What's Your Favorite Marriage Proposal?

Hello, Sandra Orchard, here.

Last week I giddily shared on my Facebook Author Page that the hero in my current WIP had just asked my heroine to marry him!!!

I know, I know…it sounds like I gave away the ending, but I didn't say that that was the end! (hee, hee, hee, she laughed in her best suspense voice)

Okay, maybe it was. But I couldn't help myself!

I love writing marriage proposals, perhaps because my own wasn't terribly romantic. Not like one FB friend who shared that her husband dressed like a knight-in-shining-armor to ask her!

Although…at the time, I remember being pretty giddy about my husband-to-be's proposal, too!

The story is actually a tad humorous. I can't remember a more gorgeous star-filled night than the first time my now-husband kissed me. It was a world-tilting kiss. He must've thought so, too, because he felt the need to tell me that this didn't mean we were getting married or anything, then kissed me again.

Fast forward two months: We're chatting in the family room of my parents' basement about I don't remember what when he suddenly says "Will you marry me?"

The question literally came out of nowhere. I said "yes." We kissed and agreed that we shouldn't tell anyone yet.

I was seventeen at the time.

And then we went right on talking about whatever we'd been talking about!

But…

I had high hopes that one day he'd present me with a ring and that that…would be romantic.

Nope.

I can't remember if I was expecting it, but I'd cooked us a special dinner for two and just before we sat down to eat, he plopped a ring box beside my plate and said something like "I got you something."

He must have sensed how horrified I was, because he quickly snatched it back and dropped to one knee. LOL

However, I must say that since I took up writing, my husband has become truly inspiring in the romance department. For example…when I arrived at the airport following my first American writer's conference, he was waiting for me outside the baggage area in his best suit and tie, holding a sign like the limo drivers do so that clients can find their driver.

My husband's sign said "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World." Ahhh.

Okay, stop your snickering about love being blind. Sheesh!

Your Turn: What's your favorite or most memorable proposal from a book, movies or real life?

Sandra Orchard writes romantic suspense/mysteries for Love Inspired Suspense and Revell Publishing. Current releases include Fatal Inheritance and Deadly Devotion. Click here: for fun bonus features for all her novels. Subscribe to her newsletter for extra bonuses, or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard


Photo Credits in order:
Proposal Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net  
Armored Knight Image courtesy of digidreamgrafix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Ring Image courtesy of Surachai at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Rest of the Story...

Hi Everyone, Sandra Orchard here. I had so much fun writing my newest release, Fatal Inheritance (August), in which a young woman inherits her grandparents' old farmhouse and their 1914 Cadillac. The idea for the house was inspired by our own 100+ year old place.

Moving into an old place can be quite an adventure. We had a collapsed barn on the property and my kids thought it was great fun to explore through the debris. At one point they staked out an area and excavated it like an archeological dig, and were over-the-moon excited when they unearthed DINOSAUR bones!

Of course, we had to tell them they were probably cow bones. ~grin~

My son was not to be deterred. He plowed through rubble for weeks and was eventually rewarded with finding a cement floor, perfect for a basketball court. (Well, almost perfect. Actually far from perfect, but it worked!)

Meanwhile, in the house, I was hoping to unbury treasure of my own. You know, something like glass jars filled with money hidden in the walls. ~wink~ No such luck.

However, stripping wallpaper proved to be an intriguing walk through history! The previous two owners never stripped wallpaper before putting up new stuff. So I traveled back to the flower power of the psychedelic sixties, through various other interesting designs, right down to a beautiful, gilt-edged Victorian style.

 Of course, what I hadn't counted on was that the wallpaper was what was holding up the plaster! Yikes!!

Then there was the very ugly corner fireplace in the living room whose opening we blocked off with a big hunk of Styrofoam our first night in the house to ward off the draft that swooped down it. It had to go, so I got myself a sledge hammer and went to work. Good thing I did, too, because look what I found behind it:

 See all that black at the top of the brick. That's charred wooden beams around the chimney that clearly wasn't working properly. If we'd used the fireplace, I might not be here to write this blog!

Of course, there are many more stories I could tell. You can read about our creature encounters on a blog I wrote last month. (click here)

To read about Becki Graw's adventures in the house she inherits, check out Fatal Inheritance. You might even find it on store shelves for a few more days.

“YOU DON’T BELONG HERE.”

Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she’s just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents’ remote farmhouse-no matter the danger. Becki’s feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she’s seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart-and her life-before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.

Find fun bonus features such as deleted scenes, recipes, location pics etc. by clicking here.

Your Turn: What kind of adventures have you had moving into a new place?

A two time Canadian Christian Writing Award winner and RT Reviewers' Choice Award winner, Sandra Orchard writes for Love Inspired Suspense as well as mysteries for Revell Publishing. Learn more about Sandra and her novels at SandraOrchard.com. To be notified of new releases, subscribe to her newsletter and/or connect on Facebook.

Fatal Inheritance Interview

Today we're welcoming Joshua Rayne, the hero of Fatal Inheritance, written by Sandra Orchard, an August 2013 release by Love Inspired Suspense. 

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.   

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
My name is Joshua Rayne. My friends call me Josh. I live in the rural outskirts of Serenity in southern Ontario, Canada. I’m a police officer so it was only natural that I’d try to catch whoever is harassing my new neighbor.
2. Yes, tell us a bit about your new neighbor Becki Graw. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
First impression? I guess I’d have to say it was “wow”. She’s all grown up. As for love…I’m not so sure. The sparks, the attraction were definitely there from day one, but I’ve been burned before so I don’t give my heart away easily. I love simple rural living and didn’t want to fall for someone who didn’t share the same values. I knew Bec did as a kid, but a lot can change in fifteen years.
3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I’m a good cop, maybe care a little more than is wise sometimes.
4. What scares you?
At the moment, the thought of anyone getting to Becki Graw.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t have run off to the military after my girl dumped after high school graduation. Not that I don’t appreciate what I learned there, and the friends I made, but I should never have left my dad like that. He needed me here on the farm. By the time I came back it was too late.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
My faith is very important to me. I go to church. Help out wherever I can. Always try to do the right thing.
7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
I came to realize that one area of my life I wasn’t ready to trust God in was finding a wife. I had this mental checklist that my future wife would meet, and didn’t give myself a chance to get too close to any woman who fell short. But as my sister pointed out, you don’t fall in love with a checklist of ideals. You fall in love with a person, with all her faults and differing opinions—the way God made her to be. And you trust God to help you make it work, because relationships get messy no matter how many boxes on your checklist you’ve ticked.
8. What is the one thing you would never do?
Live in the city. At least not if I could help it. I lived a lot of different places during my military stint, but my heart is in the country.
9. What’s your greatest fear?
Marrying the wrong woman. My mom left my dad when I was in high school. Couldn’t stand living out in the boonies any longer. It killed him to lose her.
10. What is the most unusual thing about you?
I guess it’s that I have a habit of taking in whatever stray comes my way. At the moment that includes a three-legged dog and a bird with a broken wing.
11. What do you hope people will learn from your experience in this story?
Men should learn that you can never figure out what a woman wants. I thought I was being respectful by not chasing after a woman who cuts out on me, but my sister told me that sometimes that’s exactly what they want, to prove we love them. Love them enough to risk rejection again! And I’m telling you, if you really love her, you’ll be glad you did.

FEATURED BOOK:FATAL INHERTIANCE by Sandra Orchard

“YOU DON’T BELONG HERE.” 

Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she’s just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents’ remote farmhouse-no matter the danger. Becki’s feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she’s seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart-and her life-before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.