Book Tour & Giveaway: No Chance Meeting by Jaye Elliot #NCMPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

No Chance Meeting
(No Chance Love #1)
By Jaye Elliot
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 393 Pages
February 11th 2020 by Living Sword Publishing

Alex Jennings is done with life. After losing her brother in Afghanistan, everything has collapsed around her. Getting laid off from her day job and failing in her art career, she has nowhere left to turn. She once had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.

Riley Conrad served thirteen years in the military until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy and scraping together a living, all he wants is to live a simple life and perhaps even open the coffee shop he dreams about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.

Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?

(Affiliate link included.)

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About the Author

Jaye Elliot is an award-winning author, country girl, and hopeless romantic at heart. She loves a good hero and will always sigh happily during the lights scene in Tangled. She writes from her home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, which she shares with three cats she considers her kids. When not writing romance novels, she pens fantasy and adventure stories as Jaye L. Knight.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of No Chance Meeting, a coffee mug, a bag of chocolates, and a hand painted watercolor bookmark (US only)

Ends March 4, 2020

ENTER HERE

Guest Post from Leah Garriott, author of Promised

Guest Post from Author Leah Garriott

Thanks to everyone for joining me here at Heidi Reads and to Heidi for hosting this stop. I’m so excited to talk about Regency-era research.

There are so many areas to research when writing a historical novel, and a Regency novel in particular. Before I began writing Promised, I put in a lot of time into figuring out where the story should take place; I wanted to pull from real places, not only so I knew what to write but also so that the reader would hopefully feel the world come alive. Scouring the internet, I found my heroine’s home by chance when looking through listed real estate, daydreaming about living in England. (It has since been unlisted, but on a research trip to England I was able to tour Shortmead House in Bedforshire and used the feeling of that house as I made final edits on Promised.) Finding my hero’s home was a little easier; I searched historic homes near, but not too near, my heroine’s home, finally settling on Lilford Hall (which also went up for sale while I was writing the book. Too bad I didn’t have a few extra million dollars laying around or everyone would be welcome to tour it). Once I had my setting, I had to learn about dress (what undergarments did Regency women wear, exactly), differences in candles and lighting, flooring of homes, gardening, farming techniques, carriages as well as which type of person would drive which type of carriage when, diseases, etc.

Another area of research were the people. I needed to know what time people rose in the mornings (it varies depending on livelihood and location, with servants and country folk rising earlier than gentry in the city), when they ate (generally a later breakfast and a large dinner), what they did during the day, and what dances were danced at balls. It was important to me to be accurate as to what characters thought and expected even while trying to modernize language and attitude to appeal to the contemporary reader.

Which leads right into the hardest part of the research, which was figuring out how be historically accurate while also writing to reader expectations. Much of what we believe to be Regency standards such as women always being chaperoned, women not showing ankles, and corsets so tight they make a woman faint, are actually later Victorian standards we’ve placed upon the Regency time period.

Though standards were definitely different in the city than in the country, both Elizabeth Bennett and Marianne Dashwood take regular walks alone. And Anne Elliot looks forward to walking unchaperoned through Bath after receiving Captain Wentworth’s declaration of love in the form of a letter (although her one-time-suitor-turned-brother-in-law accompanies her in the end). 

Fashion plates of the time (such as those found in Ackermann’s Repository) show numerous depictions of women reclining in chairs with their ankles on display for all to see. They also illustrate women promenading in gowns and coats that don’t cover ankles, as well as women readying themselves in ball gowns that hit low on the shin. It wasn’t until the Victorian era that shoe styles changed from the Regency slipper to heeled boots rising well above the ankle. During this later time, hemlines also lowered dramatically, skirts widened, and women began to wear pantaloons as underwear.

The tightness of corsets (called stays during the Regency) that have women fainting in many period books was actually impossible during this time period. Buttonholes were merely stitched cloth openings and pulling laces too tightly would have ripped the holes or disfigured them under the pressure. Besides, it didn’t fit with Grecian theme of Regency dress to manipulate the body into having small waists when the gowns were empire-waisted and loose.

There is also a perpetuation that a woman needed to marry young, and that after they were twenty-three or so, their time for marriage was over. Part of this belief may stem from Charlotte Lucas believing she was without prospects at twenty-seven. Yet Elizabeth Elliot was twenty-nine and still considered quite marriageable, while Anne Elliot was twenty-seven and still expected to make a good match. The acceptable age of singlehood may have been influenced by money and title.

Yet even with these propagated misconceptions, this time period is truly a gem. I hope you relish your next Regency read.

Synopsis

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.

Warwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.

There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.

Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Hometown Healing by Jennifer Slattery

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Hometown Healing by Jennifer Slattery, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Hometown Healing
Author: Jennifer Slattery
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 1, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

She’s home again, but not for long… 

Unless this cowboy recaptures her heart.

