In this heartfelt episode of the Christian Romance Podcast, Kelly sits down with author Tasha Hackett for a soul-stirring conversation about faith, family, and the power of storytelling. Tasha opens up about her journey as a Christian romance author, the impact of her ADHD diagnosis, and how her own life experiences shape her beautifully flawed and resilient characters. Together, we explore the joys and exhaustion of parenthood, the empowerment of women in her historical narratives, and the healing power of writing through grief and self-acceptance. Tasha also shares the vital role of friendship in her writing process and how reader feedback continues to inspire her creative journey. If you’re a fan of authentic storytelling, historical romance, and heartfelt conversations, this episode is for you!
Tasha Hackett is a Christian romance author who writes with hope and humor to encourage and entertain. She holds a B.A. in English and English Education with a minor in theatre from York University, where she also married her husband, who was also her best friend. Her debut novel, Bluebird on the Prairie, is a historical romance exploring themes of hope, grief, and finding love again. She is also the author of Wildflower on the Prairie, the second novel in the Hearts of the Midwest series, and Waiting for Gilbert, a small-town holiday romance inspired by Anne of Green Gables.
In addition to her writing, Tasha is a dedicated homemaker and mother of four. Balancing her creative endeavors with family life, Tasha continues to craft stories that resonate with readers seeking uplifting and heartfelt romance.
1 Peter 2:9, NKJVBut you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Tasha’s New Book: Waiting for Gilbert
“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a phone, asking her landlord to come to dinner.”
Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.
Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?
To Do… 17. Finish unpacking 18. Drink coffee 19. Ask Gilbert to marry me
Get your copy today on Amazon or your favorite online retailer!
*As an Amazon affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases
In this episode of the Christian Romance Podcast, bestselling author Tessa Afshar shares her incredible journey from growing up in a nominally Muslim family in the Middle East to becoming a beloved Christian author. Tessa opens up about overcoming rejection and self-doubt, leaning on God-confidence rather than self-confidence. She reflects on how her personal scars inspire her storytelling and the healing power of writing.
We also dive into the fascinating research process behind her novels, including her latest release, The Queen’s Cook. Tessa explores themes of love, purpose, and the struggles of being unequally yoked in relationships, weaving in connections to the biblical story of Esther. This conversation is filled with wisdom on faith, trusting God’s timing, and finding anchor points in life. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!
Tessa Afshar’s biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Tessa’s books have received the Christy, INSPY, and ECPA Christian Book Awards, and are Carol, Christy, and ECPA Christian Book Award finalists. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.
Esther 4:14, NKJV: For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
New Book: The Queen’s Cook
In ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a disgraced Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings.
Instead, he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother, Roxannah approaches Adin—the man whose kind eyes still haunt her—to help her find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.
In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther, who is herself navigating treacherous palace politics as whispers denounce her inability to produce an heir.
When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and Esther’s archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther’s reign hangs in the balance.
In this episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, host Kelly dives into a heartfelt conversation with author Michelle Griep. From her inspiring writing journey to the challenges of transitioning to historical fiction, Michelle shares how faith, travel, and deep research fuel her creative process. Discover how personal experiences and classic authors like Dickens shape her relatable characters and emotionally resonant stories. Michelle also opens up about her latest book, Of Gold and Shadows, and her innovative Etsy shop, where readers can receive love letters straight from her characters’ hearts. If you’re a fan of stories that intertwine faith, romance, and unforgettable moments, this episode is a must-listen!
Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is a Christy Award winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an Anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com
Nahum 1:7, NKJV: The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
New Book: Of Gold and Shadows
In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.
After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter.
As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .
In this inspiring episode, Kelly welcomes author Roseanna M. White to discuss her lifelong passion for storytelling and her journey as a writer of historical Christian fiction. Roseanna shares the joys and challenges of her career, the vital role of family and friends in her success, and her dual mission of writing as both a career and ministry. Together, they explore the intricacies of crafting stories set in the Edwardian era, with Roseanna offering insights into her creative process, the power of scripture-inspired storytelling, and the extensive research behind her latest works, An Honorable Deception and Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor.
Roseanna also opens up about her community, Patrons and Peers, a haven of encouragement for writers and readers, and how it sustained her through her recent battle with cancer. This heartfelt conversation is rich with wisdom, history, and faith, making it a must-listen for fans of Christian romance.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award–winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
1 Samuel 3:19, NKJV: So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
New Release: Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor
The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.
As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years.
Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.
Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas.
Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?
In the trying art of balancing investigations and love, a detective must determine his priorities when faced with dangerous circumstances that could threaten everything he holds dear.
As the leader of the Imposters, an elite private investigative firm, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon something much more dangerous.
Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects her longtime friends hold more secrets than they’re willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they’re the esteemed Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. While she is happy for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia’s own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing bringing laughter back into her life–her friendship with Yates–lands her squarely on the disagreeable side of her best friend: his sister.
Tormented by a past she doesn’t dare voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the dark side of society, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia learn anew that the gentry isn’t always noble . . . even as they fight to hold fast to their own honor.
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Toni Shiloh, a talented Christian romance author with a passion for faith-filled storytelling. Toni opens up about her journey into writing, the feedback she cherishes from readers, and the inspiration behind her latest books, Christmas Catch and A Run at Love. We dive into the creative process, the importance of community and connection, and finding balance through rest in a hectic world. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a devoted reader, Toni’s wisdom and warmth are sure to inspire and uplift.
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. Her novel In Search of a Prince won the first ever Christy Amplify award. It has been praised by Oprah Daily, POPSUGAR, Library Journal, and Booklist, and is a Parable Group bestseller. Her books have been finalists for the Holt Medallion and won a Selah Award. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW), Toni loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media.
Psalm 46:10, NKJV, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
New Book: The Christmas Catch
When two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?
Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille “Bebe” Gordon.
Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns–for the first time in eight years–all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won’t risk him leaving her again.
As their hometown’s Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he’s only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.
*As an Amazon affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases
A Run at Love
A contender running for the roses
As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse-racing world. Raised on a Thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer, Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.
A best friend racing for love
In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other. A romance worth the challenge
“Readers are going to be delighted by this endearing and adorable romance.”–Sarah Monzon, author of the Sewing in SoCal series on The Love Script
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. They're not the kind that are delicious, I'm sorry. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
