The Because Fiction Podcast

A man, a woman, and a baby walk into some mistletoe--or something. Listen in as I chat with Heidi Main about her "society" meets the world of ranching, where real life collide in a Christmas novel, The Mistletoe Baby.

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I think my favorite part is how Heidi shows that just because you've lived the party side of a party, that doesn't mean you know what goes into creating and executing that party plan!

The Mistletoe Baby by Heidi Main

They both long for a true home. Can the holidays bring opposites together? Saving his family's Texas ranch is former bull rider Reggie Evermore's Christmas wish. And he's sure socialite Natalie Patterson can help him plan the perfect event to bring in cash. Pregnant, recently divorced and ready to prove her independence, Natalie needs a paycheck and a place to stay. So she accepts Reggie's job offer. But planning a fundraiser is harder than attending them! When Reggie learns the truth, he's less than happy. Can they work through their differences to transform the ranch and give love a chance to grow? From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Learn more on Heidi's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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There are just not enough "rodeo" books out there, but Jenny McLeod Carlisle has climbed into the saddle and... yeah. I tried to do something other than "stepped up to the plate," but it didn't work. Anyway, you get the gist. Listen in to get the story about the story!

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Family relationships can be hard, so maybe that's why stories that explore them resonate so well. Stepping up when things are falling apart means doing hard things, and hard things make great stories. Throw in a horse or three and...

Hope Takes the Reins by Jenny McLeod Carlisle

They've spent their lives in the middle—now everything is asking them to step up.

O.D. Billings has always lived in the shadow of his brothers. Even his name feels like something to hide behind. But when his family's future begins to unravel, O.D. is forced to take the reins in ways he never expected.

Hope Caldwell is doing everything she can to hold her family together after the loss of her mother. The rodeo that's been her whole world is slipping through her fingers, and the future she counted on is suddenly uncertain.

Because someone is ready to walk away. And everything she loves is at risk of disappearing.

As lifelong neighbors, O.D. and Hope have always known each other—but now they're seeing each other in a whole new light. With pressure mounting from every direction, they find themselves leaning on each other in ways neither anticipated.

But stepping forward means facing fears they've spent years avoiding. And trusting that God's plan might look very different than their own.

In a world of dust, determination, and second chances, Hope Takes the Reins is a heartfelt story of courage, calling, and discovering that sometimes the middle is exactly where you're meant to be.

Will they keep running from who they've always been…or finally step into who they're meant to become?

Find love, purpose, and the courage to take the reins. Start reading today.

Learn more on Jenny's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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There's nothing better than taking a strong man with excellent skills and put him into a situation where he's not at the top of his game. EEEP! Listen in and see how Shilo Creed set up this world!

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Don't know about you, but a Navy Seal being thrown into spiritual warfare? Yes, please!

Plunged by Shilo Creed

Jacob Carter built his life around one vow: never be helpless again. As a Navy SEAL, fear is buried under discipline, muscle, and mission. He runs toward danger, protects the weak, and survives what breaks other men. Then an admiral forces him into Project 157. The experiment tears him through the hull of a weaponless ship and strips away everything he mistook for strength. Jacob wakes in a spiritual dimension where none of his training can save him. His weapons are gone. Everything he trusted in is a distant memory. And here? Here, he is the hunted and the darkness has teeth. The lions can smell his weakness, and they obey only their relentless hunger. Back on Earth, nurse Sage Emerson is the only one fighting to keep Jacob's body alive. The project sees a military asset. The admiral sees data. The One World Government sees a weapon. But Sage sees a man trapped in a war no one else believes is real. And every hour she keeps him alive, the experiment reaches deeper into her too. Jacob is facing something older than science, closer than breath, and hungry enough to follow him back. Plunged is a gripping Christian fantasy spiritual thriller where military conspiracy and spiritual warfare collide—and a soldier trained for every earthly battle discovers the one war his weapons cannot win.

Learn more on Shilo's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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If you love spiritual warfare with a bit of Screwtape Letters thrown in, then listen in as James Finke and I chat about his Dear Judas. This is one I do NOT want to miss.

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James FInke started out writing apologetics and during Covid, shifted to apologetics-infused fiction. And if you don't follow him on Instagram, you should! He's brilliant.

Dear Judas by James Finke

Christians are binging this in a weekend. Not your typical Christian fiction. This one will impact your walk with Christ. From James Finke, author of the bestselling Christianity Uncomplicated series, comes Dear Judas, a gripping Christian novel where love, apologetics, and spiritual warfare collide.

Tommy Finch has built his life on evidence, logic, and measurable results.

A successful medical device salesman in a demanding corporate world, he has no need for God.

Until his heart stopped.

After a near-death experience shatters his disbelief, Tommy finds himself confronting questions his rational worldview cannot explain. But as he searches for answers, he becomes the target of unseen forces determined to lead him to "their father's house below."

There is just one problem for hell's strategy team.

Tommy is married to Elizabeth, a devoted Christian whose persistent prayers and unwavering faith make him far more dangerous than he realizes.

Through chilling letters between a junior demon and his calculating supervisor, Dear Judas reimagines the themes of The Screwtape Letters in a contemporary setting, blending spiritual warfare, thoughtful apologetics, humor, heart, and eternal stakes.

As Tommy wrestles with skepticism, truth, and the unseen battle unfolding around him, one question becomes unavoidable:

What if the evidence actually points toward God?

Perfect for readers of C. S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, and Francine Rivers, especially those who enjoy Christian fiction filled with spiritual conflict, emotional depth, and faith that refuses to separate reason from belief.

Learn more on James' WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Most of us are used to Amanda Cabot writing in the late nineteenth century, but post WWII? Sign me up! Listen in and see what you can expect from Amanda's Beyond the Melody.

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I love jukeboxes, and a book with someone who knows all about them? Sign me up! EEEP!

Beyond the Melody by Amanda Cabot

Neither one is looking for love, But sometimes all it takes is one dance. By the spring of 1946, life in Sweetwater Crossing is almost back to normal after the war. Not Anna Finley's. She lost her chance at happily-ever-after when the man she loved was killed in France. Anna does her best to hide her sorrow and a secret that haunts her as she works on the jukeboxes she inherited when her brother died in combat. There's no point in dreaming about what might have been. Jim Smythe is also grieving a shattered life. His fiancee broke their engagement, reminding him that a respected magazine said it should take no more than three weeks for a veteran to forget the war. But Jim cannot forget the men in his platoon who didn't return home, and he's made it his mission to visit each of the fallen soldiers' families, hoping to give them some small measure of comfort. Sweetwater Crossing is his final stop. After that, he'll have to return to Boston and the life that holds no appeal. If only he could find an alternative, one where people saw him for himself, not his family's name. He's given up hope that anyone will understand what his parents and fiancee did not, but everything changes when he enters a small cafe and sees a woman whose eyes reflect his own pain standing next to a jukebox. Jim knows he'll never see her again, yet it somehow feels right to extend his hand and say, "May I have this dance?" It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment for two wounded people unless they can overcome their fears and find the courage to love again.

Learn more about Amanda on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Intrigue and desperation in Canada in the early nineteenth century? Definitely. I love when authors give us stories like this. Listen in and see what prompted Christian Hill Suntz to write The Heiress and the Woodsman.

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This was one of the most interesting conversations I've had. Christine is a delight, but the history in this story is intriguing and her discussion so very engaging. Thanks, Christine!

The Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Suntz

Charlotte Carruthers must find her brother. Joshua Robertson needs the funds to free his. On the road into the Canadian wilderness, they become reluctant allies in a race to save their siblings before brewing rebellion tears the colony apart.

Canada, 1837. Charlotte is determined to hold onto her family's crumbling estate―the last vestige of their former place in Toronto society before her mother's death and her father's financial ruin. But when her missing brother Simon is suspected of aiding a political rebellion, Charlotte heads north to find him before his impulsive decisions ruin what's left of their family's standing and break her ailing father's heart.

Joshua has worked tirelessly to carve a home from the wilderness for the younger brother he was forced to leave behind, only to learn his first harvest is nearly worthless and his brother has been sold into an indenture Joshua can't afford to redeem. When a stranger offers him work tracking down a settler in the bush, he's desperate enough to agree.

Nothing has prepared Charlotte for the challenges of surviving the wilderness. When Joshua comes to her aid, she offers to pay him for guidance through the bush. Though he knows a spoiled city girl will slow him down, he can't refuse the money. As Charlotte and Joshua face the dangers of travel through rough terrain, admiration and friendship grow, even as class divides and hidden truths complicate their bond. But when they are caught in the crossfire of rebellion, they must decide if the futures they've fought for are truly their hearts' desire―or if something unexpected awaits.

• Clean and wholesome historical romance with reluctant allies and secret identities tropes
• Filled with love, faith, and adventure
• Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Laura Frantz, and Tamera Alexander
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Learn more about Christine on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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I love a good Christmas novella collection, and Lighting Up Christmas promises to be a fabulous one. Listen in as I chat with four Scrivenings authors about the collection and their books!

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If you knew the craziness that was this recording! Those poor women! Meanwhile, we managed, and now, I don't know about you, but I'm dying to get to it! :D

Lighting Up Christmas by Amy R. Anguish, Heather Greer, Mary Pat Johns, and Regina Rudd Merrick

Four Christmas lights. Four love stories. One season filled with faith, hope, and happily-ever-afters.

In Lighting Up Christmas, four heartwarming holiday romance novellas shine with cozy charm, clean romance, small-town warmth, and the gentle reminder that God can bring light to even the dimmest season.

In The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy R. Anguish, Holly Belle loves Christmas, holiday décor, and twinkling lights. Her new neighbor, Robert Bradshaw, prefers peace, quiet, and keeping her Christmas cheer firmly on her side of the duplex. But when Holly decides his grinchy heart needs a little holiday help, their battle over lights may lead to something brighter than either one expected.

In The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer, Elena Bell is determined to make Tannenbaum's Festival of Lights a success for the families depending on it. When rising Hollywood star Trenton Wills arrives at her B&B, he may be the answer to the town's needs—and the beginning of Elena's own Christmas romance. But Trenton has secrets that could dim more than the festival lights.

In 'Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns, Cooper Blackmon enters the region's biggest Christmas lights competition determined to win. Mandy Alvarez needs the prize money to save her family's beloved Christmas Village. As rivalry turns to friendship and friendship glows into something more, only one can claim the prize. But both may have far more to lose than money.

In Pitch Perfect Lights by Regina Rudd Merrick, Holly Shepherd is facing her family's first Christmas after loss while trying to create joy for her young siblings. When author Paxton Hollis returns home and quietly helps revive her father's beloved light display, Holly discovers that hope can still shine, even through grief.

A charming choice for readers who enjoy clean, faith-friendly romance wrapped in Christmas lights, small-town warmth, and happily-ever-after hope.

Read Lighting Up Christmas and discover four faith-filled holiday love stories that glow with joy, hope, and the true light of Christmas.

Visit Amy at her WEBSITE or on GoodReads and BookBub.

Learn more on Heather's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

Learn more about Mary on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

You can learn more about Regina and her books on her Website and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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My favorite romance is romcom--always. And one of my favorite romcom authors has a new one out, I LOVED it. Listen in as Becca Kinzer and I chat about her latest book, Not What We Pictured. So funny.

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We had a great time talking about not just Not What We Pictured but also a Christmas novella I've forgotten the name of but listened to when we finished talking and... guys. It was great!

Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer

This is absolutely not how they pictured their summer going.

McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She's spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She's ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister's boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?

Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom's bed and breakfast is struggling and there's a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn't have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.

With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can't help getting swept up in Nate's bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate's suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.

Learn more on Becca's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Regency novels are always fun, but Jenelle Hovde takes them a step further in The Light of Stars by taking us to India! Listen in as she shares the story (marriage of convenience!) and history.

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Talking to Jenelle is such a delight. I love her heart for the Lord and His people. YAY!

The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde

An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville's grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she's appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he's a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather's orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he's abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather's control—and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.

Learn more about Jenelle on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Nothing kicks off an excellent suspense novel like a deathbed confession! Listen in as Elizabeth Goddard and I chat about her latest novel and learn more about the first book in the new Mercy Ridge series.

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I love a great series, and this new one by Elizabeth Goddard sounds awesome!

When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard

A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in. When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand. After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community. Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find. This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.

Learn more about Elizabeth Goddard on her WEBSITE and follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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