In the Footsteps of the Outlaws

I've kind of always been fascinated by Old West outlaws, such as Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, who pillaged and roamed the western states like pirates of the prairies. So it was super fun, this past week, to visit a place they had been.

We took a short research trip, for my next Love Inspired Historical western, up to Buffalo, Wyoming. Located about 45 miles north of "Hole in the Wall" country, a popular hideout for outlaws, Buffalo offered these men all the amenities of a growing town, which including The Occidental Hotel.

The hotel still provides lodging for guests today, and that's where we stayed! And boy, did it feel like we'd stepped back in time. Not only seeing the gorgeous antiques that filled every room but walking across the creaky, wooden floors and listening to the wind rattle the old windows.

We also drove farther north to visit Sheridan and got a breath-taking view of the Big Horn mountain country. This beautiful, historic ranch was built near the Big Horn foothills back in 1892. And it certainly got my writer brain spinning at what western tale I could set there!

Though we weren't gone long, it was a trip worth making and a great reminder of why I love history, the West, and combining the two into stories.

Launch Tour and Giveaway for My Newest Release!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Launch for

The Express Rider's Lady

By Stacy Henrie

Join us on the historic trail with a Pony Express rider and a woman who needs his help to get to California! Learn more about the setting, check out the reviews, and find a little inspiration and romance...

Tour Schedule

February  2nd: Heidi Reads... & The Power of Words

February 3rd: Katie's Clean Book Collection & Min Reads and Reviews

February 4th: Babs Book Bistro

February 5th: Savings in Seconds & Literary Time Out

February 7th: Wishful Endings & Zerina Blossom's Books

February 8th: Mom with a Reading Problem & Backing Books

February 9th: Seasons of Humility & I Am A Reader

February 10th: Singing Librarian Books, Christy's Cozy Corners, & Mel's Shelves

February 11th: Getting Your Read On & Tell Tale Book Reviews

February 12th: Dixie n Dottie, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Rockin' Book Reviews

February 14th: Grand Finale

Interview with the Author

1. What is your motivation behind The Express Rider’s Lady?

It was while driving across Wyoming on the way to South Dakota one summer that I thought up Delsie and Myles and their cross country journey. And their story turned out to be so much fun to write! Partly because of the adventure of racing against the clock to reach California, partly because it features the Pony Express, which is such an iconic part of the Old West, and partly because both characters end up growing so much from their experiences.

2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

I hope readers take away that we can each do hard things; that we don’t have to let others’ imposed stereotypes have sway in our lives or our hearts. Also, no matter where we are, the Lord is aware of us.

3. Do you have a favorite scene?

That’s always a tough question to answer! But I would say one of my favorites is the scene when the Indian tries to barter for Delsie’s hand in exchange for giving Myles a new horse. The situation is rather intense, and Myles knows that, even if Delsie doesn’t at first. But the way Myles handles it is really fun.

4. Share something about you that is unique?

In the third grade, I wrote a very, very short story about the Pony Express, complete with illustrated picture of a girl rider and her horse. So it’s super fun to now have a full-length novel about the Pony Express. I’d love to go back and tell that little girl self, “Just you wait. Someday you will be a writer and have enough story to fill a whole book.”

— Stacy

The Express Rider's Lady

by Stacy Henrie
Adult Christian Historical Romance

Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
February 9th 2016 by Love Inspired

Westward Wedding Journey

Delsie Radford is going to make it to California, no matter the danger or difficulty. Her father may have kept her and her sister apart, but Delsie refuses to miss her sister's wedding—even with only eighteen days to get there. And she's found the perfect escort in Pony Express rider Myles Patton.

Myles can't believe it when a pretty socialite hires him to take her cross-country through rough terrain and dangerous territory. Surely she'll quit before they reach their destination—he's known girls like her before. But the longer they ride together, the more Myles notices Delsie's toughness and kindness beneath her polished exterior. And though they may be worlds apart…they might just be perfect for each other.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Harlequin - Walmart

Stacy Henrie has always had a love for history, fiction, and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances. Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a mother to three, Stacy loves to live out history through her fictional characters. In addition to author, she is also a reader, a road trip enthusiast, and a novice interior decorator.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Print copy of The Express Rider's Lady (US only)
ebook of The Express Rider's Lady (open internationally)
Ends February 19th

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My Recommendation: On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie's cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson.

Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they've made?

MY THOUGHTS:
I've found a new author whose books I'm really enjoying - Sarah Sundin! ON DISTANT SHORES is the second book in her Wings of the Nightingale series. And while I really liked the first one, I absolutely loved this one! Georgie and Hutch are both so likable and human. They're each dealing with challenges I think we all face at one time or another, even though the backdrop for their story is WWII. Sundin's writing is wonderful, and I appreciate how she includes historical information and details in a way that doesn't bog down the story or take away from it. I've enjoyed learning about the air evacuation nurses and the challenges of pharmacists who enlisted in the war. And of course, Georgie and Hutch's romance is fantastic with some equally fantastic kisses. :) This is a great WWII, get-lost-in-the-story inspirational romance!

My Recommendation: Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
A courageous young noblewoman risks her life to hide French resistance fighters; seventy years later, her granddaughter visits the family’s abandoned chateau and uncovers shocking secrets from the past.

Gisèle Duchant guards a secret that could cost her life. Tunnels snake through the hill under her family’s medieval chateau in Normandy. Now, with Hitler’s army bearing down, her brother and several friends are hiding in the tunnels, resisting the German occupation of France.

