Looking for a heart-pounding Christian romantic suspense that blends faith, family protection, and second-chance romance? Connie Mann’s The Liar’s Treasure delivers a globe-trotting adventure packed with trust issues, a secret society of strong women, and the reminder that faith is easiest on familiar ground—but most powerful when the path turns dark.
Meet Connie Mann
Connie Mann writes romantic suspense and women’s adventure fiction that features strong, flawed women who fight for what they believe in and are trying to make the world a better place. After living near Ocala for 25 years, she and her husband now live on Florida’s east coast, not far from Daytona Beach, and are loving every minute. She’s also a USCG-licensed boat captain, so water and boats always seem to make their way into her stories.
Fun Fact: My father worked for the airlines his whole career, so I caught “Fernweh” – a longing for places I’ve never been – as a child. Now, those far-off places regularly make their way into my stories. Last summer’s trip to Kenya has led to teaching creative writing workshops via Zoom to several dozen students there, which has been such a joy.
About the Book: The Liar’s Treasure (A Speranza Team Novel)
What happens when a mother’s determination to protect her daughter collides with a centuries-old treasure, a secret society, and a high school crush she never quite forgot?
From the acclaimed author of Beyond Risk and The Crown Conspiracy, hailed as a “wild ride” by Library Journal, comes an action-packed adventure about a mysterious diary and a thrilling, high-stakes treasure hunt.
Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar’s Treasure and her family’s connection to it . . . until someone put a target on her daughter’s back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille’s teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.
To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar’s Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille’s childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it’s all connected.
Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille’s past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.
Tropes & Themes
Romantic suspense
Second-chance romance / high school crush reunited
Protective single mother
Secret society of strong women (Speranza Team)
Globe-trotting treasure hunt
Romantic suspense with life-or-death stakes
Faith and trust under extreme pressure
Complicated past and unrelenting guilt
Reluctant allies turning to more
Release Details
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Series: Speranza Team novels
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense / Women’s Adventure Fiction
Christian fiction and romantic suspense fans will be hooked by the nonstop action, the fierce mother-daughter bond, and the slow-burn second-chance romance that feels earned. Connie Mann weaves faith naturally into every high-stakes moment, reminding readers that trusting God is often hardest—and most necessary—when the ground beneath you is shifting. If you love Christian romance with strong heroines, international adventure, and spiritual depth that sticks with you long after the last page, The Liar’s Treasure belongs on your TBR.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Connie: Trusting others and trusting God are hard for tough, independent Camille. She was widowed before Cass was born, so she’s always been 100% responsible for her daughter’s safety and well-being. Now, Cass is pulling away, thinking she’s all grown up and independent, and Camille wrestles with whether to trust Gran to watch over her daughter while she leaves with the team. Camille has to navigate the tightrope of Faith and trust while doing what needs doing to save her daughter.
What is the heart of the romance?
Connie: Trust is a huge issue, not just for Camille, but also for Lucien, her high school crush. She still feels like an awkward teenager around him and he’s never really gotten over her, either, but his loyalties are divided, since they are both after the same treasure – though for very different reasons. Then there’s the matter of the unrelenting guilt from the past he carries and…well, it was very fun watching these two unravel their complicated past and take steps toward a future together.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Connie: In the story, Camille is reminded of her Gramps’ favorite saying: “Faith is easy when you’re standing on familiar ground.” When life is humming along smoothly, it’s pretty easy to trust God’s goodness and provision. But when things get dark and scary, we have to make a conscious decision to keep trusting that He knows best and that He not only goes before us, He walks beside us. Our job is to listen to His voice and keep going, keep doing what needs doing, no matter what. My hope is that readers take this phrase with them, to encourage them to hold fast and trust God’s leading – during the good times and the scary ones.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Connie: One of my very favorite verses has always been Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Since childhood, the image of holding a lantern aloft, only able to see the next few steps, has stayed with me. I’m a chronic planner, so I really, really want to see the whole journey, in exact detail, but God doesn’t give us that. His word provides enough light for the next couple steps and faith asks us to keep trusting that He’ll illuminate the next turn, and the next, and the one after that. Not surprisingly, this lesson in trust is one my characters face as well.
