Mountain Men: Echoes of Thunder 

I'm excited to share about my next book that releases on April 21. Malachi's Mountain is part of the multiple-author series, Mountain Men: Echos of Thunder, the second round of rugged mountain-man stories, following the hugely successful Mountain Men: Longing Hearts in the Wilderness. I would have loved to write in that first collection, but my 2025 schedule filled up before the opportunity arrived. Still, this new round promises to be every bit as good and perhaps even better.

These mountain men have chosen the solitude of the high country for reasons as varied as the peaks themselves. When heartache or loss rips through their quiet world, their sorrows roar through the valleys and bounce off the mountainsides like echoes of thunder. Even so, hope finds them again, softly at first and then with a strength that reshapes everything. Each man's journey is unique, and each story stands on its own, so don't miss a single one. All titles are on preorder now at a special reduced price until they're published, and what Western fiction fan doesn't love a rugged mountain man with a heart of gold?

There are twelve books in all. The first one releases on March 3, 2026, and the series ends with the last one publishing on May 19. As the release dates draw near, I can't wait for you to meet Malachi and step into the world we've built for this series. If you enjoy stories filled with determination, tenderness, and the healing power of love in the wilderness, this collection is for you. I hope you'll get them all and get ready to travel deep into the mountains where adventure is around every corner, and misfortune gives way to second chances.

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God's Amazing Love

God's love is so amazing, so vast and all-encompassing that we can't really fully grasp its depth. It is unconditional, given freely, because that's who God is. And because He loves us so completely, we can trust Him above all else. As we approach another Valentine's Day, it's worth pausing to reflect on God's unmatched love. Here are just a few of its defining characteristics:

God's love is forever, eternal. Jesus is "... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8 & Jeremiah 31:3).

God's love is patient and longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9). 

God's love is a keeping love. No one shall take us out of the hand of the Father or the Son (John 10:28-30).

God's love is a protective love. (Psalm 91:1-4).

God's love is a forgiving love. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

God's love is a guiding love (Psalm 23:3 & Isaiah 58:11).

God's love is a sacrificial, giving love. Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins and to restore us to fellowship with our Heavenly Father (John 10:10, 1:12, & 3:16).

God's love is a transforming love (Romans 12:2 & 1 John 4:19).

As we celebrate a season so often centered on romance, may we remember that human expression of love is only a faint reflection of the One who loved us first. God's love is steady, sacrificial, and unfailing -- far greater than anything this world can offer. When we rest in that truth, we find the courage to love others with the same grace we've received. This Valentine's Day, may our hearts be anchored, not in fleeting emotion, but in the eternal love that never fails.

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The Price of Books in 1883

The farther back in history one goes, the more expensive books become relative to the standard of living. In the past, often only the wealthy could afford to own them. I research and write a lot of books set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and in 1883, a book generally cost more than a day's pay for the average working man. They were a luxury many people couldn't afford. That's one reason dime novels became so widely popular and why newspapers and magazines often published serialized fiction. 

In 1883, a standard hardcover book usually cost around $2.00 and up. That's $60.00 in today's prices. Special editions or multi-volume works ran much more. At the time, a typical laborer made somewhere between $1.00 and $2.00 a day, so a $10.00 multi-volume series or set of books represented a week's wages. This is why libraries were spreading rapidly across the United States in the late nineteenth century, often funded by men like Andrew Carnegie, and making books accessible to people who couldn't otherwise afford them. 

Seen in this light, the reading habits of the late nineteenth century make perfect sense: books were treasured objects, expensive enough to require real sacrifice. Whether borrowed from a new public library, devoured in serialized installments, or purchased one precious volume at a time, reading was an investment. Understanding the cost of books in 1883 not only sheds light on the era’s literary culture but also reminds us how profoundly affordable books have shaped modern life.

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Restorative Love

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs (John 15:21).

Peter’s failure in the courtyard was devastating, and Scripture doesn’t soften the moment. His bold confidence collapsed under pressure, and when the rooster crowed, he saw the truth of his own weakness. Yet the beauty of the gospel shines brightest here: Jesus did not abandon Peter to his shame. The same Lord Peter denied was the One who sought him out, restored him, and reaffirmed his calling. Grace doesn’t ignore sin, but it refuses to let sin have the final word.

