A Whole New Plan Book Release is This Month

May 12, 2026 by in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as , , , with 0 and 0
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My 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.

Meet Lydia, the heroine of the book A Whole New Plan who is a Pinkerton agent posing as a school teacher
Meet Lydia, the Heroine in A Whole New Plan

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).

Meet the hero of A Whole New Plan, Will, a pastor and friend to all he meets
Meet Will, the Hero in A Whole New Plan

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.

Fido is the energetic dog in A Whole New Plan by Denise Colby who causes a bit of mischief.

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.

A Whole New Plan is an opposites attract, forced proximity with a small-town mystery book

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

A Whole New Plan

by Denise M. Colby

Giveaway ends May 31, 2026.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway


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 Whole New Plan by Denise M. Colby book cover with old church in background, flower field, dog, and woman dressed as a school teacher in 1870

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.

Author Bio
Author Bio
Passionate about all types of stories—whether they are from songs, theatre, movies, or novels—Denise M. Colby loves history and constantly finds herself contemplating how it was to live in the 1800’s. Combining her love of learning about history, and reading, Denise writes Historical Romance Sweetened with Faith, Hope, & Love. Her first novel, When Plans Go Awry, is the first novel in her Best-laid Plans series. A mother to three boys and soon to be daughter-in-love, Denise loves to read, watch movies with her family, sing 80’s and musical songs, tap dance, and spend date nights with her husband at Disneyland. Sign up for her newsletter or follow Denise on her social media. Newsletter: https://denisemcolby.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ Website: www.denisemcolby.com Blog: www.denisemcolby.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisemcolbywrites/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisem.colby/
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Passionate about all types of stories—whether they are from songs, theatre, movies, or novels—Denise M. Colby loves history and constantly finds herself contemplating how it was to live in the 1800’s. Combining her love of learning about history, and reading, Denise writes Historical Romance Sweetened with Faith, Hope, & Love. Her first novel, When Plans Go Awry, is the first novel in her Best-laid Plans series. A mother to three boys and soon to be daughter-in-love, Denise loves to read, watch movies with her family, sing 80’s and musical songs, tap dance, and spend date nights with her husband at Disneyland. Sign up for her newsletter or follow Denise on her social media. Newsletter: https://denisemcolby.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ Website: www.denisemcolby.com Blog: www.denisemcolby.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisemcolbywrites/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisem.colby/

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