Tag: historical romance

A Quiet Adventure: Traveling to Warsaw, Missouri

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Sometimes you just need a road trip.

After the house‑full holidays—three family birthdays, a visiting dog, and what felt like 700 cookie crumbs later—my husband Ed and I decided we needed open‑road therapy.

So we pointed the car south toward Warsaw, Missouri—a charming little town I’d spotted in a YouTube video. As a Missouri native living in Illinois, it didn’t take much convincing for a winter drive across the state line.

Downtown Warsaw Missouri before there were cars
Warsaw before there were cars!
Warsaw Missouri at Christmas
Warsaw at Christmas Time

What struck me first about traveling to Warsaw, MO was the calm. The soft roll of hills, the quiet barns tucked between leafless trees, and the glint of the lake from the bridge felt like a gentle reset.

Osage River

The town itself is small—full of vintage storefronts, friendly faces, and stories waiting around every corner. Many of the attractions were closed for the season, but that just gives us a reason to return in spring. The town is rich in history. In the mid-1800s it was part of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. There are hiking and biking trails I’m eager to explore in the spring.

Warsaw, Missouri courthouse
Courthouse built in 1886

Before the new bridge was built, the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge was strong enough for cars, but now it is a pedestrian bridge. I thought, “How bad can it sway?”

The answer: not bad! I did grip the rail and had a slight moment of panic when it swayed in my hand, but the view over the water is worth every step.

Joe Dice Swinging Bridge Warsaw, Missouri
Joe Dice Swinging Bridge

Driving those Missouri back roads felt like therapy wrapped in scenery—up and down hills, past barns and frozen ponds. I tried not to nap, partly because the roads curved like ribbon, and partly because… cows! I don’t see many of those in my part of Illinois.

Black cows in pasture

Warsaw reminded me how restorative simple moments can be—no itinerary required. It was a good reminder that travel doesn’t have to mean far or fancy; sometimes, beauty lives in the quiet corners close to home.

We did find a great place for lunch. The Yellow Deli made the best sandwich I’ve ever had. They bake their own bread; mine was the gluten-free buckwheat. *Note they make other things in their bakery with this bread, so there could be cross-contamination. I had no issues.

front of the yellow deli story pamphlet

They also had a cheese cake pie which I could only admire, and almost didn’t get a photo before my husband ate it! Fun fact they have delis in a lot of locations, even internationally! They grow their own ingredients, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had eggs that good.

Cream Cheese Pie!

If you’re planning your own peaceful getaway, visiting Warsaw, Missouri, full of rich history, is a lovely choice year‑round.
Here are a few highlights to look forward to in warmer months:

  • Historic Truman Reservoir and Dam – great for photos and picnics
  • Downtown Warsaw shops – full of antiques and locally made goods
  • Benton County Museum – rich with Missouri pioneer history
  • Drake Harbor Recreation Area – walking trails right along the water
  • Trukey Creek RV Park– lots of amenities

Every season brings its own kind of beauty, but this quiet trip reminded me that peace doesn’t always wait at the end of the road—it can show up on the road, too.

Warsaw gave me just that—a slower heartbeat, a reason to breathe deeper, and stories I can’t wait to write about.

Christian author Diana Lesire Brandmeyer with husband on the bridge
5 book covers for the Frontier Legacy Brides
Start the series! Book 6 coming 2026

woman holding a valise stepping out of a stagecoach

When Promises Shape the Heart: Sadie’s Journey in A Promise Given in Knob Creek

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
woman with long dress petting horse in a field at sunset

When Love Meets Faith on the Frontier

Writing A Promise Given in Knob Creek was a surprise—even to me. You see, Sadie wasn’t supposed to have her own story. She first appeared back in A Bride’s Choice in Central City (Book 3 of the Frontier Legacy Brides Series), and I figured that was it. A side character, a mention, a thread in someone else’s journey.

But Sadie had other plans. She kept nudging me. Her thoughts, her questions, her stubborn determination would not leave me alone. How desperate does a girl have to be to answer a mail‑order bride request—one that offers a one‑legged husband in exchange for nothing more than a horse and a home? What is it inside her that would cause her to take that kind of chance instead of turning back to her family?

