LiteraryScape cover art

LiteraryScape

LiteraryScape

By: Melissa LaShure
Listen for free

About this listen

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.

 Christianity Spirituality
Episodes
  • When Protectors Need Protection: Our Review of Lynn H. Blackburn's: Unknown Threat

    When Protectors Need Protection: Our Review of Lynn H. Blackburn's: Unknown Threat
    Sep 12 2025
    The Secret Service agents who dedicate their lives to protecting others suddenly find themselves as targets in Lynn H. Blackburn's gripping novel Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series. Our podcast team dove into this heart-pounding thriller, and we're excited to share our thoughts with you.The Story That Hooked Us from Chapter OneUnknown Threat follows Secret Service agent Luke Powell, who's devastated after losing three fellow agents in unusual circumstances over just 10 weeks. When FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is assigned to investigate these unprecedented attacks, Luke finds himself torn between his attraction to Faith and his distrust of the FBI. With more agents being targeted, they must learn to work together to bring a killer to justice.As one of our hosts noted, "By the end of chapter one, every book of hers that I've read, it's like you're hooked. There is something big that you're like, whoa, I gotta keep reading." Blackburn's talent for crafting irresistible chapter hooks makes this a true page-turner.Characters We Loved (And One We Didn't)Faith Malone won us over with her determination and integrity. We loved her unique hobby of rowing and how she consistently proved herself trustworthy through her actions rather than just her words. Her relationship with her sister Hope provided some of our favorite moments—the classic sister dynamic and Hope's blunt question about Luke being a good kisser had us laughing.The Secret Service Team felt like a real family unit. The bonds between Luke, Gil, Zane, Tessa, and their boss Jacob created authentic workplace relationships that drew us in. When Gil gets shot and insists Faith stay in the room because he wants to talk to her, it perfectly showed how she'd earned their respect.Janice, however, was a character we all wanted to shake. Her extreme bias and arrogance made her insufferable, though we recognized her importance in highlighting how prejudices can affect judgment and helping Luke see that not all FBI agents are the same.A Mystery That Kept Us GuessingThe complex family history behind the murders created a web of connections we didn't see coming. Even our host who was re-reading the book found herself wondering "Wait, who is it?" because Blackburn masterfully keeps the killer's identity hidden until the very end.What struck us most was feeling sympathy for the killer by the story's conclusion—something that rarely happens in thrillers. The revelation and explanation felt organic, not like an information dump, making us part of the investigation rather than passive observers.Our LiteraryScape RatingsDrama Level: Mocha ☕☕ (lots of familial complexity throughout)Mystery Level: Latte ☕☕☕ (couldn't figure it out until the end!)Inspiration Level: Mocha ☕☕ (faith lived out quietly through actions)Romance Level: Mocha ☕☕ (just the right amount woven in)Suspense Level: Latte ☕☕☕ (kept us on the edge of our seats)Overall Lasso Rating: 2.5 to 3 out of 3 🤠🤠🤠While we all agreed this is a solid three-lasso book that will hook readers from the start, we noted that other books in this series might edge it out slightly. But that's the beauty of a strong series—each book brings something special to the table.Why You Should Read This SeriesLynn H. Blackburn has become a favorite on our podcast for good reason. Her writing style combines relentless pacing with character development that makes you genuinely care about the outcome. She wraps up loose ends satisfyingly while building relationships that carry through the series.If you're looking for a suspense novel that balances action with heart, complex mysteries with authentic relationships, Unknown Threat delivers on all fronts. Just be warned—you might find yourself saying "just one more chapter" well past your bedtime.Next week, we'll be discussing book two in the series, Malicious Intent. Join us as we continue following this team of Secret Service agents and the FBI agent who's become one of their own.Listen to our full discussion of Unknown Threat on the LiteraryScape Podcast. Don't forget to grab some chocolate before diving into this series—you'll need the comfort food for the intense moments ahead!www.literaryscape.com/podcast/166
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • Behind the Badge: A Conversation with Romantic Suspense Powerhouse Lynette Eason

