Shannon here: Tara Johnson shares insight into the rocky beginnings of her real-life romance plus a chance to win a copy of her Historical Romance, To Speak His Name. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Oct 2nd – 18th to enter the drawing for Tara’s book & four other titles in my Oct Book Bundle #1. Deadline: Oct 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Tara:
Honeymoon Horrors by Tara Johnson:
We were finally on our way.
After a day filled with mishaps, a forgotten license, and a fire during our wedding ceremony, my new husband and I were finally zooming toward our honeymoon. With very little money in our pockets, we chose to spend the week in Branson, Missouri. My husband had rented a private condo on Table Rock Lake and we had a full week of schedule-free adventures.
We had only gotten an hour into the four-hour drive when our car made a strange grinding sound. Todd frowned. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“We’re driving through some pretty steep hills. Is it the brakes?”
He shook his head, his scowl intensifying. “No, not the brakes. Something else. I think we need to stop and check the engine.” As we drove into Clinton, Arkansas, he pointed to a McDonalds. “Why don’t we stop here? I’ll check the car and you can get us some food.”
Like most couples on their wedding day, we had eaten very little, save for a slice of our wedding cake. “Okay, sounds good.” I lifted a quick prayer that nothing major was going on with our car and scooted inside to buy burgers and fries while Todd lifted the hood of the engine.
When I emerged with our sacked meal, Todd was leaning over the hood alongside a man with greasy overalls and a massive beard. The fellow spit a stream of tobacco juice out the side of his mouth and pointed. “See that there? Yeah, your transmission’s fallin’ apart.” He scratched his big belly. “Need to get it fixed ASAP. Don’t think it’ll hold out much longer.”
Todd rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re just driving through, trying to get to our honeymoon. Do you know anyone who can fix it?”
The stranger stroked his bushy beard. “There’s a transmission place just up the road. Too late in the day now though. Reckon you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to take it in.” His gaze swung to mine and he grinned, revealing wide gaping holes where his teeth should be. “Heck of a way to start your honeymoon, ain’t it?”
Todd groaned and we thanked our overall-clad, toothless angel. As we slid back into the car, I braved a glance at my new husband. He was grinding his jaw.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“I can’t drive it much farther. I guess we need to find a hotel for the night and try to get the car into a shop tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “Nothing can be done about it.”
“Where will we stay?”
“I have no idea.” We glanced around the landscape, finally spotting a Days Inn perched high on top of a massive hill. “I guess the Days Inn.”
I cringed. “Can the car make it?”
“I have no idea.”
I shuddered at the thought of us breaking down on a steep incline. I held my breath and offered up another prayer as we ascended the climb. Gears grated and crunched. The engine squealed. When we finally reached the top, we both released a pent-up breath.
Todd smiled. “We made it.”
He turned off the ignition and a loud pop burst from under the hood. The stench of…gasoline? Oil? We weren’t sure what flooded the air.
“Um, Todd…” I looked out the window as the Days Inn parking lot slowly filled with fluid. “Is that coming from our car?”
He jumped out and bellowed. “Good grief! It’s transmission fluid. The whole thing just busted!”
There we were, our honeymoon night, in a smoky hotel on top of a mountain with no way to come or go. We trudged inside and Todd made a barrage of phone calls. To parents. To transmission shops. To tow trucks. He was on the phone for hours.
When he finally finished, he rubbed his hands over his face. “Hey, did you get food at McDonalds?”
I held the bag out to him, now hours old. He crammed a fry in his mouth and cringed. “Great. That’s just great. Our wedding caught the church on fire, our car breaks down on the way to the honeymoon, and now even my food is cold!” He looked up, eyes tired. “You know, if it weren’t for the fact we got married, I would say this is the worst day of my life.”
I stared. Then we burst into laughter.
They say to plan for something to go wrong during your wedding. I didn’t think that meant everything. Who knew our honeymoon would involve cold Mickey D’s, a guardian angel with no teeth, and a busted transmission?
But the good news is, we found our sense of humor quickly and we’ve learned it has salvaged a lot of messes over the years.
Whether it’s real life or a well-told tale of romance, my advice is to always find the laughter.
Reader Question: Did you have any mishaps on your honeymoon? How have you learned to find the laughter through the years?
Oct Book Bundle #1 Giveaway:
Survival Secrets by Lana Christian and a bookmark, signed print copy, Biblical Fiction. If winner hasn’t read book one in series, New Star, they’ll receive it instead.
The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer, Dual-Time Women’s Fiction, winner’s choice ebook or paperback. USA only.
Don’t Blink by Jordyn Redwood, Romantic Suspense, e-book copy of the complete box set
To Speak His Name by Tara Johnson, Historical Romance, Print.
The Hidden Legacy by June Foster, Romantic Suspense, e-book copy.
About Tara: Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free form the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. She is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television and podcasts. In 2025, she was named president of the Author Development Agency of Incubator Publishing. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas. Learn more & connect:
Tara’s Website Tara’s Facebook Tara’s Instagram
Tara’s X Tara’s Pinterest Tara’s TikTok
Tara’s Bookbub Tara’s Goodreads
About the book – To Speak His Name: 
Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp.
Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of.
When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution?
To Speak His Name Tara’s Books
Come back Oct 16th for June Foster!
I don’t remember any mishaps on my honeymoon.
I’ve learned to find laughter by remembering that God gives us joy even in trials. The Bible says a cheerful heart is good medicine, and I’ve seen that firsthand. When I trust Him with my worries, laughter comes easier — because I know He’s in control, even when I’m not.
I have a winner for my Oct Book Bundle #1. Jeannie Holderfield won the drawing! I appreciate Tara for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.