Sunday, November 20, 2016

Book Tour Grand Finale: Healing of the Heart by Loree Lough

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Healing of the Heart
By Loree Lough

Can hearts hardened by dark secrets find redemption in the shadows of the fierce beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains? If you missed any of the tour stops, go back and check them out now...

Launch - Intro & Endorsements

Lies, secrets, and fear of the past take the characters in Loree Lough’s “Secrets on Sterling Street” series on heartrending and treacherous personal journeys. Their mettle—and their faith—is put to the test as they seek freedom, redemption, and love.

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Five Ways to Love Your Enemy

THINK about him. Reject any anger that might surface. Don’t focus on the words or deeds that created the gap between you. Close your eyes and chant “I’m bigger than this. I’m better than this. Holding on to these memories is only hurting me.” InHealing of the Heart, Ruby McCoy is having a tough time with this. Her father was a murdering outlaw. The shame of his crimes—and what they forced her to do—has impacted every area of her life, so really, who can blame her!




"This book is totally adorable! Once I started it, I didn’t want to stop and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it! . . . I love the setting of this book. You really get immersed in it as well as in the plot. You’re going to love it!"

Brooke Blogs - Five Books that Center around Secrets and Lies

Rebecca: Imagine waking up to your new husband and a rich new life only to find nothing is as it appeared to be before you said “I do.”


"Oh I do love a good clean romance novel. I was hooked from the beginning.

I liked the setting, the plot and the characters. I was able to feel their emotions and felt like the characters were very well developed. I could easily picture myself there."



Jessica and Gracie's Tree - Five Movies that Feature Forgiveness

Desperate to provide for you motherless children, a former bounty hunter and hired killer is forced to return to his old ways in Unforgiven.

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt

An idea began to form in Rex’s mind.

If he joined the police force, and learned the things this officer already knew, he could put the knowledge to use…

…hunting down the animal who had killed his pa.

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

As she handed him a small plate, his fingers grazed hers. It lasted all of a second, yet it sent eddies of warmth all the way down to his toes. She was close enough that he could inhale the scent of lilacs, floating from her dark hair…and noticed for the first time a sprinkling of tiny freckles dotting her cheeks.



Mel's Shelves - Review

"I enjoyed getting to know these characters and felt like part of their community. This is a story I enjoyed reading and loved the role that faith, love and forgiveness played in helping two hearts heal!"


"This is a heartwarming story that will capture the emotion of readers and keep them captivated until the very end. I would recommend this excellent story to readers that enjoy historical romance."

Bookworm Lisa - Review

"The book caught my attention and kept it throughout the story. I wanted to find out if Rex and Ruby could find healing and a future with each other. There are two adorable orphans who pulled at my heart strings. There are family secrets and mysteries revealed. There are a great many things to recommend this book to readers."

And don't forget to enter the giveaway below if you haven't already...

Healing Of The Heart (Secrets of Sterling Street)Healing of the Heart
(Secrets of Sterling Stree #3)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 pages
November 1st 2016 by Whitaker House

Ruby McCoy is haunted by her father's sins....

When Ruby McCoy arrives in Fairplay, her ornate carriage is followed by an entourage who heft steamer trunks, hatboxes, and traveling bags into the hotel…where she has booked the entire second floor. Upon her notorious gangster father's death, the now-wealthy Ruby, hiding under her mother's maiden name, set out to right her father's wrongs. Ruby is determined to spend every penny of her inherited "blood money" on those who paid the price for her father's crimes.

Sheriff Rex Truett doesn't trust Ruby and doesn't care who knows it. The keeper of Fairplay's law and order makes it his business to find out why a stranger, especially a beautiful, spoiled, rich, female stranger, would set up businesses, donate to schools, hire workmen to rebuild houses, and provide access to the best medical care. But when a typhoid epidemic sweeps through the city, he is forced to reconsider.

Will Rex blame Ruby for her father's sins? Or will he accept the possibility that she is trying to create and feel the peace her father stole?