Returning home with a baby in tow, Paige Cordell’s determined her stay is only temporary. But to earn enough money to leave, she needs a job—and her only option is working at her first love’s dinner theater. With attraction once again unfurling between her and Jed Gilbertson, can the man who once broke her heart convince her to stay for good?

  PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository

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EXCERPT

Paige followed to the archway that signaled the end of the kitchen, and then she stopped short. Jed was sitting on the ground, next to Ava, and had begun playing with her grungy stuffed cat, talking to it as if it were real. The image triggered memories of dreams—of her and Jed and their happily-ever-after—she’d long since let die.

She could not—would not—allow them to resurface.

Two heartbreaks in one lifetime were more than enough. Besides, by summer’s end, she’d be back in Chicago, with its museums, restaurants and shopping malls.

Upon seeing Paige, he stood and sort of hovered there, as if uncertain where to land. He eventually chose the edge of the couch where her mom hadn’t piled laundry.

Paige took his place on the floor, largely to distance herself from him.

She grabbed some board books from her backpack and handed one over. Ava started flipping through the pages, repeating random words from memory.

That entertained the adults for a bit, but soon the conversation, which had already felt stilted, stalled.

Jed shifted. He scratched at the back of his neck, looked at her and then at Mom, with his brow pinching in that way it always did when he was trying to come up with something to say but had reached a blank. But then he grabbed a cookie and shoved half of it into his mouth.

Paige was tempted to do the same, if only to distract herself from the much-too-handsome man sitting in her mother’s living room.

It was almost like old times.

But if her divorce had taught her anything, it was that she had no business dabbling in romance. The deeper one fell, the more it hurt when everything came undone. And based on the way her breath stalled every time his chocolate eyes latched on to hers, she was dangerously close to regressing back to her teenage years, when Jed’s crooked smile and laughing eyes had threatened to steal her reason. She’d responded to her ex-husband in much the same way and had allowed his sweet talk and promises of forever blind her to some major red flags.

 

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of the soon to release Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she’s passionate about helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE  and make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

CONNECT WITH JENNIFER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed four print book bundle including Restoring Her Faith (Love Inspired), Hometown Healing (Love Inspired), Breaking Free (New Hope), and Restoring Love (New Hope)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 22, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on February 29, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Continental US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Review: One Summer Day by Heather B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

She’s desperate to start over. He represents the past she wants to leave behind. But falling in love is never about logic.

USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore welcomes you to Prosperity Ranch!

Macie’s divorce has left her at rock-bottom, and she uproots everything and takes her young daughter to visit Prosperity Ranch for the summer. Every kid deserves to know her grandparents, right? Macie hopes for some healing time, even if she is staying at her ex in-laws’ ranch. What she isn’t expecting is her ex-husband’s brother, Holt Prosper, to fit every ideal she’s ever hoped for in a man.

My Review

I'm so excited for a new contemporary romance series from this author! Her writing style appeals to me and I especially appreciate the maturity in her characters and their genuine personalities. Macie and Holt both have their struggles and regrets, but coming to know each other opens their hearts to hope and healing. I loved the ranch setting and the cozy atmosphere. It was impressive how Macie always treated her mother-in-law with respect, even though it must have been hard with some of the words and attitudes that were well-meaning but hurtful all the same. Holt is such a good uncle and opens Macie's eyes to how wonderful it is to have a supportive and encouraging partner in raising a child. There is plenty of conflict with Macie's ex-husband encroaching on her newfound peace and Holt's new hopes for a deeper relationship with Macie. There are complex family dynamics that come into play, especially with issues with the ranch and their mother's health. The sweet friendship and romance between Macie and Holt, and the fun personality of her daughter bring a lightness that balances the heavier themes. I can't wait to read more in the series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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I'm really looking forward to the upcoming books in the Prosperity Ranch series!

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About the Author

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

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Review & Giveaway: To Every Love a Season by Stacy Henrie

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From USA TODAY best-selling author Stacy Henrie comes five inspirational historical romance novellas.

Her Winter Suitor
If Callie doesn’t attract the interest of a suitor by the Patriarch Ball, she’ll be shipped off to England to find a husband. Unwilling to let that happen, Leo, the son of Callie’s favorite chocolatier, volunteers to pretend to be her secret admirer. In return, Callie will ensure his family’s shop provides chocolate favors for the ball—in hopes of keeping the shop from closing. But when their arrangement deepens into real feelings, the two must decide if a humble maker of chocolate and a wealthy heiress can find more than temporary happiness together.

An Unlikely Spring Courtship
Tempest and Bram are both eager to have the most successful mercantile in town. But there are only enough customers to support one store, and neither Tempest or Bram are willing to concede defeat. In spite of their initial competition, the two can’t help but admire the tenacity of the other and eventually they form a bond of friendship. When disaster strikes the town, the pair will have to choose what matters most—success in business or in following one’s heart.

