by Crystal Caudill | May 23, 2023 | Counterfeit Faith, History Facts
Counterfeit Truth and Counterfeit Faith take place in Philadelphia, and while so much of the city has stayed the same, much of it has changed. In this tour, I’m sharing pictures of settings from Counterfeit Faith during my whirlwind two-day tour of Philadelphia. First off, did you know that Philadelphia is only two miles from river to river? I couldn’t believe how much they had cram-packed into that little space, but WOW. So, in reality, the majority of my story took place within two square miles. That really just blows my mind. So let’s take off.

Of course, Carpenters Hall was under construction when I went.

The Philadelphia Library, where Josiah first laid eyes on Gwendolyn as he came down those stairs.
Carpenters Hall is where we must start our tour because, of course, that is where Gwendolyn first starts out waiting for Mr. Farwell. You might have caught on to my intentional pun with his name if you’ve read the book. Poor Mr. Farwell must say farewell during the story, and I just couldn’t help myself. Nothing about Independence Park is the same as when Counterfeit Faith took place. In 1885, Carpenter Hall sat in the center of a city block surrounded by other businesses and buildings. There were a couple of alleys to access it, but there was no direct view. If you notice the cobblestone part of the walkway, that was approximately the size of the entrance between buildings to access Carpenters Hall.
It was while leaving this building that Josiah first laid eyes on Gwendolyn. It’s a good thing he did too, and more importantly, he noticed Quincy’s knife blade. It was at this location that everything was set into motion for two people to come together to rescue at-risk children, find love, and face more than their share of danger. For a woman who is used to being ignored or having to rescue herself, Josiah’s heroic intervention sets her heart aflutter and stirs dreams of romance that she’d long thought dead. Personally, I was a little giddy getting to stand on these steps and imagine the heroic rescue as it occurred. Of course, some of the buildings have been moved, and things don’t look 100% the way they did, but it was close enough to really enjoy the experience.

Houses that look like Josiah’s would have.
While the gorgeous houses on Arch Street described in the book no longer exist, I did see some houses that are similar in style. They’re larger than some of the other homes I found, and they had those stoops, shutters, and arched doorways that I was looking for. It was the best match I could find, and my mind relished imagining Josiah and Gwendolyn conversing on those steps.
Josiah worked for the Secret Service, which had offices in the unfinished City Hall building. When Josiah was there, the tower would not have been finished yet, nor would the giant William Penn statue have been on display. He worked in the judicial wing, and his office was hidden behind numbers without signage. He would have taken one of the sets of floating stairs to get to his floor of the building. These were such an architectural phenomenon that Wanamakers, the department store across the street, sold pamphlets and tours to show off those stairs. As you can see below, no supports are beneath it, just solid pieces of granite worked into the wall. Originally I had Josiah nervous to walk on them, but after having walked them myself, I knew Josiah wouldn’t have had a problem. They are so beautiful and fascinating I had to include pictures of all three views of the stairs.
-
-
A small portion of the massive City Hall.
-
-
Office door similar to what Josiah’s would have been.
-
-
View straight on.
-
-
View from top down.
-
-
View from the bottom up.
Going back to Wanamaker. I don’t know if you caught it in the story, but Wanamaker’s was the department store where Gwendolyn’s mother and aunt worked. It was one of the first of its kind, offering set prices, return policies, various departments, artwork as fine as you would find in a gallery, and service for all levels of customers. Wanamaker was a brilliant man who helped to change the way people shopped. No more dickering and haggling over prices. Everyone paid the same price for the same item. Wanamaker’s no longer exists, but the store is now a Macy’s. Believe it or not, Wanamaker made the bold move of buying a former train station to turn it into his department store. I’m not sure if this location was the original train station location, but it’s definitely taller than it would have been in 1885. Those other floors were added later.

