On July 22nd of 2024 I published my very first contemporary romance novel Raine, Raine, Run Away and then on July 21st 2025, The Shift Between Us joined the Covewood family! To celebrate this amazing journey, I’m offering a special one-day sale:

✨FREE ebooks for BOTH books

✨ 30% off paperback copies on Amazon

This sale will be for today only (July 21).

These are the first two books in my interconnected Covewood series. They can each be read as standalones, but they’re even more fun together. And with Book 3, Not Until I Found You, releasing next month, there’s never been a better time to fall in love with Covewood and catch up before the newest story arrives!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for supporting me these past 2 years (longer if we count the writing process of book 1) it truly means the world to me and has made a huge impact on my life. You are loved and appreciated!

Another month of 2026 has come and gone. Seriously... where is this year going?

As much as I love July, it always makes me a little sad because, in my mind, it means summer is already slipping away. I know, I know... summer technically started a couple of weeks ago, but I can’t help it. I’m the person who starts mourning summer before it’s even halfway over! I do the same thing with Christmas.

Okay, enough about me wishing time would slow down. Let’s talk books.

Writing Update

June was all about revisions.

I kicked off my sixth round of revisions for Not Until I Found You on June 1st and wrapped it up on June 23rd. The very next day, I jumped straight into my seventh (and hopefully final!) round. My goal is to have everything finished and sent off to my editor before the Fourth of July so I can take a few days to rest, celebrate with my family, and actually enjoy the holiday. If you think about it, I could use some prayers as I work toward that deadline.

One of the biggest highlights of this month was finally getting to share the cover of Not Until I Found You! Seeing your excitement and all the sweet messages about Zane and Maxinne has been so encouraging to me. Thank you for loving these characters already.

And here’s the craziest part...

We’re only eight weeks away from release day!

I can hardly believe we’re this close. There are so many exciting things happening over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for:

• ARC sign-ups for Not Until I Found You

• Street Team applications

• Anniversary sales for Raine, Raine, Run Away and The Shift Between Us (paperback and ebook)

You heard it here first, friends!

Life Update

When I wasn’t buried in revisions, I really tried to soak up as much of summer as I could.

I’ll admit, I spent far more hours than I wanted sitting behind my desk. While that work wasn’t wasted, there were definitely moments I wished I could have been outside instead. But as I look back over the month, I’m reminded that June was actually filled with so many sweet moments.

I celebrated Father’s Day with my little family, attended a friend’s children’s book signing, served at church almost every Sunday, enjoyed a cookout with friends, met a Bookstagram friend in real life (and even got to photograph her beautiful family!), got our kiddos a small (but big to us) pool, and survived a fun, and very busy, week of Vacation Bible School.

When I stop and count the blessings instead of the hours spent working, I realize June was a pretty wonderful month after all. Now here’s to making the most of July. I plan to spend a little less time behind my computer (if I can help it) and a little more time soaking up sunshine, making memories with my family, and enjoying my favorite season while it’s still here.

What I read in the month of June:

I actually got a lot more reading in this month than I expected, and I have two things to thank for that... my audiobook app and my never-ending pile of housework. Audiobooks keep me company during long drives to photoshoots, and listening to either a good story or the Bible somehow makes cleaning the house feel a whole lot less like a chore. (If only they could fold the laundry too.)

As part of my Bible reading plan this year, I spent June working through some of the shorter books of the Old Testament. Every time I finished one, it felt like such a little accomplishment. By the end of the month, I landed in Proverbs, which has always been one of my favorite books of the Old Testament. There’s something so comforting about reading through God’s wisdom each day. It’s exactly where I needed to be this month.

As for fiction... I think it’s safe to say I’m officially in my Lynn Painter era.

I recently finished The Do-Over, and it came so close to tying Better Than the Movies as my favorite. The premise was so much fun—the heroine relives the same Valentine’s Day over and over again—and if you know me, you know I have a soft spot for magical realism. (Who knows... maybe I’ll write one someday!)

I do want to mention that Lynn Painter’s books contain some language and references to sex. Even though they’re marketed as YA, they personally aren’t books I’d recommend for teenagers. That’s simply my own preference. The romances are closed door, though, with no explicit scenes.

That actually leads me to something I’ve shared before but still get asked about from time to time. These days, I mostly stick to closed-door romances because I want to be intentional about guarding my heart. Years ago, I read plenty of spicier romance novels, but over time I felt God gently prompting me to step away from them. It wasn’t about rules, but about obedience. And honestly, I’ve never regretted making that change.

With that said... I will happily read almost anything Abby Jimenez writes. Her stories are so heartfelt, her heroes are walking green flags, and her writing keeps me hooked from beginning to end. Her books do contain some mild language and references to sex, and the one I read this month included a single open-door scene that was easy enough to skip without missing anything important to the story. Overall, though, I continue coming back because she’s such a gifted storyteller, and I always walk away caring deeply about her characters.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of The Shift Between Us (how has it already been a year?!), this will be my last recipe share with you all—for now. I’ve really enjoyed slipping into Olivia’s world and sharing recipes that feel like something she would absolutely bake in her kitchen. It’s been such a fun way to celebrate the story with you.

I’m sure I’ll bring more recipes your way again in the future, but for now I’ll leave you with one more: a simple, delicious recipe that’s absolutely perfect for summer.

Lemon Bars with Honey and Fresh Thyme

find the recipe here

Crust

• ▢1/2 cup butter or coconut oil softened, plus more for greasing the pan

• ▢1/4 cup honey

• ▢1 1/4 cup almond flour

• ▢1/2 cup arrowroot powder

• ▢1/4 tsp salt

  Lemon Bars

  • ▢4 eggs

  • ▢1 egg yolk

  • ▢1/3 cup honey

  • ▢1-2 tbsp lemon zest

  • ▢3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

  • ▢3 tbsp arrowroot powder

  • ▢2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

  • ▢powdered sugar or coconut sugar for garnish, optional

  • ▢fresh thyme sprigs for garnish, optional

    Instructions

    Crust

    • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 or 9×9 square pan with butter or coconut oil.

    • Stir together the butter or coconut oil and honey until smooth.

    • Add the almond flour, arrowroot powder, and salt and stir until well combined.

    • Spread the mixture in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 12-15 minutes or until just barely set and beginning to slightly brown.

    • Remove the crust from the oven and set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

      Lemon Bars

      • Turn oven down to 325°F

      • Whisk together the eggs, egg yolk, honey and lemon, then stir in the lemon juice.

      • Whisk in the arrowroot powder and fresh thyme leaves.

      • Pour the mixture on top of the cooled crust, then bake for 30 minutes or until the lemon bars are just set and only very slightly jiggly in the middle.

      • Remove from the oven and let cool completely, then refrigerate for at least an hour (a few hours is best) before cutting.

Now something fun!!!

I have to share something with you all… I’ve been sitting on a secret for a dear friend of mine for months now. Honestly, since 2023, if we’re getting technical.

God has truly blessed me with some of the most wonderful friendships since I created my Bookstagram account back in 2023. Michelle is one of those rare friendships that instantly felt like coming home. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout my entire author journey, someone who has encouraged me, supported me, and helped shape these stories in more ways than I can even explain.

I truly believe God places people in our lives exactly when we need them, and she has been one of those gifts for me. I’m so grateful to call her a soul sister, and I couldn’t be more excited for her to finally share her big news with the world.

I am beyond proud of her and I need you to trust me on this… she is one of my absolute favorite authors. (And no, I’m not just saying that because she’s my friend.) If you’re wondering what I’m talking about… click the link below to find out her exciting announcement, and please go show her some love for me.

Click here to learn about it

Follow her on Instagram here

Because you’re part of my newsletter family, you get to see the cover of Not Until I Found You before anyone else!

Thank you for following along on this author journey and for allowing me to share little pieces of my life and stories with you. Your support means more than you know, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally share this cover with you.

Book Update

I always give my beta readers at least four weeks (and sometimes longer if needed) to read through a manuscript. While I stuck to that timeline this round—the official four-week mark is actually today 😆—so many of my beta readers finished early and flew through the chapters and so I decided to get a head start on my final revisions before sending the book to my wonderful editor. (Mainly because I was 2 weeks behind lol)

Right now, I’m about halfway through those revisions and hoping to finish the second half before the end of the month. Will I make it? Let’s all pray I can, lol. A huge shout out to my beta readers and for all of their help. This story would not be what it needs to be for you all if not for the team behind me.

Now, enough rambling. I know you’re not here for revision updates. You’re here for the cover. Are you ready?

🥁Drumroll, please...

I am so excited to finally introduce the beautiful cover for Not Until I Found You, designed by my incredibly talented friend, Cindy Ras.

Check Out Her Work Here

Not only did Cindy bring my vision to life, but she somehow captured the exact feeling I wanted readers to experience when they picked up this story. Every detail came together more beautifully than I could have imagined.

One of my favorite things about this cover is that the scenic background is based on a photograph I took during a photoshoot back in 2020. It was a breathtaking overlook that required a hike to reach, and that image has lived in my head ever since. When I began writing Not Until I Found You, that very spot became the inspiration for an important scene in the book.

Since this story takes place during the summer and features plenty of hiking adventures between the main characters, it felt like the perfect fit. Seeing a place that has been part of this story from the very beginning become part of the cover makes this reveal even more special.

I truly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. And now...

It’s finally time.

