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Review of Her Hometown Redemption featuring an interview with my English Rose, Rachel Brimble! w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

BookCover_HerHometownRedemption

 

Her Hometown Redemption

by Rachel Brimble

 

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BLURB:

 

When Tanya Todd returns to Templeton Cove, she knows better than to expect a warm welcome. She burned a few bridges on her way out of town, and making amends won’t be easy. First on her list is the man whose heart she carelessly shattered, Liam Browne.

 

Seeing the successful criminal lawyer after all these years, Tanya is interested in more than just Liam’s forgiveness. As they work together to bring the man who hurt her sister to justice, the attraction between them sizzles. Suddenly Tanya’s second chance could include a future with Liam…if she can prove she’s changed.

 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Redemption-Templeton-Cove-Stories-ebook/dp/B00SVP8AEO/

 

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-hometown-redemption-rachel-brimble/1121122576

 

Harlequin:  http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=60021&cid=

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Excerpt Two:

 

He stepped toward the window and peered through the small gap between the frame and the closed blind. An array of glass display cabinets stood side by side, waiting to be filled with whatever party planners filled cabinets with, as well as what looked like a rolled rug or carpet. He was about to pull back and get his ass over to his own office where it belonged, when a very female shadow passed over the cabinets. Judging by the curve of breasts he remembered only too well, Tanya had just made herself visible. He smiled. “Got you.”

 

He walked back to the door and bent down, pushing open the letterbox. “Tanya, open up. I know you’re in there. Look, I just want to talk to you, okay?” Liam darted his gaze over the gleaming white floor tiles and a stack of boxes. “If you’re still upset about the whole tossing you on the couch thing, I’m sor––”

 

A brief glance of black denim clad legs whipped into his limited vision before a lock clicked. Tanya flung the door open with such force he nearly fell face first onto her office floor. He gripped the doorjamb and straightened.

 

She stared into his eyes, her darkening with sadness. “You’re right. We do need to talk.”

 

He frowned. “Are you okay?”

 

She blinked. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

 

His smile dissolved and his heart kicked painfully. “What?”

 

“I’m sorry for a lot of things, but I’m sorry for hurting you most of all.”

 

When a tear slipped down her cheek, Liam reached for her before he could think just how stupid a mistake that might be. “Hey, come here.”

 

Taking her hand in his, Liam leaned down to retrieve his briefcase before kicking the door closed. Dropping the case a second time, he led Tanya to a low wooden cabinet and drew his hands to her waist, lifted her and sat her down on top. Her legs opened and he stood between them…just like he used to.

authorinterview

 

 

Welcome Rachel! Please start off by telling us a little about yourself.

Hi, Harlie! I am married to my wonderful Mr. B and we have two teenage daughters. We live near the famous and beautiful city of Bath, England which I just love! I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance and Victorian romance for eKensington/Lyrical Press.

When I’m not writing, I like to read, knit and watch far too much US crime drama and British period drama. My biggest author influences are Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis & Jean Fullerton.

 

Is Her Hometown Redemption a single title, or part of a series?

 

Her Hometown Redemption is book 5 in my Harlequin Templeton Cove series – all the books can be read as stand-alone stories and have a fun cast of characters who often make cameo appearances.

 

What were your inspirations for the story?

 

The hero and heroine (Liam Browne and Tanya Todd) first made an appearance as secondary characters in book 3 (What Belongs To Her). During the writing of that book, it becomes clear that these two have a history – it wasn’t long before Tanya was giving me the nudge to tell their story and Her Hometown Redemption was born!

 

Please share your setting for Her Hometown Redemption. Have you ever lived or visited there? If so, what did you like most?  

 

Templeton Cove is a fictional UK seaside town but was hugely influenced by my visits to the British coastal towns of Torquay and Paignton. I love romance series and wanted to keep my books set in the UK where the unpredictable weather can really influence the mood and tone of a seaside town. Summer is a great time of the year near the coast, whereas the winter can bring its dangers. I thought the weather conditions could make for an ever-changing backdrop to some great stories.

 

When did the writing bug first bite?

When I was very young! I wrote my very first book when I eight or nine and had started devouring Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven series. I adored those books! I continued to write on and off through the years, but it wasn’t until my youngest daughter started school full time in 2005 that I started pursuing publication. The Wild Rose Press published my first full-length novel, Searching For Sophie, in 2007.

 

Who are you favorite authors, book/series?

Nora Roberts – anything and everything!

Jill Shalvis – Lucky Harbor series

Jean Fullerton – Victorian series

 

If you could have an author roundtable discussion with any authors, who would you invite?

See above! I would love to talk writing and books with these fabulous authors…if I wasn’t too starstuck, of course J

 

Do you have any hobbies or special things you like to do in your spare time? 

I love to knit! It is a true passion of mine and I could spend all day, every day knitting if finances allowed. My kids never want me to knit anything for them any more so I mostly knit for myself, my mother-in law or making throws etc for around the house. I have no idea how I watched TV without my hands being busy before I took up knitting about seven years ago.

 

What’s the strangest thing you’ve heard or seen?

I’m not sure about the strangest thing, but after I was rescued by helicopter during the 2010 French floods, I did realize the terrifying power of water as well as the kind generosity of strangers.

