Conversations with Kav – Indie Summer Releases + Giveaway

I got to thinking that in all the Reader Choice Week flurry we don’t spend a lot of time looking at indie books. A few were mentioned last week, most by hybrid authors like Laura Frantz and Jody Hedlund, but I knew there must be more out there so I went on the hunt and came up with a few that caught my fancy. I’ve shared them below and I thought it would fun if today’s conversation could be about Indie Summer Releases – books releasing in July or August. Mention as many as you like, but highlight one that you would like to win in the giveaway. If your name is drawn, that will be the book you will receive.

The Start of my Indie Summer Reading List

Riding By Faith (Iron Grace Brotherhood #1) by Susan Lyda – motorcycle club of redeemed men who have a ministry to help people. Strong found family vibes. Sounds really different. Has anyone read this author before? Release Date: July 4

It’s been an age since I’ve read anything by Myra Johnson so this one caught my eye. A rancher and a widow with a young son, looks like the meet-cute is a rescue situation which always draws me in and leaves me in a puddle of swoons! Some complicated family dynamics too. Release Date: July 7

Jo Grafford’s name has come up a number of times in Bingo entries (looking at you, Tracey!) so this one caught my eye. Plus, the tagline says: “A cowboy allows a friend to arm-twist him into serving as a bodyguard to a princess in hiding.” Count me intrigued!

I have heard of Amy R. Anguish but I have never read any of her books…yet. This one is a Cinderella retelling, first in a new series and it has some clever twists. The heroine is an aspiring artist, her stepsister steals one of her drawings and passes it off as her own. The ball is replaced by a contest at an art gallery and the hero is the owner of the gallery and his last name is Prince. Right now it’s only listed as ebook but I’m hoping it will release in paperback as well. Release Date: July 22

The summer is the perfect time for a rom/com and this one looks fun. I’ve read Nicole Lam’s Love Inspired novel but haven’t tried any of her indie books. This one is a best friends to more trope which I love. The heroine makes a perfect boyfriend list and then sets about looking for The One while her best friend eggs her on with a dare. If she doesn’t find the guy in two month, she has to be his date to his sister’s wedding. Release Date: August 8

I got really excited when I found this one because I’ve read the first two books in this series and somehow lost track of it. And it’s set In Prince Edward Island! This one features a fake dating trope which is always fun. Can’t wait to see what the author does with it. Release Date: August 25

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Your turn! Are you anticipating an Indie Releases in July or August – Christian Fiction or Closed Door only please! Share some titles in a comment and indicate which one you would like to win if your name is drawn.

Giveaway Options: Canada and US: Paperback or ebook, International: ebook with a US Amazon kindle account.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 12 2005

41 thoughts on “Conversations with Kav – Indie Summer Releases + Giveaway”

  1. The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White – Guideposts, July 1, 2025; The Lady of Red River Valley by Gabrielle Meyer – Belle May Press, July 21, 2025; A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz – Story Architect, July 30, 2025 ~ these three now indie publishing. I would like to win Laura Frantz’s book. Kathleen lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Exciting that it seems like Laura Frantz is going to do one shorter indie novel along with her longer traditionally published one a year now. Guideposts is a publisher though (Roseanna M. White) though it seems like they’ve just recently starting releasing their books in paperback and making them available on other sites besides their own which is nice. Good luck, Kathleen!

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  2. A MATCH FOR THE AMISH TEACHER would be my top choice of those listed.  I do so enjoy the Amish genre.

    Having been blessed to read ARC’s, I can say without a doubt these two books are 5-star reading. 

    PERILOUS TIDES by Elizabeth Goddard

    SHADOW WITNESS by Angela Carile

    If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I would LOVE the opportunity to read BURNING TRUTH by Kelly Underwood, Lisa Phillips, Susan May Warren.  Love that these stories are set in Alaska.  Plus, some great authors with very interesting sounding contributions.  That being said, I wouldn’t be disappointed to get to read TRACKING KILLER EVIDENCE by Jodie Bailey because I love the K-9 stories.

