NBtM Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Soul of the Storm (Deerbourne Inn) by Jean M. Grant

Welcome to my stop on the Name Before the Masses virtual book tour for Soul of the Storm (Deerbourne Inn) by Jean M. Grant. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt for you as well as a guest post about Jean M. Grant's first crush! There's also a tour wide giveaway! Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour here for more guest posts, excerpts, interviews, reviews, and more. Enjoy!

Title: Soul of the Storm

Series: Deerbourne Inn

Author: Jean M. Grant

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 20th, 2019

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Charlotte MacGregor lost the thrill of conquering mountains five years ago when her sister disappeared on a hiking adventure without her. Still guilt-ridden, Charlotte heads for a vacation to rustic Vermont with a friend—where she's surrounded by reminders of her devastating loss and plagued with unanswered questions.

Matiu Christiansen is an outdoors buff. He works multiple jobs to save for his dream of owning an outfitter in New Zealand. He's never quite felt at home in the United States and he yearns for his Maori roots, but his attraction to Charlotte puts a kink in his plans to move home later this year.

Thrown together by coincidence, Charlotte and Matiu form a kindred bond through their shared love of the outdoors. Can Charlotte surmount her demons to assist Matiu on a rescue when a late-season snowstorm hits? And can Matiu help Charlotte heal from the pain of the past?

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * The Wild Rose Press

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EXCERPT:

Charlotte sat on the top porch step instead of in a rocker. Her breath puffed in a misty cloud before her as she waited. Again, the scent of a fire from the back pit infused the air. She traced the knots in the planks of the porch with the toe of her shoe, ignoring her thudding pulse. Matiu shuffled through the side door. She rose to help him with the cups.

“Hi.”

“Kia ora,” he said, smile deep and teeth bright beneath the lamps. “It’s colder tonight.”

“You need a jacket,” she said with a nod to his thinner long-sleeved top that clung nicely to his muscles.

“I’ll sit closer to you. Nice quilt.”

“I’m always cold. I won’t have much heat to share.”

“Logging in my assessment file.” He tapped his temple.

She shivered from nerves as he settled beside her on the top step.

“Ya know, we could have tea inside,” he suggested.

“What about consorting? Besides, I like the clear sky and fresh air. Night is my time.”

He nodded. “Ah, clear skies are amazing. I prefer morning. Not sure about tomorrow. Neil’s sick with the flu, and so is Kelly. They work on the search and rescue team, and Kelly also does mucking with us for the US Forest Service. Seems like the germs haven’t left for the season.”

“Nor the cold temps. Both tend to bite us in the ass in April.”

“I was serious. You going to share that quilt with me?” He inched closer.

“Nope. Get your own.”

He pressed a hand to his heart. “Shot down!” Tea splashed as his laugh vibrated.

Her pulse quickened with the idea of sharing warmth with him.

He said, “I’m knackered. That paddle got me sore. Bit more wind today than I’d expected.”

“You’re not the only one.”

He was so close. She subtly inhaled his natural scent. She couldn’t place it. Probably his shampoo… combined with sweat and cooking oils. They sat quietly, unsure what to say next. His nearness upset her equilibrium. She drank the tea.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.

Website * Amazon * BookBub * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

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GUEST POST:

Who was your childhood crush?

That is an interesting question. I grew up in the fluorescent decade of Atari, boxy computers, Trapper Keepers, dial-up internet (that came a bit later), Walkmans and mixed cassette tapes, payphones, floppy disks and dot matrix printers, slap bracelets, VCRs (I loved recording Shark Week on Discovery), Tang, Sweet Valley Twins/High books, early R.L. Stine, rolls of 24 or 36ct film for cameras (make each photo count!), elaborately folded notes in school, library card catalogs, pegged jeans, and so much more…Ah, the 80’s and early 90’s.

I also remember my teenage crushes on celebrities. I plastered my walls with pages from Teen People, Bop, and Tiger Beat magazines of a young Leo DiCaprio, Christian Slater, and Edward Furlong. But Joey from New Kids on the Block dominated my wood-paneled walls “ode to heartthrobs.” I really had a thing for him! I even got a huge cardboard cutout for my 12th birthday with all the fellas from NKOTB. I was lovestruck and filled with teenage angst.

I also adored two romantic medieval movies: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and The Princess Bride with Cary Elwes. Wesley could save me any day! The Princess Bride is a cheesy movie but if you are a sucker for comedy and a happy-ever-after, it’s a great pick-me-up movie. I watch it still.

These two movies had similar threads: medieval heroics, a complex villain, and sweeping romance. The landscape was inspiring, too. All things I aim to layer into my historical novels. These movies might have been the stepping stone for my writing historical romances.

I have two published historical romances now out and I’m writing a third in the trilogy, but I’ve also stepped over to the contemporary side with Soul of the Storm and a soon-to-be published women’s fiction novel, Will Rise from Ashes. Nothing says romance like two hurt souls looking for healing, hope, redemption, and growth. The guy saves the girl, but the girl also saves the guy.

That’s what I got out of my generation and my childhood crushes: sappy & cheesy (but rad!) romantic movies, good overcoming evil, teen heartthrobs, and a generation on the cusp of technology but still keeping it simple. They all propelled me onto this journey of romance and women’s fiction. And now that you’ve got me thinking back in time, I’ll go put on some Ah Ha…and maybe pop The Princess Bride into the blue-ray player too, while I’m at it!

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GIVEAWAY:

Jean M. Grant will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter after the tour. Be sure to leave a comment at a different blog stop each day to increase your chance of winning. A list of participating blogs can be found here. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway