Chatting with Amanda Cabot is always fun, but I really loved getting to hear more about Against the Wind, the second book in the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing series. Listen in to learn why I've been waiting for this book!  So excited!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Why I Think This Prickly Character Will Be My Favorite in the Series

You met her in After the Shadows, but Louisa Vaughn gets her own story in Amanda Cabot's latest release, Against the Wind. Louisa was kind of a snot in the last book (somewhat understandably so, too!), but in this one, we get to see a bit more about who she is, how she ticks, and why she's ticking off people in Sweetwater Crossing. You'll also meet a guy on a mission to win a challenge and discover how the Lord will be working in their lives.

I think I'm so engrossed with Louisa because she has such spirit and determination.  I love it.

Amanda even gave us a tiny peek into her next series. I don't know about you, but I'm excited!

Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot

Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a few days to help a friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals, she'll serve as the town's doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than nothing.

Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory--ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.

If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?

Get Against the Wind at 30% off with free shipping as of this post from BakerBookHouse.com.

Also don't forget to follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

There's nothing like chatting with an author who immerses herself in her writing in a way you totally get.  Jaimie Engle isn't just a fabulous romance writer, she's also a screenwriter who has a movie that follows the same storyline as the book we're chatting about today.  Listen in as we learn all about how she got started in screenwriting and... how it changed the writing process for her!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

This Book Isn't Just a Great Romance. It's Also a Heartwarming Movie!

I always wondered if screenwriting would be a great way to write a really detailed outline for a book, and the verdict is in. According to Jaimie Engle, the answer is a resounding yes.

But for me, the most exciting story was how she was just talking to a guy about movies, heard what they were looking for, said she'd have something to him, and boom!  Off she went to learn how to do it and get that sucker sold!  Way to go, Jaimie!

Not only that, but she also went the extra mile in publishing her novel. All the bonus and other stuff you can find on her WEBSITE (with the special QR code at the end of the book) are so much fun! Like she has a SONG from the book? WHAT???

Just Jake by Jaimie Engle

Amber Gibson, Entrepreneur

Life is perfect. Amber runs Pops Place, a popular downtown Colorado Springs diner and a staple her parents passed down upon retirement. She also teaches music to underprivileged kids at The Music Center, where they put on a concert during Octoberfest at the Mining Museum each year. Amber’s happy with life just the way it is. Until her ex-boyfriend Jake comes back on the scene.

Jake Collins, Superstar.

Life is perfect. Jake’s a country music sensation discovered on TikTok by manager Marvin Banks. With fawning fans, cash in his pockets, and traveling on tour, Jake’s got it all. Except for the passion to write his next hit. He’s not feeling it anymore and can’t figure out what’s missing. Jake’s sent back home, where he runs into high school sweetheart, Amber Gibson.

Like most second-chance romances, the prospects don’t look promising for Amber and Jake’s reunion tour. But then, he connects with her newest student, Joaquin, a boy with Jake’s same musical talents and abusive father. As Jake’s falling in love with her students, Amber’s falling back in love with him.

He never stopped loving her…but his proposal may not be the one she’s expecting.

You can also watch Just Jake on Up!

Follow Jaimie Engle on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

 

Some days you start an interview and know from the first hello that you've made a new friend. Chatting with Rebekah (not Rachel) Millet about her debut novel, Julia Monroe Begins Again, was just one of those wonderful days.  When you mix a fun woman, hair dye, and a crazy podcaster, things get... interesting. Listen in to see how.

 

Note:  links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you

Is There Anything More Delightful Than a Second-Chance Romance?

When I asked Rebekah what made this book the one that ended up published first, we got to talking about contests, conventions, conversations, and... sorry. Alliteration dies here. One sheets!  I loved the story of Julia Monroe Begins Again's journey to publication. It sounded so fun and familiar.

But I think what I loved most was how she really felt like the Lord said, "Write this one," and "this one" was a forty-something widow's second-chance romance.  Those don't come along every day, but Rebekah Millet not only wrote one, but He made it her debut!

Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn't there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex's place of worship. Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings--but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.

Learn more about Rebekah Millet on her WEBSITE. 

Follow Rebekah on GoodReads and BookBub

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

Sometimes a book grabs your heartstrings and hangs on for dear life, and Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry is definitely one of those books.  I LOVED this story so much and it's definitely in my top five of the year. EEEP!  Listen in and why I love it so much.

 

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Can You Love Well When You're Dealing with Unreliable People?

What do you get when you take A Man Called Ove, combine it with The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, and sprinkle that with a bit of dementia? A wonderful story of a writer losing touch with his past and with his future and the pain he brings the people who love him in the process. In other words... Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry.

Chris and I talked about his other books, what sparked this one, how this is so much more than just an "Alzheimer's story."

Note: you really want to look for the light-colored, watercolor cover rather than dark with shirtless dude.  Just remember to keep seeking "the light" so to speak.

Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry

An inspiring fiction story from the bestselling author of War Room Grayson Hayes doesn’t remember things as well as he used to, but he’s sure his time is running out. Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, he realizes he has a small window of time left to right a terrible injustice—he just can’t remember what it is.

Convinced of the importance of his mission, he embarks on a journey to the small West Virginia town of his childhood hoping he can put together the fractured pieces of his memory and set things right. But as the past becomes more clear, he wonders if God forgives the sins he can’t remember.

A thought-provoking story with challenging themes, this book deals with issues like

• what it’s like to care for a loved one with memory loss,
• how to live when you feel like you’re losing yourself,
• what it is that gives value to a human life, and
• the eternal power of forgiveness and second chances.

