A SOLDIER’S PROMISE by Tory Richards is a new contemporary romance set during the holidays. This is a standalone story.
Shannon Hayes and her small daughter have been invited to
spend the holidays with her deceased husband’s extended family. David was
killed in action overseas this past year and she is happy to be surrounded by
his large family’s love after having grown up in an orphanage. David’s mother,
Marsha treats Shannon as one of her own.
Shortly after Shannon arrives, she is surprised by the
arrival of Ryan Hayes. Ryan is a career Marine, and David’s older brother. He
rarely makes it home and Shannon knows how important this is to the whole
family, but there is an obvious tension between the two. Shannon is attracted
to her brother-in-law even as he tries to ignore her and her attempts at
friendship to the point of being harsh. Ryan is dealing with the guilt of
lusting after his sister-in-law even before the death of his brother. That is
one of the reasons he has stayed away.
Their attraction grows and consumes them, but their guilt
could end everything. Both made a promise to David, but can they fulfill it
together?
I loved the Hayes family and their holiday traditions. Marsha
was a loving matriarch who was happiest when all of her family was around her.
She understood Ryan and his feelings and was able to give Shannon advice and
understanding. All of the Hayes siblings, partners and grandkids were
entertaining and great secondary characters.
I enjoyed this romance. Shannon was a loving and caring
person, but I felt that Ryan was unemotional and a jerk for much too long into
the story. I know he was hiding his true feelings and was filled with guilt,
but I could not fully engage with him until half way through the book. He did
redeem himself in the end. The sex scenes were explicit and hot, but each scene
had Shannon biting Ryan and for me, it was repetitive and a little weird when
it always happened. I was glad to see Ryan and Shannon get their HEA and I
liked the family holiday setting. The characters make this romance.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
MUST BE CRAZY (Darling Cove Book 3) by Deborah Garland is the third contemporary romance book in the Darling Cove series. The last single Mallory is about to be saved by her perfect match, the hot single dad volunteer fire chief/architect of Darling Cove. This book can be read as a standalone, but the family is very close and there are crossover references to the first two romance books.
Skye Mallory loves her family above all else, but she has
also felt the need to excel to be noticed as the middle child. As an attorney,
she always works hard to win no matter how big or small the case. When a fire
destroys her office and apartment, she is saved by the Darling Cove fire chief.
Edward Mendelson has noticed Skye around Darling Cove. He has little time for dating though while working as an architect, volunteering for the fire department and raising his son, Julian alone. When called to a fire, he rescues Skye and realizes that he wants more than her appreciation.
Skye and Edward quickly realize that their desire is mutual,
but both of their pasts are about to interfere. Skye accepts a case involving
her ex-boyfriend to help pay to rebuild her business and too late finds out
Edward is the person he is suing. If that does not split them apart, Julian’s
mother reappears and wants custody and to move him to another state. Also, Skye
has a secret she has been keeping that may change the way Edward feels about a
future with her.
There are a lot of realistic ups-and-downs in this romance.
Skye and Edward both have pasts that interfere with their present. Ms. Garland
had me emotionally involved with all of the characters in this story. I felt
for Skye deeply as she dealt with her secret while being surrounded by pregnant
family. I also loved how much Edward worked to be a great single dad. I did
have a problem with how easily at one point Edward was willing to let Julian go
with his birth mother, even though it worked out in the end. Edward and Skye’s
sex scenes were explicit and hot, but not gratuitous. This was a romance that
kept me turning the pages and left me very satisfied by HEA.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
I am so excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for Meghan Quinn’s new book release THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1). Below is an interview from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and info about the author. I loved this romance and all of the characters!
At the end of this post, you will see a Rafflecopter giveaway. Take a chance and good luck!
***
Get To Know Author Meghan Quinn
1. In the past few
years you have written dozens of novels! First off, how do you find the time?
And second, how has becoming a bestselling author changed your life?
I have the best partner in life ever that helps out with
everything around the house, including the kids. I also have a very overactive
imagination so when I get into a scene, my fingers fly, giving me high word
counts in a short amount of time. Even though it looks like I’m working all the
time, I make sure to make time for my family, ending every day at five at
night. And hitting the USA Today bestselling list was a huge goal of mine I had
ever since I started writing. It meant everything to me.
2. What can you
tell us about the first time you sat down to write with the goal of completing
a novel?