About the Author
Connie Mann loves taking readers on heart-pounding, suspense-filled adventures featuring strong, determined women who fight for what they believe – and for those they love. When those stories take place in exciting locales and include a tempting hero, so much the better. Her Speranza Team novels center around a modern-day secret society of resourceful, talented women who travel the globe helping other women, especially those trying to make the world a better place.
Connie is also the author of the Florida Wildlife Warriors series, the Safe Harbor series, Angel Falls and Trapped. She has won several writing awards and loves encouraging writers on their journey through mentoring and writing workshops.
Connie has been a USCG-licensed boat captain for 20 years and gets to introduce Florida visitors to dolphins and manatees, which is as much fun as it sounds. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle through education and entrepreneurship.
She and her husband love spending time with family and friends and exploring new places, especially if they involve water and boats.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
You’ll receive:
Christian romance book updates
Author spotlights
Early giveaway access
Behind-the-scenes goodies
🎁 The current Christian romance book giveaway is open now — subscribers always hear about giveaways first.
Discover buried treasure, opposites-attract sparks, and God’s illuminating light in Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher. In this heartfelt Christian romance set in stunning Acadia National Park, a determined ranger and a Penobscot lawyer team up for a century-old mystery that unearths far more than secrets. Perfect for fans of contemporary Christian fiction filled with adventure, faith, and unexpected romance—don’t miss Book 2 in the National Parks Summers series! (148 characters)
Meet Suzanne Woods Fisher
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and bestselling author of nearly forty books with over 1.5 million copies sold. She writes contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction filled with flawed, searching characters who discover far more than they expected—always with an honest thread of faith woven naturally through the story. Off the page, she’s a wife, mother of four, and grandmother who splits her time between snowy Minnesota winters and sunny Florida beaches.
Fun Fact: I play tennis at least 2-3 times a week. Love it!
About the Book: Chase the Light (National Parks Summers, Book 2)
What happens when a by-the-book park ranger’s search for buried treasure collides with a towering Penobscot lawyer, a meddlesome mother, and a century-old shipwreck mystery?
When Acadia National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a weathered note near a remote lighthouse, she never imagines it will expose a century-old mystery. The cryptic message points to a forgotten shipwreck, a vanished treasure, and a lighthouse keeper’s suspicious death. Seeking answers, Scout enlists Naki Dana, a thoughtful man whose Penobscot heritage provides crucial insights. As they venture deeper into Acadia’s rugged wilderness, their unlikely partnership begins stirring feelings Scout didn’t expect to find. But they aren’t the only ones searching.
Chase Fletcher, a charming local journalist, sees this treasure hunt as his last opportunity to save his failing paper—and finds himself increasingly drawn to the ranger leading the search. With pressure mounting and loyalties tested, Scout must navigate a winding path between history and justice, truth and betrayal . . . and determine who—and what—deserves her trust.
If you’re looking for a fresh Christian romance that feels like an adventure through Acadia’s misty trails while gently reminding you that God’s light reaches even the deepest buried places, Chase the Light is your next favorite read. The author, Suzanne Woods Fisher, delivers charming characters, a compelling treasure-hunt mystery, and a sweet opposites-attract romance that blooms in the most unexpected ways. This story will leave you smiling, inspired, and ready to chase a little more light in your own life—perfect for fans of contemporary Christian fiction who enjoy heart, hope, and a touch of suspense.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Suzanne: At the story’s opening, Ranger Scout Johnson is laser-focused: find the clues, honor the park, uncover the treasure buried somewhere in Acadia National Park. She’s a woman who loves to get things right. What she doesn’t need is her meddlesome mother showing up uninvited, or Naki Dana, a Penobscot man who disrupts her plans in ways she never saw coming. As the story unfolds, what started as a search for buried treasure quietly becomes something far more personal.
What is the heart of the romance?
