Behind the Scenes with Tracie Peterson: Second Chances and Montana's Hidden Gems

Announcements

The LiteraryScape Book Club is here! You can now become a member for just $7 a month or $70 for the year. Just head on over to www.literaryscape.com and click on Book Club in the menu to join.

Our next Coffee and Books event will be on Tuesday June 24th from 2:00-3:00pm EST. Join authors Lynn Shannon, Crystal Caudill, and myself for an hour of book talk! Be sure to sign-up for this free event at www.literaryscape.com/events to receive a link to join in.

I am thrilled to announce the cover reveal and pre-order launch for my brand-new Wild West romance that's going to capture your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Introducing Uncharted Trials book two of the Bounty Brothers series—a gripping tale where murder, faith, and forbidden love collide in the untamed American West.

Picture this: Dr. James McPherson, a bounty hunter with a healer's heart, never expected his latest patient would steal his soul. But when he meets Madeline Flynn—a fierce protector of her deaf brother and survivor of unspeakable tragedy—everything changes. As James tends to her wounds, he vows to shield her from the murderer stalking her family.

But here's where it gets intense, listeners. As their attraction deepens, dark secrets from both their pasts threaten to destroy everything they hold dear. When their pasts violently collide and Madeline is torn from James's grasp, both must trust in God's plan to find their way back to each other.

With a killer's shadow looming and their faith tested to its limits, Madeline and James face an impossible choice: Is love worth the risk? And is God's grace enough to overcome the demons that haunt them?

This is more than just a romance, friends. This is a heart-pounding tale of faith, healing, sacrifice, and second chances set against the backdrop of the untamed American frontier. It is a story that will have you questioning whether faith and love can truly outrun the shadows of the past—or if the killer hunting Madeline will destroy their chance at happiness forever.

Uncharted Trials is now available for pre-order at www.literaryscape.com/shop only.

Head over to www.literaryscape.com to secure your copy today and be among the first to experience this unforgettable journey of love, faith, and redemption in the Wild West.

That's all for today's announcement, but we'll be back with more incredible books and authors. Until then, keep reading, keep believing, and remember—the best stories are the ones that touch both your heart and your soul.

Episode Notes:

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with bestselling author Tracie Peterson to discuss her latest collaboration with Kimberly Woodhouse, An Unexpected Grace, the third book in the captivating Jewels of Kalispell series. What unfolded was a conversation filled with insights about faith, second chances, and the magic that happens when authors bring history to life.

A Series Born from Montana's Beauty

The Jewels of Kalispell series holds a special place in Peterson's heart, and for good reason. Each book in the trilogy centers around a specific historical building in Kalispell, Montana, near Glacier National Park. An Unexpected Grace features the Macintosh Opera House, a fascinating piece of local history that came alive through Peterson and Woodhouse's research.

"We chose the Kalispell area because it's so gorgeous up there," Peterson explained. "You've got the Glacier National Park and just beautiful, beautiful lakes and mountains, and we thought that would be a lot of fun."

What makes this collaboration even more special is the serendipitous timing—for the first time in their writing partnership, Peterson and Woodhouse lived just two miles apart in Montana, allowing them to plot and plan together in person.

Characters Wrestling with God's Calling

An Unexpected Grace tells the story of two people who fell in love in their youth but were separated when their individual callings seemed to pull them in different directions. Now, years later, they're given a second chance at love—but not without wrestling with questions that many of us face.

Our hero begins the story having thought he was called to be a pastor, only to feel God directing him toward acting—a profession looked down upon by many Christians in the early 1900s. "Here's a young man who loves the Lord and felt that he could use his acting career to spread the gospel and to speak to people who might not otherwise hear it," Peterson shared.

Meanwhile, Johanna, now widowed with a child, creates elaborate hats (perfect for the fashion-forward early 1900s) while caring for her injured father and questioning her own path forward.

Themes That Resonate Today

What struck us most about our conversation with Peterson was how deeply personal these themes are for her—and likely for many readers. The question of whether we're following God's calling, and what happens when that calling seems to change, is one that transcends time periods.

"I think we just need to give ourselves permission to trust God and to know that if it's the right thing, He will take us forward into that and things will fall into place," Peterson reflected. "And you know, it might not be easy for sure, but He will take us through and He always is faithful to be with us in those things."

The Joy of Research Adventures

One of the most delightful parts of our interview was hearing about Peterson and Woodhouse's research trips. From touring the Carnegie Library featured in book one to exploring railroad depots for book two, their adventures brought the settings to vivid life.

The Macintosh Opera House research proved particularly memorable. While Peterson stayed upstairs due to knee troubles, Woodhouse ventured into the spooky basement of the old railroad depot and climbed the stairs to the shuttered opera house above a store. There, she could envision the crowds that once packed the venue—including a performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin that drew so many people they were reportedly "standing in the window ledges and hanging from the chandeliers."

Beloved Characters and Villainous Fun

Peterson lights up when discussing Marvella, the feisty older woman who appears throughout the series alongside her husband, the Judge. "She knows what she wants out of life. She loves passionately. She's solid in the Lord and she just grabs life by the horns and goes for it," Peterson said with obvious affection.

The duo is even considering a prequel series featuring these beloved characters—music to the ears of fans who've fallen in love with them.

As for writing villains, Peterson admits there's a certain freedom in crafting characters without the restrictions that come with heroes and heroines. Though she jokes that Woodhouse has the real talent for creating "amazing villains," Peterson finds joy in the liberty to make antagonists as complex and unpredictable as needed.

A Message of Hope

Ultimately, Peterson hopes readers will walk away from An Unexpected Grace with a renewed understanding that "God is a God of second chances." Whether it's love, career, relationships, or any other aspect of life where we think we've "blown it," Peterson believes God can "come behind and gently clean us up and take us forward."

An Unexpected Grace released on May 20th and is available now, along with the first two books in the series: Heart's Choice and Out of the Ashes.

You can connect with Tracie Peterson at tracypeterson.com and Kimberly Woodhouse at kimberlywoodhouse.com, where you can also sign up for their newsletters. Both authors are active on Facebook under Author Tracie Peterson and Author Kimberly Woodhouse.

Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, stories of second chances, or simply beautiful writing set against Montana's stunning backdrop, the Jewels of Kalispell series offers something truly special. As Peterson's own journey shows, sometimes the most beautiful stories come from the unexpected turns life takes—and the grace we find along the way.