Behind Today's Books

In this new, groundbreaking total-being cleanse, wellness expert and certified nutritional counselor Laura Harris Smith takes on not only your body but also your mind and spirit!

Best-selling author Valerie Fraser Luesse is best known for her feature stories in Southern Living. She specializes in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture. In her new novel, Under the Bayou Moon, she takes readers deep into the heart of the Bayou. 

Liz Johnson returns to the Canadian coast in Beyond the Tides, book 1 in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.  This heartwarming series is about family, forgiveness and the kind of love that heals all wounds.

Do you feel far from God? Bishop Wayman Ming Jr.  shows us how daily interruptions are divine opportunities to evaluate our lives and close the spiritual gap between us and God.

Discover your calling and create the life you were meant to live. Co-authors Dr. Stephanie Shackelford and Bill Denzel have spent their careers helping people of all generations gaina clear vision of their God-given calling so that they are living not byaccident but on purpose—aligned with God's best plan for them.

You on Purpose: Discover your calling and create the life you were meant to live. Co-authors Dr. Stephanie Shackelford and Bill Denzel have spent their careers helping people of all generations gaina clear vision of their God-given calling so that they are living not byaccident but on purpose—aligned with God's best plan for them.

Bestselling author Lynette Eason's Danger Never Sleeps series is filled with suspense-filled tales involving four courageous women who formed an unbreakable bond while serving in Iraq. Now, "Hostile Intent" concludes this action-packed series with a fight for survival.

Author Rachel Lewis is the friend you thought you'd never need. Her new book, "Unexpecting" walks you through the unique grief of baby loss.  Rachel, who had five miscarriages, speaks from the heart and offers hope.

Sissy Goff is director of child and adolescent counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be.

When Brooke McGlothlin realized her best efforts were falling short of her goal to produce godly children, she discovered the joy and power of praying Scripture over her family. Her life and her children's lives were transformed! Too busy to pray? Don't know how? Brooke, co-founder of Million Praying Moms, talks about how pray is the first and best response to motherhood.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, USA Today bestselling author Lisa Harris takes us on a nonstop chase, where nothing is easy and failure isn't an option.  Lisa launched her  U.S. Marshals series with The Escape.  Her next adrenaline-filled installment, The Chase, follows the same two U.S. Marshals as they work together to track down high-profile convicts. 

In 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War,  more than 3,000 children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into homes in several countries, with hopes of providing a better life for these children. Susie Finkbeiner recounts this emotional time in history in her new novel, The Nature of Small Birds.

What happens when old secrets make a new appearance?  Award-winning author Shawn Smucker shares thoughts about his new book, "The Weight of Memory." A story he hopes will give readers a sense of hope about difficult life circumstances and what waits for us after our death. 

Dr. Richard Furman is a vascular surgeon with decades of experience. But his personal journey into living younger longer began with a tight pair of pants. Rather than go up a size, he decided to get back to his ideal weight. He changed how he ate, began to exercise regularly started intensive research into what it takes to prevent the kind of conditions his patients had.  His book is called"Prescription for Life."

After a health scare at age 39, Maureen "Mo" Maurer was given a second chance at life. She quit her job as a CPA and started her dream of teaching dogs to help people with disabilities. Her book, Wonder Dogs, includes true stories of extraordinary assistance dogs. Some made my heart race!

Award-winning author Jody Hedlund takes readers on a journey through time to fourteenth-century Canterbury in "Come Back to Me," the first installment in the Waters of Time series. We talk about the challenges of writing about time travel and her research of ancient holy water.

Saddle up for a heartfelt story of love from bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart! "Along a Storied Trail" takes us to the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression. Ann told me all about packhorse librarians and how dangerous flash floods can be in the Eastern Kentucky mountains. I love her accent (although she said I'm the one with an accent!)

Rachel Fordham's historical novels have received high praise for their warm and engaging story lines filled with romance, adventure, and happy endings. I learned some interesting things about A Lady in Attendance, like dental assisting (ladies in attendance) and prisons for the wealthy. 

