About the Book

Book: Sooner or Later

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Rebekah’s dreams have become a nightmare.

For years, Rebekah’s mother told her that sooner or later a handsome man would come along and sweep her off her feet. That was before her mother and brother had died and her stepfather arranged for her to marry their repulsive neighbor in exchange liquor and a half-side of beef. She won’t marry the vile older man and flees in the dark of night.

Mason Danfield has no interest in a wife. He’s focused on caring for his motherless niece and nephew. But when Mason finds a young woman stranded on the side of the trail, he can’t leave her behind to possible die on the prairie.

A chance encounter with Jake, the children’s father, ends up with Mason riding in the 1889 Oklahoma land run. He hopes to get land for Jake and the children. Maybe then he can talk Jake into marrying Rebekah, so she can have a home and stay with the children she has come to love. But for some reason, the idea of her and Jale together doesn’t sit well with Mason.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

 

Excerpt from the Book

April 2nd, 1889

Indian Territory

Never in her life had Rebekah Bailey done anything so daring, but then she’d never been this desperate before. She peered over her shoulder at the dilapidated house as she tiptoed toward the barn. Good. Still dark.

The full moon illuminated the rickety A-frame shack that had been her home for as long as she could remember. The breath she’d been holding came out on a ragged sigh. At least she’d managed to get out of the house without Curtis hearing her. But she was far from safe.

Her heartbeat resounded in her ears, and she was certain her closest neighbors, who lived miles away, could hear it. Hugging her ma’s ancient carpetbag against her chest, she quickened her pace.

A sharp creak in the direction of the house jerked Rebekah from her reverie. With a quick tug on the reins, she turned Prince west and kicked his sides. West toward the open plains and Indian Territory. Then northwest toward Denver–and freedom. She prayed it was the last place Curtis would think to look for her.

The chanting of tree frogs gave music to her ride, and an owl hooted somewhere in a nearby tree. She used to love the sounds of the night, but now they only reminded her that she was alone. Hoping to ward off the night chill, she tugged her frayed cloak around her. The world seemed normal, asleep, as it should in the middle of the night. But she felt anything except normal. Her world had fallen apart this evening with Curtis’s declaration. Nothing would ever be same for her. She shivered at the memory. “I’ve made a deal with Giles Wilbur,” Curtis had said, grinning with pride. “Swapped you for a half side of beef and some moonshine. In the morning, you’ll be moving in with him and be his woman.” Thoughts of the filthy, drunken sloth of a man more than twice her age made her blood run cold. How could Curtis expect her to live with Mr. Wilbur without the sanctity of marriage? How could he simply swap her like she were livestock—something to be bartered? Bile churned in her stomach and burned a path to her throat. Tears blurred her vision and streamed down her cheeks.

She’d never felt so alone. Completely alone–as though not a single person in the world cared for her. But the gentle touch of the wind to her cheeks reminded her of the One who never failed. Rebekah turned to her heavenly Father as Prince trotted down the dark road. “Protect me, Lord–and show me the way. And Father . . . oh, Father, give me courage for the ride ahead and strengthen Prince’s old bones–”

The faint sound of approaching hoof beats intruded on Rebekah’s prayer.

Oh, no! Curtis!

She was certain her heart would jump clear out of her chest. The reins nearly slipped from her trembling hands. Fear of what was behind her overpowered the fear of what was ahead.

Taking a deep, determined breath, and with a firm grip on the reins, Rebekah dug her heels into Prince’s side.

“He–yah!!!” she cried softly.

Prince vaulted into a gallop and raced down the road.

Interview with the Author

• What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

My husband and I have been on several writing research trips. We went to North Dakota to research a three-book series that I was writing for Barbour Publishing.

We also we went to South Carolina, Texas and Kansas. I live in Oklahoma, which is one of the newer states in the US, so I loved visiting older towns like Charleston and seeing such old architecture.

 

• What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? That’s a hard question. My Oklahoma series, which are books 4-6 in the Windswept Weddings series, are releasing this spring. Even though they are the first book-length series that I wrote, I don’t think all that many people have read them. The stories are fun and exciting with heart-stopping romance, as well as a faith message. I’m grateful to Wild Heart for giving them new life. The books in this series are Sooner or Later, The Bounty Hunter and the Bride, and A Wealth Beyond Riches.

 

• How do you select the names of your characters? I generally use names that I like that I feel would suit the character’s personality or heritage. If the heroine is Irish, I’ll pick an Irish name. Villains often have a name that sounds hard or rough. There are times where I’ve referred to a baby names list for the 1800s.
• What was your hardest scene to write?
  Usually the middle of the book is the hardest. In the beginning I’m eager to get started and jump right in. The ending often comes quickly because there’s usually a big event that pushes the writing forward. The middle doesn’t always have as much action, so that’s when I add an interesting twist, like a main character getting injured or sometime surprising.
• What is your favorite childhood book?
  My favorite books were those that had a horse on it. Horses were my passion when I was young, and I loved reading about them.
• If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do? I’d probably would have paid better attention to my grammar classes. I preferred math, but that didn’t help me much when I became a writer.
• What comes first, the plot or characters? I’d say the characters. You can have a fascinating plot, but if your characters aren’t interesting, you’ll lose readers fast.
• Who is the author you most admire in your genre? There are several: Karen Witemeyer, Linda Ford, and Lacy Williams.
• What do you like to do when you are not writing? I make cards for friends and family. I garden in warm weather, planting flowers and usually some onions and squash in pots on my deck.
• If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook? I think I’d have to say Jesus. I don’t care to cook all that much, so I’d probably take him to a good barbeque place.

 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 7

Texas Book-aholic, April 8

Artistic Nobody, April 9 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 9

For Him and My Family, April 10

Happily Managing a Houehold of Boys, April 11

Guild Master, April 12 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 13

lakesidelivingsite, April 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 15

Fiction Book Lover, April 16 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 17 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, April 18

Holly’s Book Corner, April 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe, April 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vickie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/mieGk/sooner-or-later-celebration-tour-giveaway