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Milla Holt: Inspirational Christian Romance

Milla Holt: Inspirational Christian Romance

All Things New is out Today!

Book Recommendations, Books

All Things New, the Mosaic Collection’s spring/summer anthology is out today! I’m so excited that these stories are going out into the world, and I pray they’re a blessing to everyone who reads them.

Many of my author friends tell me they have far more ideas than they could ever write about. Their problem is not “what to write,” but “what to write first.” And even while sorting out their existing ideas, they have a seemingly bottomless spring of story inspiration. It’s like all they need to do is turn a tap, and the ideas spring forth.

I’m not like that. For me, getting ideas for stories is more like strip mining than turning on a fire hose. I have to chip away at a lot of rubble before I get to a workable seam. That’s why I was so delighted when, for once, I got an idea easily.

The inspiration for Lost and Found, my story in All Things New, presented itself to me when I wasn’t looking for it at all. In fact, I was fast asleep.

I dreamed about a young woman who found an abandoned dog and decided to give it a home. But that choice ends up changing her life in more ways than she ever imagined.

Lost and Found ended up looking rather different from the dream that inspired it, but it’s been such a rewarding process to write, including involving my readers in choosing the dog’s name.

All Things New is available in paperback and ebook formats.

15th June 2022 ·

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Milla Holt

millaholt

I write Christian romance with an international twist. Heroes with honor and integrity and strong, can-do heroines are my thing. #christianromance

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Jesus is risen indeed!

 #resurrectionsunday #jesusisalive #heisrisen #heisrisenindeed
🎵 Dropping Microphones, Not Balls! 🎵 Happy 🎵 Dropping Microphones, Not Balls! 🎵

Happy Saturday! It’s been a minute since I’ve posted here, and there’s a perfectly good reason—I’m a writer, not a juggler! 😅

Life lately has looked like:

✍️ Writing my next heartfelt story (Old Town Symphony)
👩‍👧‍👦 Homeschooling adventures
🎙️ Recording my VERY FIRST audiobook
🏠 And all those everyday blessings that keep us busy

While I’ve been tossing these balls in the air (and doing crazy maneuvers to ensure they don’t drop!), I’m thrilled to share that my audiobook for “Home Town Melody” is now 100% RECORDED! 🎉 Just a couple more weeks of editing and mastering, and Lord willing, it’ll be ready to grace your earbuds!

What’s keeping YOU busy this season? Drop a comment below—I’ve missed connecting with you!

#ChristianFiction #AudiobookJourney #WriterMom #GodsFaithfulness #HomeTownMelody #MillaHolt #Millaholtbooks
🎙️ PINCH ME, I’M DREAMING! ✨ I was so st 🎙️ PINCH ME, I’M DREAMING! ✨

I was so stoked to learn that @narelleatkins featured “Home Town Melody” on her “Fangirling With Narelle” podcast. I’m still floating on cloud nine! 🥹 There’s nothing quite like hearing a fellow author (especially one you admire!) talking about your characters and story... and totally getting it! I may or may not have listened to it multiple times!

If you love bookish podcasts, you NEED to check out Narelle’s show, available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts! Her enthusiasm for books is absolutely contagious! 🎧📚

Follow the link in my bio to get to the podcast, where you can binge listen to the episodes and subscribe for more!

#christianromance #christianpodcaster #christianpodcast #christianpodcastersofinstagram #christianbooks
🎙️ Audiobook Update! *waves excitedly from 🎙️ Audiobook Update! 

*waves excitedly from my pop-up recording booth*

I’m 72% through recording Home Town Melody, and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! At this rate, God willing, I should be wrapping up the narration next month. 🎉

I’m planning to record Small Town Harmony right after this one, and I’ve been debating whether or not to release both books at the same time. On the one hand, I’d love Home Town Melody to come out as soon as it’s done. But as a listener, I prefer binging audiobooks back-to-back; not a fan of waiting for the next book in a series! 🎧✨

It’s been quite the journey learning to bring these characters to life with my voice, but I’m loving every minute of it. Well... maybe not the parts where I have to re-record because I sneezed, or my stomach growled... or other noises intruded 😅

Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to having BOTH stories ready for your ears! 

If you enjoy audiobooks, are you a greedy binge listener like me? Or do you take small, dainty sips?