I was a maniac. I wrote the book in a week. Yes, a week. It
was insane. I had so much to say because I was thinking about it consistently
while commuting an hour and twenty minutes one way to work. When my fingers hit
the keyboard, it al flew out of me.
3. What is the
best part about being a romance author? What is the most difficult part?
The best part is constantly being able to create, break it
up, and then find it again. It’s such an old, classic formula, but it’s my
favorite of all time. The most difficult is trying not to gross people out with
terminology during sex scenes. There are only so many words that are on the
OKAY list. Sometimes it can be restricting.
4. What draws you
to writing romance novels? Specifically why is it important that your
characters have happily-ever-afters?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved love. Instead of going
out in high school, I would stay at home and watch romantic comedies. I was
fascinated with falling in love and the heartbreak, and then the make up. I
love everything about it. I think we all deserve a HEA, why not give it to our
characters too?
5. Even though you
include realism and heartbreak in your books, the thing readers really takeaway
is sense of fun you pack into the novels. How is it you (and your characters)
are able to find humor in everyday things?
I’ve always found myself to live in the clouds, in a land of
cupcakes and fun, it’s just my personality so whenever I’m in a situation, I
usually can find the fun in it and of course, I’m really good at
embellishing.
6. Give us a quick
snapshot of your newest novel That Second Chance.
Four brothers, small town romance, all single, all cursed.
Will they be able to find love, even though they’re the most eligible yet
untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine?
7. What makes Ren
and Griff’s story special to you?
Their meet cute is probably one of my most favorite of all
time. Wayward moose, volunteer firefighter, a crazed woman new to town, looking
for help. It’s all charming, funny, and perfect.
8. What’s next for
this series?
Rogan!!! AND OH MY GOD!!! His story is . . . gah! I can’t even tell you how in love with it I am. There is mystery, intrigue, questions that need to be answered and so much swoon you might just fall off your chair while reading.
***
That Second Chance Excerpt
I’m counting out our register drawer,
trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s
difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the
paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.
“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks,
sounding annoyed.
“No. I’m counting.”
“Well, I’m talking about you, so you
might want to lend me your ear for a second.”
Huffing, I set the cash on the
counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my
full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”
Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask
her out.”
“Ask who out?”
“Ren.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
“No.”
I go back to counting, but Reid starts
snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him,
not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was
looking at you today. I think she likes you.”
“You’re confused. She was probably
just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car
after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s
no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”
“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the
same time.
Christ. My two most nagging siblings
are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.
“Can we not make this into a
dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get
this done so I can go home.”
“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and
she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says
just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in,
grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.
Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why
he’d be smirking at me that way.
“What are we talking about?” He rubs
his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s
about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”
“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask
her out.”
Brig slow claps his appreciation.
“Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”
“I’m not asking her out,” I huff,
giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed.
There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are
yapping in my ear.
“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for
you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no,
you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow
your truck while her car is in the shop.”
I count to five before answering,
tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t
tamp it down enough.
“Uh, because she lives three houses
down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this
conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help
out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a
feel; get some for once.”
“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going
back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.
“And why not?” Jen asks.
“Because I’m not interested in
starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now,
and I don’t need anything complicating it.”
“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig
says like a jackass.
“Don’t worry; there are plenty of
Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.
“Come on, Griff, how fun can going
home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in
her voice.
I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I
like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Silence falls between us, an awkward
air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.
“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid
finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes
on me, waiting for an answer.
Why is this a thing whenever we talk
about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I
don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my
future.
Claire was the love of my life, and I
lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again.
Not ever.
Shaking my head, I turn away from my
family. This conversation is over.
And with that, I take the cash to the
back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.
Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not
going to happen.
And she’s not going to drive my truck
either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between
two trees.
Can’t blame a guy there.
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1) by Meghan Quinn is
a new contemporary romance set in quaint, small town Port Snow, Maine. This is
the first book, hopefully of four, featuring the Knightly brothers and their
search for true love after being cursed by a fortune teller in NOLA.
Ren Winters is lucky to be alive. After surviving a chain
reaction crash on an L.A. freeway and a year of recovery, she is ready to move
on with her life and out from under the constant excessive worry from her
mother. She accepts a new job teaching algebra clear across the country in a small
town in Maine. A moose vs. car encounter on her first day is not what she was
expecting, but it puts her right where she needs to be, in the arms of a
handsome volunteer firefighter.
