Book Reviews and Author Q&As: Episode 5: With Authors Courtney Walsh and Peggy Lovelace Ellis

Welcome to another episode of Book Reviews and Author Q&As with New York Times Bestselling Author Courtney Walsh and Author Peggy Lovelace Ellis! When you finish here, check out my contributing blog on MomQ today!

Book Reviews and Author Q&As:

Review of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Author Courtney Walsh

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a Contemporary Christian Romance with a nice dose of comic relief. It is the story of a woman, Isadora Bentley, who reaches the age of thirty and realizes that her well-ordered life is missing something. Happiness. And the walls she has built around her heart for protection have left her . . . lonely.

When she comes across a magazine article, “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy,” she is dead set on proving it wrong. She is a researcher, after all. How can following a list of to-do’s lead to happiness?

Isadora works through the thirty-one steps while documenting her findings. To her surprise, her walls start to crumble, life begins to change, and people she never would have spoken to become friends. And to top it off, her resolution to stay single because of a certain professorial type who used her for her brain, stole all the credit, and then dropped her like a low-level journal souring her on men, especially academics, wavered. Why? Dr. Cal Baxter. Professor Baxter. A man of academia. Isadora wants to keep a wide berth between them, but her boss has other ideas. Will Cal prove to be just like the last guy? Or will he prove her wrong, too?

You don’t want to miss Isadora’s journey from skepticism to—Well, just read it and see. In all honesty, this is a book I plan to reread and take notes. And I don’t do that often. Rarely, in fact. Though I am not a brainy scientific researcher, much of Isadora’s story resonated with me. But even if you aren’t on the same wavelength as my girl Isadora, you will definitely enjoy the fun, quirky, and endearing characters in this wonderful tale.

If you couldn’t tell, I highly recommend The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley.

Other stories by Author Courtney Walsh you may enjoy:

And coming June 10, 2025:

Book Reviews and Author Q&As:

Author Q&A with Courtney Walsh:

Sandy: You are a New York Times Bestselling Author. Can you share the emotions of learning you’d made this prestigious list?

Courtney: Honestly, I was pretty shocked. I was still working in the scrapbooking industry, and when my agent called to tell me, I was at a big trade show at the convention center in Chicago. I honestly didn't believe her! It was definitely something I never expected, but looking back, I wish I'd celebrated it a little more!

Sandy: Did this honor change your career in any profound way?

Courtney: I don't know if it really did. I'm not sure if other industry professionals put tons of stock in titles like this. I feel like it was such a gift, though. Like God saying, "hey, you're on the right track here..."

Sandy: Why did you decide to write for the Christian fiction market?

Courtney: I feel like a lot of my newer books lean more toward the "Clean and Wholesome" genre as many don't have an overt faith thread, while many of my older books have subtle faith threads. I think there is space for both, and I think both are valuable in different ways. Providing readers with books that leave out spicy scenes and swearing is really important to me, and I really want my work to honor God. I also work with teenagers and kids, and I want to be a good role model to them.

Sandy: Tell us something about yourself that is non-writing related.

Courtney: My husband and I own a performing arts studio and youth theatre. We are very passionate about all the creative arts.

Sandy: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is one of your many novels. Do you have a set writing and research schedule that helps you to be such a prolific author?

Courtney: Oh, I wish I did! Nothing I do is very structured aside from when I drink my coffee! I just have a lot of stories in my head and a lot of characters that talk to me!

Sandy: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a Contemporary Romance. Do you read other genres, too?

Courtney: I mostly read women's fiction, romance and rom-com. Every once in a while I'll mix it up with something like Divine Rivals or a memoir, but mostly... it's romance that I love!

Sandy: What was the inspiration behind The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley?

Courtney: My husband asked me once what made me happy, and I couldn't think of five things. I didn't like that. I wanted to explore happiness as a theme, but as I was thinking about it, I found this little note card I'd written on years before "A woman finds an article called '31 Ways to be Happy' and decides to test them for herself. It was wild timing! And I thought...well, let's run with that!

Sandy: Of the “31 Ways to be Happy” mentioned in The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, which of the 31 ways was the most meaningful to you?

Courtney: I think all of the ones dealing with people. One of the things I tend to value most but also take the most for granted are the people in my own life. So, it was important to help Isadora find a family. So doing things out of her comfort zone or going to yoga with Darby... those kinds of things that brought her community...those resonated most with me.

Sandy: What was the most challenging part of writing The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley?

Courtney: Every book is challenging in a different way... but every book is always challenging right in the middle. For some reason, I usually lose myself there, forget what the book is about and have to go back to the beginning to remind myself what I'm writing about!

Sandy: Is there a spiritual lesson you learned while writing The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley that has stayed with you?

Courtney: I think that God gives us the power to choose our own thoughts. It's incredibly difficult, but knowing that I can choose not to dwell on negative things is powerful.

Book Reviews and Author Q&As:

Review of An Independent Woman by Author Peggy Lovelace Ellis

The new release by Author Peggy Lovelace Ellis, An Independent Woman, is a Regency romance dealing with relationships between parents and their grown children. The hurt and havoc that comes from dishonesty and hidden agendas during childhood and how that affects other relationships, particularly of the romantic variety.

Lady Judith Ainsley is smart, unconventional, and determined to be independent. In addition, Lady Judith has a special protector and confidant only she can see or hear. Because of her father’s duplicity and her mother’s selfishness, Lady Judith must either do her deceased father’s bidding or find her own way with a little help from her guardian angel. However, she is prepared to step up to the challenge even when circumstances change in unexpected ways.