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. I’m excited about the Prince Edward Island setting in the Amish novel and I really enjoyed the first two books in the series and this is the sixth!

      So, your choice for the giveaway – Burning Truth – isn’t an indie book. It’s published by Sunrise Publishing. This giveaway is for indie books releasing this summer — July or August. Feel free to choose another book…Tracey has some great ideas below.

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      1. See that’s what happens early in the morning when you rely on Google to be accurate. I put _ndie releases in July or August 2025 – fiction and those two came up as suggestions. Sorry about that.

        Well, you know when I saw dogs and camera in the description, that I’m all in for FOOTPRRINGS ON HER HEART by Tabitha Bouldin.

        Have a wonderful evening and blessed upcoming week!

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      2. I caved for that one too — ordered it on the spot and will likely be reading it this week! 🙂 Good luck, Kay.

        And ugh to trying to search out indie books…and don’t get me started on how useless Google has gotten..ooohh, new topic AI messing with our authors and publishers!

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  3. You found me out, lol. I’m reading Jo Grafford’s backlist and Royal Hero will be on my July list. It’s a good series (although I don’t care for some of the title names and covers).

    Suggestion 1- Jo writes as Jovie Grace for her historical books so here’s one for readers to investigate if anyone is reading Christmas in July books. Bride Unchosen, Secret Plots and Hidden Chapters (The Christmas Book Club 1) two of my favorite topics, books and Christmas. It’s also a bit of a cozy mystery with a furry detective, something for everyone it appears.

    Suggestion 2- Another book that looks intriguing is Footprints on Her Heart by Tabitha Bouldin. It’s got Christmas and an animal shelter, so another possible choice. It’d the third book in the Independence series. I haven’t read any of them, but they have good ratings and I’ll be adding this author to my new to me list this month. (Before Tabitha published, I used to see her name over at the Seeker blog, now she’s publishing, good for her!)

    I’ll be reading both of these Christmas books on KU.

    **My personal pick is for The Lady of Red River Valley by Garielle Meyer. I’m sure I’ll want this one for my keeper shelf.

    Thanks Kav, it’s fun to see what other indies are coming we may not know about.

    tracey14567 at gmail.com

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    1. The Bride Unchosen sounds right up my alley — a historical cozy mystery. And the cover is so pretty — funny but it has slightly different covers on Amazon and GR. Right now it only lists Kindle but I’m hoping a print edition will also be available!

      Oops…I might have impulse bought Footprints on Her Heart by Tabitha Bouldin. Like you, I have heard of her but haven’t read any of her books so – new to me author for my Bingo card and a mutt infested Christmas romance for Christmas in July. Woohoo! Thanks for the suggestion, Tracey!

      Indie new releases can be hard to source so I appreciate the input today. Good luck, Tracey!

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  4. It’s not up on any retailer sites yet, but Kristi Ann Hunter said she will be publishing a contemporary romcom in August: Code and Couture (Trinket Sisters, book 2). Hopefully we’ll be seeing cover art soon!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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  5. Happy Sunday, Kav! I’ve read a number of indies this summer (more so than usual) & got some surprises. Some pleasant, others not so much! 😳

    Meet Me on Blueberry Hill by Lisa Jordon (love those string lights on the cover)

    Who Is My Neighbor? by Creston Mapes

    Robbie by Cami Checketts (not crazy about the title)

    Between the Shady Groves by Jessie Gussman

    A Very Bavarian Summer by Katie M. Reid (Christmas in July!)

    My pick: Who Is My Neighbor? by Creston Mapes

    Thanks for the giveaway, Kav!

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. BTW A Very Bavarian Christmas which released last summer is supposed to be made into a movie! IDK when tho.

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    2. You know how I was saying that Canadian Amazon pricing can be wonky? Well, right now it’s listing Meet Me on Blueberry Hill by Lisa Jordan as $63.38! Plus shipping from the US! Oh — and this isn’t indie — Hometown Hearts is a new division of Sunrise Publishing – a dedicated romance line.

