by Crystal Caudill | Jan 13, 2026 | Character Interview
*One thing you’re going to notice this year is fewer posts. I’ve decided to only do one interview and the reading challenge post per month. I might have some months where more pop up, but in order to provide myself more time for writing and other pursuits, I’m reducing the amount that goes up. Thanks for understanding, and I hope you still enjoy the interviews and reading challenge!*
Now onto THIS month’s character interview.
I had the privilege of being introduced to Heather Taber’s writing through her debut novel, Their Burden to Bear. It was such a wonderful read that I am eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on her newest book, In Books & Battlefields. Today, I am blessed to interview the heroine, Isabella Ruth Pearson. In addition to that treat, Heather is graciously giving away one e-book copy of In Books & Battlefields. Regardless of if you win a copy, Heather has a free short story for anyone who signs up for her newsletter. You can find all the details for that and the giveaway at the end of the post. Before then, we have an interview!
Before we dive into our interview, let me introduce you to the story that Isabella takes part in.
In Books & Battlefields by Heather Tabers
Genre: Historical Romance
In 1917, spirited librarian Isabella Pearson leaves her comfortable life in Denver to serve at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, determined to bring hope to weary soldiers—not fall in love. But her plans for independence are tested when she finds herself pursued by Major Byron McDaniel, a brooding Army surgeon haunted by loss, and Nathaniel Steele, her brother’s loyal best friend who followed her across the country with hopes of winning her heart. As mysterious accidents and whispers of sabotage plague the camp, Isabella must decide who to trust—with her heart and with her life.
Purchase Links:
Amazon
Now it’s time to jump into our interview with Isabella!
CC: CHARACTER, would you please introduce yourself to my readers? How would you describe yourself?
Isabella: Thank you so much for taking a break from your busy day to read this. My name is Isabella Pearson. I’m a volunteer librarian serving the brave men at Camp Sheridan who will soon be sent overseas. Originally from Philadelphia, Denver has been my home for the past few years, and I miss my family there terribly. But, I love when I can put my love of literature to good use. As the main female character in this story, I’ve had to navigate a new way of life in a new part of the country, surrounded by a sea of men (which is, ironically, the last thing I’d ever want.) My personality is a bit paradoxical–I’m equal parts outgoing and reserved, brave and scared, headstrong and… okay, well, I’m always headstrong.
CC: LOL. I’m beginning to wonder if all we women are headstrong. LOL So tell us a little more. If you don’t want to be around a sea of men,
What DO you want? What’s standing in your way?
Isabella: What I want is to avoid marriage and to use my love of books and my skills as a librarian to serve our nation. Unfortunately, all these lovesick men keep getting in my way.
CC: I imagine you are quite the attention getter for these men who have left every female they know behind and are facing a deadly war overseas. I bet it is impossible NOT to be flirted with.
If you had time to read a book, what would you pick up and why?
Isabella: I love Anne of Green Gables, but Anne of the Island is my favorite in the series. I’m a romantic at heart, even if I don’t want a marriage of my own. Hmm.. that’s not entirely accurate. I should say I’m a romantic at heart, even if marriage is off the table for me. I’ve also recently read a manuscript by a young soldier who writes under the name F. Scott Fitzgerald. His work is fascinating!
CC: Oh, I’ve not read that series, but I can vaguely remember sitting in my grandma’s living room and watching all the Anne of Green Gables movies with her. And to read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work must have been amazing. I would love to see how his stories started versus how they ended.
What was your childhood like?
Isabella: I have been blessed more than I deserve with loving parents and an adoring big brother who is also my best friend in the world. I’ve been afforded every luxury, from a carefully cultivated education to the finest dresses in Philadelphia, but my mother’s humility and compassion have taught me that these things do not matter nearly as much as a winsome personality, the ability to be a blessing to others, hard work, and making others feel valued. I aspire to be more like her every day.
CC: She sounds like an amazing woman.
