Blog Archives
Forgiveness and Love
The Last One to Know follows a man from first love to first heartbreak and a second chance, as faith, divorce, and hard-earned wisdom teach him that love isn’t proven by how tightly you hold on, but by knowing when to let go. Was Ziggy inspired by personal experience, observation, or pure imagination?
Ziggy was largely the result of a combination of personal experience and imagination. His reaction to adultery was based on the observation of a wonderful Christian man who has always been an inspiration to me because of his capacity to show grace and forgiveness.
Ziggy’s voice is plainspoken and detailed, almost diary-like—what drew you to that style?
I often fail to understand what women think and feel, and I have to have it explained to me. Having the main character trapped in that male perspective allowed me to show his confusion and his inability to understand some of the things happening in his life. Most romances are written from a feminine perspective or an omniscient narrator. Ziggy’s struggles to grasp what is happening and why are an important part of his struggle. Female friends explain things to him, and he wrestles with God to find the right path.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Domestic violence, adultery, and divorce were my primary concerns. I wanted to show how these issues can damage and change multiple lives with devastating consequences. On a lesser level, I touched on abortion, racism, and standing for the right without regard to the consequences. These are real-life problems that touch every life to some extent. I tried to address them with compassion and a light touch of humor.
What do you hope Christian readers take away from the way faith is portrayed here?
The importance of forgiveness and love, even when you are hurting, as shown by Siegfried. Lisa’s graciousness in acting contrary to her own self-interest, even when it causes her great pain, is an important part of faith. She is an example to all.
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In The Last One to Know, Siegfried Abel (who hates his name) struggles as he navigates physical attraction, passion, friendship, humor, and all the other aspects that draw two people together.
Siegfried has a strong sense of right and wrong. At times, it seems as though he is tilting at windmills. Will he be successful? Or will those who are more powerful take him down again, and again?
Will he find love, and how will he know it’s the woman of his dreams when he meets her?
Join Siegfried and a host of complex characters as he grows from adolescence to maturity, finding love where he least expected.
In this Clean Christian Romance, you will agonize with Siegfried as he deals with issues of life’s unfairness, disappointments, and betrayal. It is an arduous journey marked by heartache, happiness, and ultimately love.
Storm of Arranon
Storm of Arranon is a young adult science fantasy novel that follows Erynn Yager, a gifted cadet on the world of Korin who keeps seeing strange visions and crackling blue static at her fingertips. When a visiting general from the sister world Arranon arrives, Erynn discovers she has a hidden heritage, a deeper connection to Arranon, and a role in a growing war against a ruthless alien force. The story moves from flight simulators and bar nights on base, to forested mountains, sentient plant-creatures, and desperate battles in the sky and in space, as Erynn figures out who she really is and what kind of power she is willing to use.
I really liked Erynn as a main character. She is competent and prickly and brave, but she also doubts herself, resents the secrets around her, and gets scared at exactly the moments a real person would. Her powers are messy and physical: static crawling over her skin, bright colors in her vision, that sweet, spicy smell that shows up when the Anim blath are near. Those details gave her magic a grounded, sensory feel that made the “fantasy” part of the science fantasy really work for me. I also enjoyed her relationships, especially the tension between her loyalty to the family that raised her and the pull toward Arranon and Jaer. Nothing about those choices feels simple, even when the plot is in full “save the worlds” mode.
On the craft side, the book leans into its genre mix of space opera and epic fantasy. You get dogfights in Interceptors and alien warships, then you are in ancient forests with warrior orders and old prophecies. The glossary at the front hints at how much invented language and fauna you are about to meet, and there were moments where I had to pause and remember which creature or curse word was which. Still, the author usually anchors new terms in action, so I picked things up as I went. The pacing starts a bit slow while we are in classes and at Coeunn’s bar, then it keeps tightening, with battles, escapes, and moral choices stacking on top of each other. The villains are a little theatrical at times, but Birk in particular is unsettling in a way that fits the darker edges of the story.
I came away feeling like I had spent time in a full world, not just a backdrop for laser fights and magic blasts. I think the book is most interested in cost: what it means for a young woman to be told that she is the one who has to stand between her people and destruction, and what she has to give up to do it. There is romance, but it stays secondary to Erynn’s growth and the larger conflict. If you like young adult science fantasy that blends starships with ancient powers, if you enjoy following a capable but conflicted heroine through both cockpit maneuvers and mystical trials, this is a solid and engaging read.