      I am finding it more difficult to determine whether a book is indie published lately. Like, it use to be that the publisher field would list the author’s name and so it was easy tor recognize self-published work but now authors are creating cutsie named presses to make it look like they are traditionally published only when I look them up they either don’t exist or the only books attached to the press are the author’s so that’s how I know it’s indie. Gah. Being a bookworm can be so complicated! 🙂 Good luck, Diane!

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      1. Whoaaa!! Surely that has to be an error! I went ahead & pre-ordered it for $3.99 bc I think the price is supposed to go up. But not up to $63.38!! 😲 Sorry, I just noticed the publisher is Sunrise.

        Now I’m wondering if I messed up on any of the others. Gabrielle Meyer’s books are traditionally published, but she self published her new historical series. Sometimes you can tell an indie by the lower price, but that’s not always been the case here lately! It’s not too hard to get this bookworm confused!

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      2. Your Creston Makes is good — helpfully says ‘independently published’ in the publisher field. But The Bavarian Christmas one is an actual small press — started up by author Miralee Ferrell. Laura Thomas publishes with them too and I though she was indie! Gah, I’m so confused.

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      3. Oh my goodness! Mountain Brook Ink sounded Indie to me. I’m just gonna copy Tracey from now on! hahaha Our intrepid reporter has the inside scoop on indies & just about everything! 😜 I totally blew it this morning, but, hey, that Christmas in July book still sounds good. I’m trying to redeem myself, can you tell?

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      4. Here’s quite a few Indie authors that were mentioned today by Martha (leader of Avid Readers of Christian fiction) & others in the group. I don’t feel well enough to look up their books. Rough day!! Also IDK if any have July, August releases. So this is a list that may better serve for future reference.

        Carol Moncado

        Valerie Comer

        T.K. Chapin

        Scott R Rezer

        Vikki Kestell

        Sarah Hanks

        Juliette Duncan

        Jennifer Q. Hunt

        C.C. Warrens

        M.J. Padgett

        Latisha Sexton

        Chautona Havig

        Cathe Swanson

        Jennifer Lamont Leo

        Elizabeth Maddrey

        Tara Grace Ericson,

        Emily Conrad

        Valerie M Bodden

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  6. I have not read Myra Johnson in a long time and would love to read If I Fall For You!. Love all the suggestions here by “best readers”….thanks.

    Thanks, Kav, for your giveaway.

    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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  7. My choice for an Indy book would be  A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz – Story Architect, July 30, 2025 .
    I read an Indy book for July from Danielle Grandinetti: The Neighbor and the Gifts.

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  8. So I’m pretty confused about publishers but throwing in a couple of possibilities releasing in July that are on my radar.

    Maranatha the Victory Battle by Blossom Turner. I read book 1 in the series and it was a totally different kind of book for me, but I enjoyed it and plan on finishing the series.

    Healing Springs Ranch series by Jody Hedlund has two books: Spurs and Sparks and Broncos and Ballads.

    A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz would be my first choice.

    Thanks. Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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  10. Kav, if Gabrielle Meyer’s The Lady of Red River Valley is indie, I’ll go with that one. I tried to find some info on Belle May Press but couldn’t find anything quickly. If it’s not indie, I’ll go with Laura Frantz’s novella coming out this summer. I’ve already preordered it but would love to have a copy to share 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  11. I don’t particularly follow many in the authors, or at least recognize the fact that they are! I have listened to several of Jessie Gussmans on YouTube… I also recently read Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght. I’m pretty sure it was an indie release, But I’m pretty sure I heard/read that Love Inspired picked her up and is going to continue the series.

