Interview with Connilyn Cossette: Biblical-Era Romance, Redemption Arcs, and the Power of Steadfast Love

Interview with Connilyn Cossette: Biblical-Era Romance, Redemption Arcs, and the Power of Steadfast Love

In this heartfelt episode, Kelly chats with Christy Award–winning author Connilyn Cossette about her latest release, Splendor of the Land, the third book in her Kingsmen series. Connilyn opens up about her journey into biblical-era fiction, how her own research into the Old Testament sparked her debut novel, and the personal faith lessons woven into her writing. They explore the emotional depth of wounded heroes, the beauty of forced proximity and redemption tropes, and the steadfast love of God that carried Connilyn through a breast cancer diagnosis. With a story set during the reign of King Saul, Splendor of the Land delivers spiritual truth, adventure, and romance all wrapped in one unforgettable tale.

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Connilyn Cossette

Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award–winning and bestselling author of stories that illuminate the ancient world of the Bible in hopes readers will dig deeper into the Word and encounter the Great Storyteller himself within their pages. A recent breast cancer survivor and adoptive mom of her two greatest gifts, she lives in a small town south of Dallas, Texas.

Visit Connilyn’s website here

Follow Connilyn

Bible Verse for Encouragement

Psalm 63:3 (NKJV)
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.”

Connilyn Cossette’s New Book: Splendor of the Land

Splendor of the Land Book Cover

“A triumphant story in which flawed characters face real choices and must rely on a real God to save them.”–MESU ANDREWS, bestselling and award-winning author

Gavriel, a soldier in the elite company of Yonatan–son of King Saul–dreams of forging his destiny through crafting weapons with his own hands. Despite earning his place among Israel’s finest, he is haunted by a dark past that no distraction can dispel. When his reckless behavior crosses a line, Yonatan gives him one last mission to prove his worth: help persuade a distant Kenite tribe to sever their ties with the Amalekites.

Zahava, a gifted goldsmith hidden behind her father’s legacy, lives in the shadows due to her physical affliction. Her unmatched and unrecognized talent is a closely guarded secret within her family. Disheartened by a future that seems unattainable, she resigns herself to a life of obscurity. However, when Gavriel arrives in her village, they’re tangled together in ways neither could have imagined. As they navigate unforeseen dangers and enemy threats, Gavriel must confront his past and either bend his knee to the One True King or lose the woman he loves forever.

Set against the backdrop of ancient Israel, this exhilarating Old Testament-era tale is threaded with themes of redemption, courage, and sacrifice. This Iron Age story will appeal to readers of biblical fiction, Francine Rivers, Tessa Afshar, and Angela Hunt.

💞 Tropes in Splendor of the Land

  • Wounded Hero
  • Forced Proximity
  • Forced Marriage
  • Redemption Arc
  • Secret Talent (female goldsmith)
  • Enemies-to-Reluctant-Allies
  • Biblical-era Setting
  • Heroine in Disguise (crafting in secret due to cultural norms)
  • Found Family / Cousin Brotherhood
  • Historical Intrigue

Get your copy today!

Amazon

Baker Book House

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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 today!

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 is available!

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

Visit my website here to sign up

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Interview with Kelly Jo Wilson: Trusting God When the Story Shifts and Debut Novel Finding Forevermore

Interview with Kelly Jo Wilson: Trusting God When the Story Shifts and Debut Novel Finding Forevermore

In this heartfelt episode, Kelly chats with author and podcaster Tricia Goyer about her debut novel Finding Forevermore—and the surprising ways God redirected both her writing and her walk of faith. What began as a love story on paper quickly became a real-life testimony of surrender, trust, and divine timing. Kelly opens up about how the plot of her book took an unexpected turn and how leaning into Proverbs 3:5–6 helped her release control and embrace God’s perfect plan. This conversation is a must-listen for writers, readers, and anyone who’s ever had to trust God with a story they didn’t see coming.

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Kelly Jo Wilson

Kelly Jo Wilson

Kelly Jo Wilson writes Christian romance that reflects God’s grace, redemption, and love. As a nurse, she has witnessed firsthand the brokenness that inspires her to create stories of healing and second chances. She loves being a wife, mom-ing two energetic boys, and cuddling with her Rottweiler. Kelly’s a firm believer that hot cocoa tastes better in a Christmas mug, that Hallmark movies count as research, and that Jesus is the King of plot twists. Her greatest joy is crafting stories that remind readers no heart is too broken for God’s love to restore.

Visit Kelly’s Website here

Follow Kelly

Join the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Facebook Group here

Listen to the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Podcast

Bible Verse for Encouragement

Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Kelly Jo Wilson’s New Book: Finding Forevermore

Finding Forevermore by Kelly Jo Wilson

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, an 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.

💞 Tropes in Finding Forevermore

  • Friends-to-more
  • Second chances
  • Road trip romance
  • Wounded hero / military medic
  • Bookish heroine
  • Small-town romance
  • Forced proximity (truck breakdown + overnight stay)
  • Emotional healing and redemption
  • Grief and forgiveness
  • Faith and love rewriting their stories

Finding Forevermore launches October 25th 2025!

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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Interview with Mollie Rushmeyer: Whimsy, Mr. Darcy Dreams, and Trusting God in the Unexpected

Interview with Mollie Rushmeyer: Whimsy, Mr. Darcy Dreams, and Trusting God in the Unexpected

In this charming and laughter-filled episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, Kelly chats with award-nominated author Mollie Rushmeyer about her newest rom-com release, The Rules of Falling for You. With a heart for Regency romance and a love for whimsical storytelling, Mollie shares how her real-life obsessions with Jane Austen, list-making, and her cousin’s matchmaking escapades all inspired this delightful novel.

Together, they dive into the themes of control, trust in God, and how the unexpected often leads to the best kind of love stories. If you’re into best friend’s brother tropes, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, or anything involving a Regency-themed singles retreat (yes, really!), this is the episode for you. Plus, you’ll hear the hilarious inspiration behind one of the book’s funniest scenes (spoiler-free, promise)!

Listen to the episode here.

Meet Mollie Rushmeyer

Mollie Rushmeyer writes whimsical romance with heart and humor. She has a deep and abiding love for all things British, bookish, and filled with history and mystery. A modern girl herself–she wouldn’t want to go a day without modern plumbing and central air!—she’s always felt a special connection to the past and anything with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets, was a finalist for a 2023 Carol Award. A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two spunky, beautiful daughters.

Visit Mollie’s website here

Follow Mollie

Bible Verse for Encouragement

Psalm 56:3–4 (NKJV)

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

Mollie Rushmeyer’s New Book: The Rules of Falling For You

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles’ retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the non-negotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

“The writing is smart and sassy with humor and touching moments sure to please lovers of rom-coms, Regency romance, or Jane Austen period dramas.”–JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author

This clean and wholesome romance presents a Regency-infused spin on a contemporary rom-com with the grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, and best friend’s brother tropes. Readers of Melissa Ferguson, Pepper Basham, and Julie Klassen will find this read delightful.

💞 Tropes in The Rules of Falling For You

  • Best friend’s brother
  • Friends to lovers
  • Opposites attract
  • Grumpy sunshine
  • Fake historical retreat / Regency cosplay setting
  • Modern Mr. Darcy hunt
  • Forced proximity (podcast + retreat)
  • Slow burn with mutual pining
  • Hero secretly in love first
  • List-making heroine / Type A heroine

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, an 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.

Finding Forevermore will be available October 25th, 2025.

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

Visit my website here to sign up

Follow me for updates