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?

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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.

Author Interview

What is your favorite genre of books?

My favorite genre is western historical Christian romance. Why? I grew up watching cowboy shows with my dad, and I always had a passion for horses. I fell in love with the Old West, the slower pace of life, and the often honorable cowboys.

Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

I definitely can only write one story at a time. I may loosely plot the next one in a series, but I never write two stories at a time.

How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

My Christian faith is key to writing inspirational stories. Also, my parents, although they lived in the city, bought me three horses over several years. I was always a tomboy when I was young and a lover of adventure. I rode my horse all over my end of town. My experience with horses helped me to be a more accurate writer of western fiction.

What is the funniest thing to happen in the process of writing one of your books?

Early on in my writing life, I penned Brides O’ the Emerald Isle with three other authors. The novella collection was partly set in Ireland. We had a chapel where several of our brides got married. We made it so realistic that we had people writing to us to discover the actual location of our fictional chapel.

How do you relax after a long day of writing?

I will often read someone else’s book, but more likely, I’m cooking dinner, doing laundry, or some other household chore.

Where do you find your greatest inspiration?

God is my inspiration. He gave me a vivid imagination, and he helps me write my books. When I was in school, I was a math kid. I didn’t like English or history. I believe the fact that I write historical fiction proves God has a sense of humor.

Who is your favorite author?

Karen Witemeyer. Why? Because her books are totally awesome. I own every one of them. I also love Lynette Eason’s suspense novels and Lacy Williams historical books.

Do you have extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

I generally make character charts with my characters’ basic info like eye and hair color, back story, and their dreams, etc. I have never completely outlined a book, although I have an idea where the story will be going.

Do you remember the first book you read?

No, sorry. When I was young, I loved the Walter Farley books about the Black Stallion and other horses. I pretty much read any book that had a horse on the cover. I also enjoyed Nancy Drew books and the Boxcar Children. What sort of impact did it make on you? I mostly just enjoyed those books, but the ones that made an impact on me were the Christian fiction books I discovered as an adult. I loved the exciting stories filled with faith and heart-warming romances.

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

I write on my laptop while sitting in my recliner with my feet up. I always have my insulated cup of water nearby and chocolate helps, too. I have a sign on my office door that a friend gave me which reads: “Well behaved women rarely make history.”