Great Reads to Start 2015!

I read a couple great books recently that I thought I'd share, so you can get them on your TBR list for the new year.

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
This one drew me in right away with the charming bull rider and the love-struck college grad who marry on a whim in Las Vegas and then spend the next five and a half years a part. Great romantic chemistry!

Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore
I loved that this Regency romance takes place mostly on the sea during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800's. Both main characters were fantastic!

Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway
This was a really fun modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Loved the humor and the Southern flair.

Happy reading in 2015!

The Story that Started It All!

This is the book that actually began the Of Love and War series! I had Joel and Evelyn's characters in mind before I had the other books and characters. And I'm thrilled to finally be able to share their love story!


FROM A GREAT WAR, SPRINGS A GREAT LOVE

In France at the height of World War I, American nurse Evelyn Gray is no stranger to suffering. She's helped save the life of many a soldier, but when she learns her betrothed has been killed, her own heart may be broken beyond repair. Summoning all her strength, Evelyn is determined to carry on-not just for herself and her country, but for her unborn child.

Corporal Joel Campbell dreams of the day the war is over and he can return home and start a family. When a brutal battle injury puts that hope in jeopardy, Joel is lost to despair . . . until he meets Evelyn. Beautiful, compassionate, and in need of help, she makes an unconventional proposal that could save their lives-or ruin them irrevocably. Now, amidst the terror and turmoil of the Western Front, these two lost souls will have to put their faith in love to find the miracle they've been looking for.

Find HOPE RISING on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever else books are sold.

To celebrate the release of HOPE RISING, please join me and guest authors Jennifer Moore, Amber Perry, and Jennifer Delamere online for a Facebook party today from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. (mountain time). Here's the event link.

A Christmas Hope is Now Available!

TIS THE SEASON FOR SECOND CHANCES

Having experienced the heartache of unrequited love, Maria Schmitt desperately seeks a new life. Landing a position as a clerk in a Sioux City bank is just what she needs to get started on her journey toward healing. But a dashing stranger soon puts her job-and her heart-in jeopardy.

Saving lives was all Dale Emerson ever wanted to do . . . until a fateful day in France shattered his career as a surgeon. He lost everything that mattered, and the last thing he wants to do is resign himself to a life without medicine working at his uncle's bank. Then he meets Maria, a compassionate woman who can see past his scars to the man he once was-and the man he could be again. With Christmas right around the corner, these two wounded hearts may find that hope and a little holiday cheer are just the ticket to letting go of regrets-and embracing a future full of love and possibility.


I'm super excited for this release! It was a lot of fun to write a novella, especially a holiday-themed one set in 1918, as well as giving a happily ever after to these two characters. For those readers who've read HOPE AT DAWN (Of Love and War, Book 1), you'll recognize Maria Schmitt in this special holiday novella. But the novella can also be read as a stand alone.

Find it on:
Books A Million for $1.59
Amazon for $1.99
Barnes and Noble for $1.99
Google Play for $1.99

A Starred Publishers Weekly Review!

HOPE RISING (Of Love and War, Book 2) received a starred review from Publishers Weekly this week: "Henrie’s attention to historical detail and her ability to create multidimensional characters in a swiftly moving, immersive story make this a novel to be savored until the final page is turned."

You can read the full review here.

I can't wait to share this story on December 16th about Joel and Evelyn in worn-torn France!

Depression Era Cake - Sans Eggs, Milk and Butter

I made this cake yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. Plus it's super easy and fast to prepare. Cakes like these, which don't require eggs or milk or butter, stem from the Great Depression days when people came up with creative ways to "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

Going without and being creative with food wasn't a new mentality in the 1930's, though. In the U.S.during the Great War, food posters like this one were popular. Going without niceties like meat or sugar or wheat was a way to help with the war effort. In England, sugar was even rationed up until 1920!

Have you tried one of these egg-less cakes?

Depression Era Chocolate Cake*

1 1/2 cups flour

3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp white vinegar

1 tsp vanilla

5 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients in a 8x8 baking dish. Make three depressions in mixture - two small, one large. Pour vinegar in one small depression, vanilla in the other small depression, and the vegetable oil in the largest. Pour the water over everything, then mix until batter is smooth.

Bake for 30 - 35 mins and let cool. Then frost and enjoy!