Pages: 334 | ASIN : B00BMX8JA2
Beyond the Paddock
Beyond the Paddock is a coming-of-age novel that weaves together street racing, foster care, and elite equestrian sport into a powerful story of brotherhood and transformation. Set against the vibrant and chaotic backdrop of Inglewood and the tranquil horse farms of Kentucky, the book follows foster brothers Julian and Cameron Taylor, two Black teens navigating a world stacked against them. After a brush with the law, they are unexpectedly placed in the custody of their court-appointed attorney, Reign Brooks, and sent to rural Kentucky to live under the eye of her estranged father, a horse trainer embroiled in scandal. What begins as punishment slowly transforms into purpose, as the boys discover their unlikely talent in show jumping, ultimately rewriting the legacy of their upbringing.
What struck me most about Beyond the Paddock was how seamlessly Kimberly Ann Harrison blends grit and grace. Her writing is rich with texture. The dialogue pops, especially between the brothers. It’s fast, funny, and raw. The emotional tension never lets up, but it doesn’t feel heavy-handed. Harrison balances moments of fear and heartbreak with humor and hope, creating a rhythm that feels like real life. I appreciated the details of the world she built, from the foster system’s red tape to the unfamiliar traditions of equestrian sport; every element felt lived-in and personal.
What really got me, though, was the heart. This story isn’t just about fast cars and fancy horses. It’s about found family, second chances, and fighting like hell to stay together. Julian’s fierce protectiveness over his brother resonated with me. His desire to rise above and still cling to his roots is painfully relatable. And Cameron is a spark, sometimes reckless, always real. Watching him fall in love with horses, despite himself, made me feel like I was falling too. The arc they travel together is bumpy and full of bad decisions, but it’s never without love. Harrison makes you root for them, even when they’re messing up big time.
Beyond the Paddock is a story about rewriting the rules and reclaiming your place in a world that never expected much from you. It’s gripping and full of swagger, but it’s also soft where it counts. I’d recommend this to anyone who’s ever felt out of place, especially teens and young adults who crave stories where street smarts and heart collide. If you loved The Hate U Give or Friday Night Lights, this one’s for you.
Pages: 447 | ASIN : B0FBHCXKGQ
Love’s Lifeline
Julian T. Westwood’s Love’s Lifeline tells the story of Dr. Reginald “Reggie” Fitzwilliam, a polished and buttoned-up couples therapist whose life is meticulously ordered, until it’s not. Set largely in his office and personal sanctuary, the book unfolds through therapy sessions with clients, private reflections, professional pressure, and the unexpected companionship of a perceptive British Shorthair cat named Freud. What begins as a chronicle of others’ love lives slowly peels back Reggie’s own carefully constructed walls, revealing his struggles with vulnerability, approval, and connection. The story builds through subtle moments and personal revelations, ultimately landing on a touching and honest reckoning with his past and the possibility of new beginnings.
As the story progresses, layer after layer of Reggie’s composed exterior came off, and I found myself rooting for him more with every page. Westwood’s writing is clever and filled with understated emotion and wry humor. The dynamic between Reggie and Freud is one of the book’s most endearing elements; it gives the narrative a cozy heartbeat amid the psychological introspection. The therapy scenes themselves are handled with grace and humanity. They’re believable and gentle, and they sneak up on you emotionally. There’s a patience in the pacing that lets the weight of small moments linger, which I appreciated. But what got me most was Reggie’s slow unraveling, the way his struggle to admit his own need for love mirrors the very people he helps every day. It’s painfully real, and it hit home.
There were stretches where I wanted the tension to snap a bit louder or for a character to say something messy. The conflicts, especially with Cassandra, his sharply drawn colleague, felt a bit too restrained, and I craved more sparks. Also, the prose, while elegant, occasionally felt a little too polished, like Reggie himself. Still, even with that, Westwood’s command of character and emotional insight is clear and compassionate. This is a book written by someone who understands the ache of longing and the awkward dance of self-discovery.
Love’s Lifeline is a warm, reflective, and gently transformative story. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven fiction, especially readers who are drawn to stories about personal growth, emotional complexity, and the quieter forms of bravery. Therapists, perfectionists, and anyone who’s felt boxed in by expectations will likely see themselves in Reggie. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it lingers in your mind and in your chest.
Pages: 278 | ASIN : B0DG5TR66Q
The Feelings of a First Love
Whisper of Fate follows a Queen struggling with her new role of leadership and lost love, who has to find a way to hold it all together and fight for her kingdom. What was your inspiration for the wild journey you take readers on in this novel?
