He’s a deputy tasked with keeping the peace. She’s the temperance reformer who’s been disturbing his peace for months. Yet despite their differences, these two rivals need each other more than they care to admit.
Taming Lady Temperance releases in about a month, and I can’t wait to introduce you to Deputy James Paxton and fiery Noreen O’Sullivan. I love a spunky heroine, and Noreen is as spunky as you can get. She’s determined to shut down the saloon and cares not a fig if the entire male populace of Albany, Texas considers her a menace. She’ll speak her mind to anyone who will listen and even to those who won’t. She’s a spinster and proud of it. No man to tell her what to do or to steal her freedom. After growing up with a drunkard father who was a little too free with his fists, she believes herself called by God to make a difference in her community and spare other families the trials she and her mother endured.
James, on the other hand, is a middle child who has always been a peacemaker. I even gave him the surname of Paxton because it means peaceful settlement. He is a man of integrity, who uses his charisma to diffuse tense situations. He’s devoted to upholding the law and aspires to be sheriff one day. The town council tasks him with keeping the obnoxious temperance woman under control. Despite the fact that he admires her grit, he can’t afford to be seen as Noreen’s ally by the half of the town who can actually vote. Yet the more he interacts with her, the more he discovers that a kind and wounded heart beats beneath the militant exterior–a heart he’s coming to admire. Perhaps her passion for change is the spice his routine life needs. And maybe his penchant for calm can help her tame the destructve forces at war within her.
James and Noreen’s story is the first installment of my new Secret Society of Spinsters series. All three tales will feature spinster heorines, though each choose spinsterhood for a different reason.
Along the way, you’ll find danger, a mystery villain, and a coded handerkerchief exchange. 😉
If this sounds like a book you would enjoy reading AND if you prefer reading print books, I highly recommend preordering from Baker Book House. They are cheaper than Amazon and they carefully wrap their books in brown paper before shipping so the book arrives in pristine condition. Plus – They are currently running an amazing preorder deal. Taming Lady Temperance releases on February 17, but if you order now, you get 40% off the cover price with free shipping, a signed bookplate, a custom Spinster Society sticker, a recipe card, AND an exclusive bonus epilogue not included in the book.
Preorder a print copy from Baker Book House here.
Preorder the ebook from Amazon here.
Some of the tropes included in this story:
- Rivals to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Duty vs. Desire
- Spinster Heroine
- Law Enforcement Hero
- Found Family
Which of these sounds the most interesting to you?
Latest posts by Karen Witemeyer (see all)
- A Lesson From Butterflies - March 5, 2026
- The Art of Story Maps - February 19, 2026
- Spinsters, An Excerpt, and a Giveaway - February 5, 2026
ALL of them! I knew the minute I saw the cover of this book that I needed it. (Although, all it really takes is your name) I am SO excited for this story! Is there a way to get the bonus epilogue if we preorder the e-book? If not, that’s ok… I’ll just have to order both and gift the paper one (I am out of room for paper at this point). Ha!
Your enthusiasm makes my heart so happy, Joy. 🙂 The bonus epilogue is only available through Baker Books, and I don’t think they sell e-books, so that’s probably not an option. At some point in the future, I might be able to make the epilogue available on my website, but I can’t promise. We obviously need to get you some more print book space! 🙂
Sounds wonderful! I love the images you’ve given of the characters. I will preorder today. I’m a fan of Baker books because the books always come in excellent condition – not so for Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
I really love the cover, as I’m not a fan of illustrated covers.
I agree, Betty. I love how they wrap their books in brown paper and take such care. You can tell they are book lovers, not just warehouse workers.
I’m so exited!
last February though April (and read the new releases as they came out) I binge read all of your books and I can’t wait!!! I introduced some if my friends to your books and she loves them
I loaned her Cloaked in beauty
She said how much she loved it and then she said she was sad it wasn’t longer! And I will definitely be pre-ordering it you made an offer i couldn’t refuse (and I might get another for my friend )
Makayla – You just made my day. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing my books with your friends. I love that you are both enjoying my stories.
I’m looking forward to this one! To this whole series, really. Because I feel like all these ladies will have a lot of gumption.
Thanks, D’Ann. They sure do, though in different ways. 🙂
Law enforcement heros.