Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: The Secret of Willow Inn by Pat Nichols


the secret of willow inn blog tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Secret of Willow Inn by Pat Nichols, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

TheSecretofWillowInnCover Title: The Secret of Willow Inn (Willow Falls #1) 
Author: Pat Nichols 
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas 
Release Date: January 10, 2019 
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

Two women fighting for their dreams, one who’s long lost hers, are united by tragedy and a long-held secret.

Pregnant with her first child, Emily Hayes is eager to help her mother finish transforming an estate into the Willow Inn and write a novel about Willow Falls’ colorful history. A tragic event threatens her parents’ plans to refurbish an abandoned hotel and transform the obscure Georgia setting into a tourist destination.

Sadie Lyles left Willow Falls a murderer who’d killed the town hero. She returns as a despised felon and seeks solace in the town’s café. Emily struggles to unite the close-knit community and becomes Sadie’s biggest advocate. She strives to uncover the truth about the crime and save her town from dying.

To appease her father, Rachel, a VP in his Atlanta real-estate-development firm, relegates her acting dream to secret performances for imaginary audiences. After meeting charming, flirtatious Charlie Bricker, manager for Willow Falls’ future vineyard, she vows to break free from her father’s control.

The tragedy and Willow Inn’s secret past launch Emily and Rachel on a collision course with destiny and truth.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon


MY THOUGHTS

The Secret of Willow Inn is a gem and I am thrilled to find writing of this quality in the Christian fiction genre. This story beautifully combines elements of relationship drama and women’s fiction in a character-driven narrative that is hard to put down. A favorite of mine, for sure!

The vividly-conveyed setting of Willow Falls is a typical north Georgia town, and that this story takes place in my state is an added bonus. Locations and places of business, from Atlanta to outlying areas, convey a cozy sense of place. And as in any small town, you can expect to find some gossip, financial worries, tragedy, and mystery – as well as a romance, caring, and coming together when the situation demands it.

A strong ensemble cast adds richness and depth, and makes me long for more stories in this series. Emily and Rachel might come from totally different places – rural vs. big city – but they have a lot in common, unfulfilled dreams being one example. Suspense builds around a 30-year old crime as Emily’s friend, Pepper, hires the ex-con Sadie to work in her café.

The Secret of Willow Inn is well written and heartwarming, with some unexpected elements added along the way. I highly recommend this story and am eager for the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pat 

Pat Nichols is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams. 

During the spring, summer, and early autumn of her life this side of heaven, she and her high-school-sweetheart husband struggled and triumphed through life’s peaks and valleys. They raised two children, welcomed four grandchildren—one is with the angels—bought a Corvette, and ticked off every item on their travel bucket list. Now approaching her winter years, she ignores the minor aches that come with age and is grateful she can still paint her own toenails and dance with her hubby. 

Following twenty-five years in six different management positions with an international beauty company, Pat launched career number two as a novelist and freelance editor. She chose women’s fiction to honor her daughter’s strength in the face of significant health issues and the loss of a child. Her corporate experience, working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life, inspires her to create stories about women who confront challenges in the pursuit of their dreams. 

Although she writes five days a week, she and Tim—her best friend and number one fan—continue to celebrate their fifty-plus-year marriage. They lead a small group, volunteer for church guest services, participate in two social organizations, and spend time with family and friends. She thanks God for the blessings that brought her joy and the challenges that continue to strengthen her faith, skills, and resolve. 

Pat was born in Illinois, grew up in Orlando, and has called Georgia home since the eighties. She lives in an Atlanta suburb, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Word Weavers, Christian Pen, and Gwinnett Church (a campus of Northpoint Ministries).  

CONNECT WITH PAT NICHOLS: website | Facebook | Twitter



thesecretofwillowinnblogtourgiveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card from the author.  

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 4, 2019 and lasts through 11:59pm February 11, 2019. Open Internationally. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.



Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I'm honored and hope you have the chance to learn more about Emily, Rachel, and Sadie.

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  2. Thanks for sharing about the book and giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. I hope you have the chance to learn more about Emily, Rachel, and Sadie.

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  3. Sounds interesting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm delighted you find it interesting and hope you have the chance to learn more about Emily, Rachel, and Sadie's lives.

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  4. Having lived in Georgia before and having a sister who currently lives in Georgia, I would really enjoy reading this book.

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    Replies
    1. My husband and I have toured a number of small Georgia towns and love them all. It was fun creating Willow Falls.

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