by Crystal Caudill | Dec 14, 2021 | Book and Writing Events, Counterfeit Love
As I haven’t had time to get a book review written this weekend, and won’t have time until the next weekend, I’m sharing instead about the wonderful Tara Johnson and her podcast, “This is My Story” where I was blessed to be a guest this past week. We covered all sorts of fun and inspirational topics over the course of about 40 minutes, so I hope you’ll get the chance to listen in.
Episode 3: Silver Strands and “Even Ifs” with Crystal Caudill
https://blubrry.com/thisismystorywithtarajohnson/83281318/episode-3-silver-strands-and-even-ifs-with-crystal-caudill/
On today’s show, Tara and Crystal chat about messy families, the power of not being perfect, plastic Christianity and balking heroes of faith. Crystal shares how escaping PE class led her to Christ. The ladies talk about classics, Christian fiction, wild research, and Crystal’s new release Counterfeit Love. Also on this show… Silver strands, Bearing Precious Seed and what God teaches us when we say “even if”.
Links: www.crystalcaudill.com
Bearing Precious Seed- www.bpsmilford.org
Pre-order Crystal’s upcoming novel here: Counterfeit Love: Caudill, Crystal: 9780825447402: Amazon.com: Books
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 10, 2021 | Counterfeit Love
One of the most nerve-racking parts of being an author is sending your book out into the world for the first time, knowing you can no longer change a single word of your book. Thankfully, the first people to read my novel outside of my critique partners and the Kregel team are endorsers. I am so honored and encouraged by the ladies who read my book and then wrote up beautiful endorsements. For the next few months, I’m going to feature one endorser every couple of weeks. So settle in, hear what they have to say about Counterfeit Love, and then learn about who they are, the books they’ve written, and how you can connect with them. Maybe you will be blessed to discover a new author.
At the end, I’d be blessed if you would leave an encouraging note for this author who has encouraged me so much!
I am pleased to introduce you to . . .
Amanda Cox
Poignant Stories of Hope, Healing, and Home
Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.
Connect with her at:
Website: https://amandacoxwrites.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandacoxwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandacoxwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacoxwrites/
Blog: https://hopeperch.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20033571.Amanda_Cox
What she had to say about Counterfeit Love:
“Full of intrigue, Counterfeit Love is sure to delight fans of historical romantic suspense. As Caudill immerses readers in the world of counterfeiting rings and the early days of the Secret Service, she weaves a tale that is simultaneously well-researched and action-packed with delightfully flawed characters who will leave readers rooting for their redemption.”
—Amanda Cox, author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery
There are so many things to love about this endorsement, but well-researched makes me beyond thrilled. I did a LOT of research for this series, and I am so relieved that it came through. Thank you so much for your endorsement, Amanda! (And I’m shamelessly putting the link to Counterfeit Love here if you would like to learn more or preorder it.)
Amanda’s Books
Amanda’s books will pull at your heart and take you into deep places you never want to leave. I’m not a contemporary reader, but I love her books. You can purchase them from any major retailer, but here is the link to her Amazon Author Profile where you can grab any of the titles you like.
The Edge of Belonging
When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames–she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy’s adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he’s ever loved.
In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth–both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others–takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery
Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.
1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.
This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.
Leave an encouraging note for Amanda Cox in the comments. This writing journey is rough, and I’d love to bless her as much as she has blessed me.
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 26, 2021 | Counterfeit Love
One of the most nerve-racking parts of being an author is sending your book out into the world for the first time, knowing you can no longer change a single word of your book. Thankfully, the first people to read my novel outside of my critique partners and the Kregel team are endorsers. I am so honored and encouraged by the ladies who read my book and then wrote up beautiful endorsements. For the next few months, I’m going to feature one endorser every couple of weeks. So settle in, hear what they have to say about Counterfeit Love, and then learn about who they are, the books they’ve written, and how you can connect with them. Maybe you will be blessed to discover a new author.
At the end, I’d be blessed if you would leave an encouraging note for this author who has encouraged me so much!
I am pleased to introduce you to . . .
Tara Johnson
Writer, Singer, Speaker, and Passionate Lover of Stories
Tara Johnson is an author, speaker, and passionate lover of stories. She loves to travel to churches, ladies retreats, and prisons to share how God led her into freedom after spending years living shackled as a people-pleasing preacher’s kid.
From the time she was young and watched Gone with the Wind with her mother for the first time, the Civil War intrigued her. That fascination grew into all aspects of American history and the brave people and stories who made up its vibrant past.
