Z Peabody’s Latest Release Shows It’s Not Always Easy Being a Christian

Today we’re chatting with Brave Author Z Peabody about her latest release,
Redemption for the Cowboy.

Q: Tell us about Redemption for the Cowboy.
Peabody: Redemption for the Cowboy is about believing in God but not having
confidence in the Word of God and God’s place in our lives.
My book explores the lives of characters who are believers of Christ and live for
Christ. The story also looks at lives that are not under the will of Christ and His
teachings whether or not those characters are believers. In both cases, life-long
lessons can be taught.

Q: You tackle issues that are not normally seen in a Christian romance including
gunrunning, biker gangs, gunpoint duress, and arson. (See the review below!) That’s
awfully “brave” of you. What made you step into such provocative territory?
Peabody: Thank you!
In some ways my life has been influenced by one or more of these issues. Not
everyone’s walk to Christ is an easy one. In some cases, while they call
themselves “saved Christians,” they have an even harder walk with Christ. These
are real-life issues, and I would be remiss if I wrote only about the pleasant in
Christian Romance and not the unpleasant.
I don’t want to disillusion any reader who picks up one of my books out of
curiosity about Christian Romance, and all they read about is love and a happy-
ending. What happened that put the characters together and led up to that happy-
ending?
I want to encourage readers in some way through my words. If readers are living
in any of the situations that I write about, then they can take heart. God is always
there, and He still loves them. Repent and turn from those situations by delving
into the Word of God.

Q: Cowboys, ranches, the legal system, and charitable organizations play big roles in
Redemption for the Cowboy. What kind of research did you have to do to make it all
come together?

Peabody: I majored in criminal justice and political science. As for ranch life,
growing up, I loved to visit family members that lived on farmland in Mississippi
and Georgia. Cowboys play a part in that they have a healthy respect for the land
and the animals they care for. Just add in the Word of God and those are strong
attributes for a character.

Check out this review by Priscilla Bettis on Goodreads:
Redemption for the Cowboy is a contemporary Christian romance. Cowboy Rem is an old-
fashioned gentleman who speaks in sappy sweet-nothings. He’s also a take-charge kind of man
in romantic relationships.
Phoebe is a lawyer and best friends with Penni. Penni and her husband are Montana ranchers
and Rem’s employers. Rem has a secret guilt from his past, and he’s reluctant to let himself
develop an “undeserving” relationship with the smart and beautiful Phoebe.
Peabody inserts Bible verses in the middle of scenes, Bible verses that pertain to the thoughts
and actions of the characters. Also, one of the characters undergoes a voluntary Deliverance
ritual based on fasting, prayer, service to others, and studying Scripture. (I’ve never known
anyone who went through a Deliverance ritual. It was fascinating!) The Christian aspect of
Peabody’s novel is unmistakable.
Peabody’s settings are so real that I felt like I was hiking across a big ranch or exploring the
inside of a huge cave or attending a cowboy church.
I had a feeling that something from Rem’s past would catch up to him because of his secret
guilt, but I did not expect the jaw-dropping surprise about three-quarters of the way through the
book. It explains his past and how he ended up in Montana.
The romance between Rem and Phoebe is of the slow-burn variety, and Peabody digs deep
into their characters and their situation. There are also serious topics including gunrunning,
biker gangs, gunpoint duress, and arson. It all comes together for an intellectually satisfying
romance book. I’m so glad I read Redemption for the Cowboy.