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.
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"Dueling Hearts" by Vickie McDonough was such a good and inspiring tale. The title fits the story. The ending was definitely a surprise that I didn't see coming! This book is the third in the series and I suppose it could be read as a standalone but. I have to ask why read part when you can read the whole. I am so excited to read book 4. Faith definitely is part of this story.
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
Blog Stops
Pens Pages & Pulses, November 18
Holly’s Book Corner, November 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 19
Simple Harvest Reads, November 20 (Guest Review from Marilyn)
Texas Book-aholic, November 21
Lyssa Loves Books, November 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 22
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 24
Book Holds and Jello Molds, November 24
For Him and My Family, November 25
Devoted To Hope, November 26
Stories By Gina, November 27 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, November 28
Cover Lover Book Review, November 29
The Mommies Reviews, November 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 30
Artistic Nobody, December 1 (Guest Review from Donna)
Pause for Tales, December 1
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://promosimple.com/ps/3dc73/dueling-hearts-celebration-tour-giveaway
In the small foothill village of Shiloh on a stormy Christmas Eve, a group of children find themselves lost in a powerful storm. When a chance encounter with a kind stranger presents itself, their faith is put to the test as they discover the true meaning of Christmas, learn valuable life lessons, and experience the transformative power of just one tiny seed: The Seed of Faith.
“What is God like?
Ladonna Shanks
From Breck Girl to Hippie to Jesus People…
Historical Christian Romance author and three-time Selah Award nominee, 