Weddings During the Time of Coronavirus by @Donna_Fasano

Last year, I received a Save The Date card for a huge destination wedding of a family member that was to take place this month. But then COVID-19 hit our country hard and large gatherings were prohibited. The bride and groom have decided to postpone their wedding until 2021. This young couple are going to wait a whole year to tie the knot! I feel so bad for them, but what else could they do?

The question got me thinking about weddings during the pandemic. People have to go on with their lives. Or is everyone postponing their nuptials? THAT question had me going to Google to do some research.

It seems that lots of couples have put off their weddings. But others have decided to elope… just the two of them. Others are settling for what are called “mini-monies,” which are miniature ceremonies that include guests of only 10 family members and friends. The important thing to these people is the “getting hitched” part and they’re not too hung up on the size of the guest list. Even though they must settle for a minimalist approach now, they can always plan a bigger celebration later.

Do you know a couple who was planning a wedding? Did they cancel? Or did they decide to go for it?

This month, I’m offering my book, THE WEDDING PLANNER’S SON, for just 99¢ for Kindle readers. 

About the author: Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author. Learn more about her on her website. Sign up for her newsletter for information on sales and new releases.

Dance Like a Chicken Day by Merrillee Whren

These quirky holidays are fun to talk about. Who knew there was a special day to celebrate this crazy dance, which is often part of the dancing at a wedding reception?

I love to include weddings in my books. In my latest book, HOMECOMING BLESSINGS, there are two weddings. The heroine's father, who has been a widower for years, gets married. This book was originally published over 10 years ago by Steeple Hill Books, which is now known as Harlequin Love Inspired. As I updated the book for reissue, I decided to add an epilogue to the story that included the wedding of the hero and heroine, since this is the last book in the Dalton Brothers series.

I also added a connection to my previous series about the little fictional town of Kellersburg, located in southwest Ohio. The new connection is Caroline Keller, the sister of Nathan Keller, the hero of Hometown Dad, the third book in the Kellersburg series. I'll be adding to the Kellersburg series with Caroline's story. How is Caroline connected to Homecoming Blessings? She is a friend of Ashley Hiatt, the heroine of Homecoming Blessings.

Here's where you can preorder HOMECOMING BLESSINGS. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R81Z5N1

B&N: http://bit.ly/2Llx7PD
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1462683094
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2DXFkDK

Have you ever done the chicken dance at a wedding? Do you like to have two different book series connected in some way?

I will give away an ebook copy of the first book in the Kellersburg series, Hometown Promise, to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on May 16 at 9 PM MST.

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

June Weddings by Merrillee Whren

June is often a month for weddings. Of course, people get married at all times of the year. Just for fun I thought I'd share some family wedding photos and have a little contest. You need to guess the month in which the wedding takes place. There is one June wedding. Two are in February. Two are in September. The rest are scattered throughout the year. The person who gives the most correct answers will receive a ten dollar Amazon gift card and copies of two of my books.

I'll start with the oldest wedding. The photo below is one of my parents.

The next is a photo from my in-law's wedding. Do you suppose the photographer told them not to smile?

This one is my husband and I. Can you guess in which decade this wedding took place?

We have two daughters, and the younger one got married first on the beach near our home, and we had the reception at our house.

Our older daughter also got married at the beach and had her reception at our house. Besides the beach there are some huge oak trees nearby, and they made a beautiful backdrop for some photos.

My youngest brother got married in Las Vegas only because his bride lived there. They got married in the church she attended there.That's my husband and I with them.

The next one is a photo of one of my nephews when he got married.

This next photo comes from the wedding of my husband's cousin. When we attended her wedding in Arizona, I never dreamed that I would eventually live in that state.

Jump in and take a guess about the months of the weddings. They will definitely be guesses. You might find a hint about some of the weddings on my personal blog. 

What do you like most about weddings?

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Real News for Inspiration

Internet and TV often report news of combat scenes in foreign countries, explosion, kidnapping, and similar depressing events. Our hearts go to the military men and women fighting for freedom and human rights around the world. I have also been impressed by the courage and will-power of the journalists who have not been trained to carry weapons and defend themselves, and yet travel to these war-zones to collect news. Have you noticed how many are reported killed or missing?

While reading about these reporters, I imagined a fearless young woman attacked by ruffians in Baghdad and saved by an Iraqi officer. A friendship develops between the dashing officer and the lovely foreigner. He falls in love. Back to the U.S. she realizes their cultures and mentalities are too different. 

As is often common in these unstable areas, explosions happen claiming young lives, and she is left with the memories built during a difficult time, the friendship of his family, and maybe a stronger reality that will never allow her to forget the foreign officer...even when she meets her true love.

Getting involved with fearless reporter, Roxanne, involves more complications than Dr. Greg has ever faced in the OR. 

VALENTINE BABIES, an emotional romance novel sprinkled with humor, is Book 2 in Holiday Babies and has garnered over 70 reviews, EPIC’s Ebook Award Finalist, and a Gold Medal Best Contemporary Romance Novel at Readers Favorite.

VALENTINE BABIES is my contribution to the HEARTS and KISSES box on pre-order at various venues:

Links for HEARTS and KISSES:

Kindle US: http://amzn.to/15fpuQh

Kindle  UK : http://amzn.to/1E6G2sW

Kobo: http://ow.ly/HLB7h

iBook: http://ow.ly/HLCsK

Facebook Event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1518880381707347

Mona Risk is pleased to announce that her new book WEDDING SURPRISE, Book 4 in Holiday Babies  is on pre-order at Amazon, Kobo, Nook, iTunes.

“Mona Risk knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters. Her work takes us on a journey be it local or overseas.”~Night Owl Reviews.  

A USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, has garnered an Outstanding Achiever 2013 Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She’s also a Best Romance Novel winner at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; Two-Time winner of Best Contemporary Romance Novel at Readers Favorite, EPIC’s Ebook Award Finalist, and is in the Kindle Top 100 Bestselling Author.

Never Forget

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Celebrate & Remember

USS New York

USS New York was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.' 

The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'. 

Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are made of in this country!

From chemistry in the lab to chemistry between people. 

Mona Risk left a scientific career to share with readers the many stories brewing in her head. Her books won Best Romance Novel of the Year at Preditors & Editors; Best Contemporary Romances at Readers Favorite; Epic Award Finalists; and many stellar reviews, and are Amazon Bestsellers. She received the 2013 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine for her "Wonderfully written books about true love." ~ Happy Ever After Reviews 

Mona Risk writes sweet contemporary romances, such as the three novels in Holiday Babies Series, Christmas Babies, Valentine Babies and Mother's Day Babies.

 The fourth book in this series, Wedding Surprise, was written at her readers' request. 

Wedding Surprise is part of the Ten Brides for Ten Heroes,

A 10-book bundle by New York Times, USA Today, and National bestselling authors at a bargain price. Get ready to toss the bouquet and say, "I do!" as ten brides risk it all to find their happy ever after.