need to call them, darlin’. I’ll let you tie me up.” (Hedlund, Jody p. 216 The Last Chance Cowboy)

I have to stop here before I give the whole story away! I must say if you are a fan of historical Christian romance, you will not be disappointed in Jody Hedlund’s The Last Chance Cowboy. Although this is now my favorite book in the series, I strongly suggest reading the entire series in order to truly appreciate Dylan’s story and how much God has done in his life.

LiteraryScape Book Club gives Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund 3 lassos! Dylan and Catherine’s love story is sure to have you hooked and hog tied!

Check out our ratings for category below to be sure this book is a fit for you.

Mystery Level = Mocha (There is a medium amount of mystery to this story.)

Adventure Level = Mocha (There is a medium amount of adventure in this story.)

Romance Level = Latte (There is a lot of romance that sizzles in this book.)

Be sure to sure to get your copy of The Last Chance Coboy by Jody Hedlund today! Check out our Book Buying Guide with direct links to purchase on Amazon.

Be sure to check out Jody’s website as she has plans to bring you even more the loveable town of Fairplay!

Stay tuned for next week’s episode as we dive into the Colorado Cowboys series with author Jody Hedlund!

We’d love to have you stay in touch as we bring you the scoop on novels in the historical Christian romance genre all year long! Sign-up for our newsletter below and don’t miss out on great reads and fun author events!

Ivy, having been raised by her four older brothers, is a bit of a dare devil and tomboy.  She frequently finds herself in compromising situations and our hero Jericho is always there to save her.

She spread her bodice further over her chemise to act like a shield, although it did nothing to cover her very bare arms. Her mind returned to the night she was caught in the bog, when he’d seen her in underdrawers. And the time before that when he’d caught her bathing in the creek. The same question she’d asked the night at the bog taunted her: Why was he always coming across her when she was indecent? (Hedlund, Jody p. 146 Falling for the Cowgirl)

Jericho struggles to keep his distance from Ivy. He promised her brother Brody years ago that he wouldn’t touch her but would protect her. Yet his heart betrays him as he falls further in love with this young feisty cowgirl. His job and his past also keep him from pursuing his love for her, as works to keep her out of danger.

“Put down your guns Bliss, or I’ll start carving her up.”

Jericho set one gun down on the rock in front of him and then placed the other next to it. “There. Now take me instead of her.”

“I’m not a fool. I know exactly how much you care about Miss McQuaid. You made that quite clear since your return. And I know you’ll do anything to keep her safe.” (Hedlund, Jody p. 239 Falling for the Cowgirl)

Oh my, the romance sizzles in this book as Ivy unashamedly pursues Jericho, while he attempts to keep his distance. But he is only a man after all!

He swooped down and captured her mouth with all the power and decisiveness of a cowhand roping a steer. He knotted them together, tightly, tautly, with no room to breathe.

When her arms slipped around his shoulders and she pressed into him, a dangerous jolt rocked him, warning him to let go, not to take this any further. But her mouth moved against his with a passion and fervor that rivaled his. And it only tied the knot more firmly, wedging them together so that he couldn’t let go of her.

Ivy hits an all-time low after she is hit with one loss after another. Our loveable Judd comes to the rescue with is proverbs.

Her mind spun, trying to make sense of Judd’s advice. But she couldn’t wrangle the wisdom from his proverb.

As if sensing her confusion, he continued. “You get on with building your life on the good Lord ‘cause He’s the only thing that ain’t gonna crumble away when the going gets tough and people leave you behind. Believe me. I oughto know.” (Hedlund, Jody p. 297 Falling for the Cowgirl)

LiteraryScape Book Club gives Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund 3 lassos! Ivy and Jericho’s love story is sure to have you hooked and hog tied!

Check out our ratings for category below to be sure this book is a fit for you.

Mystery Level = Mocha (There is a medium amount of mystery to this story.)

Adventure Level = Mocha (There is a medium amount of adventure in this story.)

Romance Level = Mocha to Latte (There is a cross between a medium amount to a lot of romance that sizzles in this book.)

Be sure to sure to get your copy of Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund today! Check out our Book Buying Guide with direct links to purchase on Amazon.

Stay tuned for next week’s episode as we dive into The Last Chance Cowboy. The fifth and final book in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series, which releases on February 14th! Be sure to check out Jody’s website as she has plans to bring you even more the loveable town of Fairplay!

We’d love to have you stay in touch as we bring you the scoop on novels in the historical Christian romance genre all year long! Sign-up for our newsletter below and don’t miss out on great reads and fun author events!

Never have I read a story about a wounded soldier that was so moving. Jody does a wonderful job of capturing all aspects of Brody McQuaid as he finds his way back to peace with God. He was always known as the tender heart in the family, but he was determined to fight in the Civil War, going against his family’s wishes. Unfortunately, this decision left him with some deep scars that he wrestles with until he hands them all over to God.