On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”—a question that pierced deeper than guilt. Each affirmation from Peter was met with a commission: "Feed My sheep." Jesus tied love for Him directly to love for others. Affection alone wasn’t enough; love had to take the shape of service, care, and responsibility. In restoring Peter, Jesus revealed that genuine devotion always moves outward, touching the lives of those He treasures.

That same truth reaches us today. If we claim to love Jesus, our lives will naturally bend toward His people—encouraging, serving, giving, and showing compassion even when it costs us something. But if we drift into self-focus, we begin measuring relationships by what they offer us rather than what Christ can offer through us. Loving others is not optional for the believer; it is the visible evidence of a heart anchored in Christ.

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Frosty Fiction

Much of the country, including where I am, has been inundated with ice and snow lately. It's the perfect time to revisit some of my stories set against a wintry backdrop. I love to curl up with a good book on a cold day when I'm kept inside, and I suspect many of you feel the same. I've written quite a few that take place in winter, but here are some of the ones I feel capture the season best.

Candace, Runaway Brides of the West

Willa's Woes

Mountain Mishap

Annie's Uncle

Walnut Cake by Wylene

Off the Streets

Mountain Storms

When Winter Is Past

Going the Extra Mile

Andrea, Christmas Quilt Brides

Many more of my books have winter in them, but these are ten of the main ones. That should be a good start, and I hope you'll check them out. They are available for Kindle, KU, Audible, and paperback. As always, any of my books can be read as standalones. Happy reading!

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Praying in Jesus' Name

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:12-14).

Praying in the name of Jesus is far more than adding a familiar phrase to the end of our prayers. Scripture teaches that His name carries authority, access, and relationship. When we pray in His name, we come before the Father, not on the basis of our worthiness, but on the finished work of Christ. His righteousness opens the door we could never unlock on our own. That truth alone should reshape our prayers from uncertainty into a confident approach to a loving Father who welcomes us because we belong to His Son.

Praying in Jesus’ name also aligns our hearts with His character and purposes. It’s not a spiritual shortcut to get what we want; it’s an invitation to want what He wants. As we grow in Him, our desires begin to echo His compassion, His holiness, His mercy, and His mission. We start praying for the things He delights to give—wisdom, strength to obey, boldness to witness, grace to forgive, and love that reflects His own. In this way, praying in His name becomes a daily act of surrender, shaping us into people who carry His heart into the world.

And finally, praying in the name of Jesus anchors us in hope. His name reminds us that nothing is too broken, too dark, or too impossible for Him. When we whisper His name over our fears, our families, our churches, and our communities, we are declaring that the risen Christ is still at work. We pray with expectation because His power has not diminished and His promises have not expired. So today, lift your prayers in His name—boldly, humbly, and with the assurance that He hears, He cares, and He moves.

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Gwendolyn's Groom 

My final book in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series releases on February 10th. I've loved writing for this series, and others must love it, too, because it's the longest-running series I know of. There are now 68 books, with more to come, just not more of mine. Although it wasn't intentional, I may have saved the best for last.  Gwendolyn's Groom is a heart-tugging story of the Old West with a beautiful ending. 

Gwendolyn Corbett never imagined her father would contact a matchmaker on her behalf. She was even more stunned to learn that her potential groom’s mother came from the Crow reservation. With the doctor warning that any stress could hasten her father’s demise, Gwendolyn faces an impossible choice: marry a stranger or defy her father’s wishes and risk losing him. Meanwhile, River Donahue longs for a place to belong and a family to share it with. Since his grandmother’s passing, he’s left with a bitter, unloving grandfather and a heritage that makes landowners unwilling to sell to him. When the matchmaker his grandmother trusted sends him to a dying rancher, the man makes an unusual offer. If River marries his daughter, he will inherit the ranch. Are River’s dreams finally coming true, or are his troubles just escalating? 

I'm incredibly excited about this book. It will be available for Kindle, Audible, KU, and paperback. My narrator for the Audible had wonderful things to say about the story, and I look forward to hearing what readers think. Be sure to check it out.

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