ELUSIVE HOPE: by MaryLu Tyndall 5.2.14

Author:  MaryLu Tyndall
Publisher: Barbour Books Published: Nov 1st 2013 Pages: PB 319 Kindle 322 click to purchase Character Sketches: MaryLu Tyndall's blog Synopsis:

After years of all but selling his soul to track down his scoundrel of a father, Hayden Gale discovers his search must continue in South America, where his father is reported to be helping colonize Brazil. Hayden has nothing more to lose, certainly not a good reputation, and vows to keep pursuing--at any cost--the vile man who he believes killed his mother.

Magnolia is seeking a way out. Desperately.
She's in the jungles of Brazil against her will, but what choice does Magnolia Scott have? Her father insisted on uprooting their family to escape the uncertainty of Southern life after the Civil War. But how will she survive without all she holds dear--wealthy suitors, beautiful clothes, summer balls, and slaves waiting on her every whim? She vows to find a way to get back home--and attaches herself to handsome Hayden Gale.

As they journey toward Rio de Janeiro, they each seek to use the other for their own purposes. Deceptively. Falling in love was never part of their plans....  - Goodreads

* My Thoughts? "Perhaps life behind the gilded doors of the pampered elite wasn't as merry as they pretended..." - Hayden Gale

MaryLu Tyndall's book 2 of ESCAPE TO PARADISE series
ELUSIVE HOPE has enchanted me all this week. 

I returned to Brazil in this 2nd novel of MaryLu Tyndall's Escape to Paradise series, finding the beginnings of the disillusioned Americans' anticipated Utopia underway. Construction, fields, community and... controversy. Tyndall paints a clear picture of life in the exotic jungles of Brazil, creating their dreamed of utopian home, New Hope, in the midst of oppressive forces within and without the camp. Encompassing relational struggles for love and greed - surprise appearances of human and otherworld apparitions - there was a lot of action and intrigue, keeping my attention to the end. 

Hayden Gale and Magnolia Scott's rocky relationship heats up on the unexpected jungle trek, after Magnolia trails him too far to return to New Hope. But is dashed on those rocks when their deceptions of each other are revealed after a night on the town. 

Dodging the consequences of her own actions, Magnolia escapes down an alley, taking refuge in a church. Here she is confronted by an ancient woman who not only startles her, she speaks to Magnolia's vanity. "Here and henceforth..your reflection will reveal the true beauty of your heart, the way you appear to those who inhabit eternity. Take care to adorn yourself with jewels that last forever." What will this look like in Magnolia's life? It doesn't take long for her to find out..

Alternating with Hayden and Magnolia's stories is life at New Hope. Conflicts amongst community members intent on personal gain [and willing to kill for it] are those with eyes future focused,  hoping to keep their pasts covered. All serve to keep tensions high and emotions engaged! 

Gorgeous depictions of scenic beauty - plantlife, birds, waterfalls -  lush with colour and sensation that had me present and wanting to recreate the beauty.  My WIP, an ELUSIVE HOPE  pinterest board is the result!

The spiritual undercurrent of advancing evil is well drawn, leaving this reader entirely suspended at the book's close. Nothing will do but to now await that final release of book 3! *

to be published July 1st 2014 

*



* Appreciation to Barbour Books for providing an ecopy for reading and review without obligation. *

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Brazil travelled for GiraffeDays Challenge

Anita Higman’s “WINTER IN FULL BLOOM” Kindle Fire GIVEAWAY and FB Party! {8/29}

Welcome to one of today's tour stops for  Anita Higman's delish NEW novel, * WINTER IN FULL BLOOM by Anita Higman published by River North

*

Lily Winter's wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when empty nest arrives, she can't believe she can fly. 

But Lily's lonely, widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she goes to visit a woman who is almost a stranger to her-

a woman who also happens to be her mother. 

During their fiery reunion, her mother reveals a dark family secret 

she'd been hiding for decades-

Lily has an identical twin sister who was put up for adoption 

when they were just babies.
*
 Without looking back, Lily- with her fear of flying- boards a jumbo jet and embarks on a quest to find her sister... 

Half way around the world to Melbourne, Australia. 

Unexpectedly befriended by an impudent Aussie, he just might 

prove to be the key to finding her sister. When her journey becomes a circle that leads her back home to attempt a family reunion 

will she also find the one dream she no longer imagined possible?

The chance to fall in love again... 

 *

My thoughts?
*

Enchanting!
A hero I quite fell for and a romance to dream of..

Foreign travel, new locations and relationships, reconnection
A story with depth and increasing complexity.
I found Ms Higman's surprise plot twists reminiscent of Kate Morton's - always another layer to be revealed - 

just when you think you're on sure ground. 

Fascinating.

*
A story of loss, courage, women, sisterhood,and families - their conflicts, struggles, frustrations and ultimately their worth. A story of redemption.
*
Releasing this month - Definitely recommended.

 *

{ MORE ABOUT ANITA }

*

Best-selling and award-winning author, 
Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several co-authored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. 

*
Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, 
[a woman after FHC readers' own hearts!]
and brunch with her friends.

*

Find out more about Anita.

 Follow on facebook and tweet with her

* Anita Higman's latest novel,
Winter in Full Bloom, has just released. *
She's teamed up with her publisher,

River North Fiction, for a fun giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on August 29th. *

*



One grand prize winner will receive:

*

A Kindle Fire HD

Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

*

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below.
But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 28th.

