A Whole New Plan Book Release is This Month
May 12, 2026 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as book launch, Denise M. Colby, historical romance, New book releaseMy next book, A Whole New Plan, releases this month and there’s a lot to celebrate. It’s my fourth book in my Best-laid Plans series to be released within a two-year window. I’m excited to add to the story world I’ve built and introduce the point of view of yet two more people. The release date is May 26, 2026.
You can pre-order the e-book for $1 savings until release day on Amazon.
A Little About A Whole New Plan
I love these characters and how they interact. It was fun to build friendships with the other characters and the way they developed organically. I can’t wait for everyone to get to know Will and Lydia more and read their story.
Lydia is the third teacher out of five that traveled west together to teach in California. She’s really a Pinkerton agent posing as a school teacher. She likes to work alone.
Will is the Pastor in Washton. He’s Luke’s best friend (from When Plans Go Awry) and Sarah’s brother (No Plan at All).
There’s also a dog in this story that may or may not be loosely based on our black lab, Ace. I asked ChatGPT to make him fluffy and have him chasing sheep and a baby cow. This is in the opening chapter of the book. I felt it captured Fido’s energy pretty good.
This story answers many unanswered questions left in previous books that I wasn’t sure myself what the answers would be (you can thank my critique group, who encouraged me to answer them). There’s a bit of a mystery and suspense in here as well. I never planned on writing suspense, but I’m finding it a fun to write.
Celebrate The Release of A Whole New Plan
I’m offering two signed copies in a GoodReads Giveaway. The last day to enter is May 31, 2026.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
A Whole New Plan
by Denise M. Colby
Giveaway ends May 31, 2026.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
There’s a lot of other things happening this month and next as well to celebrate A Whole New Plan’s book release. Several guest blog posts, a reviewers tour, and a 99 cent sale on my other three e-books from May 26-June 1. I’m also doing a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Brea, CA (my local store) on May 30, 2026 from 2-4pm.
Please join with me as I celebrate A Whole New Plan’s book release.
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.
If you want to learn more about the Best-laid Plans series, and the order of books, check out my March blog post.
5 absolutely fabulous treats I will never forget for #EatWhatYouWantDay by Jina Bacarr
May 11, 2026 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as chicken soup, cookies, eatwhatyouwantday, food, Germany, pizza
I’m slaving and I mean slaving over getting my latest book ‘Flight of the Stolen Children‘ finished and I keep promising myself a ‘treat’ when I hand it in to my editor.
The list is getting longer and longer…
And perfect for today’s blog #EatWhatYouWantDay.
So, what are your all-time favorite treats… something you enjoyed that comes with a memory stamp, like where you ate it and why it’s so special to you.
Here are mine:
Pizza Margheritaat the Ristorante Pizzeria Acqua Pazza in Campo Sant’Angelo in Venice, Italy when I performed at La Biennale Arts Festival (video to come). My editor and I came upon this amazing restaurant late at night with such beautiful golden lights I swear it was lit up by fireflies.
Philly Soft Pretzels at recess at Saint Vincent’s School run by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph in Philadelphia. I would stand at the tall wrought iron gate every day pokinfg my nose through the bars, waiting for the Pretzel Man to come and buy my 2 ooh so good soft pretzels.
Pêche Melba (peaches and vanilla ice cream) at Café Kranzler in Frankfurt/Main Germany — I’ve been to Frankfurt many times since it’s a popular destination airport to Europe from the US. I so enjoyed making a stop at this charming cafe with its lovely pastries and violin ensemble before venturing on to other cities in Europe by rail.
Chicken Velvet Soup at L.S. Ayres Department Store Tea Room on the eight floor in Indianapolis, Indiana — and the dining room at the Grand Hotel Nuremberg where Allied legal teams and the press took their meals during the infamous trials in post WW2 Nuremberg, Germany. The soup was served in a silver carafe and I imagined supping the soup in post war Germany — the trials figure into a chapter in one of my books, Sisters of the Resistance.
And because I need a little Christmas…
The super-big, buttery-richChristmas Tree Cookieswith chunks of red and green sprinkles I couldn’t get enough of in the UCLA Alumni Center dining room. I enjoyed a scrumptious holiday buffet there with the director of my play produced that year at the Malibu CompanyTheatre called ‘The Christmas Piano Tree.’
The best Christmas cookies I’ve ever had (except the cookies my maman made. Nothing beats that.)
So, what’s your favorite treat(s), where you ate it, and why it’s so memorable?