Who or what scares you the most?
Isabella: Men scare me, which makes it ironic that I fought so hard to work among them at Camp Sheridan. God certainly has a sense of humor! I had a…difficult…encounter with a man in my past that has taught me that other than my father and brother, men cannot be trusted, no matter their upbringing.
CC: It sounds as if you have good cause to be wary of men. It’s always wise to evaluate a person and their character before giving them your trust, but at some point you do have to take that leap of faith that they are worth trusting.
How do you feel about this journey you are on?
Isabella: Some days, I still cannot believe I was brave enough to get on that train and devote myself to working here at Camp Sheridan, Alabama. I’m worried that I will hurt one of the men who have made their intentions toward me known. I cannot be who they want me to be. I cannot give them what they want most of all, and I worry that I will hurt them in the process of being their friend. But I do enjoy my work here. I especially love teaching the soldiers to read and helping many of them send letters home.
CC: It’s hard to be that balance of friend with guys without indicating you want more or encouraging them. I’m glad you love your job and what you’re doing to support the war effort.
If you had to choose a difference career path, what would you choose?
Isabella: I’d love to be an author. It sounds silly, but I’ve read so many books, I think it would be fun to try my hand at writing a love story of my own. Maybe then I could live out the life I dream of but will never have.
CC: Should I warn you to not do it? LOL Writing is so much fun, it’s just all the other parts of being an author that maybe aren’t AS fun. Of course, in your day, authors weren’t expected to market, so that was definitely the golden era to write, at least in that respect.
Unfortunately, it’s time to wrap up, so here’s our last question, and it’s always a fun one. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Isabella: I’ve done a great deal of international travel, and I have to say that, given the opportunity, I’d return to Paris in a heartbeat. In fact, I wanted to serve at the American Library in Paris, but Mother nearly fainted at the thought. I speak French fluently and feel like Paris is my home away from home. I would love to return there someday soon.
CC: Knowing what I do of history, maybe not TOO soon . . .
That’s it for now. If you liked getting to know Isabella, I highly recommend you go check out Heather Taber’s In Books & Battlefields.
Heather Tabers writes Historical Romance, Children’s Fiction, and encouragement for weary souls. Although she can’t always recall the dates of famous battles or list the world’s great leaders, Heather treasures history for something far more meaningful—the way stories from the past stir our hearts today. She’s a hope-filled romantic who believes in second chances and redemptive love. Her own love story proves that life can be messy and beautiful at the same time, which is why she enjoys writing stories that show the goodness of God’s grace.
Heather resides in sunny Central Florida with her husband and hero, Robert, whom many of her MMCs are inspired by. She’s also a veteran homeschooling mama of five (mostly) grown kiddos whom she loves with her whole heart, a dog mom, clay jewelry designer, virtual author assistant, digital product designer, and a pursuer of whatever new idea strikes her fancy.
You can connect with her at: Website | Newsletter | Instagram
In the Shadow of Sacrifice
With World War II brimming in the background, Louise leaves everything she’s ever known in Colorado to support her family by working in her brother’s diner in St. Louis. Harboring secret pain from her past, Louise meets Dude and her “I don’t need a man” mentality begins to shift. Together they uncover danger, heartbreak, and sacrificial love.
Get your free copy of In the Shadows from Heather here.
Giveaway Details
Here’s your chance to win an e-book of In Books & Battlefields. Comment on the blog and enter use the Google form below for your chance to win! Entries close at 11:59 p.m. EST on 1/20. Open to legal U.S. residents. See Giveaway Policies for more details.
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 31, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s the LAST month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. (HAPPY NEW YEAR, by the way!!!! So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away.