✨ Not Until I Found You ✨

Thank you for being here and for cheering me on through every draft, revision, and late-night writing session. Getting to share moments like this with you is one of my favorite parts of being an author.

I cannot wait for you to step back into Covewood and experience this story for yourselves. There are still a few more revisions ahead, but we’re getting closer every day.

Until next time,

❤️ India

One of my favorite months of the year has already come and gone, and honestly, I’m a little sad to say goodbye to May. This month was filled with so much love, joy, and special moments, and I truly hope yours was too.

Writing Update:
I worked incredibly hard on Not Until I Found You this past month—to the point that I started dealing with some mild anxiety from pushing myself too hard. It was a difficult season at times, but by God’s grace, I finished the draft I was working on and sent it off to a few trusted beta readers (thank you, sweet friends, for helping me through this process). I ended up only two weeks behind schedule, which honestly feels like a victory.

Now that I’ve finally been able to slow down and catch my breath a little, I’ve jumped back into revising a secret project… and oh my goodness, it feels so good to be back in this story. I am SO excited to share more with you soon.

One of my favorite moments this month was finally getting to share the title for Book Three with you all on my birthday. You guys made that day feel extra special for me and I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and support.

AND guess what? I have even more exciting news coming this month… including a cover reveal for Not Until I Found You!!!!

If you’d like to be part of the Cover Reveal Team, make sure to fill out the link below. I would absolutely love to have you be part of this!!

NUIFY Cover Reveal Team Form

Life Update:
Outside of working nonstop this past month, I tried to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Taking walks in nature with my kiddos ended up being one of the best things for the anxiety I was dealing with. Slowing down, getting fresh air, and soaking up the beauty around me really helped ground me again.

We also officially finished our sixth year of homeschooling this month, and whew… we are definitely ready for a break. But for us, summer break doesn’t mean completely stopping school—it just means taking a break from all the sit-down paperwork and structured lessons.

Summer is when we lean into the fun kind of learning. We spend our days reading as much as possible (I do a little reward system with the kiddos to encourage daily reading), adventuring outside, planning fun playdates and day trips, and just making the most of this slower season together.

And somehow… I actually physically read a book this month. I know, it’s shocking. Not an audiobook or my Kindle, but an actual real-life book in my hands. Honestly, it felt kind of magical. Especially the sweet I read but make sure to scroll down to where I tell you more about it.

I also got to spend time with some sweet friends for my birthday, enjoy delicious food, and wander through a few bookstores—which is basically my love language at this point, especially when I have an iced coffee in hand.

My kids and I have still been making pony bead keychains together, and I can’t even explain how oddly relaxing and therapeutic it’s been. I’ve loved every second of it. Overall, it’s been such a sweet month, and I’m really hoping June is even sweeter. We’re stepping into my favorite season, and I am beyond ready for summer.

Who’s with me?

Reading Update:

I didn’t get as much reading time in this month as I had hoped, but honestly, the books I did read were so worth it. I started with The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, and I swear, this woman can do no wrong. Everything she writes feels like gold to me. I absolutely flew through this story and loved listening to it on audio—even though I own the beautiful hardcover sitting on my shelf.

Then I picked up Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter as a little birthday gift to myself, and wow… I could not put it down. I don’t read a ton of YA romance, but I completely adored this story. It was charming, emotional, funny, and just the kind of book that reminds you why you love reading in the first place.

If you ever want to keep up with what I’m reading or see my full reviews, I share them over on Goodreads, and I’ll leave my profile linked below so we can be book friends.

I also continued reading through the Bible this month, and I have to say—Isaiah has been absolutely beautiful. There are so many moments that point toward Jesus, and it’s been incredible to sit with those passages and really soak them in. But I’ll be honest… I am more than ready to get to the New Testament. I’m ready for some on-page Jesus time.

Today’s Olivia Inspired Recipe is: Salted Honey Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled

• 1/4 cup pure honey clover or wildflower

• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed tightly

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar standard white sugar

• 1 large egg room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract pure vanilla preferred

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled (210g)

• 1/2 tsp baking soda ensures proper spread and rise

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt for the dough

• 1 tbsp flaky sea salt large crystalline flakes for garnish

  Making the Dough

  1. In a large mixing bowl, vigorously whisk together the melted butter, pure honey, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until lightened and smooth. Whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until completely emulsified and glossy.

  2. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt over the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the mixture together just until the last streak of flour disappears. Do not overmix.

  3. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the dough for exactly 30 minutes to solidify the butter and prevent over-spreading.

  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with crinkled white parchment paper. Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough onto the sheet, spacing them 3 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are crispy and deeply caramelized, but the centers remain pale and soft.

  5. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately tap the baking sheet firmly on the counter twice to deflate the cookies and create glossy, cracked centers. Generously sprinkle the tops with coarse flaky sea salt while still hot.

     Find the Recipe here

So today, I turn 37 years old… but we can all just pretend it’s my 29th birthday again, right?

Honestly though, I haven’t minded getting older nearly as much as I thought I would. My thirties have actually been some of the sweetest years of my life so far. My childhood was hard, my twenties were messy, and then I turned thirty and little by little, my life started coming together. And I owe all of that to Jesus.

So yes, I’m getting closer to forty, but if my thirties were the years things finally started looking up, then maybe my forties will be even better. That’s what I’m choosing to believe anyways.

To celebrate my birthday with you guys, I have two fun things to share. First, Grayson Long and I are hosting a 99-cent ebook sale featuring all of our books! You can find all the details below.

Find my books on Amazon

Find Grayson's books on Amazon

I do owe you all an apology. Somehow, I accidentally selected Amazon UK for the RRRA ebook deal, and it won’t let me change it now. I feel terrible about the mix-up, so please forgive me. I promise I’ll make it up to you soon. Thankfully, TSBU is ready to go! And unlike me, Grayson actually has her life together, so all three of her books are available right now for just 99 cents. Trust me when I say you are going to want these beautiful stories on your Kindle.

Now… can I get a drumroll, please?

Because I finally can share the title for Book Three in the Covewood series and I am excited to share it with you guys.

Are you ready?

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Not Until I Found You will officially be coming your way in August 2026!!

Right now, the story is with my second round of beta readers, and once I receive their feedback and make those final adjustments, it will be heading off to my editor. It’s starting to feel so real, and I am beyond excited to be getting closer to sharing this story with you all.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram because I’ll be sharing more updates, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes moments from this book very soon. I appreciate your support more than you know.

Happy almost Memorial Day weekend, friends. I’m praying each of you has a beautiful weekend filled with joy, peace, rest, and a little fun too.

Love you guys.

-India

It’s Gonna Be May… or well… It’s May now so…. Happy May Friends.

I’ve been buried deep in the editing trenches with Covewood Book 3 this past month. Since March 31st, I’ve revised—and revised—and revised this book. I’ve had to rework a few chapters, and right now I’m focusing on crafting a stronger ending. I have a foundation, but I’m adjusting it to raise the stakes and (hopefully) deliver that “ahhh, this is good” kind of moment at the end.

With all that said, that’s pretty much all I’ve been up to lately, writing wise. I’m definitely ready for a small break from writing so I don’t hit burnout. And so that this book can be sent out to my second round of betas. If you’d like to beta read this book for me, I would love some help. I will link the form here.

Beta Reading Form Here

We had a wonderful April. My little family and I were able to take a couple of days for a short trip to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, which were both so amazing to see. We had a blast, even though I caught a stomach bug while we were there. Let’s just say… thank goodness Noah had a bathroom on the Ark, lol.

My daughter and I also got to enjoy three girls’ days together, so now I owe my son a few, but I love when I can spend that one-on-one time with my kiddos. We’ve also discovered pony beads and have been making the cutest little keychains. Now I’m wondering… could we come up with designs inspired by each of my books? Would that be a fun addition to website orders or maybe even preorders?

I pray each of you had a blessed April, and that this new month is just as amazing. It’s my birthday month, so… that automatically makes it a good one, right? 😉

Here are some highlighted photos from April!

What did I read in April:

As I clean or edit photos for my photography business, or even while driving to and from work, there’s almost always an audiobook playing for me. This past month, I listened to four audiobooks and completed three beta reads (with one still in progress). Risk by Drew Taylor was so much fun to Beta Read for and is available for free for anyone who subscribes to her Newsletter!

Anything by Kate Watson is a must for me. She knows how to captivate me with her cute rom-coms, and they always leave me with that warm, fuzzy feeling. The same goes for Annah Conwell—both of these authors are autobuys for me. I have to say, The Run Option might be my favorite in Annah’s series!

Laura Langa is another author I love. Her fade-to-black romances are always a win for me, and I devour them every time. And of course, Emma St. Clair is just fabulous. I really, really loved If All Else Sails. It made me want to go sailing and experience it for myself… although, realistically, I’d probably love it for a day or two before I was ready to head back to land. Still, I adored the story. It had those classic ’90s and early 2000s rom-com vibes, and I’m always here for that.

And of course, I’ve been continuing my way through the Bible. I feel such a sense of accomplishment every time I finish a book—it’s one step closer to the New Testament. The Old Testament is tough, y’all. There’s so much sin and brokenness in the world, but I love catching those small glimmers and foreshadowing of Jesus’s arrival and the hope He brings to us all.

