Interview with Mary Connealy: Treasure Hunts, Found Family & Cowboy Romance in “Legends of Gold”

Interview with Mary Connealy: Treasure Hunts, Found Family & Cowboy Romance in “Legends of Gold”

In this episode, the hilarious and heartfelt Mary Connealy shares the inspiration behind her newest release, Legends of Gold, the second book in her Golden State Treasure series. From orphan trains to long-lost journals, this story dives deep into adventure, found family, and faith with Mary’s signature cowboy romantic comedy style.

Mary unpacks the heart behind her themes—what it means to lay up treasure in heaven, why family (biological or chosen) matters so deeply, and how God uses broken stories for beautiful purposes. Plus, we chat about Tilda and Josh’s sizzling (and slightly chaotic) start, the troublemaker brothers with gold fever, and all the historical twists that make this Western romance unputdownable.

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Mary Connealy

Bestselling author Mary Connealy, who is renowned for her unique blend of Western romance and humor, unveils the first book in her highly anticipated GOLDEN STATE TREASURE series, Whispers of Fortune. Transporting readers to the frontier of 1875 California, Connealy weaves a gripping narrative of family bonds, hidden treasures, and an unlikely love story that blooms amid the rugged landscape of the Wild West.

Visit Mary Connealy’s website

Facebook Group Petticoats and Pistols click here

Follow Mary

Bible Verse for Encouragement

Matthew 6:20 (NKJV)
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Mary Connealy’s New Book: Legends of Gold

On a risky treasure hunt in the rugged wilderness, can love trump all odds?

After years of solitude, Tilda Muirhead’s life takes an unexpected twist when she accepts a teaching position at Two Harts Ranch following her cross-country pursuit of two brothers obsessed with a treasure map left by their grandfather. Tilda is now tasked with educating those mischievous MacKenzie boys, who are bent on remaining out west with the rest of their family until they find the hoped-for treasure. Then a man named Ben arrives, claiming to be her own long-lost brother. Raised as an orphan with no memory of her past, Tilda is both fascinated and wary of Ben’s sudden interest in finding her.

When Ben’s motives grow increasingly suspect, rancher Josh Hart suggests Tilda and the young MacKenzies set off on a quest with him that aims to protect Tilda while unearthing the map’s secrets. As they explore the wilderness, Tilda becomes captivated by the history behind the map, though she doubts it leads to anything more than old artifacts. Yet danger looms ever closer, and Tilda and Josh must rely on faith and their blossoming love to navigate the treacherous path ahead.

💞 Tropes in Legends of Gold

  • Marriage of convenience
  • Found family
  • Enemies-to-lovers (with a twist of frenemies!)
  • Treasure hunt / Lost gold mystery
  • Orphan train backdrop
  • Grumpy vs sunshine (Josh & Tilda vibes)
  • Brother’s best friend-ish
  • Wounded hero
  • Fish-out-of-water heroine
  • Small town / ranch setting
  • Secret past / surprise family reunion

Get your copy today!

Amazon

Baker Book House

Get updates on our themed book giveaways

Enter the most current book giveaway on ChristianRomancePodcast.com and sign up for our email list.

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Kelly’s Personal Update

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!

Finding Forevermore Novel

Finding Forevermore is available for preorder today on Amazon!

Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.

Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.

Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.

As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.

Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.

For Kindle Unlimited lovers, Finding Forevermore will be available starting October 25th 2025!

You’ll get updates by joining my free email list.

Visit my website here to sign up

Follow me for updates

Interview with Lynette Eason: Hijackings, Hidden Feelings, and Faith in Final Approach

Interview with Lynette Eason: Hijackings, Hidden Feelings, and Faith in Final Approach

In this interview with Lynette Eason, she dives deep into the suspense-filled world of Final Approach, the explosive conclusion to her Lake City Heroes series. In this episode, Lynette shares the inspiration behind her high-stakes romance between two long-time friends—FBI Special Agent Andrew and ER nurse Christine—who survive a hijacking only to face deeper emotional and spiritual battles. With her signature blend of danger, faith, and slow-burning romance, Lynette gives us a peek into the power of redemption, forgiveness, and finding hope when everything falls apart. Plus, she opens up about her dual role as an author and literary agent, and the incredible ways God has used her stories to speak to readers’ hearts.

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award-winning author of seventy books. Her books have appeared on the USA TODAY, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and Parable bestseller lists. She has won numerous awards including the Carol, the Selah, the Golden Scroll and more. Her novel, Her Stolen Past was made into a movie for the Lifetime Movie Network.

Visit Lynette’s website

Follow Lynette

Bible Verse for Encouragement

Psalm 46:1, NKJV
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Lynette’s New Book: Final Approach

She’s intent on investigating a sinister plot of revenge, and it will take all her courage to survive.

