RRR presents... THE SWEETHEART LOCKET by Jen Gilroy - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

HI there!

Welcome back to round two here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

This time around, we welcome Rachel's Random Resources latest tour featuring the work of author Jen Gilroy. Her latest brings us a story with a dual timeline that begs you to unlock the past to understand your future, taking us from the Second World War to (almost) present day times. Ready to explore? Let's get between the pages of today's title in the spotlight...

The Sweetheart Locket

by

Jen Gilroy

About the book...

What if the key to your present lies in the past?

London, 1939

On the eve of the Second World War, Canadian Maggie Wyndham defies her family and stays in England to do her bit for the war effort. Torn between two countries, two men and living a life of lies working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Maggie's RAF sweetheart locket is part of who she is...and who she isn't.

San Francisco, 2019

Over twenty years after Maggie's death, her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow take a DNA test that's supposed to be a bit of fun but instead yields unexpected results. Willow has always treasured her grandmother's sweetheart locket, both family heirloom and a symbol of her grandparents' love story. But now she doesn't know what to believe. She embarks on a search for the truth, one she doesn't know will reveal far more about herself...

A gripping and heart-breaking dual timeline novel about love, loss and buried secrets, The Sweetheart Locket is perfect for fans of Lorna Cook, Rachel Hore and Suzanne Kelman.

AMAZON

PUBLISHER

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~ EXCERPT ~~~

Maggie took a deep breath. Stay calm. She’d already passed the message covertly and picked up another one. All she had to do was deliver it and report back. As far as anyone knew, she was a young woman who’d been shopping with a friend, finishing with afternoon tea at the Lyons Corner House in the Strand off Trafalgar Square…

Acting as a decoy…was part of [her] role…but from the start…today’s exercise hadn’t felt right. 

[Evie] shrugged into her coat and gathered her handbag, gas mask and parcels together and dug in her purse for money. “My treat.” 

“Thank you.” The hair on the back of Maggie’s neck quivered. The man was still nearby. He wouldn’t approach her if she was with Evie, would he? She reached for her coat on her chair and, under the guise of searching for her gloves, fumbled in the hidden pocket for the slip of paper. Still there. Safe. “I’ll walk with you as far as Trafalgar Square.” 

“Lovely.” Evie adjusted her hat… “Isn’t it lucky you had the afternoon off so we could meet?” 

“Yes, lucky.” Liar. It might not seem like it, but [Maggie] was working. The war was teaching her many things but becoming an expert liar was perhaps the greatest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the author...

Jen Gilroy writes sweet contemporary romance and dual timeline historical women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.

A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, Amazon named her third book, 'Back Home at Firefly Lake,' a 'Best Book of the Month: Romance' in December 2017.

A dual British-Canadian citizen, Jen lived in England for many years and earned a doctorate (with a focus on British cultural studies and social history) from University College London. Returning to where her Irish family roots run deep, she now lives with her husband, teenage daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound in small-town Eastern Ontario, Canada.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.

Visit Jen online at www.jengilroy.com

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN...

1 of (2) Kindle copies of The Sweetheart Locket 

(Open to UK / Canada)

*Terms and Conditions –UK & Canada entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT

The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls by Jen Gilroy - REVIEW

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Ever feel like life just gets away from you sometimes?  Almost like it's one big roller coaster that is going down that first MEGA hill and you simply never reach that dip that turns into twists and spirals and the whole lot of other speed reducing motions?  Yeah...totally on that ride right now.  Between the anniversary of Hurricane Michael (yesterday), the big move back home (earlier this week), work preparing to reopen (next week), things are moving at something MUCH GREATER than a snail's pace.  *sigh*  Such is life sometimes, it gets away from you whether you're holding tightly to the reigns are just trying to enjoy the ride...something our leading lady (and gent) know all too well in today's book of choice...

The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls

by

Jen Gilroy

Soul Mate Publishing

About the book...

Sometimes happily ever after is only a wish away . . .

There’s a wishing tree in Irish Falls. The bits of paper tied to its gnarled branches hold the hopes and dreams of everyone in town . . . except Annie Quinn.