I’ll end my tour with a nod to Felicity from Counterfeit Truth. One of my big goals of this trip was to eat a Philadelphia pretzel . . . but apparently, they aren’t as big now as they were during Felicity’s time. The ONE pretzel I found was a sore disappointment that had to be rectified by going to my favorite pretzel place when I got home. However, the Reading Market (I think?) DID have some chocolate ice cream for me to sample from Bassetts that I must heartily agree is amazing. The whole time I ate that giant cone, I thought of Felicity eating ice cream with Mr. Cochran. If you haven’t read that book yet, you can download a free copy by joining my newsletter or purchasing it on Amazon.
by Crystal Caudill | May 16, 2023 | Author Interviews, Counterfeit Faith
UPDATED: The giveaway winner is JCP!
I’m so excited to share with you the third and last book in the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series, Counterfeit Faith. Today, I’m going to cheat a little and well, interview myself about Counterfeit Faith. Check out the bottom of the post for a giveaway just for blog visitors.
Q: We can always read the back cover description of a book, but it’s always interesting to hear the author describe their book in their own words. Will you introduce us to your sophomore release, Counterfeit Faith?
Counterfeit Faith is probably my most romantic story thus far. It was hard to avoid with flirtatious Josiah Isaacs as the hero. Once he met the matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison, it was a war with himself not to fall hard and fast.
Gwendolyn Ellison has spent her life serving children the public has deemed delinquents. Sent to Final Chance House of refuge, the children are supposed to be given a safe place to be reformed from their criminal ways and given a second chance at life. However, someone is trying to hide the abuse occurring inside, and when Gwendolyn tries to expose them, they target her with threats to her life.
Widower Josiah Isaacs gets pulled into Gwendolyn’s troubles when he rescues her from a knife blade, but he soon discovers more than abuse is going on. Someone is using the children for their counterfeiting operations. As a Secret Service operative, he has the jurisdiction to step in and rescue the children. As he and Gwendolyn work together, they both fight against their growing affection for each other. After all, Josiah doubts God, and Gwendolyn relies on her faith to endure each ordeal. Even if they can survive this case, can they really have a future together when their beliefs are so at odds?
Q: In writing a historical novel, you could have chosen any place and any time. Why Philadelphia?
In Counterfeit Love, I’d mentioned that Broderick Cosgrove and Josiah Isaacs had pursued their case from Philadelphia to Cincinnati. So it only made sense that once Broderick Cosgrove’s and Andrew Darlington’s stories had been told, Josiah would continue to work where he initially started. It also allowed me to bring Hayden Orton back into the story and give the series one final connection to my novella, Counterfeit Truth.
Besides, I’ve always desperately wanted to visit Philadelphia. I’m a huge history nerd, and who wouldn’t want to walk the streets where our founding fathers did? Of course, my travel to Philadelphia didn’t happen until after the book was almost ready to go to print. However, I loved diving into the history of Philadelphia and seeing a different period than most people think of when the city is mentioned. Philadelphia was the perfect example of a Gilded Age city. I got to bring in touches of the upper class while still thoroughly wandering through the underbelly of what society wanted to ignore.
Q: Josiah has been a widower for ten years. Why is he so intent on fighting against his growing affection for Gwendolyn?
Josiah is extremely loyal to his deceased wife, Shauna, despite being a flirt. Every year on their anniversary, he visits her grave at the time of their wedding. Her pictures remain all over the house, especially at his bedside, where he sleeps with a lamp on so he can wake up to see her face. He believes Shauna is the only woman he can ever love, and to love anyone else would be disloyal to her. When he notices a deepening attraction to Gwendolyn, it scares Josiah. He doesn’t want to be unfaithful to Shauna. How can he love another woman but still love Shauna?
Q: What keeps Gwendolyn fighting against her growing attraction to Josiah?