Praise for the Book

Healing of the Heart, book three of Secrets on Sterling Street, makes for a brilliant conclusion to the series. Lough’s descriptive narrative and delightful, often comical, dialogue pull us into the story. Sparks fly between Rex, the hard-shelled sheriff, and Ruby, the gutsy, gorgeous heroine. This fast-paced, absorbing read will have you flipping those pages into the wee morning hours. Don’t miss it!”
Sharlene MacLaren
Author, Tennessee Dreams series and Summer on Sunset Ridge

“Loree Lough has once again brought the emotional intensity and passion of the West to life in her riveting historical romance, Healing of the Heart. With themes of forgiveness, righting wrongs done by others, and love that can wipe away the sins the past, this book explores all of that in the midst of the fierce and deadly beauty of Colorado in in the late 1800s. A story to treasure more than once.”
Susan M. Baganz
Author, Pesto & PotholesSalsa & SpeedbumpsFeta & Freeways, and Fragile Blessings

“Loree Lough does it again with Healing of the Heart. Another moving and uplifting story with characters so real they feel like family, a plot that keeps you turning pages, and a setting so quaint it makes you want to move to Fairplay, Colorado.”
Joya Fields
Award-winning author, Beneath the Surface

“This just might be my favorite story by Loree Lough. Her characters, driven by noble motives, endure hardships that can’t crush their budding emotions. Healing of the Heart is romance, faith, and mystery in one page-turning story.”
Robin Bayne
Author, The Gardner’s Gazebo series

Currency of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #1)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 pages
January 1st 2015 by Whitaker House

Young widow Shaina Sterling hates living a lie. Desperate to keep bill collectors from the door, she secretly sells valuable possessions piece by piece, and hopes Denver’s elite never discover that his lavish lifestyle left her a near pauper.

She’s unaware that as her husband lay dying, successful rancher Sloan Remington made him a promise. And Sloan guards her secrets
as carefully as he looks after her safety.

When fire devours Sterling Hall, leaving her homeless and penniless, he brings her to Remington Ranch to manage his household. His kindness makes Shaina beholden to him … and threatens to expose the secret that could destroy him.

Will trials and tragedies bring Sloan and Shaina together?
Or will secrets—and the cost of exposing them—drive them apart forever?

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleBook Depository

Guardians of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #2)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 pages
August 3rd 2015 by Whitaker House

Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn.

Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. 

Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

Check out the tour for Guardians of the Heart here.


At last count, best-selling author Loree Lough had 104 award-winning books (nearly 5,000,000 copies in circulation and 5 titles that earned book-to-movie options), 68 short stories, and 2,500+ articles in print.

An oft-invited guest of writers' organizations, colleges and universities, corporate and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry.

Once upon a time, Loree (literally) sang for her supper, performing alone and "opening" for the likes of Tom Jones, Dottie West, The Gatlin Brothers, and more. Though she refuses to share the actual year when she traded her Yamaha 6-string for a wedding ring, she IS willing to admit that, every now and then, she blows the dust off her six-string to croon a tune or two. But mostly, she just writes (and writes).

Loree and her husband split their time between a home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to hone her "identify the critter tracks" skills. Her favorite passtime? Spending long, leisurely hours with her grandchildren...all seven of them!

She loves hearing from her readers, and answers every letter, personally. You can write her @ http://www.loreelough.com.

Tour Giveaway

2 winners will win a print copy of HEALING OF THE HEART (US only)
2 winners will win a Kindle/Nook copy of HEALING OF THE HEART (open internationally)
1 winner will win a $20 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Ends November 25th

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Grab Our Button!





Military Book Giveaway!


We're spreading the word about
A Merry Christmas Military Book Giveaway!

Author Donna Hatch, along with a bunch of other authors, are honoring those serving in the US Military overseas who won't be home for the holidays, by giving away books! It's a small "Thank you!" for their service.

Find out more, see what books are available, and enter the giveaway HERE.






