In Bethlehem

Birthday Gift

In celebration of my birthday, which comes today on a Monday this year, I'm giving everyone who messages me on Facebook or emails me (janicecolehopkins(at)gmail.com) and says they read the offer on this blog, a free copy of either one of the following:

A free Kindle copy of Roslyn's Rescue, Glenda's Gold, Patricia's Prison, OR Jack's Jewel (you'll need to include your email address so I can gift you a copy from Amazon). If you own Time Told Tales, volume 1 and 2, you already have these stories.

OR

A free U.K. or U.S. code to get an Audible copy of Inman's Impersonation (you just need to have an Audible library, which is free and different from the paid membership).

*Offer expires after 12-22-2025.

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Trust Beyond Understanding

There are strong lessons we should learn from Mary and Joseph and the Christmas story, such as trust and obedience. As stunned as Mary was when the angel appeared to her, she listened to what he had to say and replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38)." Despite her shock, she humbly submitted to the Lord in faith and obedience.

Meanwhile, Joseph, who was espoused to marry Mary, found out that she was pregnant. Knowing the child wasn't his, he planned to put her away privately, instead of having her publicly condemned and likely stoned. However, the angel visited him and explained what had happened, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20). He continued with the wedding and "knew her not" until after Jesus was born.

How many of you would have reacted like these two? What faith! They were presented with an incredulous situation and still chose to believe. Their example reminds us that true trust in God often requires courage in the face of uncertainty. Mary and Joseph's obedience opened the way for the greatest gift ever given, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. May we, too, respond to God's call with faith and obedience, trusting that His plans are always greater than our own. 

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 Violets for Veronica

I have a new book publishing on January 6th. Violets for Veronica will be my third book set in England (fifth if you count ebooks and not print). With her family insisting that she have a season to find a husband, Veronica Smith has one mission: restore her family’s reputation with a match that dazzles society. After her sister’s scandalous elopement with a dockworker, Veronica convinces her parents to send her to Bath instead of London. Determined to secure a husband of rank and refinement to offset the scandal, she navigates the glittering assemblies with grace and charm. But her plans begin to unravel when she meets Baron Andrew Westley, a man of quiet strength and the lowest title in the aristocracy. He’s everything she wanted to avoid but can’t seem to forget. Can she stay true to her goal? 

I have a new narrator for the Audible edition because I needed someone with an English accent. Salem Arbuckle impressed me from the beginning, and that hasn't changed. The project is finished, and we're just waiting for ACX's approval. Hopefully, the Audible will release around the same time as the other formats.

I found Veronica's story a delight to write, and the Victorian era is the time I set most of my books in, although the majority have been American Westerns. I even loved all the historical research. It will be part of a multiple-author collection of nine books, but each one will also be a standalone. I haven't worked with these authors before, but it's been fun getting to know them. The book is available for preorder right now, and if you like to plan a little ahead, this might be a great choice for a Valentine's Day read. Otherwise, they're great stories for any time of year.

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 How Did the Wise Men Know

... there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel ... (Numbers 24:17)

Have you ever wondered how the wise men or Magi knew enough to follow the star to find the newborn King? Some scholars believe it might have been due to Daniel's writings. The young man was taken into exile in Babylon/Persia around 600 BC and rose to a position of authority. In fact, he was placed over the "wise men" of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). There, his prophecies would have been preserved and studied by later generations, and the Magi were likely from the Persian or Babylon regions. Daniel 9 contains the famous "Seventy Weeks" prophecy, which many interpret as pointing to the approximate time of the Messiah's arrival. It is possible the Magi might have been familiar with this and were watching for signs. That text along with others, like Numbers 24:17 and Micah 5:2, could have given them plenty of clues. Their journey to Jerusalem showed they may have suspected the Jewish Messiah would be born in Israel, and Herod's advisors confirmed that Bethlehem was the location prophesized. Of course, the wise men also followed the mysterious star, now known as the Star of Bethlehem, which they believed signified the birth of a great king. It led them to Bethlehem and Jesus. The journey would have taken them about four months. Although Herod told them to report back to him on what they found, Matthew 2:12 tells us they were warned in a dream not to do that, so they returned to their own country by another route. Their journey had been a huge success. They had found the Savior. May more people find him this Christmas season.

