Keeper of My Heart: A Shumard Oak Bend Novel (Discerning God’s Best)

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?What happens when the very traits that kept you alive are the ones God asks you to lay down?On the Missouri frontier, survival demands strength, skill, and self-reliance. Cecelia Grace Trexler Shankel has mastered all three. Raised to ride hard, shoot straight, and depend on no one but herself, she has no intention of settling—for a man or for a quieter life—no matter what society expects of her.Then James “Jimmy” Reeves arrives—armed with knowledge, precision, and a life spent avoiding the messier risks of the heart.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. When a sudden smallpox outbreak threatens the town, Jimmy is forced beyond formulas and theories—into decisions that demand faith, courage, and leadership he isn’t sure he possesses.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.Cecelia isn’t ready to let go of the independence that’s always kept her safe.And Jimmy isn’t sure he’s brave enough to risk his heart—or his faith—on anything he can’t control.In a world where independence means survival, can two people risk trusting God—and each other—with their hearts?For Lauraine Snelling, Shanna Hatfield, Naomi Rawlings, Lauralyn Keller, Misty M. Beller, Lacy Williams, and Linda Ford fans, this standalone novel in the Discerning God’s Best series will capture your heart and leave you breathless. You’ll love this book if you enjoy gripping historical drama and compelling characters. Binge-read the entire series on Kindle Unlimited.• Full-length Christian historical fiction• A standalone novel in the Discerning God’s Best series• Includes discussion questions for book clubs• Timeline: 1877Book One: Desire of My HeartBook Two: With All My HeartCompanion Christmas Novella: Stitched On My HeartBook Three: Matters of the HeartBook Four: Healing of the HeartBook Five: Written on My HeartCompanion Christmas Novella: A Place to BelongBook Six: Keeper of My HeartBook Seven: Vision of My HeartPrequel: Deep in My Heart and Christmas Short Story: Before We Belong are available for free with newsletter signup. Search Heidi Gray McGill to locate her website. Read more