Review of Yesterday's Promise by Delia Latham

This review has been posted at You Gotta Read Reviews.
Title: Yesterday’s Promise
Author: Delia Latham
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Buy Yesterday's Promise Here!

Rating: You GOTTA Read

Reviewed by: MarthaE

A whirlwind romance amidst the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park.

A spur-of-the-moment wedding near Bridalveil Fall.

A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.

Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by singing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.

Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, and Brock follows hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.

REVIEW: This story grabs your attention and doesn’t let go!

Hannah is a dedicated singer at a dinner lounge. She dreams of saving her money to buy the lounge from her beloved, “fatherly” boss, Kip, and turn it into a Christian bookstore and coffee shop. That is hard to do as she struggles to raise her three year old son as a single mother.

Her dreams are shattered when Kip tells her he is selling out because of his deteriorating health. That is tough enough to take but becomes even harder when she discovers the buyer is Brock, the man who walked out of her live three years before after their wedding night. Add insult to injury when Brock shows absolutely no recognition of Hannah.

Brock is handsome and protective, if a bit overbearing. He is completely puzzled by Hannah’s antagonism towards him but still drawn to her and her impishly sweet son with whom he strikes up a quick friendship.

Hannah keeps her secrets out of pride and Brock hides his secrets for other reasons. The repartee and dance between them is engaging and endearing. Hannah struggles to allow her Christian faith to govern her actions rather than be controlled by her anger and resentment. Can she get past her hurt and open her heart to learn the truth and give healing forgiveness? Can Brock allow himself to heal from his injuries and discover the past he has lost?

The Yellowstone scenery is described exquisitely so that you want to go visit the setting. The supporting characters have enough depth to add to the story without distracting or detracting from the main protagonists.

The story moves along quickly as you wait to see how God will work things out for these two characters. Hannah’s steadfast faith, even laced with some natural doubt and human struggles, is wonderful to read. The romance that is revealed is warm and beautiful. This is just a superb story and I have added Ms. Latham to my “must read” author list!

Author's Website 

Review and Giveaway for The Macgregor's Daughter!

This is an abbreviated version of my review of The Macgregor’s Daughter posted at You Gotta Read Reviews. Click on the book title to see the full review!

Author: Dee Julian.
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Buy Link

Rating: You GOTTA Read
Reviewed by: MarthaE

Blurb: In 1776 England, American born Anadreya Macgregor is branded a spy by the arrogant Marquis of Canderlay. Despite her pleas of innocence, he refuses to listen and has her imprisoned. Aided by the Scottish father she never knew, Dreya escapes to Dragon's Breath Castle.
Five years later, the laird is missing and a badly injured Frenchman washes ashore. Dreya is wary of the blind and amnesic man, though something about him is hauntingly familiar. Is he an ally or a ruthless mercenary who stumbled upon her father's smuggling activities?
The stranger's vision and memory gradually return and Dreya discovers her fate and the continued existence of her clan might very well be in his hands. As the web of deception binding them together unravels, both are in danger of losing everything. Including their hearts.

Review: This is a remarkably engaging historical debut! Full of action, mystery and romance! This is a book that catches your attention from the get go and keeps you turning pages to find out what happens!!

Dreya is a wonderfully bold and strong young woman. ....
Any stranger at Dragon’s Breath is suspect and Dreya doesn’t know what to do with the injured “gentleman pirate” found on the rocks.

....[Lucian] is pretty arrogant under all circumstances which creates a heightened tension between him and Dreya. A pleasant friendship develops between them during his weeks of recuperation but there still isn’t total trust. Then Lucian risks his life to save Dreya’s dog. So why does she lock him in the dungeon after that?

.... While [escaping, Lucian] locks Dreya in the dungeon which convinces her that he will betray her family and clan. ....

Is Lucian aiding the pirates? Will he give evidence against Macgregor? Or will he go back and somehow rescue the intrepid Scottish lass?

The author brings these characters to life and surrounds them with a beautiful, rugged setting and a good mysterious plot. The action starts from the first few pages and continues to the end. I would describe the romance as lightly sensual which confirms to me that it is not necessary to have even steamy interaction to have a good story. This is a great entertaining read and I highly recommend it!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Author, Dee Julian has graciously agreed to give a free eBook as a giveaway!

1. Comment here - if you can think of something Scottish to say that might be fun - but I won't require it! However, you must include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, share this giveaway on your blog, my space, facebook or Twitter and tell me where you shared it.

4. I will be posting an interview with Ms. Julian starting tomorrow October 2! To keep the posts shorter I am splitting it into a series. If you comment or ask a question on any of the interview posts that will be another entry!

5. You may make all entries in a single comment or separate comments. Since I have realized that I have to put names/entries on a list for numbering anyway, posting separtely doesn't make a difference unless you post at different times so your numbers are not consecutive!

There will make four total entries possible.

This contest is open to anyone who can download an eBook!

This contest will close Midnight (Central) on Friday, October 23, 2009. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced October 24.