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.
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.

I’m offering two signed copies in a GoodReads Giveaway. The last day to enter is May 31, 2026.
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.
Denise M. Colby loves to write words that encourage, enrich, and engage whether it’s in her blog, social media, magazine articles, devotions, or her novels.
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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…
More info →Uncle James wants her to investigate a murder. His, that is.
More info →Kalissandra Doe has a to-do list worthy of the reincarnated goddess she could be.
More info →A Slice of Orange is an affiliate with some of the booksellers listed on this website, including Barnes & Nobel, Books A Million, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. This means A Slice of Orange may earn a small advertising fee from sales made through the links used on this website. There are reminders of these affiliate links on the pages for individual books.
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