Single mom Annie has spent years rebuilding her life and trying not to have regrets. After giving up her dream of music stardom, she returned to her Adirondack hometown—and convinced herself she’s content with a simpler life.

The last thing she needs is a man to remind her of the heartbreak she left behind.

A divorced dad, Seth Taggart used to be a successful LA songwriter. But now his reputation is in tatters, he’s burnt-out, and estranged from his adult son. Inheriting a small-town radio station just might be the do-over he needs.

Although he always planned to go back to LA, when working with Annie turns into sharing music and more, Seth realizes second chances—and home—are where he least expects.

AMAZON

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something I've always liked about this author's writing is her ability to pen a story that draws you in from the start, encircling you with small town charm.  They invite you in for a spell while they work their magic, and though the stories are more life than fantasy driven, it doesn't mean that the characters wishes can't come true.  Take today's story...

From the moment I cracked the cover, I already felt like I had known Annie and her sister for years.  You could feel their connection, their familiarity with the town and the people that call it home, making you a part of that community in an instant.  When the tall, dark, and handsome stranger strides in, you can feel your own heart race for a moment, while understanding that his real purpose there was for something more than the "zing" reaction caused...yet you're content in the knowledge that though semi-tabled, it is a topic of conversation that will be pursued (*giggle*).  As things progress and the potential for changes builds, you can't help but wonder what the future will bring for them all, and yet you're still so consumed with the present, you simply can't let it go.  

In the end, I adored the charming setting of Irish Falls, and the magic that this little town holds not only in natural beauty, but the beating hearts within its boundaries.  There is much to learn regarding second chances, following dreams, and letting others into your heart, and many of those lessons can be carried right off the page into the real world...but then again, why hurry back?  😉

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the author...

Photo by Sue Phelps Photography

Jen Gilroy lives in a small town in eastern Ontario, Canada where her Irish ancestors settled in the nineteenth century. She's worked in higher education and international marketing but, after spending too much time in airports and away from her family, traded the 9-5 to write romantic women’s fiction to bring readers' hearts home.

Jen likes ice cream, diners, vintage style and all things country. Her husband is her real-life romance hero, and her teen daughter teaches her to cherish the blessings in the everyday.

The Cottage at Firefly Lake, the first book in her Firefly Lake series, was a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® award in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon Award 2017.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to author Jen Gilroy for the ecopy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or her other published works, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its book birthday October 9th, 2019 via Soul Mate Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BOOK BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT: Back Home at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining a Barclay Publicity promotion already in progress starring none other than author Jen Gilroy's latest, Back Home at Firefly Lake.  It's the third installment in her much loved Firefly Lake series, and from the sound of things is looking to bring readers back to this lovely little town for the holidays; something I've VERY keen to do myself!  Ladies and gents, the spotlight is ready and it's shining on...

Back Home at Firefly Lake

Firefly Lake series, Book 3

by

Jen Gilroy

9781455569618

Forever

Add to your Goodreads shelf!

About the book...

She has a million reasons to leave. Can he give her the one she needs to stay?

Cat McGuire’s return to Firefly Lake is turning into much more than she bargained for. Sure, she missed the crisp pine-scented air and the comfort of having her family around her. But being home makes her feel less like the successful single mom she is–and more like the awkward teen who never fit in. It doesn’t help that hockey-pro Luc Simard is back in town, too. Luc was her childhood crush, the hometown hero who never noticed her, and yet somehow he still makes her heart skip a beat.

Luc’s homecoming has been bittersweet. He’s lost his wife and his career, but there’s no better place to start over than Firefly Lake. Coaching the local kids’ hockey team makes him feel alive again, and he thinks his life is complete–until Cat arrives. The shy girl he always wanted to protect is now the gorgeous woman who’s stealing his heart and making him believe in second chances. But how can he convince Cat that Firefly Lake is where she truly belongs?

Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

~~~ EXCERPT ~~~

Luc’s heart squeezed. [Cat] was embarrassed to ask her family for help, like he’d have been embarrassed asking his. Except, that would never be an issue because he had more money than he could spend in one lifetime. Money to finance the creamery expansion his dad had talked about for years, and to send his folks on that cruise they’d hankered after but could never afford because of the cost of raising four kids and putting most of them through college. Money for everything except what mattered most—taking care of his wife and their child like he’d planned.

“Pay for the hockey registration when your grant comes through.” He tried to smile. “I know you’re good for it.”

“Thanks.” Cat’s voice cracked and she took one hand away from her bag to rub it across her face. “Hockey means everything to Amy. I want her to be able to play, but she’s growing so fast right now.”

“Hockey’s an expensive sport.” He slid an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. The same kind of friendly squeeze he’d given her all those times back in high school when she’d saved his butt in chemistry. Before today, however, his fingers had never tingled when he’d touched Cat. His body had never heated, either.

Cat started and pulled away at the same instant he did. “Hockey can be a dangerous sport too, and now Amy will be playing with boys. She hasn’t played with boys since she was seven. She could get hurt.

Like he had, hurt so bad it had ended his career. “Amy’s playing minor hockey. At her age, there is a rule about no body checking.” He tried to make his tone reassuring. “I promise I’ll keep a close eye on her.” It was his job as her coach, and he’d do the same for any kid. It had nothing to do with the strange and unexpected attraction he all of a sudden had for this woman he’d known his whole life, who he’d never really looked at until today.

A woman who wasn’t Maggie. Luc’s stomach clenched in a tangled lump of guilt and grief, tied tight with a slippery ribbon of disloyalty. Maggie was never coming back, but that didn’t mean Luc could forget her. Or that he wanted to.

Copyright © Back Home at Firefly Lake 2017 by Jen Gilroy



About the author...

Jen Gilroy lives in a small town in eastern Ontario, Canada where her Irish ancestors settled in the nineteenth century. She's worked in higher education and international marketing but, after spending too much time in airports and away from her family, traded the 9-5 to write romantic women’s fiction to bring readers' hearts home.

Jen likes ice cream, diners, vintage style and all things country. Her husband is her real-life romance hero, and her teen daughter teaches her to cherish the blessings in the everyday.

The Cottage at Firefly Lake, the first book in her Firefly Lake series, was a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® award in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon Award 2017.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't miss the other books in the series!!

   

Amazon                 Amazon                 Amazon
Barnes and Noble   Barnes and Noble    Barnes and Noble
Kobo                    Kobo                      Kobo 
iTunes                   iTunes                    iTunes

After all, the more the merrier when it comes to reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Cameron at Barclay Publicity for the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click though the links provided above.  This title is celebrating its BOOK BIRTHDAY today via Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Don't miss the other stops on the tour going on now throughout the blogosphere for more awesome bookish fun.

BEFORE YOU GO...

DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN IN THE TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY!

   

Jen is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of Back Home at Firefly Lake. Five (5) runner-up winners will receive a paperback copy of their choice from the Firefly Lake series! This giveaway is open internationally.

To enter, simply CLICK HERE and fill out the Rafflecopter!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Summer on Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well, summer is in full swing and while we're whittling down our summer reading lists, I've got another one to add to your beach bag STAT!  It's book two in the Firefly Lake series from Contemporary Romance author Jen Gilroy and from the little teaser excerpt we have today, it's gonna be good.  So grab your sunscreen and let's head to the lake because today's title in the spotlight is on deck...

Title: Summer on Firefly Lake

Author: Jen Gilroy

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

Release Date: July 25, 2017

Publisher: Forever – Grand Central Publishing

Series: Firefly Lake

ISBN: 9781455569601

Sometimes love is better the second time around.

Mia Gibbs spent her marriage putting her husband’s needs before her own. And now, after a painful divorce, she’s building a new life for herself and her two daughters back home at Firefly Lake. The last thing she needs is a man to complicate things. But former bad boy turned friend Nick McGuire has turned everything upside down.

Attorney Nick McGuire wasn’t meant to be a family man. His career has always been his focus, and after taking time out to help his mother, he’s ready to get back to the city…until Mia and her daughters arrive at Firefly Lake. Mia is beautiful and intriguing, and it doesn’t take long to realize being “just friends” will never be enough. As the summer nights turn colder, Nick will have to choose between the life he’s always wanted…and the woman he can’t live without.