Saturday, November 19, 2016

Review: Bride by Arrangment by Karen Kirst


Heidi Reads... Bride by Arrangment by Karen Kirst

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Newly minted Cowboy Creek sheriff Noah Burgess doesn't want a wife—despite his friends insisting that he needs one. So when they send for a big-city single mother to be his mail-order bride, he's fit to be tied. Even if vivacious Grace Longstreet might just be the only person who can see past Noah's scars…and help him heal.

Grace needs a husband to keep her and her twin daughters out of her brother-in-law's grasp. And she'll do anything—including taking on her cousin's identity—to find one. But as the attraction between Grace and the lawman sparks higher, she begins hoping for a real marriage. So she needs to tell the truth…or a mail-order match that's meant to be could crumble.


My Review

While this may seem like your typical mail-order bride story, it's the extra layers in the plot and characters that give it added depth and interest. Grace isn't just a socialite on the run from her brother-in-law, she's a devoted mother with a history of working hard to raise herself from poverty. Noah isn't just a grumpy sheriff, he's a former soldier with physical and emotional battle scars that affect his choices and future happiness. The town isn't just a friendly community of ranchers and cowboys, it is fighting outlaws and corruption as it grows with the railroad and potential to become the county seat.

I loved the gruff kindness of Noah as he can't help falling for Grace and becoming endeared to her children. He sure puts up a good fight against his feelings and I can't blame Grace for her uncertainty about him. They have a romantic chemistry full of sparks and I loved the scenes when they let their guard down and be vulnerable with each other. There is a great cast of secondary characters from the first two books in the series and I'm looking forward to going back and reading their love stories.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)


Thursday, November 17, 2016

Review & Giveaway: Love's Broken Road by Julie Coulter Bellon


Heidi Reads... Love's Broken Road by Julie Coulter Bellon

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

After surviving an abusive marriage, Victoria Newel needs a clean slate for herself and her son. Taking a job as a math teacher, she moves across the country to the small town of Lincoln, Utah, where no one knows her and she can start over. However, her new colleague, Drew Dalton, offers her friendship and maybe something more. But has her heart healed enough that she could trust again?

Drew Dalton lost his wife to cancer years ago and he locked his heart away, throwing himself into his teaching job. But when Victoria Newel starts working at the high school, she awakens something in him that he never thought he’d feel again. Her gentle nature and quiet strength draws him to her, but it’s obvious she’s hiding something in her past from him. Can he open his heart to a woman who harbors so many secrets of her own?


My Review

Love's Broken Road is a character-driven book and focuses on their way of processing the trials in their lives. I appreciated that examples of healthy coping strategies were used by Victoria and that receiving assistance from a therapist was portrayed in a positive light. She was a little difficult to connect with in the beginning since she is so uptight and aloof (understandably so), but she warms up as Drew and those around her provide much needed support and kindness. Drew is fun and sweet, but has his own flaws as he navigates the new feelings that Victoria brings out in him. His sister Olivia was my favorite with her sassiness and loyalty to Drew. Some other teachers in the school serve as stumbling blocks to their developing relationship and the drama seemed a little cliche, so I was happy when deeper motivations were revealed and the resolution with them didn't go the predictable route. The plot moved at a steady pace with the up and downs, and I was engaged the whole time I was reading the book.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)



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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Book Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway: Healing of the Heart by Loree Lough


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Healing Of The Heart (Secrets of Sterling Street)Healing of the Heart
(Secrets of Sterling Stree #3)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 pages
November 1st 2016 by Whitaker House

Ruby McCoy is haunted by her father's sins....

When Ruby McCoy arrives in Fairplay, her ornate carriage is followed by an entourage who heft steamer trunks, hatboxes, and traveling bags into the hotel…where she has booked the entire second floor. Upon her notorious gangster father's death, the now-wealthy Ruby, hiding under her mother's maiden name, set out to right her father's wrongs. Ruby is determined to spend every penny of her inherited "blood money" on those who paid the price for her father's crimes.

