Author Heidi Gray McGill says writing is a ministry for her—a hands-on craftsperson more than an evangelist. She finds unintrusive ways to weave God through her stories and characters. Connect with Heidi on her website, sign up for her newsletter (and receive a free book), and follow her writing journey. Keeper of my Heart: A Shumard Oak Bend Novel 6 of 6 in Discerning God's Best Series She's never met a man who could keep up. He's never met a challenge he couldn't solve. But when love and faith collide, will either of them surrender their hearts? Cecelia Grace Trexler Shankel has never met her match. Raised on the rugged frontier, she rides harder, shoots straighter, and knows the land better than most men. At eighteen, she's expected to marry, but no suitor has ever been her equal—and she refuses to settle for less. Independent to a fault and fiercely intelligent, Cecelia has no patience for anyone who can't keep up with her. Then James "Jimmy" Reeves arrives. A brilliant but socially awkward pharmacist, Jimmy Reeves has spent his life mastering medicine, not people. After earning his medical degree in Philadelphia, he pursues further studies at the new school of pharmacy in South Carolina, refining his knowledge of formulas and precision-based healing. But instead of returning to a life of privilege, he heads west, determined to learn the practical side of medicine—where science meets survival. His plan is simple: study natural remedies, assist his friend Thomas Shankel's clinic, and return with newfound expertise. What he never expects is Cecelia Shankel—a woman as wild and untamed as the land itself, challenging everything he thought he knew about strength, skill, and survival. Their first meeting is a clash of worlds—her bold confidence against his quiet precision. She thinks he's too stiff and bookish; he finds her exasperatingly unpredictable. But when a sudden smallpox outbreak threatens the town, they are forced to work together, testing their skills, patience, and faith. As sparks fly and respect grows, Cecelia finds herself drawn to a man who challenges her not with strength, but with knowledge. And Jimmy discovers that some things—like love and faith—can't be measured in scientific terms. But Cecelia isn't ready to let any man keep her heart. And Jimmy isn't sure he's brave enough to try. In a world where independence is survival, can two opposites surrender to God's best plan for their lives?