Griffin Knightly has always been the responsible oldest
brother of the four Knightly brothers. They are four of the hottest bachelors
in town, but small town gossip has left them untouchable. Coming home with a
curse from New Orleans, Griffin suffers a loss that makes him a believer and
women stay away. He fills his life with the family business, volunteering on
the fire department and many other civic groups. When called out for a car
crash, he rescues a hysterical Ren.
Ren cannot believe that this handsome man lives right down the street from her new home and is willing to introduce her to her new hometown. Griffin is trying to stay away from the new teacher, who is funny, quirky and sweet, but his family keeps throwing them together. The chemistry between Ren and Griffin is strong, but is it strong enough to defeat Griffin’s fears?
I absolutely loved this romance and all of the Knightly boys! Ms. Quinn captured my heart with this family and small town. The dialogue is spot on between the siblings with just the right amount of love and snark. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and believable. The sex in this romance is explicit and hot and the slow build-up to it made me as anxious as the characters. This is one of those books that you read quickly to get to the HEA and are completely engrossed in the romance and yet when it is over, you want more.
I highly recommend this romance and I cannot wait to read
the other Knightly boys’ stories!
***
About the Book
Title: That Second Chance
Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
It
was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday.
Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after
all . . .
But
it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One
unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed
relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love
curse. Ha!”
Boy,
was I wrong.
Word
spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the
most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of
endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It
would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed
into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh
start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?
***
Author Biography
USA Today bestselling
author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. An author of romantic
comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect
combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
Below you will find the Feature Post and Book Review for S.C. Stephens’ new release UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also included is a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review and info and social media for the author.
At the end of the message, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book. Good luck!
***
Guest Post:
Cabin Fever – Finding Love in the Wilderness
My latest book, Under
the Northern Lights, is about Mallory Reynolds, a driven, passionate woman
who is pursuing her dream of photographing wild animals in remote locations. On
the way to her favorite spot in the Alaskan wilderness, the unthinkable
happens—the engine on her plane stalls and she crashes. Mallory survives the
crash only to find herself injured with limited supplies and no hope of
returning home. Just when all seems lost, Michael Bradley, a mysterious
mountain man, comes to her rescue.
Planning on being in the wild for just a couple of weeks, Mallory only brings a few important items with her into the wilderness—a gun for protection, survival gear, a limited amount of food, her cross necklace for her faith, and her most prized possession, her camera. After realizing that she’s going to be spending the entire winter in a secluded cabin with a stranger, she probably wishes she’d brought a few more items along with her. Things like a high-powered rifle, a chainsaw, a snow mobile, a lot more food, and even better—a satellite phone.
***
Excerpt: Under
the Northern Lights
We both heard a loud clatter outside.
Michael instantly snapped to his feet, his face intently focused as he listened
for further sounds of trouble; he had no human neighbors to speak of, so things
were generally silent here.
Fearful curiosity was killing me, and
I was dying to ask him if he knew what was out there, but I didn’t want to
disrupt his concentration. And it turned out I didn’t need to ask. Seconds
later, I heard the deep, resonant, unmistakable growl of a bear.
Michael turned my way, his expression
serious. “Stay here.”
He grabbed his high-powered hunting
rifle, and my heart started thudding. Was he nuts? If there was a hungry bear
out there, we should be barricading the cabin, not going out into the
wilderness. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Lips twisted in a frown, he told me,
“All our food is out there, our meat. If I let the bear destroy it, we’ll have
nothing to get us through the winter.”
I knew he was right, but still, I was
terrified. “Okay … I’ll help.” I grabbed my gun and checked it for bullets. It
wasn’t as powerful a rifle as Michael’s, but it might hurt the bear enough that
it would change its mind about gorging on our food stash. Or it might just piss
it off.
Studying my gun, Michael shook his
head. “No, stay in here—guard the cabin.”
His answer made me frown. “The bulk of
the food isn’t in here. There’s nothing to guard.”
His eyes softened then. “Yes … there
is something to guard.”
My cheeks heated when I realized he
meant me. “Be careful,” I whispered.
“Always am,” he stated; then he darted
out the door.