Brown Sugar Pop Tart Cookies

I am going to need someone to make these delicious looking cookies because they sound amazing!!! I’m personally trying to cut out so much sugar so I might hold off on these for a little bit but I would love to try them in the future. These were my favorite pop-tart flavor back in the day. You can find the full recipe here.
For the Cookies

• 1 cup Unsalted butter softened

• 1/2 cup Granulated sugar

• 1 cup Light brown sugar packed

• 2 large Eggs

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

• 3 3/4 cups Cake flour

• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon Baking soda

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder

• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

For the Filling

• 5 tablespoons Unsalted butter softened

• 3/4 cup Light brown sugar packed

• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons Cake flour

For the Icing

• 1 cup Powdered sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

• 3 tablespoons Unsalted butter

• 2 1/2 tablespoons Milk

  Making the Cookies

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.

  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, beating on medium speed until well blended—about 1-2 minutes. Cover and chill the dough for one hour.

  3. While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

  4. In a medium bowl, mix the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and cake flour until smooth. Scoop and roll into small balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheet.

  5. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop the chilled dough, break it in half, create a well in one half, place a ball of filling inside the well, then press the other half on top. Pinch the seams to seal.

  6. Arrange the cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes until tops are set and edges are lightly golden brown. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and transfer to a wire rack.

  7. While the cookies cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, unsalted butter, and milk until smooth. Spoon the icing on top of each cooled cookie, allowing it to spread. Allow to set for 15 minutes before serving.

I don’t know about you all, but here in Kentucky we’ve been having one of the weirdest winters ever. One day it was sunny and 80 degrees and the next it was in the 50’s and cloudy. At one point we even had snow after the next day being 70 degrees. What is going on ya’ll? With that said, I’m beyond ready for spring to be here.

Writing wise, I spent the month of March revising a secret project and getting it ready for beta readers, which was sent out this Monday. Book 3 was read by betas and I recieved the final feedback from everyone on Monday. It’s felt like all I’ve done this past month is work but I’ve enjoyed some outside time with my kids, went to the greenhouse, was by my bestie’s side during her surgery, and did a lot with our church. It’s been a wonderful month.

I’m so excited to be able to share more and more with you guys about these two projects that I’ve been working on non-stop. I’m diving into my 3rd round of revisions for Covewood Book 3 and have really missed this story and the characters. That’s what I’ll be doing most of this month, revising non-stop until the book is ready for my second round of beta readers.

I hope and pray that your March was full of joy and peace.

What I Read This Month:

I finished my ARC of Chasing Butterflies by my bestie, Grayson Long. I could feel her heart woven into this book which made it my favorite book of her’s by far. It has my heart and I really connected with the FMC and her struggles with motherhood. She wrote it with such grace and tenderness, everyone will love it. If you haven’t added this one to your TBR list, please do. You will love it!

I also was gifted an audio copy of Drew Taylor’s book Reverie and ya’ll, the way this book gripped me and held my attention the entire time. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen between Esme and Noah! She did an amazing job and the plot itself is one of a kind. Check it out!!

I actually picked up a book from my shelf this month and decided to give “Promise Me Sunshine” by Cara Bastone a try. This book tugged at my heart, made me tear up, had me laughing, and rooting for these two stranger-friends-to- lovers to finally realize their feelings for each other. It was nice to read a relationship that felt like a real friendship, moving within a real time. There was some swearing in this book and there was one spice scene at like 90% so it crept up on me lol but was easy to skip and honestly, this book wasn’t even that romantic but the story about grief was beautiful and relatable.

Famous For a Living was so cute. I think the cover should be different though, because the entire story was written during winter. So why does the cover make us think of spring? I have the physical copy of this book but I listened to it. I love the Instagram post art that is included in the physical book.

This month’s Olivia Inspired Recipe is Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies. This is something my husband has been begging me to make ever since we started our Freshly Milled Flour journey. Before that, we didn’t eat a lot of bread products. I have yet to make this but might be making it for him soon. If you try this recipe out, please let me know, and tag me on social media so I can see all of your creations.

Ingredients

• Wet ingredients:

• ½ cup butter, at room temperature

• 1 cup packed brown sugar (dark is great, but light also works!)

• 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Dry ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• For cream pie middle:

• ¾ cup butter, at room temperature

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1-2 teaspoons milk to make the filling creamy

  Instructions

  • Add room temperature butter and brown sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat the butter and sugar together for 1 minute. Next, add in the molasses, egg and vanilla and beat again until well combined, smooth and creamy, about 1 more minute.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, oats, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and salt in a bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low-speed just until combined. Chill dough in fridge for 1 hour, this is so the cookies have the perfect texture, so please don’t skip the chilling of the dough!

  • Once ready to bake cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use your hands or a tablespoon to grab a large tablespoonful of dough and roll into a ball. Place dough balls 2-inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake 9-12 minutes. If you like cookies with a crispy edges, bake for about 12 minutes. If you like softer cookies, bake for 9-10 minutes.

  • Remove from oven and cool the cookies on sheets about 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. They will still remain soft on the inside. Repeat with remaining dough. Makes about 30 cookies total (or what will be 15 cookie sandwiches).

  • Once cookies have completely cooled, you can make the filling: Add the room temperature butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on low, then gradually increase speed to high for about 1 minute, or until the frosting is smooth and creamy.

  • Top one cookie sandwich with a spoonful of filling, leaving a nice edge around the cookies and top with another cookie sandwich, then very gently press down slightly. Repeat with all cookies. You should get about 15 oatmeal cream pies. The filling will have the best texture after letting the cookies sit at room temperature for 1 hour, if you try to bite into them earlier the frosting won’t be as firm as we’d like.

    Find the recipe here

Spring is so close I can practically taste it, friends. And after spring comes summer… the season my third novel is set in. Who else loves summer? Think sun-kissed skin, melting ice cream, hiking trails, swimming days, garden blooms, and slowing down just enough to savor it all. I am more than ready.

This past month, I wrapped up my first round of revisions for Book Three. It officially went to my first round of beta readers this past week, and while I (somewhat patiently) wait for their feedback, I’ve been working on a little secret project. One that I recently typed “The End” on. There are so many exciting things in the works, and I cannot wait to share more with you soon.

Above ^ is a little “vibe collage” for Book Three. I’m hoping to do a title reveal in May… maybe as a fun way to celebrate my birthday? Until then, I’ll be hard at work shaping this sweet romance into exactly what it’s meant to be for you.

You know I like to share a little collage from this past month. I’ve done a lot of baking and cooking, coffee drinking while working on revisions, reading through the bible, teaching on Sunday’s at church. It’s been so a fulfilling month. I pray that your’s has been too.

What I read in February:

One of my favorite reads this month, besides the bible of course, was “Say You’ll Remember Me”. Now this book did contain some language and had 1 fade to black scene in it that was super easy to skip. The story as a whole just captivated me wholly. I couldn’t put the book down, flipping page after page, until I got to the end and was so sad to be finished. This book stuck with me that instantly gets a 5 star rating from me. Xavier was by far the most sweetest non-toxic MMC I’ve ever read and I think that as a whole was why I loved this story so much.

The Mirror Valley series has been such a fun series to listen to this past month. Technically I am only a few hours away from being finished with the last installment, “The Real Fake Fiance”, and I think it’s my favorite book of the entire series.

Now, I got to beta read for a dear friend of mine, Cindy Ras, and I fell in love with Jack and Willow in “Colors of the Wild”. Cindy has out done herself with this novel and I truly had so much fun reading it. <3 Be on the look out for publication date coming in June. You’re going to want to add this one to your TBR this summer!!

I am bringing to you a recipe that is so Olivia, and is one I want to make myself, that I hope you have fun giving a try. Click HERE for the recipe or find it below as well. Remember to tag me if you try any of these recipes.

Lavender Banana Bread

For the Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract

• 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed

For the Lavender Glaze

• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract

• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

• 2 1/2 tablespoons milk

• a drop light pink or purple food coloring (optional)

• culinary lavender flowers For a rustic touch (optional).

  How to Make Lavender Banana Bread

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 6-cup loaf pan with nonstick spray.

  2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

  3. Combine the melted butter and brown sugar in a large bowl, then add beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and lavender extract.

  4. Stir in the mashed bananas. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.

  5. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes until golden brown.

  6. Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes then invert onto parchment paper to cool completely.

  7. For the glaze, whisk all glaze ingredients together until smooth and adjust consistency if needed.

We did it friends! We made it through the month of January. That feels like a huge achievement, especially those of us who suffered from the ‘super fun’ ice storm that swept through the south east of the states. My little family and I lost power for four days, ran the important stuff off of our generator, and camped out in the living room together. By that last day we were getting a taste of cabin fever. Today, thankfully, it’s 59 degrees in Kentucky and we are all praying the rest of this ice will be melted away by tomorrow.

Anyways, enough about that! I have something exciting to share with you all. I typed “The End” on Book 3 in the Covewood series!!! I wrote 39,288 words in the month of January. I took advantage of the slower month to finally finish my first draft and I might be also working on a super fun little project I can’t talk about yet but just know… something is in the works and i’ll be sharing the details with you all as soon as I can! Now, it’s time for the fun stuff with book 3- Editing! I dove head first into my first round of revisions today and I’m still so tickled with how this novel has came together. It’s still in ‘hot mess’ mode but that’s what is to be expected out of a first draft. That is why I do many many rounds of revisions, to get it just right for you all.

Now, if you’re someone who enjoys beta reading for authors, and if you’d like to help me out with this novel, I have a form you can fill out.