Suzanne: Ranger Scout Johnson and Naki Dana have no business falling for each other. She’s a petite Southern belle (not that she’d ever admit it), an earnest, by-the-book ranger who just wants to solve the mystery and do her job. He’s 6’6″, the son of a Penobscot chief, a Harvard-trained lawyer who represents the Penobscot Nation in public policy. Opposites attract is alive and well here. Somewhere between hunting down clues and the Acadia fog, a spark catches. What brings them together is the land itself—both of them love it fiercely, just from different sides of a complicated history. But, what stands in the way is everything else, including Scout’s mother.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Suzanne: Sometimes what we’re searching for and what we truly need are two very different things. Scout’s journey through Acadia is a gentle reminder that life’s unexpected detours often lead us somewhere better than we planned.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Suzanne: As I wrote “Chase the Light,” I kept circling back to Job 12:22, which says that God ‘uncovers the depths and brings light to what lives in the dark.’ This shipwreck story reminded me that nothing meaningful stays buried forever. Therefore, whenever I felt stuck (and with lots of prayer), God would quietly bring ideas to the surface.
About the Author
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly, ECPA, CBA bestselling author of nearly forty books with over 1.5 million copies sold. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young and appropriately humble.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
Discover Scent of Hope by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren in this heartfelt Christian romance spotlight. Packed with second-chance love, romantic suspense, faith-filled redemption, and rugged Alaskan wilderness, this story delivers the perfect mix of emotional depth, danger, and hope that Christian fiction fans crave. Whether you’re searching for Christian romance books with K9 heroes, childhood sweethearts reunited, or powerful messages of new beginnings in Christ, Susan May Warren’s latest is a must-read.
Meet Susan May Warren
I’m Susan May Warren, a USA Today bestselling author who splits my time between the snowy winters of Minnesota and the sunny beaches of Florida with my amazing hubby, four adult children, five grandchildren, and two wild and crazy labradoodles who think they run the show. I’ve written over 100 romantic suspense novels and founded both Novel.Academy and Sunrise Publishing because apparently I can’t sit still! When I’m not crafting stories of second chances and adventures in Alaska and Montana, you’ll find me with a good glass of wine, hosting friends, traveling to new places with a book in hand, and worshipping the Lord who makes all things possible!
Fun Fact: I’m adopted (just like my heroine in Track of Courage), which deeply influences the themes of belonging, identity, and chosen family that run through my stories. This personal connection to adoption and the search for home shows up in many of my characters’ journeys—it’s not just about finding where you fit, but discovering that sometimes the family you choose loves you exactly as you are.
About the Book: Scent of Hope (Call of the Wild Book 2)
Two broken hearts. One deadly mission. And just one avalanche dog standing between them and a killer.
Harley Tatum made a vow to never return to Copper Mountain, Alaska, where a drug dealer destroyed her family and the man she loved walked away. But when that same criminal escapes and justice calls her name, she has no choice but to face everything she buried.
Jericho Bowie remembers things differently. She left him. And he’s spent years wondering why. Now Harley needs his search-and-rescue dog, Orlando, to track a fugitive through treacherous mountain terrain–and Jericho refuses to let her go alone. Not again.
But as they push deep into the frozen wilderness, the hunter becomes the hunted. Old feelings resurface at the worst possible time, and survival depends on two people who don’t know if they can trust each other–or their own hearts.
Susan May Warren packs action and heart-pounding suspense from the rugged wilderness of Alaska into a nonstop adventure where the greatest danger might be opening your heart again.
This gripping suspense is filled with pulse-pounding action, second-chance romance, and a heroic K9 rescue dog from Alaska, sure to thrill fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, and Natalie Walters.
Tropes & Themes
Childhood friends-to-lovers
Second-chance romance
Forced proximity
Romantic suspense with K9 hero
Themes of redemption, new hearts in Christ, surrender vs. control, belonging, and chosen family
Alaskan wilderness adventure
Release Details
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Series: Call of the Wild (Book 2)
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense / Christian Romance
Why Scent of Hope is Must-Read Christian Romantic Suspense
Susan May Warren delivers another gripping tale of faith, courage, and second chances that will keep Christian romance readers turning pages late into the night. With authentic emotional wounds, a heroic avalanche dog, and breathtaking Alaskan settings, Scent of Hope blends high-stakes romantic suspense with deep spiritual truth. Fans of Christian fiction, clean romance with heart, and stories of redemption will find encouragement that God truly gives us new hearts and restores what was lost. Perfect for readers seeking hope-filled Christian romance books that point back to God’s faithfulness.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Susie: Harley Tatum returns to her small Alaskan hometown haunted by failure—she blames herself for not saving her brother from addiction before his death three years ago, and she carries the weight of her parents’ tragic plane crash. She’s driven by a desperate need to pursue justice and protect others, believing that if she can just catch the bad guys, she can somehow redeem her past failures. But when her presumed-dead brother Gabe reappears alive, having faked his death to work undercover, everything Harley believed about herself shatters. Her journey shifts from pursuing justice through her own strength to learning that true freedom comes from trusting God’s plan and accepting that she doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world alone—that surrender, not control, is the path to the life she’s been seeking.
Jericho Bowie, Harley’s childhood sweetheart, left town years ago, leaving behind Harley and his family, convinced he couldn’t protect the people he loved. He returns home believing he’s just helping his brother temporarily, but Harley’s reappearance forces him to face what he really ran from—the fear that he’s not enough to save anyone, especially the woman who has always owned his heart. His transformation comes through surrendering his need to control outcomes and accepting that God calls him to partnership, not solo heroism.
What is the heart of the romance?
Susie: The heart of this romance is the collision between two protectors who’ve spent years running from their pasts and each other. Harley and Jericho were childhood sweethearts, their love story written in secret signals—lights turned on in bedroom windows across the lake—until tragedy tore them apart. What brings them together now is a dangerous search for justice against the crime family that destroyed both their families, forcing them into proximity despite their unresolved hurt.
What stands in their way isn’t the external danger, but their shared wound: both believe they’re not enough to save the people they love. Harley fights to prove her worth through performance, while Jericho’s protective instincts push him to control every outcome. Their journey is learning to trust—not just each other, but God—and discovering that real love isn’t about being strong enough to protect someone, but vulnerable enough to need them.
This is a childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance with forced proximity. It’s the story of two people who were “spark and fire” from the beginning, learning that coming home means accepting who God made them to be—together.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Susie: I hope readers carry the truth that God offers us new hearts—not repaired versions of our broken ones, but completely new. When we’ve hardened ourselves through hurt, grief, and the weight of trying to save everyone in our own strength, God’s love can transform us. The longer we hold onto old wounds and try to earn our worth through performance, the harder our hearts become. But when we surrender and accept God’s mercy, He removes those hearts of stone and gives us hearts capable of trust, hope, and the freedom to finally come home—both to the places we’ve fled and to the people we were always meant to love.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Susie: Ezekiel 36:26 has been central to this story: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
This verse captures the entire journey of both Harley and Jericho—two people whose hearts have turned to stone through grief, guilt, and self-protection. During a challenging season when I was wrestling with my own need to control outcomes and prove my worth, God gently reminded me through this passage that He doesn’t ask us to fix our broken hearts ourselves. He offers us something completely new.
I also leaned heavily on the reminder that the Bible says “do not fear” 365 times—once for every day of the year. God knows fear is our default, but His perfect love drives it out. When I felt afraid I couldn’t tell this story well enough, or worried about disappointing readers, I returned to this truth: God is big enough to protect us, and we don’t have to fight for ourselves. That freedom transformed not just my writing, but my faith.
About the Author
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over 100 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, she’s the founder of Novel.Academy and Sunrise Publishing, where she coaches writers to craft stories that matter. When she’s not creating adventures in Alaska and Montana, she’s splitting her time between Minnesota and Florida with her hubby, four kids, five grandchildren, and two labradoodles who are convinced they’re the real stars of the show.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
Discover A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart – a heartwarming Christian historical romance set in 1911 Kentucky where childhood sweethearts, forbidden love, and the hope of moonlight schools collide amid a bitter family feud.
In this inspiring story of second chances and quiet courage, Ann H. Gabhart brings to life the power of education, forgiveness, and rediscovering love when it feels long buried. Perfect for fans of clean Christian fiction and heartfelt historical romance, this novel reminds readers that God can redeem our deepest dreams—even when family expectations and old wounds stand in the way. If you love stories rich in Appalachian history, friends-to-more romance, and faith-filled encouragement, you won’t want to miss Kallie Mae’s journey.