#audiobooks #amnarrating #christianwritersofinstagram #romanceauthor #authorlife #behindthescenes #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianaudiobooks
I don’t normally share “behind the scenes” p I don’t normally share “behind the scenes” pictures because I’m hesitant to show the mess that goes into making the sausage. But today, as I’m fully immersed in outlining Old Town Symphony, I’m pulling the curtain aside just a bit.

Although I always create detailed outlines, usually I’m pretty relaxed with timelines. Who’s counting the days, right? But writing a romance set against the backdrop of a TV reality show means I have to juggle industry-appropriate broadcast dates, realistic rehearsal schedules, and live shows alongside the developing love story. No pressure!

I’ve learned my lesson from past projects where a “week” somehow lasted 11 days (oops!). I don’t want to be 60,000 words into my first draft, only to realise I’ve written a “live” show as airing three days after it even happened (time travel, anyone? 🤪). This time, I’m plotting everything down to the day!

Hence this photo of my very necessary timeline notes and calendar filled with in-story events.

And yes, this is why I’ve been a bit quiet lately—I’m deep in the planning trenches making sure everything lines up perfectly.

Who else gets a bit obsessive when a story demands this kind of precision? Or am I the only one diving deep into the rabbit hole? 😄

#amwriting  #authorlife #behindthescenes #writersofinstagram #currentlywriting #romancenovels #writingprocess #amwritingchristianromance
📚 Unpopular Opinion Time: Let’s Talk About Li 📚 Unpopular Opinion Time: Let’s Talk About Little Women’s Great Romance Betrayal

I know this book is a beloved classic, but can we discuss how Louisa May Alcott BROKE MY HEART? Because Jo and Laurie were MEANT TO BE and I will die on this hill. 😤

Dear Amy, 

I’m sure you’re lovely, but you were literally his second choice as the closest thing to Jo, and I cannot forgive this literary injustice. And you burned Jo’s manuscript. 

Dear Professor Bhaer,

Sir, with all due respect... actually, no. No respect. You criticized Jo’s writing. Laurie supported her dreams. I rest my case.

Dear Jo,

I know you’re fictional and this happened over 150 years ago, but I’M NOT OVER IT.

Apparently, Louisa May Alcott didn’t even WANT to marry her characters off. Her publisher forced her to pair them all up, and she was so resistant to it that she deliberately made Jo reject Laurie out of spite. She said “I won’t marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone”!

But then... to take Laurie—this vibrant, witty, passionate character who was CREATED to be Jo’s perfect match—and give him to AMY? Amy, who burned Jo’s manuscript? Amy, who was the perfect example of everything Jo fought against (being “proper” and “ladylike”)?

The worst part is how Alcott built up this amazing friendship between Jo and Laurie, with all their inside jokes and shared interests and perfect chemistry, only to completely derail it. It’s like she created this perfect love story and then set it on fire just to prove a point!

(Though I have to admit, there’s something deliciously ironic about the fact that she wrote one of the most discussed and debated romantic plotlines in literature specifically because she was annoyed at having to write romance! 😂)

Still not over it. Will never be over it. This is why we write romance novels with satisfying endings!

Who’s with me? Or am I the only one still carrying this torch? 😅

P.S. At least in my books, the childhood best friend GETS THE GIRL. Just saying. 😌

#LittleWomen #BookishGrievances #ThisIsWhyIWriteRomance #HEAGuaranteed #AmReading #Christianromance
🚫 Tropes I’ll Never Write: The Love Triangle 🚫 Tropes I’ll Never Write: The Love Triangle Edition

You know that moment in a book when the gorgeous-but-tortured Hero #1 is clearly perfect for our heroine, but wait! Here comes the equally gorgeous-but-differently-tortured Hero #2 to throw everything into chaos? Yeah, that’s not happening in my books. Ever.

Look, I get it. Some readers live for that delicious angst of “Who will she choose?” But I’m over here like, “Girl, choose therapy and a good baker instead.” 😅

My reasons for being Team No Triangle:

• My anxiety can’t handle it

• My characters have enough problems without dating multiple people

• I’m terrible at math, and geometry was never my strong suit

• I still have emotional damage from too many YA triangles in the 2010s

• Life’s too short for spreadsheets tracking who kissed whom when

Instead, my characters will know exactly who they’re meant to be with... they’ll just be completely terrible at admitting it. Because I’m not a monster - I still want everyone to suffer a little. Just, you know, in a more straightforward way. 😉

What about you? Are you Team Love Triangle or Team Run Away Screaming? 