Tell me in the comments section… I look forward to reading them.
Now back to our regularly scheduled craziness… writing book 2 in Lia’s Story.
[PS — I have some cool memory graphics I want to add, but honestly, I don’t have time to find them in my secret room where I keep all my stuff in old trunks, boxes, even a suitcase without wheels (remember those?). I’ll update the post with them after my m/s is done. Thank you!]
My latest Paris WW2 novel:
Check out: ‘The Stolen Children of War’ — Book 1 in Lia’s Story. I’m now writing Book 2 ‘Flight of the Stolen Children’.
A story told in Book 1 of this 2 book series about children hidden in plain sight in Occupied Paris 1943. In the circus.
If it’s not horrible enough my heroine Lia de Montieri, Queen of the Trapeze, has to fight the Nazis and a despicable Gestapo man in 1943 Occupied Paris, she also comes up against a depraved creature known as ‘The Magician’ because of his amazing ability to restore a woman’s face…
He lurks in the shadows only coming out to threaten what Lia holds most dear…
‘The Stolen Children of War’ is the story of a mother’s sacrifice, make that ‘mothers’, when Lia helps a Jewish woman about to be deported by helping her little girl and young boy escape.
And oh, there’s that adorable baby elephant, too.
‘The Stolen Children of War’
Amazon Kindle:
US: https://a.co/d/7iR9Xar
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/9RF8E77
AU https://amzn.asia/d/9hlZVS3
It is 1943 in Nazi-occupied Paris, and nobody is safe. Nobody, except perhaps one small group of people, who’ve always existed outside the law… in the circus.
Boldwood Books
Featured Author: Denise M. Colby
May 1, 2026 by Denise M. Colby in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Featured Author of the Month tagged as Author of the Month, Christian Historical Fiction, Denise M Colby, Marketing, Social Media, writing
Denise M. Colby loves to write words that encourage, enrich, and engage whether it’s in her blog, social media, magazine articles, or devotions. With over 20+ years’ experience in marketing, she enjoys using her skills to help other authors.
She treasures the written word and the messages that can be conveyed when certain words are strung together. She, being an avid journal writer, is often seen with a pen and notepad whenever she reads God’s word. Denise is writing her first Christian Historical Romance Series, and you can find her at www.denisemcolby.com
Denise is a member of OCRW, Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, ACFW (where she was a semi-finalist in the Genesis contest Historical Romance Category), OC Chapter of ACFW, and Novel Academy.
You can read Denise’s column The Writing Journey on A Slice of Orange, or follow her on Facebook or Instagram. You can also sign-up for her newsletter.
Big news for Denise!
Denise’s fourth novel, A Whole New Plan, is being released this month on the 26. The ebook is available for pre-order.
A Whole New Plan
Denise M. Colby
ISBN: 978-1649175960
May 26, 2026
Sometimes God’s best plan is the one we never expected.
California, 1870. Pastor William Baker has built his life on faith, routine, and safe choices—until Lydia Spencer walks in and turns everything upside down.
Independent, outspoken, and guarded, Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. She has no interest in church… and no intention of revealing the truth she’s hiding.
Because Lydia isn’t just a schoolteacher.
She’s a Pinkerton detective, sent west to track a dangerous crime boss—and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means keeping her distance from the one man who sees straight through her defenses.
But when unexplained thefts shake their quiet small-town rural community, and a desperate boy appears with ties to a deeper mystery, Will and Lydia are forced into an uneasy partnership.
As danger closes in, so do their hearts.
What begins as a reluctant alliance soon becomes a forced proximity neither of them expected—and neither can ignore.
Yet the very things that draw them together may be the ones that tear them apart.
Lydia’s life is built on secrets.
Will’s is built on truth.
And when her past catches up with her, they’ll have to decide what matters most—holding on to their own plans… or trusting the One who sees the bigger picture.
Because sometimes surrender is the only way to find the life you were meant to live.
Set against the backdrop of the American West, A Whole New Plan is a heartfelt story of faith, courage, and a strong woman learning to trust again—woven with threads of mystery and hope.>
If you enjoy western Christian romances with elements of intrigue and heart, you’ll love A Whole New Plan—perfect for fans of Misty M. Beller and Mary Connealy.
Step into a story of courage, trust, and unexpected love—grab your copy today.