    Rendersella sound like a fun one!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  12. I’m going to go with Gabrielle Meyer’s The Lady of Red River Valley too😅 I know that the point of this one is to find authors that aren’t necessarily big-name in the CF market that have been indie published, but I’m with you here! I have a hard time distinguishing between what’s an indie press and what’s not! And even more so within the July/August timeframe. I know that I run across plenty of indie in my reading, but I am not great at determining which ones they are when I’m looking them up. Also, do small presses count as indie?

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    1. Indies are hard to source, I think, because they don’t have the marketing department of a publishing house behind them. It must be overwhelming to not only go through all the hurdles of publishing your own book but then having to market it as well. And it seems like indie authors are less likely to plan way ahead. it’s almost like, oh my book is finished, I’ll make it available now, without much notice so that makes it hard for a Reader’s Choice Week kind of giveaway since we don’t know what might be coming out.

      Small presses don’t count as Indies. Authors still need to submit an enquiry, manuscript, are assigned an editor and the press takes care of all the practical printing/publishing needs. Indies are when the author does it all themselves…and I think that has to always be through Amazon. At least, I don’t think there’s any other self-publishing platforms out there.

      Gabrielle Meyer is an interesting author because she went from publishing with Love Inspired Historical to indie to getting that great contract with Baker Publishing Group and then to supplement that with more of her own indie books. Very savvy author, I day. Good luck, Elly!

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      1. Okay, because I don’t include small publishing houses as indie either, but wasn’t sure if you were counting that as well. But that’s another one that makes it even harder, lol! It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between a small publisher and an indie publisher😅 I’ve even seen some indies open their self-publishing to others and turn it into a small press!😓

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  13. I think that Roseanna M. White is the most confusing for me, publishing wise.  The Collector of Burned Books is published by Tyndale House.  The Island Bookshop is published by Guideposts.  Awakened is published by Whitecrown (her own imprint/indie or a publisher????).  The Secret of the Isles series is published by Bethany house (The Nature of a Lady, To Treasure an Heiress & Worthy of Legend), as is The Imposters series.  She is a prolific author!

    Then you have the anthology Secrets Along the Shore, by D.L. Wood, Jaime Jo Wright, Taylor S. Newport and Julia Blythe which is published by Three Dogs Publishing but their info page says they “assist” indie authors with the publishing process.  Very confusing there! (I’m still waiting for a paper copy to become available).

    I’m going to play it safe with A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz.  I honestly had no idea that this was indie!

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. Whitecrown is a real publisher as far as I can tell, just started up by an author. There’s a couple of those. But Three Dogs isn’t…I think the key is whether an author has to pay for the whole publication process – that would be indie or if a publisher pays for it, that would be traditional. But things are changing so fast in the publishing world, who knows? Bwahahaha! Good luck, Perrianne!

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      1. That’s good info to figure out if they’re indie or not.  Is Susan Sleeman completely indie?  Her publisher for her latest release is Edge of Your Seat Books, Inc.  That sounds like an indie author fun name!  She writes too fast for me to keep up anyway.

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      2. Yes, Susan Sleeman is exclusively indie now, I think. She had a series with Revell and few years back and started out writing Love Inspired Suspense, but she’s an author who has really embraced indie publishing and does it well. Honestly, it drives me crazy that authors create made up publisher names. It get so confusing. I always check when I see something I don’t recognize but it would be so much easier to just have the author’s name as publisher. Sigh.

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  14. The Boyfriend List looks like a fun read. I’d probably choose that one. It’s great that you are highlighting indie authors!

    Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  15. This is harder than I thought! I mostly know of a few already mentioned in previous comments: The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti, and The Lady of Red River Valley by Gabrielle Meyer. But I did come across Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart, and Mail-Order Physician by P. Creeden, but I honestly couldn’t tell if they were indie published or not (not very helpful, I know). 

    I would probably pick The Lady of Red River Valley by Gabrielle Meyer. 🙂

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    1. It’s hard to hunt out indie new releases for sure. Interesting fact when I was checking – Hannah Linder did the cover for Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart! I didn’t know she did cover art as well. Good luck, Sabrina.

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