She’s ready to say “yes.” He’s terrified to ask.
Sydney Steele has finally found where she belongs—at Vargas Ranch, with a career she loves, friends who feel like family, and a faith community that grounds her. After more than a year with Cole, she’s certain he’s the man God has chosen for her. But on her thirtieth birthday, with her heart aching for a future that still hasn’t begun, she wonders if waiting for him means losing the life she’s dreamed of.
Cole Gregory has the ring. He has the plan. He even has the perfect words. But every time he’s about to propose, fear wins. Hidden in his past is a secret he swore he’d never reveal—a failure that makes him certain he'll only hurt her the way he once hurt another.
As Sydney begins to pull away, Cole faces the hardest choice of his life: protect his secret and lose the woman he loves, or risk everything by telling her the truth.
Will he find the courage to be fully known before it’s too late? And if he can’t, will she have the strength to walk away?
A tender, faith-filled romance about buried secrets, the courage to be fully known, and the God who makes a way through the wilderness of fear.
Karen Baney is a member of Faith Hope & Love Christian Writers and the author of over 30 Christian contemporary cowboy romances and historical romances. She writes faith-laced stories where characters feel like lifelong friends—flawed individuals navigating second chances, redemption, and personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, Karen loves researching the state's rich history and seamlessly weaving real settings and historical details into her novels.
In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing.
Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. They enjoy exploring Arizona together, discovering new adventures that often influence Karen's stories. Both are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Visit Karen on the web: www.karenbaney.com