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there’s more to this story than meets the eye–and more to love and admire about each other. They’ll have to put their skills to the test–and their hearts on the line–to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

💞 Tropes in Final Approach

  • Friends to Lovers
  • Forced Proximity
  • Workplace Romance / Partnered in Peril
  • Woman in Jeopardy
  • Slow Burn Romance
  • Protective Hero
  • High-Stakes Action / Life-or-Death Situations
  • Emotional Baggage / Family Drama
  • Undercover Investigation / Uncovering a Conspiracy

Get your copy today!

Amazon

Baker Book House

Get updates on our themed book giveaways

Enter the most current book giveaway on ChristianRomancePodcast.com and sign up for our email list.

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Kelly’s Personal Update

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!

Finding Forevermore Novel

Finding Forevermore is available for preorder today on Amazon!

Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.

Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.

Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.

As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.

Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.

Kindle Unlimited lovers: Finding Forevermore will be available starting October 25th 2025!

You’ll get updates by joining my free email list.

Visit my website here to sign up

Follow me for updates

Interview with Melissa Alyse: Writing Grace-Soaked Fiction and Finding Purpose Through Faith

Interview with Melissa Alyse: Writing Grace-Soaked Fiction and Finding Purpose Through Faith

In this heartwarming episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, Kelly chats with debut author Melissa Alyse, who brings readers stories soaked in grace and filled with faith. They talk all about her journey from homeschool mama and marketing coach to Christian romance author, how God called her to put everything else down and pick up the pen, and how obedience led to joy.

Melissa shares the beautiful inspiration behind her debut novel A Place to Belong — a cozy small-town romance featuring sweet tea, front porch swings, funny meet-cutes, and a wise grandma named Glory who might just steal your heart. 💛

They also dive into what it looks like to grow in faith through journaling, trusting in God’s timing, and embracing the freedom we have in Christ to be fully ourselves. If you’re craving stories that are warm hugs for your soul, Melissa’s books might be your next favorite read.

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Melissa Alyse

Melissa Alyse is the author of grace-soaked Christian fiction that feels like a front porch conversation with a friend.

Her debut novel, A Place to Belong, is the first in a heartwarming series set in Willow Creek, Texas—a fictional small town where faith, love, and second chances bloom.

Melissa’s stories offer readers hope, encouragement, and the gentle reminder that God made them just as they are—on purpose.

She lives in Alaska with her sweet husband and their rescue pup. Melissa loves quiet mornings journaling with Jesus and a cup of coffee, FaceTiming with her grands, making a creative mess, and finding beauty in life’s simple, everyday moments.

Visit Melissa’s website here

Get your FREE download here

Bible Verses for Encouragement

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV)

Melissa Alyse’s New Book: A Place to Belong

She had a plan. God had a better one.
After one shattering night, Sammy Thomas’s carefully built life lies in pieces. Lost and heartbroken, she returns to the quiet Texas town she never thought she’d see again—only to find herself running her grandmother’s church pantry and questioning everything she thought she knew about purpose, faith, and the future.

But between porch swing conversations, community potlucks, and the soft rhythm of small-town life, Sammy begins to wonder…What if the plans she made were nothing compared to what God had planned for her?

A Place to Belong is a heartwarming, grace-filled Christian novel about starting over, discovering your purpose, and trusting God when life doesn’t go the way you imagined. Perfect for fans of small-town communities, clean romance, and faith-filled women’s fiction—and for anyone who needs the gentle reminder that it’s never too late to follow the calling God has placed on your heart.

Now available in Kindle Unlimited!

If you enjoy stories with:
– A “dumped-before-the-ring” break-up
– A fresh start in a small town
–Scripture throughout
– Meet-cute mayhem
– A wise grandma mentor
– A journey of calling and purpose
– A community that feels like home

This sweet Christian romance will feel like a hug for your heart.

💞 Tropes in A Place to Belong

  • Dumped Before the Ring
  • Small Town Mayhem
  • Wise Grandma / Mentor (Glory)
  • Journaling as Spiritual Growth
  • Funny Meet-Cute
  • Community That Feels Like Home
  • Finding Purpose / Faith Journey

Get a copy on Amazon today!

Get updates on our themed book giveaways

Enter the most current book giveaway on ChristianRomancePodcast.com and sign up for our email list.

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Kelly’s Personal Update

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!

Finding Forevermore Novel

Finding Forevermore is available for preorder today on Amazon!

Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.

Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.

Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.

As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.

Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.

For Kindle Unlimited lovers, Finding Forevermore will be available starting October 25th 2025!

You’ll get updates by joining my free email list.

Visit my website here to sign up

Follow me for updates