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My Books by Locations

In a recent blog, I mentioned I would like to eventually have a book set in each state.  It's not a top priority because I set my novels in the place that's best for the story, but it is in the back of my mind. In addition, when I write in multiple-author projects, they sometimes have stipulations as to the locations. Many of those have been set in the West.

That being said, here is how this is stacking up right now. Fourteen states have no books set in them. North Carolina has the most with eighteen. Texas comes in second with ten, and New Mexico is third with five because of a series set there. In addition, three are set in England. I've also listed some of the books that are on my schedule to be published. Here's how it looks:

📍 Alabama

(no entries yet)

📍 Alaska

• (Appalachian Meets Alaskan coming in June 2027) 
• (Alaskan Angel coming in 2028)

📍 Arizona

• Simon’s Shame
• Mistaken Bride

📍 Arkansas

• Heather, Hot Springs Bride

📍 California

• Tessa’s Time
• Zoe: Prairie Roses Collection (Santa Fe Trail & California)

📍 Colorado

• Runaway Brides of the West, Candace
• Mason’s Memories
• Boone’s Burden
• Daphne’s Determination - Western Home & Hearts

📍 Connecticut

• (no entries yet)

📍 Delaware

• (no entries yet)

📍 District of Columbia

•  Taking Stock (DC & North Carolina)

📍 England

• Time Told Tales, Book One
• Time Told Tales, Book Two
• Veronica’s Violets - Victorian Valentines

📍 Florida

• South to Freedom (South Carolina & Florida)

📍 Georgia

• (The Marriage Mix-Up coming in 2027)

📍 Hawaii

• (no entries yet)

📍 Idaho

• Annie’s Uncle

📍 Illinois

• Ingrid’s Intention (Chicago, Illinois)
• Annette’s Assignment (Chicago, Illinois)

📍 Indiana

• (no entries yet)

📍 Iowa

• (no entries yet)

📍 Kansas

• A Few Bumps in the Road
• The Writer’s Rescue – Rich Man Takes a Bride

📍 Kentucky

• Walnut Cake by Wylene
• A Journey for Jillian (Kentucky & Oregon Trail)

📍 Louisiana

• (Marcel's Mission coming in 2028)

📍 Maine

• (In from the Cold coming in November 2026)

📍 Maryland

• Past Storms (Maryland & Wyoming)

📍 Massachusetts

• (no entries yet)

📍 Michigan

• Andrea: Christmas Quilt Brides

📍 Minnesota

• Upside-Down Cakes by Dana
• Lily, Christmas Quilt Brides

📍 Mississippi

• (no entries yet)

📍 Missouri

• Second Choice Bride (Virginia, Missouri, & New Mexico)

📍 Montana

• Inman’s Impersonation
• Gwendolyn’s Groom 

📍 Nebraska

• Solomon’s Secret
• He Leadeth Me

📍 Nevada

• Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie
• Ava, Disabled Daughters (coming in June 2026)
• Jo, Disabled Daughters (coming in July 2026)
• Chloe, Disabled Daughters (coming in August 2026)

📍 New Hampshire

• (no entries yet)

📍 New Jersey

• (no entries yet)

📍 New Mexico

• Second Choice Bride (Virginia, Missouri, & New Mexico)
• Sterling Orphans
• Poor Relations
• Returning Neighbor
• Southern Belles

📍 New York

• (no entries yet)

📍 North Carolina

• Cleared for Planting
• Sown in Dark Soil
• Uprooted by War
• Transplanted to Red Clay
• Promise
• Peace
• Pardon
• Mountain Mishap
• It All Started at the Masquerade
• Deceitful Matters
• Unexpected
• Off the Streets
• Without a Dream (North Carolina & Texas)
• Maneuvers
• Buy the Book
• Going the Extra Mile
• Taking Stock (DC & North Carolina)
• Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern

📍 North Dakota

• Willa’s Woes 

📍 Ohio

• Morrow's Mishaps (Ohio & Wyoming)

📍 Oklahoma

• Grandma’s Match for Garrett (Tennessee & Oklahoma)

📍 Oregon

• Through the Wilderness (Oregon Trail, & Oregon)

• A Journey for Jillian (Kentucky & Oregon Trail)

📍 Pennsylvania

• When Winter Is Past
• A Bird in the Hand (Pennsylvania & West Virginia)

📍 Rhode Island

• (no entries yet)

📍 South Carolina

• Hurting Hero (North Carolina & South Carolina)
• South to Freedom (South Carolina & Florida)

📍 South Dakota

• Beckett’s Brides
• The Miner
• Building Something Beautiful

📍 Tennessee

• The Prodigal Pastor
• Grandma's Match for Garrett (Tennessee & Oklahoma) 

📍 Texas

• Dust Storms (Texas & Wyoming)
• Runaway Brides of the West, Aida
• A Match for Marshall
• A Match for Cord
• Fruitcake by Fran
• A Match for Silas
• A Match for Merle
• A Match for Milton
• A Match for Reece
• Without a Dream (North Carolina & Texas)

📍 Utah

• Carmen’s Wedding Dilemma
• Malachi’s Mountain

📍 Vermont

• (no entries yet)

📍 Virginia

• Second Choice Bride (Virginia, Missouri, & New Mexico)

📍 Washington 

• Noah's New Bride

 

 Seasons of Prayer

This, the Christmas season, is a call to pray. But then, every season is. Albert Richardson says it very well in his book, The Kneeling Christian. "Do we really believe that our Lord never made a promise which He could not, or would not, fulfill? Our Savior's three great commands for definite action were: Pray ye. Do ye. Go ye."

"... without obedience to the Pray ye, it is of little or no use at all to Do this or to Go. ... In fact, it can be shown that all the desires of success and all the failure in the spiritual life and in Christian work is due to defective or insufficient prayer. Unless we pray aright, we cannot live aright. This may appear, at first sight, to be gross exaggeration, but the more we think it over in the light Scripture throws upon it, the more convinced we will be of the truth of this statement."

"For, after all, prayer is not just putting into action good resolutions to pray. Like David, we need to cry, Create in me a clean heart, O God, before we can pray aright (Psalm 51:10). And the inspired words of the apostle of love need to be heeded today as much as ever before: Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1John 3:21-22).

Let us make this holiday season and every season of our lives a season of heartfelt prayer.

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Annie's Uncle

In my new book releasing on Friday (12-5-25), Cody Taylor's brother and sister-in-law tragically pass away in Alaska, and he suddenly becomes the guardian of his young niece. He's determined to give her a safe and loving home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but Annie's first year in the new school is marred by relentless bullying. Cody hopes this year will be better, and he will work to make it so.

Greta Branstetter arrives in Coeur d'Alene, eager to begin her new role as the town’s schoolteacher. She’s surprised to learn she must live in homes of some of her students and navigate the school board’s strict rules for teachers. Despite the limitations and a group of unruly boys intent on bullying, Greta is committed to making the school year a success for herself and her students. As Greta and Cody’s path intertwine, their shared mission to help Annie and end the bullying blossoms into something deeper. Annie’s Uncle is a heartfelt journey of hope, healing, and the transformative power of love that often finds you when you least expect it. It is a heartwarming story of resilience and the unexpected bonds forged through courage and determination.

The novel also has a strong connection to Christmas. In fact, the heart of the Christmas season shines through the faith and families of these characters. Cody’s sudden role as the guardian of his niece reflects a deep commitment to family, while Greta’s courage to stand against injustice in her schoolroom embodies faith in goodness and redemption. Together, they nurture Annie through grief and bullying, showing that love and resilience can heal even the deepest wounds and affecting others in the process. Much like Christmas itself, the story reminds us that hope often arrives unexpectedly, binding people together and offering redemption through compassion and courage. It’s a celebration of the season’s true spirit—light breaking through darkness and love winning in the end. Order your copy of this special book today. Click here.

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