A present day story weaves through the past one as Chloe Sauver, Gisèle’s granddaughter, arrives in Normandy. After calling off her engagement with a political candidate, Chloe pays a visit to the chateau to escape publicity and work with a documentary filmmaker, Riley, who has uncovered a fascinating story about Jews serving in Hitler’s army. Riley wants to research Chloe’s family history and the lives that were saved in the tunnels under their house in Normandy. Chloe is floored—her family isn’t Jewish, for one thing, and she doesn’t know anything about tunnels or the history of the house. But as she begins to explore the dark and winding passageways beneath the chateau, nothing can prepare her for the shock of what she and Riley discover…

MY THOUGHTS:
It's been quite a while since I read a book I couldn't put down, but Chateau of Secrets was one of those! I love books with past and present story lines, and in this one, I enjoyed both time periods equally. The WWII history was super fascinating. I never knew there were Jewish soldiers serving in the German army. And the French countryside sounded so lovely and was easy to picture - the author made me want to visit there! I liked the main characters, especially Gisèle, and of course, the underlying romance in both their stories. This was a great historical read that I highly recommend.

FREE Of Love and War Short Story!

Whether you've read all of the Of Love and War books and want to see what happens to secondary characters Alice Thornton and George Dennis at the end of WWI, or you want to give the series a try for free, then this short story is for you! Download a PDF copy for FREE from my website.


Love Awaits at the Journey's End . . .

After nearly two years of serving overseas as an Army Nurse Corps nurse, Alice Thornton is more than ready to return home to the States. But what her future holds there is still uncertain. Should she accept an unexpected proposal from her doctor friend and continue nursing? Or is the real object of her heart, Sergeant George Dennis, still hoping for a life together, as Alice secretly is?


Though Sergeant George Dennis has finally traded the trenches of France for his quiet farm life in Wisconsin, the effects of the war have followed him home. And while he does his best to cope, he's sure the one thing that can help him rise above the past is his continued love for Alice Thornton. But does she still feel the same about him? And will he reach her in time to find out?

An Epic Week!

I learned last Thursday my book HOPE AT DAWN (Of Love and War, Book 1) is a finalist in the inspirational category of the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards!

I missed the initial call because my cell phone was off. But when I saw I had an email from someone at the RWA Board of Directors, I suddenly remembered it was the day for RITA finalist calls. I quickly called the woman back, and even though I had a pretty good idea at that point what the call was about, I still couldn't believe it.

This is the highest award an author of romance can receive. And needless to say, I'm still pinching myself. :)

The other exciting event of the week is the release of my final book in the Of Love and War series, A HOPE REMEMBERED (Of Love and War, Book 3). I have learned so much about WWI through writing this series and it's been a joy to share that knowledge and these characters with readers.

A reviewer for Night Owl Reviews said: "What stands out beyond all else with Henrie's novels is the fact that she dares to create stories of a time when most feared hope was lost and she dares to show the readers the aftermath of war and the lives that are left crippled by the devastation."

I'm thrilled to finally share Nora and Colin's love story and hopefully bring to life for readers England's Lake District in the aftermath of WWI.

As the War Ends, Love Begins ...

Nora Lewis just wants an escape after losing her fiance in the Great War. When she inherits property in England, she boldly packs up and leaves America for a fresh start. But, if not for her dashing new neighbor, Colin Ashby, she'd be lost. Even as their friendship deepens, Nora knows a British aristocrat would never be free to love an American orphan, no matter how much the war has changed the world ...

After his brother's death in the war and his own experiences as a pilot at the front, Colin returns home broken, only to discover his family's estate is also in ruin. The pressure is now on him to save his home and the Ashbys' place in society with a well-bred match to a wealthy heiress. Too bad he finds more of a kindred spirit in Nora, the beautiful American next door. She, too, has faced the rigors of war and survived. Now the ex-soldier will have one more battle to fight--this time for love.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1FdFpfF
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1xvDW4z
Books A Million: http://bit.ly/1yvVmJ2
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1G3jNpa
Itunes: http://apple.co/1y1C8Lf

My Recommendation: Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

What It's About:
Andrea Sullivan is so consumed by her hospitality consultant job that she’s forgotten what brings her life. She travels the world yet shields herself from the exotic locales or another chance at love. She dreads her new assignment—a last chance to snag a high-profile client in Scotland. Yet the lush Isle of Skye transcends her preconceptions. As does the man she came to interview—the rugged, blue-eyed Scotsman James McDonald.

James is passionate about cooking but after six restaurants, four cookbooks, and his own television show, he has no desire to be a celebrity chef. Andrea and James begin to sense these five days in Skye may just be God’s wild invitation into deeper life ... and truer love.

My Thoughts:
This is the first book I've read by Carla Laureano, but it won't be the last. I absolutely loved this one! The chemistry between Andrea and James was fantastic, and I loved the way they first met. My favorite part of this book was the fact that it took place over just five days. While that might seem fast for a romance, the author does such a great job growing the relationship between Andrea and James to a deep level, even in the short time they have together. I loved the reminder, too, of what's really important in life. This is the sort of book I'd enjoy reading over again!

My Recommendation: Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

What It's About:
It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar.

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion.

Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?


My Thoughts:
There was so much about this book that I loved! I loved Charlotte's character and her naivete for all things dealing with society. I loved that she simply said what she thought regardless of the "rules of etiquette." There were several times I laughed out loud! I loved the relationship between her and Edward. There were so many clever situations and poignant moments through the story, and I enjoyed learning about the world of a botanist. The secondary characters were equally as charming. This is humorous, historical romance at its best!

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.

source

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.

source

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. 

source

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)

source

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.