Major Richard Chadwick becomes the Duke of Rochdale after his father’s passing, only to discover that he inherited a disaster and is unprepared for the work and money required to restore Chadwick Park. Added to the mess his father bequeathed him, Richard becomes enamored with a “hoyden” who steals nearly every waking thought. If he didn’t have enough to do, the duke must rescue this willful, impetuous, independent woman more than once. Despite their volatile relationship, sparks fly, and romance blooms.

An Independent Woman is a fast-paced, early 19th-century romantic adventure with twists, turns, and quirky characters. Author Peggy Lovelace Ellis pays close attention to historical detail, making the story even richer. I highly recommend this entertaining tale.

Other stories by Author Peggy Lovelace Ellis you may enjoy:

Book Reviews and Author Q&As:

Author Q&A with Peggy Lovelace Ellis

Sandy: What does your writing and research schedule look like as you are also a busy editor?

Peggy: My work goes to the back burner when I have a research and/or edit project on my desk. My clients have deadlines of one type or another, and I have the responsibility to help them. I publish with the help of a retired publisher who understands Amazon’s whims, so the schedule for my work is flexible. I do work full-time, Monday through Friday, nine a.m. to 5 p.m., with breaks. I reserve evenings and weekends for my 56-year marriage, so my writing is in spurts between editing and researching for others.

Sandy: Tell us something about yourself that is non-writing related.

Peggy: I regularly indulge in a guilt-ridden weakness: chocolate and peanut butter in any way, manner, shape, or form! Reese’s peanut butter cups, anyone?

Sandy: Why did you decide to write for the Christian fiction market?

Peggy: When I started writing several decades ago, I had never heard of a market for Christian fiction. I’m not sure there was one with that label. The Christian fiction market just happens to be where my work fits best. Although I’m careful not to preach, my writing is too clean for the general market.

Sandy: An Independent Woman is a Christian Historical Romance. Is that your favorite genre to read as well? Do you enjoy reading any other genres?

Peggy: I like the history aspect of historical romance. I seem to include bits of history and a bit of mystery in everything I write, and that’s what I look for in historical romance. I read so many genres that it might be easier to say what I don’t read! At this moment, my Kindle and paperback tbr stacks include women’s fiction, contemporary romance, historical romance, cozy mysteries, and thrillers.

Sandy: For An Independent Woman, how long did the process take from the idea to a published book?

Peggy: This is a difficult question to answer because, as I said, my work sits on the back burner a lot. I don’t recall when I started writing An Independent Woman, but, as with all my books, I wrote beginning, middle, and end quickly, because the words demanded to get out of my head in a rush. That’s when the fun of writing begins for me! With the entire story—perhaps not more than 150 pages in what eventually becomes 300 or more pages—in front of me, I go to the beginning and develop characters and plot lines. Some authors dread rewrites—I love them. That is probably why I’m an editor!

Sandy: An Independent Woman is set in the Regency period, what about that period inspires you?

Peggy: The first quarter of the 19th Century is fascinating. For progress, everything must have a beginning. The Regency era was the beginning of the industrial revolution, the legal, if not actual, end of slavery, and the legal, if not actual, end of child labor. I’m not a feminist in the broad sense of the word, but I do believe women should be recognized for their mental capabilities instead of pigeon-holed as lacking in that area of their lives. That plays into An Independent Woman because in the first quarter of the 19th Century, women began to assert their abilities to a greater degree than ever before. Each of my Regency novels contain that aspect of women’s lives.

Sandy: What was the inspiration behind An Independent Woman in particular?

Peggy: A distant cousin gave his lovely, petite 13-year-old daughter in marriage to a man his own age, which was close to 50. She had been home-schooled, had no friends, and was naïve to the point of childishness, but she was not mentally slow. I was appalled, but I couldn’t do anything about it. So, I solved the problem in fiction.

Sandy: Do you have a favorite character in An Independent Woman?

Peggy: Perhaps this will surprise readers—Susie is my favorite, because I saw in her the wonder of first holding a book.

Sandy: What was the most challenging part of writing An Independent Woman?

Peggy: I must have a stubborn streak of my own, because I include at least one stubborn woman in all my books! Keeping Judith’s stubbornness under a reasonable degree of control was quite difficult. One must be stubborn to an extent to meet and conquer challenges, but curbing the excess in life and in fiction is a necessary challenge.

Sandy: Is there a spiritual lesson you learned while writing An Independent Woman that has stayed with you?

Peggy: Although An Independent Woman is fiction, guardian angels are scriptural, as I set out in my Author’s Note. Writing about Susanna reminded me of God’s goodness in supplying the help I need, when I need it. That is especially true in our present living conditions, and is something I’ve learned to call on every day.

Sandy: Your community was affected quite significantly by Hurricane Helene. Are there some specific needs we can be praying about?

Peggy: Thank you for asking this. Helene devastated Western North Carolina. Many areas still look like a warzone after almost four months of constant work by many organizations, churches, and individuals. Small towns and communities in these mountains primarily exist with locally owned Mom and Pop stores. These have been hardest hit because few, if any, small businesses accumulate sums of money sufficient to carry them through disasters. Ongoing prayers will be appreciated.

I enjoyed these interviews so much! How about you? I am tremendously grateful for these authors, who took time from their busy schedules to share their writing journeys with us! If you enjoyed today's interviews, please let us know! Like, Comment, and Share! If you aren't a subscriber, press that button below and don't miss another post, update, or newsletter! Look for February's Newsletter next Monday-2/17/25! And come back next month for more Book Reviews and Author Q&A from the fabulous Author Sara Brunsvold!

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