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month: December – Oldest book on your TBR pile
January – Genre you don’t usually read
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today
by Mark Twain and Charles Warner
I’ve been wanting to read this one for research purposes for a long time, but the audiobook was dauntingly long when I didn’t have much time. I’m honestly still not finished, but I’m getting close. The Gilded Age definitely has all the Mark Twain I’ve come to expect, and the intro by Mark Twain makes it clear this is a satirical piece about the times, written with a co-author. It had lots of “main” characters and storylines that all converged. It was an intriguing listen, with much of the story focusing on the con of speculation, the poverty of the time, and the pursuit of the American dream of getting rich quickly. It was a clear view of the haves and have-nots. It was a good read for one time, but it’s definitely not one of my favorite Mark Twain books. I doubt I’ll revisit it, but I’m glad I read it at least once.
Genre: Satire (Contemporary at the time, historical now)
Plot Overview:
A satirical masterpiece that named an era—and still defines our own.
First published in 1873, The Gilded Age is a bold and biting political satire co-authored by legendary American writer Mark Twain and journalist Charles Dudley Warner. Set in post–Civil War America, the novel follows the Hawkins family and a parade of lobbyists, land speculators, and corrupt politicians chasing wealth and influence in Washington, D.C. and the frontier.
More than just a historical novel, The Gilded Age offers a scathing critique of greed, government corruption, and the illusion of progress—issues that remain deeply relevant in today’s political and economic landscape. Its themes of speculative capitalism, moral compromise, and institutional decay echo powerfully in the 21st century.
Giveaway – Marti was December’s Winner!
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter widget. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 23, 2025 | Reading Challenge
It’s time to announce the 2026 reading challenge, and I’m sticking with the TBR pile. Who knows? Maybe that will be the overarching theme from now on. I don’t know about you, but I have a TBR pile that will outlive me. Without further ado (and thank you for your help):
2026 Reading Challenge: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
January – Genre you don’t usually read
February – Title or Cover with: heart, love, or couple
March – Title or Author Name begins with the first letter of YOUR first or last name
April – Funny Book
May – Indie Author
June – Has a setting of somewhere you want to visit
July – Patriotic theme, time period, or character profession
August – Classic title
September – Animal on the Cover
October – Unusual Occupation
November – Favorite Season is on the Cover
December – Read what you want!
What are some books you’re hoping to knock off your TBR pile next year?
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 16, 2025 | Character Interview
‘Tis the season for character interviews! LOL This week, I get to introduce you to action thriller heroine, Alexandra Romanova, from Taylor Newport’s Line of Fire, book one of the Dauntless Defenders. Taylor is generously giving away an e-book to one person (U.S. resident OR International). All the details are at the bottom of the post.
Before we dive into our interview, let me introduce you to the story that Alexandra Romanova takes part in.
Line of Fire by Taylor Newport
Genre: Action Thriller
The enemy is relentless, but they made one fatal mistake: they underestimated him.
Australian mercenary Tyler Reid, known as “The Ghost of OZ,” has a talent for evading detection, a skill that has caught the eye of multiple government agencies. When a shadowy group targets a CIA asset and her revolutionary drug ND1, the Deputy Director calls in Tyler. Eager for action, Tyler takes the job. He soon realizes that the enemy is not only after the drug, but also out for his blood. Then the mission goes south, and he is forced to seek an unlikely ally.
For covert foreign operative Alexandra Romanova, freedom is a distant dream. Escaping one prison only led her to a more dangerous one. Her deadly skills are at her boss’s disposal, but she’ll use them only to escape. Her final chance hinges on retrieving ND1, but the elusive Ghost of Oz complicates things. Tyler Reid isn’t an easy mark, and the better she gets to know him, the more she questions the mission she’s tasked with. Soon she faces a dire choice: kill a man she is convinced is good, or pay with her own life.
As Tyler and Alex venture beyond their orders, the line between enemy and ally blurs. On the edge of failure, trust becomes a dangerous gamble with every decision dragging them deeper into the line of fire. As enemies close in and alliances shift, they are ensnared in a ruthless battle where survival depends on split-second choices. In this high-stakes fight, time is running out, and the margin for error is zero.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Taylor’s Website
Now it’s time to jump into our interview with Alexandra!
