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LiteraryScape

LiteraryScape

By: Melissa LaShure
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The LiteraryScape podcast serves both readers and writers of historical Christian romance with a sprinkling of contemporary Christian suspense books. We read, discuss, review, and rate books in this unique romance sub-genre. For authors, we bring inside tips and tricks from those who have gone before us. LiteraryScape is the one stop shop for both readers and authors to connect, learn, and grow together.

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Episodes
  • An Uncharted Dream: Adventure, Betrayal, and Hidden Love with Abbey Downey

    An Uncharted Dream: Adventure, Betrayal, and Hidden Love with Abbey Downey
    Oct 31 2025
    Welcome back to LiteraryScape! This week, we're wrapping up our discussion of the Adventurous Hearts series with An Uncharted Dream by Abbey Downey, and let me tell you—this one is a real page-turner!The StoryAn Uncharted Dream follows Lenora, who dreams of following in her father's footsteps as an explorer but has been held back by debilitating fear since his tragic death. When a mysterious explorer named Mr. Fleming promises to take her on an expedition to the very place where her father died, she sees her chance for answers and adventure.Enter Marcus Turner, Lenora's longtime best friend who secretly loves her. Having spent years hiding his family's financial struggles, Marcus knows a con man when he sees one—and Mr. Fleming raises all his red flags. Determined to protect Lenora, Marcus joins the expedition, setting the stage for adventure, betrayal, and ultimately, a journey of faith and love.Our Discussion HighlightsJessica loved this book so much it became her favorite in the series! She was hooked from the very beginning, constantly wondering: Is Mr. Fleming a con man? Will Lenora actually go to Peru? The mystery kept her turning pages late into the night.We discussed several compelling elements:The Suspicion Around Mr. Fleming: From the very first scene at the library, Marcus's suspicions are aroused, and we agreed—something was definitely off! The way Fleming couldn't answer basic questions about the expedition was a major red flag that Lenora unfortunately missed.The Anonymous Letters: The mysterious letters encouraging Lenora to take the trip added an intriguing layer to the story. Discovering who was really behind them was one of those great "aha!" moments.Family Contrasts: We loved the stark difference between Lenora's warm, inviting family and Marcus's cold, distant one. Marcus doesn't even enjoy going home, and his family situation, while frustrating, added real depth to his character.The Big Betrayal: When the group gets stranded in a foreign country where they can't speak the language, the tension really ramps up. It's one of those moments where you're yelling at the characters, "Don't give him the money!"Communication Issues: This is definitely one of those stories where if the main characters had just talked to each other, a lot of problems could have been avoided! But watching them finally realize their feelings for each other after years of friendship was worth the wait.Adventure and RomanceThe book beautifully weaves together themes of exploration, archeology, and surveying. The ending, where Marcus pursues his passion for surveying while Lenora does excavation work, was particularly satisfying. We both admitted to being fascinated by archeology—there's something magical about uncovering history!We also discussed some of the more challenging aspects of historical travel: the boat journey (would we be able to handle the seasickness and fear of water?), the preparation trips and camping, and the sheer adventure of it all.Our RatingsUsing our coffee-themed rating system:Drama Level: LatteSuspense Level: Espresso (gentle but definitely there)Mystery Level: MochaInspirational Level: Mocha (this one had more faith elements than the previous books)Romance Level: Espresso (sweet and clean)The Final Verdict: Lasso RatingsJessica gives this book her highest rating: 4 Lassos! She couldn't put it down and would even go as high as 3.5 to 4 if we allowed half ratings. As for me, I gave it a solid 2 Lassos—still excellent, but my personal reading preference leans toward books with a bit more suspense and romance.Overall, Abbey Downey has created an excellent series that's perfect for readers who love cozy mysteries with sweet romance and historical adventure. The pacing is wonderful, and the stories are engaging without being too intense.What's Next?Be sure to tune in next week when we'll have a special interview with author Abbey Downey herself! We'll get all the behind-the-scenes information about this incredible Adventurous Hearts series.Want to learn more about Abbey and her books? Visit her website at www.abbeydowney.com.Thanks for joining us on LiteraryScape, where we explore the landscape of great literature, one book at a time!Have you read An Uncharted Dream? What did you think of Mr. Fleming? Let us know in the comments!www.literaryscape.com/podcast/173
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    17 mins
  • An Unexpected Catch: A Story of Reputation, Romance, and Baseball

    An Unexpected Catch: A Story of Reputation, Romance, and Baseball
    Oct 24 2025

    Episode 172: An Unexpected Catch by Abbey Downey

    Adventurous Hearts Series, Book 2

    This week on LiteraryScape, we're discussing An Unexpected Catch by Abbey Downey—a historical romance that takes us into the world of Chicago's semiprofessional baseball league, where reputation is everything and one wrong move can cost you your dreams.

    About the Book

    B Corinne has forged a groundbreaking career as an umpire in Chicago's semiprofessional baseball league and is working toward her dream of leading the women's athletic department at Western College. With her reputation on the line, a romance with Emmett Worland—a talented pitcher known for his womanizing ways—is the last thing she needs.

    But when her women's baseball team desperately needs help, Emmett is the only one who can save them. As they spend more time together, an undeniable attraction develops. The catch? Emmett is hiding a painful secret that could end his baseball career, and his bad reputation is one he never actually earned.

    Can they afford to let their hearts lead the way, or will the shadows of the past and uncertainties of the future destroy their chance at happily ever after?

