Monday, June 17, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: Hometown Hope by Laurel Blount



Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Hometown Hope by Laurel Blount, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Hometown Hope 
Author: Laurel Blount  
Publisher: Love Inspired 
Release Date: June 18, 2019 (print), July 1, 2019 (ebook)  
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

He’ll do anything for his daughter…

Even fight to regain an old classmate’s broken trust.

In the three years since her mother’s death, widower Hoyt Bradley’s daughter, Jess, hasn’t spoken—until she suddenly begs him to save her favorite bookstore from closing.

Hoyt is desperate to hear his daughter’s voice again, but he and the bookstore’s pretty owner, Anna Delaney, share a less-than-friendly past.

Working together is complicated enough…but can they avoid falling in love?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | ChristianBook



MY THOUGHTS

There’s so much to like in Hometown Hope by Laurel Blount! Sometimes a Love Inspired story is exactly what I’m looking for, and Hometown Hope is a gem in this line of books. Setting, characters and romance all blend together in a thoroughly enjoyable read.

First of all, setting adds a special touch because the author vividly conveys Pine Valley, a small town located in middle Georgia, probably not far from where I live. The main characters feel real, like people I could meet every day, and I cared about them from the very beginning. The story also engaged my emotions, keeping me eager to turn the pages. There’s some predictability, which didn’t hinder my enjoyment, and also a little of the unexpected.

While most covers feature one or both of the lead characters, I love that Hometown Hope reflects two important themes – a young girl with selective mutism, and books! Anna and Hoyt’s current uncomfortable relationship is interesting because it’s the result of a high school relationship that didn’t end well. Lack of communication and sensitivity were a big part of the problem, and Hoyt’s words to Anna were so insightful … “I’m afraid you’ve always read books far better than you read people.” Both share the bond of loss in their lives and I loved the chemistry between them, as well as watching their feelings and understanding grow.

Then there’s sweet Jess who’s the heart of the story, Hoyt’s daughter who hasn’t spoken since her mother died three years earlier. I found aspects of selective mutism informative, such as how, once Jess began speaking, it was only to her dad. And all of us who love books will be fascinated by how Anna’s bookstore, in danger of closing, was the key to Jess beginning to open up.

Spiritual nuggets are gently woven throughout, such as forgiveness and letting go of the past. I also loved the spiritual insight in these words spoken by Anna’s former teacher, Mrs. Abercrombie … “We teachers plant seeds, you know. Hundreds of them. Some take longer to germinate than others, that’s all. But it’s never too late to learn something new.”

Previous characters from Pine Valley books make appearances, but Hometown Hope stands alone. I enjoyed this feel-good story very much and am eager to read all that Laurel Blount writes.

Recommended.

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



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Laurel Blount lives on a small farm in middle Georgia with her husband, their four children, a milk cow, dairy goats, assorted chickens and ducks, four spoiled cats and one bossy goose with serious boundary issues. She divides her time between farm chores, baking, homeschooling and writing. She's busy, but she's never bored!  

HOMETOWN HOPE is Laurel’s third Love Inspired romance. Her debut Love Inspired novel A FAMILY FOR THE FARMER was the recipient of the 2017 Maggie Award for Excellence in the Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements category. This book also received two 2017 Holt Awards of Merit and was a finalist in the 2017 Carol Awards. A BABY FOR THE MINISTER, her second Love Inspired, was released in September of 2018.

Whenever she's not working, you can find Laurel with a cup of tea at her elbow, a cat in her lap and a good book in her hand. She loves to hear from readers! Drop her an email at laurelblountwrites@gmail.com or visit her website: www.laurelblountbooks.com and be sure to sign up for her monthly newsletter!  

CONNECT WITH LAUREL: Website | Facebook | Twitter



TOUR GIVEAWAY

 


(1) winner will receive an autographed copy of Hometown Hope, a $10 Starbucks gift card, a travel coffee mug, and a bar of Milltown soap--which is produced in author's hometown (Dough bowl is not included.)

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 June 17, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on June 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


 
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

18 comments:

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    1. Hometown Hope just hit the spot for me, Tracy. Hope you'll get to read it soon.

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  2. THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME GIVEAWAY!

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    1. Thank you for visiting and good luck in the giveaway, Sarah.

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  3. Thanks for this wonderful review, Carole! You made my day!

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    1. Well deserved, Laurel. I just expressed my true feelings. Keep up the great writing. And by the way, JustRead Tours does a great job. Hope you'll use them again if promo budget allows.

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    2. I absolutely will, Carole! Justreads is wonderful--and I so appreciate them--and you!

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  4. Hometown Hope is a special story I really enjoyed reading. The characters are real and lovable (and one not so lovable) and I didn't want the story to end. I would like to live in that sleepy town and be a part of that great community. I can't wait for Laurel's 4th book!

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    1. I'm totally with you, Abiyah. I'm drawn to southern settings, but the story has to be good too, and Laurel nailed it. Sounds like you've read the first two books. I've got some catching up to do!

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  5. Loved the book and can’t wait to share it with friends. What a lovely review. You summarized the book very well!

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  6. Great review. I can't wait to read this book. Thank you for a great giveaway!

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  7. Interesting sounding book, I can't wait to read. Thank you for a great giveaway!

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  8. I love the cover, it's really cute and it looks like a great spot to read a book!

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    1. That's exactly what I thought when I first saw it, Julie! What a perfect reading spot!

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  9. This book sounds like a sweet romance. I like that Hoyt has a daughter. The cover is lovely.

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    1. Hoyt was such fun to write about, Myra! His relationship with his daughter was an important aspect of his personality--and thanks! I love this cover too! The art dept. did such a beautiful job, didn't they?

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  10. I am a fan and I will be buying this book soon. I can't wait to read it.

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