Welcome to LiteraryScape’s Podcast!
The LiteraryScape podcast serves both readers and writers of historical Christian romance with a sprinkling of contemporary Christian suspense books. We read, discuss, review, and rate books in this unique romance sub-genre. For authors, we bring inside tips and tricks from those who have gone before us. LiteraryScape is the one stop shop for both readers and authors to connect, learn, and grow together.
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The Power of Words
Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels. Have you ever been wounded by the words of others? I’m guessing everyone is raising their hand. I’m not sure anyone goes through life without ever hearing an unkind word said about them or to them.
Life or Truth
Debut author Crystal Caudill draws her readers in with this action packed, mysterious novella. Counterfeit Truth will have you hooked, and hog tied from the nail-biting opening scene to the celebration of love at the end.
Author Jody Hedlund
Who was the easiest character to write for Colorado Cowboys?
Dylan was the easiest character for Jody to write based on her connection with him as a prodigal son. She herself was a prodigal child and one of her children was too.
Who was the hardest character to write for Colorado Cowboys?
Jody found Catherine to be the hardest character to write because she is lying for part of the story, and it was difficult to make her a character that readers would like.
What actors could you see playing each of the heroes in Colorado Cowboys?
You might be surprised to learn that Jody googled hot cowboy pictures to get her inspiration for each of her heroes in this series!
The Wait is Over
Today’s the day! The fifth and final installment of Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series is finally available!
The Last Chance Cowboy is the perfect ending to such an adventurous and romantic series. Dylan is a flirt like no other, but he’s now a man of God. His story will have you laughing, crying, and swooning!
Flirtatious and Devoted
Hold the phone! Jody just wrapped up her Colorado Cowboys series with the best story yet! I didn’t think she could pull me in any further than I already was with this series, but right after finishing The Last Chance Cowboy, I was ready to read it all again!! Seriously I had 45 sticky notes in this book alone out of the 100 sticky notes I used for the whole series! This is a story you won’t want to miss. Check out our inside scoop below!
Friend to Lover
Ivy, having been raised by her four older brothers, is a bit of a dare devil and tomboy. She frequently finds herself in compromising situations and our hero Jericho is always there to save her.
Tough Yet Tender
Never have I read a story about a wounded soldier that was so moving. Jody does a wonderful job of capturing all aspects of Brody McQuaid as he finds his way back to peace with God. He was always known as the tender heart in the family, but he was determined to fight in the Civil War, going against his family’s wishes. Unfortunately, this decision left him with some deep scars that he wrestles with until he hands them all over to God.
Ruggedly Handsome Cowboy
Fall in love with a cowboy! Jody Hedlund’s novel A Cowboy for Keeps is the first in her five-book series, Colorado Cowboys. This is a series that takes you back to Colorado and into the arms of some mighty handsome cowboys!
2023 Kickoff
Welcome back from the holidays! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and a beautiful start to your new year!
In this episode I will be kicking off our 2023 book club for historical Christian romance novels. Check out what we will be reading and learn about some new and exciting events coming your way!
I am so excited to share the list of series we will be reading this year! If you want to purchase these, read along with us, and support the show; use the links in our Book Buying Guide!
2022 Wrap-Up
In this episode I am taking you back through each of the series we read and discussed this year. I’ll be sharing my favorite characters, scenes, and novels from each series. If you have not read all these books yet I highly recommend them. We read novels that range from the sweet romance to mystery and romance, to adventure and romance all the way to passion packed romance. All clean and inspirational of course!
Look at this list of series we read this year! In total we read 26 novels and 6 novellas! (Want to purchase these books and support the show? Click here to view our Book Buying Guide.)
Last Chance Christmas
Last Chance Christmas by author Julie Lessman, is a sweet historical Christian Christmas romance novella.
Grace is accident prone and when she enters Cole’s life, she brings excitement. What he didn’t expect was to fall in love with this vulnerable, sweet, young lady who capture’s his heart and the heart of his daughters.
