How many books have you read this year?

Bookish Question #209 | How many books have you read this year?

by Iola Goulton

Do you set reading goals? How many books have you read this year?

I’m writing this post in mid-December, just as I start my Christmas holiday. At the time of writing, I’ve read 151 books out of my 2021 target of 150. I’ve just had a week of holiday, which helps. Summer holidays are a great time for reading.

I had some other reading goals for 2021:

  • I wanted to read 48 books from my to-read mountain. I have achieved that (and with two weeks to spare). Unfortunately, I’ve bought another 42 books that I haven’t yet read (as well as a bunch I have read), so the net change is a (not) massive six books less. It looks like I’ll need to sign up for the Mt TBR challenge again in 2022.
  • I wanted to read 12 writing books. I completely forgot about this goal, so was surprised to find I’ve read 16 books about writing or related topics (e.g. book marketing, time management). That’s more than I thought.
  • I didn’t make a specific goal about reading books from debut or new-to-me authors, but I did track them. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I have read more books in this category than I’d expected. According to Goodreads, I’m up to 31.
  • I also didn’t make a specific goal about reading books by indie authors (i.e. books that have been independently published by the author, rather than being published by a traditional publisher). I probably haven’t tracked this as well as I should have either, but Goodreads tells me I’ve read 56 indie books this year. I’m happy with that, because I’d subconsciously targetted 50.

And that’s all 🙂

What about you?

How many books have you read this year? What do you recommend I check out?

She'd had exactly four dates since high school, all of them forgettable.

Book Review | Much Ado About a Latte by Kathleen Fuller

by Iola Goulton

Anita Bedford is happy in her job as a waitress at the Sunshine Diner in the small town of Maple Falls, even if it means working with Tanner Castillo, her high school crush and first kiss. But she wants to prove to her family and herself that she can do more, by buying the abandoned building next door to the diner and opening a cafe that sells proper barista coffee.

(I can only assume both rent and property are extremely cheap in Maple Falls, because every other novel I’ve read with a waitress as the heroine has shown her living paycheck to paycheck and barely able to afford rent, let alone buy a building. Or perhaps she’s got the only waitressing job in North America that pays a living wage).

Tanner Castillo’s father died when he was a child, so he and his mother have been working two jobs since forever to make ends meet and to give Tanner’s younger brother the opportunity to go to college. But he’s managed to save some money as well, because he wants to buy the Sunshine Diner and drag it into the twenty-first century with new decor and proper coffee.

Well, it’s not hard to see where the story is going and that there are problems ahead.

There’s plenty of room for tension—romantic and otherwise. The story delivers that in spades, helped by two compelling main characters who can’t both succeed …

I had a couple of reservations about the novel. First, there is a scene where a character drinks three cocktails in a very short space of time, and there are the obvious consequences. I know many Christians drink and I’m sure some drink too much, but this scene felt out of place in what I thought was a Christian rom-com. Such a scene might have fit in a novel with a theme around the dangers of excess alcohol, but I didn’t think it fit here. Of course, that statement assumes the novel is Christian fiction. While it’s categorised as Christian romance, there was nothing especially Christian about it except one character who teaches Sunday School.

The other thing I didn’t like was the ending. It felt rushed, and I thought the epilogue felt forced.

Much Ado About a Latte by Kathleen Fuller delivers romantic tension in spades, helped by two compelling main characters who can't both succeed. #BookReview #ChristianRomCom Share on X

But the other 90% of the novel was great fun, with plenty of humour and several excellent side characters. The romance builds well, and all the tension only makes the eventual payoff sweeter.

This is the second book in the Maple Falls series. I haven’t read the first, but this was a standalone novel and I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, the Amish Letters series, the Brides of Birch Creek series, the upcoming Mail Order Brides of Birch Creek, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. She has also contributed to numerous novella collections.

She and her husband James live in Arkansas and have three adult children. When she’s not writing, Kathleen is avidly crocheting, reading, and traveling, sometimes all at the same time. She runs the Facebook group Books & Hooks, which combines her love of books, crochet, and collecting recipes that she’ll never have enough time to make.

Find Kathleen Fuller online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

About Much Ado About a Latte

A coffee war is brewing in Maple Falls, where Anita and Tanner are serving up plenty of steam to keep the town buzzing.

Anita Bedford needs to face reality. It’s time to decaffeinate the dream that she and Tanner will ever be more than friends. Growing up in small-town Maple Falls, she’s had a crush on Tanner for years. But he’ll only ever see her as good, old, dependable Anita. Now she’s finally ready to make her own goals a reality. In fact, that deserted building next door to Sunshine Diner looks like a promising location to open her own café.

Tanner Castillo may know how to operate a diner, but he doesn’t know beans about love. After pouring his life savings into buying the Sunshine Diner, he needs to keep his mind on making a success of it and supporting his widowed mother, not on kissing Anita Bedford. First order of business: improve his customers’ coffee experience. Next, he should probably find out who bought the building next door.

It’s a bitter cup to swallow when ambition turns longtime friends and coworkers Anita and Tanner into rivals. Now that they own competing businesses, how could they ever compete for each other’s hearts? Or will the two of them come to see what’s obvious to the whole, quirky town of Maple Falls: potential for a full-roast romance, with an extra splash of dream?

Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and has thoughts on your love life.

Find Much Ado About a Latte online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week #217 | The Butcher’s Daughter by Parker J Cole

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from The Butcher’s Daughter by Parker J Cole, which is described as a story of Black Gotham. That’s a new-to-me area, so I’m looking forward to reading it. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

On the corner of Ninth and Walnut Street, a curious orchestra performed discordant tunes outside the towering edifice of the American Theatre.

 

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The Butcher’s Daughter

A woman sent to retrieve a family’s son, a man tired of living a lie, and a scandal that brings them together.

Elsia Letchmore was intent on marrying her childhood friend until he left her and New York behind. She tried to console herself and put the man who rejected her due to her family’s business out of her mind. Now, she’s tasked with finding Zelpher Knight and bringing him to home New York’s Five Point District.

Zelpher Knight dreamed of being on the stage, but opportunities for a colored actor in 1846 were non-existent. Spurning his parents’ wishes for his future, he leaves New York and the only woman he has loved, to find the world isn’t ready to accept him. He starts on the greatest acting career of his life – living a lie. When his identity is discovered, he is shunned from the theater community. Angry, alone, and financially destitute he doesn’t expect to see redemption in the form of an angel from his past.

Returning home is harder than either of them expected as race, class, and freedom collide. Can the disgraced prodigal son ever find love and healing with the Butcher’s Daughter?

You can find The Butcher’s Daughter online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Do you have a Top 10 List of Christian reads for 2021?

Bookish Question #208 | Do you have a Top Ten List of Christian reads for 2021?

by Iola Goulton

Do you have a Top Five (or Top Ten) List of Christian reads for 2021?

I didn’t, but I’ve put one together 🙂

I track my reading on Goodreads. As I was scanning the books I read during 2021, I noticed a disturbing number where I couldn’t remember anything about them. Most of them were books I hadn’t reviewed, so maybe the act of writing a review helps me remember.

Given the number of books I can barely remember (or remember for the wrong reasons), this list was both difficult and easy to compile. Difficult, because I couldn’t remember so many books (too many).

But easy, because any book I can’t remember surely didn’t impact me enough to make a Top Ten list.

Here, in no particular order, are the best Christian novels I read in 2021:

(Click the titles to see my review.)

1. When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

A fascinating look at Germany in the period before World War II, when international opinion was still divided on whether Hitler’s regime was good or evil.

2. Is it Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh

A strong story of love and forgiveness.

3. Healing Skye by Janet L Ferguson

A fabulous novel of faith and healing.

4. Every Word Unsaid by Kimberly Duffy

Recommended both for the excellent Christian message, and for the fascinating setting—Victorian India.

5. Organized Backup by Meredith Resce

The only one on this list I haven’t reviewed, this is a strong rom-com with some serious elements from one of my favourite Australian authors.

6. Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

This contemporary romance had a unique premise, and the writing was brilliant. I often find rom-coms a bit cringe-inducing, but had no such problems with Meri and Kai.

7. Provenance by Carla Laureano

A one-word title that links the main character’s internal and external character journeys.

8. Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin never disappoints, and Chasing Shadows was a winner because of the unique setting and premise – the German invasion of the neutral Netherlands in World War II.

9. The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

The antics of the Poison Squad, and the importance of proper research trials and food safety regulations.

10. Let it Be Me by Becky Wade

The ooops moment when you find out your parents aren’t actually your parents … and it’s not that they lied to you. It’s that they were given the wrong baby in hospital.

So those are my Top Ten Christian fiction reads for 2021.