She says, “History is crammed full of larger-than-life characters. Doc Holliday, Annie Oakley, Helen Keller, Daniel Boone, George Washington, Amelia Earhart, and Frederick Douglass are just a few examples of flawed, wounded humans who battled their demons with vibrant determination and left an indelible mark on the pages of history. I suppose that’s why people are so fascinating. No matter the era, we all battle the same wounds. Abandonment, abusive fathers, overprotective mothers, loss, grief, rejection, addiction, crippling anxiety, loneliness, or the yearning for unconditional love, to name a few. We all battle the same junk and have to decide whether to fight or cave. Run or stand. Cry or smile. That’s what great characters do. They are a reflection of our struggles, our own wounds. Our own need. And, when written well, they remind us Who we need to turn to for healing.”
Tara has written articles for Plain Truth magazine and has been a featured guest on Voice of Truth radio and Enduring Word radio. Tara is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband Todd live in Arkansas and the Lord has blessed them with five children: Bethany, Callie, Nate, as well as Taylor Lynn and Morgan Lane who are with Jesus.
Connect with Tara:
What she had to say about Counterfeit Love:
“Counterfeit Love is a dazzling debut! Caudill weaves a tale of intrigue, danger, and romance. Theresa and Broderick will long live in my heart as deep characters who struggle with relinquishing control to God . . . the same struggle many of us have felt to our core. A story to cheer for and an author to watch!”
Wow. I am humbled, encouraged, and blessed by Tara’s words, and it is my hope that others will be impacted by Theresa and Broderick’s struggles. Relinquishing control to God is certainly something I struggle with and wrestled through as I wrote these characters. Thank you so much for your endorsement, Tara! (And I’m shamelessly putting the link to Counterfeit Love here if you would like to learn more or preorder it.)
Tara’s Books
I’ve long admired Tara Johnson’s stories. They have such depth, historical accuracy, and just powerful stories. I really encourage you to read them yourself. You can purchase them from any major retailer, but here is the link to her Amazon Author Profile where you can grab any of the titles you like.
Engraved on the Heart
Reluctant debutante Keziah Montgomery lives beneath the weighty expectations of her staunch Confederate family, forced to keep her epilepsy secret for fear of a scandal. As the tensions of the Civil War arrive on their doorstep in Savannah, Keziah sees little cause for balls and courting. Despite her discomfort, she cannot imagine an escape from her familial confines—until her old schoolmate Micah shows her a life-changing truth that sets her feet on a new path . . . as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.
Dr. Micah Greyson never hesitates to answer the call of duty, no matter how dangerous, until the enchanting Keziah walks back into his life and turns his well-ordered plans upside down. Torn between the life he has always known in Savannah and the fight for abolition, Micah struggles to discern God’s plan amid such turbulent times.
Battling an angry fiancé, a war-tattered brother, bounty hunters, and their own personal demons, Keziah and Micah must decide if true love is worth the price . . . and if they are strong enough to survive the unyielding pain of war.
Where Dandelions Bloom
Cassie Kendrick is on the run. Her abusive father arranged her marriage to a despicable man, but she’s discovered an escape. Disguised as a man, Cassie enlists in the Union army, taking the name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young photographer.
Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase the darkness and guilt lurking from his past, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Matthew Brady to capture images from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships with many of the men he encounters, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding.
Battling betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel learn to forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the darkest places?
All Through the Night
With her stammering tongue and quiet ways, Cadence Piper has always struggled to be accepted. After the death of her mother, Cadence sets her heart on becoming a nurse, both to erase the stain her brother has left on the family’s honor and to find long-sought approval in the eyes of her father. When Dorothea Dix turns her away due to her young age and pretty face, Cadence finds another way to serve . . . singing to the soldiers in Judiciary Square Hospital. Only one stubborn doctor stands in her way.
Joshua Ivy is an intense man with a compassionate heart for the hurting and downtrodden. The one thing he can’t have is an idealistic woman destroying the plans he’s so carefully laid. When the chaos of war thrusts Cadence into the middle of his clandestine activities, he must decide if the lives at stake, and his own heart, are worth the risk of letting Cadence inside.
Everything changes when Joshua and Cadence unearth the workings of a secret society so vile, the course of their lives, and the war, could be altered forever. If they fight an enemy they cannot see, will the One who sees all show them the way in the darkest night?
Hollow Victory
Discover the five hidden explosive scenarios that can maim and disable your spiritual life. Tara Johnson attacks these subjects with directness, honesty, insight and a disarming sense of humor. Learn to identify and gain practical advice for how to disable the emotional cripplers of grief, depression, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and fear and anxiety.
Too many Christians are frustrated with the chasm between the truth of God’s word and the reality of their own emotional struggles. Hollow Victory builds a bridge across that divide. Taken from her own real-life experiences, Tara’s book offers hope through a powerful and refreshing look at the hidden landmines that make victorious Christian living feel like a lie.