*For different flavors of this cake, as well as a gluten free version, check out this post from The Sweet Little Bluebird blog. 

My Recommendation: Unequal Affections by Lara S. Ormiston

What It's About:
When Elizabeth Bennet first knew Mr. Darcy, she despised him and was sure he felt the same. Angered by his pride and reserve, influenced by the lies of the charming Mr. Wickham, she never troubled herself to believe he was anything other than the worst of men—until, one day, he unexpectedly proposed.

Mr. Darcy’s passionate avowal of love causes Elizabeth to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about him. What she knows is that he is rich, handsome, clever, and very much in love with her. She, on the other hand, is poor, and can expect a future of increasing poverty if she does not marry. The incentives for her to accept him are strong, but she is honest enough to tell him that she does not return his affections. He says he can accept that—but will either of them ever be truly happy in a relationship of unequal affection?

Diverging from Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice at the proposal in the Hunsford parsonage, this story explores the kind of man Darcy is, even before his “proper humbling,” and how such a man, so full of pride, so much in love, might have behaved had Elizabeth chosen to accept his original proposal.

My Thoughts:
I happened to pick this book off the shelf at the library, not knowing anything about it. The premise sounded interesting - telling Pride and Prejudice from the stance of Elizabeth accepting Darcy's his first proposal instead of refusing him - so I thought I'd give it a try. And I'm so glad I did!

I absolutely LOVED this book! I can't remember if I read the original Pride and Prejudice or not, but I feel I know the story fairly well from the movies and other books. But I have to say I liked Ms. Ormiston's story just as much, if not a little more, than the original story. I loved getting to know Darcy so much more in this version, as well as Elizabeth. I loved how it explored things the original doesn't - like how Darcy would actually react to having to associate with Elizabeth's family or how they actually overcome their pride and prejudices for each other. The growing chemistry between them was awesome. It was a clean, beautifully written story!

My Recommendation: Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

What It's About:
Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.

St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

My Thoughts:
I loved Lucy and Charlie - these are two flawed characters I felt like I could relate to! I loved the chemistry between them and how perfectly matched they were for each other. The obstacles between them were also realistic and not ones easily overcome either. The candy aspects were interesting and I really liked the time period and setting. I think one of my favorite things, that initially I wasn't sure if I'd like or not, was the first person point of view of Charlie. I liked seeing things from his side and perspective. I've long been a fan of Siri Mitchell's stories and writing style, and this book is another example of why I love her stuff.

Find it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

HOPE AT DAWN releases today!

My first WWI romance is out today!!! You can read Chapter 1 on my Facebook author page. 

If you live in Utah, I'm doing a signing on Thursday, June 26th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the American Fork Library with Amish romance author Jennifer Beckstrand. There will be food, door prizes, and of course, clean romance! Books are available for purchase at the event.

If you live outside of Utah or are unable to make it Thursday night, I'm also hosting a Facebook launch party on Wednesday, June 25th from 10:00 to noon (MDT). Fans of Jennifer Delamere, fellow inspirational historical romance author with Grand Central, and Jennifer Beckstrand won't want to miss this party - both authors will be "stopping by" and giving away books!

WWI Tidbit - Remembering

Poppies have long symbolized those who fell on the battlefields of France during WWI - largely because of the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by John McCrae in May 1915 about the Great War.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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This year - and this summer, in particular - marks the 100th-anniversary of the start of WWI, with these key dates:

June 28, 1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated by a Serbian

July 28, 1914 - Austria declares war on Serbia

August 1, 1914 - Germany declares war on Russia, Serbia's ally

August 3, 1914 - Germany declares war on France, Russia's ally

August 4, 1914 - Great Britain declares war on Germany in response to Germany invading Belgium

Having studied much about this war and the time period, I'm thrilled to have my Of Love and War series release during this anniversary year - taking readers from the home front, to a war hospital near the front lines, to England in 1920 as the world struggles to recover from the effects of the Great War. 

And speaking of release - HOPE AT DAWN comes out in two weeks!

Just Can't Get Enough WWI (part 2)

There are two movies set right before and during WWI that I absolutely love - not only for research purposes but because of the story lines and the way they capture the time period.

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The first is a BBC production called The 39 Steps (2008), starring Rupert Penry-Jones, one of my favorite British actors. The story takes place right before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that catapulted the world toward war. The main character is framed for a murder he didn't commit and subsequently becomes caught up in tracking down a German spy ring in Scotland. It's a story of intrigue and mystery but also humor and romance. 