Aside from the fact that Josiah is a widower and obviously still in love with his first wife, Gwendolyn is very cognizant of the fact she and Josiah come from vastly different social classes. The Isaacs family is one of the wealthiest families in Philadelphia, the type to rub elbows with the Astors. Josiah’s mother is one of the board members for Final Chance, and Mrs. Isaacs has made it clear that while she values Gwendolyn as a matron of Final Chance, Gwendolyn should not be looking for love above her station. There is also a matter of a difference in their faith. While her faith is firmly rooted in Christ, Josiah doubts God’s goodness and if He can even be trusted. Although marriage to Josiah might sound like a Cinderella fairytale, Gwendolyn knows that no fairytale is worth the pain of being yoked to a man who doesn’t share her faith.
Q: During this story, the Secret Service faced some difficult constraints that affected their ability to conduct investigations. What were those, and how did Josiah work around them?
The Secret Service largely depended on earning the trust of counterfeiters by purchasing counterfeit money. This allowed them to explore deeper into the network of counterfeiters and arrest those involved at the production level. However, when President Cleveland came into office, so did a new solicitor. This solicitor believed that Secret Servicemen were inciting people to commit a crime and therefore put a ban on purchasing counterfeit money. This crippled investigations for nearly a year when, finally, the ban was lifted. However, the ban was not lifted until after this story. Because Josiah could not purchase counterfeit money associated with those inside Final Chance House of Refuge, he used his mother’s connections to join the board and his partnership with Gwendolyn to gain the needed information.
Q: What is it you hope for readers of this novel?
It is always my hope that the readers will find enjoyment and satisfaction in my stories. Even more so, I hope they will walk away with a feeling of being encouraged and challenged in their own faith walks. Josiah and Gwendolyn wrestled with doubt. Their faith wavered and struggled, just like everyone’s does at some point. However, instead of ignoring their doubt and pretending it didn’t exist, they eventually faced it head-on, carrying it to God and asking Him to help their unbelief. God doesn’t get upset with our doubts and questions. He welcomes them. They are an opportunity for us to come to Him and allow Him to show us things about Him and our relationship with Him that would never have occurred otherwise. So my biggest hope is that readers will walk away unafraid to bring their doubts to God.
Q: This book is the last in a series. Are there any threads that run through the whole series that will be wrapped up in Counterfeit Faith?
Josiah’s story emerges through each of the stories. In Counterfeit Love, you meet this flirtatious man who is supposedly afraid of the dark and sleeps with a lamp on. He’s the unobtainable bachelor who is often ribbed for his inability to say no to a woman. In a way, he has counterfeited love through all these surface-level flirtations he’s had, trying to find solace in the grief he quietly carries. In Counterfeit Hope, you discover there is a reason why he hasn’t committed to any of the women he’s flirted with and felt trapped into proposing to. He was once married, and he’s not ready to let that love go. Again, his hope has been counterfeited, placed in a love that, because of death, is now one-sided. Counterfeit Faith is the full maturing of Josiah. His story of love, hope, faith, and redemption. His story is what really brings all the themes together into a fullness that would be lost without its telling.
Q: You offer a free novella to newsletter subscribers that is a prequel to the start of this series. What can you tell us about it? How do readers get their copy?
I wrote the story of Secret Service operative Hayden Orton, who you’ll meet in Counterfeit Hope, and Felicity Richmond as a way to introduce readers to the series and a few of the characters. Felicity is a reporter determined to prove that the Secret Service is corrupt by catching a former operative selling counterfeit money. Hayden is annoyed by Felicity’s constant interference and concerned about her reckless pursuit of the very man the Secret Service is trying to capture. When Felicity’s life becomes threatened by the corrupt former operative, Hayden is assigned the task of protecting her and distracting her from pursuing the former operative by having her join him on a case involving the burglary of the Philadelphia Mint. Lots of danger, spunk, and romance are mixed into this novella, and it’s the perfect way to dip your toes into the series.
Readers can find out more and get their free copy by signing up for my newsletter letter here: https://bit.ly/CounterfeitTruth.
Q: What do you love most about writing historical romance novels packed with suspense and faith?
