I'm excited to welcome author Megan Besing, who has learned that sometimes God has different plans for us.

Megan, share your experience!

Can you guess what word I try to use sparingly?

NEVER.

Because when I do, God usually has something else planned.

See, I once said I would NEVER marry a solder.

Why? Because I knew how difficult that life seemed. However, I not only married a soldier, I helped my then boyfriend, aka my now spouse, decide whether or not to join while we were together.

Megan’s plans: 0   God’s plans: 100%

More recently, I said that I would NEVER write a historical.

Why? I didn’t think I could. Believed it would be too hard, and also at the time, I thought history was a bit “boring.”

And again: Megan’s plans: 0….. God’s plans: 100%

In case you couldn’t tell, The Rancher’s Want Ad Mix-up, is a historical. My second published one at that. Eventually, my husband’s love for history rubbed off on me, and I also learned I really enjoyed antique shopping, which often prompted further research into the past. Then God opened some doors, and the next thing I knew, I was not only writing a historical story, but loving it.

Much like my life, the characters in The Rancher’s Want Ad Mix-up also have a lot of plans and “nevers” of their own. Here is a sneak peak at one of the moments the hero says the word: Never.

Hank had chosen the wrong moment to take another drink of his tea. It didn’t taste as sweet as it did a moment ago. “If what?”

“Well...if you would just give the idea of marrying her a chance.” 

He nearly spilled the rest of the tea out of his glass. “Ma, I’ve decided never to remarry. And I’m for sure not marrying Del... I mean Miss Wagner. Marrying strangers is about the worst idea there is. Didn’t we learn that when Miss Smith ran off with a year’s worth of wages? Did you not think about the trouble you could have caused if Miss Wagner had arrived expecting to marry me?”

Ma shifted her feet, not meeting his eyes, and Hank understood where Robert got his telltale sign from.

“Ma, you gave me your word.”

“And you have it.” She sighed. “I won’t do anything of that sort again. At the time we did what we truly thought we were supposed to do. But you are right. We were wrong to deceive you—and to put that sweet girl in such an awkward position.” She grabbed the rolling pin off the table. “But Della is no stranger. Not anymore.”

She sprinkled some flour and began rolling a piece of dough with more vigor than necessary. “Not that marrying a stranger is such a horrid idea, Hiram Robert Lamson.” She grunted and a puff of flour dusted the air. “Not in the least.”

You’ll have to read the book to see which of the characters’ “never moments” change and which ones don’t. How about you? Has the word NEVER ever been reversed and been the very thing you found yourself doing?

A mail-order mistake…Or a made-to-be match?

When Della Mae Wagner’s train arrives in Missouri, she’s shocked to find that the couple who hired her don’t just want a teacher for their grandsons but a wife for their son! After a broken engagement, marriage is not in Della’s plans. And Hank Lamson isn’t pleased—with his parents, with his unexpected guest or with Della’s unfairly appealing smile. But his plans to send her packing are foiled as his family comes to love her…and he feels the walls around his wounded heart start to fall.

 The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up - Kindle edition by Besing, Megan. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

About Megan: 

Despite always adoring happily-ever-afters, Megan Besing didn't unlock a love for reading until her mid-twenties, which quickly expanded into writing. Her own stories have won many awards, including the Selah for her novella, Perfect for the Preacher, along with the Pre-published Maggie for The Rancher’s Want Ad Mix-up. And now she’s thrilled to be a Sunrise Publishing author. However, her most cherished achievements are being a wife and mother.

 She lives in a pocket-size Indiana town, centered around extended family, where she's always planning a road trip with a view. Yet, her favorite place may just be on her front porch drinking tea. Connect with Megan at meganbesing.com.