What was your favorite picture book as a kid?

To be honest, I cannot remember having a favorite picture book as a kid. I was pretty quick to dive into early readers and chapter books. However, I adored reading picture books to my kids when they were little. Recently, my husband and I hunted down two copies of an out of print British picture book the kids loved. It’s called Beware the Frog, and I loved reading it to them in different voices. They even would act it out as I read the story. It’s a precious memory for me, and now I’m looking forward to sharing it way down the road with my grandkids.

What was the first “real” book (with chapters and without pictures) you remember reading?

The first books that really stick out to me were the Gary Paulsen books. I think I read every single one of them available at that time. I only have a handful of copies now, and he continued to write beyond the point I graduated to much more difficult texts so there are a large number I’ve not read now. It always disappointed me that my boys never fell in love with Gary Paulsen’s books like I did.

What was your most favorite book in high school?

Rebecca by Dauphne Du Maurier, hands down. I loved reading classics, but this more modern gothic novel still sticks with me today. I love the mind games played in it and the unexpected twists.

What was your least favorite book in high school?

The Color Purple by Alice Walker. While I know it was a Pulitzer Prize winner, the content of the story was too difficult for me to handle. I had friends who walked through sexual abuse, and I walked with them through the recovery of it. I saw a side of the world that was too real for me to handle in fiction.

What was the last novel you read?

I finished In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar earlier this week and snuck in a novella late last night from Sally Britton, A Duchess for the Duke.

What was the last nonfiction book you read?

I’ve been consuming writing craft audiobooks lately. The last one I listened to was 2k to 10k by Rachel Aaron, right on the heels of The Productive Author by Joanna Penn.

Which book lived up to the hype (from the past 1-2 years)?

Both of Amanda Cox’s books, The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, definitely deserved the hype.

Which book do you love that needs more hype?

The Pinkerton’s Pursuit of Justice by Clari Dees. It’s from a small press publisher, so it’s not well known, but I loved the story and Clari’s way of writing.

Next novel on your TBR (up to three).

Beyond Wounded Hearts by Cynthia Roemer
Confessions to a Stranger by Danielle Grandinetti
Mr. Gardiner and the Governess by Sally Britton

Next nonfiction on your TBR (up to three).

Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols by Brad Bigney
Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot by Jane K. Cleland
Picturesque Cincinnati by James W. Dawson

Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.

Counterfeit Faith, the final book in my Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series, releases on May 16 and is probably my most romantic story thus far. It was hard to avoid with flirtatious Josiah Isaacs as the hero. Once he met the matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison, it was a war with himself not to fall hard and fast.

Gwendolyn Ellison has spent her life serving children the public has deemed delinquents. Sent to Final Chance House of Refuge, the children are supposed to be given a safe place to be reformed from their criminal ways and given a second chance at life. However, someone is trying to hide the abuse occurring inside, and when Gwendolyn tries to expose them, they target her with threats to her life.

Widower Josiah Isaacs gets pulled into Gwendolyn’s troubles when he rescues her from a knife blade, but he soon discovers more than abuse is going on. Someone is using the children for their counterfeiting operations. As a Secret Service operative, he has the jurisdiction to step in and rescue the children. As he and Gwendolyn work together, they both fight against their growing affection for each other. After all, Josiah doubts God, and Gwendolyn relies on her faith to endure each ordeal. Even if they can survive this case, can they really have a future together when their beliefs are so at odds?

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Anyone who signs up for my newsletter receives a free copy of Counterfeit Truth: A Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age Novella. It’s a prequel to the series that introduces you to some of the characters as well as the Secret Service’s early days. You can find out more about the novella and sign up for the newsletter at bit.ly/CounterfeitTruth.

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

Website: https://crystalcaudill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcaudillauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalcaudillauthor/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/crystalcaudillauthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/crystal-caudill