Meet Ann Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart has been crafting heartfelt stories since she was ten years old, when she first wrote a mystery starring herself as the clever detective. A true country girl at heart, she lives on a farm in Kentucky and draws deeply from its rich history, landscapes, and people for her novels. Her books weave together romance, family relationships, and just the right touch of mystery, always pointing readers toward hope and faith.
Fun Fact: I am a country girl through and through. I walk out on my farm with my dog every day and love feeling close to nature as I hear the birds, feel the sun, rain or snow, and watch the deer leap and run off across the fields. Sometimes, I take my characters with me on those walks and ponder their next moves or motivations to help me get the words flowing when I’m back at my keyboard.
About the Book: A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann Gabhart
What This Story Is About?
What happens when childhood dreams of love and learning clash with a generations-old family feud?
She believed her dreams were buried until one is rekindled, but the other threatens to cost her everything she loves.
Kallie Mae Bertram has harbored two dreams since childhood: to learn to read and to one day marry Quinn Spencer. But her first dream slipped away when her little sister died of a fever and her mother passed in childbirth. Kallie promised to care for the baby and her younger brother, which meant putting aside her own desires in order to keep her family together. But then a moonlight school for adults offers Kallie hope of finally fulfilling that goal.
After Kallie’s father forbids her from seeing Quinn, her second dream seems impossible until her frantic search through the woods for her missing sister leads to an unexpected encounter with Quinn—their first meeting in six years. The love they shared as children burns stronger than ever, awakening hopes Kallie thought were forever buried. But with their families locked in a bitter feud, following her heart could cost Kallie everything she’s worked to protect.
Tropes & Themes
Friends to more (childhood sweethearts reconnecting after years apart)
If you’re searching for uplifting Christian romance that blends sweet second-chance love with powerful themes of education, family redemption, and faith, A Chance for Kallie Mae delivers a heartfelt escape. Ann H. Gabhart masterfully shows how God can redeem broken dreams and mend old wounds through courage, kindness, and quiet persistence. This inspiring Christian fiction story reminds us that hope and love can bloom even in the hardest seasons. Perfect for fans of clean historical romance who crave authentic Kentucky settings and stories that linger with encouragement long after the final page.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Ann: Kallie Mae has a strong feeling of responsibility to her family since her mother died in childbirth when Kallie was thirteen. That tragedy kept her from being able to attend the new school being built close to her. She still desperately wants to know how to read but thinks she’s too old to have a chance for schooling now.
She also has put off any thoughts of love or marriage since she feels so tied to caring for her younger brother and especially her little sister, the baby her mother died bringing into the world. When a school for adults opens up, her dream of learning to read becomes a reality, but her chance for love seems lost when she is faced with an impossible choice.
What is the heart of the romance in this story?
Ann: When children, Kallie Mae Bertram and Quinn Spencer, met in the woods to have fun exploring and talking about anything and everything while praying a school would open close enough for them to walk to it and have the chance for education. They kept their meetings secret because their families were in a feud that went back to the War Between the States when one family supported the South and the other the North. More has happened since to keep the feuding fresh between the families.
When Kallie’s mother dies and Kallie has the responsibility of caring for her baby sister, she can no longer slip away to meet Quinn. Plus, her father forbids her to have anything to do with a Spencer. Years pass with no contact between the two, but when they have a chance meeting in the woods where they once met, long buried feelings awaken again in a love now between adults instead of children. The family feud and their fathers’ hatred for each other stand in their way. Definitely, friends to more after six years of trying to forget their young love when they last met at ages thirteen and fifteen.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Ann: I want readers to embrace the joy of reading and consider what a privilege it is to have schools and teachers with a desire to make sure no one misses out on education. What we take for granted – the chance to go to school – was once not available to some who lived in remote areas. One woman’s desire (Cora Wilson Stewart) to eliminate illiteracy in a Kentucky County led to thousands of adults learning to read all across the country. I also hope readers will feel the strength and healing of family relationships when people are willing to put aside differences.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Ann: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) I always put a Scripture reference whenever I autograph one of my books. I try to pick one that relates to the theme of the story. In this story, Kallie Mae’s little sister, Emmie, has a birthmark on her face that leads some to make unkind remarks about her.
