Stacy Henrie, Author Blog

Last week I went camping down near Moab and Arches National Park with some youth from my church. This was my first time ever visiting that part of the state, and what an adventure!

I learned a lot about myself and what I can do, even when stretched beyond what I think are my abilities. One of the days there we went on a fairly rigorous hike. We started at nine in the morning and didn’t return to our cars until 5:30 that evening. We hiked in hot sun and occasional shade. We hiked through sand washes, over slick rock and up a steep incline. We rapelled down a canyon, including a thirty-foot free fall that was exhilarating.

I was never at the front of the pack. Typically I stayed in the middle or near the rear. I wasn’t as fast as our trail-setters, but I tried to maintain my own steady pace. Most important, I didn’t quit. Not one of us did. Our entire group, despite running out of water near the end and hiking in high summer temperatures, all made it to the end.

And that to me is the lesson I hope never to forget.

In life we may not feel like the trailblazers with all their pep and talent. We might even be coming along at the rear, but we’re coming. There are times of blistering sun and challenge, but there are also moments or seasons of cool shade and rest. No matter our pace, no matter our circumstances, the important thing is to keep pressing onward. Don’t quit, no matter how tough things may get. It’s not how fast or well we come along; it’s that we keep going, one footstep at a time.

Have you ever been to Arches National Park? Do you like camping? What life lessons did you learn this week?

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*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.

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

What It’s About:
Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets…

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

My Thoughts:
This is definitely my favorite of Karen Witemeyer’s books, which is saying a lot, because I liked her other two as well. I loved the unique characters – a blacksmith with a speech impediment and a spinster librarian. Both of their pasts come back to haunt them, which provides great conflict. I loved the ending – or rather the clever climatic scene near the ending. The writing is fluid and lovely, and the faith elements are naturally woven in.

Find this book here on Amazon or here at Barnes and Noble.

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I’m excited to share the cover of my book LADY OUTLAW. The art department at Harlequin did such a fabulous job – they captured Jennie and the essence of the book perfectly! The tag line is “She’d break the law to save her home.”

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My husband and I went on a little road trip two weekends ago. And the not-so exotic destination of our mini getaway was . . . southwestern Utah – the setting of my book LADY OUTLAW. We had a blast taking pictures of different settings from the book for the “bonus features” section of my upcoming website.

Here’s a sneak peek!

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*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.

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

What It’s About:
Clara Endicott is beginning to make a name for herself as a journalist who is intent on exposing the dark side of industry. In the splendor of gilded age America, she soon finds herself face to face with the childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished steel worker she once knew.

Daniel Tremain has risen to become a powerful industry giant. He had always idolized Clara, but when she writes an exposé about his company, it will trigger a series of events that threatens to destroy the only woman Daniel has ever loved.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the mix of characters in this book; even the would-be villain was interesting with his unique and tragic past. I liked that the hero and heroine were good friends years before and that spark of attraction hadn’t dimmed. Though I knew how the story was going to end, being a romance, I still found myself thinking that Clara and Daniel couldn’t ever be together – there was just too much for them to overcome. Which, of course, kept me reading to see how they’d triumph!
 
Find this book here on Amazonor here at Barnes and Noble.

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*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.

The Earl’s Mistaken Bride by Abby Gaines

What It’s About:
As soon as Marcus Brookstone lifts his bride’s veil, he sees he’s been tricked. He made a bargain with God—to marry a good, Christian girl if his mother recovered from illness. But Marcus intended to marry pretty Amanda, not stubborn Constance. His next plan, to ignore his new wife, fails as well when Constance makes it clear that she wants a true union. Constance Somerton doesn’t dare reveal that she’s been enamored of Marcus for years. The man believes love is for weaklings. Someone needs to teach him about marriage’s blessings. Someone who sees beyond his arrogance to the tender heart beneath. Someone exactly like Constance….

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book – I was hooked from the beginning by the plot and the characters. The heroine is strong and not a typical romantic beauty, though she’s lovely in her own right. The hero is proud, but boy does he make a fool of himself for love, which I adored. There’s even another love story interwoven throughout Constance and Marcus’s story. This is one of those books that makes me so thrilled to be publishing with Love Inspired Historical!

Find this book here on Amazon or here at Barnes and Noble.

**If you haven’t already, you can enter to win a $10 Amazon e-giftcard by answering one of the questions in the comments section of my Wednesday post. The giveaway ends Monday at midnight (MST). I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday.

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Nine people from various occupations and parts of the country were dropped off in the wilderness in Venezuela. They’d been given three days of survival training prior to drop off and they had three days of rations to begin a journey they didn’t know the length of. Their task was to find civilization. If they didn’t feel they could go on or if they became seriously ill or injured, they could hit the button on their GPS device and a helicopter would take them away. They had a map and a cache of supplies, but everything else they had to make or find as they lived off the land.

It was an incredible show to watch. Only a few days into their journey, they began starving. The things they had to eat to survive were disgusting in comparison to what I have readily in my pantry and fridge. But they were grateful for it.

As we continued through the episodes, we saw conflicts among the group but also strong friendships, we saw the group battle thick jungle and constant rainstorms, we saw people leave, we saw strength tested to the utmost, we saw people so fatigued from starvation they struggled to make themselves coherent for their on-camera interviews*, we saw people reach down deep inside thhemselves and continue on.

There were at least two people who wowed me with their attitude. It didn’t matter if they hadn’t had anything to eat for a few days but maggots or tiny fish – they stayed positive. One guy, who was among the small group who made it all the way to civilization, talked about how you don’t know what’s ahead but there will be moments of happiness. You just have to look for them.

Their determination to see the journey through, to stay positive in the midst of pure survival was such a powerful lesson to me in my life of relative ease. And even in the hard things, there are always those moments of happiness, if we look for them.

Have you seen this show? Is that something you’d want to do – go on a survival journey? (I probably would have pushed the button when I arrived at the first place to sleep and found it invested with tarantulas and scorpions). What helps you see those moments of happiness, even when the road ahead isn’t easy or clear?

*The camera crew members were required to stay 100 yards from the volunteers. I can’t imagine how heart-breaking that must have been for them to watch these people deteriorate, knowing they couldn’t provide the volunteers with anything.

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*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.

A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

What It’s About:  
When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

My Thoughts:
Typically in books with both the hero and heroine’s point of view, I tend to like reading about one character a little – or a lot – more than the other. In this book, though, I enjoyed both points of view. I haven’t read a lot of Regency-set (Jane Austen’s time period) novels, but I liked the time period and the setting and the little tidbits I learned about both. I liked the mystery element of not knowing who the real bad guy was, and having a kind hero with a French accent was nice too. 🙂

Find this book here on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble.

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*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.

What It’s About:

This book has a great mix of light-hearted moments and serious challenges for the characters. Adelaide’s romantic notions are fun, and who doesn’t love a British hero like Gideon? This is the second book of Karen Witemeyer’s that I’ve read, and I like how she weaves bits of comedy throughout her stories while still having gripping scenes as things progress toward the ending.

Find this book here on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble.

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It was great to marry into a family who enjoy movie quoting as much as I do – and at the dinner table, no less. 🙂 But you’d better quote it right in my husband’s family or you’re in trouble!

Quite regularly my husband and I sprinkle our conversations with movie quotes – ’cause sometimes those just say it best. Here are a few of our favorites:

Do you like to quote movies? What are some of your favorite movie lines? Do you have any fun family games/past times you enjoy?

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