Redeeming the Shattered

Risking It All

Series: Affection and Determination – Their Wild West Win, Book 4

Written by Jeri Stockdale

Release Date: 09.12.25

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

4 Stars!

Risking It All is a novella of risk and refuge, shame and new beginnings, where grace waits quietly on the other side of the hardest choices.

Rebecca Alexander flees Omaha under cover of desperation, wearing a borrowed future and a name that isn’t hers. The ache of regret and the weight of secrets follow her westward, but what waits in Sacramento is a collision with honest, everyday faith and a love she never dared imagine.

Jesse Harris did not ask for another twist in his already battered world. A widower with two children, a ranch in need of miracles, and a heart still tender with old grief, Jesse is every bit as in need of grace as the woman who steps into his life by accident. There is nothing neat or easy in their beginning, but I found myself rooting for them—for the courage to risk honesty, to trust again, to build something true from the pieces of yesterday’s loss.

This novella overflows with the kind of moments I crave:

• The hush of a prayer at dawn: “Lord, guide me in your path.”

• The sweet, holy ache of singing about Jesus’ love with voices that carry both hope and history: “Standing next to Jesse and hearing his clear baritone voice sing about Jesus’ love and His sacrifice made her heart full to bursting.”

• The honesty of repentance when running no longer works: “Even as she prayed, it struck her that truth and repentance were what God would require.”

Jeri Stockdale paints her characters with wise, compassionate brushstrokes: “They were both wise and compassionate. They exuded their walk with God.” The secondary characters, the challenges of ranch life, the wary journey of trust between two hearts … each layer is purposeful, each page shaped by faith that is genuinely lived.

This is a story about risk, yes … but not the reckless kind. It’s the type of risk that opens the door to a stranger, forgives what should break us, and lets God write the next chapter. Both Rebecca and Jesse are drawn toward grace, learning that the Lord who calls us out of hiding is the One who brings peace: “For the first time in her life, she rested in His peace, whatever lay ahead.”

There is suspense here, yes … a secret that threatens, choices that cost, danger that lingers. In the midst of it all is the beauty of watching God take what is broken and make something beautiful, again and again.

Risking It All is perfect for those who love their historical romance with faith roots and honest, layered characters. It’s a reminder that redemption is never out of reach, even for the ones running hardest from the past.

I hope to read every book in this series, trusting each one will shine with the same blend of courage, honesty, Christian faith, and grace.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the author via Book Sirens. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.