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #RomanceWriter #TropeTalk
Audiobook update! 🎙️ The good news: I hit th Audiobook update! 🎙️

The good news: I hit the 40% mark recording Home Town Melody! 🎉

Those late night recording sessions are yielding steady progress.

The bad news: A certain unwelcome cold virus decided to crash my recording party and turn my voice into something resembling a croaky frog. 🤧😅

So now I’m in this weird limbo of being super excited about my progress but also having to practice patience (not my strongest virtue!) while my voice recovers. Everyone keeps recommending honey tea, but between you and me... I can’t stand the stuff! So I’m just waiting it out. 

My characters are probably enjoying the break, though—they’ve been doing a lot of talking lately!

Anyone else dealing with the seasonal sniffles? What’s your favorite way to pamper your voice back to health? (Bonus points if it doesn’t involve honey tea! 😆)

#AmRecording #WritersLife #AuthorLife #Christianromance #Christianfiction #christianaudiobooks
Writers, readers, fellow word nerds—can we appre Writers, readers, fellow word nerds—can we appreciate this AMAZING Scottish word I recently learned?

“Hurkle-durkle” (v): to lie in bed long after it’s time to get up, not because you’re sleeping but just because you’re cozy and don’t want to move.

Finally, a word for my favorite form of procrastination! My family has completely embraced this gem—it’s now fully integrated into our household lexicon. “Stop hurkle-durkling and come eat breakfast!” has become a regular morning battle cry. Honestly don’t know how we described this very specific but extremely common behavior before! 😅

Though I should probably stop hurkle-durkling when I have deadlines...

The Scots really do have the best words. (Looking at you, “tartle”—that awkward moment when you’ve forgotten someone’s name!) 

What’s your favorite unique word from any language? Or better yet - what were you doing this morning? Were you productively starting your day, or were you hurkle-durkling? 😴

#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WordNerd #NewFavoriteWord #Writing #christianwritersofinstagram
Let’s talk marriage of convenience romances! 💍

You know what fascinates me about this trope? In historical romance, these practically write themselves—inheritance clauses, social pressure, financial necessity... But try writing one in contemporary times and suddenly it’s like “Wait, why wouldn’t they just date like normal people?” 😅 And marriage is such a huge commitment. Would you really agree to it when you’re not sure the other person loves you? Wouldn’t you worry they might fall in love with someone else?

And yet, when done well, there’s something so deliciously tension-filled about two people navigating married life before they’ve even fallen in love. All those forced proximity moments, the awkward “how do we handle this” situations, the slow burn of feelings growing despite their best intentions...

My friend @rosefresquez just released A Convenient Marriage and somehow pulled off a totally believable contemporary marriage of convenience (teach me your ways!). And another dear writer friend @emilydanabotrous_author ’s Always and Forever, Elizabeth is an outstanding example—she managed to find a beautiful and fully believable reason why these two would marry.

As a writer, I’m itching to try my hand at this trope precisely BECAUSE it’s such a challenge. How to make it believable in 2025 (Or 2026 which is when the book would probably come out)? 🤔

What’s the most convincing contemporary marriage of convenience reason you’ve read?

Drop your thoughts below! 👇

#MarriageOfConvenience #AmWriting #cleanwholesomeromance #Christianromance
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1

Happy Sunday!

#scriptureoftheday #bibleverse #faithinchrist #biblequote #restinjesus
🤫 Can we talk about shy heroes in romance for a 🤫 Can we talk about shy heroes in romance for a minute?

Not every hero needs to be an alpha male charging into rooms and commanding attention. Sometimes the most compelling love stories feature the quiet ones - the guys who’d rather observe from the corner than be the life of the party.

I just finished a beautiful Christian romance that captures this perfectly: "Recovering by the Sea," by Evangeline Kelly. The hero, Jordan, is genuinely shy and socially anxious, and the author portrays his internal struggles with such authenticity. But his shyness isn’t weakness - it’s just part of who he is, alongside his protective nature and his deep capacity to love.