Nancy Pearcey is a bestselling, award-winning author who serves as professor of apologetics and scholar-in-residence at Houston Baptist University. She is also editor at large of The Pearcey Report and a fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. Nancy shares about her 2018 book, "Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality."

Award-winning novelist James R. Hannibal plunges readers into a world of high-stakes espionage and betrayal. As a former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot, James brings a wealth of knowledge to his electrifying new thriller, The Paris Betrayal.  Plus, he shares a few dangerous stories from his past!

As a teenager, Gary Morland lived in an unhappy, dysfunctional family characterized by addiction and disharmony. When he started a family of his own, he brought with him those same destructive patterns. In his book, "A Family Shaped by Grace, Gary shares tools that will help you break unhealthy patterns, save your family relationships, and learn how to generously offer grace to the people who matter most in your life.

Best-selling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher takes us back to the coast of Maine for a sweet beach read, "At Lighthouse Point." While it's a stand-alone read, you'll want to read all three books in the Three Sisters Island series. Her characters are complicated, funny and endearing.

Author Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo! You know this plays a part in her suspense novels. Melissa and I talk about her new thriller, "Never Miss." Her research to write about a deadly biological attack is impressive!

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling author of more than 40 books and is well-known for her gripping and emotional page-turners! I spoke with her about her new riveting adventure, Present Danger, book one in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. 

Author and professional outdoorsman Brent Henderson shares about his new book, "The Roar Within." He shows men how to recover what they've lost to find their identity in Christ. And, Brent is a pretty funny guy!

With over one million Revell books sold and a recipient of multiple awards, bestselling author Irene Hannon has proven to be a favorite among readers both with her romantic suspense and her contemporary romance novels. In 2015, Hannon introduced readers to the small coastal town of Hope Harbor, Oregon. Now, seven books later, Irene continues to weave captivating stories based in this seaside community. Fans will love to revisit the lush settings and quirky but lovable characters found within the pages of her newest Hope Harbor novel, Blackberry Beach.

Author James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure! He's a former stealth pilot who has been shot at, locked up with surface-to-air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his children's mysteries, and a 2020 Selah and Carol Award finalist for The Gryphon Heist.

God put the Bible together for you, and He wants you to understand Him and know Him better. But sometimes you can get lost in the details and miss the big picture.Encountering God's Heart for You  by Diane Stortz takes you on a daily journey through the full narrative of Scripture in a year.

Best-selling author Amanda Cabot is a favorite to this podcast! We head back to the Hill Country in her newest book, Dreams Rekindled, book 2 in the Mesquite Springs series. It is suspenseful and sweetly romantic. A wonderful springtime read, you'll want to hear the story behind this book!

With impeccable research and a flair for storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith offers a rich exploration of the many facets of Miriam's life, bringing this Bible character from the background to center stage. Miriam's Song is a heartfelt novel about a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.

In her new novel, Facing the Dawn, Cynthia Ruchti takes readers on an emotional journey that tackles some of life's toughest situations with tenderness and hope. Hear why some scenes crept a bit close to home for Cynthia.

I learned some intriguing info about the FBI in my interview with Lynn H. Blackburn! It was great to reconnect with her to get the story behind her new romantic suspense, "Unknown Threat." It's the first book in the new Defend and Protect series.

Jennifer Deibel's debut novel, A Dance in Donegal,  is set against the backdrop of romance, beauty, and a firmly held faith. Jennifer paints a lavish portrait of Ireland's emerald shores, based on her travels and life experience. What a treat to get the story behind this story!

Best-selling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher is a favorite on BTB!! Her new book, A Moonlight School, is based on the true story of Cora Wilson Stewart, the first female superintendent for an Appalachian County. A story of courage, imagination and love!!

 Author Tom Threadgill keeps me on my toes! He proved himself a fresh, new voice in the suspense genre with his 2020 debut, Collision of Lies. Now, he dives into the dark corners of the internet and into the murky world of cybercrime and murder in his new novel, Network of Deceit. Enjoy!!