    Behind the Badge: A Conversation with Romantic Suspense Powerhouse Lynette Eason
    Aug 29 2025
    From our recent Friday Book Club podcast episode featuring the prolific author's newest release, Final ApproachThere's something captivating about authors who can seamlessly weave heart-pounding suspense with compelling romance, and Lynette Eason has mastered this art form across nearly 70 published novels. In our latest LiteraryScape podcast episode, host Melissa LaShure sat down with this beloved romantic suspense author to discuss her newest release, Final Approach, the fourth and final book in her Lake City Heroes series.The Lake City Heroes Series: Where Past Meets PresentWhat makes the Lake City Heroes series particularly compelling is how each standalone novel connects through the fictional town of Lake City, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories. "Each of my heroines has some kind of occupation, whether in medicine or law enforcement," Eason explains, noting that all the male protagonists work in law enforcement as well.The series, which began in January 2024 with Double Take, has been releasing steadily over two years, with each book exploring how a character's past shapes their present circumstances. This theme reaches its crescendo in Final Approach, where the heroine works as an air marshal—a career choice directly influenced by her mother's death in a plane hijacking."There's something about the characters' past that leads them to what they are doing in present day," Eason notes, highlighting the psychological depth that elevates her work beyond typical action-adventure romance.Research: The Foundation of Authentic StorytellingWith nearly seven decades of published works behind her, Eason has become something of an expert on law enforcement procedures across multiple agencies. For the Lake City Heroes series alone, she researched roles spanning from physician assistants and police detectives to FBI agents, fire marshals, and air marshals."I do have an FBI agent—I have two FBI agent buddies who read all of my stuff," she shares, explaining how these professional connections help ensure accuracy. When she needed information about fire marshal procedures for Serial Burn (book three), her FBI contacts connected her with specialists in that field.Her research process is refreshingly practical: "As I'm writing, I've come to a spot where I was like, I really need to know how this would be handled. And so then I just send a text and say, hey, I need to know how this will be handled."The Evolution of a WriterEason's writing journey began in eighth grade with an abandoned novel attempt, but the desire never truly left. She seriously began writing in the late 1990s while home with a baby and a frequently traveling husband. "I just decided to talk to the voices in my head," she jokes, using the familiar writer's refrain.Her process has evolved significantly over the decades. "I used to be a huge pantser. Like I would just sit down and start writing and let the story take me. And now that my brain is a lot older, I don't have that... I can't hold as much in my brain anymore."Now she describes herself as a "plantser"—someone who plots the major story beats but allows for organic development, especially in the final 20,000 words. She always knows her ending scene from the beginning, working steadily toward that climactic moment.Favorite Characters and Memorable ScenesWhen asked about her favorite character from the series, Eason immediately mentions Kinsey King from Target Acquired (book two). "She was part of an all-male SWAT team on the police department. And I just had a really good time researching that because you would think in this day and age, there wouldn't be a whole lot of... it's a boys club kind of thing, but actually it still exists a lot."For Final Approach, Eason particularly enjoyed writing the climactic scene where her air marshal heroine must land an airplane. "It was a very intense scene and there was a lot going on... I had a really good time writing it," though she acknowledges the technical research required was substantial.Giving Back: The Seaside Scribes ConferenceBeyond her writing, Eason is passionate about nurturing new talent through the Seaside Scribes writers conference and retreat. This intimate gathering, limited to around 40 attendees, takes place annually in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (January 14-17, 2026, at the Hilton)."We just hang out with writers that we teach during the day, and then we go eat. We have meals, we have meetings, and then we just hang," she describes. "People that come have made lifelong friends there, found their critique partners."The conference focuses on craft techniques applicable to any genre, though the 2026 event will feature Darlene Turner teaching specifically about Love Inspired Suspense writing due to popular demand.Reading Recommendations and InspirationFor readers new to her work, Eason recommends the Elite Guardians series, featuring female bodyguards. The concept emerged from her research into a unique training ...
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Fairy Tales Meet the Wild West: Our Interview with Karen Witemeyer About Her Texas Ever After Series