I hope that readers will relate to the feelings of first love and the struggle between duty and desire. I had wanted to write a story where the kingdoms were based on the seven natural wonders of the world and where each location was home to a different spirit, the Sol Defenders, who are the source of the earth’s goodness and reflect attributes of God. In the story, each of our main characters interacts with these spirits differently, just like people might experience hearing God’s voice differently. Kalista senses their presence. Raine can hear them clearly. Luke has a hard time hearing them at all, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t guiding him just like they do the others. I wanted young people who might question if God speaks to them to see that it might look different for each of us, but God’s love is still strong regardless of their ability to hear his voice.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important to me that each of the three main characters had their own personal struggles unrelated to the love story. Kalista is dealing with her newfound leadership and doubts about her ability. Raine struggles with forgiving his father, and Luke is stuck in a job he didn’t want and a future he didn’t expect. Throughout the story, I wanted them each to have personal victories related to their growth. It was important to me that they each have their own unique personality and voice, but I relate to each in different ways, and I hope the readers feel the same.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I plotted the entire series before I wrote the first word, so I knew the plot line for the Sol Defenders from day one. What was surprising to me was the personalities of the characters. When I first thought about the story, I had thought Raine might be more domineering, but he turned out to be sweeter than I had planned, which made me fall in love with him even more. I never expected I’d love Georgia and Sebastian as much as I do, and Raine’s friendship with August was something I didn’t know I needed until he spontaneously came up in the writing. It was fun to give the supporting characters some big moments that I hadn’t planned originally, and those will continue into the third book.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
At the end of Whisper of Fate there is a big surprise, and in Night of the Sol, we get a whole new love story. I couldn’t let one of our characters go without a happy ending, but he’s definitely going to have to work for it, because his heart is going to be shattered a few more times before it’s put back together, I’m afraid. Kalista works to fulfill her destiny’s prediction to release the Sol Defenders to the earth, and we’ll find out if she’s successful or if the earth will have to continue to strive for the goodness it’s been desperate for since the Sol Defenders were trapped behind the Gateways. There will be a lot of action, a sweet love story, and twists and turns that keep the pages turning.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website
As Kalista takes on the mantle of queen, the weight of her choices grows heavier. Threats rise within her kingdom and beyond, and tales of suffering in the Krasiv Isles push her toward a daring mission that could change everything.
Guided by ancient Spirits, Kalista must face assassins, uncover secrets, and confront the looming menace of Lord Mahan. At her side are the two men tied to her in ways she cannot ignore—Raine, the assassin haunted by his past who holds her heart, and Luke, her loyal general whose destiny may be greater than anyone imagined.
As alliances falter and sacrifices grow inevitable, Kalista must decide how much she’s willing to risk for love.
Enter a world of shadows and light. Read Whisper of Fate today to discover the strength it takes to stand against the darkness.
Whisper of Fate
Whisper of Fate picks up in the aftermath of chaos—kingdoms in mourning, secrets buried with the dead, and hearts just trying to keep beating. Kalista, now queen, is navigating grief, leadership, and the not-so-tidy wreckage of her love life. Luke, still nursing a bruised ego and a broken heart, tries to wear his general’s title while avoiding the emotional landmines left behind. Meanwhile, Raine (the assassin) is off on his own quest that may or may not involve saving the realm and still being hopelessly in love with Kalista. It’s the second book in the Sol Defenders series, and wow, it does not slow down for a second.
I fell hard for this book in the first few chapters. The emotional tension between Kalista and Luke is so real, it’s like reading a slow-motion car crash—messy, painful, but you can’t look away. There’s this moment I enjoyed at the funeral of Luke’s father where Kalista wraps her arms around him and he actually cries. The layers of love, betrayal, and unresolved feelings were giving major enemies-to-lovers energy—if the “lovers” part ever gets another chance. And don’t even get me started on the scene where they stare at the map of the kingdoms together, talking shop about strategy while also sidestepping all the unresolved tension between them.
What really got me, though, was how grief and loyalty are so tightly wound into everything. Kalista visiting the mother of a fallen soldier, trying to find comfort in helping others when she can’t even hold herself together was emotional. And Raine—ugh, Raine—sneaking around enemy territory, aching for a girl he thinks he can never have while trying to track down the monster who made them all suffer? Classic tortured hero vibes. The writing isn’t trying too hard to be poetic—it just is. Emotional. Simple. And sometimes, devastating. And Crowe pulls it off while still weaving in danger, court politics, and a bit of awkward guard banter (Paulsen, you adorable disaster).
