Susan and I met more than a decade ago at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park, Colorado. It was my first big writers conference and Susan’s first time attending as an editor for Pelican Book Group.

It seems like yesterday that I stopped to chat with her in the theater-style auditorium where the large-group meetings—and those slightly nerve-racking one-on-one appointments—were held.

There’s a much bigger story about how that meeting eventually turned into a friendship and writing partnership. I’ll save that for another blog, because I can’t wait any longer to announce this:

Our fifth and final book in the Rules of Engagement series, Mission: Matrimony — The Final Engagement, releases November 6, 2026!

That is literally right around the corner.

The roots of this series go back even further. I began plotting and dreaming about becoming an author while our family lived in Panama from 1991–1994, when my husband was stationed at Fort Kobbe. More than thirty years ago! Somehow, that also feels like yesterday.

Our first four Rules of Engagement books were published by CrossRiver Media, where I’ve worked since 2016. For our final story, we’ve come full circle: Mission: Matrimony is being published by Pelican Book Group, where Susan serves as an editor.

Meet Canyon and Harley

Many of the characters in the Rules of Engagement series were carefully planned and plotted.

And then there were the characters who apparently missed the memo that they weren’t supposed to take over. 😂

Canyon Davis and Harley Barnett were two of them.

When these two appeared in the series, there were definite sparks. What we didn’t know at the time was that Canyon and Harley would refuse to quietly disappear into the background. They wanted their own story.

We’re so glad we listened.

In Mission: Matrimony — The Final Engagement, former soldier Harley Barnett has built walls around her heart while carrying guilt from her past. Canyon Davis has patiently loved and prayed for her through the years. When the secrets Harley has buried finally come into the light, she must decide whether to remain trapped by the past—or trust God and the man who has never stopped loving her.

Catch Up on the Rules of Engagement Series

Haven’t read the first four books yet? There’s no time like the present to join all the cool kids. 😉

Operation: Camouflage Christmas
A Christmas military romance that introduces readers to the faith, family, military life, and unexpected love at the heart of the series.

Operation: Allegiance
Duty, faith, and romance collide when Army helicopter pilot Alexandros Sava meets Kobbe, a woman determined never to marry a military man.

Operation: Reconnaissance
A story about trust, family, second chances, and discovering that sometimes God points the heart in an unexpected direction.

Operation: Skirmish
A heartfelt story of loss, healing, hope, faith, and discovering that love can still grow after heartbreak.

And if you’d like to come along for the final mission, join our Rules of Engagement Reader Community. You can grab a free first chapter of Operation: Allegiance, join the Mission: Matrimony Launch Team, and/or sign up for the latest Rules of Engagement news.

The final engagement is almost here.

November 6, 2026.

Canyon and Harley have waited long enough. ❤️