Racing to the window, I peered
outside, searching in vain for some sign of Michael or the bear. The moonlight
wasn’t strong enough to illuminate much, and even though only candles were lit
in the cabin, it was enough to wreck my night vision; I couldn’t see a damn
thing out there. My nerves spiked, and my heart started racing. I felt like I
was out there in the woods, possibly about to get mauled, and following
Michael’s orders and staying put grew harder and harder with every second.
I strained my ears, listening for the
bear since I couldn’t see it. Sounds of lumbering steps crashing through brush
met my ear. Then I heard the dreadful sound of sharp claws raking down wood.
With no electricity, freezers weren’t an option here. Michael stored his food
the old-fashioned way, either drying it into jerky or curing it with salt. The
prepared food was kept in his enclosed workshop, and while Michael had bear
proofed the shop as much as possible, hungry bears were tenacious. With food
being so close to its reach, the grizzly might not stop until it had ripped the
door to shreds.
Knowing where the bear was outside
calmed my nerves somewhat. I fingered my rifle, debating whether running out
there would help Michael or hurt both of us. It was dark, and if Michael
thought I was inside, he could shoot me just as easily as the bear. And
verbally warning him would get the bear’s attention—attention I’d rather not
have. No, it would be best to stay put and let Michael handle it. But still … that
was hard to do.
I heard Michael shout then, yelling at
the bear to leave. A gunshot rang through the night, startling small nocturnal
animals and rattling the windowpanes. Another one followed shortly after, and
fear trickled down my spine. Was that a warning shot? Or was the bear
attacking?
Michael wasn’t shouting anymore, and
the night was still, silent. Oh God, no … The ball of dread in my belly was too
great to ignore, and I nearly tripped in my haste to get to the door.
“Michael!” I screeched into the night as I flung the door wide.
A dark shape was suddenly right in
front of me, and as I stared in shock, a gaping mouth of thick, sharp teeth
opened, and a powerful roar pushed me back a step. I’d never been so close to a
bear before, and my legs felt like water. I couldn’t move them, couldn’t move
anything. My mind was trying to avoid the here and now by drifting off to
happier times with my family, my friends. Death was once again staring me in
the face, but even still, the part of me that was still cognizant of the
present was awed and amazed by the ferocious beauty of the beast before me.
There was a reason these creatures ruled the forest.
The bear rose up on its hind legs,
visually warning me that it was bigger, stronger, and most likely hungrier. My
eyes flashed to the various weapons it could use in an instant to end
me—talonlike claws, ice pick–like teeth, or just its massive weight. All I had
was a gun.
Thinking of my own weapon jostled me
from my state of panic. Raising the barrel, I chambered a bullet and yelled at
the bear to back off. It seemed a poor tactic at this point, but I didn’t
really want to kill the animal. If I could scare it into submission, I’d take
that as a win.
The bear, however, was unimpressed by
my shouting. Landing heavily on its front feet, it began lumbering toward me.
Damn it, I was going to have to shoot. And hope my gun did more than anger it.
With shaking fingers, I lined up my shot. “Please go away,” I murmured, putting
light pressure on the trigger.
Like it heard me, the bear suddenly
looked to its left. It growled again and took a step back, away from the cabin.
I heard Michael’s voice, and then a gunshot rang out in the night. The bear
roared again, then seemed to realize it was outmatched. It turned and ran, its
winter bulk vibrating with each thundering step.
I was still shaking as Michael stepped
into view. Disengaging the gun, I dropped it on the ground and flew over to
him. Before I knew it, my arms were around his neck, and I was pulling his firm
body into mine. Thank God he was okay. Thank God I was okay.
“Oh my God, Michael,” I murmured into
his shoulder, inhaling his woodsy scent. “That was terrifying. I thought for
sure…”
Once I fully comprehended that I was
squeezing the life out of him, I froze, every limb rigid with tension. I wasn’t
sure if Michael would push me away or not, but then he surprised me by wrapping
an arm around my waist and pulling me into him just as hard as I was holding
him, maybe harder. As we held each other, the anxiety and fear started easing,
and I was flooded with warmth; I’d never felt more at peace.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars
UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS by S.C. Stephens is a sweet contemporary
romance set in the Alaskan wilderness. This romance is a very slow burn with a
reclusive hero who rescues a heroine trapped and injured in the wilderness by
her small plane crash. (Depending on your personal preferences, I believe it
should be disclosed that this story has dialogue about Christian faith and
values.)