Leave an encouraging note for Tara Johnson in the comments. This writing journey is rough, and I’d love to bless her as much as she has blessed me.
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 19, 2021 | Counterfeit Love
One of the most nerve-racking parts of being an author is sending your book out into the world for the first time, knowing you can no longer change a single word of your book. Thankfully, the first people to read my novel outside of my critique partners and the Kregel team are endorsers. I am so honored and encouraged by the ladies who read my book and then wrote up beautiful endorsements. For the next few months, I’m going to feature one endorser every couple of weeks. So settle in, hear what they have to say about Counterfeit Love, and then learn about who they are, the books they’ve written, and how you can connect with them. Maybe you will be blessed to discover a new author.
At the end, I’d be blessed if you would leave an encouraging note for this author who has encouraged me so much!
I am pleased to introduce you to . . .
Toni Shiloh
Soulfully Romantic
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novels, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, Risking Love a 2020 Selah Award finalist, The Truth About Fame a 2021 Holt Medallion finalist, and The Price of Dreams a 2021 Maggie Award finalist.
A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to encourage authors in the writing industry. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at http://tonishiloh.com.
Connect with Toni:
Website: http://tonishiloh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonishilohwrite
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh
BookBub: https://bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh
What she had to say about Counterfeit Love:
“Crystal Caudill creates a world of intrigue inCounterfeit Love that will thrust readers into a Secret Service investigation paired with a romance that will have you cheering for second chances.”
—Toni Shiloh, author of An Unlikely Proposal
Eep! I am so blessed and excited Toni enjoy Counterfeit Love! Second chances are a huge part of the story, and I’m so glad she cheered those challenges on. Second chances are never easy and come with so much baggage. Thank you, Toni! (And I’m shamelessly putting the link to Counterfeit Love here if you would like to learn more or preorder it.)
Toni’s Books
Toni has written a TON of wonderful books that you don’t want to miss, and I am certain you are bound to find something you love. I’ve included only the standalone and first books of a series. She has a ton of novellas that you can check out as well. You can purchase them from any major retailer, but here is the link to her Amazon Author Profile where you can grab any of the titles you like.
In Search of a Prince
Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha’s Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops the mother of all bombshells—Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Oloro Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing.
Distraught by her mother’s betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Oloro Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council’s list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring.
Book releasing February 1, 2022 from Bethany House
An Unlikely Proposal
Their friendship can survive almost anything…
For two best friends,
marriage could be their greatest test yet…
Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…
From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
The Trouble with Love – Book 1 in the Faith & Fortune Series
I, Holiday Brown, have it all. A platinum record. Multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that I share with my two best friends. Life is looking fantastic until my roommate’s brother decides to bunk in our guestroom while his house gets renovated.
W. Emmett Bell has always been the bane of my existence. He’s annoying, stubborn, a know it all, and just might be the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. But I refuse to fall for him. But when his sister’s threatened by a stalker, dynamics change. His unwavering faith isn’t quite as self-righteous as I’d always thought, and maybe he has a good side I’ve overlooked all these years.
Or maybe it’s all too much trouble.
The Trouble With Love is the first book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.
Returning Home – Book 1 in the Freedom Lake Series
Jo Ellen Baker is shocked to find out that the boy who teased her mercilessly throughout high school, has returned to their hometown of Freedom Lake, and he’s missing a leg. When his mother asks her to renovate their carriage house to give him a place to gain his independence back, she wants to say no. But one look at him brings a rush of forgotten feelings.
Evan Carter can’t believe he has to return home and live with his parents. Every hope and dream he ever had dissipated in a car crash that cost him his leg. Stuck in a wheelchair, he’s forced to reexamine his relationship with God and the local carpenter, Jo Ellen Baker.
Will renovating his home open the door for a mended relationship, or are some wounds too deep to heal from?
Buying Love – Book 1 in the Maple Run Series
Will money ruin everything?
Nina Warrenton is ready for the next step in her life plan—marriage, but there is one problem. No one has proposed! Taking matters into her hand, she places an ad in the newspaper hoping to entice a willing stranger. But when she begins to fall for the small-town chef, she realizes how much she wants him to love her and not her money.
Dwight Williams needs fast cash to save the family restaurant. When he sees Nina’s monetary offer for a husband, he goes for it. He’s determined to save the legacy his dad left him, but can he let it go to prove his love for her?
Can Nina and Dwight find true love, once money has entered the equation?
Leave an encouraging note for Toni Shiloh in the comments. This writing journey is rough, and I’d love to bless her as much as she has blessed me.
