About the Book

Book: Mutiny of the Heart

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 19, 2025

A proud Loyalist and a jaded patriot are bound by a child and a shared loss—but as sparks fly, they must decide if love is worth trusting the enemy.

Heather has no reason to like Lucas Reed. He is an American, who’s fight for liberty from England led to Heather’s family’s financial ruin and the death of her father. But her cousin’s dying wish was that Heather take little Jamie to his father in Charleston, and she’s determined to honor that wish, even if it breaks her heart to do so.

Lucas Reed knows the boy at his door cannot possibly be his, but there’s no denying that Jamie has the trademark Reed blue eyes, black hair, and dimples. Still, Lucas is ready to close the door to the boy and his escort until Miss Hawthorne presents him with a letter. He instantly recognizes the writing he thought he’d never see again. The contents of the letter shatter his resolve, forcing him to open his door—and his carefully guarded heart—to the boy and his steadfast guardian.

As Heather and Lucas work together to create a new life for Jamie, can they resist their growing attraction? Or will mutinous hearts finally admit their love when an enemy’s desperate plot threatens their lives?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

More from Vickie

Most of my writing career I’ve been an author of western historical fiction set in the late 1800’s, but a visit to Charleston and Savannah while on vacation, stirred up a desire to write in a different time period. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, a state that is only 117 years old. I was quickly enchanted by Charleston’s rich history and fell in love with the centuries-old homes and cobblestone streets.

I had also recently read a friend’s book series that featured pirates and felt challenged to create a pirate story of my own. After a lot of research and brainstorming with my critique group, Mutiny of the Heart was birthed.

1788, the time period of my story, was a time of turmoil for Charleston. The city was still recovering from the American Revolution. It had been captured by the British in 1780 and held for two and a half years. Finally, the British hevacuated Charleston in December 1782. The decade after the war saw industries beginning to bring the city and its inhabitants back to renewed vitality and population growth. It’s during this busy time that my English-born heroine comes to Charleson.

Heather Hawthorne is tasked with a near impossible job—deliver Jamie, the young boy she has come to love as her own, to the boy’s wealthy father in Charleston. Heather despises America as her English father lost his wealth and life in his fight against the American war for independence. But Deborah, Heather’s ailing cousin, pleaded with her to take Jamie to his wealthy father, Lucas Reed, owner of Reed Shipping. Though her heart is breaking, Heather honors Deborah’s death wish.

Lucas Reed knows the boy at his door cannot possibly be his, but there’s no denying that Jamie has the trademark Reed blue eyes, black hair and dimples. Still, Lucas is ready to close the door to the boy and his escort until Miss Hawthorne presents him with a letter. He instantly recognizes the writing he thought he’d never see again. The contents of said letter will change his life, bring both joy and heartache.

Enjoy the first episode in the Reed family saga, Mutiny of the Heart.

Interview with Vickie

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I never actually had a dream to be a writer. I was a huge fan of Christian fiction and read every book I could find. Way back then there weren’t all that many Christian fiction books around. One day, I got an idea for a story and it wouldn’t leave me alone. I’d lie in bed trying to sleep but all I could think of was that story. I finally decided to write it down in hopes it would go away and leave me alone. As soon as I finished it, another story idea came along. At this point, I started wondering if God is trying to get my attention. After talking and praying with my husband, I jumped in with both feet and started learning all I could about the craft of writing. I had little confidence that I could become a writer, but with God’s help I was able to do that. If you yield to what God is calling you to do, you’ll be amazed what he can do through you.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It really depends on the length of the book, but for a trade fiction novel of 100,000 words, it usually took me around nine months.

What is your real-life work schedule like when writing? 

Most days, I write between 10 am – 2 or 3 pm. If I have a word count set, such as writing 1000 words, I write until I make my goal. After writing, I get to do all the things a mom and wife has to do.

What are your favorite books to read?

My favorite genres are western historical Christian fiction and Christian suspense.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I was 47 when I first started writing. It took me four years to get my first novella published. I started out writing novellas for the Barbour Publishing collections then moved on to longer books.

How do you create your main characters? 

It varies a lot. Sometimes I start with a story idea and create characters to fit it. Other times, the characters make the story. After I’d been writing a while, I started creating character sheets. Those include things like the character’s hair and eye color, their back story—what makes them who they are and how they respond to events in their lives. I also figure out their goals and their strengths and weaknesses.

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

For me, it’s usually the middle of the book. I tend to write fast in the beginning and toward the end, but the middle often slows. The key to fixing that is to have something exciting happen, lie some kind of crisis.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I read, make cards and 3-d pictures out of card stock, garden, and travel when I can.

What does your family think of your writing?

I know my husband is proud of me. I don’t think my kids think much about it—probably because they are all sons and have grown up with me as an author.

Do you base your characters on real people?

Not usually. I may give a character a trait that someone I know has. For instance, my husband used to jingle the coins in his pocket a lot, so I made my computer nerd hero in Wagonload of Trouble do that too.

Have you experienced writer’s block, and how do you handle it?

Definitely. I find the best thing to do is to walk away from the story and do something else. Other times, I’ll do some research or call a friend and brainstorm the story.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I think it’s how the book is bigger than me. I’ve recently been re-reading some of my early books and proofing them because a new publisher is reprinting them. I read things and think where in the world did that idea come from or I used a word that I have to look up now to understand the meaning. In a story I recently proofed, I read the word nomenclature. I can promise you that is not in my normal vocabulary.

How many books have you written?

I’ve written around 55 books and novellas. Which is your favorite? I’d have to say that The Anonymous Bride, book 1 in my Texas Boardinghouse Brides series is my favorite. It has a spunky troublemaking tomboy that causes all kinds of trouble for her heroine mom. It also has a fun premise—A sheriff who recently returns to his home town ends up with three mail-order brides vying for his hand, but he never ordered a bride.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

My website is www.VickieMcDonough.com. I’m also on Facebook, Pinterest and sometimes Instagram. A number of my books are on Amazon. You can see my new re-releases at https://www.wildheartbooks.org/

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I’m excited that Wild Heart Books is reprinting six of my short novels, as well as a Christmas novella collection, Christmas Mail-Order Brides. They are also reprinting Seven Brides for Seven Texans, as well as Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers. Those are really fun books.

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, September 3

Pens Pages & Pulses, September 4

Fiction Book Lover, September 5 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 6

Texas Book-aholic, September 7

Stories By Gina, September 8 (Author Interview)

Sylvan Musings, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 9

Cover Lover Book Review, September 10

For Him and My Family, September 11

Guild Master, September 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 14

Holly’s Book Corner, September 15

Artistic Nobody, September 16 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, September 16 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vickie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54294