My favorite part of writing romance, especially with suspense, is that romance stories reflect God’s love for us. He pursues us, fights for us, and desires a close relationship that can only be gained by living life together. Just like the heroes of my books, He is willing to—and did—die for us. He vanquishes the evil in our lives—sin and death, cherishes us, and pushes us to become a better version of ourselves. The version He created us to be. I can’t write a romance story without suspense and faith because that is the love story God has written for us.
As far as the historical aspect goes, what can I say? I’m a huge history nerd. I love delving into the intricacies of history. History is always far more complex than our high school history books painted it to be. The Gilded Age, for instance, fascinates me with its dual nature–the extravagantly rich culture of the upper class and the destitution of the lower class. Social movements, immigration, labor riots, and rapid technological advances are a feast for this history lover’s voracious appetite.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook
Giveaway:
From now until Tuesday, May 23, leave a question or comment for me on this blog post to be entered to win a signed print copy (or e-copy if you’re international) of your choice of Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope, or Counterfeit Faith.
UPDATED: The giveaway winner is JCP!
Do YOU have any questions for me?
by Crystal Caudill | May 9, 2023 | Character Interview
I’ve enjoyed several Love Inspired Suspense authors over the years (I’ve really only read a handful), but I’ve yet to read Dana’s books. That’s why I’m so excited to get to meet Micah Bender from Crime Scene Witness. Join me in finding out who he is, what the story is about, and what danger lurks in the shadows. First, about the story:
Crime Scene Witness by Dana R. Lynn
Finding a safe haven
is the only way to stay alive
When crime scene cleaner Lissa Page discovers a clue at a murder site, she’s attacked and becomes the killer’s new target. Now Deputy US Marshal Micah Bender must protect the single mother from becoming another victim. But with threats coming from every direction, Micah needs to hide Lissa—and the Amish community he left behind might be the answer to keeping his witness safe.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Now for our interview with Micah.
CC: Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself?
MB: Good morning. My name is Micah. I’m the hero of this story, though sometimes I don’t feel too hero-like, and that’s the truth. I was Amish once, a long time ago, but I’m a Deputy US Marshal now. I don’t have time for romance or any of that emotional baggage. Only, I’m protecting this woman, Lissa, and her little girl. Cutest kid I ever saw. Lissa’s getting under my skin, too. But I know it can’t go anywhere. Being a marshal is my life. Protecting people. And trying to forgive myself for past failures.
CC: That is a hard place to be when a good woman walks into your life. So is that your biggest fear–falling in love?
MB: What I dread is the thought of someone I love paying for my mistakes. Twice in my life, I’ve failed to protect someone close to me. One of them died. The other was lost for more than 20 years. I figure if I keep my focus 100 percent on my job and don’t let myself get too close, I’ll see the danger before it strikes. And no one will suffer because of my failure.
CC: Oh honey, you can’t hold onto guilt like that. But I suppose that is something you are going to have to learn on your own. Who is your favorite person to deal with during the course of Crime Scene Witness?
MB: Little Shelby is a hoot. She’s about as adorable as a kid can get. And sassy. Like her mama. Except I’m keeping my distance from her mother. But Shelby? She sent me one smile, and I couldn’t resist her. If I were ever to have a daughter, well, no. That’s never going to happen. Forget I said anything.
CC: Kids do have a knack for worming their way into our hearts. So you’ve told us a little bit about Shelby, but what we all really want to know is who is this Lissa, and how would you describe her?
MB: Alyssa Page. Everyone calls her Lissa. She’s sweet and sassy. And brave. I know she’s scared. After all, she’s witnessed her best friend’s murder scene, has lost most of her family, and has sacrificed so much to be a good mother. On top of that, someone is out to kill her. But she’s not letting it break her spirit. I can’t help but admire her grit.
CC: She does sound like a special woman. You mentioned she’s lost most of her family, but what about you and your family? Do you enjoy family gatherings?