Find it here

If you have no idea what a beta reader is or what all goes into it, I also wrote a beta reader guide here with all of that information that you are welcome to check out.

Beta Reader's Guide

I always keep everyone updated on my Instagram stories on the writing/drafting progress each day, if you like to follow along that’s where you’ll find me the most. But always know, I will stay in touch with you all right here on this Newsletter. I’m happy to have you here, friend. I appreciate each of you so much.

ALSO!!!!! From February 11th until the 15th, I have a 99 cent Ebook sale for both Raine, Raine, Run Away and The Shift Between Us!!! If you’d like to have a copy of the Ebooks, here is the perfect chance to snag them onto your kindle. You can find them both below.

RRRA

TSBU

What I read last month:

Since I was so busy with drafting stories, I didn’t read a whole lot. BUT let’s dive into what I did read, shall we.

I started adding the books of the bible that I am reading. I started a “Read-the-bible-in-a-year” plan for 2026. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s the Bible Project on the You Version Bible App.

I finished my last wintery/Christmas read a little late but it was Laura Langa, whom I adore. Her books are always so so good. I really enjoyed this cute little Novella. I wasn’t ready to let go of the Christmas feelings anyways so I was happy to finish it in January. Then I listened to The Perfect RomCom and of course, I loved it. Anything Melissa Ferguson writes is romcom gold. Same Time Next Summer made me ready for the warmer months. I needed something sunny and beachy in my life and this book delivered. It’s a dual time line, second chance novel… of course I loved it. Then I stated First Time Caller by B.K. Borison for 2 reasons, 1 - I had bought it on my kindle a long time ago and thought why not, I love her writing style. and I was told it wasn’t that spicy. Besides some language, the book was SO CUTE! Until I got to the 60% mark…. then I had to put it down because it went from like a 2 to a 10 real quick. My softy heart couldn’t handle the spice. But besides that, it honestly was such a soft romantic story.

Oh, I always want to add that I watched People We Meet On Vacation on Netflix and … SWOON. Now there is some language and a spicy scene at the end, but it was the cutest romcom ever. It gave me all of the 2000’s romcom vibes and ya’ll know that’s my jam. Poppy and Alex gave me total Luke and Olivia vibes. Speaking of Olivia… are ya’ll ready for a recipe?!?

I made my first ever batch of cinnamon rolls a few weeks ago and you guys…. it was so good. I really think Olivia would be proud of me with these bad boys. So here is the recipe I used below and if you try and make them (with flour or freshly milled flour or even sour dough) tag me on social media. I wanna see how they turn out for you all. Also… I need to NOT make these all the time. I could eat them my weight in them lol!!!!

Find the recipe here

Ingredients

For Tangzhong

• 3 Tbsp fresh milled hard white wheat flour

• 6 Tbsp whole milk

• 3 Tbsp water

Dough

• 405 grams fresh milled hard white wheat flour

• 217 grams fresh milled soft white wheat flour

• 1⅛ cup grams whole milk

• 1½ Tbsp instant yeast

• 3¾ Tbsp.sugar

• 2¼ Tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• 6 Tbsp butter, softened

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling

• 93 grams butter, softened

• 130 grams brown sugar

• 15 grams cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 block

• 60 grams butter, softened 4 Tbsp. (I use salted butter)

• 250 grams powdered sugar 2 cups

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp salt, optional (I don’t add if I use salted butter)

Method

Make Tangzhong

1. Combine all ingredients for tangzhong into a small saucepan and whisk over medium heat to make sure there are no clumps.

2. Stir constantly until thickened.2-3 minutes. I like to use a spatula after whisking so it doesn’t stick to the edges. It will look like a thick roux similar to thick pudding.

Make Dough

1. Mix the tangzhong mixture with the milk to cool it down so it doesn’t kill the yeast. If it cools down too much, reheat to 100℉ so it’s warm to activate the yeast.

2. Next mix in the yeast and sugar. Let it get foamy so you know the yeast is working. Put this mixture in to the mixer bowl.

3. Add in flour and turn mixer on.

4. While mixer is going add in eggs one at a time until incorporated. Then add in butter, salt, and vanilla extract. *The mixture will make you think it’s too wet and it might not come together right away. Just trust the process and it will start to come together like it should. This is a very supple dough. If it really doesn’t after a few minutes sprinkle small amounts of flour in until it does. Things like this can vary with humidity and altitude.

5. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes until the mixture is smooth and passes a windowpane test. This will vary depending on what mixer you are using.

6. Form the dough into a ball, put it in a greased bowl, cover and set aside for 10 minutes.

7. While the dough is resting combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl for the filling.

8. After the 10 minute rest, roll your dough out to 24×10 inches on an oiled counter top or table. Spread the softened butter over all of the dough, except for the top 1/2-1 inch. You’ll want that to be able to seal that portion when you’re done rolling the cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle on brown sugar mixture and evenly coat your dough.

9. Tightly roll your cinnamon rolls and when you reach the end pinch the seam to seal them.

10. Using a sharp knife, string, or dental floss, cut into 2 inch sections to make 12 rolls. Arrange in a parchment lined glass 9×13 pan and cover with plastic wrap. Rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.

11. Preheat oven to 350℉. Bake rolls for 25-30 minutes. Until golden and 190℉ in the middle. Ovens will vary so make sure to watch yours when you first make these. My oven took 27 minutes.

    Set aside to cool while making the frosting.

Frosting

1. Cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth with electric mixer. Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and salt (if using) and mix until smooth.

2. Frost cinnamon rolls when they are cool. They can be slightly warm, but you don’t want your frosting to melt.

Happy New Year, friends!

I hope this email finds you well and that your holiday season was filled with joy, laughter, meaningful memories, and all the cozy goodness that comes with that time of year. I don’t know about you, but I was genuinely sad to take down our Christmas tree this year. I think part of it was letting go of the comfort the season brings, the slowness, the togetherness, and the extra time with loved ones. But now it’s time to move forward and begin looking ahead to a brand-new year.

Before we do that, though, I want to reflect on last month, because I have a few fun updates to share.

November and December were incredibly special as I promoted The Shift Between Us. This book holds such a special place in my heart, and being able to share it with the world truly meant everything to me. Last month alone, there were 125,334 pages read on Kindle Unlimited, which is the most I’ve ever had in a single month. Every share, every review, and every post you engaged with helped make that happen. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I also had the joy of attending my very first book club meeting, and it was such a God thing. My brother and sister-in-law moved to Fort Knox this year, which is just two hours away from us. My sister-in-law recently joined a book club and received an email announcing their December read. And guess what it was? The Shift Between Us. Of course, she shared that she knew the author, and we were able to schedule a time where I could visit family and join the book club meeting. I answered questions, listened to their thoughts, and spent the evening with the most wonderful group of women.

The sweetest part came as I sat there listening to them discuss the book. I felt God place it on my heart that this moment was a gift from Him. He whispered a quiet “Because I love you.” into my heart and it brought happy tears to my eyes. What a gift it truly was.

Beyond that, December was full in all the best ways. I did some writing, a lot of baking (Olivia would be proud), took a photo with the Grinch (my personal favorite, especially since Luke is often referred to as the Grinch, so it felt fitting), saw Christmas lights, spent quality time with family, and hosted the cutest set of Christmas minis. Truly, it was such a blessed month.

Looking ahead, my main goal for this month is to finish the first draft of my third novel. I ended the year with 50,000 words, which puts me about halfway through the draft. I was able to write 9,000 words just last week, and I’m hopeful I can continue building that momentum throughout the rest of the month. I am so excited to share more about this sweet story with you all soon.

I have some fun surprises in the works for 2026 and I can’t wait to share them with you all. Thank you, as always, for being here and supporting this journey.

What I read last month:

Usually, December is the month where I absolutely devour all the Christmas reads. This year, I only managed to squeeze in four. I technically finished Faking Christmas on Saturday, so does it still count as a December read? I’m going to say yes, especially since it’s a reread for me and one of my all-time Christmas favorites.

One of my goals for 2026 is to only read closed-door romances. I normally read clean, but every now and then I’ll pick up a popular book—something like a Emily Henry book—and just skip the spicy chapters. This year, though, I don’t want to skip anything. I want to protect my heart and be intentional about what I consume, and choose stories that are genuinely good for me.

My favorite read of the month was Since We’ve No Place to Go by Kate Watson. If she writes it, I’m going to read it. She is such a wonderful author. Her books are clean, beautifully written, and grounded in heart. While her stories aren’t marketed as Christian fiction, I love the subtle traces of faith woven throughout, little moments that fellow believers will recognize and appreciate.

This particular book was incredibly sweet, reignited my love for baseball romances, and tugged at my heartstrings in all the best ways.

I’ve been share with you all some recipes inspired by Olivia, my FMC in The Shift Between Us, since the book released in July of last year. I figured I would keep that going for a little while longer. Today, I want to share with you a recipe I’d love to try and make that is inspired by Olivia’s love of Lavender.

Lavender Honey Cupcakes

These look like the perfect combination of floral and sweet flavors!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup honey

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp dried lavender buds

• 1/2 cup milk

  Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

  3. In a larger bowl, cream together the butter and honey until smooth and fluffy.

  4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

  5. Gently heat the milk in a small saucepan over low heat and add the dried lavender buds. Let it steep for 5 minutes, then strain and add the infused milk to the wet ingredients.

  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

  7. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.