Wasn’t that how it was with God? When others gave up, He kept going, kept pursuing, always seeing the potential of a person tamed by His hands. (Hedlund, Jody p. 67 To Tame a Cowboy)

You will fall in love with Brody’s adorable niece Flora! She is a shining light in his life during some of his darkest times. Jody captures Flora’s sweet child innocents in scenes that will melt your heart, make laugh, and want to pull her out of the pages to hug!

She patted the mattress, mimicking what he did for her every night. And once he stretched out, she pulled the covers up and made a production of tucking every hem of the blanket around him snugly. Then she sat on the edge and proceeded to tell him the story in a singsong voice that imitated the way he read to her. (Hedlund, Jody p. 90 To Tame a Cowboy)

The message of purity is pulled into this story through our leading lady Savannah as she becomes friends with Brody’s younger sister, Ivy. This is something that is near and dear to my heart as I work with young ladies at school. Jody does an amazing job of passing this message on in a clear and concise manner.

Savannah paused, surprise coursing through her. She hadn’t known Ivy was courting anybody. And even if she was, a lady needed to use restraint. Her momma had always said a woman couldn’t give away her favors so easily. A man wouldn’t learn to cherish what he got freely but would prize what he worked hard to earn. (Hedlund, Jody p. 162-163 To Tame a Cowboy)

For those who love the romance, don’t worry Jody didn’t leave that out! She has scenes that make your heart flutter and leave you saying “Ahh…” as you slowly expel a breath of air. The romance in this book will have you longing to curl up in the arms of your own cowboy!

At her movement, his hands against her stomach drew her toward him more securely. The long length of his fingers splayed across her ribs almost possessively. He wasn’t touching her directly. A coarse woolen blanket covered her skin. Her bare skin.

LiteraryScape Book Club gives To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund 3 lassos! Brody and Savannah’s love story is sure to have you hooked and hog tied!

Check out our ratings for the categories below to be sure this book is a fit for you.

Mystery Level = Espresso (There is an expression or very little mystery to this story.)

Adventure Level = Mocha (There is a medium amount of adventure in this story.)

Romance Level = Mocha to Latte (There is a cross between a medium amount to a lot of romance that sizzles in this book.)

Be sure to sure to get your copy of To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund today! Check out our Book Buying Guide with direct links to purchase on Amazon.

Stay tuned for next week’s episode as we dive into Falling for the Cowgirl. The fourth book in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series. Be sure to check out Jody’s website as the fifth and final book of the series comes out on February 14th!

We’d love to have you stay in touch as we bring you the scoop on novels in the historical Christian romance genre all year long! Sign-up for our newsletter below and don’t miss out on great reads and fun author events!

In this episode we dig into the second book of Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series, The Heart of a Cowboy. She brings her readers an irresistible cowboy who is a brother, protector, and lover.

Fall in love with the second oldest sibling of the McQuaid family. Since Wyatt moved out west to create a home for them, Flynn has stepped up as not only the oldest brother but also as father figure for his younger siblings. His love for his siblings is fierce.

Flynn held Ivy’s gaze a moment longer, then shifted it to Linnea. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes spoke of worry more than anger. She guessed he was one of the older brothers Ivy had spoken about, trying to take care of his younger siblings now that his parents were gone. (p.18 Hedlund, Jody The Heart of a Cowboy)

The heart of a man changed by God only heightens Flynn’s desire to protect all of those under his care. He’ll stop at nothing to keep his family and Linnea safe, but he must learn to trust God with their protection and safety.

He released a tight breath. If only he could be in all places at all times. Then maybe he’d be able to keep everyone safe.

“You’re not God.” Linnea’s comment came back to taunt him. (p.127 Hedlund, Jody The Heart of a Cowboy)

Linnea falls hard for the handsome, capable, strong, yet gentle cowboy. Flynn is not immune to the beauty and kindness of Linnea. As they travel together he not only saves her from peril, but falls in love with her. Linnea discovers that Flynn is a man capable of great love.

He reached for her. Lord Almighty, help him. He shouldn’t do this, but he knew he was going to. He skimmed his fingers over the high arched cheekbone even as he leaned toward her. Her breathing hitched. The soft intake added fuel to the low-burning fire inside. He couldn’t stop himself now-didn’t want to stop. He let himself caress her ear and then find the back of her neck. As he used the pressure to tug her nearer, he shifted his weight, bringing himself against her. (p. 197-198, Hedlund, Jody The Heart of a Cowboy)

This is a story you’ll want to read. Check out our Book Buying Guide to purchase this book and others like it.

Be sure to visit Jody Hedlund’s website to stay up to date on her latest writings. The fifth and final book in the Colorado Cowboys series will be released on February 14th! You won’t want to miss Jody’s book launch!