Monday, November 2, 2015

6th Anniversary Celebration - - Review & Giveaway of Heartsong Cottage





Heartsong Cottage
By Emily March
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: November 3, 2015




Shannon O’Toole is beginning to feel at home in Eternity Springs, Colorado. Between flipping houses, teaching yoga, and operating the only pub in town, she stays busy, a good thing since it leaves her less time to think. Even so, she has made some good friends and grown comfortable in the small, friendly town. But Shannon is a woman with secrets, a woman who must live her life poised on ready. The wrong phone call or peace-destroying message can send her running for her life once again. For Shannon, safety is an illusion, even in Eternity Springs.

Daniel Garrett is one of the walking wounded. Ten years ago, his young son was kidnapped and killed, and a few months later, his wife, broken by the loss of her child, committed suicide. Leaving his job as a Boston cop, Daniel became a private investigator, specializing in searching for missing children. He is very good at his job, but too often it is bodies he finds rather than a living child. And each time that happens, the experience carves another hole in Daniel’s heart. He first came to Eternity Springs after his friend Hope Montgomery, now Hope Romano, moved there (Miracle Road, Eternity Springs 7). Since then, he has been a frequent visitor, finding at least a measure of peace and healing during his visits.

Most of the population of Eternity Springs gathers for the much-anticipated wedding of Gabi Romano and Flynn Brogan (Dreamweaver Trail, Eternity Springs 8). It is there that Shannon and Daniel meet, drawn together by a spark of attraction that flames into one memorable night together. However, it is more than passion that these two survivors share, and they are soon more involved than either of them expected. But the past casts long shadows. Can they move past their fears to find a family and a future together in the place where they began to heal separately?

Heartsong Cottage, the tenth book in March’s popular Eternity Springs series, is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Shannon and Daniel both have suffered devastating losses, but they found the strength not only to keep going but also to contribute to life. They are likeable and inspiring characters. As always, Eternity Springs is a wonderful place to visit. It is a place filled with warmth and hope and romance—continuing, beginning, and promising to ignite at some future date. Celeste Blessing is again a beneficent spirit whose prescience and power suggest that the wings she bestows on those who win their battles are not the only ones in her possession.

Clearly readers who have followed the series will recognize beloved characters and enjoy attending Gabi and Flynn’s wedding and celebrating a new baby with Sage and Colt Rafferty in a way that new readers will not. As a long-time reader of Emily March, aka Geralyn Dawson, I also loved the way the Callahans—not just Eternity Springs resident Gabe--are integrated into this book. Nevertheless, the book can be read as a standalone or as a gate into the series.

Readers should take note that, despite the presence of Celeste and the conclusion that stays true to the expectations of most readers of romance fiction, this tenth book is perhaps the darkest of the series. Some of the plot points—kidnapping, murder of children, twisted stalkers, etc.-- may be triggers for some readers. There is a bit of the thriller mixed with conventional small-town romance here. It is well-done, and some readers may like the higher intensity. I confess, wimp that I am, I prefer a little less action and a little more talk (with apologies to Toby Keith). The five stars reflect my objective admiration for Ms. March’s skills, but my personal preference would place this one behind some of the earlier, less angsty books. However, I loved these characters, and I never miss an Eternity Springs book. I’m already primed for Lori and Chase’s reunion story (my favorite trope). It is appropriately entitled Reunion Pass and scheduled for release April 5, 2016.

~Janga

Readers, do you enjoy some darkness in your books or, like Janga, do you prefer more talk, less action?

Are you a fan of the Eternity Springs books? Do you have a favorite?


I like reunion romances and am looking forward to Lori and Chase's book. Do you enjoy reunion stories?



Five randomly chosen people who leave a comment before 11:59 pm (EST), Thursday, November 5th will receive a print copy of Heartsong Cottage. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the donation of the books. (U.S. / Canada only)  

Readers, be sure to check out the other 6th Anniversary posts and Giveaways while you're here! 

26 comments:

  1. I don't mind a little darkness in my novels, but only a little. This one sounds quite a bit darker than the other ES novels. And I adore Eternity Springs. I want to visit there. :) My favorite is Heartache Falls.