Sheriff Rex Truett doesn't trust Ruby and doesn't care who knows it. The keeper of Fairplay's law and order makes it his business to find out why a stranger, especially a beautiful, spoiled, rich, female stranger, would set up businesses, donate to schools, hire workmen to rebuild houses, and provide access to the best medical care. But when a typhoid epidemic sweeps through the city, he is forced to reconsider.

Will Rex blame Ruby for her father's sins? Or will he accept the possibility that she is trying to create and feel the peace her father stole?


Praise for the Book

Healing of the Heart, book three of Secrets on Sterling Street, makes for a brilliant conclusion to the series. Lough’s descriptive narrative and delightful, often comical, dialogue pull us into the story. Sparks fly between Rex, the hard-shelled sheriff, and Ruby, the gutsy, gorgeous heroine. This fast-paced, absorbing read will have you flipping those pages into the wee morning hours. Don’t miss it!”
Sharlene MacLaren
Author, Tennessee Dreams series and Summer on Sunset Ridge

“Loree Lough has once again brought the emotional intensity and passion of the West to life in her riveting historical romance, Healing of the Heart. With themes of forgiveness, righting wrongs done by others, and love that can wipe away the sins the past, this book explores all of that in the midst of the fierce and deadly beauty of Colorado in in the late 1800s. A story to treasure more than once.”
Susan M. Baganz
Author, Pesto & PotholesSalsa & SpeedbumpsFeta & Freeways, and Fragile Blessings

“Loree Lough does it again with Healing of the Heart. Another moving and uplifting story with characters so real they feel like family, a plot that keeps you turning pages, and a setting so quaint it makes you want to move to Fairplay, Colorado.”
Joya Fields
Award-winning author, Beneath the Surface

“This just might be my favorite story by Loree Lough. Her characters, driven by noble motives, endure hardships that can’t crush their budding emotions. Healing of the Heart is romance, faith, and mystery in one page-turning story.”
Robin Bayne
Author, The Gardner’s Gazebo series

Excerpt

He’d do anything to ease his pa’s pain, and though he had no idea why, Rex said, “All right, I forgive you.”
Calmer now, his pa lay back and gave a single nod as his big hand went limp.
Rex’s heart was racing. What would he do without this good man in his life, this man who was as much friend as father, who’d taught him just about everything he knew?
The first cop bent at the waist. “Is he gone, boy?”
Rex nodded, unable to speak past the aching sob that blocked his throat.
Straightening, the cop told his partner, “I heard that Verdell Lundgren and his gang were in the area, but never in all my days did I believe they’d be bold enough to hit Baltimore.”
“Yeah, well, we need to get the mortician down here,” the man said, wincing at the bodies, the bloody boot prints that led to the door, and a single silver dollar glinting on the threshold, like the medallion that hung from a matching chain around the killer’s neck.
The first cop shook his head. “Sorry for your loss, son.” He lifted his chin a notch to add, “You can help us catch your pa’s killers if you tell us everything you remember about them.”
In the blink of an eye, Rex relived that moment in the street.
“The one in charge had dark eyes. It’s all I saw. They wore bandannas up high and their hats down low.”
The officer’s pencil scritch-scratched across his little tablet. “What about their boots? Horses? Saddles?”
“He had a hoarse voice, deeper than any I ever heard. Same voice that gave the order to silence the whimpering of….”
Rex stood, slapped a palm to the back of his neck. “He rode a red roan mare. Never saw boots like that…grey and white snakeskin. White Stetson with a black band. And a medal of some sort around his neck.”
“Very observant,” the copper said, looking up from his notes. “We’re shorthanded at the department.” He sent Rex a halfhearted smile. “You should look into signing on.”
The comment put him back a step. “Seems a peculiar thing to say, what with my pa not even cold yet.”
The officer’s face went red. “My apologies.”
“I need to take him home. We have a lot to do.”
“We?”
Aunt Mavis. His brain reeled with disjointed thoughts. He’d need every minute of the long ride home to figure out how to break the news to the aunt who’d raised him from infancy. Then, there’d be grave to dig and a headstone to carve. Under the circumstances, maybe that tightwad McGraw would extend the loan payment, especially once he secured the hotel job. Abigail had sworn him to secrecy: no one else had applied for the job.
But what about Mavis? She’d never agree to move into town, and he couldn’t leave her all the way out there, alone on the farm, with no one to help with the chores and no protection.
“Go on, son,” the officer said, his voice soft and low. “Take your pa home.”
Rex nodded. “I’ll be back for him, just as soon as I turn the wagon ’round.”
    He wanted to get his father cleaned up, so Mavis wouldn’t have to see him this way. Maybe the undertaker would take pity on him and help. Rex wanted to do things right, the way his pa would have.
    Forgive me….
    Rex shook his head, hoping to dislodge the troubling words from his brain.
    “Don’t do anything stupid, son,” the cop said.
    “Huh?”
    “I been readin’ faces for nigh on to two decades now, and what yours is tellin’ me will only land you in the graveyard. If it turns out the Lundgren Gang was behind this….” He put his tablet and pencil away. “Let’s just say I can tell you’re not a cold-blooded killer. But Lundgren? He doesn’t have a heart or a soul. Wouldn’t think twice about putting a bullet between your eyes.”
    The man had almost done exactly that, just moments ago.
    “Your pa wouldn’t want you to end up that way.”
    “How can you tell all that, just by looking?”
    “Like I said, been doin’ this a long time.”
    An idea began to form in Rex’s mind.
    If he joined the police force, and learned the things this officer already knew, he could put the knowledge to use…
    …hunting down the animal who had killed his pa.