CC: Alexandra, would you please introduce yourself to my readers? How would you describe yourself?
Alexandra: Hello, my name is Alexandra Romanova. I am a prisoner, forced to fight for a cause I don’t believe in. My task is taking down a man for my evil boss, but my target doesn’t seem to be what I’ve been told.
CC: Intriguing. A prisoner and warrior for a cause you don’t agree with. While I think I can guess . . .
What is it that you want? What’s standing in your way?
Alexandra: I want freedom, but I am a prisoner to a rogue CIA agent. It has never seemed in reach since I am always monitored by agents and am never given an opportunity to go out alone.
CC: That sounds incredibly tough. I can’t imagine not having the freedom to go out alone. I’m rooting for you to find that freedom.
If you had time to read a book, what would you pick up and why?
Alexandra: I’d love to read a book about the Romanov Family since everyone seems to think that I am related to them.
CC: Ha! Ha! I understand getting all those type of questions. We have a common last name for our area, but we have no connection (that we know of) to anyone with the same last name.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did that happen?
Alexandra: As a child, I wanted to be a world traveler. In a way, that did happen. But not as I expected.
CC: Yeah, being told where to go and when isn’t how I’d expect to travel either.
Who is the most confounding character for you to interact with in the story?
Alexandra: My target, Tyler Reid. Everyone tells me he’s dangerous, but for whatever reason, he keeps protecting me.
CC: Oh, how intriguing. Maybe there is something more than we know.
Who is the most difficult character for you to interact with in the story?
Alexandra: My boss, Slade Nixon. He is ruthless and threatens his operatives to get what he wants. He’s not afraid to shed innocent blood either.
CC: He sounds like a very dangerous guy.
How would you describe your relationship with God?
Alexandra: I was raised as a Christian, but I’m afraid my faith wavered some during my various struggles. I know that God is the only reason I am still alive though.
CC: Praise the Lord for that. I hope that your faith will grow and you feel steadier in it as the story progresses.
If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?
Alexandra: Things are never quite as they seem. Dig for the truth, even when the lies are more popular.
CC: Digging for the truth in today’s world is SOOOOO hard, but so necessary.
Unfortunately, it’s time to wrap up, so here’s our last question, and it’s always a fun one. What are your phobias?
Alexandria: Heights. I can’t stand tall balconies, and I hate flying.
CC: The older I get, the more queasy heights make me.
That’s it for now. If you liked getting to know Alexandra, I highly recommend you go check out Taylor Newport’s Line of Fire.
Taylor S Newport is an up-and-coming Christian author. Four years of research have brought her to release her first high-octane novel to the world. In 2024, she placed as a Finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest. Currently, she resides in the beautiful state of Texas with her family and Dire Wolf, Timber, probably writing her next novel.
You can connect with them at: Website & Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads | BookBub
Giveaway Details
Here’s your chance to win an e-copy of Line of Fire. Comment on the blog and enter using the Google Form for your chance to win! Entries close at 11:59 p.m. EST on 12/23. Open to legal U.S. residents. See Giveaway Policies for more details.
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 9, 2025 | Character Interview
Today, I have the privledge of introducing you to a character from one of the books I’m hoping to read during my writing sabbatical, Girl Lost by Kate Angelo. If you like romantic suspense, you’re in for a treat. Kate Angelo and I “met” through a Discord group where we sprint (write as many words as we can in a timed period). It’s been wonderful to get to know her and see how her writing brain works. And boy, can that girl write! Kate is generously giving an audiobook or ebook to one lucky commenter (international included!). You can find all the details at the end of this post.
Before we dive into our interview, let me introduce you to the story that Luna Rosati takes part in.