What books do you recommend?

Solving a murder is not about crime, It's about finding fear and greed and, well, about lust.

Book Review | All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon

by Iola Goulton

Annalee Spain is known as the Black Professor, in reference to her role at a small Bible College. That makes her an unusual heroine in any time, but especially in a novel that starts in 1923 in Chicago. She heads to Denver to try and solve the mystery of her father’s murder. Here she meets people of all ages and races, many of whom could have something to do with her father’s disappearance and death.

All that is Secret is a novel that’s full of characters with secrets.

It’s a fast-paced mystery that hits all the right notes with plenty of likeable characters, and plenty of characters vying for the role of evildoer and murderer. The writing is strong, although perhaps a little distant, but that fits with the 1930s setting.

Christian fiction tends to focus on white main characters, so it’s great to see a novel (a series?) focusing on a Black main character. I appreciated the insight into a different time, place, and culture, and I especially appreciated the way Annalee and her friends can cross the racial and cultural boundaries to deliver a strong mystery.

It appears this is the first in what is to become the Annalee Spain Mystery series, and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Patricia Rayborn

Patricia Rayborn

Patricia Raybon is an award-winning Colorado author, essayist and novelist who writes top-rated books at the daring intersection of faith and race.

Her first fiction — an historical detective series, All That Is Secret, set in 1923 in Colorado’s Klan era — is a Parade Magazine Fall 2021 “Mysteries We Love” selection and a Masterpiece on PBS “Best Mystery Books of 2021” selection “As Recommended by Bestselling Authors.”

“Readers will be hooked from the first line…Captivating.” (Julie Cantrell) “Not only a good mystery, but a realistic insight into the African American experience in the 1920s in the West.” (Rhys Bowen) “Fast-paced and intriguing.” (Manuel Ramos) “Engrossing and thrilling….This intrepid sleuth would give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money.” (Sophfronia Scott).

Find Patricia Raybon online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About All That Is Secret

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father’s murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain—a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college—receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee’s heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver’s powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.

Find All That Is Secret online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week #216 | The Breakup Project by Carolyn Miller

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from The Breakup Project by Carolyn Miller, the first book in her new hockey romance series. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Because it is a truth, that should be universally acknowledged, that the sister of a hockey player will forever have hockey in her future.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The Breakup Project

New Year. New Resolution. New Romance?
What happens when the best-laid plans break a friendship?

As the twin sister of hockey’s hottest forward, romance-loving Bree Karlsson is used to being ignored, leading to a New Year’s resolution to not date any athlete in her attempt to find Mr. Right. But what happens when the man who might prove to be her personal Mr. Darcy is her brother’s hockey-playing best friend?

Mike Vaughan might be happy playing in Boston, but he’d be even happier if Bree could one day see him as more than a good friend. He agrees to help Bree with a special project in the hope she’ll finally see him as something more. But when a misunderstanding ends in a Valentine’s Day disaster, Bree realizes that her breakup project may have broken her friendship with Mike in two. Can she ever redeem her mistake?

This friends-to-more romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in this first book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.

You can find  The Breakup Project online at:

Amazon | BookBub| Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Which new-to-you authors have you read in 2021?

Bookish Question #207 | Which new-to-you authors have you read in 2021?

by Iola Goulton

I usually try to read as many debut authors as I can each year, so I can recommend great new authors to my friends and blog readers, and so I can see and understand the market trends.

I don’t know if it’s me or if I haven’t been looking, but I haven’t seen as many debut authors coming from major Christian publishers this year. Where I have seen them publishing books from new authors, they are authors who have already published independently, such as Courtney Walks or the amazing Toni Shiloh. I”m looking forward to reading her Bethany House debut next year, as I love her independently published contemporary Christian romances.

But I have still managed to read some new-to-me authors, even if I’m not reading them as debut authors.

(In some cases, I’m reading them after they’ve been publishing for years).

Twins for the Cowboy by Linda Goodnight is a fun cowboy romance that’s probably more clean than Christian (while both main characters are Christians, neither make a big deal about it and thebooko isn’t at all preachy).

Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee is a thought-provoking story of a white woman interviewing ex-slaves in the 1930s.

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong is an excellent contemporary Christian romance with a healthy dose of funny. Click here to read my review.

A Flicker of Light by Katie Powner is a powerful family drama. Click here to read my review.

