Tag: Christian Fiction

Writing

A Whole New Plan Releases in May 2026

Denise M. Colby

My next book, A Whole New Plan, releases May 26, 2026. This is the fourth book in the Best-laid Plans Series, and the third teacher’s story.

A Whole New Plan book releases in May 2026 and includes a wounded Pinkerton agent and a cautious pastor.

A wounded Pinkerton agent. A cautious pastor. When danger threatens, only their faith along with 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, unexpected love, and God’s perfect design.

A Whole New Plan hits these tropes

There’s a little bit for everyone in this story:

💕 Romance Tropes

  • Slow Burn Romance
  • Opposites Attract
  • Pretend Engagement / Fake Relationship
  • Out of My League
  • Forced Proximity
  • Protector Hero

🔍 Mystery/Adventure Tropes

  • Pinkerton Agent / Lady Detective
  • Small-Town Mystery
  • Undercover Investigation
  • Secrets & Hidden Identity

Sometimes God’s best plan is the one we never expected.

The Best-laid Plans Series

I’m excited that there are now four books in the series. Here are the books in order of how they have been released. Note that No Plan at All is not one of the teacher stories.

The best-laid plans series by Denise M. Colby includes the newest release A Whole New Plan

Three young women. One new beginning. A journey of faith, friendship, and unexpected love.

It’s 1869 and three young women travel to Sacramento, California, ready to begin new lives as teachers in the rural one-room schoolhouses of the West. But the plans they carefully laid soon give way to something far greater. As God gently redirects their paths, each woman discovers lessons in friendship, faith, and trust—and encounters the most surprising gift of all: love.

They weren’t searching for it.
They never expected it.
But they may just find everything their hearts truly need.

Timeline Order

There has been a bit of confusion about the order of the four books. No Plan at All is a prequel, set two years before book one. This was a side-story from a character from the first book (Sarah, the woman who left Luke), but Amazon doesn’t allow using 0 or .5 and labels them based on the order released. 

Here are the books in my Best-laid Plans Series in the actual timeline order.

There are many other stories in my brain, including the next two teachers. Stay tuned for more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays – 5.11.18

Denise M. Colby

It’s First Line Friday time.  Pulling again from treasures read a while ago, today’s first line comes from another Love Finds You… book.  I thought I would do them all in a row!

Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas by Pamela Griffin

Book Cover Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas by Pamela Griffin - First Line Fridays Denise M. Colby Blog Post

I have read several from this line and being the history/geography lover that I am, have found these real town names and fiction stories fun.

So here’s the first line.  Drumroll please…….

Hope, Kansas

Midsummer 1889

“Don’t just stand there with your mouth hangin’ open like a fish. Do you want a new ma or don’t you?” Andy directed the tense question to their little sister, Maggie, who hovered outside the stable door in clear indecision about whether to join them.

In return, I hope you will share the first line from any book you choose in the comments below.  And then head on over to:

First Line Friday hosted by Hoarding Books Button

Happy Reading,

Denise

First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays – 2.16.18

Denise M. Colby

It’s First Line Friday time.  I’m going back into my keep pile for today’s first line.

A Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist Historical Romance Book cover Deeanne Gist is one of my favorite authors. 

I loved how she showed the servant side of this era in this book.

So here’s the first line.  Drumroll please…….

Like a butterfly breaking free from its confining cocoon, Tillie Reese emerged from the barren, tan-colored servants’ hall into the opulence of the Biltmore’s main level.

In return, I hope you will share the first line from any book you choose in the comments below.  And then head on over to:

First Line Friday hosted by Hoarding Books Button

Happy Reading,

Denise

First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays – 2.2.18

Denise M. Colby

First Line Fridays, Hoarding BooksIt’s First Line Friday time.  Today’s first line is taken from the novella:

A Letter To the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher

So here’s the first line.  Drumroll please…….

Molly Everton flung open the door to her father’s office in the Killdeer Sentinel, not caring that it hit the wall with a loud crack, “Is it true, Father?”

A Rita Award finalist, this novella is one of four in a collection titled “Four Weddings and A Kiss”.  The collection has a fun prologue with four pastors sitting around a campfire.

In return, I hope you will share the first line from any book you choose in the comments below.  And then head on over to:First Line Friday

Happy Reading,

Denise

First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays – 1.26.18

Denise M. Colby

First Line Fridays, Hoarding BooksIt’s First Line Friday time.  Today’s first line is taken from the book:

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen

So here’s the first line.  Drumroll please…….

Jane Fairmont Bell sat alone in the keeper’s lodge she had once shared with her husband.

That sentence says so much, doesn’t it?  And makes me ask a lot of questions:  What happened to her husband?  Why is she alone?

In return, I hope you will share the first line from any book you choose in the comments below.  And then head on over to:First Line Friday

Happy Reading,

Denise

First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays – 1.12.18

Denise M. Colby

It’s First Line Friday time!  This week it’s a line from a book I recently read titled:

Where There’s Smoke

By Susan May Warren

And here it is:

She’d come three thousand miles to burn to death.

This is book one in Susan’s Montana Fire: Summer of Fire Trilogy.  I love her writing.  I couldn’t put the book down.  Now on to #2 and #3.

In return, I hope you will share the first line from any book you choose in the comments below.

Happy Reading,

Denise