MB: This is complicated. Yeah, I enjoy family gatherings. I still feel awkward being a deputy marshal in an Amish home, but my parents never say anything to make me feel that way. They are just tickled to have me back in their lives. And the food! No one cooks like my Mamm. She’s amazing. I’m getting hungry thinking about it. Of course, there is still some sorrow. No one has seen my brother Isaiah in more than fifteen years. I keep praying. I know the others do, too. My parents don’t talk about him. It’s too painful.
CC: That is really hard to cope with. I suspect I know your answer to my next question. If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
MB: It would be a tie. If I weren’t so broken, my first wish would be that I could allow myself to fall for someone like Lissa and have a family of my own. Of course, that’s not something I see happening anytime soon. My second wish would be to see my brother Isaiah again. Man, I miss him so much. I can’t even talk about him, the pain is too raw, even after all this time. We were close once.
CC: Broken family relationships can be so incredibly hard. I look forward to reading the story to find out if you get any closure and if maybe a family is in store for your future.
Readers, if you like quick and suspenseful reads, then you need to check out Crime Scene Witness, now available online and sometimes at Walmart.
About Dana R. Lynn:
Dana R. Lynn is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group. Readers can contact her or sign up to receive her monthly newsletter at www.danarlynn.com.
Connect with Dana: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub
Readers, what Love Inspired stories have you read before?
by Crystal Caudill | May 8, 2023 | Counterfeit Faith
I’m so excited to be participating in this giveaway of 14 Faith-Filled books to inspire your reading. There will be two prize packs with one winner of each. (If you are an international reader, check out this giveaway just for you.)
*Open to US Residents only. Not sponsored by anyone but the authors themselves. Giveaway starts May 1 and ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 14th.*
Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill, Confessions to a Stanger by Danielle Grandinetti, Grace Immeasurable by Gina Holder, Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson, The Breakup Project by Carolyn Miller, Shadow in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp, Hope in Cripple Creek by Sara R. Turnquist
From Shore to Shore by Tabitha Bouldin, Waltz in the Wilderness by Kathleen Denly, The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy, The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green, In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer, Beyond Wounded Hearts by Cynthia Roemer, To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh
#Faithfilledbooks #bookaddict #bookaholics #bookcommunity #bookgiveaway #bookgram #booklove #greatreads #readingcommunity #christianfiction #bookstagram #books #christianromance #christianbookstagram #christianauthor #christianfictionbooks #christianbooks #inspirationalfiction #christianauthors #readersofinstagram #bookish #historicalfiction #bookstoread #booknerd #christian #contemporaryromance #historicalromance
by Crystal Caudill | May 2, 2023 | Character Interview
I’ve known Shawna for a long time. She ‘s a sweet woman with a heart for her family and for the preschool kids she teaches. Her first book, The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers was a story close to her heart, and it was a joy to see her launch that into the world. I’m excited to be able to share with you her newest release and first foray into the cozy mystery world with The Visitor Plays a Game. Before I introduce you to her heroine, Teagen, allow me to introduce you to the story.
The Visitor Plays a Game by Shawna Robison Young
How do a Yellow Mustang, a missing Dog, and a game of Clue add up to murder? Connie B. Wright must unravel the mystery. Teagan Wright is determined to impress Aunt Connie. Her fondest hope is to work with her for the Wright Foundation, and organizing a small part of this elaborate fundraiser is a great opportunity to show what she can do. But when her best friend is the victim of a hit and run and her least favorite person winds up missing, Teagan becomes more focused on proving that isn’t the one to blame. Then there’s the body she finds . . .
Purchase Links: Amazon
Now for our interview with Teagan.
CC: I’m so excited to get to introduce you to my readers, Teagan. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?