I tried to ignore her (truly, I did). While I was writing A Promise in Haste in Knob Creek (Book 4), I thought surely that would close the door on Sadie’s part in this series. But she refused to slip quietly away. And, honestly? Those Cooper men needed wives, and Sadie seemed like just the right match for one of them.

The Weight of Words

Sadie’s persistence led me into questions I didn’t expect: Can promises really hold when hearts are uncertain? What do words mean when the price of failing to keep them is so high?

On the frontier, promises were more than polite agreement. They could determine survival, shape reputations, or seal futures. In Knob Creek, the keeping—or breaking—of a promise could mean the difference between loneliness and love.

Working through those questions made me consider how powerful words are in my own writing. Every sentence carries weight. Some words can belong in Sadie’s world; others cannot. During research, I discovered that the word okay—so common on our tongues today—wasn’t actually in use in 1873. That meant even in the flow of everyday dialogue, I had to pull back, ask myself, and carefully choose so the reading experience would feel authentic.

What This Story Offers

More than the details of wagons and lantern light, what I hope you take away from Sadie’s story is the heart that beats behind it:

  • Love that is not always easy, but deeply worthwhile.
  • Faith that steadies when life feels impossible.
  • Family, trust, and a reminder that God’s promises hold firm even when ours fail.

Behind the Pages

Researching the time and place of 1873 was an anchor for me—yet as much as I enjoy uncovering historical details, what always keeps me writing are the people. The spirited women who answered impossible calls. The men who carried both physical and emotional scars. Communities who were stitched together out of shared burdens and fragile hopes.

Knob Creek is more than a setting. It’s a place where faith is tested, promises prove their worth, and love carves a home out of uncertainty.

If you’ve been walking through the Frontier Legacy Brides series with me, you already know how deeply I care for these characters. A Promise Given in Knob Creek is another step in that legacy—a story pulled forward because one quiet woman refused to stay quiet.

And if you are just joining us, welcome. Sadie’s journey is one of courage, stubborn faith, and the discovery that even when our words fail, God’s promises never do.

I hope you’ll step into this story with me, and find yourself reminded—just as Sadie reminded me—that promises are sacred, and love is worth the risk.

A Promise Given in Knob Creek

woman holding a valise stepping out of a stagecoach
Get it here
Read the series

Monday Review of Memories of Glass

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson is a time-slip novel set in 1942 Holland. I picked this one up to read because I was taking time off from social media reading. It was a better choice and one I think I’ll do more of. It’s always nice to read the entire story rather than fragments of thoughts on social media. 🙂 No worries, I’ll still show up there, just not ALL THE TIME.

Back to this book. First let me say that I loved Dobson’s writing so much that I went on to read a lot of her books, even though time-slip novels are not my favorite kind of read.

Memories of Glass is the story of Jose van Rees and Eliese Linden, childhood friends whose lives were upended by the war. While this is a tough story to read—families torn apart and sent to camps, children taken from their parents—all awful. Yet, Dobson was able to write this in a way that it was tolerable to read and absorb.

Josie becomes a nursery worker and Eliese, hoping to save her own family, becomes a register, keeping track of where Jewish families are taken. The courage these two women show throughout the story is to be celebrated.

The time-slip comes with the introduction of Ava. That took me a while to figure out the connection, but once I did it was a wild ride to redemption and justice.

There are some emotional parts to this book which one should expect when reading about this war. So if you only like to read happy books this might not be for you. Or if you are triggered by Holocaust stories, stay away from this one.

IF not… then pick this one up to read. Knowing the history of such events can only enrich your life and your beliefs, along with making you question what would you do? https://amzn.to/3bI9m27

Woman holding suitcase and holding hand of young Jewish boy.
https://amzn.to/3OXn9jG

Reminiscent of Diane Ackerman’s The Zookeeper’s Wife, this stunning novel draws from true accounts to shine a light on a period of Holland’s darkest history and bravest heroes.

1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese’s son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid their resistance work, Josie and Eliese’s dangerous secrets could derail their friendship and their entire mission. When the enemy finds these women, only one will escape.