Watching him slowly open up to Charlotte (who handles his anxiety with such grace) was absolutely beautiful. 💕

If you’re tired of bold, brash heroes and want something different, this one’s for you!
Have you read any great romances featuring shy or introverted heroes? (Shouting out @Rosefresquez ’s "A Sudden Romance" for more shy guy rep!) 📚

#ChristianRomance #BookRecommendations #CleanRomance #ShyHeroes #BookLove
📚 Reader Advisory Time! 

Let’s chat about “Small Town Harmony” for a moment. While it’s absolutely a clean, closed-door Christian romance, I want to be clear about the intended audience.

This is very much a story for grown-ups. It deals with mature themes within a marriage relationship, walking alongside Ezra and Martha as they navigate deep emotional territory and work toward healing and reconciliation. While there’s nothing explicit (closed door = closed door!), the subject matter is designed to resonate with adult readers who understand the complexities of long-term relationships.

Think of it as a heart-to-heart conversation between friends about real marriage—the beautiful parts and the challenging ones. 💕

Some of favourite go-to authors when I want books like this:  @emilydanabotrous_author, @Brenda.s.anderson, @EleanorBertin. I could go on and on.

Can you recommend other Christian romances (and authors) that tackle mature, real-life relationship challenges? I’d love to add to my TBR list!

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#ChristianFiction #CleanRomance #MarriageStory #ChristianRomance
In a rare moment of sharing what’s actually on m In a rare moment of sharing what’s actually on my writing desk... here’s a one-in-a-blue-moon writing update! 📝

I’m currently juggling two very different projects and loving every minute:

First up—putting the finishing touches on a novella for an upcoming @mosaiccollectionbooks anthology coming in May. I always love using these anthologies as a chance to play outside my normal romance groove, although I can never resist a sprinkling of romantic love in everything I write. This one’s a bit different—think “It’s a Wonderful Life” meets “A Christmas Carol” with a modern time slip twist! Can’t wait to share more about this one. (And if the anthology editor sees this—I promise I’m working, Deb! Totally not procrastinating on social media... 😇)

And then there’s “Old Town Symphony”—the final book in the “Rhapsody of Grace” trilogy. Big brother Zach is finally getting his happily ever after! Currently deep in story development, which means lots of plotting, character work, and lots of daydreaming—ahem—visualising. I meant creative visualising. 😅

(Oh, and did I mention I’m recording my first audiobook? But that’s a story for another day... Stay tuned! 🎧)

Fellow creatives, how do you handle juggling multiple projects? Are you a one-at-a-time focused person, or do you thrive in the creative chaos like me?

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

#amwriting #amwritingchristianfiction #amwritingromance #christianauthorsofinstagram
Mirror, mirror, on my... oh wait, literally NOT an Mirror, mirror, on my... oh wait, literally NOT anymore! 🚗💔

You know it’s a classic case of the Monday blues when you start your week by losing an argument with a bus. Spoiler alert: the bus won, and my wing mirror lost... spectacularly. As in, “glass-confetti-all-over-the-road” spectacularly. 🚌

Note to self: when the GPS says “wide vehicle approaching,” it REALLY means wide. And apparently, wing mirrors are more... temporary than I thought. 😅

But hey, if there’s one thing my characters have taught me, it’s that setbacks are just setups for comebacks. And unlike in my books, where I control all the plot twists, real life likes to throw in its own surprising chapters!

While I wait for a replacement wing mirror to arrive from eBay (yes, I’m cheap and not about to pay £800-ish for a new one), I’ve done a lovely patch-up job with masking tape. DIY at its finest! 🤪

And, of course, the multi-layered feelings of frustration and self-recrimination can always be put to good use… in a book. Good thing I’m writing two right now!😁

Hoping nobody else is having a “Monday moment”! Or if you are, let’s commiserate together!

#MondayBlues #AuthorLife #RealLife #WriterProblems #ThisIsntInTheBook
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Happy Sunday!

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#scriptureoftheday #bibleverseoftheday #trustgod #trustjesus #jesuslovesyou
Let’s talk about reading accessibility! 📚 Al Let’s talk about reading accessibility! 📚

Although my books are on Amazon, I often get asked why they aren’t in Kindle Unlimited. I want to share my heart on this. While KU is an amazing place to find excellent Christian fiction, it’s not available in numerous countries around the world. I believe uplifting faith-based fiction should be accessible even in countries that don’t have Amazon and KU.