Add to your “Want to Read” shelf:  Goodreads

Available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Praise for Summer on Firefly Lake:

“Has charm to spare...The delightful supporting cast...and expertly plotted story add depth and richness to this tale, leaving readers eager for another visit to Firefly Lake.” – Publishers Weekly

“Gilroy’s second Firefly Lake novel encapsulates the quaint, busybody small-town feel and the slippery slope of friends becoming lovers quite well…Engaging...(a) fast paced page turner.” – RT Book Reviews

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

“I want this.” Mia lifted her face to his as a cloud scudded across the moon. “I want you.”

Even if it could only be for tonight, she was Mia, not a mom, not a sister, and not a wife who’d been tossed aside for someone younger and curvier. For this one moment, she didn’t have any responsibilities except what she wanted and needed.

I want you, too.” Nick took her hand and led her toward the car. “A part of me has wanted you since I was fifteen and you hung out at the town beach in that green bikini with the white flowers.”

Her heart lurched. He’d noticed her enough to remember the bikini she’d hidden from her mom. The one she’d bought because she’d heard Nick say he liked green. “You were always with the guys by the life guard station.” Everything about him was a lot sexy and a little bit dangerous.

“I wanted to see you.” His smile was forced, like the admission cost him more than he wanted her to know.

Mia curved her cold hand into his warm one. She’d guessed she’d hurt him the one time they’d gone out, but until tonight she hadn’t understood how much. She couldn’t regret the past, and she couldn’t predict the future, but she could do something about the present. “I want to be with you. Even though we’re not teenagers anymore and I don’t have that green bikini.

Nick’s gaze skimmed her body from head to toe and lingered at her breasts. Then he gave her a grin that was pure bad boy. “I was always a lot more interested in what was underneath that bikini anyway.”

He opened the passenger door for her to slide in.

She looked at him from under her lashes and flirted like she’d wanted to do all those years ago but had been too shy. “You were, were you?”

“Oh yeah.” He shut the car door and, in the sudden silence, panic rolled over her again. Except, there was excitement too…

Copyright © Summer on Firefly Lake 2017 by Jen Gilroy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like the sound of things?

I thought you might.

Catch where it all began with BOOK ONE in the series...

Title: The Cottage at Firefly Lake

Author: Jen Gilroy

Publisher: Forever – Grand Central Publishing

Series: Firefly Lake #1

Date Released: January 31, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

ISBN: 9781455569595

Some mistakes can never be fixed and some secrets never forgiven … but some loves can never be forgotten.

Charlotte Gibbs wants nothing more than to put the past behind her, once and for all. Yet now that she's back at Firefly Lake to sell her mother's cottage, the overwhelming flood of memories reminds her of what she's been missing. Sun-drenched days. Late-night kisses that still shake her to the core. The gentle breeze off the lake, the scent of pine in the air, and the promise of Sean's touch on her skin…True, she got her dream job traveling the world. But at what cost?

Sean Carmichael still doesn't know why Charlie disappeared that summer, but after eighteen years, a divorce, and a teenage son he loves more than anything in the world, he's still not over her. All this time and her body still fits against his like a glove. She walked away once when he needed her the most. How can he convince her to stay now?

Add to your “Want to Read” shelf:  Goodreads

Book 1 is available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Praise for The Cottage at Firefly Lake:

“Gilroy’s debut contemporary is packed with potent emotions…[the] protagonists tug at the heartstrings from the beginning of the story and don’t let go. Long on charm, this story invites readers to come in and stay a while.” – Publishers Weekly

“Memories, regrets and second chances are front and center in Gilroy’s fantastic debut.” – RT Book Reviews

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Jen Gilroy:

Jen Gilroy lives in a small town in eastern Ontario, Canada where her Irish ancestors settled in the nineteenth century. She's worked in higher education and international marketing but, after spending too much time in airports and away from her family, traded the 9-5 to write romantic women’s fiction to bring readers' hearts home.

Jen likes ice cream, diners, vintage style and all things country. Her husband is her real-life romance hero, and her teen daughter teaches her to cherish the blessings in the everyday.

The Cottage at Firefly Lake, the first book in her Firefly Lake series, was a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® award in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon Award 2017.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to the Barclay Publicity team for the chance to participate in this promotion.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the series, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its book birthday THIS WEEK via Grand Central Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!