Tag: A Whole New Plan

A Whole New Plan, Book Four in My Series, Releases This Year

I’m so excited to announce my next book, A Whole New Plan, releases on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. 

A Whole New Plan Book Blurb

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

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.

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

Book four in a series

This is book four in the Best-laid Plans Series. Here’s the series blurb.

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.

Series Order

There has been a bit of confusion about the order of books, since this is the third teacher’s story.

My actual third book released is a prequel. No Plan at All is a side-story from a character from the first book, but Amazon doesn’t allow using 0 or .5 and only will allow labeling them based on the order released (lesson learned). 

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

I’m so excited to have multiple books to show together. That makes four books released in the last two years. 

How did that happen?

I have worked hard over the past decade writing and learning, and its great to see the fruit now from all that labor.

It’s also fun to have many more stories in my head to fit this story world. I have two other teachers still to write, as well as other side characters that have been raising their hand wanting to share as well.

I wanted to share encouragement for every writer out there. Keep going. One day, you too will be able to have multiple books out for readers to enjoy.

Denise loves to share about her writing journey (see all her posts here), including her word of the year (this year it is BALANCE), her debut novel When Plans Go Awry, and all the things in between. You can visit her at her website and blog at www.denisemcolby.com or on her facebook or instagram. Please note: some links include Amazon Associate links where Denise can earn from qualifying purchases.