Mallory Reynolds has a passion for photography. She
especially loves a remote location in the Alaskan wilderness. Every year she
takes off from her small home town in Idaho to spend two weeks camping and photographing
the wild Alaskan animals. Even with all of her careful planning and checks, her
plane stalls out and then crashes on the way to her camp site in a storm.
Surviving the crash with multiple injuries, Mallory must
find a way to gather the supplies that are still useful to protect her from the
elements. As she rests, the very animals she loves to photograph threaten her life.
She is saved at the very last minute by a mysterious mountain man.
Michael Bradley has lived a solitary life in the Alaskan
wilderness for the last five years. When he investigates the plane crash site,
he is surprised to find Mallory has survived. He helps Mallory to his secluded
cabin, but he has no way to communicate with the outside world until spring.
As Mallory heals, the two learn to help each other with the
difficult task of surviving in the wilderness and continue to grow closer.
Mallory opens her heart to Michael, but he is still unable or unwilling to move
on. Can Mallory’s love and prayers be enough to help Michael heal by the time
they are set to separate in the spring?
I found the author’s writing continually made me feel the
edge-of-the-knife balance between survival and one small mistake being the disaster
that could kill you. The description of their everyday life was very
interesting to this modern city girl. For a large portion of the story the
romance is one-sided. Mallory works to find the reason for Michael’s preferred
isolation and then hopes to find a way to heal him. This romance emphasizes the
growing trust and feelings of love between the two with no sex until almost the
last chapter.
I loved the adventure and suspense in the wilderness. I was
not expecting the several religious passages. I loved that these two found each
other, but it took longer than I was hoping for. This is definitely one of
those books that everyone will have to make up their own minds about.
***
About the Book
Title: Under the Northern Lights
Author: S.C. Stephens
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Mallory Reynolds is a driven woman fueled by her passion for photographing wild animals in remote locations. Every year she makes a trek deep into Alaska, but this time the unthinkable happens: she crash-lands after her plane stalls out in a storm. Injured, vulnerable, and threatened by the very creatures she loves, Mallory fears the worst—until she’s rescued by Michael Bradley, a mysterious mountain man living in self-imposed exile. Mallory is grateful for Michael’s help but desperate to return home to let her family know she’s alive. Unfortunately, neither of them can leave Michael’s secluded cabin until spring. Mallory’s stuck with a stranger for months. As Mallory recovers, a deep bond begins to form between the pair. Mallory is convinced that fate brought them together, but Michael is buried in his past, unable to move forward. Undaunted, Mallory tends to Michael’s heart as tenderly as he cared for her wounds—but will her love be enough to heal him?
***
Author Biography
S. C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every
free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love story featuring
insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the world of romance
by storm in 2009. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since. In addition to
writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous
novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block–reducing music, heading out to
the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She
currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally
beautiful children.
I am very excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for THE PROMISE OF US (Sanctuary Sound Book 2) by Jamie Beck. Below you will find an interview with the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review, a book summary and the author’s biography and social media links. At the end of the post is a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I actually missed my bus stop going to work because I was so engrossed in Claire and Logan’s story! This story is as heartwarming and realistic as it is emotionally heartbreaking at times. Have the tissues ready for this one. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Interview with Author Jamie Beck
1. Can you give readers a quick snapshot of your newest
novel The Promise of Us.
At its heart, this book is based on some favorite romance
tropes (best friend’s older brother, unrequited crush, second chance-ish)
although the circumstances are unusual. Basically, Logan returns to town to
help his sister recover and, in his desire to help his sister mend fences with
Claire, he hires Claire to redecorate his apartment. What starts out as a
somewhat manipulative—though well-intentioned—plan flips on him. He remembers
the version of Claire from before the gunshot wound and wants her to stop
living in fear, so he sets about slowly challenging her limits to help her lead
a fuller life. In the process, he falls for her, although his job and wanderlust
(and Claire’s inability to forgive Peyton) conspire to make her push him away.
Ultimately, they have to figure out how to compromise if they want things to
work out.
2. What makes Claire and Logan’s story special to you?
Each book I write is special in its own way. I think what
stays with me about this one is a sense of tenderness that developed in Logan
that didn’t really exist before he spent more time with Claire. He was a fairly
selfish guy (meaning he put his needs and career aspirations ahead of
everything) for most of his life. His sister’s life-threatening illness was the
first catalyst for change, but his relationship with Claire develops a new
facet of his personality. I liked him so much by the end of the story. And I
had fun writing Claire, despite her being a very nervous, conservative
character at the outset.
