When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard is a pulse-quickening Christian romance release for readers who want faith-filled romantic suspense with mountain weather, a WWII secret, and two people who would rather stay self-reliant than risk their hearts. This Christian fiction author interview with the USA Today bestselling author pulls back the curtain on Mercy Ridge Book 1—an inspirational love story where truth, even when it costs something, finally comes into the light.
Meet Elizabeth Goddard
Elizabeth Goddard is a Texan transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, which is good, she says, because that is where she sets most of her stories. She writes faith-filled romantic suspense that always includes action and adventure—maybe because she lives in a house of men who love those movies. Her novels have sold more than 1.5 million copies.
Fun Fact: I might write about avalanches, storms, and danger—but in real life, I’m the one double-checking the weather app before I leave the house. Even when I take a long walk, I’m always looking over my shoulder. My fear fuels my stories. Maybe that’s why I love writing suspense. On the page, I can be brave in ways I don’t always feel in real life.
About the Book: When the Silence Breaks
What happens when a deathbed confession, a decades-old government secret, and a mountain storm force two guarded people to trust each other?
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers—and danger closing in.
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather’s deathbed confession connected to her brother’s murder, she’s determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father’s death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can’t stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
If you read Christian fiction for both the race-up-the-mountain tension and the quiet work God does in a guarded heart, this one delivers. Goddard’s clean love story never softens the storm, and it never forgets that refuge is a Person, not a hiding place.
This faith-based romance novel is a strong pick for fans of Pacific Northwest romantic suspense and anyone who wants uplifting Christian fiction that still keeps you checking over your shoulder.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
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What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Elizabeth: In When the Silence Breaks, Sarah Ellison begins the story driven by a need for control. As a former three letter agency operative, she’s used to anticipating danger and relying only on herself. Beneath that strength lies guilt and unresolved grief, and she believes handling the past alone is the only way to survive it. Trust—especially in Ryder Goodwin—feels risky. Ryder, meanwhile, is fiercely loyal to his family and the mountain he calls home. He wants to protect his world, not invite disruption into it. As the story unfolds, both are forced to confront the limits of self-reliance. Sarah must learn that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and Ryder must risk opening his guarded heart. By the end, the secrets of the past are exposed—and so are the hidden fears they’ve both carried.
What is the heart of the romance?
Elizabeth: The heart of the romance in When the Silence Breaks is trust forged under pressure. Sarah and Ryder are drawn together by a shared mission—uncovering the truth behind a long-buried WWII secret in the Cascade Mountains. Forced proximity and escalating danger strip away pretense quickly. They see each other at their strongest and most vulnerable almost from the start. But what stands in the way is just as powerful as what draws them together. Sarah is guarded, trained to compartmentalize and walk away before emotions complicate the mission. Ryder is rooted—deeply loyal to his family and his mountain—and wary of outsiders who bring secrets and disruption. She’s used to leaving. He’s committed to staying. It carries hints of the “reluctant allies to more” trope, with a touch of opposites-attract: the controlled intelligence operative and the steady, mountain-grounded guide. Ultimately, their romance grows not because the danger forces closeness—but because they choose to trust each other when it would be easier not to.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Elizabeth: I hope readers walk away with the reassurance that no secret stays buried forever—and that truth, even when painful, brings freedom. When the Silence Breaks explores generational secrets, hidden guilt, and the weight of carrying burdens alone. My hope is that readers are reminded they don’t have to live in silence—about their fears, their grief, or their past. Healing begins when truth is brought into the light. Even in the most dangerous storms—whether external or internal—God is still present, still steady, and still our refuge.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Elizabeth: One verse that deeply reflects the heart of When the Silence Breaks is Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This verse became especially meaningful to me during seasons of uncertainty and transition, when I felt unsteady and unsure of what was ahead. It reminded me that refuge isn’t a place—it’s a Person. Even when circumstances feel chaotic or dangerous, God is not distant. He is present. That truth shaped this story. The characters face literal storms and life-threatening danger, but their greatest struggle is learning where true security comes from. Writing this book reminded me that strength doesn’t come from controlling every outcome. It comes from resting in the One who already holds it.
About the Author
Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of more than 60 novels, including the Missing in Alaska, Rocky Mountain Courage, and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award winner, a two-time Reader’s Choice Award winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
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!
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Looking for a faith-filled historical Christian romance with courage, banter, and a love story that looks a little like grace?
