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!
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Looking for a heartfelt Christian fiction author interview and a faith-filled historical novel that blends clean romance with real courage? The Brunswick by Callie Murray, her debut novel, delivers an inspirational love story set in 1939 small-town Georgia—where opening one door changes everything.
Meet Callie Murray
Callie Murray is a Christian fiction author living in Norcross, Georgia, with her husband David and their seven children—four of whom joined the family through foster care. Her debut historical novel, The Brunswick, releases May 19, 2026, and draws deeply from both her town and her family’s foster care journey, even though the story is set in 1939.
Fun Fact: “I am an entrepreneur whose work has been featured on The TODAY Show and in The New York Times. Writing has always been something I’ve done as part of marketing or hiring or all-around rallying people into my work, but this novel is my first go at long-form fiction. I’ve found writing fiction to be much like building a business, where there are helpful frameworks but also plenty of room for creativity and the spark from others.”
About the Book: The Brunswick by Callie Murray
What happens when a weary young woman running her family’s struggling general store is asked to turn their once-grand hotel into a sanctuary for Jewish refugee children fleeing Nazi persecution—and a quiet newcomer arrives seeking work and a fresh start?
In 1939 Georgia, far removed from the war brewing overseas, Cora Cain’s world feels small—and shrinking. There, she runs The Brunswick, her family’s once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town’s general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother’s death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father’s unpredictable moods.
But everything changes when Cora’s asked to turn The Brunswick into a sanctuary for Jewish refugee children fleeing persecution in Germany. As Cora and Thomas prepare for the children’s arrival, they struggle to confront their pasts—and the prejudice of their neighbors—as their fragile hope is put to the test.
Meanwhile, in Vienna, ten-year-old Charlotte is offered refuge in America. But even with the horrors she sees around her, Charlotte wonders how her parents could possibly send her away. As war’s shadow begins to reach small-town Georgia, each person must face what love demands and decide what they must hold on to and what they must let go.
Tropes & Themes
Small-town historical romance
Found family
Fresh-start hero
Entrepreneur heroine
Foster care & adoption themes
Community & fellowship of believers
Clean, faith-driven romance
Second chances & quiet courage
Release Details
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction / Historical Romance
The Brunswick by Callie Murray is a faith-filled historical novel is the kind of uplifting Christian fiction that lingers long after the last page. Readers who love clean romance, inspirational love stories, and small-town settings will find themselves rooting for Cora and Thomas as they open their hearts—and their doors—to the vulnerable. The Brunswick offers a tender, hope-filled look at what it means to live with open hands, care for the least of these, and discover that love and community can grow even in uncertain times. It’s a beautiful Christian romance release that reminds us grace meets us exactly where we are.
Author Interview: Callie Murray
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What inner struggle or desire drives your main character(s) at the beginning of the story? How does that shift as the story unfolds?
Callie: “Cora Cain is The Brunswick’s main character, and she too is an entrepreneur—albeit begrudgingly. She runs her family’s old hotel which has since turned into a general store. At the beginning of the novel, she is weary and overworked and is coveting any other life beyond what she has. But then a man walks in the store asking for a job…”
What is the heart of the romance in this story?
Callie: “Thomas Watkins finds himself in Norcross after his mother’s death. He is looking for a fresh start, and he and Cora get lost a bit in this spark between them. But Cora tends to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, and when her health starts to become a concern, she wonders if she should spare Thomas the heartache. Thomas, meanwhile, has a secret of his own that he’s worried will keep their relationship from progressing. And then, they’re asked if The Brunswick could become a refuge for Jewish children fleeing Nazi persecution. Will this mission bring them together or add further complications?!”
What is one takeaway you hope readers carry with them after finishing this book?
Callie: “I really dig into the nuances of foster care and adoption, and even though it’s set in 1939, I hope that readers will consider how they may be able to care for the vulnerable in their own modern day lives. I also hope readers feel a deep relief that perhaps they don’t have to solve all the world’s problems themselves but can instead just approach life with open hands and see where they are called to step in.”
What Bible verse encouraged you during your writing journey or that reflects this story’s message?
Callie: “Acts 2:42-47 (‘the fellowship of the believers’) definitely shaped the found family and community aspects in The Brunswick. I’ve seen this play out in my own community here in Norcross, and it was so fun to imagine it in 1939.”
About the Author
Callie Murray is an entrepreneur and grassroots marketer whose work has been covered in dozens of news outlets, including The TODAY Show and The New York Times. She writes a series called The Author’s Note, and she’s eagerly awaiting the May 2026 release of her debut historical fiction novel, THE BRUNSWICK. She lives in Norcross, Ga with her husband and seven children—four who joined recently through the honor of adoption—where they are probably hosting a potluck right now.
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 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?
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