 

Currency of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #1)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 pages
January 1st 2015 by Whitaker House

Young widow Shaina Sterling hates living a lie. Desperate to keep bill collectors from the door, she secretly sells valuable possessions piece by piece, and hopes Denver’s elite never discover that his lavish lifestyle left her a near pauper.

She’s unaware that as her husband lay dying, successful rancher Sloan Remington made him a promise. And Sloan guards her secrets
as carefully as he looks after her safety.

When fire devours Sterling Hall, leaving her homeless and penniless, he brings her to Remington Ranch to manage his household. His kindness makes Shaina beholden to him … and threatens to expose the secret that could destroy him.

Will trials and tragedies bring Sloan and Shaina together?
Or will secrets—and the cost of exposing them—drive them apart forever?

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleBook Depository

Guardians of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #2)
by Loree Lough
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 pages
August 3rd 2015 by Whitaker House

Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn.

Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. 

Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

Check out the tour for Guardians of the Heart here.


At last count, best-selling author Loree Lough had 104 award-winning books (nearly 5,000,000 copies in circulation and 5 titles that earned book-to-movie options), 68 short stories, and 2,500+ articles in print.

An oft-invited guest of writers' organizations, colleges and universities, corporate and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry.

Once upon a time, Loree (literally) sang for her supper, performing alone and "opening" for the likes of Tom Jones, Dottie West, The Gatlin Brothers, and more. Though she refuses to share the actual year when she traded her Yamaha 6-string for a wedding ring, she IS willing to admit that, every now and then, she blows the dust off her six-string to croon a tune or two. But mostly, she just writes (and writes).

Loree and her husband split their time between a home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to hone her "identify the critter tracks" skills. Her favorite passtime? Spending long, leisurely hours with her grandchildren...all seven of them!

She loves hearing from her readers, and answers every letter, personally. You can write her @ http://www.loreelough.com.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterPinterest

Tour Schedule

November 13th: Launch
November 15th: Brooke Blogs & Rockin' Book Reviews
November 17th: Wishful Endings & Mel's Shelves
November 20th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

2 winners will win a print copy of HEALING OF THE HEART (US only)
2 winners will win a Kindle/Nook copy of HEALING OF THE HEART (open internationally)
1 winner will win a $20 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Ends November 25th

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Book Tour Excerpt & Giveaway: Boots and Bedlam by Ashley Farley


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Boots and Bedlam (Sweeney Sisters #3)
Boots and Bedlam
(Sweeney Sisters #3)
by Ashley Farley
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 166 pages
October 18th 2016

‘Tis the season for chaos.