3. Your heroine Claire has suffered tremendously (both
physically and emotionally) yet she perseveres and has made a great life for
herself. What gives her strength?
In my mind, Claire’s greatest strengths are her ability to
be content with the little things and her gratitude for her family and friends.
For the most part, she rarely laments her quiet life. When she had to give up
her first love (tennis), she directed her energy into something else she
enjoyed and made that a career. She feels that she is good at her job and she
enjoys it, so that also gives her a sense of pride and accomplishment. I think
her job (making old or ugly things pretty) is a bit of a metaphor for how she dealt
with her injury.
4. Claire has had love and lost it. How has her past
experience changed her?
I think losing her boyfriend to a best friend rocked her to
the core. Those two betrayals shook a fundamental sense of trust in all
relationships. And in love. She recovered much better from her physical injury
that the emotional ones, that is for sure. In any case, this cynicism about
love and friendship definitely makes it hard for her to believe anything Logan
has to say, or to believe that he could truly love her.
5. What is her reaction to first seeing her childhood crush
Logan?
She’s caught unaware, so she reacts badly, especially
because she suspects he is trying to manipulate her. Hostile might be how some
would describe her mental state, although Claire tempers her feelings most of
the time, so it is more of a quiet rage with a hint of desperation to flee!
6. It seems like Claire and Logan are complete opposites.
She is cautious about new experiences, while he jet sets around the world. Was
it difficult to write about two very different characters?
No. They are opposites, but in a complementary manner. In
other words, he is able to use his strengths (courage) to help her tap into her
own, and she is able to use her strength (contentedness) to give him a sort of
stability and affection sorely lacking in his life.
7. What common ground do your heroine and hero have?
The have the common ground of growing up in the same
community, with all the values and ideals that help form us as children. They
also have mutual friends and some shared history, which binds them. In terms of
their interests, they are both creatives—him with photographs, her with fabrics
and such—so they understand that way of seeing the world.
8. A hallmark of your writing is the maturity that your
characters find throughout their journey of falling in love. What are some
lessons that Claire and Logan must learn for them to get their
happily-ever-after?
The hallmark of any well-written romance (of which there are
plenty) is that its characters will have a strong arc (they will grow and
become better, stronger individuals). In this story, Claire needs to learn to
take risks again, and to trust that, come what may in life or love, she will
survive and be okay. Logan needs to learn to compromise, and to learn that the
relationships he makes in the here and now are more likely to bring true happiness
than achieving any aspirational goal.
***
The Promise of Us Excerpt
“What are you
thinking?” Claire dropped her hands to the table.
Steffi shook her head, waving one hand.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie. Is there another problem I’m not
aware of?”
“No.” Steffi inhaled, held her breath, then
exhaled slowly.
“I know of one project that would make a sweet
profit and let you really stretch your talent. ‘Sky’s the limit’ kind of
budget.”
Excitement lifted Claire’s spirit,
straightening her spine. Anything that accelerated plans to open a retail
outlet merited her attention. “Sounds amazing. What’s the catch?”
Steffi hesitated.
“Never mind. You won’t take it, so let’s move
on.” Steffi spooned whipped cream into her mouth. “Oh! Molly says that Mrs.
Brewster is thinking of remodeling her master bath.”
Mrs. Brewster’s late husband had left her
comfortably well off, but you’d never know it. She clipped every coupon
available to humanity—Claire had been behind her at the grocery store more than
once. She put only two dollars in the collection basket at church each week,
despite having enough money to leave more. And she gave out bite-size candy at Halloween.
Bite-size!
“We can’t rely on Ryan’s mom as our major
source of leads, and Mrs. Brewster spending big bucks on a remodel sounds
improbable..” She leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Don’t make me beg. If
you have a solution, I won’t dismiss it out of hand, I promise. I’m not an
idiot. We need income. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the doors open.”
Steffi went still, her chin just above the mug
held midair. “Whatever it takes?”
Claire’s hair stood on end, but she motioned
“Let’s have it” with both hands.
Steffi hesitated. “How would you like to
redecorate a high-end condo in Chelsea?”
“In the city?” Her entire body prickled
painfully at the thought of putting herself in the midst of that chaos and
danger. She’d already been one madman’s random victim. Manhattan teemed with
crazy people, not the least of whom were the ones who drove their cars like
heat-seeking missiles. “Who’d hire us instead of any of the premier designers there?”
