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?

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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:

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Set aside.
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.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
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.
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.
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.
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

Author Interview

What is your favorite genre of books? Why?

Historical romance. I’ve always enjoyed history, and reading books from a favorite historical period is a great way to relax. While I also like contemporary romance, there’s something about stepping into another time that hits different.

Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

It depends on the year. There have been times I work on several projects at once. Since publishing, though, I focus on one book at a time. Actual deadlines have a way of making me focus much better.

Who is your favorite author? Why?

J.R.R. Tolkien. He was a man of deep faith, and that faith wove itself into his works, even when he didn’t intentionally put it there. His ability to craft a story is unparalleled. I love the timeless themes in his works, especially The Lord of the Rings. Good versus evil is on full display. He creates noble characters who are full of valor, who know their purpose, and pursue it despite harsh circumstances. And even though it’s a short part of the story, Faramir and Eowyn’s love story is my absolute favorite in all fiction.

Do you have extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

I write as I go. I’ve tried using outlines and failed miserably. Though it can be frustrating, pantsing works well for me. I love that the characters drive my stories – I’m just their vessel for getting it written.

Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you?

My dad read me and my brothers The Chronicles of Narnia when we were very little – I think I was five years old. That fostered a love of story and character in me. I wanted to write stories that touched people the way I’d been touched by Narnia. It’s still a series I love; in fact, I read the whole thing to my kindergarteners this past school year. They loved it as much as I did, and I hope it enkindles a fire for good literature in them like it did for me.