Guest Post & Giveaway: Pamela Tracy with Harlequin Heartwarming

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

How Can You "NOT" Love Books?

          I know the book, I know the grade, and I know the place I discovered the joy of reading.    I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.  We were a little family: one child, two parents.  I didn’t know how lucky I was.  My mom was a stay-at-home mother who would come get me from school at lunch time just to be with me.  My dad was the highlight of my day and at 5:13 p.m. I would stand at our front door, looking out the screen, just waiting for his car.

          I went to Walnut Hill Elementary.  The library was on the second floor and it was time for Iowa Basics.  My teacher (name forgotten) took the class to the library to get books.  Her idea was that if any of us finished our test before time, we could quietly read until finish time.

          I checked out B is for Betsy by Carolyn Haywood.

          I was a good reader.  Currently, I’m a schoolteacher, and I can almost imagine my 2nd grade teacher being pleased with me and thinking, “Pam will help the class average with her reading score.”

          I’m pretty sure I didn’t help the class average because I started being B is for Betsy and didn’t care whit about the Iowa Basics tests.  I still have a vivid memory of filling in random answers for the math part just so I could get back to what was important: reading. 

          That weekend I pestered my mom into taking me to the neighborhood library.  As an eight year old, I was limited on how many books I could check out.  Carolyn Haywood had written more than I could check out, soooo my forty-something mother got her first library card.

          I read a book a night until I finished every book she’d written, and then I went looking for someone who wrote like her.

          Wrote like her....

          The first romance I read was in a Nancy Drew.  It was minute.  But, still, even at a tender age, I knew I wanted a Ned Nickerson in my life.

          Then, I read Anne of Green Gables and fell in love with Gilbert Blythe.

          Then, I read Mrs. Mike and fell in love with all things romance.

          I could list 20 authors that I follow, maybe 30 or 40.  They all have something in common.  They write what I read.  I love, love, love finding a new book on the shelf, taking it in my hand, feeling the smooth cover and turning the book over to read the blurb.  Buying the book is taking a pan of warm brownies out of the oven.  Reading the books is eating the gooey chocolate and never wanting to stop.

          Now, Harlequin Heartwarmings will be in stores as well.  Wow, it feels a little bit like Christmas.

Ode to Harlequin Heartwarmings

The new easy-to-find Harlequin Heartwarmings might be found where I cook

In the office hallway where I work is a girl with a Heartwarming book

The secretary is reading one she says is great

And even my cat for the next in the series can’t wait

But the best news of all says the oh-so-busy Elf

Is that come January, they will definitely be on the Walmart shelf!  

— Pamela

Pamela Tracy is a USA Today award-winning author who has written contemporary, historical and suspenseful - all in the romance genre. Her 2007 suspense Pursuit of Justice was a Rita finalist. Her 2009 suspense Broken Lullaby won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the year award.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

 
  

Tour Schedule

Check out these Heartwarming authors' own selfies...

January 3rd: Launch

January 4th: I Am A Reader - Amy Vastine

January 5th: Mel's Shelves - Anna J. Stewart

January 6th: deal sharing aunt - Cari Lynn Webb

January 7th: Reading Is My SuperPower - Carol Ross

January 8th: Katie's Clean Book Collection - Catherine Lanigan

January 10th: Babs Book Bistro - Leigh Riker

January 11th: Love, Laughter, Friendship - Melinda Curtis

January 12th: Heidi Reads... - Pamela Tracy

January 13th: Christian Chick's Thoughts - Rula Sinara

January 14th: Bookworm Lisa - Tara Taylor Quinn

January 15th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

15 - $10 Walmart Gift Cards

- Rules: To enter, take a selfie at a local Walmart with a Heartwarming book and post publicly on social media (can be your hands, your face, etc. with a Heartwarming book). Can enter once each day with a different picture each time. Those who post the same picture multiple times will be disqualified. Those who only post privately (so that it can't be viewed publicly) will also be disqualified.