Wedding bells will soon be ringing in the Lowcountry. All Sam Sweeney wants is to marry her man on Christmas Eve surrounded by family and friends. But emerging complications, some humorous and some not so humorous, threaten to converge and derail the best-laid plans during the busy stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Amidst the chaos—dealing with real estate, planning a wedding, running a seafood market, honoring traditions, and contending with teenagers—even the weather rears its head when the weatherman forecasts a white Christmas. Never has family support been more needed, but will it be enough to restore order and save the day?

Escape to the Lowcountry this Christmas where romance, intrigue, and holiday merrymaking await you.


Book Trailer


Excerpt 

Maybe I can convince him to stay home, order a pizza, and watch football. What man doesn’t want to watch the college teams play their big rivals?
Wishful thinking. She stripped off her clothes and stepped in the shower. She’d seen the determined set of his jaw. He had something up his sleeve.
Despite Eli’s insistence that she hurry, she took extra time with her appearance, styling her short hair and applying a touch of makeup—a swipe of clear gloss to her rosy lips and a hint of blush to her pale cheeks. She slipped on her one pair of designer jeans and a white silky blouse that clung to her slight figure before tugging on her cowboy boots.
When she emerged from her bedroom twenty minutes later, Eli was waiting for her in the hallway. “Turn around and place your hands against the wall.”
“Ooh . . . I like the sound of that. Are you planning to frisk me, Officer?”
“No, ma'am. I'm placing you under arrest.” After a quick pat down, he covered her eyes with a blindfold. “You’ll need this. It’s cold outside.” The familiar weight of her Barbour coat cocooned her body.
“I guess this means we can’t stay home and watch football.”
“No football tonight. Sorry.” He spun her around and fastened something cold and hard, which she assumed were handcuffs, around her wrists.
“What exactly do you have in mind for me tonight, Lt. Marshall?”
“You'll have to wait and see.” He scooped her off her feet and carried her outside to the car—her Jeep judging from the squeaky passenger door and the smell of mildew inside.
“Where are we going?” she asked when he set her down on the seat.
“Stop asking so many questions. You'll find out when we get there,” he said, and slammed the door.
Sam kept track of the number of turns and the time in between each one. When she felt a bump and the crunch of gravel beneath the wheels, she guesstimated they were on the waterfront somewhere close to her younger sister Faith’s house. The Jeep rolled to a stop, the engine grew silent, and the driver’s door opened and closed. Seconds later Eli was at her side, gripping her arm tight as she climbed out. He removed the handcuffs and untied the bandanna from her head. She rubbed her wrists and blinked her eyes until they adjusted to the scene in front of her.

Other Books in the Series

Her Sister's Shoes (Sweeney Sisters #1)
Her Sister's Shoes
(Sweeney Sisters #1)
by Ashley Farley
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 380 pages
June 24th 2015

Set in the South Carolina Lowcountry and packed with Southern charm and memorable characters, HER SISTER'S SHOES portrays three sisters—Samantha, Jackie, and Faith—who struggle to balance the demands of career and family while remaining true to themselves.

Samantha Sweeney has always been the glue that holds her family together, their go-to girl for love and support. When an ATV accident leaves her teenage son in a wheelchair, she loses her carefully constructed self-control.

In the after-gloom of her dreaded fiftieth birthday and the discovery of her husband’s infidelity, Jackie realizes she must reconnect with her former self to find the happiness she needs to move forward.

Faith lacks the courage to stand up to her abusive husband. She turns to her sisters for help, placing all their lives at risk.

In the midst of their individual challenges, the Sweeney sisters must cope with their mother’s mental decline. Is Lovie in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, or is her odd behavior normal for a woman her age? No one, including Lovie, understands her obsession with a rusty key she wears around her neck.