I absolutely understand that subscription services like KU make financial sense for many readers - especially those who read voraciously! That’s exactly why I’ve made sure my books are available through similar services like Everand and Kobo Plus, which offer the same kind of unlimited reading experience.

Here’s where you can find my books in addition to online retailers:

📱 Subscription Services:

• Everand (formerly Scribd)

• Kobo Plus

📚 Free through Libraries:

• OverDrive/Libby

• Hoopla

• BorrowBox

I especially love that the library services support both readers and their local communities. When you borrow my books through your library’s digital services, you’re not just getting a free read - you’re helping your library demonstrate the value of their digital collection and showing them there’s a real demand for Christian fiction. This helps them serve more readers and acquire more faith-based content for their collections.

Whether you’re in Australia, South Africa, Europe, or in places where KU isn’t an option - or if you simply prefer to read through your library or another platform - I want my stories to reach you where you are.

Have you used any of these services, including KU? Which is your favorite way to read? Let me know in the comments! 💕

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#AuthorLife #ReadersOfInstagram #LibraryLove #ChristianFiction #ChristianRomance #christianreadersofinstagram
Weird fact: I’ve written 11 Christian romance no Weird fact: I’ve written 11 Christian romance novels, and not one of them mentions Valentine’s Day. 😊 It’s not that I don’t like the day—but I love exploring those quiet moments where love shows up in unexpected ways. 💕 💕

In one of my books, "Within the Storm," a character carries her birth name—the one she lost when she was adopted—on a worn piece of paper in her wallet. She’s never heard it spoken aloud... until someone takes the time to change that.

Because sometimes the most romantic gestures aren’t flowers or chocolates or grand declarations. Sometimes they’re in the small acts that say “I see you. All of you. Even the parts you’ve lost along the way.”

#ChristianRomance #cleanandwholesomeromance #cleanreads
As someone who writes glamorous characters while r As someone who writes glamorous characters while rocking a fleece top and sweatpants, I had to laugh while creating this completely unscientific quiz!😅

Some of my heroines might live in designer heels always have perfect manicures, but their creator is solidly in the “Laid-Back Lady” category. It’s been over 18 years since I last had a facial!

Take the quiz, add up your points, and tell me where you land on the high-maintenance scale! Are you more like me or more like my characters?

DAILY BEAUTY ROUTINE:
- Wears makeup daily (2)
- Multi-step skincare routine (2)
- Heat styles hair daily (2)
- Never leaves house without perfume (1)

REGULAR MAINTENANCE:
- Gets regular facials (3)
- Professional manicures (2)
- Acrylic/gel nails (3)
- Regular brow maintenance (2)
- Professional hair color/highlights (3)
- Eyelash extensions (3)
- Regular massages (3)
- Professional teeth whitening (2)

FASHION/STYLE:
- Wears high heels regularly (2)
- Never wears the same outfit twice in a week (3)
- Coordinates accessories daily (2)
- Primarily dry clean only wardrobe (3)

RESULTS:
0-10 points: LAID-BACK LADY “Your motto is ‘less is more.’ You’re confident in your natural beauty and prefer spending your time (and money!) on other things. Your friends love that you can be ready for anything in 10 minutes flat! 💅”

11-20 points: CASUALLY CURATED “You enjoy taking care of yourself but know when to dial it back. You’ve mastered the art of looking put-together without going overboard. Balance is your middle name! ⭐”

21-30 points: POLISHED PRINCESS “Looking good is important to you, and it shows! You’ve got your beauty routine down to a science and you’re not afraid to invest in self-care. Your friends probably come to you for style advice! ✨”

31-39 points: ULTRA GLAM QUEEN “You believe life is too short not to sparkle! High maintenance? Maybe. But you prefer to call it having high standards! Your dedication to looking fabulous is truly impressive. 👑”

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#JustForFun #ChristianFiction #ChristianRomance
"May these words of my mouth and this meditation o "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 📖

Happy Sunday! 🙏✨

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

#liveforjesus #christianjourney #biblescriptures #faithfilled #wordbeforeworld #setapart #faithinspired
The journey of writing Christian romance has taugh The journey of writing Christian romance has taught me so much - both about craft and about my own walk with God. These are just 5 of the biggest lessons I've learned along the way...

Writers, can you relate? Readers, which of these surprises you the most?

#ChristianFiction #ChristianRomance #christianauthor #christianwriters #christianwritersofinstagram
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