Saturday, May 28, 2016

The Hesitant Heiress


GIVEAWAY

CRANDALL, DAWN
THE HESITANT HEIRESS

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother.

Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt's Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men -- Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother's tragic death.

However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems...and everything she never knew she wanted. But cans she ever really trust an Everstone man?

My Review:

The kind of delicious read that's sweet and satisfying and more than a little addictive. I should be mourning the fact that I've reached the end but I'm actually happy dancing instead because I have the next two books in The Everstone Chronicles to look forward to. So deep mourning has been staved off until the end of book three. :-)

This is the kind of story a reader can easily slip into. The cares and worries of real time disappeared as I became completely absorbed in Amaryllis's tale. In fact, thanks to the first person point of view, I became the heroine, living and breathing right along with her. Though I will confess that I was the first to swoon over the enigmatic hero.

While this isn't a Gothic novel, it does possess some of my favourite elements of that genre. A heroine at the mercy of others, a brooding hero she can't quite identify as friend or foe and the alluring air of mystery that cloaks them all. In fact, the feeling of something sinister afoot grew with every turning page. Amaryllis was not as concerned as I was, perhaps because of her annoying propensity for jumping to the wrong conclusion -- especially where Nathan in concerned.

And as far as heroes go -- blissful sigh -- Nathan Everstone makes my top ten list. Instant connection from the first time we met. I didn't harbour the same prejudices that Amaryllis did so I saw him in a different light. In fact, that's the amazing thing about this first person perspective. Even though we only 'hear' the heroine's thoughts, the reader is able to discern words and actions differently. So when Amaryllis is positive that Nathan is regarding her with sneering disdain, I'm just as convinced that those taut features are conveying frustrated longing. That kind of perception brought a thrilling edge to my reading pleasure.

Well, pleasure isn't quite the right word. Reader torment might be more apt. There's twists and turns aplenty and a villain or two to flush out, not to mention the tangled emotions of two stubborn hearts to set right. And just when I thought all was well and my upended world could finally be righted...Gah!...It wasn't! I confess I had to skip to the last page just to make sure all was not lost!

An enthralling, captivating, sumptuous feast of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Seek and Find 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

19 comments:

  1. Kav, I love your review and would love to read this one. Thank you for sharing!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Melanie. Good luck. It's an awesome read.

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  2. Read. You did a nice review for it.

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  3. I've been hearing about this book and now your review has me on the edge of my seat. Any book that makes the top ten hero list is one I definitely want to read. (I hear there's also a book four coming out this year) Thanks Kav!

    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. Yess -- book four is coming out in the fall. So expect to see book two and book three reviewed here sometime very soon. I need to be prepared for September! Good luck, Tracey.

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  4. This book sounds so good and what a beautiful cover!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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    1. The cover is gorgeous, isn't it? The whole series is exquisite. Good luck, Samantha.

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  5. Ooh! I would love to be entered, Kav!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  6. It's sooooooo fantastic. Kind of makes me giddy just thinking about it. Good luck, Kate.

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  7. Replies
    1. Isn't it delicious?????? Leaves a happy reader glow at the end.

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  8. I've wanted to read this book for quite some time, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'd love to win a copy!
    J.C. -Indiana-

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  9. The cover is so beautiful and the story sounds exquisite. I need to catch up. I haven't read any of her books yet.

    Deanne P.
    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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    1. I believe this is her debut and she has two more out and one due out in the Fall. Good luck, Deanne.

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  10. You know she has a 4th one coming out? The Cautious Maiden coming October of this year, if you don't have it on your to-read or purchase list, you simply MUST! :-)
    Your review is pure delight as usual, Kav!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thanks, Trixi. And yes -- I knew the fourth one was coming out in the fall. Great for me since I won't have to wait as long but I'll still be feeling impatient I'm sure.

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