- US Only

- Ends January 20th

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Review: A Perfect Secret by Donna Hatch

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Desperate to protect her father from trial and death, Genevieve breaks off her engagement with Christian Amesbury and marries a blackmailer. After a year of marriage, she flees her husband's violent domination only to have fate bring her back to Christian. Just when she thinks she's started a new life of safety and solitude, her husband tracks her down, stalks her, and threatens everyone she loves.

Still brokenhearted over Genevieve's betrayal a year ago, Christian can't believe she's come back into his life--and worse, that she's done it on the anniversary of his brother's death, a death that haunts him. Though tempted to throw her back into the river where he found her, he can't leave her at the mercy of the terrifying man she married.

When her husband torments Genevieve and puts the Amesbury family in danger, Christian will do anything to protect those he loves...anything except give Genevieve another chance to break his heart.

My Review

I really felt for Christian in this book. He has always tried to do his best and live up to the expectations of his parents, but suffers from heartbreak and rejection. I can't imagine the difficulty of Genevieve's decision in throwing aside the love of her life to atone for her father's mistakes and sacrificing herself to a known abuser. The situation that throws Genevieve back into Christian's life tests his patience, heart, and moral code. I felt conflicted in rooting for the couple since she is still married to the villain and any romantic relationship that developed between them would lead to adultery, so the resolution leading to their happy ending is a bit predictable. Once again we witness the loyalty of the Amesbury brothers and family as they support each other despite some sibling rivalry. Not my favorite of the Rogue Hearts series but it was still an enthralling read.

(Thank you to Loving the Book Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: An Amish Christmas Gift by Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, Kelly Irvin

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston
Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love, has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches a time of family, faith, and hope for many others Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.

An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid
Abigail Kemp has managed to frighten off every bu who's ever driven her home from a singing. Sure she will live to be an old maid, Abigail starts saving her money to buy a horse so she can at least have some independence.
Micah Zook is looking for a caregiver for his grandmother, and Abigail needs a new job. He never expected that Abigail would talk so much . . . or that his grandmother would keep finding ways to set the two of them up.
Despite Abigail's constant chatter, she and Micah become friends until Micah makes a decision that leaves Abigail feeling betrayed. With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal what's on his heart?

A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin
Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt Abigail and her husband Mordecai. After all, she knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome but Englisch farmer boy back in Missouri. It's best to put those feelings aside, no matter how hard it is. But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case. Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?

My Review

I'm a fan of these Amish novella collections, especially during a busy time of year like Christmas. It's so nice to sit down and be able to read a story or two at a time. Each of these is set during the holidays and the main character is feeling isolated from her family and community, but receives the gift of love.

Naomi is deemed undesirable by Caleb's busybody sister, and it was a bit frustrating to see him pursue the wrong girl once he decided that marriage was his goal. It was surprising that barely courting someone would lead to assumptions of a betrothal, before they even had a chance to get to know each other well. I enjoyed Naomi's sincerity and the antics of Caleb's young daughter.

Abigail's gift of gab prevents Micah from giving her a chance, but his grandmother takes a liking to her and he's desperate for help. I liked that as he was able to witness her redeeming qualities her quirks became endearing instead of annoying. He's kind of overbearing when they disagree, but she is anything but a doormat and sparks are always flying.

I loved the story of Rocky and Frannie and the progression of their relationship with each other. The themes of sacrifice, obedience, and spirituality were woven together as Rocky explores the Amish lifestyle with the potential of joining their faith. They had the sweetest romantic moments of the collection since they already had feelings for each other which only deepen as they are tested.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

My 2016 Reading Challenge Picks!

I spent my toddler's naptime today watching the rain as I wore my husband's coziest sweatshirt and deciding which books to choose for the 2016 Reading Challenge. Here are my picks... what are yours???

A book published this year

A book you can finish in a day

A book you've been meaning to read

A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller

A book you should have read in school

A book chosen for you by a friend (thanks Megan!)

A book published before you were born

A book that was banned at some point

A book you've previously abandoned

A book you own but have never read

A book that intimidates you

A book you've already read at least once (waaaay more than once...)