Steffi met Claire’s gaze. “Logan.”
Claire’s tongue seemed to swell and turn
sticky. Work with Logan … Her blood thickened
like warm syrup. Tingles and terror all at once—a sensation she both loved and
loathed. Her own brand of crazy. Maybe she did belong in New York, after all. “No.”
“You just said you’d do whatever it takes.”
“Not that. Never that.” Claire didn’t need to look into a mirror to know that her
fair, lightly freckled cheeks now looked like someone had smeared them with
ripe strawberries.
“As I suspected.” Steffi shrugged nonchalantly,
as if she hadn’t just pulled the pin from a grenade and dropped it on the
table. “So that leaves us a little tight until something else comes up. In
terms of our social media presence, I just read an article …”
Claire heard Steffi talking, but the words ran
together like white noise because Claire’s brain was still stuck on the idea of
working with—no—for Logan Prescott. His
obvious ploy made her want to laugh. Did he really think he could buy her
forgiveness for his sister? Well, Claire would never, ever forgive Peyton. Not
even if he paid her a million dollars to renovate his condo.
“Claire? Did you hear anything I said?” Steffi
turned her hands out in question.
“Sorry.” She rubbed the scowl from her
forehead. “I’ll find another way to turn up new leads. Working with Logan is a
hard no.”
“Too bad. You’d have so much fun decorating his
place. I’m sure he’d let you do whatever you wanted. Anything would be better
than how it looks now. Guess he never cared before, since he was rarely around
to enjoy it.”
Only a Prescott would own a million-dollar
property that sat vacant as often as it was occupied.
“I’m not an idiot.”
“Did I call you one?” Steffi had the gall to
look stunned.
“This has Peyton’s paw prints all over it. I’d
bet my last penny that she put him up to it. I don’t know what I hate more,
that she did it, that you took the bait, or that she knows we’re desperate for
money.”
“It’s not a conspiracy. I mentioned that I felt
bad about putting you in this situation because of this home. Logan tossed out
the idea on the spot.”
“I can’t deal with the strings that would come
with his offer.” Except now Claire couldn’t focus on anything else because
thinking about Logan took up all the space in her head. If Peyton hadn’t stolen
Todd, she might’ve pounced on a chance to work closely with Logan. Of course,
then she wouldn’t have been free to act on her desire. Not that she had ever
acted on it before Todd, either. The hawkish way Logan could stare at her
turned her to jelly around him and—oh, just no. “I thought you finally
understood that.”
“I do. That’s why I wasn’t going to say
anything.” Steffi crossed her arms. “You forced me to tell you.”
True enough. Logan’s image flickered through
Claire’s mind again, poking at the tender spot of her pointless longing, like
always.
She shook her head, dislodging all thoughts of
Logan. “I’ll catch up with Mrs. Brewster and pitch a proposal for her bathroom.
But we also have to scrape together funds to advertise and update the website,
and you need to scare up reno work pronto. Promise me we’ll earmark new revenue
toward retail space—”
A knock at the door interrupted her monologue.
Steffi rose from the table and disappeared
around the corner.
From the other room, Claire heard Steffi’s
surprised voice say, “Oh, we didn’t expect you so early.”
“Hope that’s not a problem,” replied Logan, in his unmistakable baritone.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE PROMISE OF US (Sanctuary Sound Book 2) by Jamie Beck is
a contemporary romance with characters I know I will be thinking about well
beyond “The End” of this book. Ms. Beck’s characters in The Sanctuary Sound
series are realistically written and fully fleshed enough to walk right off the
page. Even knowing my HEA will arrive, the journey is never easy or
cookie-cutter in Ms. Beck’s Sanctuary Sound books.
Claire McKenna is the artistic design half of the fledgling
company she started with one of her closest childhood friends in her hometown.
She has rebuilt her life since losing her promising career as a professional
tennis player to a random bullet to the hip in the local mall and her boyfriend
who dumped her and left town with her other best friend. Claire was focused on
her career and travelled the country, but now she allows her fear to build a
wall around her hometown and never takes any risks.