Whisper of Fate is for anyone who loves fantasy with serious heart. There’s romance, but it’s buried in grief and longing and so much quiet hope it kind of sneaks up on you. If you like Throne of Glass with less sass and more raw emotion, this is your book. Perfect for fans of character-driven stories where no one is entirely okay but everyone’s trying. I’m already counting the days until book three.
Pages: 400 | ISBN : 1960810995
Echo
Jessica Ashley’s Echo sweeps readers into a story about trauma, redemption, and the raw vulnerability of healing through faith and love. At its center is Elliot “Echo” Hunt, a former soldier turned search-and-rescue hero, and a woman with no name, no past, and a gunshot wound she barely survives. As Elliot finds her unconscious on his land, tangled in creek debris, their paths collide in ways that neither expects. With themes of grace, second chances, and slow-burn romance, this Christian romantic suspense novel doesn’t hold back on emotion or intensity.
Ashley does a brilliant job of building suspense without losing the thread of heart in the story. The scene where Jane prays through Psalm 23 while escaping through the woods had me breathless. It was both terrifying and strangely beautiful. I appreciated how Ashley wove scripture organically into the story. It didn’t feel forced or preachy. Instead, it felt like a lifeline, like the characters were clinging to it as fiercely as I was turning the pages.
Elliot’s character is written with a lot of emotional depth. He’s gruff and guarded but not cold, which is a hard balance to get right. His scenes with his dog Echo and the quiet moments on the ranch gave his trauma space to breathe. What really got me was how shaken he is by her resemblance to someone he lost. That subtle heartbreak bleeds into the entire book. You can feel him holding back, afraid of letting himself hope again. I loved how the story didn’t rush his healing, or Jane’s. Their connection builds slowly, which makes it feel earned.
I also have to give a shoutout to the dialogue, which felt real and often funny, especially when Elliot is bantering with his siblings. The Hunt family dynamic is warm and chaotic in the best way, especially with Ruth (Elliot’s mom) and Lani (his sister and a doctor). You can sense how much love is in this family. That said, the book does dip heavily into past trauma and grief, and at times I felt those moments were almost too neatly resolved, but it didn’t take away from the emotional payoff.
Echo is a heartfelt story about faith, brokenness, and the quiet bravery it takes to let someone in again. It’s raw in places, gentle in others, and always anchored in hope. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic suspense with a soul, especially readers who enjoy Christian fiction that isn’t afraid to wrestle with pain. Fans of strong family dynamics, redemption arcs, and rugged heroes with tender hearts will find a lot to love here.
Pages: 456 | ASIN : B0DN7SW26B
Butterfly Ink
Butterfly Ink by Lori Keating is a compelling tale of self-discovery and transformation. The story follows Calli Stockton, a young woman whose life of fame, beauty, and fortune is upended by a magical tattoo that changes her outward appearance. Through a series of emotionally charged events, Calli learns profound lessons about authenticity, friendship, and inner beauty, ultimately leading her to a heartfelt decision to embrace her true self.
Keating’s writing is engaging and relatable, making it easy to become immersed in Calli’s journey. The character development is particularly strong, with Calli’s evolution from a superficial social media star to a genuine, self-aware individual being both believable and inspiring. One of the most poignant moments is when Calli decides to write an open letter to her followers, revealing her true self and rejecting the pressures of societal beauty standards. This act of vulnerability not only marks a turning point for Calli but also resonates deeply with readers who have felt similar pressures.
The book’s ideas on beauty and self-worth are thought-provoking. Keating challenges the conventional notions of beauty through Calli’s experiences with her magical tattoo, which initially provides her with physical perfection but ultimately leaves her feeling empty. The contrast between Calli’s superficial relationships and the genuine connections she forms when she embraces her true self is striking. For instance, the bond she forms with Daisy, a young girl at the camp, underscores the theme that true beauty and worth come from within. Keating also excels in creating vivid and memorable scenes that stay with the reader. The description of Calli and Amanda’s butterfly-themed photo shoot is particularly enchanting, capturing the magical realism that permeates the story. These imaginative elements add a layer of depth to the narrative, making it not just a story of personal growth but also a whimsical adventure.
Butterfly Ink is a heartfelt and beautifully written novel that I would highly recommend. It is especially suitable for young adults and anyone grappling with issues of self-image and authenticity. Lori Keating’s ability to weave a magical tale while addressing real-world issues makes this book a valuable read for those looking to find the courage to be their true selves.
Pages: 315 | ASIN : B0CYJQTJ1M