Seventy-five years later, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather William Kingston was not the World War II hero he claimed to be. Her work as director of the prestigious Kingston Family Foundation leads her to Landon West’s Ugandan coffee plantation, and Ava and Landon soon discover a connection between their families. As Landon’s great-grandmother shares the broken pieces of her story, Ava must confront the greatest loss in her own life—and powerful members of the Kingston family who will do anything to keep the truth buried.

Illuminating the story and strength of these women, award-winning author Melanie Dobson transports readers through time and place, from World War II Holland to contemporary Uganda, in this rich and inspiring novel.

READ IT NOW!

Connecting Family History

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Making History Feel Real: Writing Relatable Historical Fiction

Writing historical fiction is fun, but it has to connect with readers living in today’s world. The magic happens when the past meets the present through emotions, challenges, and relationships that feel timeless.

When I sit down to write, I often pull details from memories, family stories, and even the histories of friends (so if you know me, your ancestors might sneak into a book someday!). Real stories spark the imagination and help bring authenticity to historical tales.

Connecting 1800s Life to Today’s Reader

It’s the small details that make a historical story come alive. Readers might not be defending their family farms from marauders like Heaven does in A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee, but they can relate to fear, courage, and protecting those they love.

Today, we rely on security cameras, alarms, or loyal dogs. Back then, strength and faith were the only defenses many families had. That parallel—between past and present—keeps readers emotionally grounded, even in a completely different century.

The Story Behind the Green Beans

Every historical detail matters. In Heaven’s story, even something as simple as a pot of green beans carries meaning. Curious why?

I explained the history and inspiration behind those green beans in my interview with Genealogy Publishing Coach . If you’ve read A Bride’shttps://dianabrandmeyer.com/books/a-brides-dilemma-in-friendship-tennesse/ Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee, you already know that those beans symbolize more than just a meal—they represent resilience, tradition, and connection to home.

(And please, no spoilers in the comments! But you can absolutely say, “Now I get it!” 😉)

Bridging Yesterday and Today

Historical fiction isn’t only about costumes and old houses—it’s about the heart of humanity. Whether your story unfolds on the frontier or in a modern‑day small town, readers still crave the same things: hope, strength, and faith through challenges.

That’s what turns history into something that matters today.

author Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
5 book covers for the Frontier Legacy Brides

Check out the Frontier Legacy Series!

Short-Straw Bride

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer has to be one of the best books I’ve read this year. From the moment Meredith steps on the forbidden Archer land to the last page I found myself cheering her on.
Can you imagine being chosen to marry by the groom-to-be getting the short straw in the pick? How would you feel?  How does Meredith handle those feelings?
This book has an abundance of brothers to love, a worthless uncle and really bad men to dislike.
Excellent read.
This book was provided to me for review. I’m so glad because I would have bought it.

Here’s the back cover copy:

FOUR BROTHERS. FOUR STRAWS. ONE BRIDE

No one steps on Archer Land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a long-standing debt compels her to take the risk.

Years of constant vigilance harden a man. yet when Travis Archer comes across a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can’t bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt prompt him to attempt to rescue her once again.

Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she vows to stand by  his side. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her as merely a short-straw bride? 

Know what else is really fun about this?

Karen is giving away a copy of Short-Straw Bride! You can enter until Saturday, June 8 at 5:00 pm CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.
How?   Leave a comment with your email address.

Find out more about Karen and her other books here:

Don’t Photoshop Me!

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Flipping through magazines while waiting for my hairstylist often makes me sad. I look at the photos of perfect bodies and hair and wonder why I can’t achieve it, no matter how hard I try.

Conversations with my stylist are enlightening. The hair is seldom real, extensions are added along with tons of product to hold the hair in shape during a shoot.

Photoshop is often always used to make those bodies a bit tanner and thinner.

What message is being sent to young girls? Or even older women?
We aren’t good enough as we are. Even Christian women who know in our hearts that God created us, we are beautiful and wonderfully made, still think what we look like now can’t be what He desires.

So we tan, eat less, schedule another exercise class and maybe loose a few pounds.
Then we fall into a funk.

Why? Because we still don’t look like the magazine ads, the commercials or our favorite star.

A friend of mine produced this video as a class project. It’s worth watching and not just once. Show it to your daughters and your friends. Get into a discussion about what real people are supposed to look like.