  8. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

  9. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

     Find the full recipe here

I meant for this newsletter to go out on December 1, but here we are, eight days later, and I’m finally getting a moment to put it together. I always want to keep things real with everyone, and I promise there’s a point to my rambling. It all comes back to how good God is.

My husband and I recently restarted Dave Ramsey’s “Get Out of Debt” plan. We followed it back in 2019 and managed to pay off everything except my student loans and our mortgage within five months. But after moving to the property where we live now, the debt slowly crept back in. It was embarrassing to face, especially knowing we had created the problem ourselves. Still, I knew we had turned things around once, so we can do it again.

I prayed for God to provide in the ways only He can, especially with the slow winter months approaching, and He did. He showed up by sending a flood of photo sessions my way through my photography business which has been such a blessing. Because of that, we paid off some debts last month and were able to afford Christmas gifts for our kids. Praise Jesus for that provision.

We still have a long road ahead, but this progress has brought so much light back into our lives. God is good, always. Sometimes I think He waits for us to take the first steps so that He can step in and handle what we cannot. And with all that going on, I’ve been a busy bee this season—which means Book 3 has taken a bit of a back seat.

I have been writing, though. I’m sitting at 40,000 words on this first draft. I had originally hoped to finish by January 1st, but that no longer feels realistic. So I’m giving myself grace for the rest of this month. Come January, I plan to buckle down and push through the remainder of this manuscript. Book 3 is set in the summertime, and if I can release it by August, I will be thrilled.

Can I do it? We’ll see. With God, all things are possible.

Outside of running my photography business and homeschooling my kiddos, this month has been full in the best of ways. We slipped away to Tennessee for a few days to celebrate my daughter’s 8th birthday and enjoy some much-needed unplugged time as a family. I’ve also done a bit of baking, put up our Christmas tree on November 3, and even had the joy of hosting a book signing on Small Business Saturday at The Wool and Flax Market. It truly has been a blessed month.

If you’re looking for a Pumpkin Roll recipe, you can find one in November’s newsletter. And speaking of treats—I have a tiny sneak peek of Book 3’s cover for you today. Who’s ready?

Drum roll, please…

I know, I know… it is tiny but I couldn’t show you the whole thing just yet. Enjoy this beautifully colored corners for now. I can’t wait for you all to see this cover. It is sooooo pretty! Now, to finish drafting this story!!!

I won’t go into great detail today about the books I was able to read last month. If you like Christian suspense and Christian Romances, definitely check out Latisha Sexton’s books. She is amazing. Cole and Laila are Just Friends was on of my favorite reads of this month. It was my first book by Bethany Turner and I quickly fell in love with her writing style. If Annah Conwell or Sarah Adams writes it, I am going to read it! Although, I will say Bed, Borrow, or Steal contained a little more heat than I was used to in a Sarah Adams book so if you’re a clean book girlie like me, do some research beforehand.

If you read The Shift Between Us, you know how much Olivia loves baking during the Holiday season. Gingerbread anything is her go-to and so when I saw this Gingerbread Brownie recipe, I know I had to share it with you all. To find the link to this recipe, you can find it here. If you make this recipie, please tag me on Instagram at @Indiatungateauthor and I would love to see how they turn out for you all! Happy Baking.

Gingerbread Brownies

• 1 ½ cups (300 g) light brown sugar, packed

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 tablespoons molasses

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Stir until well combined.

3. Mix in the eggs, molasses, and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is smooth.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

5. Gradually stir the dry flour mixture into the wet butter mixture until completely combined.

6. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is no longer jiggly. If using a 9×13-inch pan, bake for 25-30 minutes.

8. Allow the brownies to cool completely before dusting with confectioners’ sugar.

9. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

   

Hi friends,

I pray each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. Please know how truly grateful I am to share this space with you. Your support and kindness mean the world to me.

This year, I wanted to join in on the Black Friday fun, which means I’m offering amazing Amazon deals on both of my books, Raine, Raine, Run Away and The Shift Between Us.

Are you ready?!
Here are the Black Friday deals 👇

You can save $5 on all Paperbacks and $3 on all Ebooks. If you are still shopping for Christmas gifts or are looking to fill up your Kindle or bookshelf, this would be the perfect time to do so. Again, I appreciate you all so very much. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, I’ve been sharing some Black Friday Bookish Deals on my stories. Happy Shopping Friends.

Follow me on Instagram

ALSO, a quick reminder that I will be at The Wool and Flax Market TOMORROW, located in London, Kentucky with all of my books and march available. If you are local or near by the area, I would love to see you and meet you in person. The details are listed below.

Find the details here

October has been such a busy month! Not so much with my writing career, but my photography business has really picked up. Everyone wants those beautiful fall colors in their photos this time of year, and I don’t blame them. It’s my favorite time of year to photograph.

Even with the chaos, I managed to write 8,208 words before realizing that drafting was moving a little slower than I’d hoped. So, I decided to switch gears and go back to revise Chapters 1–10 of Book 3. So… I did that at least!

And speaking of Book 3—I got a cover update, and you guys… it’s by far the prettiest one yet (in my opinion). I can’t wait for the day I can share it with you! Seeing the cover has me even more excited about this story, and I’m hoping to add plenty more words to this draft before this month’s over. I’ll take all the prayers and good vibes you want to send my way!

What I read this October:

I read more this month than I have in a long time! I was deep in my audiobook phase. Anytime I was doing dishes, folding laundry, driving to or from work, or editing photos, I had my earbuds in and was devouring some fun reads.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was by far one of the funnest listens. It had the perfect mix of romance and mystery. It’s a closed-door romance (with a few words here and there), but overall such an enjoyable, lighthearted story.

I also re-read Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder and I loved it just as much the second time! It’s such a comfort read and one of my all-time favorite cozy mysteries. (Also closed-door.)

The Other Sister was labeled as a Christian thriller/mystery, but personally, I didn’t get many Christian vibes from it. It was closed-door, though, and while it wasn’t totally my cup of tea, it did keep me intrigued the whole time. If you want more of my thoughts on this one—or any books I mention—check out my Goodreads account. I always post honest but kind reviews there.

I also want to mention Amy Tackett, an author I met in September at Tennessee Lit Con. She was the sweetest! She stopped by my booth and told me how much she appreciated that I label my books as Christian romances. I admire that she included a Christian quote at the start of her novella, The Tides of Our Sins, which I devoured. It’s different from what I usually read, but I’ve really been enjoying stepping outside my comfort zone. Amy writes mystery/thriller stories and just announced a Christmas one—so definitely check her out!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It was way too fun. I hadn’t read anything by Elle Cosimano before, but after this one, I’ll absolutely be picking up her others. Seriously—just look into it. It’s worth it.

To round out the month, I read Not Our First Rodeo, which was the perfect palette cleanser after all the thrillers. I always love Madison Wright’s writing style and storytelling. And First Base by Ally Weigand was my first book of hers—and I really enjoyed it! (Again, reviews for both are up on my Goodreads.)

Today on Olivia’s Goodies… we have a Pumpkin Roll Recipe. I wanted to share this for this month because I, myself, have tried to make this today actually and it turned out so so yummy!!!

For the Cake

• 3 whole eggs well beaten

• 1 cup sugar

• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree

• ¾ cup flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  (or just do 1 teaspoon of Pumpkin spice if that’s what you have)

For the Filling

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature

• 2 TBSP butter softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cake

• Preheat oven to 375ºF.

• Grease and flour a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan with oil. Or, line pan with parchment paper and spray with avocado oil (that’s the easy way!). Remember to be generous with your oil.

• Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.

• In the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat eggs for 5 minutes (yes, the whole 5 minutes) until light and foamy.

• Add sugar and stir until creamy, then gently fold in the pumpkin puree.

• Fold in the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (don’t overmix the batter, stir until there is no more visible flour).

• Pour batter into prepared jelly roll pan and spread until even. Pick up the pan and tap it (the bottom of the pan) against the counter a few times to remove air bubbles.

• Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until the cake is done.

• While the cake is baking, place a clean flour sack or tea towel on the counter and sprinkle with a bit of powdered sugar.

• As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, run a butter knife around the outside edge of the cake to separate it from the pan. Immediately, using hot pads, turn the pan upside down over the prepared towel. Pat the back of the pan, if needed, but the cake should fall out easily (especially if you used parchment paper).

• As soon as the cake is out of the pan, place another clean flour sack towel on the short end of the cake and roll it up like a sleeping bag.

• Cool the cake on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.

For the Filling

• While the cake is cooling, prepare your filling by creaming together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla. (Some people add Maple syrup, that is up to you)

• Unroll the cooled cake and carefully spread the filling evenly over the surface. Reroll the cake (without the towel this time), cover, and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes.

• When ready to serve, slice the cake into rounds and dust each piece with powdered sugar.

I recently asked on my Instagram stories for recommendations of closed-door mysteries and thrillers, and wow, you all delivered! I got so many responses—and just as many people asking to see the full list. So, I figured, why not share what was shared with me?

I’m not 100% sure if all of these are considered clean fiction, so I encourage you to do a little research first (I’ve been doing the same). And if you find one you absolutely love, please let me know—I’d love to hear about it!

Now I am going to start with the books I have tried and enjoyed.

The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year was fantastic. I could not put this book down, it had me hooked from the beginning. The romance made this book captivating but the crime solving mystery was what really had be on the edge of my seat. This has a few curse words and kissing scenes but I would rate this as closed door and worth checking out.