Girl Lost by Kate Angelo
Genre: Romantic Suspense Thriller
A LOST BABY
Luna Rosati found acceptance and comfort with her childhood foster family, but when she became pregnant at sixteen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has–the teenage daughter she’s never met. As Luna closes in on learning the girl’s identity with the help of her mentor, Stryker, she prepares to meet him in her old neighborhood–the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.
AN INESCAPABLE PAST
Special Agent Corbin King changed his last name to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together to expose a secret that someone’s willing to kill for.
A DEADLY THREAT
But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.
“Kate Angelo skillfully unveils the savagery of greed under the pretense of good.”–DIANN MILLS, bestselling writer
“An exciting story that will capture readers’ emotions while also taking them on a pulse-pounding, suspenseful roller coaster ride they won’t soon forget.”–NANCY MEHL, author of the Erin Delaney Mysteries
A gripping Christian romantic suspense thriller with CIA intrigue, second chances, and found family. Perfect for fans of clean thrillers, faith-based fiction, and emotional page-turners by Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, Jessica R. Patch, and Charles Martin.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook
Now it’s time to jump into our interview with Luna Rosati!
CC: Luna, would you please introduce yourself to my readers? How would you describe yourself?
Luna: I’m Luna Rosati, though for most of my adult life, I lived behind other names. Marine Intelligence. CIA Counterintelligence. Those worlds demanded reinvention. New faces, new identities, new versions of myself designed to survive whatever the mission required. After enough years of deception, the truth felt foreign. Easier to bury. Easier to avoid.
Now I’m back in Millie Beach, trying to remember what it feels like to live as one person instead of a collection of aliases.
If you’re asking how I’d describe myself… well, I’ve got dark hair, darker eyes, and hands marked by calluses that never quite fade. I grew up learning how to fight for myself, and later, how to fight for others. I can drop a man twice my size with a wrist lock and disappear into a crowded street without breaking stride. But the real battles—those are internal ones. The kind God keeps guiding me through, piece by piece. After everything I’ve survived, He’s teaching me that strength isn’t just grit and instinct. Sometimes it’s surrender. Sometimes it’s trusting Him with a past I’ve avoided for far too long.
My role in the story began with one purpose: find the daughter I put up for adoption eighteen years ago.
I didn’t come home for nostalgia. I came for answers. Specifically one from the only man who had it. Stryker King, my mentor, the one person I trusted to tell me the truth. But moments before we were supposed to meet, he was violently kidnapped. His disappearance ripped the ground out from under me.
That’s when everything got… complicated.
Because to find Stryker, I had to work with the last person I wanted to see: Corbin King. FDLE agent. Stubborn. Sharp. And the father of the daughter I’m searching for.
The same man who broke my heart years ago when he said he wasn’t ready to be a father.
I shoved all of that aside—my resentment, my fear, the truth he still doesn’t know—because finding Stryker mattered more than reopening old wounds. Corbin thinks I’m helping him because I’m a former intelligence officer with useful skills, and that’s true. What he doesn’t know is that this investigation is tied to the biggest unanswered piece of my life.
So here we are, working together, chasing down leads, infiltrating dangerous places, uncovering things neither of us saw coming. And every step we take, God keeps nudging me to face the truth I’ve spent eighteen years running from.
CC: Wow, Luna! When you answer a question, you’re very thorough. But I suspect that comes with the territory of your job. You need to know everything inside and out. You’ve got a lot of things to wade through, and I’m here to see it.
What is it that you want? What’s standing in your way?
Luna: What I want is simple—and impossibly complicated.
I want to find the daughter I gave up eighteen years ago. I’ve lived with that ache my entire adult life, and I’m finally ready to face it.
What’s standing in my way?
A kidnapping, a criminal network that keeps growing darker by the day, and the one man I least want to confront—Corbin King. He has the skills to find the answers I need and no idea how personal this is for me. And until I find Stryker, I can’t tell him the truth.
CC: Everything is so much more complicated than we imagine it will be. At least that is my experience, and it seems to be yours as well.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did it happen?