The Billionaire’s Secret by Meghann Whistler was a debut novel in a genre I don’t usually read – billionaire romance. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman is an oustanding novel about a mother’s struggle with grief after the death of her son.

Other new-to-me authors I read this year include:

  • Kathleen Neely
  • Ashtyn Newbold
  • Valerie Howard
  • Wendy Rich Stetson
  • Melissa Crosby
  • Mimi Matthews
  • Tara K Ross
  • Heidi Kimball
  • Ava Mills
  • Rae Walsh
  • Shaenae Johnson
  • Jamie Dearen
  • Dora Hiers
  • Vivi Holt
  • Bree Livingston
  • Janine Rosche

That’s the fiction authors – I won’t list the nonfiction authors (which is probably another five … being the authors of the five nonfiction book I read this year).

It’s actually a longer list that I’d thought, but most of them are books I downloaded free or bought on a Kindle 99 cent deal. Most of them were perfectly good novels, but few were exceptional enough to kick an existing must-read author off my to-read list. (I have hundreds of unread books. I need to read some of them before adding more books to the list).

What about you? Which new-to-you authors have you read in 2021?

Which will you add to your read and recommend list?

She didn’t wish to die, only to not be here anymore. If she could just make everything stop.

Book Review | Healing Skye by Janet W Ferguson

by Iola Goulton

Despite her traumatic childhood, Skye Youngblood has persevered and earned a doctorate in marine biology. She’s moving to Dauphin Island, Alabama, to take a role researching manatees for the local Sea Lab.

Widower Pete Thompson is the solo father of a six-year-old daughter, Olivia. He’s first on the scene when Skye has an accident on the bridge to the island, and realises she’s the newcomer who’s renting his grandparent’s house.

This book confused me at first. I’ve read Star Rising, the story of Star Youngblood, and the name was similar enough that I wasn’t sure about the character relationships. I also wasn’t sure about the location. The books are part of a series, so I’d expected to read about some familiar characters. If any of these characters were from previous books in the series, I don’t remember them.

Once I’d worked that out, I was able to settle in and enjoy the story. It’s obvious from the first scene that Skye has some pretty serious issues from her past. She’s petrified of men, worries about Olivia living with only her father, and has an uncanny ability to spot scars, both physical and emotional.

Pete runs the family fishing charter business and preaches to his tiny beach church on Sunday morning. And he hears God speak … although he doesn’t always like what he hears. A preacher-fisherman called Peter seems like a bit of a cliche, but Pete lived up to his name. No, he’s not perfect (and there were a couple of times when I wanted to give him a stern talking-to), but he loves God, loves his daughter, and isn’t afraid to do the right thing (even when that includes apologising. there is nothing better than a meaningful apology in a romance.

Healing Skye by Janet L Ferguson is an excellent novel, and it's great to read a #ChristianRomance where the faith elements are so central. #BookReview Share on X

Skye is broken, but the island – and Pete and Olivia – give her the chance to heal, and that’s great to see (that’s not a spoiler: the clue is in the title). I loved the faith elements and the seamless way they were integrated into the story. It’s rare to read a Christian romance where the faith elements are so central, yet so un-preachy (that’s a word, right?)

Healing Skye is book 6 in the Coastal Hearts series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel (in fact, I might not have been as confused if I hadn’t read some of the earlier books).

Overall, the novel is excellent, and I couldn’t stop reading.

Recommended for Christian romance fans who like plenty of Christian in their romance.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Janet W Ferguson

Janet W FergusonJanet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

 

Find Janet W Ferguson online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | BookBub

About Healing Skye

People can’t be trusted.

Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s suicide, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start?

Charter fishing pays the bills for widower Pete Thompson and his little girl, but like his father, a pastor, Pete can’t help but fish for men. Only, after growing up under constant scrutiny as a preacher’s kid, Pete’s ways are a bit more unconventional. And the bulk of his life revolves around raising his precious daughter.

When he witnesses the car wreck of a new marine biologist on the island, it doesn’t take a genius to see that more than just her physical pain needs tending. Pete feels called to help Skye find true healing, but he’s navigating dangerous waters. And he’s not at all sure he’ll walk away unscathed.

You can find Told You So online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week #215 | Sunswept by Carla Laureano

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Sunswept by Carla Laureano, a fun novella with a fake romance (always a plot I enjoy). Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Bailey Jensen always allowed for some discrepancies when booking a vacation rental, but she didn't remember reading anything in the listing about a man in her bathroom.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Sunswept

Real estate agent Bailey Jensen just wants a single quiet weekend in the midst of her goal-driven life, and a professional conference in Islamorada, Florida seems like just the thing—if she can ignore the fact she’ll be flying conspicuously solo at the company awards banquet in front of her ex-boyfriend and his new love.