Denise M. Colby’s Books
A Pet Project
April 30, 2026 by Dianna Sinovic in category Quill and Moss by Dianna Sinovic, Writing tagged as cabin, Road Trip, short fiction
Sixty miles into the drive, Jill had second thoughts about the wisdom of bringing her animals with her. The cat, sequestered in her carrying case on the front seat, kept up a steady mewling. Except when the beagle in the back seat got too near, which set off a yowl. That prompted a barking response, joined by the woof of the English setter in the rear compartment.
Jill turned up the volume on her playlist, trying to drown out the cacophony, but then worried she wouldn’t hear the mysterious clunking sounds that had started from the back end of the car about fifteen miles ago.
It wasn’t that she was foolhardy. She’d considered asking a friend to accompany her on the trip, either to drive or help manage the menagerie, but no one was available—or they were conveniently busy when she offered the ride.
“I’ll pay for your train ticket back home,” she said, but got no takers.
Now her destination in upstate New York, a rental cottage on a lake, seemed far, far away. Just under three hundred miles left and way too many pit stops to go.
Kenneling was not an option for the month she planned to be away writing—or trying to write. And when she located the rental (pets allowed for a small upcharge), bringing the critters was an easy decision.
“Petey, pipe down,” she said to the beagle. He snuffled the cat’s case, poking his head between the front seats to get at Tux, and then baying. “You, too, Chips.” She glanced in the rearview mirror to check on the setter, who couldn’t access the back seat (and cause even more chaos) because of the cargo net. “The next rest stop is in sixteen miles. Hang in there.”
The minutes and hours slipped past, and Jill felt pulled between the poles of her endpoints, home and rental. Then Petey stuck his nose in her ear and licked it.
“Gah!” she sputtered.
At a rest stop, she pulled up near its tiny dog park and gave Petey and Chips the run of it. As she was corralling them back into the SUV, Chips pulled the leash from her hand and eagerly headed toward a family of four making their way to the rest stop building.
“Chips,” Jill called, quickly shutting the side door to keep Petey in place. “Come here, boy!” She hurried after the setter. He could charm a rock into giving him a pat.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, short of breath, when she reached the family and grabbed the leash.
The two young children huddled behind the parents, peeking at the dog, who pranced near them. In the distance, Petey’s bark told Jill he was equally interested in the situation.
“No harm done,” said the woman, although she was frowning. “But you really should keep better hold of that dog.” The parents turned their backs on Jill and pushed the children ahead of them.
Jill narrowed her eyes. As if I wasn’t doing my best.
Back in the SUV, she gassed up and continued north, the sun already past high noon. Three more pit stops—but no more leash mishaps—and she finally exited the interstate, turning onto the winding roads leading to the rental.
Her mood darkened as the GPS route inched forward. Why had she thought this would work? Between walking the dogs and refereeing the guaranteed skirmishes between the canids and the cat, she would have little time to concentrate, let alone be creative.
The long, unpaved driveway to the rental led through thick stands of oak, maple and birch, until a final turn revealed the lake. The sudden quiet when she switched off the engine stopped the dogs from whining, and even Tux fell silent.
No other houses interrupted the scenery. She heard only the scolding of chickadees and the lap of water against the lakeshore. Out of the car, she breathed in the scent of pine and spruce.
Immersed in the serenity of the setting, Jill saw the dogs curled up beside her on the floor of the cabin, while she tapped at her keyboard, the cat tucked away in her own hidey hole. Thirty days of freedom. She was ready.
More of Dianna’s Stories
Neetu Malik: Featured Author
April 28, 2026 by Neetu Malik in category Featured Author of the Month tagged as Featured Author of the Month, Neetu Malik, Poet's Day, poetry
Neetu Malik’s poetry is an expression of life’s rhythms and the beat of the human spirit. She draws upon diverse multicultural experiences and observations across three continents in which she has lived. She has contributed to The Australia Times Poetry Magazine, October Hill Magazine, Prachya Review, among others. Her poems have appeared in The Poetic Bond Anthology V and VI published by Willowdown Books, UK, NY Literary Magazine’s Tears Anthology and Poetic Imagination Anthology (Canada).
Her poem, “Soaring Flames”, was awarded First-Place by the NY Literary Magazine (2017). She has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, 2019 for her poem “Sacred Figs” published by Kallisto Gaia Press in their Ocotillo Review in May, 2018. She had a monthly column, Poet’s Day, here on A Slice of Orange.
Neetu lives in Pennsylvania, USA.
You can find Neetu’s poetry in these volumes.
Hover on the cover for buy links. Click on the cover for more information.
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