Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Heart Land

GIVEAWAY
STUART, KIMBERLY
HEART LAND

Grace Kleren finally made her dreams of a fashion career in New York City a reality. But when she's fired and can't pull together next month's rent, Grace does something she never thought she'd do: she moves back home to Iowa.

Grace hates the tiny town, where everything closes early, where there's no nightlife, and where everyone knows each other's business. She's saving her pennies and plotting her return to New York when she runs into Tucker, the boy -- now man -- whose heart she broke when she left ten years ago. When they reconnect, Grace starts to remember why she fell for him in the first place.

Her career begins to turn around when she finds an outdated vintage dress at a flea market, updating and selling the look. Suddenly, Grace has her ticket out. But her feelings for Tucker are becoming undeniable, and Grace must decide where home really is. Will she chase her long held New York dream, or find a new dream here in the heartland?

My Review:

First off -- how on earth have I never read anything by this author before?! Once again my avid reader spidey senses failed me because I hadn't even heard of Kimberly Stuart until my library introduced us. Gotta love a public library that keeps you on your toes!!!!! So, Heart Land might be my first Stuart novel but it certainly won't be my last!

This was sheer romantical bliss! Small town second chance love story with a crackerjack grandma who is endearing despite (or maybe because of) her inability to be subtle. And her opinionated friends -- what a hoot! But as much as I adored Gigi for her comic relief tendencies, I loved her for her willingness to keep sharing her faith with a granddaughter who doesn't understand.

And Tucker and Grace together again!!!! Be still my heart. Awkward, heat-charged first meet after being apart for a decade -- emotion churning, sparks flying -- the kind of scene that makes a reader sit up and take notice.

He's small town practical, she's big city dreamer -- it's what pulled them apart the first time and now they are setting up for an encore performance. It was agonizing in places. I wanted to read with my eyes closed until we got through the gnarly bit. Tucker's tenderness is toe-curling. Sometimes I wanted to smack Grace upside the head because....Tucker!!!!...but she had to figure it out in her own way as excruciating as that might have been for me. :-) At least I could swoon over Tucker while I waited for her to catch up.

A touching love story that left me replete with bookish warm fuzzies.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Heart Land, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

43 comments:

  1. Looks Great 👍
    I love small towns 😘
    This is going on My Wish List
    Thanks for the chance 😃💖😍💗
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 💗💜💗

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    1. Ha -- your wish list has to be long enough to circle the world -- just like mine! lol Good luck, Linda!

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    2. It is I'm scared to do the little fun test to find out how old I'd be before I finish it LOL 😄

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  2. I am/was not at all familiar with this author, but I like the sound of this story! And as one who likes to sew, the vintage dress angle is very compelling. Thanks!

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    1. You'll love the vintage dress angle, CC. I'm not much for the cutthroat fashion business which is where this story starts out but I loved the way the heroine turns things around once she gets home. :-) Good luck, CC!

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  3. I just placed an order over the weekend with this book. When I saw that you were reviewing it, I was looking forward to your thoughts. I haven't yet read this author's books, but I have a number of them on my wish list. I figured I would just start with her newest and work my way backwards. Lol. I'm thrilled for your excitement and glowing recommendation. Obviously, I'm not entering this one.

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    1. Yay you for taking a chance on an unknown-to-you author! Have to confess my copy came from my public library -- thankfully so or I wouldn't have been any the wiser. Happy Reading, Terrill!

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  4. Well you've convinced me to try this author! I just started seeing Heart Land around the web but hadn't paid much attention to it.

    Is she a Christian writer?

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Yes -- Christian writer. The publisher is Howard Books. Ah, just checked her website and she has a mix of General Market and Christian fiction books. She has four others in the general market. One of them looks really intriguing -- Operation Bonnet -- Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. She gets her first big break when she meets Amos Shetler, but she has to don a bonnet and infiltrate the Amish in order to solve the case.' Good luck, Trixi!

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  5. New author for me. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Isn't it fun to discover new-to-me authors?! Good luck, Kim!

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  6. I love second chance romance and small towns. Great review this sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance.

    Tighefan42atgmail dotcom

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    1. This sounds like the perfect match for you! Good luck, Tammy!

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  7. New author to me...thanks for your review, Kav. I just downloaded a freebie Kindle by her ..Balancing Act.. #1 in a series....wanted to give her a try. Thanks for your review.
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. You're welcome, Jackie. And thanks for the tip about the freebie kindle. Balancing Act looks to be very different to this one -- Women's Fiction vs Contemporary Romance. I think that's the first in a series. Good luck, Jackie!

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  8. That cover is so pretty! This is a new author for me.

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  9. New author to me. Added to my want to read list. Thank you for sharing. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Happy to introduce you to somebody new to read, Lucy! Good luck!

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  10. I am not familiar with Kimberly Stuart either, at least the name doesn't ring a bell. I do love a small town setting.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Seems like she crept up on all of us! Good luck, Patty!

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  11. Thanks so much for your review! I’m not familiar with this author, but I’ll be adding her to my list. Thanks for the chance!

    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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  12. Great review! KAV, thank you for sharing this author with us!

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  13. Charming review! I've recently heard of this author but I haven't had a chance to read any of her books. Now, I really want to check this book out. And I adore the book cover! Thanks for the giveaway!

    usedtextbooks5(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Glad I could introduce so many people to Kimberly Stuart today. We can all thank my public library! Good luck, C. Monroe!

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  14. What an amazing cover! "HEART LAND" definitely sounds like a book that I would love to read. Gigi sounds like the perfect grandma - fun to be around, pulls no punches but is loving and supportive at the same time.

    Kimberly Stuart is a new to me author as well. Thanks for introducing me to one that I will be following now.

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Gigi is such an awesome character! Good luck, Kay!

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  15. This sounds like a great story and I love reading books that take place near where I grew up. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  16. This author is new to me and I would love to read this book. Thank you, Kav!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  17. Oooo this sounds like a good one! New-to-me author so I'd live to try it!

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    1. Yay -- glad to introduce you to someone new. Good luck, Melissa!

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  18. I love hearing about new authors, I will put this on my long list to read over the summer.

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    1. There's something both alarming and comforting about those long wish lists. Good luck, Karen!

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  19. Being a small town girl, these are the best books!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Being a city girl, I'm envious! lol Good luck, rubynreba!

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  20. I love second chance & small town romances. This one sounds perfect.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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