8 Ways to Get Over a Bad Day

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Sad Girl photographer: jim

                                         8 Ways to Get Over a Bad Day

1. Play with a puppy
2. Get a pedicure
3. Blow bubbles with some kids
4. Call a good friend
5. Watch a funny movie
6. Eat your favorite comfort food–mine is Annie’s Gluten free mac & cheese
7. Read a new book
8. Use that expensive bubble bath you’ve been saving.

Add to this list by leaving a suggestion in the comment box.

Hotel, RV or Tent?

Posted on by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

A group of Christian writers hang out at Take Flight on Facebook and Patty Wysong suggested we do a progressive interview. Writers love this sort of thing and we hope readers do as well. So the question I asked was, “Would you rather sleep in a hotel, RV or tent?” My answer is at the end.

5th wheel and Doge Truck

 

Yvonne Blake Hmmm… that’s a hard one! (It depends on the weather and the company.) I’ll have to say “tent” – hoping the conditions are all favorable. 
Sharon Clements Srock I love being in the open, I hate sleeping on a cot. Never met a comfortable one. So I’d have to say RV, the comforts of home, but the ability to take it with you.
Joanne Sher I have been in an RV and a tent a total of three times – (the RV once). I love the IDEA of a tent, but I’m gonna have to go with the hotel. It doesn’t have to be the Ritz or anything. No RV, cuz I have NO desire to even try to drive something like that (and hubby can’t drive). And if he’s with me, he’d have a HECK of a time getting up from the ground if we were in a tent. My link?
Sherri Wilson Johnson
Grew up with an RV. Can’t wait to own one again one day so me and hubby and the Chihuahua can hit the road!
Valerie Friesen Comer My husband and I tented for years, with numerous camping trips every summer with our kids. Still, eventually, our bones got a little creakier and we switched to a camper. Last year we bought a little camping trailer and absolutely love it. It has all the comforts of home, but we can park it by a creek in the mountains and still enjoy the fresh air, the fishing, the berry picking, and just the peacefulness of nature soothing our souls.
Linda McQuinn Carlblom
RV for short one or two night trips. But hotels for anything longer. I’m a wimpy, spoiled brat at heart! LOL.
Sharon Hoover
RV but I want to say tent. :-/ An RV would allow me to move from place to place with my stuff soooo easily. But a tent is so much more open and relaxing!
Patty Sargent Wysong

When I was a little girl in Maine, my parents had a Shasta. We had such good times in that lil thing! When Dad retired, they were full-time RVers for several years and they had so much fun! They would come visit us, set up in our driveway, and still be home. When they were on the road Mom was the Post Card Queen and we got to travel vicariously through her post cards. So, I’d have to say RV. I like my comfort and the RV would give me comfort and freedom–and for a wimpy free spirit like me, that sounds like a slice of heaven. Where do I sign up?

Kristi Peifer

Tent camping is great, but my youngest, who is autistic, doesn’t do well in a tent. I’m hoping when he’s a bit older we’ll get to try it again. Meanwhile, we have stayed in hotels. The enclosed space of a hotel room is comforting to him.

Janet Sketchley

Hotel, and since I’m wishing, a classy one. In a world without weirdos (wishing again) I’d choose a tent in a campground with trees and lots of water

Christina Rich
I’d say tent, but I’m liking some of those RVs I’ve seen on House Hunters (yep, a fan). 


Audra Christensen Silva

Oh, good question. I’m an all three kinda gal. I love tent camping if it’s a short stay, and the weather is reasonable. If it’s a longer stay, I’d much prefer an RV especially with kids. Can we say baths? If the weather is just plain miserable, give me a hotel.

Diana Lesire Brandmeyer— I’d go for the RV. We had one once and it’s really nice to take your home with you. Pulling into the campground and knowing your room will be ready in a few minutes, your book is where you left it and there aren’t any suitcases to move is delightful. I’d like to have one now since I must eat gluten free it would be wonderful to travel with my own kitchen.

There are a lot more questions and answers, just click a link and head off to see what others have on their blogs. Leave a comment and tell me your answer: Hotel, RV or Tent?

Take Flight. Patty Wysong Helping bloggers blog.