Free spirit Zane Whitney would normally consider the Florida Keys his happy place, but considering he’s in Islamorada to witness his college roommate marry his ex-girlfriend, it’s the last place he wants to be. Complicate that with the fact he RSVP’d for two and he’s still conspicuously dateless, and this has all the earmarks of a humiliation in the making.

When Bailey and Zane find themselves double-booked into the same vacation rental, they realize their host’s mistake just might be the answer to their problems: share the house, act as each other’s plus-ones, and then move on with their lives. But neither Bailey nor Zane anticipates the possibility that a fake relationship might just give way to real feelings…

You can find Sunswept online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Author Interview | Introducing Kathleen Denly (plus #Giveaway)

by Iola Goulton

Today I’d like to welcome author Kathleen Denly to the blog to share a little about herself, her writing journey, and her next release: Harmony on the Horizon. She’s also offering a giveaway, and a bunch of goodies to anyone who preorders the novel. Welcome!

First, please tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?

I’ve spent the majority of my life in sunny Southern California. Technically born in San Diego, I only lived there the first two weeks of my life until I moved back again in 1999. Six months ago our family moved to the mountains in Central California. It’s been an adjustment, but we love our new home.

Which of your books is your personal favourite, and why?

This is not a fair question. LOL It’s so difficult to choose because my third book, Harmony on the Horizon, only recently finished its final edit and by the time you’ve read a story fifty times and analyzed it to death, it can’t be your favorite story no matter how wonderful it is. It’s like eating ice cream for breakfast every day for a month. Sure it seems fun for the first day or even week, but by day twenty-five, if not sooner, you’re ready for some eggs already! All of which means Harmony on the Horizon can’t even be in the running here. That leaves me with Waltz in the Wilderness or Sing in the Sunlight if we’re only counting published novels.

But I’m going to cheat and say that my favorite is the one that hasn’t been published and may never be published because it needs such a major overhaul. My working title for it is First Stone and it’s my favorite because it was so much fun to write. Plus I learned a lot about my craft in the process. Even if it is a major train wreck.

Great answer!

It’s said that authors should write the kind of book they like to read. What is your favourite genre? Who are your favourite authors?

My favorite genre is historical Christian romance. Some of my favorite authors in this genre include Mary Connealy, Melissa Jagears, Elizabeth Camden, Pepper Basham, Rachel Fordham, Tara Johnson, Cathy Marie Hake, Roseanna M. White, Regina Jennings, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Carolyn Miller, Erica Vetsch, Kristi Ann Hunter, Kelly Eileen Hake, Misty Beller, Carrie Turansky, Karen Barnett, Judith Miller, Tracie Peterson, Jen Turano, and Cara Grandle. I know I’m forgetting some, but this list is already so long I think I’ll stop here.

I love it when authors list so many other authors I already know and love … and a few new-to-me authors to check out.

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?

I am currently reading Rachel Fordham’s A Lady in Attendance and I definitely recommend it. I’ve yet to read a novel by Rachel that I didn’t love and this one is calling me to quit typing and go read.

About your book

What kind of books do you write? Where and when are they set?

I write historical Christian romance set in nineteenth century America, with a particular focus on California.

Tell us about your latest book. Who will enjoy it?

Harmony on the Horizon is the third book in my Chaparral Hearts series. Unlike the previous two books, this novel follows four point of view characters and is largely split between the two settings of San Diego and San Francisco, although it all comes together in the end. I think it’s a great choice for readers who enjoy history, urban adventure, and complex characters with real, relatable flaws facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Here’s the official description:

Her calling to change the world may be his downfall.

On the heels of the Great Rebellion, Margaret Foster, an abolitionist northerner, takes a teaching position in 1865 San Diego—a town dominated by Southern sympathizers. At thirty-seven years of age, Margaret has accepted spinsterhood and embraced her role as teacher. So, when Everett Thompson, the handsomest member of the School Board, reveals his interest in her, it’s a dream come true. Until her passionate ideals drive a wedge between them.

After two decades of hard work, Everett Thompson is on the verge of having everything he’s dreamed of. Even the beautiful new teacher has agreed to his courtship. Then two investments go south and a blackmailer threatens everything Everett has and dreams of.