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    1. I'm a buffet reader. I like a little bit of everything, depending on my mood. There are times when I enjoy a dark, angsty story and others when I only want to laugh. I want to visit Eternity Springs too. I want to meet Celeste!

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  2. Darkness adds to the novels which I appreciate. Eternity Springs is lovely and special. Reunion stories are meaningful and real since it involves so much, emotion, maturity and resolution.

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  3. I enjoy darkness and light since life is not only one aspect and I look forward to something profound as well as everyday. Eternity Springs is attractive and compelling. I would go there any day. I always am interested in Reunion stories because they resonate with me and life.

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  4. Lover's Leap is my favorite so far in the series as I love second chance/reunion stories. I am looking forward to Lori and Chase's reunion story, too. I read to escape so I usually go for lighter books. However, a good writer can bring me through a darker story and I'm sure I'll love Heartsong Cottage, too.

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  5. I enjoy a little darkness as long as there is light at the end of the tunnel :) Great review, another new to me author~

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  7. Like more action and am enjoying this series. Karen t.

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  8. reunion stories--a favorite trope

    denise

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  9. I don't mind a little darkness. As long we have the happy ever after, I'm good. I LOVE this series. I actually discovered her as Geralyn Dawson and enjoyed the switch. I do love reunion stories. Something about correcting a wrong or just making it right appeals to me.

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  10. I don't mind a little darkness. As long we have the happy ever after, I'm good. I LOVE this series. I actually discovered her as Geralyn Dawson and enjoyed the switch. I do love reunion stories. Something about correcting a wrong or just making it right appeals to me.

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  11. I'm good with all types.. but I do need my HEA...

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  12. like all kinds of romance as long as there is a HEA, love this series. Had a Geralyn reading marathon this summer as I won a bunch of her books

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  13. like all kinds of romance as long as there is a HEA, love this series. Had a Geralyn reading marathon this summer as I won a bunch of her books

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  14. I don't mind a bit of darkness if it's important to the story the author is telling and we end up with an HEA.
    I love the Eternity Spring series - it's one of the series that I wait for every installment.

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  15. I don't mind a little bit of darkness. I won Teardrop Lane and after reading that I had to go back to read the rest of the series. I am looking forward to reading this book. She writes such wonderful characters. Reunions are fun especially if they work out right.

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  16. I like darkness if in the end, it turns out okay. I am at a time in my life that I like and require some happiness in my reading. Looking forward to this one. I do have a thing for holiday romance

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  17. I like reunion stories a lot but prefer lighter romances! Nothing too dark for me, unless it just there to help drive the plot a bit.

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  18. I am counting the days until this book comes out Love this author!!!

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  19. SOME darkness is ok, depending on how it's written. I've never read this series before.

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  20. Sometimes, I want to see some darkness in my stories and the sensation of good winning over evil. I have not read this series but this book sounds like a gripping read. Reunion romances are hit and miss for me, it depends on how the author pulls the story/relationship together for me to see.

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  21. Sometimes, I want to see some darkness in my stories and the sensation of good winning over evil. I have not read this series but this book sounds like a gripping read. Reunion romances are hit and miss for me, it depends on how the author pulls the story/relationship together for me to see.

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  22. I don't mind a little darkness in my stories but just a little. I too like a little bit of everything. Just enough to balance it out. I will have to read the Eternity Springs books. Sounds like a place I could call home. :) It's going on my TRL. I love reunion stories. I find them exciting & suspensful at the same time. Again, Happy 6th anniversary. Thank you .
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) cjom






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  23. I don't mind a little darkness in my stories but just a little. I too like a little bit of everything. Just enough to balance it out. I will have to read the Eternity Springs books. Sounds like a place I could call home. :) It's going on my TRL. I love reunion stories. I find them exciting & suspensful at the same time. Again, Happy 6th anniversary. Thank you .
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) cjom






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  24. As long as there's an HEA, a little drama is fine.

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  25. A little conflict is fine. Would love to win this book.

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