Blog Tour Review and $25 Giveaway for, Take My Heart, by Marie Higgins

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Product Details

• Title: Take My Heart
  
• Author: Marie Higgins
  
• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (July 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 147820592X
• ISBN-13: 978-1478205920
• FTC, FYI: I was given a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

 Book Description:

Mercedes Maxwell’s sister’s last wish was for Mercedes to find evidence against Kat’s husband, William Braxton, and have him hung as a traitor to the crown. Mercedes isn’t naïve when it comes to capturing traitors, because her own deceased husband had once been an agent for the King when they lived in England.

When she meets William Braxton for the first time, all is not as it seems. Portraying her twin, Mercedes knows this is the only way to get close enough to William to discover his secrets. What she finds along the way are little surprises she hadn’t counted on, especially when she begins to give her heart to a man who may be a spy against the crown.

Book Trailer

 My Review
Once again I have fallen in love with a novel written by Marie Higgins! She truly knows how to write an engaging romance. Right from the beginning of this novel, you are drawn in with the mystery of Mercedes trying to fulfill her sister's last request:whether or not Kat's husband, William Braxton, is a spy. The colonial setting is fresh, and interesting, and a time period that is not already over-saturated in the world of romance novels. 

I love how Marie brings her characters together with such heat and passion, without using gratuitous sex scenes. She can make a long-drawn out kiss so steamy. Bravo! Along with the romance in this novel, it is filled with intrigue and excitement. With the background of the Revolutionary War soon starting, and the Sons of Liberty fighting for their freedom, there is never a dull moment. 

I loved this novel and highly recommend it to all those who want a clean, historical romance full of surprises, great characters, and of course a romance to make you sigh and want to read more.



Praise for Marie Higgins

”I enjoyed this book immensely. Each book of Marie's that I read is better than the last. I recommend this book to young adults and older who enjoy historical mystery, intrigue, fight for freedom, clean romance. This is the book for you.”

~~Mary Walling / Goodreads

“Few authors have mastered the art of storytelling like Marie Higgins. In this Colonial-era romance, Marie takes her reader on a wild ride. Every chapter, every scene, every line envelopes the reader's senses and imagination with passionate romance, deep emotional struggles, unexpected twists and turns, and neverending ups and downs. This was a hard book to put down and earns an unequivocal five stars from me. Thanks, Marie, for writing such great romances!”

~~Wanda Luce / Goodreads

 “Marie Higgins's Take My Heart is a stunning colonial romance. With well developed characters and heartwarming scenes, this book will steal the hearts of romance lovers and historical fiction fans. There are numerous twists and Higgins keeps you guessing at every turn as to who the real villain is. This book is a "must-read" for anyone who loves romance, history, or just a good story. FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!!” ~~L.D. Smith / Kindle

“Breathless! From start to finish you will keep wondering, questioning, and hoping. You will root for the underdog, and smile as love conquers all. Great read. You won't put it down until you're finished!”

~~M. Henning / Kindle

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Amazon Kindle

Author Marie Higgins

Since Marie Higgins was a little girl playing Barbies with her sister, Stacey, she has loved the adventure of making up romantic stories. Marie was only eighteen years old when she wrote her first skit, which won an award for Funniest Skit. A little later in life, after she’d married and had children, Marie wrote Church roadshows that were judged as Funniest and Best Written. From there, she branched out to write full-length novels based on her dreams. (Yes, she says, her dreams really are that silly)

Marie has been married for twenty-six years to a wonderful man. Together, they have three loving daughters and several beautiful grandchildren. Marie works full time for the state of Utah, where she has lived her entire life. Marie plans to keep writing, because the characters in her head won’t shut up. But her husband smiles and pretends this is normal.

Links

Blog * Twitter

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Ends 1/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of "Heart of a Hero" by Marie Higgins

There's a new hero in town . . .

When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt’s finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again. She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn’t count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family’s longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer’s plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse’s head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

For seven years, little Summer Bennett was the burr under Jesse’s saddle. Now he feels a different irritation as Summer is always on his mind—whether he wants her to be or not. But Summer’s father expects him to marry Violet, and he won’t let him down. So why does Jesse find himself encouraging Summer’s attentions, and why do sparks fly every time they are together?

