Love's Journey Home (Lincoln Love Stories) by Julie Coulter Bellon: BlogTour & Giveaway

Love's Journey Home (Lincoln Love Stories) by Julie Coulter Bellon.

Audience/Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance.

                       Publication: February 1st 2018 by Stone Hall Books.                                       FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 

{Book Synopsis}

Olivia Dalton has a reputation in the DA’s office—tough, thorough, and fierce when she’s closing a case. Those skills are essential in the courtroom, but not in the relationship department—until Mick Donovan crosses her path. Everyone thinks he’s a player, but when an unexpected situation arises, she glimpses an honorable man instead. Olivia is drawn to him, but he pushes her away, unable to shake the past that still haunts him.

Mick Donovan learned at a young age never to let anyone close because those you love never stay. Keeping people at arms-length has never been hard for him—until he meets Olivia Dalton. Mick is caught up in a case she’s prosecuting, and he can’t deny his attraction to her, but when she uncovers the past he’s kept carefully hidden, he’s sure she’ll turn away. Yet, even with all his secrets in the open, Olivia reaches out. Can he let his guard down long enough to let her in and take a chance on love?

{My Review}
I was so excited to head back to the small town of Lincoln, Utah. I loved the first book in the series and the love story of Drew and Tori. I was glad that characters from the first book would be in this second book. Even though Mick was a smooth talker in the first book, I became a cheerleader for him quite soon in this story. I loved the way the author unfolded Mick's background and the hard a life he'd been living. You truly develop so much empathy for him and can see why his heart went to out to little Will. I'll admit I struggled to like Olivia at first. She came across tough as nails and not backing down in her job as a lawyer in the DA's office. Then it was refreshing to see how Olivia slowly opened up and became a new person and able to allow herself to love.

I felt this novel had a beautiful message about not judging from outside appearances, but giving people a chance getting to know who they are inside too. Olivia and Mick both had to grow and change, open up their hearts and let down their barriers. It's beautiful how they come together in the long run. I also appreciated the love written in the story for the foster care program and adoption. Even though Mick had a terrible experience in the system growing up, fostering was redeemed in his eyes with a family he met who took care of a little boy that he loved. 

This book flows so well and could easily be read in an afternoon or evening. As a reader, you become so invested in the lives of these characters, especially wanting the best outcome for young Will. I didn't want to put the book down and I couldn't wait to keep reading this novel. 

I'm hoping that there will be more books in this series. So far, the Lincoln Love Stories Series has had two wonderful Romances that are unforgettable. 

{Meet Author: Julie Coulter Bellon}

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen novels---all with some romance in them, some with suspense, too. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write,teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

Julie offers writing and publishing tips as well as her take on life on her blog ldswritermom.blogspot.com You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website juliebellon.com

{Blog Tour Giveaway}

Here are the things you could win...

-$25 Amazon Gift Card

-A VIP Readers Box with everything a book lover 

will need for a night in with their favorite book:The VIP Readers Box will be filled with three great books, a warm, soft blanket, gourmet treats, hot chocolate, and some amazing bath bombs. (U.S. addresses only).

-An autographed copy of Love’s Journey Home.

a Rafflecopter giveaway