As Everett scrambles to shore up the crumbling pieces of his life, Margaret unwittingly sets off a scandal that divides the small community and threatens her position as teacher. With the blackmailer still whispering threats, Everett must decide if he’s willing to risk everything for the woman still keeping him at arm’s length.

What was your motivation for writing Harmony on the Horizon?

I went on a field trip with my kids a few years ago at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. While we toured the restored schoolhouse, the docent shared the story of the Mary Chase Walker scandal which occurred in 1865. Mary was the first teacher to teach in San Diego’s first schoolhouse, but her position was short-lived due to the “mistake” she made of inviting the “wrong person” to dine with her in the town’s nicest hotel. As a result of this choice, many parents refused to send their students to school until she was fired and an emergency board meeting was held to determine what to do. While records of the result of that meeting have since been lost to history, we do know that she was no longer teaching one month later and shortly thereafter married one of the board members. Needless to say, my writer’s imagination was captivated.

Where did the characters and story come from? What were your influences?

Well, I’ve already mentioned where Margaret and Everett come from in my previous answer, so I’ll tell you about Katie. She comes from a combination of Anne Shirley (complete with red hair) and the things I learned about childhood trauma through my training to become a foster parent. In Harmony on the Horizon, Katie struggles to keep a job due to compulsive daydreams that are a type of coping mechanism stemming from an extremely traumatic childhood.

About your writing

What do you see as the main differences between fiction written for the Christian market compared with the general market?

While I’d love for a nonbeliever to enjoy my novels and learn more about God, I view my stories as a ministry to the church body. To me, that’s usually the difference between the two markets–who the stories are written for.

Do your novels have an overt faith element?

Absolutely. While I strive to keep story first and never be preachy, there is always a strong faith element in what I write. I can’t seem to help it. It’s how I see the world and where the Spirit is leading me.

Is writing for the Christian market harder or easier than writing for the general market? Why?

For me, I think writing for the general market would be more difficult because of the need to censor my natural tendency to view everything through God’s Word. Trying not to directly mention Him or my character’s relationship with Him would feel incredibly constricting.

About your publishing journey

What is the hardest part of getting a book written, edited and published?

Formatting! Blech. Click, scroll, click, scroll, for what feels like an eternity, just to make sure the chapter headings are in the exact right spot and I didn’t miss an indent here or a hashtag there. Soooo tedious! LOL

How is self-publishing different from working with a publisher? What made you choose the traditional publishing option?

I’m traditionally published through Wild Heart Books and it was the best decision I’ve made so far on this writing journey. My publisher’s support in both tangible and emotional ways has been invaluable. They have an entire team dedicated to making my work the best it can be and getting it into as many readers’ hands as possible. I know my novels are better and have reached more readers for being published through Wild Heart Books. I’m very excited to have recently signed a contract to publish three more novels for the Chaparral Hearts series through Wild Heart Books.

What advice do you have for someone seeking to write and publish a novel?

Pray, practice, and study your craft. Learn what all the industry experts recommend, but before implementing it, submit your plans to prayer. Just because one person tells you to follow a certain path (even if that person is an expert and the path is objectively excellent), doesn’t mean it’s the path God has for you.

Thank you, Kathleen!

About Kathleen Denly

Kathleen Denly writes historical romance to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers toward a better understanding of our amazing God and how He sees us. Award winning author of the Chaparral Hearts series, she also shares history tidbits, thoughts on writing, books reviews and more at KathleenDenly.com. 

Kathleen lives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

Find Kathleen online at

Website | Newsletter | BookBub

In celebration of Kathleen’s upcoming release, Harmony on the Horizon, book 3 in her Chaparral Hearts series, she is offering a giveaway!

Giveaway from Kathleen Denly

One winner* will receive:

  • 1 ebook copy of either Waltz in the Wilderness or Sing in the Sunlight – winner’s choice
  • 1 Pair of Earrings – Purple Glitter Studs
  • 1 Faux Leather Bookmark – Purple Rose Clusters – Purple Tassle
  • 1 Sing in the Sunlight Bookmark
  • 1 Harmony on the Horizon Sticker

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post and sign up for Kathleen’s Readers’ Club here: http://bit.ly/KRCMemberSignUp 

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm December 15, 2021. Winner will be announced in the comments for this post and contacted via email.

*Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.