*

Winner will be announced August 29th
at the Winter in Full Bloom Author Chat Party
on Facebook.
During the party Anita will be hosting a book chat,
talking about family,
announcing the winner of the Kindle Fire,
and giving away a ton of books, gift certificates, and more.
She'll also be giving party goers an exclusive look 

at her next book!

*

So grab your copy of Winter in Full Bloom and join Anita on the evening of August 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends.

(If you haven’t read the book,
 

don’t let that stop you from coming!)






DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN;

RSVP TODAY.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 29th!

*

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Review: Flight of the Earls : Heirs of Ireland book 1 - author Michael K Reynolds

Flight of the Earls

Book 1 of the Heirs of Ireland trilogy Michael K Reynolds author B&H Books publisher  * It’s Ireland in 1846. When her family’s small farm is struck by the blight of the Great Potato Famine, 24-year-old Clare Hanley heads out along with her younger brother Seamus on a harrowing journey across the ocean to the Promised Land of America. Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again.   Once arrived in New York, Clare must face her fears as she is both overwhelmed and enraptured by this coming-of-age city of intrigue, romance, the arts, squalor, wealth, uneven freedoms and corruption.  She discovers the love for which she has believed, adventure and the tragedy of a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.

Dramatic Settings: Ireland, Transatlantic Voyage, Historic New York City,  Mexico [Mexican American War]
*
Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s * My thoughts? Stunning debut novel created by a master story-teller. History came to life and included me in the telling. Authenticity of the story has obviously benefited from much research, captivating my attention throughout. 

Every emotion was impacted as I read of the grueling realities of life in 1840s Ireland and America. Characters that authentically embodied Reynolds' descriptions. Characters I cared about. Characters that roused passionate responses. The incredible hardships endured on land and at sea. The dashing of expectations time after time. The tenacity to continue. 

Flight of the Earls is a book of substance. 
A story that will live long in my memory...
*
Thank you, Michael, for sharing your gift with us. I highly recommend FLight of the Earls as a Do Not Miss read!
I anticipate Book 2 of Heirs of Ireland with pleasure. In Golden Splendor is set to release July 15th

* *With appreciation to B&H Books for providing me with an ecopy to read and review without obligation.
*

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Shared at Book Journey for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

'UNRIVALED' Sweet Kindle Fire Giveaway +FB Party! with author Siri Mitchell – Book Tour Review

I enjoy the opportunity to introduce readers to new books!

The anticipation of opening a parcel to reveal some lovely new read

is pure pleasure for this reader.

The hard part is writing the review!

Such was the case for 

Siri Mitchell's new release, 'Unrivaled'...

Lucy Kendall returns from a tour of the Continent, her luggage filled with the latest fashions and a mind fired by inspiration. After tasting Europe’s best confections, she’s sure she’ll come up with a recipe that will save her father’s struggling candy business and reverse their fortunes. But she soon discovers that their biggest competitor, the cheat who swindled her father out of his prize recipe, has now hired a promotions manager–a cocky, handsome out-of-towner who gets under Lucy’s skin.

Charlie Clarke’s new role at Standard Manufacturing is the chance of a lifetime. He can put some rough times behind him and reconnect with the father he’s never known. The one thing he never counted on, however, was tenacious Lucy Kendall. She’s making his work life miserable…
and making herself impossible for him to forget.

Purchase a copy here.

Read an excerpt here.

If you're following along on the Book Blog Tour for 'Unrivaled',

you've been treated to many accolades from other reading reviewers.

Unfortunately, this is one of the books I've found difficult

when it came to writing a review - or at least a positive review..

I leave it up to you to read for your own response

which is as it should always be!

The premise was good,
but the story and characters didn't add up to good reading for me.
I am not impressed with the immature protagonist
and never did come to any 'liking' of her.
Tantalized by the great cover; disappointed by the lack of character content.
Lucy was childish and mean,
devious in her attempts to keep her father's candy company afloat,
and never questioned blatantly obvious discrepancies
between her mother's comments and her own understanding
of their loss of the candy recipe that made another family rich...
She agreed to a marriage of convenience without any depth of feeling
and all emotions seemed entirely surface.
No questions about her fiance's activities or where he spent his time -
Waaaay too naive [or lacking depth] to keep my interest.
I was constantly putting the book down in frustration,
then picking up later just to keep my commitment to read and review.
Sorry to say it was so... 

THere are some FuN events just ahead for you to enter

and have your own chance at reading 'Unrivaled' for yourself

[+ a copy for a friend!]

PLUS....

Celebrate Unrivaled with Siri Mitchell by entering to win a Kindle Fire and joining her on April 18th for a Facebook Author Chat Party!






One "swooning" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• Vintage Candy Kit


• Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell (one for you and one for a friend!)


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 17th. Winner will be announced at the "Unrivaled" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/18. Connect with Siri, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books, vintage candy kits, and more!






So grab your copy of Unrivaled and join Siri on the evening of the April 18th for a chance to connect with Siri and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)




Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!




Looking forward to finding you at the Party !!

I was provided 'Unrivaled' in exchange for my considered opinion.

THank you for the opportunity!

Post Added to
  Anything Blue Fridays at Kathryn's 
Love Blue?
Come check it out!

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