I am actually re-reading Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder because I knew I would enjoy it plus it had been a whole year since I had read it the first time. This book is quirky, fun, and mysterious! And one of my top favorite closed door reads.

I haven’t re-read Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind, but I plan to, because it was just as much fun as Gracie’s first book in this fun series (mentioned above). Honestly, can I ever really stay away from romance? It’s my comfort and I can read just about anything as long as there is a love story involved. I know, I know, this is not reading outside of my comfort zone but I’m still having fun this month with these reads.

I just started reading this book on my kindle and so far it has been a lot of fun. Now I can’t say if it’s closed door yet but as of right now, there is no romance and only a mystery going on. I will keep you all posted on my thoughts on this one on Instagram and Goodreads. But, I’m enjoying it so far.

Now, I am going to list below the recommendations that have been sent to me. I’ll attach the links to each title so you can just click and start diving in:

Christian Mysteries and Thrillers:

In The Midst Of The Storm by Latisha Sexton

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

One Day Gone by Luana Ehrlich

Firefly Diaries by C.C. Warrens

Autumn by The Sea by Melissa Taggs

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

What We Hide - Colleen Coble

Girl Lost by Kate Angelo

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

Final Approach by Lynette Eason

Into The Fire by Irene Hannon

Cold Light Of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

Secrets, Lies, and Deadly Ties by Tawni Suchy

Closed Door Mysteries and Thrillers:

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Killer In The Margins by Eliza Floretta

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke

Flicker In The Dark by Stacy Willingham

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder

Along For The Ride by Heather Miekstyn

Death Checked Out by Leah Dobrinska

First Lie Wins by. Ashley Elston

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Other Sister by Jessica Patch

AND if Mysteries or Thrillers aren’t your thing and you’re like me and you love a good romance novel, I got a treat for you!!! FaithBooks is your number one source for Christian Romance deals! I have teamed up with several other authors to offer a delightful selection of free books for one day only!

Be sure to subscribe to their 2x weekly deals emails at www.faithbooksromance.com so you never miss another Free Book Blast!

Check it out here

Finally, October is here!!! One of my favorite months of the year and honestly, isn’t it one of everyone’s favorite’s? What kind of person doesn’t enjoy October? That is a valid question, don’t you think. Anyways, Hi friends! I am so happy to have you here on this little corner of the internet and if you like bookish updates, I have a big one for you all!!! So grab yourself a warm and cozy drink and let’s dive in, shall we?

Life & Author Update:

September is always a big month for our family because it’s my son’s birthday—but this year was extra special. He hit double digits and turned 10! 🎉 My mama heart wasn’t quite ready for it, but I’m beyond thankful to have a healthy, happy, and amazing son. I’m definitely counting my blessings. Most of our September was filled with homeschooling, cross country practices, and even a trip to the Apple Festival (because what’s fall without apples and cider, right?).

On the bookish side of life, I finally got to meet some of my author besties in real life! Tennessee Lit Con was my very first “big” author event, and I was lucky enough to spend it with Cindy Ras, Grayson Long, Marie Veillon, and Annah Conwell. When my husband and I walked into the convention center to set up, Cindy and Grayson ambushed me with a giant hug attack. We held on for a solid 2–3 minutes (yes, there were tears), and it was pure joy to finally hug these amazing women after years of friendship online. That moment alone was worth the trip.

The event itself was incredible. The organizers put on such a smooth, well-run weekend. I sold 26 books (yay!), made new connections, and left with a heart so full I wish I could hit rewind and do it all again. Now that I know what to expect, I might just venture out to more of these events in the future.

To top it off, I had a book signing at the most charming little bookstore in Corbin, Kentucky—Georgia Blossoms Books. Getting to meet readers face-to-face will always be my favorite part of this journey. And exciting news: the store is hosting their own festival in 2026 called Novels In Bloom. I’ve already seen how hard the team is working, and trust me, it’s going to be an incredible event for book lovers. (Want more details? Click HERE!)

What I read last month:

Confession time: I didn’t get much reading in this month. Which is totally unlike me! But between drafting and bouncing from one book event to the next, my TBR pile had to take a backseat. That said, the little reading I did squeeze in was totally worth it.

First up, anything by Gracie Ruth Mitchell is an automatic “yes” for me, and her book All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail was such a delight. Also, the FMC’s name is India! Let me tell you—it was both strange and hilarious hearing my own name in an audiobook, but it also made the story feel extra special. I adored her and Felix’s romance.

I also got to beta read for one of my author besties, and oh my goodness… I was swooning the entire time. I can’t spill the details yet, but just know I’ll be shouting about it the second I can.

And while I haven’t finished this next book yet, it deserves a spot on the list: Marie Veillon’s first book in her series. I’m about 40% in, and already hooked. Marie’s not only a dear friend but also quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Her writing is strong, her stories engaging, and I can’t wait to see how this one wraps up.

I have found the best chocolate chip cookie recipie for Freshly Milled Flour! Now, I am sure you can sue whatever flour you prefer, but this one is the bomb either way. It was worth sharing with you all! If you give this a try, tag me!!!

Ingredients

• 226 grams butter, melted (1 cup)

• 150 grams sugar (3/4 cup)

• 165 grams brown sugar (3/4 cup packed)

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 2 large eggs

• 384 grams fresh milled soft white wheat flour (approx. 4 cups)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 cups chocolate chips of your choice

  1. Preheat your oven to 375℉.

  2. Melt your butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Make sure it’s not too hot. *See note 1

  3. Add melted butter, sugar, and brown sugar to your mixing bowl or stand mixer and mix until combined.

  4. Add vanilla extract and eggs and mix until incorporated.

  5. Add baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined.

  6. Add flour and mix until combined, but don’t overmix. Then add in chocolate chips and mix until combined.

  7. Using a standard cookie scoop drop cookies about 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.

  8. Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are golden. In my oven they are done as pictured in 9 minutes. If you like yours to be a little more golden go a little longer. This will vary with preference and different ovens.

  9. Cool cookies for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet and then use a spatula and move to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Eight summers. Two broken hearts.
One shocking truth.

It took eight summers for Avonlea Stewart to give her heart to her best friend but only moments for him to shatter it. In the wake of her heartbreak, she found herself facing a life-altering decision—one that drove her away from the Isle of Skye and the memories of her first love.

More than a decade later, the opportunity of a lifetime pulls her back to the place forever stitched into her soul. But returning means confronting the past—especially when the man she’s hidden it from is the first person she sees: her childhood best friend, her first love… the father of her child.

Jamie Murray loved Avonlea Stewart, but he realized it too late—after he’d already broken her heart. That mistake cost him more than their friendship; it cost him Scotland—the home he left behind, believing she’d moved on with someone else.

Years later, a devastating family situation calls him back, but the past he’s fought to forget is still there, waiting for him, because Avonlea’s back too. And facing her, and the life she built without him, is more than he can bear.

Stuck together under the same roof, Avonlea and Jamie are forced to face everything they lost—and the truth they once promised each other.


On the Ferry to Skye is book three in the Love Along the Way series. It showcases the resilience of young love, the strength of old love, and how true love always finds a way—so long as you’re willing to work for it.

Expected publication is November 21, 2025

I really liked the passage of scripture my pastor used to explain the point he was trying to make, by looking in Acts 7.

Just to summon it up a bit, in Acts 7:54-56, it’s about Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin (the Jewish council). After he recounts Israel’s history and accuses them of resisting the Holy Spirit, the council becomes furious at Stephen. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up to heaven and sees the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. He declares what he sees aloud. The crowd rushes at Stephen, drags him out of the city, and begins to stone him. The witnesses lay their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul (later known as the Apostle Paul). As Stephen is being stoned, he prays, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and then, echoing Jesus on the cross, asks God to forgive his killers. After this, he dies (this was the first Christian martyr).

Friends, as Christians, we know that God is in control, even with everything that is going on in the world, He is always sovereign. Although humans have free will, this doesn’t hinder God’s plan for the world. In fact, God can use attacks for his glory. So you might be wondering, what do we need to do now?

Well, I believe that God wants us to steward this moment well. He wants us to stand firm in our faith and to tell the good news of Jesus boldly. We need to stay on topic and that topic only being about Jesus. There are a lot of voices being heard right now, lots of opinions, and lots of devision because of it. The only topic that truly needs to be talked about right now, is Jesus!!!

We need to process what is happening around us, pray about it, and ask God for wisdom before we speak. This is something I have to do often because it’s easier to act on our emotions and feelings but how often does this lead to good results? God will give us the wisdom to speak, we just have to pray and think about our words before we speak them out loud.

Now in Acts 8:1 we are told that Saul (Paul) was celebrating Stephen’s death. The Paul who writes most of the new testament is celebrating this man being stoned to death. How can God choose this man to do such bold things for his kingdom, you might be wondering. I know I have a time or two. But we know how God likes to use what was meant to evil, and turn it for good, and Saul/Paul’s life can attest to this. Stephen still prayed for Saul and forgave him. Where would Christianity be today if Stephen did not do this?

If we aren’t careful, we can miss God’s miracles, and often times he will perform a miracle through someone we least expect, very much like Saul/Paul. We must walk by faith, not by sight. We need to overcome the evil in this world with good. But how can we do this?