Congrats to Sarah Sundin! Booklist gave "When Twilight Breaks" a starred review and said it's her most brilliant and important work to date. Wow! Sarah and I discuss her new historical novel that tackles the ethics of war in pre-WWII Germany.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley's new book is a tale of obsession and second chances! Her first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series was "Standoff," a thriller full of double-crosses with strong family relationships and a bit of romance. Now, book #2, "Obsession," is a nail-biting tale of sinister infatuation, misunderstanding and forgiveness. 

It was my honor to talk with author, speaker and blogger Carla Gasser! Her devotional, " The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul," helps us purge our pasts and shake out worry. She helps us reconnect with God, handle stressful circumstances and people, and develop lifelong healthy habits. 

Will a busy matchmaker find her own match? Award-winning author Laura Frantz describes her new novel, "Tidewater Bride," as the equivalent of the colonial American dating game. Readers love her historical accuracy and I love learning fascinating new information every time I talk with her. 

Author, speaker and leadership coach Becky Harling says there are three keys for a great relationship with your children: Seek God for wisdom, listen with the goal of understanding, and become a student of your child so your knowledge of their unique personality grows. Listen to our conversation for great tips and insight!

You can't just quit your family. Award-winning author Erin Bartels talks about "All That We Carried," a tale of two sisters and a story about family. When things get difficult, is there a way to reconnect?

Did you know most of our behaviors are in place by the time we are 6 years old? No wonder it's so hard to break out of old patterns! But there is a secret to personal transformation that God gave us long before modern neuroscience and self-help gurus were the norm.Check out my interview with Dr. David Stoop. He helps to show us the true way to lasting change - the renewing of our mind.

What do you do when you can't escape danger?Award-winning and best-selling author Lynette Eason brings us, "Active Defense," book #3 in the Danger Never Sleeps series.The series follows the lives of four friends who have left the military and are returning to a civilian life. But life does not go as planned for these friends who carry their own secrets. 

Have you ever felt that you lack the know-how to take control of your financial life? You're not alone. But it's not a lack of savvy that's the problem, says personal financial expert Mary Hunt; it's a lack of confidence! Mary tells us what we need to know to take charge of our money.

Animal lovers will love these stories!!! Second-Chance Cats: True Stories of the Cats We Rescue and the Cats Who Rescue Us is filled with uplifting stories. I always have fun talking with author Callie Smith Grant. Enjoy!!

Despite our connected world--and partly because of it--we are lonelier than ever. Social media tricks us into thinking that we are engaged in genuine friendships. Yet instead of intimacy, we get little more than what amounts to digital small talk. But there is a solution!I talk with Pastor Jack Eason about his book, "The Loneliness Solution."

No matter how you became a single mom, you share the same challenges and fears all single moms have. You may feel stretched to the limit. How are you going to do this on your own? You will want to listen to my interview with author and radio talk show host PeggySue Wells more than once! She's the single mom of seven children who can help you, or someone you know, parent with courage, confidence, and clarity. 

 The Love Note is a tale of love lost, love found, and love deferred  Joanna Davidson Politano is as sweet as the romance novels she writes! She is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, and Finding Lady Enderly.  She was kind enough to tell me her personal inspiration behind this book with her kids in tow!

 Guilt and redemption entwine in a new high-stakes legal thriller by David Bunn. His new novel is called, "Burden fo Proof. " I love listening to Davis describe his deep characters and what inspires him to write about time travel and redemption.

Melody Carlson = Christmas magicWith more seven million copies sold, bestselling author Melody Carlson has established a solid rapport with readers who have come to cherish her Hallmark-esque tales set in cozy locales. We talk all about this year's book, The Christmas Swap, which has a surprise second ending! 

With more than 500,000 copies sold, award-winning author Lisa Harris has mastered the art of writing edge-of-your-seat thrillers with a tasty hint of romance thrown in. In her latest novel, The Escape, Lisa offers a high-octane game of cat and mouse as two U.S. Marshals work together to track down a high-profile escaped convict.