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 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.
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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?
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