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The second is Flyboys (2006), starring James Franco. This is the story of some of the first American pilots to fly with the French in WWI. It's a fantastic film that shows not only the danger of being a pilot at the time but also the gorgeous French countryside and even a glimpse of No Man's Land.

Have you seen either of these movies?

*HOPE AT DAWN was selected as a Night Owl Reviews top pick! Read the review here.

**If you missed Just Can't Get Enough WWI (part 1), you can read it here.

Just Can't Get Enough WWI (part 1)

The German-American experience during the Great War is one that isn't found in very many works of fiction. Even true stories don't abound in huge numbers online. So I thought I'd share the name of another work of fiction that touches on this lesser known piece of history and is a really great read, too.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson is young adult historical novel set in 1917-1918. Like Hope at Dawn it takes place during America's involvement in WWI. Hattie even has a close friend who's a soldier over there. While "proving up" by herself on her uncle's homestead in Montana, she witnesses firsthand some German-American prejudice.

Next week I'll share two of my favorite movies set during WWI - one well-known, the other much less so but fantastic at capturing a world right on the cusp of war.

Have you read Hattie Big Sky? What other books about German-Americans during the Great War have you read? Did the title of this post put that Depeche Mode song in your head, too? :)

WWI Tidbit - German-Americans

(DANGER!!! To Pro Germans, Loyal Americans Welcome to Edison Park)

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As the United States entered WWI, anything to do with Germany, or being German, suddenly became a hazard. German-sounding streets, cities and even last names were changed in order to sound more American. The German language was prohibited from being spoken in many places. In Iowa, where HOPE AT DAWN takes place, this included schools, churches, public places and on the telephone. 

German-Americans were often viewed as spies for the "enemy" and threatened with violence if they didn't prove their loyalties. Some were jailed, sentenced to prison, or tarred and feathered. Others struggled to make ends meet when people refused to frequent German-owned establishments. 

In the midst of this anti-German movement, Livy and Friedrick meet and fall in love in HOPE AT DAWN. Their story gives a glimpse into the private struggles of German-Americans during the Great War. 

My Recommendation: Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

What It's About:
As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane"; a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.

Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.

My Thoughts:
There was so much I liked about this book! I loved Bane as the unlikely hero who found his match and the love of his heart in Lydia. I loved Lydia's humanness as she struggles to overcome things that weren't hers by choice. There was also plenty of intrigue to keep me turning pages, along with great moments of sweet romance and tenderness.

Readers who've read Elizabeth Camden's first book - The Lady of Bolton Hill - will recognize Bane. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him better as one of the main characters in this book. I also loved the way Camden wove in historical details without detracting from the story.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

WWI Tidbit - Dancing

Before and during the Great War, ballroom dancing was all the rage. Professional dancers Irene Castle and her husband Vernon brought ballroom dancing or ragtime dancing to the masses. And suddenly the fox trot, waltz, tango, one-step, and two-step were being danced everywhere.

Isn't she beautiful?

Public dance halls were also popular, where young people could get together and dance these ragtime dances. Livy and Friedrick share a love of dancing in HOPE AT DAWN. In fact, their first meeting is at a public dance hall! Later, when they go dancing again, they end up dancing a very romantic waltz.  

Would you have enjoyed ragtime dancing in its heyday? 

Cover for Hope Rising!

HOPE RISING, Book 2 in my Of Love and War series, has a cover - and a very lovely one, I think. :) The art team at Grand Central does such a fabulous job with these. The book releases mid-December.

If you haven't yet entered my Goodreads giveaway for one of three, free copies of HOPE AT DAWN, Book 1, there's still time to enter before the giveaway closes on April 29th. HOPE AT DAWN releases in a little over two months - June 24th. I seriously can't wait!

WWI Tidbit - Fashion

The start of WWI marked the end of the Edwardian era - a period of lavish clothing and small waistlines. As the Great War raged on, women's hemlines crept up to mid-calf and the clothes took on a looser fit.

McCall's patterns -  fashion plate

Military inspired clothing became popular. Shoes were no longer the tall, laced boots of the past - now there were different styles and colors of high-heeled pumps to choose from.

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The majority of women still kept their hair long - the popular 1920's bob was still a little ways off for most women - but they did wear their hair in such a way that it appeared to be much shorter.