What is the one thing that you would tell an inspiring writer to do?

 

Write! So many aspiring authors want to be published but never make writing and submitting their work a priority. Unfortunately, there is no easy way into publishing and the only way to get your work seen is to produce the best work you can and then submit it. It can be terrifying first of all and you need a very thick skin, but perseverance will pay off. Promise!

 

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review

What can I say?  I’m sure a super fangirl of my English Rose.  She could rewrite the phone book and I’d read it.  🙂  Of course, I’ve been reading her since she started her writing career with The Wild Rose Press.  But let’s do the review, shall we?

I honestly don’t know where to start with the review.  I loved the book and there were bits that I didn’t love.  I know, that’s so weird for me in reading Ms. Brimble.  While I loved Liam and Tanya, I felt like parts of the book were left sorta hanging in the wind.  I would have liked more involvement from John (who inherited Funland) and his perspective about trying to finally find who hurt Sasha after all those years ago.  Yes, it’s explained in their book but I would have liked more supportive from him in this one.  I would suggest that you read What Belongs to Her featuring Sasha and John before reading this one.  You might get a better understanding of where Tanya and Liam are coming from in this book.

Don’t get me wrong.  Ms. Brimble explains, effortlessly, the back story of Sasha’s story and ultimately Tanya’s story here but you would remiss to not read it.  It’s an awesome book and shows how true love can change a person…for the good.  Plus, come on…its my English Rose.  Plus, we get Jay and Cat in that book, too.  Which leads me to Jay and Cat.  They set the series in the first book and show up again in this one.  Cat is such a badass and Jay is a great sounding board for Liam.  He sees right through Liam and takes him task.

Tanya is such a well-rounded heroine.  She has problems that are NOT skirted over.  Ms. Brimble does a great job in dealing with her anxiety issues and how she copes with them, or maybe doesn’t cope.  Having Lucy around as her assistant is brilliant.  Hopefully, Lucy will get a story in the near future.  I truly liked her and felt like she had more to say.  I will have to say that I didn’t like Marion in this one.  Every town needs a busybody and matchmaker but in this one, she just kinda grated on my nerves.  She needed to butt out and leave Liam and Tanya alone to figure it out all by themselves (which eventually she did).

Liam was a great hero for Tanya.  He called her out when needed and loved her when she needed or at times, didn’t feel like she deserved it.  I particularly liked how he dealt with Abe at the fair.  I couldn’t decide whether to giggle or applaud.  Plus, he can take me on a desk anytime.  😉  Well thought out character and I completely understood why he was helping Tanya.  In the beginning it was for Sasha, his friend but in the end it was for Sasah and her closure so they could be together without distractions.

Overall, Ms. Brimble did an excellent job of tying up Sasha and again, ultimately Tanya’s story in the end.  I just wish some things were better fleshed out.  I realize that I’m picking about John but I would like to hear his side in the book.  I missed him.

Overall, buy this book.  Read it, savor it and then go back and read every other book in the series.  Ms. Brimble knows her craft.  She pulls you and doesn’t let go until well after you finished.  I’m still thinking about Cat, Jay, John, Sasha, Tanya and Liam.  In fact, I might go back and re-read the whole series.  Yes, its that awesome.  Its on my keeper shelf and will never leave.

5harlies

recommend-harlies- new 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:AuthorPhoto_HerHometownRedemption

 

 

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington–her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015.

 

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

 

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

 

Links:

Website -http://rachelbrimble.com/

Blog – http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref=ts

Facebook Street Team – Rachel’s Readers – https://www.facebook.com/groups/RachelsReaders/?fref=ts

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

Rachel will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT_TourBanner_HerHometownRedemption

18 thoughts on “Review of Her Hometown Redemption featuring an interview with my English Rose, Rachel Brimble! w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

  1. You had to be terrified when you were rescued by helicopter! I’ve really enjoyed your book tour and learning more about you and your book, thank you!

    1. Hi Betty! We were terrified – my husband and I were recently featured on a documentary here in the UK. The producers have said a US channel have brought the rights now too – so maybe you’ll get to hear all about it on TV one day soon 🙂

    1. Hi Momjane!

      You are so kind and thank you for following me on my tour – I’m thoroughly enjoying myself!

  2. I’ve never read a super romance before. What exactly makes it a super romance as opposed to just straight Harlequin romance? The sounds really good by the way.

    1. Hi Kim!
      Superromance is Harlequin’s longest line at 85,000 words – the length gives its author the scope to tackle deeper issues, create a bigger cast of characters and add some great subplots to enhance the central romance. I highly recommend…of course! 😉

    1. Hi Mai! I am usually working to a deadline so a month is sometimes hard, but I do try to leave it at least two weeks before I dive back in. The break gives an author time to look at the whole story with fresh eyes 🙂

  3. Thank you SO much for such a fab review, Harlie! Glad you enjoyed the book and thanks for your input about John…maybe I need to write another story bringing him and Sasha back 🙂

    1. Hi English Rose. I would love to see the guy brought to justice to give true closure but hey, that’s just me. LOL!

      I just missed his thoughts on it. Sasha was being awfully vague with him.

      Harlie

      1. I must admit, I wish I had more than the 85,000 words to work on this one – I could have gone a lot further with it if limits allowed!

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