    Fairy Tales Meet the Wild West: Our Interview with Karen Witemeyer About Her Texas Ever After Series
    Aug 22 2025
    Welcome back to LiteraryScape! We recently had the pleasure of welcoming back beloved author Karen Witemeyer to discuss her enchanting Texas Ever After fairy tale series. If you missed our live discussion, here's everything you need to know about these delightful Western retellings.When Classic Tales Meet Cowboy CountryKaren Witemeyer has masterfully reimagined beloved fairy tales in the rugged landscape of 1800s Texas, creating the Texas Ever After series published by Bethany House. These aren't your typical fairy tale retellings—they're grounded in historical reality while maintaining the magic and heart of the original stories.The Series BreakdownBook 1: Fairest of Heart - A Snow-White retelling featuring retired cowboys instead of seven dwarfsBook 2: If the Boot Fits - A gender-swapped Cinderella story (think "Cinderfella")Book 3: Cloaked in Beauty - A unique blend of Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding HoodThe Magic Behind the StoriesFairest of Heart: Cowboys Over DwarfsPerhaps the most creative adaptation in the series, Witemeyer transformed Snow White's seven dwarfs into retired cowboys living at the Diamond D Ranch. Led by Doc (a retired doctor who opened his home to cowboys with nowhere else to go), each "drover" pays homage to the Disney characters while maintaining their cowboy strength.Some of our favorite name adaptations:Coy (Bashful) - a clever synonym that perfectly captures the shy characterDusty (Sneezy) - always battling hay fever with his trusty handkerchiefJeb (Grumpy) - the gruff exterior hiding a heart of goldRowdy (Dopey) - reimagined as a cowboy dealing with brain trauma, but still finding his heroic momentsThe villain receives a brilliant update too—instead of just vanity driving the evil queen, Witemeyer created an aging actress with a calculated retirement plan involving theft and dreams of reinventing herself among European royalty.If the Boot Fits: Redeeming the StepmotherThis Cinderella retelling features one of Witemeyer's most important character decisions: redeeming the stepmother. "In all the fairy tales, the stepmother is always evil," Witemeyer explained, "and there are some wonderful, loving stepmothers in this world that need to be honored."The result is Asher Ellis (see what she did there with "Cinder-Asher"?), a down-on-his-luck cowboy working to support his beloved stepmother after his father's death. When she's evicted from her home, Asher returns to help—only to clash with the property owner's daughter, our heroine who comes from money this time around.Cloaked in Beauty: A Fairy Tale MashupThe most complex adaptation combines Sleeping Beauty's backstory with Little Red Riding Hood's journey narrative. Witemeyer solved the age-old parenting plot hole: "As a mother, there is no way that I would send my child away like that." Her solution? The only person a mother would trust with her child—her own mother, creating the grandmother in the woods scenario.The story cleverly plays with dragon and wolf imagery from both tales, with the wolf becoming a loyal companion rather than a threat, while the dragon represents greed and ambition in the human villains.Beyond Texas Ever AfterWitemeyer's passion for fairy tale retellings didn't end with the trilogy. Her latest release, To Love a Beast, kicks off a new independent series called "Once Upon a Time in Texas." This Beauty and the Beast retelling holds special significance as her favorite Disney story and features a bookbinding heroine—perfect for fellow book lovers!Coming next: A Little Mermaid story set in Galveston, Texas, which holds personal meaning as the movie played a role in her own love story with her husband.Future possibilities include a Tangled adaptation (inspired by her son's wedding theme) and even a Goldilocks and the Three Bears story featuring three brothers.What Makes These Retellings SpecialWitemeyer's genius lies in asking the right questions: How do you make these fantastical elements work in 1800s Texas? How do you honor the original stories while creating something entirely new? Her solutions feel both logical and creative, grounding magical elements in emotional truth and historical reality.The author's background growing up in the country (complete with a snake-catching younger brother) brings authenticity to her Western settings, while her deep love for the source material ensures each retelling captures what made us fall in love with these stories in the first place.Connect with Karen WitemeyerWant to dive deeper into Karen's fairy tale world? You can connect with her at karenwitemeyer.com, where you'll find:Direct contact optionsLinks to her Facebook group "The Posse" (where she's most active)Newsletter signup with monthly book giveawaysInformation about upcoming releasesKaren genuinely loves connecting with readers, so don't hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts on her fairy tale retellings!Final ThoughtsThe Texas Ever After series proves that the best retellings don't ...
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.