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?