Weddings on My Mind

While we're waiting for Season 3 of Downton Abbey to start up (still FIVE more months to go), my husband and I discovered My Fair Wedding. We watched the first season and now we're onto Season 2.

The premise of the show is that wedding planner David Tutera shows up three weeks before a couple's big day and changes whatever he wants - the venue, the bridal gown, the food. Typically he expands on the concept of the bride and makes it into something amazing.

It's a fun show to watch - and with my anniversary coming up next month - I've been thinking about my wedding. I wasn't one who knew from girlhood what theme or decor I wanted for my wedding. After my husband and I got engaged, we set a date in September. Because I loved the fall season, the only thing I was definite on was having a picture with the fall leaves. Not a lot of leaves have changed here by the end of September, so getting that picture took some hiking - in my bridal gown - but we got some great fall shots.

I didn't really care what the colors were or the flowers - just something that tied into fall. If I could go back, I would probably have more of an opinion and maybe picked a different dress. But the day was amazing - it couldn't have gone any better - including riding away from our reception in an old-fashioned car!

Have you watched My Fair Wedding? What wedding concepts would you change about your big day, if you could go back? If a wedding is in the future, what sort of theme do you want?

**Also be sure to check out the LADY OUTLAW giveaway that Joanne Bischof is hosting on her blog!

New Lady Outlaw Giveaway & Review!

Interested in winning a copy of Lady Outlaw? Check out this interview and giveaway on Sarah Forgrave's blog.

Also, be sure to read this review of the book on Danyelle Ferguson's blog.

Happy Monday!

"Fall"ing into Change

Though the days here are still summer-warm, the start of school - as well as the sunflowers and pumpkins in our garden - feel like a transition to my favorite season of the year. I'm not a big one for change, except maybe the seasons. But I'm entering a new season of my life with two kids in school and only one at home, and rather than cling to my comfort zone, I want to embrace the changes and look for new moments of happiness.

I once read that God doesn't like us to stay in our comfort zones, and there are certainly numerous stories that illustrate this. Outside our comfort zones, we stretch, we learn, we grow. That's what I want to do in this new season.

What's the beginning of Fall for you? How do you transition from summer to school schedule? What are you doing lately to get out of your comfort zone?

**The winner of the Be Still My Soul giveaway is ... Loree! Congratulations.

Historical Fiction Giveaway!

I'm excited to spotlight Joanne Bischof's debut novel today - Be Still My Soul - which releases this October. Joanne and I both announced our publishing deals about the same time, and it's been fun to travel this road to publication alongside one another. She's super sweet! And her writing is absolutely lovely. The images she invokes in her novel are beautiful, and the way she captures the setting of the Applaclachian hills makes you feel like you're right there. I'm excited about this series and definitely curious to know what will happen in the next book!

About the Book:
Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.

Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.

Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life. What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?

About Joanne:

Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne Bischof lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home-schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. Be Still My Soul is her first novel.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/joannebischof

Website: http://www.joannebischof.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/joannebischof

Pre-order Be Still My Soul:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Be-Still-My-Soul-Cadence/dp/1601424213/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-still-my-soul-joanne-bischof/1108939519?ean=9781601424211
CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/still-my-soul-cadence-of-grace/joanne-bischof/9781601424211/pd/424212?item_code=WW&netp_id=993423&event=ESRCG&view=details

***About the Giveaway:
I'm doing a giveaway for a signed, Advanced Reader Copy of Be Still My Soul. The contest will run until next Tuesday, August 21st at 10:00 p.m. MST. I'll announce the winner in next Wednesday's post. To enter, leave a comment or answer one of the following questions!

What was your experience moving away from home as a young adult? Who was your greatest influence in making that transition?

Thoughts on Unbroken

I finished reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption over the weekend. While very raw in parts, this book was incredibly inspiring.

The book follows the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and WWII bombardier, who was stranded on a life raft on the Pacific Ocean for more than 40 days, then captured and thrown into a Japanese POW camp. One of my favorite parts talks about the attitudes of Louis and his friend Phil while on the raft. Though they recognized their dire situation, they were able to remain optimistic, envisioning a future beyond their present circumstances. The third man on the raft, Mac, could not picture a future and was haunted by thoughts of dying out on the ocean. It made me think what my outlook would be in that situation.

The author briefly explores the idea of whether or not we're born with innate optimistic or pessimistic outlooks, then goes on to say the men's different attitudes ultimately turned out to be self-fulfilling. That really struck me. What a powerful reminder that we choose how we react to life's circumstances and challenges. We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose faith and optimism or fear and despair.

Just reading Zamperini's tragic but incredible story has caused me to view things in my own life differently. I've found myself more inclined to tell myself "things will work out," even if it's different than I might want or expect. I've thought more about the blessings in my life and the immense gratitude I have for those men and women who've served in the military for this country. It was definitely a thought-provoking read!

Have you read or heard of Unbroken? Do you think we are born with a tendency toward optimism or pessimism? What book have you read lately that caused you to think long after you finished it?

My First Reader Review & a Giveaway!

Amber Perry of The Historical Christian Fiction Romance Review blog reviewed my book. Check out what she had to say about Lady Outlaw here!

Also, check out my Goodreads giveaway and enter to win one of five copies of LADY OUTLAW before it releases on September 4th!

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

*In an effort to spread the word about my favorite type of book - inspirational romance - I'm doing Christian Fiction Fridays here on my blog where I share my recommendations for books in this genre.

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

What It's About:

Maggie Montgomery lives a life of adventure. Her job as a cinematographer takes her from one exotic locale to the next. When Maggie's not working, she loves to rappel off cliffs or go skydiving. Nothing frightens her. Nothing, that is, except Ivy, Texas, where a family emergency pulls her back home to a town full of bad memories, painful secrets, and people Maggie left far behind . . . for a reason.

Forced to stay longer than she intended, Maggie finds her family a complete mess, including the niece her sister has abandoned. Ten-year-old Riley is struggling in school and out of control at home. The only person who can really handle the pint-sized troublemaker is Conner, the local vet and Ivy's most eligible bachelor. But Conner and Maggie keep butting heads--he's suspicious of her and, well, she doesn't rely on anyone but herself.

As Maggie humorously fumbles her way from one mishap to another, she realizes she's going to need to ask for help from the one person who scares her the most. To save one little girl--and herself--can Maggie let go of her fears and just trust God?

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this story! It has everything I want in a good, contemporary romance - lots of laugh-out-loud humor, real growth in the main character and great romantic chemistry. It's both entertaining and thought-provoking. Maggie is hilarious and definitely someone you want to cheer on, and Connor is the perfect match for her.

Find it here on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

California Highlights

Here are the highlights from our trip to Anaheim last week, including three days at the RWA (Romance Writers of America) National Conference for me!

1. Spending time with family

2. Being at Disneyland (the Cars racer ride was my favorite!)

3. Seeing the ocean (I love the mountains I live near, but being a California-native, there's a real love for the ocean too)

4. Meeting my fabulous agent, Jessica Alvarez, in person (Yes, I'm cheesing it here, but it was 11:00 p.m.)

5. Dancing five feet away from Nora Roberts at the Harlequin party (Sorry, no picture of this one)

Any fun plans to squeeze in before summer winds down? Are you a mountain/lake person, an ocean-lover or both?

*Be sure to check out my web site at http://www.stacyhenrie.com/!