Shannon here: Tara Johnson shares her real life proposal, a yummy recipe, & a chance to wina a copy of her latest Historical Romance, All Through the Night. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Dec 4th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Tara:
The Recipe for a Perfect Proposal
One of my favorite things to write as a romance author is a stunning proposal. Dreaming up the perfect scenario for marital bliss between my hero and heroine is a sweet endeavor. However, my own proposal of marriage wasn’t nearly so perfect.
It was the evening of Christmas Day and my boyfriend and I had visited both of our families and stuffed ourselves full of ham, potatoes, and pie. When he suggested we drive around and look at Christmas lights while they were still up, I happily agreed. I climbed into his car, shivering from the twenty-degree weather, and lifted a silent prayer of gratitude for my coat.
He drove us to one of the swankiest neighborhoods in his hometown and parked atop a high hill that looked over rows of twinkling lights and veritable mansions. As I admired the view, he cleared his throat. “Hey, let’s get out for a bit.”
My eyes nearly bugged at the suggestion. “Out? As in outside? Are you crazy? It’s below freezing!”
He insisted and I grumbled, shutting the door behind me as we sat on the cleared hill while shivering so hard our teeth clacked. After long moments, he pulled out a small jeweler’s box and asked me marry him. I was stunned, and overjoyed…and freezing.
Both of our hands were shaking violently as he attempted to slide the ring on my finger. Blue lights began flashing as a car below climbed up the curving road. My now-fiancee’s eyes grew wide.
“Um, hey Tara? I love you but we’ve got to get out of here.”
I was surprised by the urgency in his voice. “Why?”
He winced. “Because I think I just parked illegally on a private golf course and the cops are coming to let me have it.”
We raced away before getting busted and I can laugh now remembering the panic in his voice. Not exactly Gone with the Wind material.
One of the neatest things I discovered while digging through my family history comes all the way from Switzerland. My great-great grandmother had an uncle who was a village baker. Each year on her birthday, he would bake her a Swiss Egg Braid and weave coins, charms, and other sweet trinkets through the inside. When she eventually moved to America, he sent the recipe along with her.
Even better, that sweet baker found the perfect way to assist the local men in proposing to their sweethearts. He would bake the ring right into the loaf. When the couple picnicked and opened this buttery bread, the young man was ready when the ring appeared. I wonder how many proposals my great-great-great uncle assisted!
As a special Thanksgiving treat for you, I’m including that same Swiss Egg Bread recipe. It’s a buttery and delicious addition to your holiday baking.
Swiss Egg Braid
Scald 4 cups of milk and cool. Dissolve 3 packages of rapid-rise yeast into 1/3 c. warm water. Add to milk with 2 Tbsp of sugar and 3 c. flour. Stir and then add 2 tsp. of salt, ½ c. sugar, 6 well beaten eggs, 4 cups of flour, and 1 c. of oil.
Beat until dough leaves the side of the bowl. Stir in a little more flour until dough can be kneaded and will not stick to hands. Knead well. Let rise until doubled. Punch down dough and let it rise again.
Divide dough into 4 large balls. (Each ball makes one loaf.) Divide each ball into three strips and weave into a braid. Place each braid into a greased loaf pan. Rise until light.
Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from pans and brush with melted butter.
About Tara: Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from 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. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she has been a featured guest on Voice of Truth radio, Enduring Word radio, television and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas. Titles include: Engraved on the Heart, Where Dandelions Bloom, and All Through the Night. She is also a contributor to 50 Life Lessons for Grads. Learn more & connect:
Tara’s Website Tara’s Facebook Tara’s Instagram Tara’s Twitter
About the book – All Through the Night: With her stammering tongue and quiet ways, Cadence Piper has always struggled to be accepted. After the death of her mother, Cadence sets her heart on becoming a nurse, both to erase the stain her brother has left on the family’s honor and to find long-sought approval in the eyes of her father. When Dorothea Dix turns her away due to her young age and pretty face, Cadence finds another way to serve . . . singing to the soldiers in Judiciary Square Hospital. Only one stubborn doctor stands in her way.
Joshua Ivy is an intense man with a compassionate heart for the hurting and downtrodden. The one thing he can’t have is an idealistic woman destroying the plans he’s so carefully laid. When the chaos of war thrusts Cadence into the middle of his clandestine activities, he must decide if the lives at stake, and his own heart, are worth the risk of letting Cadence inside.
Everything changes when Joshua and Cadence unearth the workings of a secret society so vile, the course of their lives, and the war, could be altered forever. If they fight an enemy they cannot see, will the One who sees all show them the way in the darkest night?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Tara’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
All Through Night – Amazon Tara’s Books – Amazon
Question for Readers: Were you ever a part of a crazy proposal? Or what’s the craziest proposal you’ve heard of? I would love to hear!
Come back Nov 26th for Betty Thomason Owens!
LOL what a fun memory to remember 🙂
It reminded me of a similar situation in my life – it wasn’t a proposal though. We’ve been spending a romantic evening atop of the waterfall in the expensive neighborhood, when the blue lights flashing comes the police. In our case – we’ve had a ride down – in the back of the police car LOL
Apparently, neighbors though we are going to jump and called the police 😉
Oh my word! I am laughing so hard right now. LOL!!!
I love the baker/proposal story, Tara. What a sweet man your ancestor was. I think maybe the craziest proposal I’ve heard about was yours 🙂
This was a fun interview. Thanks much ladies. I did laugh out loud. Thank you for a chance to win this one! Joy
You’re so welcome, Joy!
lol! The wedding was crazier. 🙂
I love your proposal! Mine must have been blah!
Never underestimate normal. 🙂
Loved reading your interview, I don’t know of any fun or unusual propsals.
Thanks, Karen!
My husband and I don’t really have a down-on-one knee proposal. We talked about the possibility and about all our differences–North, South; urban, country; Catholic, Protestant. Then a sermon at church nudged me to agree. I wrote Yes in the middle of a heart with a red marker and cut it up into puzzle pieces. At the end of our next date, I handed the pieces to him in an envelope and asked him to wait to call until the next morning because I wanted to go straight to sleep. When he did, he said, “You puzzle me.” The non-proposal sounds unromantic now, but the marriage has worked for 33 1/2 years! Your story is better!
I have a winner! Joy C Hannabass won the drawing. I appreciate Tara for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.