Daphne's Determination

My newest book releases tomorrow (7-8-25). Since I skipped publishing one in June, it's been longer than usual. Daphne's Determination is a murder mystery as well as a Western romance. Daphne Marshall is surprised when her uncle asks her to become a mail-order bride to prove that her cousin’s husband murdered her. Can she do it? Does she dare? There are so many variables and questions involved. Yet, a few weeks later, she finds herself in Colorado, staring into the eyes of a man who might be a killer.

Daphne's Determination will be my second book in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series. Willa's Woes was published on January 10, 2025. There will be two more to come: Morrow's Mishap, which is on preorder now and Gwendolyn's Groom, which I'm currently writing. It's a good collection with lots of standalone stories that have the same matchmaker, although different authors, to enjoy. I hope you'll be sure to check out mine, especially this new one.

ACX released the Audible version of the book a little early and its now available. Adam Skousen always does a great job, and he's agreed to do all four of my books in this series. He's such a professional that I continue to look forward to working with him. Through some unexpected timing, the paperback version has also just published. And, as I said, the Kindle version, as well as KU, will be available early tomorrow.  If you preorder it now, and you'll be one of the first to get it.

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Three Pitfalls

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

The Christian life isn't without its temptations, even for the devout. Leaders, such as pastors, also wrestle with pride, selfishness, and ambition. When we do something for show, to get recognition, then we're on the wrong track, and if we don't switch, we'll end up far from God.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 11:2 & 16:5a).

Pride is a horrible trap. The Bible warns against it many times, saying it leads to spiritual blindness and downfall. Pride puts itself above anything else, even God and the truth. A prideful heart is resistant to correction, and throughout Scripture, it's the humble of heart who find favor with God.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Selfishness is something most of us constantly fight against. It's human nature to want to "take care of number one." However, God calls us to something higher. We are to consider others above ourselves and follow Christ's example of humility and sacrifice. In doing so, we find that real strength is found in the giving of our time, resources, and hearts in Christian love.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matthew 23:12).

Ambition is another pitfall that especially tries to snare Christian leaders. In God's eyes, fame and popularity has nothing to do with true success. All service and ministry should be for His glory and at His direction. We should measure our impact, not by numbers, programs, or facilities, but by faithfulness, surrender, and obedience to the only One who really matters.

May we all avoid these pitfalls.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:25).

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 A Writer's Break

I have rarely taken a break from writing. I spend most of the day writing for 2 - 3 weeks each month and finish a rough draft. Then I spend the last days editing and getting caught up in other areas. Even when I travel, my laptop goes with me. However, ever since I wrote and published 16 books in 2023, which was way too many, I've been trying to work in a couple of months each year when I'm not publishing a book. That's more difficult than it sounds because good opportunities to write in multiple-author projects keep coming.

I had two such empty months in 2025, but when Lynne Lanning invited me to write in the Building Something Beautiful MAP, I quickly agreed. So, the two months became one, and June is that one month. After my rare nonfiction book published on May 2, the next one, Daphne's Determination, will release on July 8.

2026 is already looking similar. I had two months free, but when I had the opportunity to join the MAP, Mail-Order Brides Undercover, two months shrank to only one. May is the only month I have free next year, and I'm trying hard to keep it free. I need to slow down some, so I don't have to push so hard. And right now, 2027 only has one month free, although I might bump another one of mine down to help the overload.

That's another consequence of taking on more MAPs. My own books keep getting pushed down the schedule, and those stories are still begging to be told. However, I truly do enjoy writing in the multiple-author projects, and they have been good to me -- doing well, building friendships, and increasing my readership. My first MAP was Walnut Cake by Wylene, published 12-6-21. From 9-13-22 until 3-1-25, I published nothing but MAPs. From now on, I plan to be doing some of both and pray that God will continue to guide me and my scheduling.

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Some Signs of Christian Maturity

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

As Christians, we want to be growing in Christ and maturing in our faith. What are some signs that this is happening? Well, first of all, there's a deeper sense of peace. Things that would have once caused great anxiety or panic doesn't affect us like that anymore. We are able to focus on God, knowing that He has us, and we can depend on Him.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

We forgive faster. We know that life is too short and too precious to let negative emotions ruin it. We know that we've made our own share of mistakes, and God has forgiven us, so how can we be hard on others. And we understand that unforgiveness hurts us more than anyone else.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

Instead of feeling condemnation, conviction comes in a gentler but deeper and more real way. We develop an intimate, personal relationship with our Lord, and that changes everything. We won't allow the enemy to burden us down with guilt, but when we make a mistake, we are quick to repent and vow not to repeat.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13).

And joy abounds. We are freer, less tainted by worldly concerns and more aware of our blessings. We seek to grow closer to God and marvel at his presence in our lives. We want to surrender completely to Him and bring Him glory in all that we do. Remember, however, Christian maturity is a continuous journey and not a destination that we arrive at. We just need to keep traveling toward the throne.

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 Audible Adversity

I thought, now that Amazon is offering AI narration for books, it might become easier to find good narrators for my Audibles, but that hasn't turned out to be the case. For whatever reason (that I haven't figured out yet), it's become harder, and that's frustrating.

I don't like AI narration for novels because I like voice acting as opposed to just reading the text. I want the different characters to have different voices. I work hard to match things like the narrators' range of styles, accents, and voice age to the manuscript. Thankfully, I have some loyal narrators who have stuck with me and accepted most, if not all, of my offers to narrate a book. Douglas Birk, Jennifer Groberg, Jared Walters, Adam Skousen, Mark Wisehart, and LB Neibaur have been great. Others have dropped out along the way. 

Right now, I have a book posted on ACX that I'm having a difficult time finding a narrator who fits. South to Freedom is the story of slaves escaping from British owned South Carolina to Spanish owned Florida in 1739 to find freedom. It needs one of the secondary characters to have an African accent. I sent out almost thirty invitations to narrators who listed they could do it, as well as more general accents, and got only one audition. That audition didn't live up to my expectations, and I decided I'd rather not have the book in Audible than to have a subpar offering. Therefore, I'm still looking for someone to produce this novel, which releases on August 1. At this point, all I know to do is keep praying.

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Glorify God

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

One of our main purposes is to glorify God. However, too many people are driven by a desire for personal glory. They seek to be in the limelight and be recognized. If they sacrifice or do good works, they want to be honored for it. Those who are true servants to the Lord will see that He gets the honor and the glory.  

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Proverbs 4:24).

When people use His name in vain or swear, they aren't glorifying God. It grieves Him when His name is used casually and not set aside and honored as special. Warren Wiersbe reminds us in His book, 10 Power Principles of Christian Service, "Doing the will of God from our hearts involves doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right reason. That reason, of course, is the glory of God."

I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another . . ." Isaiah 42:8a).

Wiersbe goes on to say, "Servants who are yielded to the Holy Spirit and filled with the Word of God will be guided to say and do the things that most honor the Lord." What about you? Do you seek to honor God in all that you think, say, and do? Do you want Him to receive all glory and recognition instead of you? May it be so.

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 Westward Home and Hearts

Today, I want to share a special multiple-author series with you. It's been popular with readers for a long time and is still going strong. The first book in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series published on October 15, 2019 by Elaine Manders, the series administrator. Since then, there have been 58 more books published, and they're still coming out. When you find a series with this many books and so much longevity, you know it's special.

My first book in the series, Willa's Woes, published on January 10, 2025. In it, Willa has a series of tragedies and misfortunes and ends up becoming a mail-order bride in Dakota Territory. There, she experiences the devastating winter of 1880, when so much snow accumulated that farmers had to dig tunnels to reach their barns.

My second book, Daphne's Determination, will release on July 8, 2025. Daphne's uncle talks her into becoming a mail-order bride to prove his daughter was murdered by her husband. However, when she gets to Colorado, she's not sure of anything, and solving the crime isn't going to be easy. It's available for preorder now.

Morrow's Mishaps will publish on November 10, 2025, and is on preorder now. On her way to Wyoming, Morrow has one incident after another, and she has no idea why these things are happening to her. Even when she and her friend arrive at Bradford's ranch, there are several mishaps. Is something trying to tell her she shouldn't have come, or is there someone who doesn't want her here?

In Gwendolyn's Groom, Gwendolyn's father is dying, and he wants her securely married before he departs this world. However, the groom he and the matchmaker pick is anything but suitable in Gwendolyn's eyes. Yet, given the circumstances, she might have to marry the man. It will publish on February 11, 2026, just in time for Valentine's Day.

I hope you will check out this wonderful series and consider my four books. One has already published, two are on preorder, and one will publish early next year.

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