After listening to her Buried Secrets on Audible, I couldn't wait to chat with S.F. Baumgartner about her latest book in the Mirror Estate series, Hidden Secrets. Listen in and see what we'll see in this next thriller in the series!

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If you love suspense and thrillers without all the romance, this is the series for you! While there are romantic elements to some of the books, Baumgartner leaves it minimal, focusing on the suspense primarily.

Also, don't forget her audiobooks on Audible!

Hidden Secrets by S.F. Baumgartner

Abducted. Trapped. Hunted. Grace Benson must find a way out… or die trying.

After her harrowing escape from a kill order, Grace thought she’d return to a normal life, only to be abducted from her home.

Meanwhile, FBI investigations into the murders of a congressman and his staff uncover a shocking link to Grace's abduction, threatening international stability.

Desperate to survive, Grace allies with an unlikely partner—a child who knows the bunker's secrets—but as they navigate the treacherous tunnel system, a misplaced step echoes through the corridors, alerting a deranged captor who now closes in, gun in hand.

If you like Alex Cross, Gabriel Allon, you will like this unpredictable, fast-paced suspense thriller.

Learn more about Sylvia on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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No one does Christmas like Melody Carlson, and her latest Christmas release, The Christmas Tree Farm promises to be one of her best. Listen in and see why I was so excited to read it that I opened my mail while we chatted to get it!

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Melody was such a trooper, fighting all kinds of technological glitches (that thankfully you can't hear!) and learning new things to get me recordings and such. I so appreciate her.

We talked about themes of forgiveness and releasing control to God, working out relationships, and more.

Inspired by seeing how the Oregon fires affected tree farms over the state, Melody wrote a story of a neglected tree farm, the travesty happening next door (tongue firmly in cheek, but not according to her character!), and the fractured relationship between two sisters.

She also gave a hint of what's coming next spring! EEEP!

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, her former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break Madison's heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.

With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there's only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will take a ton of hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson charms and delights with this uplifting Christmas story full of old memories and new beginnings.

You can get The Christmas Tree Farm for 30% off and maybe with free US shipping from BakerBookHouse.com.

Learn more about Melody on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Author of one of my top reads of the year, June Bug, Chris Fabry is also the novelist for the Kendrick Brothers' beloved movies including the most recent, The Forge. Listen in as we discuss the story and the process of writing from a screenplay!

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Chis Fabry, author of so many beloved novels and the podcaster behind Moody's Chris Fabry Live, has teamed up with the Kendrick Brothers again to bring the book version of the story to readers.

I loved chatting about the themes within the book, the process of writing it, and what we might see in the future.

The Forge by Chris Fabry

As Cynthia Wright’s marriage implodes, she is forced to raise her teenage son, Isaiah, alone. The pressure of providing for them through her salon is a full-time job in itself. When Cynthia sees Isaiah pulling away and escaping into video games, tensions rise and prayers feel unanswered. Angry and hurt, Isaiah starts acting like the father who abandoned him, and Cynthia gives him an ultimatum while turning to her twin sister, Elizabeth Jordan, for support. Elizabeth enlists a seasoned prayer warrior who challenges Cynthia to pray boldly and believe God for the impossible.

Caught in the middle, Isaiah longs for respect, but sees no clear path to becoming a good man. Desperate for a job, he wanders into Moore Fitness, Inc. and encounters the owner, Joshua Moore, who introduces him to the concept of working for a coach rather than a boss. Needing the work, Isaiah reluctantly begins his mentoring process with Joshua. While Cynthia clings to hope, no one sees the coming storms brewing at the company and in Isaiah’s heart.

The Forge is about the power of prayer, the transformation only God can achieve, and the lasting influence one person can have on others.

You can learn more about Chris Fabry on his WEBSITE. Also follow him on GoodReads or BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

• Apple
• Castbox
• Google Play
• Libsyn
• RSS
• Spotify
• Amazon
• and more!