Love's Sorrow by Terri Rochenski #Review #Giveaway

**Make sure to check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win Terri's prizes!**

Title:  Love’s Sorrow (Means of Mercy #1)

Author:  Terri Rochenski

Publisher:  Roane Publishing

Release Date:  April 21, 2014

Keywords:  Sweet, Historical Romance

Blurb:

Hired as a nanny for her cousin’s children, Anne Tearle finds security and a loving family. The children are a dream, but London society is a world of its own, one where a displaced farm girl has no business being. But, wealthy rake, Gavin MacKay, helps her to see associating with the upper class might not be as horrid as she first assumed.

Like all things worthwhile, love comes at a price, and the cost soon bestows more anguish than joy. Lost, but not undone, Anne must find the courage to begin life anew, or succumb to sorrow's unrelenting waves of grief.

Purchase Links:

Purchase Links:

Print
Createspace (Best Option)
Amazon

eBook
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Bookstrand
Smashwords
Apple (iTunes/iBooks)



**Nona’s review of Love’s Sorrow**

This book surprised me as I expected a romance and discovered a historical novel with romantic elements. The story takes place in England and the United States during the mid-1800s.

The story is told in first person as Anne, the heroine, tells of being raised as little more than a servant by her aunt and uncle. When an opportunity arises to live with a cousin in the city, in the role of governess, Anne jumps at the chance. She’s welcomed warmly in her cousin’s home and finds herself treated much better than a servant. Still, her lack of social standing puts her in a gray area where she’s neither privileged young lady nor a common servant. Her lack of social acceptance only turns more painful when she falls in love with the dashing Scotsman, Gavin McKay.

The novel covers Anne’s relationship with Gavin, their eventual marriage and her growth from an insecure young girl to a woman whose ease in society hides her unhappiness at the troubles in her marriage. The ending has Anne making a surprising decision that shows just how much she’s changed by the end of the book. The twist leaves the reader eager to find out just what happens in the next installment of the series.

Though I sympathized with Anne, I think I’d have felt more involved in her story if it had moved more briskly. She’s a compassionate character who tries to help others, but her starry eyed view of Gavin shows just how naïve she is. There were enough clues to his true character that I occasionally grew impatient with her making excuses for him. Of course, the times were against her as wives were basically the property of their husbands during that era. She put up with far too much from him, and I cheered when she finally acquired a spine. But does her final decision go too far? That’s for the reader to decide.

If you enjoy a leisurely paced historical saga that focuses on the heroine’s growth, then you will want to give Love’s Sorrow a try. 

Bio:

Terri started writing stories in the 8^th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.

Ms. Rochenski’s Links:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Link for Love’s Sorrow on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21455386-love-s-sorrow

Follow Love's Sorrow Book Tour:
http://www.roanepublishing.com/loves-sorrow-means-of-mercy-1.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour and #Review: Alone No More by Terri Rochenski #giveaway

Genre:  Romance / Historical

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

World Wide Release Date:  December 18, 2013

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I have the pleasure of being a stop on the Alone No More virtual blog tour! This is a book I really enjoyed. Please make sure you scroll all the way down to take part in the giveaway the author is offering.

Book Blurb:

Dismissed from her job as a scullery maid and cast aside by her lover, pregnant Cara Morland has no choice but to return to her father’s farm. While lies of widowhood keep her from disgrace, Cara is faced with a local landowner’s unwanted attentions. Without the social status to do much more than avoid the vile man, she loses hope of ever finding happiness. 

A friendship based on mutual loneliness blossoms between Cara and James Elliot, a young farm hand hired by her father. He offers his protection, and one shared kiss reveals his heart, but propriety and her feigned grieving period hinders what they both desire.

When Cara’s stalker learns the truth of her circumstances, he gives her an ultimatum—submit to his possession or he’ll ruin her second chance at love with James.

Excerpt:

Mr. Collins stood in the opened doorway.

I gasped, my hand flying to my throat. His smile drained the heat from my face and with a shudder, I backed against the wall.

“Cara.” He stalked forward, his lascivious examination traveling from my neck, to boots and back up again.

I wanted to ask what he wanted, but a choking noise escaped instead.

He stopped an arm’s length away. “Cara.”

Although somewhat handsome with his light hair and dark eyes, his voice filled me with disgust. My body trembled. Another step and the reek of onions brushed against me. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned my face into my shoulder.

Hot breath caressed my neck. “I’ve been longing for this moment. I’ve been mad with yearning the past year.”

Throat dry, I struggled to swallow.

Fingertips brushed down my cheek before cupping my chin.

Revulsion swamped me, threatening to bring up my breakfast.

“Someone else may have beaten me to your spoils, but I’m going to have you regardless. Just like I’ve always—”

Two footfalls moved across the barn floor and Mr. Collins’ hand was ripped from me.

Wind rushed. Grunts encouraged my eyelids to open.

Buy Links for Alone No More:

AMAZON 

The Wild Rose Press

Alone No More on Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18045849-alone-no-more?from_search=true

***Nona’s Review***

Cara, the young heroine of this short historical romance, is not the typical virgin one might expect in a story of this type. When the book opens, she’s already pregnant—and unmarried. Far from home and lonely, she fell in love with a married co-worker and foolishly believed his promises that someday they’d be together. Reality crashes in on her all too ruthlessly when her employers discover her situation. Poor Cara loses both her job and her lover and is packed off home in disgrace. Her dilemma gave the story an interesting twist and pulled me in.

The author gave a realistic view of the cheerless life of a scullery maid, with long hours of hard work and very little free time. It’s not hard to see why Cara would have fallen under the spell of a cad who offered her a little affection. The story also doesn't gloss over the dire predicament of an unwed mother in those times. If her parents don't take her back, all that's left for her is prostitution or the workhouse. 

Luckily, her parents agree to pretend she's a widow to save her and themselves from local gossip. Even so, Cara still must endure her father’s silent disappointment and her mother’s bitter wrath.

It's not all gloom, though. When farmhand James appears, he brings happiness and hope into her life. As they fall in love,  Cara's secret torments her. Will James still care for her if he learns she’s not a respectable widow, but an unwed mother-to-be? 

This is a touching story. I enjoyed the sweet romance between Cara and James. Mr. Collins, threatening Cara with his unwanted advances, was a truly despicable villain.

When Cara’s faced with the possibility of losing the only person who brings her happiness, it’s a heart-rending moment. Though she begins as a naïve young woman, as time goes on, Cara matures emotionally and begins making wiser choices. I enjoyed seeing her grow. Her hardships only make the happy ending sweeter (come on, you know there has to be a happy ending, it’s a romance!) 

Alone No More is a very satisfying choice for anyone who enjoys sweet historical romance.

Author's Bio:

Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.


Follow Terri at:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway