A Deadline to Marry

In One Crazy Christmas, my novelette in the anthology A Vintage Christmas to Remember, Marianne Kincaid’s urgent fight to save her freight business sets the stage for an unexpected engagement and an even more unexpected partnership. What begins as a desperate attempt to secure her future quickly becomes a journey that touches on faith, courage, trust, and the surprising ways love can take root when life veers off its expected path.

Marianne’s story does not open with a gentle courtship or a lingering glance across a crowded room. It begins with a bold claim, an accidental lie, and a marriage deadline she never imagined facing. She has only ten days to preserve the freight business her uncle built, and she refuses to surrender it. She drives a freight team, carries a pistol, and stands firm against anyone who doubts her ability. Yet her strength exists alongside vulnerability and a quiet longing to be valued for who she is rather than what she can provide.

Jonah Benton brings his own tension to the tale. He never intended to remain in Sundale, much less become the fiancé of a woman he just met. Still, he finds himself drawn to Marianne’s independence rather than threatened by it. His challenge is not to rescue her from her life, but to discover whether he can stand beside her in it. Their partnership is tested almost immediately when rifle shots ring out on their first freight run, revealing dangers that reach far beyond a business deadline and forcing them to rely on one another in ways neither expected.

Faith threads through their story as both characters learn to act with courage, extend grace, and release the illusion of control. Trust grows slowly between Marianne and Jonah but stands stronger between each of them and God. Ultimately, One Crazy Christmas is about more than whether a rushed engagement becomes a real marriage. It is about being cherished without being diminished, choosing love without abandoning wisdom, and discovering that the most unexpected beginnings can lead to the most meaningful futures.

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Your Value

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well (Psalm 139:14).

Every person carries immense worth, not because of their position or what others think, but because they are created by God Himself. Just as the same bottle of water changes price depending on where it's being sold, our sense of value can shift when we measure ourselves by worldly standards. Yet, in God’s eyes, our value never fluctuates. He formed us with care and purpose, and His craftsmanship defines our worth. When we remember that, we can praise Him with confidence, knowing we are wonderfully made.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Our true value shines brightest when we draw near to God. In His presence, we find clarity, peace, and purpose that the world cannot offer. Sometimes we feel misplaced or overlooked, but that’s often because we’ve drifted from the One who gives meaning to our lives. Seeking Him wholeheartedly restores our sense of belonging. When we stay close to Him, we discover our worth isn’t determined by circumstance. It’s anchored in His love.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).

Remaining connected to Christ is what keeps our lives fruitful and full of purpose. Just as a branch draws life from the vine, we draw strength and value from abiding in Him. When we stay rooted in His Word and His presence, we flourish, no matter where we are planted. So if you ever feel undervalued or unseen, remember: your greatest worth is revealed when you’re close to God, because in His presence, you are exactly where you belong.

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A Case for Compact Novels

Longer isn’t always better when it comes to books, and modern reading habits make that clearer every year. Surveys from Pew Research show that nearly one‑third of American adults read primarily on tight schedules, squeezing books between work, family, and digital distractions. It’s no surprise, then, that many readers quietly avoid anything over 350 pages, not because they dislike reading, but because they fear the commitment. A hefty novel can feel like a project, while a shorter one feels like a pleasure.

There’s also a misconception among some authors and publishers that “more pages equal more value.” In reality, reader feedback consistently shows the opposite. A 2023 Goodreads analysis found that books not going much over 250 pages earn the highest average ratings, while significantly longer books see a noticeable dip. Why? Many readers assume long novels contain extra description, slower pacing, or filler chapters that could have been trimmed. They want tight storytelling, not a marathon of meandering scenes. And by all indications, the optimal length will continue to decline.

And, of course, attention spans have changed. In the era when Dickens, Tolstoy, and Eliot were writing, leisure time revolved around reading, church, and community gatherings. Today, people juggle streaming services, social media, hobbies, travel, and endless to‑do lists. Reading competes with dozens of other activities, so a shorter, well‑crafted book often feels more inviting. A novel doesn’t need to be sprawling to be satisfying; it needs to be purposeful, engaging, and respectful of the reader’s time.

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Jesus Changed Everything

For I am the Lord, I change not… (Malachi 3:6).

A religion professor once told my class he couldn’t understand why the God of the Old Testament seemed so different from the God of the New Testament. In his view, the Old Testament revealed a God who judged, punished, and appeared harsh, while the New Testament introduced a God who was loving, gentle, and forgiving. I remember sitting there, stunned that this puzzled him. To me, the story of Scripture has always been one unified revelation—one God, unfolding one plan, moving steadily toward one world‑changing moment.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son… (Galatians 4:4).

Although I don’t have a doctorate in theology from Edinburgh like this professor, I do understand something simple and profound: Jesus’ coming, death, and resurrection changed the relationship between God and mankind forever. Sin had created a chasm no human effort could bridge. Yet from the beginning, God had a plan to restore what was broken. Christ’s sacrifice didn’t make God more loving. It revealed the love that had been there all along. Through Jesus, anyone who believes can have a close, personal relationship with the Father. Grace didn’t begin at Calvary; it was fulfilled there.

Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Jesus changed everything. His life showed God’s heart. His death paid our debt. His resurrection opened the door to mercy, hope, and eternal life. The God who judged sin in the Old Testament is the same God who provided the remedy in the New. The difference is not in God’s character but in God’s covenant. What the professor saw as two different Gods was really one. God completed His plan, bringing love, grace, and redemption into full view through His Son. That was His gift to us. That was His purpose from the beginning. And that changed everything.

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Completing the Circle

With tomorrow's release of Chloe in the Disabled Daughters trilogy, readers will finally experience the long‑awaited conclusion to the series that began with Ava and Jo. Each sister’s story has explored a different facet of faith, family, and the quiet courage to take a chance on love. Now it’s Chloe’s turn, and her journey promises to be the most surprising of all. She has always stood a little apart from her sisters, not out of rebellion, but because she has never quite felt like she fits the mold everyone else seems to slip into so easily.

Chloe Walsh enters her story with a clear plan: find a husband who can provide comfort, stability, and the kind of life she believes she deserves. Ava and Jo have found happiness in marriage, and Chloe is determined to follow that same path — but on her own terms. What she doesn’t expect is that God may have something entirely different in mind. The road ahead is full of twists she never anticipated, and the lessons waiting for her will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, purpose, and what truly matters.

This final book brings the trilogy full circle, weaving together themes of identity, surrender, and the gentle but persistent way God redirects our steps. Chloe’s story is not just about romance; it’s about discovering that the deepest kind of fulfillment doesn’t come from comfort or control, but from trusting the One who sees beyond our plans. Readers who have followed the Walsh sisters from the beginning will find themselves moved, surprised, and ultimately uplifted as Chloe learns that what she wants may not be what she needs — and that God’s version of happiness is far richer than her own.

As the trilogy closes, Chloe, Disabled Daughters, offers a heartfelt, faith‑centered finale that honors the journeys of all three sisters. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt out of place, anyone who has wrestled with expectations, and anyone who has discovered that God’s path, though unexpected, is always the right one. Chloe’s transformation is tender, emotional, and deeply satisfying — a beautiful ending to a series that has touched so many hearts.

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Saved by Grace, Moved by Love

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). 

Salvation is never earned, never achieved, never won by human effort. It is wholly and beautifully anchored in Christ’s sacrifice, offered freely as God’s gift. When we rest in that truth, we stop striving to deserve what has already been given. Instead, we learn to marvel at the depth of His mercy. Our works cannot add to salvation, and our failures cannot subtract from it. Grace stands firm, reminding us that Christ alone is our righteousness.

We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Because salvation is rooted in love, our service to the Lord becomes rooted in love as well. Serving Him is not a requirement to maintain our standing with God; it is a natural response to His goodness. When the heart is moved by gratitude, obedience becomes joyful rather than burdensome. We serve not to earn favor, but because we already have it. Love transforms duty into delight, turning everyday acts of faithfulness into worship.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100:2)

When service flows from a redeemed heart, it becomes a privilege rather than an obligation. The believer discovers joy in honoring the One who saved them. Whether through kindness, prayer, giving, or quiet acts of faith, serving the Lord becomes a way to reflect His love to the world. It is not a heavy yoke but a cherished opportunity. Salvation may not be based on works, but a grateful heart can’t help but work—gladly, willingly, and joyfully for the glory of God.

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Writing Series

Some of my readers love a series. They enjoy following familiar characters from book to book and watching their lives unfold over time. Over the years, I've written seven true series:

Appalachian Roots series

The Farmers series

In from the Storms

Another Chance series

Cactus Creek, NM series

Idioms & Clichés series

The Matchmakers - AgathaReturns 

The first novels I wrote were The Farmers trilogy, and the Appalachian Roots series became the first series I published. But because I've been writing in a lot of multiple-author projects, and most of them are standalones connected by a common theme, The Matchmaker - Agatha Returns ended up the last true series I published until now. A Match for Reece, the final book in that series, released in November 2024.

My eighth series, Disabled Daughters, is wrapping up now. It's a trilogy, and Chloe, the final book, publishes on August 4. The way my schedule has worked out, I won't have another true series until 2028, and even that may change. It could get bumped into another year because I'm trying to trim down my yearly workload. At one point, I wrote sixteen books in a single year. I reduced that to twelve, then ten, and I'm hoping to get it down to seven or eight. But series have always been close to my heart, and I plan to write more in the future. Even as my schedule changes, I'm grateful for every reader who loves following these stories as much as I love writing them. 

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