Friday, November 21, 2025

Dueling Hearts Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Dueling Hearts

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: November 11, 2025

She blames him for her brother’s death, and he’s determined to make amends. But as family secrets and forbidden longing pull them closer, they must choose between pride and the chance to heal.

Carina Zimmer has spent years hating the Bishops for destroying her family. Now managing Tanglewood Plantation and caring for her bedridden father, she wants nothing to do with Reed Bishop—the man who killed her brother. But when Reed returns from medical school and begins treating the injured and vulnerable, Carina can’t ignore the compassion behind his actions or the growing pull between them.

Reed Bishop came home to start a medical practice and make amends for past mistakes. But when he treats an injured slave at a neighboring plantation, he comes face-to-face with Carina Zimmer—the sister of the man he believes he killed in a duel years ago. He never expected to fall for the fiery woman struggling to keep her family’s plantation alive. Yet every encounter with Carina challenges his guilt and deepens his desire to earn her trust.

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Carina and Reed must decide if love is worth risking everything—even the legacy of those they’ve sworn to honor.

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.

More from Vickie

While I was researching ideas for Dueling Hearts, my third book in the Windswept Weddings series, I stumble across some information about dueling in America. I hadn’t read a Christian book that had characters who were in a duel, so I thought that would be an interesting premise. Reed Bishop, my hero in Dueling Hearts, is the grandson of Cooper Reed from Secrets of the Heart. He finds himself forced into a duel on the eve of his leaving for Scotland to become a doctor. I’ll let you read the book to find out what happens.

Dueling in the United States had mostly been outlawed by 1850. The Broderick-Terry duel, fought in California in 1859, is often considered the last notable duel in the United States. U.S. Senator David Broderick and California Supreme Court Chief Justice David S. Terry engaged in a pistol duel near Lake Merced, resulting in Broderick’s death. Sadly, the two were once friends.

Here’s what Dueling Hearts is about:

She blames him for her brother’s death, and he’s determined to make amends. But as family secrets and forbidden longing pull them closer, they must choose between pride and the chance to heal.

Carina Zimmer has spent years hating the Bishops for destroying her family. Now managing Tanglewood Plantation and caring for her bedridden father, she wants nothing to do with Reed Bishop—the man who killed her brother. But when Reed returns from medical school a more mature man and begins treating the injured and vulnerable, Carina can’t ignore the compassion behind his actions or the growing pull between them.

Reed Bishop came home to start a medical practice and make amends for past mistakes. But when he treats an injured slave at a neighboring plantation, he comes face-to-face with Carina Zimmer—the sister of the man he killed in a duel years ago. He never expected to fall for the fiery woman struggling to keep her family’s plantation alive. Yet every encounter with Carina challenges his guilt and deepens his desire to earn her trust.

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Carina and Reed must decide if love is worth risking everything—even the legacy of those they’ve sworn to honor

MY REVIEW

The story provides a look at life when plantations thrived with the help of men and women who didn’t know what freedom was. It is always hard for me to read books about slaves. Most were not treated well and had little hope of ever tasting the glorious feeling of being free. The author does n excellent job of describing this time period and allows readers to see that some people treated others without prejudge.

I liked how the story faces two families against each other in a battle where secrets, deceit and second chances thrive. Carina has a burden of trying to keep the plantation running while caring for her father. She also has to deal with bitterness whenever she thinks about the death of her brother. The author illustrates how not forgiving can cause chaos in your own life. My observation was that Carina has insecurities that allow her to think that she is not good enough at times. She carries a big burden of keeping her family in comfort while fighting against those she believes have done her family wrong.

Reed returns home after being away for a few years. He has worked hard to become a surgeon but being back reminds him of a tragic memory. One moment in time changed his life forever. It is hard to believe that duels were popular at one time. Your reputation was at stake when challenged and at that time Reed seemed to have no choice. I don’t think he realizes how much bitterness someone feels toward him. A true gentleman, he tries to mend a relationship but pride and unforgiveness stands in the way. I like how the author reminds us of this scripture; “Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

I loved following the two main characters as they work through their differences. Carina realizes that Reed is really a nice, caring person who wants to help her out. Can she let go of her bitterness and allow Reed into her life? Carina has been mad at God for a long time and thinks that He is not there with her anymore. What a beautiful illustration the author uses to show how God forgives and loves each of us unconditionally.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.