TW: Hello, my name is Teagan Wright. As the daughter of a police officer, it’s no surprise I love the game of Clue and a good mystery. I’m a senior in high school and just got accepted to the University of Chicago. Go Maroons! I plan to follow in my Aunt Connie’s footsteps by pursuing a degree in business and then hopefully work for her at our family’s foundation someday. Like Mary Poppins, my aunt is practically perfect in every way. I was hoping to impress her and prove myself when she came in town for the fundraiser I helped put together for a local organization that provides sports training by top athletes to underprivileged youth. But now that I’m the number one suspect in a hit and run, I have found myself in the middle of a real-life game of Clue and must prove my innocence to not only the police but my little town and my beloved Aunt Connie.
CC: That is a tough place to be at any age, especially as a high school senior. What is your biggest struggle or fear?
TW: My biggest fear is that something bad is going to happen to the people I love. My mom died when I was ten years old. My dad is a police officer, so his life is on the line every day. I’m really proud of him, but I’m scared every time he leaves for work.
CC: That is really hard. And now you’re under investigation for a hit and run. What a way for all those fears to run together. Do you have a dream that you keep close to your chest that you can share with us?
TW:I really want to work for my family’s foundation someday. My aunt Connie runs the organization, and she is amazing. I want to be just like her. She’s smart, perfect, kind, and tough. And she often finds herself caught up looking into the mystery of the town she’s currently visiting. She’s so cool. But what’s not cool is this time, the crime my aunt has found herself trying to solve involves me as a suspect.
CC: Who is your least favorite person to deal with?
TW: Oh my goodness, hands down Lacey Brown. She’s a bully and is dating my best friend, Ty. I don’t know what he sees in her. Oh, and Mr. Lewis next door. He isn’t the nicest man. You hear the stories about the old man who yells from his porch for children to stay off his lawn? Yep, that’s Mr. Lewis.
CC: Grumpy neighbors can definitely pose a challenge, and so can the mean girlfriend of your best friend. So let’s flip the question, who is your favorite person to deal with?
TW: Ryan Dodger. *BLUSHING* We’ve been friends since elementary school, but in the last six months, I’ve started to see him as more. Strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, gorgeous, but more than that he is incredibly kind, the basketball team captain, class president, and all-around great guy.
CC: Awww. Crushes can be so sweet. What is one of your happiest memories?
TW: My happiest memories are the times my mom and I would sit at the table drawing together with the beautiful gel pens set she’d given me before she passed away. She was an incredible artist and made me the most beautiful pictures.
CC: Such a beautiful but bittersweet memory. It must have been really hard to have lost her. Do you have a relationship with God or has that experience pushed you away?
TW: God is a big part of my life. I know who I am and whose I am. When people in my past tried to knock me down, I stood my ground and remained true to me. I know that’s because I’m confident in who I am in Christ.
CC: Such a powerful truth! And I’m so glad you have that confidence already in your life. If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?
TW: Even the most vile people are capable of redemption. Jesus died for all of us. Sometimes Satan gets a hold of our hearts, and he finds a way of twisting our hurts until we break and change. Look for the hurting and stop Satan from winning. Pray and be there for them. And even when it’s hard, accept their apologies to heal both your hearts.
CC: Such wisdom from a young woman. May we all learn to pray and be there for the people we struggle with.
Friends, if you enjoy quick, fun, and mysterious reads, you’re going to want to check out The Visitor Plays a Game. You won’t regret it.
About Shawna Robison Young:
Shawna Robison Young is a contemporary fiction author who enjoys writing a little bit of the unexpected. Why be normal? In a world of conformity, a touch of something out of the ordinary can make a work of art astonishing.
Shawna loves all things chocolate, especially a warm cup of hot chocolate and sea salt caramel truffles. She is the mother of four, a preschool owner and teacher, a former children’s minister, and the wife of a Navy veteran. Whether it’s singing the ABCs, sharing what she’s learned with new writers, or passing along Bible truths to her children’s ministry classes, she’s a teacher at heart.
Connect with Shawna: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads
Readers, what cozy mysteries have you read before?