A Summer for Love
When circumstances thwarted their young love, Wyatt and Loralee promised to meet in eight years if neither of them had found someone. This time Loralee isn’t returning to the beach resort as a lowly hotel maid, though—she’s become a renowned singer, performing across the country. Wyatt’s situation has also changed. He’s become a father to his orphaned niece and wishes to provide her with a stable home. But when Wyatt and Loralee see each other again, they begin to wonder if their love hasn’t lessened with time but has deepened instead into something lasting.

Romance in Autumn
Once the daughter of a servant, Phoebe is now an heiress with enough funds to provide herself and her mother with a home of their own. And she knows exactly which house she wants to buy—the mansion at the seaside where she and her mother once worked in the summers. However, James, the son of their former employer, has been tasked to sell the mansion at auction for a price much higher than Phoebe can likely afford. Still hopeful, she volunteers to help James return the neglected mansion to its former glory, and the two become good friends. Yet as the auction draws nearer, they will need to determine which dreams are worth pursuing and which are worth changing.

A Long Winter Kiss
Once the best of friends, with the promise of being something more, Samantha and Rex have seen little of each other since Rex returned home from the war. Samantha is still hurt over Rex eventually asking her not to write him anymore while he was away, and Rex is certain Samantha doesn’t deserve to be with a man who bears the emotional scars of a soldier. However, the two of them are thrown together again when Samantha’s father is unable to deliver his annual Christmas Eve gifts. As Samantha and Rex perform the task, the walls between them start to crumble, making them both hope in the miracles of the season.

My Review

I absolutely love a well-written novella that has a full story arc and characters that I connect with emotionally. To Every Love a Season is full of just what I look for in a collection of stories! As soon as I finished one story, I couldn't wait to start the next one. Each was unique and imaginative, with details that helped me imagine the historical settings and mannerisms of the characters without detracting from the pacing of the plot. I felt like I cared about what happened next, and was invested in the happy ending from the first chapter of every story. There is an inspirational thread of faith woven in that was uplifting and touching. Of course, the sweet romance is what I love about these stories and the author skillfully developed chemistry and tension that builds as the main characters grow closer together while overcoming obstacles to their relationship. It's interesting that I can share the same praise for all the stories but the premises and details are so different. It was too hard to pick a favorite from the five stories set during different seasons, so I recommend reading them all and deciding for yourself. This collection was previously published as Love For All Seasons, with four of the stories. I thought the addition of Her Winter Suitor fit in perfectly and I loved the setting and the characters.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

About the Author

A USA TODAY bestselling author, Stacy Henrie graduated from Brigham Young University 
with a degree in public relations. Not long after, she switched from writing press releases
 and newsletters to writing inspirational historical romances. Born and raised in the West, 
where she currently resides with her family, she enjoys reading, road trips, interior 
decorating, chocolate, and most of all, laughing with her husband and kids. Her books 
include HOPE AT DAWN, a 2015 RITA Award finalist for excellence in romance.

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GIVEAWAY

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Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Sheriff's Second Chance by Tanya Agler

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Sheriff's Second Chance by Tanya Agler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Sheriff's Second Chance
Author: Tanya Agler
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: January 1, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Broken things can’t be fixed… 

Or can they?

Officer and single dad Mike Harrison doesn’t believe in second chances. Ever. That is, until he learns that his former best friend—gorgeous green-eyed car mechanic Georgie Bennett—is back in town. Unfortunately, she’s also a suspect in a recent break-in! But it’ll take an old classic car to show Mike and Georgie that almost anything can be restored with a little patience…and a whole lot of love.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository
 

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EXCERPT

Was Georgie a stranger? After such a long time away, could he count their teenage friendship as a basis for something real, something to build a lasting relationship on?

Yesterday’s break-in delivered a cold shock to his system. Every time he examined the evidence and compared it to the other crime scenes, something didn’t add up. All the circumstantial evidence pointed to Georgie. She had motive, means and opportunity. The perfect trifecta.

He and Georgie locked gazes before he averted his. The sad truth crept into him. He didn’t know Georgie Bennett anymore.

Excerpt From: Tanya Agler. “The Sheriff’s Second Chance.” 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An award-winning author, Tanya Agler moved often during her childhood and settled in Georgia where she writes sweet contemporary romance novels, which feature small towns, family and pets, and themes of second chances and hope. Her debut, The Sheriff’s Second Chance, is a January of 2020 Harlequin Heartwarming release. A graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and law, she lives with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable Basset, who really rules the roost. Represented by Dawn Dowdle and the Blue Ridge Literary Agency, she’s currently at work on the sequels to her debut.  When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies, walking, and a good cup of tea.

CONNECT WITH TANYA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Sheriff’s Second Chance, swag, and a bookmark!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 18, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on February 25, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Ebook prize available to Canada. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.