Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Happy Valley & Return to Edisto by Lin Stepp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
HAPPY VALLEY
Title: Happy ValleyAuthor: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Escape to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in this sweet tale of two young people who meet by chance, their paths soon overlapping and intertwining amid a cast of warm-hearted characters in the small rural community of Happy Valley.
With Grandpa suffering a heart attack, Juliette Hollander saw little choice but to head back to their Tennessee mountain farm in Happy Valley to help out. She didn’t expect, or want, to leave behind her life and work in North Carolina to return to her grandparents’ home so soon. Nor did she imagine meeting, and working with, the mysterious man she met briefly last summer and never thought to see again.
Walker Logan spent the last two years traveling the United States, seeing the beauty of the country and running from his past. But an old rock house he sees while hiking near Abrams Creek Campground unexpectedly calls to his soul. With danger close behind, he never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots. Yet now, with a new vision, he decides to take the risk.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Review ♥️
With the Smoky Mountains as a gorgeous backdrop, the reader is taken to the charming Happy Valley, along with newcomer Walker Logan, who has decided to take up residence in the small mountain town and open an old-timey general store for locals as well as visitors that hike and camp in the area. Reading details about the area, and the general store itself, were some of my favorite parts, the scenery coming alive on the page.
Juliette is a local gal that instantly has a connection with the newcomer despite everyone giving her flack for having a romantic interest in an "outsider". This love interest, paired with secrets that Walker brought with him about his past, as well as mysterious thefts occurring in the area gave just enough mystery to keep the novel interesting.
The writing flowed seamlessly, transporting you to that picturesque world, making for a breezy read and ending in satisfying perfection. A beautiful story that is the perfect escape!
Juliette is a local gal that instantly has a connection with the newcomer despite everyone giving her flack for having a romantic interest in an "outsider". This love interest, paired with secrets that Walker brought with him about his past, as well as mysterious thefts occurring in the area gave just enough mystery to keep the novel interesting.
The writing flowed seamlessly, transporting you to that picturesque world, making for a breezy read and ending in satisfying perfection. A beautiful story that is the perfect escape!
My Rating: ★★★★
RETURN TO EDISTO
Title: Return to EdistoSeries: The Edisto Trilogy #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Return to Edisto Island in the rich, Lowcountry story of a young woman’s difficult decision to run from threat and danger, changing the course of her well-ordered life and, in turn, the life of the young man who loved and lost her.
It was a long trip back to Edisto Island, South Carolina, and the beach house that shaped so much of Mary Helen Avery’s early life. Now her mind flashed between anger and hurt over the difficult situation she’d left behind at the job she loved. Was she doing the right thing to leave? Should she have stayed to fight? She hoped at the quiet, beloved island she knew so well, she’d find the answers she needed and peace from all this turmoil.
J.T.’s heart took a familiar lurch when he saw the car with New Jersey plates parked at the Avery’s beach house. Even after ten years, the memory of Mary Helen Avery still tormented him. Finding her on the porch weeping lit old fires he thought long dead. Was he a fool to hope for something more between them with all their problems of the past? Probably so, but if she stayed long enough, he’d find one more chance to try.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Review ♥️
It felt so great to be back in Edisto! (Check out my review of the first book in The Edisto Trilogy, Claire at Edisto, HERE). It's been quite some time since we've seen the Avery's! It's 2003 and the girls are all grown up, and all three women are living their own lives. In the first book the focus was on Claire, the suddenly widowed mother, trying to figure her life out with two little girls, Mary Helen and Suki, in the small costal town of Edisto.
Now it's Mary Helen's turn to run to the safe haven of Edisto after a very unfortunate event happens in her life. Hearing where everyone's lives have taken them since the first book was nostalgic, the author doing an incredible job of explaining the history of the characters and Edisto, so even if you didn't read the first book in the series (or just needed a refresher like myself) you never feel lost.
The book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laidback flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore, and you can't help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.
There is a hint of mystery in this novel that I felt was the perfect touch, adding just enough tension, and of course the love story was beautiful and natural, not feeling saccharin but realistic yet swoon-worthy at the same time.
I immensely enjoyed my Return to Edisto and hope Suki's story is released soon, as I can't wait to see Edisto through her adult eyes, and hear about her travels.
Now it's Mary Helen's turn to run to the safe haven of Edisto after a very unfortunate event happens in her life. Hearing where everyone's lives have taken them since the first book was nostalgic, the author doing an incredible job of explaining the history of the characters and Edisto, so even if you didn't read the first book in the series (or just needed a refresher like myself) you never feel lost.
The book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laidback flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore, and you can't help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.
There is a hint of mystery in this novel that I felt was the perfect touch, adding just enough tension, and of course the love story was beautiful and natural, not feeling saccharin but realistic yet swoon-worthy at the same time.
I immensely enjoyed my Return to Edisto and hope Suki's story is released soon, as I can't wait to see Edisto through her adult eyes, and hear about her travels.
My Rating: ★★★★
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stepp’s latest 2020 releases are Happy Valley, set in a quiet rural valley near the Smoky Mountains, and Return to Edisto, set at Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Lin’s previous title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides and Essays.
Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs, reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers on Facebook, Twitter, and through her monthly blog and newsletter which you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
CONNECT WITH LIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Happy Valley & Return to Edisto, matching bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
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