By being bold in our faith. How can we become more bold? We spend more time with Jesus. In Romans 12:21, Peter and John had no special training in scripture, and yet they were so bold and overcame with the Holy Spirit, that it shocked the religious leaders. This was because they spent time with Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I want to be as bold as Peter and John. The deeper we believe, the bolder we speak, and the more passionate we become about Jesus.

We need more people willing to speak the word of God with boldness. The world needs to know the real church which is simply people who know and love Jesus, who are not afraid to speak the truth and spread the answer, which is Jesus! So, join me friends, in learning to be more both in our faith and walk with Jesus.

You can watch my Pastor’s sermon on Facebook here. It’s so worth a listen, especially if this touched your heart, like it did mine. I love and appreciate you friends. I promise to send a Bookish update at the beginning of October. I have lots of exciting things to share with you all. I appreciate those of you who took the time to read this.

Love,
India

I hope each of you have had an amazing month of August! It seems like everyone I know has been super busy this past month and I’m sure when it comes to our never ending TBR list, it was hard to put a dent in it this month. Either way, August is always a favorite month of mine. From back-to-school chaos, to bookish celebrations, here’s a peek at what I’ve been up to this month.

Life & Author Update:

On August 4th, we started our first day of school and I had no idea how hard 3rd grade was going to be 🤣. I mean, the language arts and science I can do, but the math. Why are kids having to do such complicated math in 3rd grade. Either way, we’re surviving and taking things one day at a time this year. It was a hard adjustment to jump back into the swing of teaching, keeping up with the house work, working, AND writing but I did manage to work on Book 3 this month.

I’m currently sitting at 17,370 words for this book and am pretty smitten with how everything has been going so far. I can’t wait to finish this novel and share more with you all. But until then… stay tune.

I had my first book signing of the year and with The Shift Between Us out into the world, at our local bookstore here in Somerset. It turned out so good and I was so grateful for everyone who came to show little ol’ me support. The bookstore even had cookies made. How cute was that?!?

Pre-orders were sent, my shelf was stocked, then empty, then stocked again, and it’s such a blessing being able to do this author life with you all. I am feeling very grateful after TSBU has been out into the world for a month now. Thank you for your unending support my sweet friends.

What I read last month:

I have tried to read quickly on my kindle and have failed lately. It seems like 1 book a month is all I can get in these days, which is okay, because I know this winter I’ll be able to knock out some of my physical TBR. I did, however, listen to some super fun audio books.

Katie Bailey is now a favorite author of mine. The Quit List was my first book of hers and I had so much fun listening to it. I instantly knew I needed to find out Olivia and Aaron’s story so I picked up Holiday Hostilities and devoured it. She is a closed door/fade to black author from what I’ve seen, with some mild language in her books, but over all pretty clean.

Now if you want the cutest, sweetest, christian romance novel, check out London, Love, and a Little Irish by Nataly Jennings! This girl wrote a romance novel based off of her own love story. You can’t get no more cuter than that. From the adorable cover, the super sweet author, and cute love story - this is a must read for my closed door, sweet romance lovers.

Annah Conwell does no wrong when it comes to writing sweet and swoony romances. I had The Double Play on my to read list for a while now and decided, I’m ready for some baseball romance and as always, she didn’t not disappoint. This whole series has been so much fun to listen too.

And last but not least, Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez. Now, warning, this book contains language and is fade to black with some spice. But honestly, it was only a few paragraphs long (I want to say it was about 71% the way through) and I skipped it, it took nothing away from the actual story line, which was so so beautiful. This story touched my heart. It had me crying, laughing, smiling, crying some more. Abby is very talented.

As always, since TSBU released, I love to share recipes that we’re either mentioned in the book or is something Olivia herself would totally bake. This month I am sharing a recipe for Rose Honey Cake that I haven’t made yet but totally want to. Talk about YUM!

Ingredients

CAKE INGREDIENTS

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 3/4 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• pinch of salt

• 2 eggs, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp honey

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• scant 1/4 tsp rose water*

ALMOND GLAZE INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar

• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp milk

• 1 tsp almond extract

• sliced almonds for decoration (optional)

• edible dried rose petals for decoration (optional)

Instructions

PREP INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 325F.

• Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray. Set aside.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, then set aside.

• Using a hand-mixer, cream together the eggs, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high in a large bowl until mixture is pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, 1/2 cup milk, oil, and rose water* until thick and creamy, then pour into the egg mixture. Beat together on high for about a minute.

• Slowly beat in one half of the flour mixture into the batter, than beat in the other half until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 325F for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

• Remove pan from oven and let cake cool in the pan for about an hour on a cooling rack. Run a knife along the edges of the cake, then carefully remove the collar of the springform pan. Let cake cool completely before glazing.

GLAZE INSTRUCTIONS

• Whisk together confectioner’s sugar, 1 tbsp + 1 tsp milk, and almond extract until thick and smooth. Pour glaze over top of cooled cake and spread to the edges so it drips down the sides. Decorate with sliced almonds and rose petals if desired.

Notes

*Rose water is a tricky ingredient. When I used a full ¼ tsp, the rose flavor was too perfume-y; when I used only 1/8 tsp, I couldn’t taste it at all. So, you’re aiming for somewhere between 1/8 – ¼ tsp of rose water.

Closed Door Books you should check out:

If you are a fellow closed-door author and want to be a part of my Newsletter Swap, please fill out the form below! I would love to feature your books here!

Newsletter Swap

Coming this month:

A rival children’s book author and illustrator become reluctant friends over their mutual need to advance in their careers in this heartwarming, character-driven, slow-burn romcom set in fall NYC.

In a city that never sleeps, Flora is desperate to wake up and finally land her first big break. But if your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Flora’s off to a terrible start. Five months into her move, she's barely scraping by—her closest companion a silent roommate, and her first major freelance job slipping through her fingers. Her best chance at making it is surviving the one commission no illustrator before her could: a notoriously impossible-to-please author who (quite rudely) rejects every single draft she submits. Flora’s timeline is short—and she's running out of chances.

To nail this project, she’ll have to lean into the dark, moody themes of his writing—no small task for someone known for illustrating woodland creatures in top hats. When she’s on the brink of giving up, a chance encounter with a surly stranger changes everything. Fletcher Harding, neighbor, a friend of her roommate, and a dark literature connoisseur, needs help writing a column on romance novels to achieve an advance in his career. Flora, a firm believer in happily-ever-after's, he decides is the perfect tutor.

On a hazy walk home, the two strike a deal: she’ll teach him about love stories, and he’ll teach her how to embrace the shadows in her work. As their creative boundaries blur, so do the ones between their growing friendship and something far more. But with both of them carrying the weight of their pasts—and the futures of their careers hanging in the balance—can they really trust a story where love is the final chapter?

Especially when Flora realizes the author critiquing her work is the very man she’s falling for.

If you’ve ever considered homeschooling or have questions about it, I’m an open book and would be happy to chat. This year, we’re technically starting our third-grade year, but one of the best things about homeschooling is meeting our kids where they are. We work at different levels in different subjects, and it’s such a gift. Yesterday was our official first day back, and this week will be all about adjusting to our new schedule. I don’t expect to get much writing done—and that’s okay. Giving yourself grace and rest after a book release is so important.

I want to take a moment to say a huge thank you for those of you who gave me such a special release week for The Shift Between Us. I had 34 preorders, 15 eBooks and 5 print copies sold, and 13,994 pages read on Kindle Unlimited. You all showed up in such a big way, and I truly can’t express how much that means to me.

Above is some photo-updates from the month of July. Two of the photos are screenshots from my wonderful ARC readers—who always manage to capture my books so beautifully, I just had to share them. I also brought my proof copy of The Shift Between Us to a special place: my grandmother’s bench at our local college, where she worked for many years. I wish she could read my books, but I know in my heart she had the best seat to watch the entire process unfold. In many ways, I believe she helped guide these stories.

And finally, I’ve been doing a lot of baking lately… I think Olivia might be rubbing off on me.

What I read this past month:

I didn’t get to read as much as I’d hoped this past month, but that’s okay. Audiobooks have been a game-changer for me—especially during busy seasons. Most of the time, if I’m baking, cleaning, or driving, I’ve got a book playing in my ears.

I did manage to read one book on my Kindle, and it was the cutest Christian romcom. It was exactly what my heart needed. It also happened to be my first read by Heather Miekstyn, and wow—she is incredibly talented!

I also got to Beta read for one of my sweet author besties, J.A. Forde and let me just say (without giving away spoilers) that her third book in the “Love Along The Way” series has to be my favorite! Wanna know what I’m talking about? Make sure to follow her social media HERE.

I’ve also been deep in my Sarah Adams era lately. I finished listening to her Nashville-based duo: The Off Limits Rule and The Temporary Roomie. As always, her books are full of swoon and laughter, and both were clean romances I thoroughly enjoyed.

And of course, Laura Langa is an auto-buy author for me. Her books are closed-door, heart-filled, and packed with the kind of swoony moments we romance lovers adore. She’s truly amazing.

In celebration of The Shift Between Us releasing, I’m adding something new to my monthly newsletters: Each month, I’ll be sharing one of Olivia’s recipes with you!

As many of you read through TSBU, I started getting messages saying the book made you hungry—and wishing you could taste some of Olivia’s baked goodies for yourselves. So I thought, why not bring a little bit of her kitchen into your own? I might even try making a few of the recipes myself and sharing photos of the process. I didn’t get around to that this month, but I still wanted to kick things off by sharing one of Olivia’s featured recipes from The Shift Between Us. Enjoy! Here is one that I put on the back of my Character Art for my up coming book signings! I really want to try to make these.