Daughter of the Rebellion by Jamie Ogle is a Christian romance release set in AD 403 Rome. A Visigoth captive becomes a legendary gladiatrix and a conflicted medic learns that waiting on the Lord is not weakness. This author interview goes behind the arena walls into surrender and unmerited love in story that will make you hold your breath.
Meet Jamie Ogle
Jamie Ogle is a predawn writer, homeschool mom by day, and a reader by night who now makes her home in small-town Iowa with her husband and three children. Born and raised in the Northwoods of Minnesota, she writes historical fiction infused with deep faith, adventure, and courageous rebels—the kind of inspirational love story that grew out of her lifelong fascination with the story-rich history of Christianity.
Fun Fact: When I get stuck in my writing, it’s usually a signal for me to explore a different creative outlet for a bit. In the past, this has included things as simple as baking cookies, to the wild extreme of repainting the entire exterior of our house. It keeps my husband on his toes, that’s for sure.
About the Book: Daughter of the Rebellion
What happens when a Visigoth daughter imprisoned in a Roman gladiator school decides she will never rely on anyone—or God—again?
In this stirring historical romance by award-winning author Jamie Ogle, a young woman imprisoned in a Roman gladiator school becomes a legendary warrior. But when not even her fame is enough, she must fight to save herself and those she loves.
Rome, AD 403. As a loyal daughter of the Visigoth tribe, Adelgard followed her father to war, hoping to win back her family’s approval. But after a clash with the Roman army, Adel is captured and sold to a gladiator school. Now she is the most famous gladiatrix in Rome, determined to keep the fickle love of the crowd and never again rely on anyone but herself for her own security. But beneath the fame lies a darkness and pain that holds her captive.
Felix despises Rome’s fascination with violence. But after returning from medical training to discover his father missing and his family desperate, he had little choice but to accept a position at the gladiator school managed by his uncle. He finds a kindred spirit in Adel and does what he can to preserve the humanity of the rebel fighters, but when he receives orders that further compromise his beliefs, he arrives at a crossroads.
Then Telemachus, a Christian leader, approaches Felix with an urgent message: if the Visigoth captives are not released, their army will invade Rome. Despite the risk, the emperor is bent on proving his power through a stunning, deadly day of gladiatorial games. As Telemachus seeks to save the Visigoth fighters, Felix and Adel join forces in a desperate rebellion that may define not only their own lives but also the course of history.
This is the kind of uplifting Christian fiction that stays with you after the last page—dust of the arena, ache of a guarded heart, and a love that looks a lot like Romans 5:8. Readers who want a clean love story will find Adel’s fight and Felix’s quiet compassion an unforgettable pairing.
If your shelf leans toward Tessa Afshar or other faith-based romance novels set in the early church, this inspirational love story is for you. It is a Christian romance release built on surrender, not spectacle alone.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes of Daughter of the Rebellion
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What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Jamie: At the beginning of Daughter of the Rebellion, Adel (the heroine) is determined to make a name for herself, determined to procure security for herself with her own two hands. Felix (the hero) is in a similar situation where he continually makes small compromises to provide for his family. Both have given up on waiting for God to answer their prayers, so they’ve forged ahead to take care of things on their own. It’s only when they find themselves in deeper trouble than they know how to escape, that they realize the beauty of surrender and waiting on the Lord.
What is the heart of the romance?
Jamie: Before I started writing, I thought this was going to be a friends to more story, but as soon as the characters started forming, it quickly became a grumpy/sunshine, enemies to more story. The banter was so fun, and the romance growing out of it surprised me with its tenderness.
Adel is a jaded fighter with a guarded heart and medic Felix (while still flawed in his own way) shows her way more patience and compassion than she, arguably, deserves. But as I looked at the story as a whole, I was struck by the realization that this is the way God loves us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). If that isn’t the best ‘enemies to more’ story in the world, I don’t know what is!
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Jamie: I pray readers see the unconditional love of God for them, that it’s offered freely and unmerited. And I hope they also see that a single life lived in surrender to God, can change the world.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Jamie: Psalm 37:4-5 have been my favorite verses for as long as I can remember. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Him, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” This isn’t a ‘good luck charm’ verse that promises we get everything we want. It’s a verse promising that when we delight in God, He becomes our desire and fills that desire. It’s also a promise that He leads and guides lives surrendered to following Him.
In the midst of my early writing journey, while I really, really wanted to be a published author, this verse served as a constant reminder that nothing else matters if my heart wasn’t fully surrendered to Christ. He’s where our joy and true fulfillment is found! I never realized until now how well this verse goes along with some of the themes of surrender in this book!