While the opulent styles of the Edwardian era and the flapper styles of the Roaring 20's have long been popular, there's still real beauty and uniqueness to the fashion of the Great War.

What do you think of WWI fashion?

WWI Tidbit - War Posters

From now until HOPE AT DAWN releases on June 24th, I'm sharing WWI tidbits here on my blog! Today's is about war posters. 

War posters were all the rage during the Great War, inviting citizens to join the war effort, buy liberty bonds during loan drives, support the troops, etc. This particular poster plays a part in Livy and Friedrick's story in HOPE AT DAWN.

This is one of my favorites from Great Britain at the time!

While many of these propaganda posters inspired American citizens to greater patriotism, others may have contributed to a growing fear and mistrust of German-Americans during WWI. HOPE AT DAWN explores the anti-German sentiment that swept the nation during America's involvement in the Great War and the role propaganda may have played in this.

Would these war posters have inspired you?

*Want to win one of three advanced reader copies of HOPE AT DAWN? Then enter my Goodreads giveaway by clicking the "enter to win" button at the right of this post!

My Recommendation: The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd

What It's About:

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s baby. She’ll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father—a sea captain she’s never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one.

Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she’s forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.

Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect.

Both must learn to have faith and relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead of them.

My Thoughts:
This book is beautifully written, with an almost lyrical tone to it. I liked the premise, the characters, the growing romance between Graham and Amelia and the rich Regency feel. I especially liked how both the main characters needed to grow in faith and trust and the knowledge we can't do everything on our own. I'm excited to read the second book in this series, too, which follows Graham's brother.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

My Recommendation: Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

What It's About:
Miranda Woodruff has it all. At least, that's how it looks when she's starring in her homebuilding television show, From the Ground Up. So when her network begins to talk about making cuts, she'll do anything to boost ratings and save her show--even if it means pretending to be married to a man who's definitely not the fiance who ran out on her three years ago.
 
When a handsome reporter starts shadowing Miranda's every move, all his digging into her personal life brings him a little too close to the truth--and to her. Can the girl whose entire identity is wrapped up in her on-screen persona finally find the nerve to set the record straight? And if she does, will the life she's built come crashing down just as she's found a love to last?

My Thoughts:
I loved the twist on the typical marriage-of-convenience or fake husband story line in this book! Having a fake husband nearly means Miranda doesn't get the real love relationship she wants. There were funny moments and super sweet romantic moments. I liked the variety of characters and their personalities, and how both the hero and heroine had to figure out what they were willing to give up for what they wanted most. This is a fun, well-written contemporary romance!

Find it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

My Famous Chocolate-Chip Cookies

A few weeks back someone asked me about my "famous chocolate-chip cookies," which I reference in my bio in LADY OUTLAW. I will readily admit I'm not much of a cook, but I CAN make chocolate-chip cookies that'll melt in your mouth and satisfy a chocolate craving. :) These are a staple in our house - and I like to believe they're fairly healthy because I add oatmeal to them, though you can't really taste it.

Because these are my favorite cookies - and I, unfortunately, cannot bake all of you a batch - I'm sharing the recipe here. Enjoy!

Chocolate-Chip Cookies

3 sticks of butter (softened)

1 ¼ cups brown sugar

1 ¼ cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

3 cups oatmeal (blended to the consistency of flour)

2 ¼ cups white flour

Chocolate chips

Start by mixing the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Next blend the oatmeal—I do this in our blender—until it’s the consistency of flour. Mix the blended oatmeal and the white flour with everything else.  When the dough clumps together, it’s ready. The key to the right consistency of dough—and therefore to fantastic cookies—is the white flour. If the dough still seems wet or sticky, add another ¼ cup of flour until the dough doesn't stick to your fingers (too little flour=flat cookies; too much flour=clumpier cookies). Add chocolate chips next—I typically put in half a bag.

Form the dough into balls to place on a cookie sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are turning golden brown. The cookies won’t necessarily look done, but once they have that slightly golden brown top, pull them out and set them on top of the oven to cool for another few minutes.

This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies—depending on how much dough is snitched prior to baking them. :) Most of them I’ll freeze in Ziploc bags to be enjoyed later. These cookies freeze really well, and when you want one, 15 - 20 seconds in the microwave softens them perfectly.