Stacy Henrie, Author Blog

My book LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS (Four Inspirational Historical Romance Novellas) is now available!

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A Long Winter Kiss

As Samantha and Rex’s childhood friendship matured into young love, they promised their hearts to one another, even as Rex headed off to war. But their hope for a bright future was shattered when Rex succumbed to his belief that the horrors of war had made him a man no woman could love. Now he has returned, and Samantha must help Rex see that he still has much to give—and much more to gain—by replacing fear with faith and opening himself to love.

An Unlikely Spring Courtship

Tempest worked hard to secure her independence as a woman running her own mercantile, so when Bram has the audacity to open a competing shop in a town with only enough room for one, Tempest is driven to despair. And then to retaliation. But when tragedy strikes their community and threatens everything they both hold dear, will they be able to recognize that what they share is far more important than what separates them?

A Summer for Love

Loralee’s life has changed dramatically in the eight years since she’s last seen the resort town of Bayocean, but one thing that has never changed is her feelings for Wyatt, a man she promised to meet at the resort on a specific day if they were both still unattached. When Wyatt appears on that date, as hopeful and uncertain as Loralee, the two must see if an old and abiding love has outlasted the changes wrought by time—and begin to build a new life together.

Romance in Autumn

Phoebe and James grew up together but apart in the same beautiful mansion, he as the son of the owners, she as the daughter of a servant. In the years since, Phoebe’s fortunes have changed dramatically, and she carries the dream of one day owning the mansion that is still close to her heart. Until James—now a deeply compelling man—delivers the bad news that securing the purchase will be all but impossible. As Phoebe reluctantly relinquishes her dream, she will also look deep into her soul to learn that a true home might exist in her budding love for James.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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!

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