A Texan's Promise - Giveaway and Review

"Vanessa, honey, why you crying?"

Clayton! He stood in the doorway to the stables, his presence both a soothing balm and a source of panic.

Vanessa gingerly leaned back against the wood behind her, willed herself to relax, but it was no good. It was going to be some time before she could calm down again. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"You didn't." His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "It's midnight. Isn't it awfully late for you to be out of bed?"

Yes. Yes, it was. It was too late for a lot of things now. Wiping her eyes with the side of her fist, she shook her head. "I'll go in soon."

Clayton crouched beside her, his knees brushing her skirts. A puff of dust flew up, mixing with his scent, all bay rum and horses. "Care to tell me what happened?"

She was thankful for the darkness. "No."

She hated being nineteen and unmarried. Too old to ask for help; too innocent to be self-sufficient. She knew the moment he saw the bruise on her cheek. Ever since her pa had died, she'd felt alone except for Clay. If he turned away from her, she'd have no one left.

In the latest novel by Shelley Gray, A Texan's Promise, brings to light just how far a promise can go in the lives of Clayton Proffitt and Vanessa Grant. Clayton has promised her father that he would look after her and when he learns that her stepfather, Price has beaten her, he knows that he must take Vanessa and leave the Circle Z Ranch in Texas and find a safe place for her. Only by taking Vanessa and leaving, Clayton will soon be an outlaw himself in the eyes of the law once Price demands that a posse be formed to search for Vanessa and have her returned. The punishment he has in store for her leaving will be unmatched to what he did the first time.

I received this book compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and found myself once more swept away by the writing style of Shelly Gray. She has a way of hooking you from the beginning and make you love and care for the characters she brings to life in the pages of her novel. You'll be rooting for Clayton and Vanessa happiness while eluding the hunt for them by Price. Once more I have to give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating and can't wait to read more in the The Heart of A Hero Series!!! She's got me hooked now.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this amazing western romance, click on the links below:

A Texan's Promise by Shelly Gray

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Abingdon Press, they are offering a giveaway copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter the giveaway.

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. You can even enter a friend in this giveaway if you want. Please remember No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment and let me know what your idea of a true hero is along with your email address. Remember you can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. I need a way to contact you if you're the winner.

The giveaway will end on October 17th and I'll notify the winner via email at that time. Please spread the word, this is an amazing story and series to get hooked on.

Autumn's Promise

In the final chapter in the Season's of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray takes us back into the lives of the Amish people living in the town of Sugarcreek in her latest novel, Autumn's Promise.

Here we are introduced to Lilly Allen, a nineteen year old English girl whose family has recently moved to Sugarcreek to avoid her old friends and neighbors learning that she had gotten pregnant by a boy she had a crush on but didn't want to become a father. Her family thought leaving town would be an easy way to avoid the questions some would ask and the people of Sugarcreek were willing to not ask questions. However when Lilly miscarries, she wonders if her life is truly over or if it were a blessing in disguise.

Robert Miller is a twenty four year old Amish man who recently is widowed after losing the love of his life, Grace at such an early age. Since her death the only thing keeping Robert going is his work at Miller Carpentry and spending some time at the Sugarcreek Inn getting to know a new waitress named Lilly who seems just as withdrawn from this life as he is.

Yet will their differences in faith keep them apart or will one of them make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love? Will they be able to allow their love to grow or will the towns old ways keep them apart? To find out, you'll need to read the latest book, Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepherd Gray.

I received this latest book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and this one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my library. This is a keeper for me. For more information about the book, the author and even a first chapter glimpse along with where to purchase a copy, please read below:

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Autumn's Promise Avon Inspire (August 3, 2010)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold twenty-six novels to numerous publishers. She has written a seven book contemporary series for Avalon books. She also published The Love Letter, a western for Avalon. Five Star Expressions published Suddenly, You in February of 2007. This novel is a historical western set in the mountains of Colorado.

Shelley has written nine novels for Harlequin American Romance. Cinderella Christmas, her first novel with them, reached number six on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. Her second book with them, Simple Gifts won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice award for best Harlequin American Romance of 2006. The Mommy Bride, was chosen by Romantic Times Magazine as one of their TOP PICKS for May, 2008.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for Harper Collins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. HIDDEN and WANTED the first two novels of her ‘Sisters of the Heart’ series, were chosen to be Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/ Literary Guild Book Club. FORGIVEN, book 3, has received glowing reviews. Avon Inspire is releasing four novels by Shelley this year.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two teenagers, and is an active member of her church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Some promises are meant to be broken...

Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he'd been living in a haze, feeling that, at twenty-four, his life was already over.

But thanks to his friendship with Lilly, he now has new reasons to wake up each day. He knows his connection to her doesn't make sense. She's only nineteen, with a past the whole town talks about. Even more, she's not Amish, like Robert. A marriage between the two of them could never happen.

Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. No matter how much she admires his quiet strength and dependability, she doesn't think she could ever give up her independence and reliance on the modern world. Is their love doomed before it even begins?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Autumn's Promise, go HERE.