Logan Prescott lives every day trying to live up to his famous
grandfather’s legacy. He is a photographer who travels the world trying to find
the job that will give him fame and recognition. When his sister is diagnosed
with breast cancer, he comes home to be by her side. They have returned to the
family home to document Peyton’s cancer fight and Logan would like to get
Claire’s forgiveness for his sister, who is the one who stole Claire’s
boyfriend.
Logan offers Claire the job of remodeling and decorating his
NY condo for enough money to get the store front she wants for the business. He
turns on his charm to get Claire to take the job, but he soon finds that Claire
has changed and he wants to help her get over her fears as much as he wants
forgiveness for his sister. Claire has had a crush on Logan since they were
young. Can taking risks with Logan free her or break her all over again?
Get the tissues ready. Claire and Logan are opposites that attract and in the end fill the empty spaces in each other, but not without a lot of emotional growth. Claire’s fears after the shooting and her parents’ over-protectiveness, Peyton’s breast cancer journey and Logan’s emptiness were realistically written and intertwined into a beautiful story. They are imperfect characters that are all changing and on a journey to forgiveness and understanding. The sex scenes are behind closed doors or PG rated. This book can standalone, but Claire’s partner, Steffi has a great story in book 1 of this series that you will not want to miss.
I highly recommend this romance, series and author!
***
About the Book
Title: The Promise of Us
Author: Jamie Beck
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary
Claire McKenna
knows about loss. The bullet wound that ended her promising professional tennis
career drove her to make a quiet life for herself working with fabric samples,
chatting with her book group, and spending time with her parents in her sleepy
coastal Connecticut hometown. Then there was the boyfriend who dumped her to
pursue her adventurous childhood friend. Now, Claire’s business has hit a
financial snag, but she’s up to the challenge. After all, she can survive anything.
At least she thinks so . . . until her teen crush, Logan, returns to town with
his sister, Claire’s traitorous friend.
Photographer
Logan Prescott is more playboy than homebody. But his sister’s illness teaches
him that there’s more to life than chasing the next thrill. Bent on helping her
win Claire’s forgiveness, he turns his charm on Claire and offers her big bucks
to renovate his multimillion-dollar New York City condo.
After years of playing it safe, Claire must now take some risks. The payoff could be huge, but if it all falls apart, can her heart recover from another loss?
***
Author Biography
National
bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold
more than one million copies. She’s a Booksellers’ Best Award and a National
Readers’ Choice Award finalist; and critics at Kirkus, Publishers
Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work
“smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, she enjoys
dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and
Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient,
supportive family.
For fun tips,
exclusive content, and a chance to win the monthly birthday reader box, please
sign up for her newsletter at jamiebeck.com.
FINDING HER FOREVER FAMILY by Traci Douglass is a Harlequin
contemporary medical romance set in the same Alaskan hospital as this author’s
previous medical romance, One Night with the Army Doc. This is an extremely
emotional romance with an O.B. doctor, single dad and an E.R. trauma nurse with
the unresolved fear of a hereditary disease hanging over her head.
Wendy Smith is an exceptional trauma nurse in the E.R. Even
though she faces other people’s traumas every day, she is still unwilling to
face the results of her test for the hereditary Huntington’s mutation. She
watched her vibrant mother die at a young age and refuses to risk passing the
disease on so she has built a wall around her heart and never becomes involved
in relationships for more than one night stands.
Dr. Tom Faber is the O.B. doctor on call when Wendy’s
sister-in-law delivers her twins. Besides long hours at the hospital, Tom has
recently received custody of his twelve year old daughter after the death of
his ex-wife. They are both struggling to connect. When he finds out Wendy has
been helping with his daughter’s counseling and has a connection with her, he
asks for her help without violating their privacy. Wendy agrees to help knowing
how hard it is to lose a parent at that age.
Wendy and Tom are instantly attracted to each other and each
have reasons to take it slower, but they just cannot stay away from each other.
Wendy wants to help this perfectionist doctor learn to accept that not
everything can be planned and perfect, especially in his relationship with his
daughter. Tom wants to help Wendy face her fear of her test results and have a
real relationship with her. Will they be able to move forward past their
individual fears and come together as a family?
I found Wendy and Tom’s romance well written, but too short.
I feel the issues they were both dealing with deserved a more in-depth story.
This author did a very good job though of taking several heavy issues and
fitting them into this shorter format. The sex scenes are explicit, but short
and not gratuitous. This is an easy-to-read, heartwarming story with
interesting characters that keeps you emotionally involved throughout.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