Closed Door Books you should check out:

If you are a fellow closed-door author and want to be a part of my Newsletter Swap, please fill out the form below! I would love to feature your books here!

Indy's Newsletter Swap

What if your life turned into a real romcom?

Nataly has always dreamed of that head-over-heels, butterflies-for-breakfast, dancing-in-the-rain kind of love.

Instead? She's got Joel.

He's... fine. He's nice. He's safe.

And then there's Nathan.

Charming. Mysterious. Full of adventure and quiet intention.

The connection between them is instant. Impossible to ignore.

One little problem: she's already dating someone else.

Torn between a safe choice and a once-in-a-lifetime connection, Nataly must decide where her heart truly belongs.

Play it safe... or risk it all for a love story she never saw coming.

Set against the dreamy streets of London and the wild beauty of Northern Ireland, London, Love & a Little Something Irish is a heartwarming, funny, and swoon-worthy romance about trusting God's timing, following your heart, and finding the kind of love that feels like coming home.

Perfect for fans of swoony slow burns, viral-worthy meet-cutes, and clean romance that still gives you butterflies.

Find LL&ALSI here

Olivia Rhode's spent the last couple of years after her bad breakup building a life for herself and strong walls around her heart.

That is until last summer when Victor Hernandez showed up in her life knocking down walls in her fixer upper house—and in her heart.

What started as an offer to help her renovate her house, quickly turned into a close friendship. And “close friends” is all she can ever be with the younger, flirtier best friend she’s ever had.

She’s honestly not looking for any kind of romance. She’s busy enough with her life as a professor.

Things get busier when the fall semester begins. Not only is her ex-boyfriend back on campus as a visiting professor, but now the whole history department is talking about her hot new boyfriend…Victor.

But, even if Olivia’s only pretending to make things easier on campus, calling Victor her boyfriend actually feels really nice, and maybe even…really right.

Preorder OOP Here

It’s release day!! 🎉 The Shift Between Us is officially out in the world, and I can’t believe the day is finally here.

If you enjoy reading a Christmas romance in July, now is the perfect time to treat your self to this sweet story!!! Or you can purchase and save it for later when Christmas is drawing nearer. This book means so much to me, and I’m beyond excited for you to meet Luke and Olivia. Their journey is emotional, heartfelt, and full of the kind of fake dating that give you all the feels. I truly hope their love story speaks to everyone who reads their book.

📚 Grab your copy here:

TSBU on Amazon

Once you've read it, I’d be so grateful if you left a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Your words help more than you know. Reviews are one of the best ways to support an author and help others discover the book.

TSBU on Goodreads

And if you love it, feel free to share it with a fellow book lover. Every post, review, and recommendation is a huge help and means the world to me. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Your support, encouragement, and excitement have carried me to this moment and I couldn't have done it without you.

Need more convincing to check out this book, check out these early reviews below.

Do you love sprayed edges and fun bookish merch? So do I and guess what, I have an account you will defiantly want to check out. It’s owned by the sweetest human who is not only kind but very talented in all that she does. Click the links below to follow her on Instagram and to check out her Etsy shop!

Tone and Pages Etsy Shop

Tone and Pages Instagram

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or just joined, I’m so thankful to have you along for the ride. Being able to share my stories with you is the greatest gift.

Love,

Indy

It’s Release Month for The Shift Between Us!!!!!

I finally received Luke and Olivia back from my Editor on June 30th and spent all of last week doing one last read through of the whole book, got the book formatted, and all of the extra things added to the book. Now, I’m just waiting to receive my final cover size from my cover designer, upload to Amazon, order my proof, and she’s ready for the world!

July 21st is Publishing day! I’m now taking Pre-Orders of signed copies of The Shift Between Us with the option of adding all of the fun goodies. The goodies include a double sided bookmark, 3 stickers, and an art print. The link to Pre-Order will be linked below. Who else is excited to celebrate Christmas In July with me?

TSBU Pre-order form here

TSBU E-Book Pre-Order

What I read in June:

I have had a blast listening through the Falling For Summer Series. Each one was so well written, packed full of swoon, and brought the comfort of a small town romance that I eat up every single time I read one. I didn’t want to leave the little beach island (I still have 2 others I need to read) because I truly enjoyed my time there. If you love closed door romances that are interconnected, check these out for sure.

Forget Me Knot was my first B.R. Goodwin book and it did not disappoint. I hear so many wonderful things about this small town romance and kept seeing it all over the bookstagram community. Plus, my friend Cindy Ras did the cover and it is one of my top favorites of hers. It grabbed my attention and I was so glad that I picked it up. The plot twist was something I did not expect (especially since I went into the book blind) and it kept me on the edge of my seat! What an interesting twist for a romance book.

And of course, anything Sarah Adam’s writes, I will read it. The Match was everything I needed! It was a closed door romance full of swoon, heart-warming, and a few clutch your chest moments. It was one of my favorites by Sarah!

Olivia’s Goodies:

Something I want to do a little different on my monthly newsletters in celebration of TSBU releasing is that I want to share with you all one of Olivia’s recipes. As you read through TSBU, it was made known to me that a lot of my readers we’re left hungry and wishing they could try some of Olivia’s baked goodies. I might even attempt to make a few myself and share photographs of the process but I didn’t do that this month and so, here is one of Olivia’s recipes mentioned in The Shift Between Us.

Luke’s Great-Grandmother’s Famous Orange Ricotta Cheesecake:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted pistachios

1 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature for greasing the pan

1 1/2 pounds whole milk ricotta cheese

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

5 large eggs, separated

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

1 tablespoon orange juice

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Special equipment:

A 9-inch springform pan

1. Position an oven rack to the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spread the pistachios out on a baking sheet and bake until golden and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a heat-safe plate to cool, then pulse them in a food processor until very finely ground. Transfer the ground pistachios to a small bowl and set aside.

3. Set a 9-inch springform pan on top of a piece of parchment paper and trace a circle around it. Cut out the circle and set aside. Generously grease the bottom and sides of the pan with the room temperature butter, then press the parchment circle into the bottom of the pan.

4. Put the ricotta and 2/3 cup sugar in the bowl of food processor and process until the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a large bowl and whisk in the eggs yolks, orange zest and juice and the vanilla.

5. In another large bowl, add the egg whites and whip using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the eggs become foamy. Sprinkle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue to whip the egg whites until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the ricotta mixture until just incorporated and a few white streaks remain. Gently fold in the remaining whipped egg whites, folding until there are no white streaks remaining.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan and set it on a baking sheet. Bake until the cheesecake is light golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, 55 minutes to about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Transfer the cheesecake to a cooling rack and let it cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 2 days before serving.

7. To serve, run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to release it from the sides, then unclasp the latch of the pan. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar and sprinkle with the finely ground pistachios. Set the cheesecake on a cake platter, slice and serve.

If you make this recipe, please tag me (@indiatungateauthor) so that I can see your creations!

Closed Door Books you should check out:

The last thing I expected to do when I returned home after years away was fall for my brother’s best friend.

Nova:

I left my small town four years ago and didn’t look back. When I return with my tail between my legs after breaking up with my controlling yet commitment-fearing boyfriend, I’m surprised by the warmth I find at The Storybook Inn. The owner, Aunt Birdie, embraces me with open arms and gives me a place to stay when my dad turns me away. Unfortunately for me, Dad is more stubborn than ever. He still thinks my dream of becoming a great artist is too far-fetched to be possible and maybe it is. But if I’ve learned anything in this last year, it’s that God’s plans won’t be thwarted. Something that proves true when God uses an accident at Storybook Inn to facilitate Aunt Birdie’s dream.

Holt:

The Navy SEALs prepared me for a lot of things, but moving back to my small town with a well-meaning meddling aunt is not one of them. Aunt Birdie wastes no time playing matchmaker when she sends me to a cabin to fix an alleged leaky faucet without telling me it’s inhabited by my best friend’s gorgeous prodigal sister. Nova and I are both coming out of painful break-ups, a whirlwind romance is the last thing either of us wants. But falling for her is inevitable when she jumps in to renovate my family’s legacy, The Storybook Inn, without hesitation. With every bike ride we go on, every room we renovate together, every accidental touch, I can’t help but dive headfirst into the whirlwind anyway.

Until one “fake kiss” threatens to destroy us both.

Released June 30th, 2025

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Love is patient…supposedly.

Potter Hannah Garza never expected to end up destitute and living in her sister’s guest house, but alas, these things happen. In her efforts to rebuild her life up from this very low point, Hannah manages to land herself a job teaching art at Grace Canyon, the prestigious church and school attended by her sister’s children. True, she’s not technically qualified for the position, but God calls the underqualified then equips them, does He not?

This is basically that. So everything is fine.

At least until Hannah meets Luke Abbott, the handsome young pastor of Grace Canyon. Luke is generous and kind and he volunteers his time to coach flag football on the weekends. He’s sweet and funny—and far holier than Hannah could ever dream of being. Yet inexplicably, Luke seems to be interested in her too.

However, Luke agreed to remain single for his first year at the church, which means the two of them can only be friends…for now. But between secrets from both Hannah’s past and present and the growing attraction between them, the friend game they’re playing may end with them both losing their jobs and any hope for a real relationship.

Then again, games for two usually do end with both players losing their hearts.

Released on March 3rd 2025

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