Shannon here: Denise M. Colby shares her inspiration for her Historical Christian Romance, A Whole New Plan. Comment or answer the question in any post dated May 18th – 30th to enter the drawing for a digital copy of book 1 in the series, When Plans Go Awry, plus 3 other titles. Deadline: June 6th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Denise:
In A Whole New Plan, Lydia Spencer is posing as a teacher, yet she is a female Pinkerton Detective who wants to prove herself on this case she’s a part of. She likes to work alone. Men don’t want to work with a woman anyway, so keeping her independence is a must to Lydia. But she needs help because she’s injured.
When I planned out this story world, I didn’t know Lydia was a Pinkerton. And I didn’t know she’d be the perfect match for Will, the cautious pastor in Washton. Will is the glue that’s there for everyone else, but as he watches his friends find their happily ever after, he wonders if there’s something he’s missing. He’s never sought after adventure, but he finds it with Lydia. And now that’s he’s involved, he’s not about to step away.
And that’s how the story begins.
They meet in the first chapter at the wedding of Luke and Olivia (from When Plans Go Awry). Lydia is sitting at a table with Chrissy Martin (the motherly figure who takes each of these young ladies under her wing). When Will walks up, because Chrissy flagged him down, there are sparks. When Lydia’s dog, Fido, causes some mayhem, Will steps in where he’s not wanted, but definitely needed.
Why I like to write these stories
My tagline for my author brand is Historical Romance sweetened with faith, hope, & love. I want to encourage readers and have them enjoy a moment of peace. Yes, this book has conflict. But I want it to also be full of kindness, respectfulness, and be a light for others.
With Will being a pastor, finding the right balance of him having a struggle with him knowing scripture
well was a bit of a challenge. I didn’t want him to be preachy, but he would think of scripture during normal daily activities because it’s such a part of him. Lydia on the other hand remembers church in a different way and has no intention of being a part of that world. But Will keeps showing up and showing her something different. I love the scene where he teaches Lydia how to pray silently.
Will and Lydia are a good match even if they don’t think they are.
When I was outlining this book, I wanted there to be an enemies to lovers premise, where there would be conflict after conflict between Will and Lydia. I also planned to have Lydia’s dog Fido mirror this conflict with Bert, the beloved rooster who has appeared in each of my books.
But Will isn’t that type of person. And Lydia, with her own brand of curiosity, found a way to discuss Will’s past with him. A topic no one else would cross. That disarmament opened the door for them to work together right away on a mystery brewing in the area.
But even though they got along better than I planned, they both write off one another as a potential love interest because of their strong opinions on what they thought they wanted or needed.
But God knows differently.
For the first time in her life, Lydia had a man treat her with respect and admiration. And so that is what Will brings to the blooming relationship. I love how he stands up to her father. Will isn’t a conflict guy, but the way her father treats her, he couldn’t not say anything.
Without giving any more away, I think one of the interesting things that comes out of Will and Lydia’s romance was how prejudices originally had both of them writing off the other until they got to know each other better.
Reader Question: Have you ever had an opinion of a date (or even your spouse before you got to
know them), that was completely off the mark? What was the thing you thought you knew about them that you later learned was not true?
May Book Bundle #2
My Journey into Writing Fiction by R.F., free download with newsletter signup
A Troubling Suggestion by Betty Woods, Historical Romance, print
When Plans Go Awry by Denise Colby, Historical Romance, digital
Why They Call it Falling by Christina Sinisi, Contemporary Romance, print
About Denise: Denise M. Colby writes historical romance sweetened with faith, hope, and love. She finds history fascinating and contemplates often how it was to live in the 1800’s.
Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist and placed 3rd in the Historical Romance category of the OCRW BBB contest. Her second novel is a Holt Medallion and Carolyn Reader award finalist. Sign up for her newsletter on her website. Learn more and connect:
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About the book – A Whole New Plan:
A wounded Pinkerton agent. A cautious pastor. When danger threatens, only faith—and God’s perfect plan—can show them the way forward.
California, 1870. Pastor William Baker built his life on steady faith and safe choices, but the arrival of
Lydia Spencer upends everything. Independent, outspoken, and hiding a limp from a recent injury, Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. And she has no interest in church—or in sharing her secrets.
What Will doesn’t realize is that Lydia is a Pinkerton detective, undercover as a schoolteacher while tracking a dangerous crime boss. She’s determined to protect her friends in Washton… even if it means keeping her distance from the kind, steadfast pastor who sees too much.
When strange thefts strike the ranch and a frightened boy appears with ties to their past, Will and Lydia are thrown together in a search for truth—and find themselves fighting not only for justice, but for a future neither had planned.
Full of faith, mystery, and romance, A Whole New Plan weaves a story of healing hearts and unexpected love amidst God’s perfect design.
About the Best-laid Plans Series:
A Whole New Plan is the fourth book to be released in the Best-laid Plans series. The series premise includes women who train to become teachers in Cincinatti and travel West to their new hometowns in California to teach.
Each teacher has her reasons why. Most of them are because they would be outcast in society because of their social standing or circumstances they’ve been thrown into. None have romance on their mind. But this is a historical romance series, so of course their plans will go awry and they find love when they were never expecting it.
Worried you won’t win? Interested in Denise’s other titles? Need extra books for gifts?
Get your copy/copies now!
A Whole New Plan Denise’s Books
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