4 Authors 1 Interview
Wow! What an incredible morning! We had the honor of hosting four amazing historical Christian romance authors along with their readers for a live Q&A session.
In this bonus episode you will get to listen in as readers ask authors Margaret Brownley, Melissa Jagears, Julie Lessman, and Karen Witemeyer questions about their writing and writing process.
Seamtress to Writer
Professional seamstress turns writer! Gina Renee Freitag is an indie author who has published four books in her Vessels series. Her books fall within the historical Christian fiction genre and have a pinch of romance thrown in.
Karen Witemeyer Interview
Tiffanie and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview award winning author Karen Witemeyer. She is the author of the Hanger’s Horsemen series that we have been reading and discussing this past month. Karen is also the recipient of the 2022 Christy Award, the 2022 ACFW Carol Award, and 2022 Hold Medallion Finalist with her Christmas novella titled, A Texas Christmas Carol.
Did you know that Karen took three of her favorite TV shows and used them as inspiration for the Hanger’s Horsemen series? If you have read the series, I am sure you can figure out what at least two of the three TV shows were, as they make a pretty strong appearance in the first book, At Love’s Command. (Want to know what those 3 TV shows were? Listen to our podcast episode posted above.)
Which book was your favorite in the Hanger’s Horsemen series? What was your favorite scene? Find out Karen’s answers to these questions and more during Episode 45! Don’t forget to post your answers to these questions in the comments below!
No Bounds
Romans 8:38-39- 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke and Damaris face many challenges as they navigate through the mystery of Damaris’s brother’s death. Karen weaves many biblical truths throughout this incredible love story.
Romans 8:38-39 captures the heart of this book as the characters lean on God instead of their own understanding.
Luke’s loyalty to the ones he loves knows no bounds, just as God’s love, grace, and mercy know no bounds.
You’ll walk away inspired Damaris’s sweet and gentle spirit and Luke’s strong, loyal, and protective nature as they capture and display God’s great love for us.
Honorable & Loyal
Karen Witemeyer brings “Preach” aka Luke Davenport’s story to life in her book In Honor’s Defense. Fall in love with the last horseman to be hooked and hogtied by his lady love.
Luke literarily walks through fire for Damaris and her nephew Nate. He takes on a cattle rustling case that becomes more complicated and dangerous as he falls for the sweet and quiet Damaris.
Damaris has always been in the background and often forgotten by her own family. A second glance from Luke was not what she was expecting. Nor did she ever dream of catching the attention and love of a loyal, honorable, man of God.
Who is more like Damaris, Tiffanie or Melissa? What would you do if you woke up to frogs and snakes in your bed? Find out this and more as we dive into In Honors Defense by Karen Witemeyer!
Kiddy Snatchers
Are you wondering what a kiddy snatcher is? Karen Witemeyer brings two love stories to life in a mystery that has her readers guessing until the very end.
Fall in love with two of the Hanger’s Horsemen, Johan & Mark, as they embark on their own love journey. Karen is sure to draw you into their adventure with a bizarre opening scene, as these two happen upon a woman in distress.
Be prepared for all the Horsemen to ride to the rescue as Johan and Mark get pulled into a case that gets out of control fast!
Don’t miss this exciting episode where we dive into the second book in Karen Witemeyer’s Hanger’s Horsemen series, The Heart’s Charge.
Dr. Quinn Meets the A-Team
Author Karen Witemeyer melds together two of her favorite TV shows in this adventurous romance novel.
Fall in love with the A-Team from 1800’s Texas. Captain Matthew Hanger leads, Luke Davenport aka Preach, Mark Wallace, and Jonah Brooks on missions to defend the defenseless and serve justice.
Josephine Burkhart works hard to earn the respect of her patients in a time when few women in the west were doctors. Matthew Hanger gives her respect within moments of meeting her, as she works to save the life of one of his own.