Monday, August 15, 2016

The Loyal Heart

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
THE LOYAL HEART

Robert came to Gaveston to fulfill his promise to a dying man and look after his widow. He didn't expect to find love in the unlikeliest of places.

Robert Truax, former Second Lieutenant and Confederate officer in the Civil War, made a promise to his comrade Phillip Markham. If anything happened to Phillip, Robert would look after his beloved wife, Miranda. She was his life, his world, his everything.

After the war, Robert is left to pick up the pieces and fulfill his pact. When he arrives at Miranda's home in Galveston, Texas, things are worse than he imagined. Phillip's name has been dragged through the mud, everyone in town believes him to be a traitor, and his widow is treated as an outcast. Even more disturbing is her emotional well-being. Miranda seems hopeless, lost, and so very alone.

Robert had thought his duty would be simple. He would help Miranda as quickly as possible in order to honor a promise. But the moment Robert laid eyes on her, his plans changed. He's mesmerized by her beauty and yearns to help her in any way he can.

He makes it his duty to protect Miranda, turn her reputation around, and to find some way to help her smile again. But it doesn't prove to be an easy task -- Robert knows something about Phillip that could shake Miranda to the core and alter her view of the man she though she knew so well.

My Review:

An exciting new series (A Lone Star Hero's Love Story) by an author I adore! I love the premise of the series -- desperate men in a desperate situation making a pact to watch out for one another even after the war ends. It speaks of their honour and valour and put this reader into a bit of a tailspin 'cause there's nothing so swoony as a take charge hero who's got your back.

Gray tackles the difficult subject of depression in The Loyal Heart. Miranda has been victimized and subjected to relentless cruelty for so long that it's taken its toll. She's in a vulnerable place when Robert arrives on her doorstep. I love the way she  is able to draw from his strength and kindness. It's like a rebirth slowly takes place over the course of the novel and Miranda comes out better, stronger and more sure of herself than ever before. Wonderful growth -- both in character and in the relationship that sparks between the Lieutenant and the widow.

Robert is a self-made man who dons the veneer of gentlemanly manners with ease. He's a delicious contradiction of cold steel and passionate heat. And gallantly devoted to easing Miranda's pain. He's half in love with her before he even steps over the threshold of her boarding house -- at least with the impression her enamoured husband has left with him. I think it's fair to call Robert noble. He wouldn't agree since he's of lowly birth and had to scrape for a living until he joined the army. Such a deliciously complicated man and the perfect complement for Miranda.

The suspense is intriguing and it take outsiders to cut through the tangled web of deceit which has trapped more than just Miranda in its sticky mess. Compelling secondary characters -- both purely evil and divinely good -- flesh out this captivating read. Eagerly awaiting book two.

My thanks to Zondervan Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for providing me with a copy of this book.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Loyal Heart please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 21 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

50 comments:

  1. I saw this one for the first time as I was desperately seeking books for someone's giveaway last week! (ahem!) I love Shelley's books and this sounds like another winner! Thank you for the compelling review, Kav!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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  2. Shelley is an amazing author. I know this well be a great read!
    karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. She's one of the best. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  4. I so enjoy Shelley's books and always look forward to new releases. I just finished reading A Daughter's Dream, and I highly recommend it. Thanks! Cathy.
    dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. I do too. I haven't read A Daughter's Dream yet but I'd better before the next book in that series comes out. Good luck, Cathy.

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  5. I've never read any books by this author, but this sounds SO good! I'd love to read it!
    J.C. -Indiana-

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  6. A winner for sure! Please sign me up! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  7. I love books set around the time of the Civil War. I'm looking forward to reading this one.
    Thank you for the giveaway opportunity! :)

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    1. It's a popular historical fiction time period. And post war south is very interesting. Good luck, Melody.

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    2. Forgot my email address!!!

      melodybissonnette AT gmail DOT com

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  8. Sounds like an inspiring story!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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  9. I've read many of her Amish stories and enjoyed them tremendously! I know I'd enjoy this one as well :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    Replies
    1. She's such a versatile author -- and so prolific. Good luck, Trixi.

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  10. Oooh, sounds good! lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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  11. Last week was a great time for looking at these other books!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. Last week was a blast, wasn't it. Good luck, Melody.

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  12. The Loyal Heart sounds intriguing. This is going on my "want to read" list.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  13. I've had this book on my "must read" list for a while. It sounds so good, plus I'm a huge Shelley Shepard Gray fan. She doesn't disappoint. Thanks for the review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Yes, she's a go-to author for me. Good luck, Pam.

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  14. TBR list has grown a foot longer since last week alone, thanks to you, Kav.😃 I love everything about this period in our history and I really want to read this book. Thanks for the chance.
    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. What would we readers be without our overgrown TBR lists?????? Good luck, Diane.

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  15. I have loved the series from Chicago World Fair and am looking forward to this series. Thanks for the giveaway!
    mindyhoung (at) msn (dot) com

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    1. I loved that series as well. And so many of her Amish series. I love the way she overlaps characters but gives each book's hero and heroine full closure. Good luck, MH.

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  16. This looks really good. I've enjoyed her World's Fair series (still need to read the third one!), and look forward to reading her take on another setting and era.
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Loved the World's Fair series. Good luck, Nicole.

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  17. I know Shelley has been around for a while, but I'm not sure that I have read any of her books!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(com)

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    1. Oooooohhhhh - she has so many -- both historical and Amish. You're in for a treat. Good luck, Patty.

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  18. I didn't know about this new series. I adore Shelley's books!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. It's impossible to keep up with her! Both historical and Amish series being published almost back to back. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  19. Shelley Shepard Gray has such a way with words. I look forward to reading this one.
    Dianna

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    1. And such an imagination! Good luck, Dianna.

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  20. I can barely keep up with Shelley Shepard Gray, anymore. Actually, I can't at all, but it's fun to try. So, is there a definate ending/tying up of loose ends or is it a "to be continued?" Or just a continuation of some story threads? tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. There's a definite conclusion. The series is going to highlight a group of soldiers who made a pact to watch out for each other even after the war. This book was Robert's story though we got to meet two future heroes (at least I think they'll each get their own book.) I'm thinking the next book will be another soldier who needs assistance in some way and the group will converge and back him up too...that kind of thing. So no loose threads to worry about. It's a really neat premise for a story I think and the post-war south makes a fascinating backdrop.

      And yes, I agree, keeping up with Shelley Shepard Gray is almost as hard as keeping up with Ruth Logan Herne! LOL We can but try and enjoy the journey in the process. Good luck, Terrill.

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  21. This book sounds soooo good! I love civil war era fiction. The chivalry of Robert and the promise he made to look after his army comrade's wife captured my heart...sigh! Throw in suspense and a tangled web of deceit....I am all in!!!

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I know -- what's not to like? Good luck, agboss.

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  22. This book sounds so good! I'm looking forward to reading it soon. Thanks for this giveaway! d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  23. I am looking forward to reading this one! Thanks for your review and the chance to win, Kav!
    betherin02 AT gmail DOT com

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    1. I predict you'll love it, Beth Erin. Good luck!

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  24. I love this authoress to the pieces"

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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