Heart of a Hero is such a fun read. The tension between the two main characters keeps this story moving along. Summer and Jesse dance around each other through most of the book. I found myself "telling" them to quit being dumb and admit to loving each other. The beauty of Summer and Jesse is that they are not the perfect couple you usually find in a romance. They once were just children/teens that lived to annoy each other. As you can see, this makes for a rocky road at times, but also shows the deep intimacy they have.

Summer is a great character as the tomboy turning into a lady. Jesse is a young man, now a deputy marshal, engaged to Summer's sister, but deep down in love with Summer.Many funny things happen as they try to stay away from each other, but keep being pulled together. Marie Higgins always does a wonderful job with her romances. They are clean, but she has a way of writing really wonderful kissing scenes.

You have to read this excerpt from the book that shows the tension, but deep attraction, the two main characters have for one another:


The deputy marshal must be the one holding me. She let her body relax against the contours of his body. Normally, she wouldn’t want to be protected and cared for by a man, but at the moment she was reluctant to break the spell.


She dared a peek at his face. His deep blue eyes grabbed her attention. Kind eyes. Sunlight glinted off the golden tones of his light brown hair. He must have sensed her watching, for his square jaw changed shape and a soft smile bracketed his mouth.

He was very handsome. She couldn’t have dreamed up a better vision of a hero, and dream it must be because things this good just didn’t happen to her. Safety and security spread over her like a warm blanket and she melted against him, closing her eyes while his long fingers continued to stroke her cheek. It was the first time in her life she had allowed a man to touch her like that—a soft stroke, a gentle caress—and the first time she had ever really relaxed in a man’s presence.

She sighed. Wonderful.

“How do you feel, Summer?”

The soft baritone voice rumbling in his chest seemed oddly familiar. Summer frowned and took a second peek at his hair and his mouth. He gave her a full smile. Awareness tugged at her memory and a large knot formed in the pit of her stomach. When recognition came, it struck like a thick piece of wood right between her eyes. She jerked, moving off the comfortable nest she had made of his chest.

“Jesse Slade?”

A crafty smile claimed his face. “The one and only, darlin’.”

She widened her eyes. “Darlin’? I’m not now, nor will I ever be your darling, Jesse Slade.” She couldn’t believe her rotten luck. She fought to move from his grasp, batting his hands away. “Get your hands off me.”

“Be still Summer, or—”

“Let me go,” she demanded.

“Tarnation, Summer.” His hands moved to her waist. “You’re as slippery as a wet weasel.”

“Quit touching me and put me down.”

Although he tried to hold onto her, she managed to slither from the horse.

“Of all the confounded foolish female stunts.” He pulled the horse to a halt and dismounted.

The moment her feet touched the ground, dizziness overtook her and she plopped down on her bottom. When Jesse reached for her, she slapped at his hands.

She glanced up at him from her undignified position and clenched her teeth. “You. Of all people, it had to be you.” Holding onto a stirrup, she pulled herself to her feet and gazed into the heavens. “Why Lord? Why me?”

“There’s no need to get your feathers ruffled.” Jesse looked at the blood oozing from her shoulder wound. “Look what you’ve done. You’re bleedin’ again.”

She glanced at her injury. It was worse than she thought, but she’d die before admitting it to him. She was not riding into town perched on Jesse’s lap for the whole town to see.

If you like a good, old fashioned romance, wrapped up with a lot of tension and angst set in the old West, you will love Heart of a Hero. If you are not patient and want to see the love interests get together right away, you would be reading the wrong book. Half the fun of this novel is the adventure of Summer and Jesse finally admitting their love and getting together. So hop into your saddle, grab the reins and ride on over to get your copy of Heart of Hero, you won't regret it!

Heart of a Hero can be purchased here at
http://www.amazon.com/ OR http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

FCI: FYI This review copy of Heart of a Hero was given to me by Walnut Springs Press. In no way did this influence the review that was given.