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 5, 2021 | Bonus Content, Counterfeit Love
Friday’s will be kicking off something new in addition to the book reviews, interviews, and reading challenges. With so much to share about Counterfeit Love and my writing world, I’m going to use Fridays to share about things related to Counterfeit Love and my writing process. This first Friday, I’m excited to share about the preorder bonuses I put together.
So many authors now offer preorder bonuses to their readers, and I wanted to be able to give something to you to thank you for supporting me in this writing journey. I wasn’t quite sure how to accomplish this, but I figured I’d have some fun playing with images.
While Kregel is creating my bookmarks, I made my bookplates, and I absolutely adore them. They say “Fear not. He is with you. Even if . . .” This is based on 2 Chronicles 20:17, the Bible verse that carries the theme of the story. It was a lesson I had to learn myself throughout the writing of Counterfeit Love. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” When you read the entire context of the story, it is just so powerful. Really. Go read it all the way to the conclusion of the battle, and then read it again, slower. It is amazing what God does.
I also created three phone backgrounds – one focused on the cover, the other focused on the “Even if” statement, and the other on the Bible verse itself. The printable verses are 2 Chronicles 20:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:12, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
And what good is a freebie if food isn’t involved? Through my research, I found a fun hot chocolate recipe from the Victorian era. There was a sweet version and a not-so-sweet version. Given our generally sweet tooths in America, I went with the sweeter version, even though I myself prefer the dark chocolate version with little to no sweetness.
The only thing I’ve left to create is the video. I have some ideas about what I might include: a personal thank you, some fun facts from my research, maybe even a little bit about the history of the Secret Service. However, I’d LOVE your input. What questions would you have me answer in a preorder video? What things would you want to be included? I’d love to hear your opinion. Drop a comment below, and who knows, I might incorporate it into the video. Or maybe it will become its own blog post!
Just in case you don’t know about the book, I’ve thrown the cover and blurb down below. Next week I’ll share one of my first endorsements.
Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves–or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down?
After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name–and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors’ threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn’t all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home–and the truth.
After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career–but that’s better than failing her twice in one lifetime.
They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there’s no question they’re both still keeping secrets–and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.
Combining rich history, danger, suspense, and romance, Crystal Caudill’s debut novel launches this new historical series with a bang. Fans of Elizabeth Camden, Michelle Griep, and Joanna Davidson Politano will be thrilled to find another author to follow!
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 7, 2021 | Counterfeit Love
It is finally time for me to gather an elite group of readers who will be a part of my launch team. What is a launch team? What’s expected of a Launch Team Operative? What do you get out of the deal? It’s all answered below, along with the application at the bottom of the post. Applications will be accepted through September 30th and then I will contact applicants in mid-October.
WHAT IS A LAUNCH TEAM?
I’m so glad you asked! My launch team is a special group of readers who are enthusiastic about getting the word out about my books to the community at large. These readers are my first readers, part of my inner circle, and my most enthusiastic fans.
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN LAUNCH TEAM MEMBERS?
Enthusiasm and a desire to share about my book within the sphere of their influence. Availability is important too. I depend on these members to do what I cannot: leave reviews about my book, talk about it on Social media and in person, request it from libraries, etc. The potential is endless.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING A LAUNCH TEAM MEMBER?
As a launch team member, you will receive a free, advanced copy of whatever novel is being released at that time. Members are asked to read the book prior to the release date, then-if they like it (if you don’t like it, you aren’t required to do anything)-spread the word as far and wide as possible! (FYI, you don’t have to be on Facebook to be a part of the launch team.)
The single most important thing launch team members do? Write a brief review for Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or any other online review sites where you’d like to post it. It only needs to be a paragraph or two.
Beyond that, anything else done is icing on the cake! The potential for ideas are endless. I’ve listed a few below, but none are mandatory. I want Launch Team Members to do what they feel comfortable with. The biggest help is the review.
- Talk about the books on social media sites and in reader groups.
- Ask your your local library or church library to purchase a copy.
- Blog about the books.
- Direct people to my website.
- Write a review for your local newspaper.
- Purchase copies to give away as Christmas and birthday gifts.
- Pin the cover or other pictures from my website to Pinterest.
- Share your favorite quotes from the book online. If you purchase an e-book, highlight your favorite quotes.
- Suggest the book on reading forums, like those you can find on GoodReads or Facebook.
- If you’re part of a Bible study, MOPS, or any other group, tell them about the book.
- Suggest my latest book to your book club.
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF THE DEAL?
Besides receiving a free copy of my book and my undying gratitude, there are some added benefits. You’ll have access to an exclusive Facebook Group just for Launch Team members, a password-protected Launch Team Dashboard, emails just for my Launch Team members with insider information, special Zoom meetings to get some face-to-face time, and occasional personal touches from me.
If this sounds like a team you’d like to be part of, please fill out the application below.
