About the Book

Book: The Reverend’s Second Chance

Author: Lauralyn Keller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 15, 2025

A buried secret in Harmony Springs could cost a pastor and a teacher their careers—and their second chance at love.

Lydia Jefferson buried her dreams long before the death of her husband. Now she’s locked her heart to men for good. In Harmony Springs, she’s finally found freedom from the shameful failure and loss of her past—until her childhood sweetheart arrives to be the new pastor.

Samuel Allen never thought he’d love again, not after his fiancée walked out of his life. But when his first church assignment sends him to Harmony Springs, he finds himself face to face with the woman who disappeared from his life seven years before. Could this be a second chance at love? Unfortunately, she wants nothing to do with him.

When an orphaned child brings Lydia and Samuel together again, can they face the pain of their past and learn to trust each other enough to build a home?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lauralyn Keller loves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart. She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.

More from Lauralyn

Baking is one of my favorite activities. I find it relaxing, and it’s so fun trying new recipes. You might have noticed that there are generally some kind of dish or treat in my stories that characters really like. For Lydia Jefferson in The Reverend’s Second Chance, that treat is a cookie called cinnamon jumbles. It plays a part in her love story with Samuel Allen, the new pastor for Harmony Springs.

I asked ChatGPT how to make the best cinnamon jumbles. Here’s what it came up with.

Cinnamon jumbles are such a cozy, nostalgic treat! They’re chewy cookies with the perfect balance of cinnamon sugar, and they’re pretty easy to make. Here’s a recipe that will give you soft, chewy cinnamon jumbles with a nice little crunch on the outside.

Best Cinnamon Jumbles Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon (for rolling)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer for this step.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
5. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix just until combined. Don’t overmix—this will keep your cookies tender.
6. Roll the Dough: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon for rolling. Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Then roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated.
7. Bake: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
8. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

• Softness: For softer cookies, don’t overbake them. The cookies will continue to cook a little as they cool on the baking sheet.
• Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh. They should stay soft for about 3-4 days. 😊

I (Lauralyn) hope you enjoy this cookie recipe. Maybe you can even make them and enjoy a few with a nice cup of coffee or tea while reading The Reverend’s Second Chance. Lydia would approve. 

God bless,

Lauralyn

My Impressions

 “… ‘not forgiving hurts you in the end. It hurts your relationship with God too.’ He pointed to the cross over the altar. ‘Considering what He did for us—dying to forgive our sins—I think we should take our example from Him.’”

The easy, gentle romance and historical Western aspects of Lauralyn Keller’s The Reverend’s Second Chance were a breath of fresh air this week. I was certainly in the mood for this novel, which is easy to read and reminiscent of the style of Janette Oke or Kim Vogel Sawyer books. This is a marriage of convenience story, where much of the book’s action takes place after said marriage. 

Lydia and Samuel had been childhood sweethearts who were separated by poor decisions and time. Shocked to find themselves together in the same small town, Samuel realizes his feelings for her never changed. Lydia, however, is determined to stay far away emotionally. 

I was thankful to see that Lydia had good friends and a mother-in-law who loved her enough to see the roots of her problem with Samuel are anger and bitterness. “Forgiveness doesn’t come easily…you owe it to yourself to forgive him. It’s only going to eat at you more and more until bitterness is your constant companion.”– Dorothy

When the marriage occurs, Lydia brings no love. Instead, she brings a walled heart, determined not to be hurt again. Maybe she can forgive, but trust? Again, Lydia’s confidants point out that love is more than a feeling, but a choice. “Love is hard,” Cassie said. “It means making the decision every day to love the person you vowed to cherish. Sometimes you won’t feel it, but you can still choose it.”

With all the feels of Little House on the Prairie or When Calls the Heart, this story from the 1880s Montana Territory will serve up a generous slice of small town life with its challenges, friendships, and victories. I must applaud Ruby and Alice, 6-year-olds, as adorable scene stealers! My fave adult characters are John and Dorothy, with their non-judgmental ways and sage, godly advice. 

Book 2 in the Second Chances in Harmony Springs series, I thought this book stood well on its own. Highly recommended!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Some family you’re born with. Some family you choose.” -Cassie

“…you can’t let fear hold you captive. We can’t change what’s going to be. But we can choose to trust, no matter what may come.” -John

“You can’t control the feeling of anger, but you can control how you act.” – Cody

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 21

lakesidelivingsite, July 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 23

Guild Master, July 24 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 24

Texas Book-aholic, July 25

Simple Harvest Reads, July 26 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , July 27

For Him and My Family, July 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 29

Fiction Book Lover, July 30 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, July 30

Vicky Sluiter, July 31

Cover Lover Book Review, August 1

Holly’s Book Corner, August 2

Pause for Tales, August 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54254