Saving Grayson is a wrenching yet hopeful story of a journey to right unknown wrongs and of holding on to what you know even when it feels like everything is slipping away.

You can learn more about Chris Fabry on his WEBSITE.

Also follow him on GoodReads or BookBub.

Don't forget to check out all titles in this series. Here's an ARTICLE that announces them!

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

If you're ready for the next book in the Missing in Alaska series by Elizabeth Goddard, never fear! Shadows at Dusk releases on October 17, 2023, and Elizabeth came to chat about this book and what to expect from it.  Listen in while we learn about bush pilots and life in southeastern Alaska!

 

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Would You Only Help Someone if They Promised to Help You, Too?

If you're anxious to travel, perhaps trekking all over Alaska in a bush plane is exactly what you need. Go searching for a missing sister, and find a friend's killer, all while seeing the majestic Alaskan countryside. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to head out right now!  WOOT! You'll find all this and more in Shadows at Dusk.

Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another--and face the dark secrets of the past--if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

Learn more about Elizabeth Goddard on her WEBSITE or at Missing in Alaska Series.

Follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don't forget the book is 40% off at BakerBookHouse.com.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer... unless it's a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar "Snow White" and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer's Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it's much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn't.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that'll be rectified just as soon as I'm done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they're taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can't guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters--and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather's ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope's acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope's guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don't forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don't forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All's Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I'm underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn't make it behave and couldn't fix it. Sorry!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All's Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don't know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine's childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah's wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I'm all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham--Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they'll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she'd be a contender in her company's holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher's life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year's promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she's his rival, he can't stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he's afraid that if he can't get his head on straight, the promotion isn't the only thing he'll end up losing to Mackenzie.

"Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one."--BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

You can learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

I had another lovely conversation with Toni Shiloh last month. Her latest book, The Love Script released and boy does it promise to be another #BookTouchdown!  Listen in to what you’ll find in this Love in the Spotlight series and especially in The Love Script.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Many Lies Does It Take to Expose the Truth That Love Brings?

Authors tell me over and over that they experience the same things I do when I’m writing. You start helping your characters work through their problems, and as you do, the Lord starts exposing your own.  He helps you understand where you need growth and helps pull weeds that try to choke out that growth.

The Love Script has a great twist of someone trying to use a lie to smooth over the gossipy ripples of false reporting (genius way to handle it, eh?) and oh the fall out.

Toni promises we’ll see some great wisdom from Lamont’s mother and some deep truths that Neveah discovers.

The Love Truth by Toni Shiloh

A Hollywood hair stylist.

Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood A-lister Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.

The silver screen’s latest heartthrob.

Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years.

A love that goes off script.

With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

You can find out more about Toni on her WEBSITE.  Follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

And don’t forget that you can get 30% off the book with free shipping at BakerBookHouse.com. And you can get You Make It Feel Like Christmas, too!

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

Chatting with Carrie Turansky is always fun, but guys, this gal is such a trouper!  But with her newest novel (Split-Time!!!), The Legacy of Longdale Manor coming out, and with it taking place in the Lake District (we were probably there at the same time!!!), I am crazy excited about this book. Listen in to see what a shepherd's crook has to do with art and two women, a century apart, who both are dealing with daddy issues that only a Heavenly Father can truly help.

 

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Heart Issues Connect These Two Troubled Women Together?

Carrie Turansky and I were both in the Lake District in May (we probably overlapped a few days even! AAAK!), and I love the area she wrote about. I actually looked up Langdale Chase (the house that inspired Carrie's book) as a potential for a book I'm writing in the area. I had decided to move it closer to Ambleside. Isn't it amazing how two authors can take the same inspiration and write two totally different books?  I love that. 

The faith elements she's put into The Legacy of Longdale Manor just touch my heart so deeply. Any time you are dealing with a shepherd or fatherhood, I'm all in, and I can't wait to see what she's done with it. 

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turransky

Two women--a century apart--embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England's Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd's staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she's left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father's death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte's grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

Learn more about Carrie Turansky and all the goodies for preordering The Legacy of Longdale Manor on her WEBSITE.

Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads

BakerBookHouse.com has The Legacy of Longdale Manor on sale for 40% off with FREE shipping.  And don't forget to go get your goodies, too!

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!

Candice Pedraza Yamnitz came onto the podcast to talk about her lower middle-grade (chapter book) about two siblings, a magic crayon, parrots, and pirates. But as we chatted further, we also got to hear about her YA high fantasy and an upcoming dark fantasy. If that kind of fantastical and faith-inspired creativity excites you as much as it does me, listen in to learn more!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. 

 

Desi and Ky Go Poof explores themes of redeeming the time in this first Desi and Ky Adventures book.  One thing I particularly appreciated was that Candice chose to have these children enjoy their adventures without being disobedient about it. That was a huge relief.

So was learning that the next book is coming (I'm praying for Christmas) and is about gratitude. We have hopes of at least one or two more as well. YAY!

Candice Yamnitz also talked about Unbetrothed, a high fantasy with Latin flair.  Now how cool is that?  

Desi and Ky Go Poof by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz

On a blustery and wet May day in Chicago, Dessi and Ky get transported to a tropical island where wicked pirates have turned the islanders into birds.

Now it's up to them to work together, defeat the pirates, locate a treasure, and find their way home again--with a little help from a magical crayon.

You can learn more about her on her WEBSITE. Also, follow Candice Pedraza Yamnitz on BookBub and GoodReads.

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

• Apple 
• Castbox 
• Google Play
• Libsyn 
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!