Luna: When I was a child, I wanted to be a wife and a mother. That simple. I wanted the kind of home I never grew up in—stable, safe, filled with people who stayed.
Did it happen?
No. Life unraveled fast. Survival became the priority, then training, then missions. Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing I was meant for a family.
And now… I don’t know if that dream is still possible. Not with everything standing between Corbin and me. Not with the truth I’m still carrying.
CC: The secret truths we carry can be so hard to bear.
How would you describe your relationship with God?
Luna: My relationship with God has been… strained. Not because He left, but because I did. For years, I relied on instincts, training, and aliases—anything but Him. Trust felt dangerous.
But lately, I’ve started to see Him working in ways I can’t chalk up to coincidence. Bringing me home. Forcing me to face the truth. Putting people back in my life I never expected to see again.
It scares me, honestly. But it also feels like a lifeline I didn’t know I still needed.
CC: I love God with all my heart, but sometimes when He is at work, it is some of the scariest stuff I’ve every dealt with. Yeah, it makes me lean ever more into Him and cling to that trust I say I have, but scary is an apt description of the experience.
How do you feel about the journey you are going on?
Luna: How do I feel? Torn. This journey is forcing me to confront things I’ve run from for eighteen years. I’m scared of the truth—about the kidnapping, about the criminals we’re facing, about the daughter I’m desperate to find.
I’m enjoying the momentum, though. The work. The clarity that comes in the middle of danger. And I hate admitting this, but… I’m enjoying seeing a different side of Corbin. One I didn’t expect.
I’m worried the past will repeat itself. That I’ll lose the people I’m trying to protect. And that when I finally get answers, they won’t be the ones I hoped for.
CC: Torn seems like the perfect description and my heart goes out to you.
If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?
Luna: One thing I want readers to know? This isn’t just about danger, lies, or chasing criminals. It’s about finding what you’ve lost—whether it’s a person, a truth, or even a piece of yourself—and having the courage to face it, even when the path is terrifying.
CC: I once heard that courage isn’t about being unafraid but about doing what needs done even when afraid. It sounds like you display a lot of courage in this story.
Unfortunately, it’s time to wrap up, so here’s our last question, and it’s always a fun one. What is the weirdest thing on your bucket list?
Luna: I want to take a month and learn something totally useless—like sculpting or ballroom dancing—just to prove I can do it without it saving a life or cracking a case. A skill that doesn’t serve a purpose… for once.
CC: A useless skill sounds absolutely delightful.
That’s it for now. If you liked getting to know Luna, I highly recommend you go check out Kate Angelo’s Girl Lost.
Bestselling and award-winning author Kate Angelo once sold a lion to a circus in Shreveport after her mom realized lions weren’t great house pets. Growing up, she was a bookworm, dog groomer, exotic pet wrangler, horse trainer, cowgirl, and teenage pool shark. After aging out of foster care, she cultivated her inner computer nerd and worked as a web programmer, but during a visit to Australia, she encountered Jesus and left the corporate world to pursue a life in ministry.
She is an author, minister, and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who works alongside her husband championing stronger marriages and families. She serves as Vice President and cofounder of their nonprofit Vanguard Marriage and Family Advocates. As Mom to 5 adult children, she’s fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls. Kate is a coffee addict, tech enthusiast, productivity guru, expert knitter, summer fanatic, prayer warrior, dog lover, avid reader, and a bigtime klutz—just ask her doctor.
Having aged out of foster care and into her own found family, Kate brings a unique perspective to her writing, breathing life into flawed characters who find hope and healing amidst danger.
You can connect with them at: Website & Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon | GoodReads | BookBub
Giveaway Details
Here’s your chance to win an e-copy or audiocopy copy of Girl Lost. Comment on the blog and enter using the Google Form for your chance to win! Entries close at 11:59 p.m. EST on 12/16. Open to legal U.S. residents. See Giveaway Policies for more details.
