Nothing says excitement like a middle-grade fantasy, and well, Rachel Keith's Squad Rising sounds perfect to me. Listen in and see why I'm excited about this new series.

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Rachel and I had a blast talking about the origin of this series, the videos she's made for YouTube (don't miss the Hershey's Kisses video!!!), and her little Calico Critters decked out to look like her characters.

The Squad: Rising by Rachel Keith

Peacekeeping is a privilege… and a punishment.

The world of Neftar, inhabited by animal people, brims with advanced technology, fantastical beasts… and plenty of hardships. Freedom once reigned supreme—now, selfish evils seek to tear freedom down.

Tina the wolf and her squad of powerful siblings have become peacekeepers and freedom fighters for their people. But Tina herself harbors a dangerous secret. In the midst of freeing her kin, can she free herself from the bonds of her secret?

Learn more about Rachel on her WEBSITE.

If you want to support Rachel's fundraising efforts to get this series going, you can do that HERE.

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

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If you love historical fiction and want books set in places other than North America or England, Lynn U. Watson has a series for you. Listen in to see what you'll find in Frayed Promises.

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Set in the late 19th century, Frayed Promises is full of family drama and life lessons we could all use a reminder on.

Frayed Promises by Lynn U. Watson

Sequel to The BookFest® Award Winner, Tangled Promises

Wurttemberg, Germany, 1881

“I’ll keep your secret. But, Clara.” Oma looked her granddaughter in the eye. “Choices carry consequences.”

Clara and Daniel--the Baron’s daughter and the family carriage driver, followed their hearts and married secretly, circumventing nobility’s rules. They conduct their lives separately while sneaking every opportunity to be together. When Clara is forced to reveal her marriage, can she also hide the life growing inside her, and what punishment awaits from her father?

If Vati sends her away, Daniel promises to follow. But unexpected family troubles bring them face-to-face with the words of Proverbs 16:9. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Her grandmother’s last warning spins like a tempest threatening to shipwreck their joy and fray every promise they have made.

Will they trust that God gives impossibilities beautiful endings?

If you enjoy stories of faith in the face of society's pressures and trusting God in times of struggle, you'll love this closed-door romance that will keep you guessing until the end. For readers of Tracie Peterson and Ann H. Gabhart.

NOTE: Inconvenient pregnancy, sanctity of life, and past abortion are a part of this story—handled with gentleness and grace.

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

Also, don't miss the episode about Tangled Promises HERE.

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

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I love American history, and finding tidbits of unknown or misunderstood/inaccurate ideas are some of my favorite ones to discover. Put it all in a boo about spies during the War for Independence? SOLD! Listen in to see what you'll find in Megan Soja's Secrets of the Revolution.

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In this episode we had a great conversation about what other realities of life were like during the colonial era and what really happened during the Boston Tea Party.

Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja

The cause of liberty brought them together. Will it also tear them apart?

Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies...and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.

William Abbott always keeps his promises. He vowed long ago to never abandon those in need like his father did. So when new British acts of Parliament threaten Boston and endanger his family, he throws himself into serving the Patriot cause, using his position at the printing office to gather and spread intelligence. But when his clandestine role in the newly formed spy ring causes him to cross paths with the apothecary’s beautiful daughter, he may find himself fighting for more than the cause.

As tensions in Boston reach a breaking point, Will and Hannah find their bond deepening even as the noose tightens around the spy ring. When promises and determination are not enough to protect the ones they love, they’ll need to trust God if they are to survive what is to come.

Learn more about Megan 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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Crystal Caudill is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, but when I found out that Written in Secret kicks off a new series that TIES INTO THE OLD ONE??? Totally jazzed. Listen in to find out about the goat.

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From a three-legged goat to someone killing off people and making an author look suspicious, what more can you expect???

Add in a heroine who not only writes as a man BUT... is determined to stop Cincinnatti's corruption, well... SOLD! Take my money!

Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too.

You can find out more about Crystal Caudill on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

You can also join her Facebook Group HERE.

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

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One of the best romantic tropes out there is "marriage of convenience," but when you add strange dreams of a twin sister you don't actually have and a man trying to take away your stepson, it's hard to convince yourself that this could actually work. Listen in to learn about another problem this couple has to overcome in Amanda Cabot's latest release, Echoes of Sunrise.

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We're headed to Carr Valley and the wonderful characters in some of Cabot's earlier series.

Add a bit of suspense to this historical romance and you've got a perfect story for your summer TBR.

Echoes of Sunrise by Amanda Cabot

A baby to protect. A town to save.
Is a marriage of convenience the only answer?

Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that - dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather's will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her.

Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn't say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he's interested in is the one he's ignored for six months: Sophia.

Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia's dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams.

As Sophia and Gideon join forces, the stakes couldn't be higher: a baby's life, a town's future, and love.

Learn more about Amanda 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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Christian dystopian thrillers are too few and far between, but author J. A. Webb has a great one for us. Listen in while we chat about his Seekers Series and the second book, Inheritance.

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Mix a corrupt secret society along with a priest on the run, and you've got a great mix. This series promises to be full of amazing twists and turns.

Inheritance by J. A. Webb

A Dystopian Thriller of Deception, Faith, and the Fight for Truth

The Order has been betrayed. The hunters have been loosed.

Father Curtis has forsaken his vows. He has left the Order and joined the Seekers, a hidden rebellion dedicated to uncovering the truth long buried by the global church. But walking away from the Order does not mean escaping its reach.

When word spreads that a copy of the True Text — the original thirty-nine books of the Creator — has surfaced on the far side of the world, Curtis, Professor Reuel, and Phillip embark on a desperate mission. If they can retrieve the artifact, it could change everything. If they fail, the truth will be lost forever.

But the Eye of the Eternal, the secret police of the Order, has already mobilized. Their assassins are relentless. Their power is absolute. And they will stop at nothing to silence the truth.

Outnumbered and hunted, Curtis and his allies must risk everything to defy an empire built on deception. But against such overwhelming darkness, is faith enough? Or will their inheritance — humanity’s true past — be erased from history once and for all?

The war for truth has begun. And the Order will not suffer heretics to live.

A Gripping Tale of Power, Deception, and the Courage to Seek Truth

🔥 Perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like 1984, Brave New World, and The Da Vinci Code—but with a Christian twist!

⚡ A suspense-filled journey into a world where illusion is law and questioning it means death.

📖 If you love stories of faith, defiance, and the battle against unseen tyranny, this is the book for you.

The Order has ruled from the shadows long enough. Are you ready to see the truth?

Learn more about J. A. Webb on his WEBSITE and follow him on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

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Austen retellings are always a lot of fun, but make it happen in a contemporary setting and toss in some royalty, and you've got something unique. Listen in to see why I'm almost giddy over this new series (and the cover!)

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Talking with Janelle was such a delight. Adding to that learning how she went from working with the publisher to writing part of the series and then taking on the whole thing, well... All I can say is, YEEEHAW! You go girl!

I mean, "That is a fine undertaking, milady!"

Northargyle Abbie by Janelle Leonard

When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor's daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother's past-an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother's mystery-and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago-than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

Learn more about Janelle 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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