The Convict’s Courtship Tour & Giveaway
About the Book
Book: The Convict’s Courtship
Author: KyLee Woodley
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 3, 2026
A remote mining town, an aspiring journalist, and the reformed convict who saves her life.
When Clara Alexander returned from finishing school to Virginia City she had two goals: to become a reporter and make peace with the father who betrayed her mother. But even in the West, there is no room for her in the newsroom or in the family her father made when he married his mistress. Clara is forced to take desperate measures to prove her worth to an editor—including a reckless venture into a dangerous mine shaft.
Reformed convict Beau Vulpe lives a quiet life of obscurity in a remote mining town in Nevada. When he rescues a beautiful woman from a sweltering mine shaft, he’s welcomed into her home as a hero, only to discover that they are the same family he deeply wronged the summer before. Now, with winter’s grip choking the mountain town and rumors of mines going bust, he is forced to stay, praying Clara won’t discover the truth before the spring thaw.
As Clara pursues her dreams of writing for the renowned Territorial Enterprise, she continually crosses paths with the mysterious Frenchman who saved her life and is drawn to him a little more with each interaction. Beau finds himself not only falling for the lovely lady but befriending her family as well. Can he protect his freedom and atone for his wrongs without losing his heart in the process? And what about Clara—will her attraction toward Beau Vulpe lead to the disappointment her mother warned her about?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband of eighteen years and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.
In her spare time, she cares for a rescue mutt—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and three adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.
More from KyLee
A Heart in Exile: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Heroine
We all carry “wounds”—those hurts from our past that shape how we see the world today. For Clara, my heroine in The Convict’s Courtship, that wound is deep and it’s personal.
In her youth, Clara loved to write fanciful stories. With a love of history and a strong faith in God, she strove as a teen to write Bible studies for young ladies. But she comes from a troubled home, the daughter of an impulsive father and a mother she believes died of a broken heart after her father’s betrayal. Weeks after her mother’s death, her father married his mistress, who gave birth to a baby boy just months later. At this point, a sixteen-year-old Clara hoped they might finally be a family, only to be sent away to an elite boarding school—Miss Porter’s School. This was the same prestigious school attended by Nellie Grant, President Grant’s daughter. Everyone said her father sent her there out of love, but Clara knew better. It was time for Clara to grow up.
During her time in the East, she discovered the pioneering work of 19th-century female journalists and activists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Swisshelm, and Anne Newport Royall. She admired these strong women, seeing them as a stark contrast to her mother’s perceived weakness. This shift led Clara away from “fanciful” notions of hope toward a life built on facts, proof, and logic—so much so that rather than pray, she now seeks guidance through the analytical study of the Bible.
After four years of exile, Clara returns to a Virginia City that is soon decimated by the Great Fire of 1875.
Now, she must find a way to reconcile her mother’s memory, her own search for significance, and her desire for a family. It is among the ruins of the city and of her family that she encounters Monsieur Beau Vulpe—a convict on the run with deep wounds of his own and a secret connection to her family that makes her the last woman in the world he would choose to love. Will the mysterious Frenchman be part of her healing or her final ruin?
Clara’s journey is one of healing, hard truths, and finding hope in the midst of the ashes. Have you ever had to face a “wound” from your past that felt impossible to heal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you’re ready to see how Clara and Beau’s story unfolds, you’ll want to read The Convict’s Courtship.”
Extinguishing flames on C Street While this picture does not depict the actual fire in 1875, it does show how the fire department and the town fought the flames. Source: The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. http://fourthwardschool.org/events/virginia-citys-great-fire-of-1875/.
MY REVIEW
This is quite an entertaining story with historical facts that heighten the curiosity of readers. I enjoyed following Clara on her journey. She desires to be a reporter but finds that some men don’t believe a woman has any business being one. The time period does emphasize that women were more suited to staying home rather than being out and about doing men’s work.
Beau is a good character with a checkered past who wants to move forward in life. He carries guilt and pain that does at times cause him not to trust. His secret may cause a certain relationship to stall but he so wants to find redemption. We all at some time have done something we are ashamed of. I found Beau to be intriguing and I liked how he slowly came to see that faith was important.
The book gives us a look at how God directs our path and helps us as we desire to change. Steadfast in her faith Clara brings a refreshing look at how we should never judge each other. I appreciated how she helped women who others shun because they lived a life that many didn’t approve of.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters better as mystery keeps the story going in a direction that held my attention. I do think that reading the first two books in this series would be helpful. Will Clara find out Beau’s secret? Can Beau find forgiveness? Grab a copy of the book to get these answers.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10
Pause for Tales, March 10
lakesidelivingsite, March 11
Texas Book-aholic, March 12
Bizwings Blog, March 13
Sydney Schmied Books, March 13
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14
For Him and My Family, March 15
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 16
Devoted Steps, March 17
Devoted To Hope, March 18
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 19
Stories By Gina, March 20 (Author Interview)
Connie’s History Classroom, March 20
Cover Lover Book Review, March 21
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 22
Holly’s Book Corner, March 23
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, KyLee is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a gift basket, which includes the whole series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://gleam.io/sErXk/the-convicts-courtship-celebration-tour-giveaway
A splintered world, a heart gone cold.
Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author ofThe Story Peddler, the ECPA best-selling author of Adored, and Managing Editor of Enclave Publishing. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives happily among the rain and evergreens of the Pacific Northwest with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their three (nearly) grown geeklings, and three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats).
When life hits hard, you have two choices: stay stuck in the pain or learn how to reframe it. The Power of the Reframe is a healing guide for women who are ready to release the weight of the past, renew their minds, and step into a new future with God at the center. Blending biblical truth, real-life wisdom, and practical exercises, this book helps you: Recognize the patterns holding you back. Reframe your story through God’s Word and affirmations. Rebuild a new perspective rooted in faith, ownership, and hope. This is not about ignoring your pain—it’s about transforming it into purpose. With journal prompts, heart-check exercises, and encouragement for every step of the healing journey, The Power of the Reframe shows you how to take your broken pieces and build something whole.
J.J. Bundy (Jasmine Shegog) is the founder of The Reframe Collective, LLC, a healing-centered brand that equips women and children to break cycles, renew their minds, and build generational wholeness. A mother, writer, and former teacher, Jasmine draws on her own journey through grief, emotional healing, and faith to create resources that make complex emotional and spiritual truths simple and life-changing. Through books, workbooks, and retreats, she helps others reframe their pain into purpose. She also writes children’s books under the pen name J.J. Shegog.
As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.
Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.