Showing posts with label Heidi Chiavaroli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heidi Chiavaroli. Show all posts

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Blog tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Edge of Mercy by Heidi Chiavaroli


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Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for The Edge of Mercy by Heidi Chiavaroli, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Edge of Mercy final large fileTitle: The Edge of Mercy  
Author: Heidi Chiavaroli  
Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers  
Genre: Split Time/Women's Fiction  
Release Date: April 9, 2019

Two women, three hundred years apart, must face the devastation of all they hold dear...

Suspecting her husband is having an affair, Sarah Rodrigues fights to appear unbroken while attempting to salvage her family. Though distracted by her own troubles, Sarah is summoned to an elderly friend’s deathbed for an unusual request—find a long-lost daughter and relay a centuries-old family story.

Determined not to fail her friend, Sarah pieces together the story of her neighbor’s ancestor, Elizabeth Baker, a young colonist forced into an unwanted betrothal but drawn to a man forbidden by society.

While Sarah’s family teeters on the edge of collapse, her world is further shaken by the interest of a caring doctor and a terrible accident that threatens a life more precious than her own.

Inspired by the unconditional love she uncovers in Elizabeth’s story, Sarah strives to forgive those who’ve wounded her soul. But when light shines on the dark secrets of her neighbor’s past and the full extent of her husband’s sins, will looking to a power greater than herself rekindle lost hope?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
 


EXCERPT

I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with Matthew James Rodrigues. Not according to my parents, anyway.

The first time Matt showed up on my doorstep, Dad took one look at his rumpled hair, his Elvis tattoo, and idling jalopy and told him he could take a long hike off a short pier if he thought he’d get anywhere near his daughter.

Back then, Matt had been nothing more than a teenager with a lawn mower, a shovel, and a good tan. But he had something else—business smarts. He knew how to work people.

He knew how to work me.

He used to visit me at the high school lunch table while all my friends tittered not-so-conspicuously. I still didn’t know why he approached me that first time to introduce himself. I wasn’t anything to look at. Matt smelled like fresh wood shavings from the vocational shop. His rugged dark looks and persistence caught me off guard.

Before long, I was begging Daddy to change his mind about Matt. He didn’t budge.

“Do you think I worked hard all these years to have my oldest daughter marry some trailer trash? And a Catholic at that?”

He said Catholic as if the devil himself had spawned the religion. As if half the boys I went to school with weren’t Catholic. As if it were some pagan religion requiring child sacrifice.

“I don’t want to marry him, Daddy. I just want to get to know him.”

“No. End of conversation.” He went away mumbling about how he should have never taken the pastorate position in New England all those years ago.

I snuck off to meet Matt that night. It was the first time I’d disobeyed my parents.

Matt was a year older than me and had a Volkswagen with a tape deck. That first night we drove to Newport, listening to Elvis tapes. Matt wasn’t like other boys I knew, listening to Pearl Jam or Billy Joel. He liked what he liked, whether it was popular or not.

He liked me.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

heidi chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli began writing twelve years ago, just after Jesus had grabbed hold of her heart. She used her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since! Heidi won the 2018 ACFW Carol Award for Debut Novel and is a 2018 Christy Finalist. Both her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, and her sophomore novel, The Hidden Side, are 4½-star Romantic Times Top Picks. Freedom's Ring was also a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her high-school sweetheart and husband of fifteen years. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.  

CONNECT WITH HEIDI: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
 



the edge of mercy blog giveaway
TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win this beautiful prize pack from Heidi Chiavaroli, including:
  • Rustic Metal Lantern
  • Bordeaux Journal
  • Country Potholder
  • Colonial-Inspired Hand Glazed Mug
  • Simple Life Notepad
  • Be Still and Know Magnet
  • Plymouth Rock Bookmark
  • Fresh & Clean Goat Milk Soap
  • Handmade Rustic Book Decor
  • Signed Copy of The Edge of Mercy
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 9, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 16, 2019. US Mailing addresses only, due to shipping costs. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.



Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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Friday, September 15, 2017

Review: Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli


Heidi Reads... Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

Boston, 2015
Two years after nearly losing her life in the Boston Marathon bombing, Annie David is still far from “Boston strong.” Instead she remains isolated and defeated―plagued by guilt over her niece, crippled in the blast, and by an antique ring alongside a hazy hero’s face. But when she learns the identity of her rescuer, will he be the hero she’s imagined? And can the long-past history of the woman behind the ring set her free from the guilt and fears of the present?

Boston, 1770
As a woman alone in a rebellious town, Liberty Caldwell finds herself in a dangerous predicament. When a British lieutenant, Alexander Smythe, comes to her rescue and offers her employment, Liberty accepts. As months go by, Alexander not only begins to share his love of poetry with her, but protects Liberty from the advances of a lecherous captain living in the officers’ house where she works.

Mounting tensions explode in the Boston Massacre, and Liberty’s world is shattered as her brother, with whom she has just reunited, is killed in the fray. Desperate and alone, she returns home, only to be assaulted by the captain. Afraid and furious toward redcoats, Liberty leaves the officers’ home, taking with her a ring that belonged to Alexander.

Two women, separated by centuries, must learn to face their fears. And when they feel they must be strong, they learn that sometimes true strength is found in surrender.


My Review

I'm torn over whether or not I like a split timeline in a book, but I think it was done successfully here. Initially the two stories feel completely foreign to each other, but as the common thread of the ring is researched by Annie and her rescuer Brad, the deeper themes begin to weave together and by the end of the book I felt like there was unity between the separate eras. All the characters are flawed and make regrettable choices, but learn over time how depending on our faith and relying on God's strength is what makes us strong and carries us through to a new day and new choices. I loved Annie and Brad's sweet friendship and romance the most. I felt a bit disconnected from the emotion in Liberty's story, but it was a fascinating one. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

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