Best Selling, Award Winning Author, Madison Love enjoys writing clean and Christian romances while intertwining humor, faith, and suspense. She has spent most of her life traveling abroad, discovering new places, and meeting wonderful people.
She spent twenty years in the military before settling in a rural town outside of Buffalo, New York, where she now lives on a forty-acre farm with her husband, son, and two dogs. Having been afforded the time and opportunity to bring her ideas and stories to life, she seeks to give her readers the ‘happy ever after’ they seek.
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Thanks for joining us today, Madison. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.
Who are some of your favorite Christian authors?
I thought I’d start by answering a “softball” question, one that’s easy to field. It might surprise you, but my two absolute favorite Christian authors don’t write romance at all. The first is Frank Peretti who was the Christian author who got me hooked on reading books for enjoyment, rather than merely for assignments in school. In fact, I didn’t love reading at all growing up because nothing “grabbed” me. But Frank was a master of his craft, especially in his early works. There’s not a book of his that I could put down.
The next is Mark Goodwin, who writes Christian Apocalyptic/End time stories that are eye-opening and scarily realistic. He weaves real-world situations and people into his stories to interpret Revelations or other catastrophic events. I read his stories until my retinas burn from being glued to my e-reader, and I even listen to his books repeatedly on Audible.
My third favorite author does write romance, and her name is Christy Barritt. I enjoyed her books so much that I was inspired to write Christian Romantic Suspense. My favorite of hers is the Lantern Beach Series. I binged them all.
Faith is organic rather than preachy in your books. Was that a deliberate choice from the beginning, or something you refined over time?
It’s funny that you ask that, because I’ve been told that some of my books can be preachy, while others have said they’re not. It’s really up to the reader and the mood that they’re in or what they’re facing in life at that moment on how my stories come across.
When I started writing, I had a Christian Protector Series floating around in my mind, but chose to go with Clean Romance. I didn’t want to compromise my values, yet I also tried to appeal to the masses. But, like the Lord so often does, He had other plans for me and pressed it upon my heart to follow the path He wanted me to go; hence the Shining Knight Protectors were born. I haven’t looked back, only grown/evolved in my writing style.
I have deliberately tried not to be preachy in my books, but sometimes it can’t be helped because that’s exactly what someone needs to hear. I write where I feel led. Part of my writing process is that I’m putting into words what I need to hear as well. Often times, I’m sharing my own struggles or an experience where I’ve overcome obstacles with God’s guidance, love, and help.
What’s one misconception people have about Christian romantic suspense that you’d love to clear up?
LOL. That Christian Romantic Suspense is boring, or that the characters are always perfect. I make it a point to write flawed characters that people can relate to. Christians aren’t perfect, so why write them that way? Some are just further along on their walk with God.
The struggles are real. Lust vs emotional connection, forgiveness of others and oneself, communication in marriage and relationships (or lack thereof), and other issues that people face. Christian Romantic Suspense isn’t fluff. It can tackle real issues, both on a personal and a global level.
Several of your heroines wrestle with shame, unworthiness, or past mistakes before stepping into the love of God. Is there a piece of your own testimony that keeps showing up in your characters?
Vulnerable moment time. Yes, I write a lot of myself into the characters, both the hero and the heroine, bringing aspects of my life into every story. I often tell people, if you want to get to know me, simply read my books. 😊
My stories focus on forgiveness because, in my humble opinion, it’s one of the hardest things to do. Repetition becomes a habit, so the more you do it, the easier it becomes. But to forgive oneself? That’s where the difficulty truly lies. We’re our own worst critics and harshest judges of our own actions.
My story: I grew up in the church, the daughter of a missionary and in a single parent home. My mother adored and cherished me, sacrificing so much to raise me with enough love to fill both parental roles.
But feeling unloved or unwanted by my father? That tears away at the soul in ways that can make a person feel unworthy and make a person question why? My father was not only an alcoholic but also used drugs as a coping mechanism for a diagnosis that came later in his life—anhedonia: a condition where a person cannot feel joy. That rare diagnosis made it into the story of Worthy). Yet I didn’t know that as a child. So instead of focusing on what I had, I focused on what I didn’t.
That choice led me down the wrong path in my younger years. I put God on the back burner for a time because I was focused on the wrong things and the wrong people, only to make more mistakes that only amplified the feeling of shame and unworthiness.
But when I shifted my focus and embraced God—even though it took hitting rock bottom to do it—it was life changing. God’s love for us knows no bounds. He gives me the strength to let go of my problems and hand them over to Him. There’s peace in that. Knowing that I don’t have to carry the burden and shame from my past because He did it for me when He carried the cross. I pray that others feel the same way after reading my stories.
On a positive note, I did end up having a loving father/daughter relationship with my dad later in life, and he came to know the Lord before he passed away. That’s one of the reasons why I also write about redemption. The joy of seeing someone get saved and fall in love with God is the best gift. It’s like watching a child unwrap a present on Christmas morning; feeling the excitement right along with them.
If you could sit down with every young woman who’s ever written to you saying, “Your books helped me believe God could love me,” what would you most want her to hear from you in person?
Of course, He loves you because You’re beautiful and created with purpose. In fact, God has always loved you, long before you even came into the world or before you ever met Him. To Him, you are worthy, no matter what your past is like or the mistakes you’ve made. Or even the mistakes you’ll make in the future. It’s why He sent His Son to die for you. You are His child, His creation, and so very precious to Him. His love for you is unconditional, which is pretty awesome!
The man she left behind is now her only hope of staying alive.
Grace Atwood vanished from my life nearly three decades ago, leaving me heartbroken on the courthouse steps. Now, she’s back—using a pen name, hiding from an unknown enemy, and asking for my help. As a journalist who witnessed the murder of a whistleblower, she’s seen too much. And someone is trying to make sure she stays silent.
As a former Air Force Pararescueman turned elite protection specialist for the Southern Knights, I never thought I’d see Grace again—let alone be the one assigned to protect her. When our undercover mission takes us to Duskhaven, a sleepy small town with explosive secrets, we pose as husband and wife. Our goal: infiltrate Noctira Weapons Systems, a local militia, and a community that doesn’t take kindly to outsiders.
Living under the same roof, working side by side, we discover that the embers of our past still burn bright. But trust is fragile, and forgiveness doesn’t come easy—especially when lives are on the line. With a growing conspiracy threatening national security and shadowy enemies watching our every move, our rekindled bond will be tested. It’s either going to break or be forged in fire.
When bullets fly and betrayals cut deep, we must rely on more than our instincts—we’ll have to lean on God’s guidance, the team of Southern Knights, and each other. Because the only thing more dangerous than uncovering the truth… is losing a second chance at love.