About the Author
Jamie Ogle is a predawn writer, homeschool mom by day, and a reader by night. Inspired by her fascination with the storied history of faith, she writes historical fiction infused with hope, adventure, and courageous rebels. A Minnesota native, she now lives in Iowa with her husband and their three children, and she can usually be found gardening, beekeeping, and tromping through the woods.
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?
Tracie Peterson, often called the Queen of Historical Christian Romance, returns with A Life So True, the second book in her Minnesota Legacy series. Set against the financial panic of 1893 and a city threatened by fire, this faith-filled story follows two people who confide their deepest secrets—only to discover that honesty may cost them everything they love.
Meet Tracie Peterson
Often called the Queen of Historical Christian Romance, Tracie Peterson has written more than 150 books, most of them in the genre she loves. She makes her home in the mountains of Montana with her husband Jim, and her stories continue to offer readers both heart and hope.
Fun Fact: Tracie loves facilitating Bible studies because she always learns so much about the Lord and enjoys sharing what He’s done for her while hearing others share what He’s done for them.
About the Book: A Life So True
What happens when two people confide their deepest secrets… only to watch a devastating fire threaten everything they hold dear?
Will their undeniable bond overcome the disasters surrounding them?
Evelyn Turner is determined to work at her physician father’s side as he opens a hospital for Minneapolis’s poor. But when nursing makes her physically ill, she faces an impossible choice between the promises she’s made and her own limitations. Maxwell Garrison is helping manage his father’s investments through the financial crisis of 1893, and he’s especially interested in their sawmill businesses.
At a Turner family fund raiser, he is horrified when he overhears his father and other mill owners plotting to commit arson and insurance fraud. When Evie and Max meet at the same fund raiser, a connection sparks between them. As their interests in each other grow, they confide their secrets and agree to guard each other’s trust. Then a suspicious and devastating fire sets Minneapolis ablaze, and Max and Evie fear the worst.
Even amid the ashes of deception, can they build a life together?
Tropes & Themes
Love at first sight
Shared secrets / confiding secrets
Historical Christian romance (1893 Minneapolis)
Family secrets and the cost of truth
Financial crisis & arson plot
Nursing / medical calling vs. physical limitations
Forgiveness and transparent honesty
Trusting God when the truth could destroy everything
If you love rich historical Christian romance with heart, faith, and high stakes, A Life So True delivers. Tracie Peterson weaves a tender love-at-first-sight story against the backdrop of the 1893 financial panic and a city on fire—literally. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction that explores honesty, forgiveness, and the courage to speak truth will find this one especially meaningful. It’s the kind of faith-filled historical romance that leaves you thinking about the power of transparency long after you turn the last page.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Tracie: In A Life So True, book 2 in A Minnesota Legacy series, the heroine Evie Turner is struggling with telling the family the truth about something. It’s been years in the making and coming to odds with the issue and revealing her heart on the matter is beyond difficult. Maxwell Garrison is struggling with hidden secrets that he fears may destroy his family and good name. As the story unfolds, both will learn the importance of transparent truth and God’s desires for them to put their trust in Him.
What is the heart of the romance?
Tracie: This is a play on love at first sight. Both Evie and Max are quite taken with each other from their first encounter. Neither have been looking for love, but love has come at them like a freight train and they aren’t able to ignore it despite life’s complications.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Tracie: That honesty is important, even when we fear it will hurt someone else. God calls us to truth and to forgiveness and in this story, both elements walk hand in hand.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Tracie: Proverbs 6:16-19 speaks of the seven things God hates. Two of those deal with lying. The truth is of utmost value to the Lord. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” in John 14. From the time we’re little children, lying is one of the first sins we commit as we seek to get ourselves out of trouble or impress someone. Knowing how much God hates lying should be a deterrent to refrain from it, but in our society lying often comes as a common, everyday occurrence that everyone accepts as a part of life. We need to fight harder against it and seek the truth.
About the Author
Tracie Peterson gave her life to Jesus at the age of six. She knew early on that God was calling her to ministry, and writing for Him has allowed her to offer the Gospel message and encourage people to hope in the Lord. Her motto is Soli Deo Gloria—For God Alone the Glory.
Often called the “Queen of Historical Christian fiction,” Tracie is an ECPA and USA Today bestselling author of over 150 books. She has received the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and multiple best-book honors. A Kansas native, she now makes her home with her husband Jim in the mountains of Montana.
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?
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