Sunday, 18 May 2014

Blog Tour, Excerpt and Review - Return to Newport by A L Parks


BOOK: Return to Newport
SERIES: Return to Me (#2)
GENRE: Adult Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: A. L. Parks
RELEASED: 29th April 2014

BLURB

Eve is ready for a clean slate. She nearly lost the love of her life in The Return. Now Eve must confront the people refusing to let her go quietly into her happily ever after with Jake. Returning to Newport to tie up loose ends may be the biggest mistake of her life.
Jake wants one thing – and one thing only – Eve. He is ready to build a life with her, and spend the rest of his days loving only her. But his surprise visit to Newport makes him question everything he thought he knew about her, including her love.
At the center of the turmoil is Eve’s ex-husband. Intrigued by the changes he sees in her, Brad is determined to sabotage Jake and Eve’s relationship – and take Eve back.
Jake and Eve must face their demons, and battle the outside forces that seek to destroy their future. Can their love survive the Return to Newport?

EXCERPT

Jake. It nagged at her that she had still not had a word from him. She walked into the kitchen to find some crackers to calm her now upset stomach. What the hell was going on? She heard the kitchen door open, but had already pressed the button for Jake’s phone, and she didn’t turn around. Clarissa’s voice filled the air around her.
“Hey, Mom, I have a surprise for you,” her voice sang.
“Hold on Clarissa, I’m on the phone. I haven’t heard from Jake all day,” she muttered more to herself than for Clarissa’s benefit. Jake’s voicemail picked up, and Eve shifted her weight as she heard the beep. “Jake, where the hell are you?”
“I’m right here, beautiful,” came the deep voice behind her.

Eve turned around, and her eyes met the most beautiful blue eyes that she had ever seen - the ones that held the deepest love - all for her.
“Jake,” she exhaled, and came towards him. Her arms went around his neck, and she launched herself at him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly against his body. She pressed her lips against his, tilting her head to the side, and slipping her tongue into his mouth. She was desperate for him, needed to feel him, make sure he was truly there.
“Geez, you two, get a room,” Clarissa’s voice giggled behind them. Eve placed her forehead against Jake’s, eyes closed, and breathed him in. All the worry, the fears - the demons - all of them melted away with the stroke of his hands across her back.
He exhaled, and pulled Eve tighter against his body, whispering in her ear, “Now everything feels right again.”

REVIEW
Foxy Rating = Five stars
This is the second book in the Return to Me series and I would definitely advise to read book one – The Return, first.  
              
This book picks up where Eve and Jake had resolved their early relationship issues and come to a stage they were ready to move onto. For Eve that meant finally cutting all ties with Newport by ending her job as a Judge and selling up. This still raised some insecurity for Jake as he is still battling with his demons of not being good enough for Eve, so for Eve to go back and be with her old life – could this sway her to stay there and give up on her new life in Colorado with Jake?

I really love this series and am definitely hooked on the second chance romance of Eve and Jake. Eve, from the high society and rich, Jake, a chief fire fighter and not so rich – oh the insecurities that created. It has been a beautiful storyline to follow their ongoing courtship and romance and to see them work through their own demons of the past and try to not let them destroy this wonderful new love.
Jake is an absolute hero for me and even though he is the tough firefighter, I just love how he shows his sensitive side and his obvious love for Eve. We didn’t get to find out much about his custody battle for his daughter Lauren in this book but it appears this is to feature in the next one, Lauren’s Return.

Eve has finally found her ‘old self’ again and will not be dragged back down by the old ‘friends’ and her abhorrent ex, Brad. She’s really come to shine in this book and I was there at the side lines cheering her on.

However, they both had some issues to work through and as in all good romances there are always outside influences just waiting to pounce and throw a spanner in the works, leading to confusion and misunderstanding which threatened the newly developed love and trust. I love a little bit of angst and this was nicely done but not over exerted.

Sometimes a book will come along and just grab you by the heart with its simplicity and pure romance, this book (well the series) is one of them. It is a believable and compelling storyline that just draws you in with no need for a sub plot or shocking curve balls. That’s not to say this wasn’t an explosive sexual story because, oh yes, it certainly had some serious sexy times throughout.  The chemistry and sexual attraction between Eve and Jake just sizzled from the kindle.

This series so far for me has been an amazing read and I can’t wait for more from Ms Parks. A definite five star read and highly recommend. 

MEET THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, A.L. Parks has spent the last 25 years moving all over the United States. Married to the Navy - well a man in the Navy - Parks has lived in various places throughout the United States. Now she resides in the Washington D.C area, and loves every minute. She has four children, and one spoiled German Shepard.

2013 marked her debut in publishing. Her first novel, Strangers, released on her 45th birthday. She was amazed at how many people fell in love with a story about two people dealing with grief, and finding love again. Abby and Bryce were the perfect couple to introduce Parks as an up-and-coming author.

Her second novel, The Return, released in December 2013. A wonderful Christmas romance, it is the first book in a series. Book Two Return to Newport, released in Spring 2014.


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