For fans of Elin Hildebrand, HER SISTER'S SHOES is a contemporary women’s novel that explores and proves the healing power of family.


Lowcountry Stranger (Sweeney Sisters #2)
Lowcountry Stranger
(Sweeney Sisters #2)
by Ashley Farley
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 284 pages
July 1st 2016

Family Drama, Southern Style.
There's a stranger in town. And it’s no coincidence when she shows up uninvited at a Sweeney family wedding. All eyes are drawn to this urchin who seems to have washed in with the tide. Before the night is over, the doe-eyed waif charms young and old with her street smarts and spunky personality. For better or worse, Annie Dawn is here to stay.

The memorable Sweeney sisters from Her Sister’s Shoes have returned with more suspense and family drama to hold you spellbound until the dramatic conclusion. As she approaches the next stage of her life as an empty nester, Jackie is torn between expanding her fledgling design business and spending these last precious months with her boys before they fly the coop. Her own worst enemy, Sam is terrified of making a commitment to Eli Marshall, handsome police officer, true love of her life. Her resolve is tested when a ghost from her past shows up after nearly two decades. Faith nurtures her seven-year-old daughter who is recovering from the trauma of her abusive father. Is the threat in the past, or is there more danger on the horizon? The sisters seek guidance from their mother, Lovie, a true Southern matriarch who shows them how to respond to adversity with grace and dignity.

Things are heating up in the Lowcountry. The Sweeney sisters remind us, once again, that being a part of a family is about more than sharing the same DNA.


Ashley Farley is the author of the bestselling series, the Sweeney Sisters Series. Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you've read the last word, then she's done her job.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshiped, the man she could not save.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashleywfarley or twitter.com/ashleywfarley.

Tour Schedule

November 9th: Launch
November 16th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner to receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card & choice of a Sweeney Sisters ebook
2 winners to receive choice of a Sweeney Sisters ebook
Open internationally
Ends November 21st
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Review & Giveaway: To Win a Lady's Heart by Sian Ann Bessey


Heidi Reads... To Win a Lady's Heart by Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

For eighteen years, Lord Gilbert has been tortured over a grievous lapse in judgment. Bitterness has tainted his interactions with the people of Moreland and his relationship with his only daughter, Lady Joanna. With a wolfhound guarding her around the clock and no freedom to leave the castle grounds unattended, the only time Lady Joanna can be alone is when she sneaks out through an old castle tunnel to visit the healer Agnes in her cottage by the sea. One morning as Lady Joanna approaches the cliffs, she discovers an injured man. She immediately goes to Agnes for help. The wounded stranger is Sir Lukas, and while he recovers, he makes plans to identify his attackers and their motive. Upon learning that Moreland’s wool has been stolen, Sir Lukas comes to believe that the crimes are related and point to a much more sinister plot. When Lord Gilbert announces an archery tournament, the prize being Lady Joanna’s hand in marriage, it attracts noblemen from across the land, and suddenly Sir Lukas’s pursuit of the villains takes a different turn. As Lady Joanna’s and Sir Lukas’s feelings for each other grow, the stakes soar, and only Sir Lukas’s skill with a longbow can save them.

My Review

A wonderful cast of characters give heart to this medieval tale of loyalty and betrayal. I loved Lady Joanna's compassion for the peasants in her father's land, and her determination to champion their cause since they couldn't for themselves. Her secret relationship with Agnes and the two young men Agnes cares for proves to be beneficial when they come to her aid as the kingdom seems to be falling apart. The arrival of Lukas was timely as he helps solve the mystery of the stolen wool and reveal the culprits who are behind the plot to rob Joanna's father of everything. His goodness shines through in his kindness and devotion to Joanna, and I was rooting for him to win the tournament and her heart. Lord Gilbert's loyal knight Sir Edwyn was a steadying influence in Joanna's life as a father figure and his connection to Lukas brought the story full circle. This is a book that will be enjoyed by fans of Melanie Dickerson and I highly recommend it for both young adults and adults.