While Kallie Mae hopes for kindness toward Emmie when she starts school, that doesn’t always happen. Emmie has to find ways to forgive when she is the brunt of rude taunts and to be thankful for the kindness she also encounters. I like to believe there are more of us with the desire to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving than those who are not, but we all need the Lord’s help to keep those kind feelings uppermost in our minds.
About the Author
ANN H. GABHART has been called a storyteller. With 40 published books, the title fits. Ann wraps her stories around Kentucky historical times. She’s written about Shakers, explored unique Kentucky settings for stories like The Pursuit of Elena Bradford and The Song of Sourwood Mountain, and mined her family history for Angel Sister, Scent of Lilacs, and more. For her new release, A Chance for Kallie Mae, Ann heads back to the Appalachian area in 1911 to share about the first Moonlight Schools that gave adults a chance to learn to read. Ann keeps her keyboard warm on her Kentucky farm where her dogs, Frankie and Marley, make sure she gets plenty of exercise.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
In Becca Kinzer’s laugh-out-loud Christian romantic comedy Not What We Pictured, a perfectly planned proposal goes hilariously wrong and strands a determined photographer at a charming Tennessee bed and breakfast, where unexpected romance, family healing, and a reminder of God’s treasured identity await.
Meet Becca Kinzer
Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she’s worked as an ICU nurse for over twenty years. After handling plenty of real-life stress and drama on the job, she pours her energy into writing lighthearted romantic comedies that bring laughter and heart to readers. A classic-movie lover, she weaves in subtle nods to old films and actors throughout her stories.
Fun Fact: I used to be a runner and completed a couple of marathons back in my twenties. Even though I don’t run anymore, the lessons in perseverance I learned on those long miles still shape and inspire my creative life every day.
About the Book: Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer
What happens when a well-meaning sister tries to create the perfect marriage proposal… and everything goes hilariously wrong?
McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best-laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?
Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.
With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.
If you’re craving Christian fiction that delivers big laughs alongside genuine heart, Not What We Pictured is pure delight. Becca Kinzer’s warm, witty voice makes you feel right at home in a story that celebrates God’s treasure in every person—no matter their background or past mistakes. This Christian romance blends lighthearted fun with deeper themes of forgiveness, identity in Christ, and second chances, making it perfect for fans of clean, feel-good contemporary romance. You’ll laugh, root for McKenna and Nate, and walk away reminded that God sees us as His beloved—no performance required.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Becca: At the beginning of the story McKenna is simply trying to help her younger sister have a perfect marriage proposal experience. But like a lot of my stories, that simple endeavor soon turns into a comedy of errors. Interwoven in the chaos, however, are themes of forgiveness and learning where our true sense of identity comes from, especially when complicated family dynamics are involved.
What is the heart of the romance?
Becca: I’d say the heart of this romance is how a false first impression can still eventually lead to true love. McKenna and Nate’s personalities initially clash at the beginning, but as they’re thrown together in forced proximity and soon find themselves working together to repair a bed and breakfast, they discover they have a lot more in common than they originally thought.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Becca: I hope readers have a blast reading this story and are reminded that God absolutely treasures them no matter what their background or upbringing looks like.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Becca: All of Psalm 139 comes to mind, but especially verse 13 when I think about my character McKenna in this story. Since she was adopted, she questions whether she’s as valued as her sister, who was their parents’ biological daughter. I love how this verse reminds us that we are all cherished and special to God. As a writer I can sometimes be tempted to base my worth and value on sales, reviews, contest wins, and so forth. But this chapter and verse is such a great way to ground myself back in God’s love.
About the Author Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not busy taking care of sick patients or using up all the storage on her phone with pictures of her dog, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel. Not What We Pictured is her fourth novel.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories and honest author interviews. She shares exclusive giveaways and celebrates the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
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.