    In This Episode We Discuss:

    Emmett's undeserved reputation and how sensationalist newspapers destroyed his good name

    The demanding grandmother who chose social standing over understanding

    Emmett's secret struggle and the heartbreaking reality of how society treated people in his situation

    B's strength as a pioneering woman umpire navigating impossible social expectations

    Historical baseball details (did you know umpires used to stand behind the pitcher?)

    The constant scrutiny both characters face and what it means to live under watchful eyes

    That memorable proposal scene!

    How "everything tells a story"—and why that matters today

    Our Ratings:

    Drama Level: Mocha ☕☕

    Suspense Level: Minimal

    Mystery Level: Espresso ☕

    Inspirational Level: Espresso to Mocha ☕-☕☕

    Romance Level: Espresso to Mocha ☕-☕☕

    Overall: 2.5 to 3 lattes (Our favorite in the series!)

    Links & Resources:

    Listen to this episode: www.literaryscape.com/podcast/172

    Abbey Downey's website: https://abbeydowney.com/

    Next Week: We'll be discussing An Uncharted Dream, the third and final book in the Adventurous Hearts series!

    Subscribe to LiteraryScape wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us each week as we explore the pages of great books together!
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    16 mins
  • An Uncertain Road, Historical Christian Romance Set in the World of Early Automobile Racing

    An Uncertain Road, Historical Christian Romance Set in the World of Early Automobile Racing
    Oct 17 2025
    Welcome back to LiteraryScape! This week, we're diving into the first book of Abby Downey's Adventurous Heart series, An Uncertain Road, a delightful historical Christian romance set in the world of early automobile racing.The StorySet in 1905, An Uncertain Road follows Flora Montfort, a young widow who returns to America with her French mother-in-law. Determined to use her auto racing training to support herself—despite female drivers being rare in that era—Flora seizes the opportunity to drive in the Glidden Tour, a 10-day race through New England.Joining her is Jensen Gable, a reluctant mechanic who has sworn off racing after losing his best friend in a tragic accident. His promise to protect his friend's younger brother becomes the only reason compelling enough to get him back on the racing circuit.As Flora and Jensen navigate hazardous road conditions, meddling locals, and ruthless competitors, they discover an undeniable connection. But can their budding romance survive the dangers of the race and the ghosts of their pasts?What We LovedThe Historical Setting: One of the highlights of this novel is how it's loosely based on real events. The Glidden Tour was a real race started by the Triple A, and there actually was a woman who competed in it. While Abby takes creative liberties with the story, that grounding in history adds authenticity and charm.Coney Island Adventure: The scenes at Coney Island were fascinating, with attractions that felt surprisingly modern for the time period. The infamous "cheese" attraction particularly stood out (and grossed us out!), along with the space-themed and water-themed rides.Tense Racing Scenes: Abby writes compelling action sequences. The mountain climb scene where Jensen has to jerk the wheel, the moment with cows blocking the race route, and the nerve-wracking curves where one wrong move could send them off the side—these scenes had us on the edge of our seats. The river crossing via ferry was another memorable moment that reminded us how different travel was in 1905.Character Depth: Both Flora and Jensen carry emotional baggage that makes them hesitant to open their hearts. Flora fears being controlled again after her experiences with her domineering brother and late husband. Jensen struggles with grief and fear after his friend's death. Their slow-burn romance feels earned and authentic.Supporting Characters: The newlywed couple riding along in the backseat added a fun dynamic to the story. Using the race as part of their honeymoon was an interesting choice—the groom was training to be a minister and knew he wouldn't have money for an elaborate honeymoon, so this was his way of giving his bride an adventure.The Redemption Arc: When a terrible driver has an accident, Flora shows remarkable sportsmanship by stopping to help, even though she could have kept going. This moment of grace leads to a powerful redemption story that we both appreciated.The Romance & Faith ElementsThe relationship between Flora and Jensen develops naturally as they face challenges together. Their feelings are evident, but both are afraid to express them for their own reasons. The faith element is woven throughout the story in a gentle, non-preachy way that enhances rather than overwhelms the narrative.One particularly poignant scene occurs when Archie (the owner's youngest son) makes comments about Gregory's death, leading to tension. Eventually, Jensen takes the time to sit down and talk through the tragedy, providing much-needed closure. We wished this conversation had happened sooner, as avoiding difficult topics is never healthy.Our RatingsUsing our signature coffee scale (Espresso = a little, Mocha = medium, Latte = a lot):Suspense: EspressoDrama: Espresso to MochaMystery: EspressoInspirational: MochaRomance: Espresso to Mocha (we disagreed slightly on this one!)Lasso Rating: We gave it a 2.5 out of 3 lassos. This means we were hooked and thoroughly enjoyed it, though it wasn't quite a "can't put it down" read. It's an excellent book that we could pause when needed, but we definitely wanted to keep coming back to it.Who Should Read This?An Uncertain Road is perfect for readers who enjoy:Sweet, cozy historical romancesStories grounded in real historical eventsFaith-based fiction with a light touchEarly 20th-century settingsAdventure and travel narrativesAbby Downey has crafted a charming series opener that balances romance, adventure, and faith. While it may not have the intense suspense or mystery of some novels, it excels at creating a warm, engaging story with characters you'll root for.What's Next?Join us next week as we discuss the second book in the Adventurous Heart series, An Unexpected Catch. We're excited to continue this journey through Abby's delightful historical romances!Want to learn more about Abby Downey and her books? Visit her website at https://abbeydowney.com/Have you read An Uncertain Road? What did you think of Flora and Jensen's story? Let us know in...
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    18 mins
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