Monday, May 21, 2012

Virtual Book Tour Review and Giveaway: Moving On: A Prairie Romance by Annette Bower


(A contemporary novella from XOXO Publishing)


This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Annette is giving away  a $25 GC to All Romance eBooks to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!


Anna is a mysterious woman that has just moved to Regina Beach. The residents of the small town know everyone’s business and they are very interested in discovering Anna’s secrets. Nick was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army, doing active duty until a horrific accident sent him home to recover. He helps Anna feel safe and comfortable in her new environment, just as he has always done for his men in strange, dangerous places. Meanwhile, he focuses on preparing for his future physical endurance test to prove that he is capable of returning to active duty.

Anna doesn’t talk about her past, and Nick doesn’t talk about his future therefore she is shocked to discover that his greatest wish is to return to active duty. She won’t love a man who may die on the job again. Intellectually, she knows that all life cycles end, but emotionally, she doesn’t know if she has the strength to support Nick.


This story is got my attention from the very first page. After reading the first couple of paragraphs, I was hooked. I had to know what was going on. Why was the heroine was there, and why she was so sad?  The amount of character building the author did in only a few words was fantastic.

The writing was beautiful and descriptive, and I felt as though I was inside the heroine’s head while she lived through the things that were going on. She was starting a new life and hoping to be happy again someday, and because I was so caught up with her, I wanted the same thing.

The town she moved  to was a small, delightful place, warm and friendly to everyone, including strangers. They took you into their hearts immediately.  It was a place where folks were family.  You mattered.  And even when they butted in to your business, it was only with your best interests at heart.

The hero was a soldier who lived at a B&B and was injured physically and mentally. That they would meet and come together was a given, but it became more than that. They were both wounded spirits. As they spent time together, it was a lovely, warm and fun story. Everyone in the village helped them in their search for life again.

I couldn’t put the story down until I finished it. I wanted the both to be happy again. And although the story ended somewhat abruptly, I was satisfied with the finish. I think anyone looking for a sweet and warm romance will love this story.

4/5 Flowers


Annette Bower lives and writes in Regina, SK Canada. She is an author of many short stories published in anthologies and magazines in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. She explores women in families, women in communities and women at the beginning and end of love and their quest for love. She pursues the writing craft in workshops, conferences, Writing with Style, Banff Centre for the Arts, Victoria School of Writing, Sage Hill Writing Experience, the Surrey International Writing Conferences and the Romance Writing of America Conferences.

When she isn’t writing she walks or bikes around the streets and parks in her neighborhood imagining complex worlds behind seemingly ordinary events.

Her first contemporary romance, Moving On A Prairie Romance is published by XoXo Publishing™ a division of Ninni Group Inc.

Website: http://www.annettebower.com/
Blog: http://www.annettebower.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Annette-Bower-XOXO-Publishing-Author/378438088839629

Recommendations:

I have just been reading MOVING ON on my Kindle. It's lovely... -- a gentle, feel-good book with a nice variety of individualized characters and a positive over-all message. The familiar setting was a treat too. Congratulations! I would recommend it. - Mary Balogh: http://www.marybalogh.com/

“Moving On: A Prairie Romance” by Annette Bower In “Moving On: A Prairie Romance”, Annette Bower explores the redemptive power of affection. When we meet Nick and Anna, the characters at the centre of the novel, both are reeling from devastating personal tragedies, and both are fearful of making a connection that would open them to future pain. In the course of the novel, Nick and Anna slowly but surely learn to trust and to hope. Bower’s warm tale of the coming together of her two very likable protagonists is told with a keen eye and an understanding heart. This lake-side romance is perfect summer reading. ….Gail Bowen, author of the Joanne Kilbourn series. http://www.gailbowen.com/

21 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Book Lover for reading Moving On-A Prairie Romance with care and enjoyment and sharing your thoughts with your readers.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  2. What a great review. Sounds like a sweet, tender and loving story. The town sounds like one i would like to live in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning Mom Jane,
    Thank you for dropping in at It's Raining Books and reading the review of Moving On-A Prairie Romance. I agree when you are surrounded by kindness in a community whether it is a small town, your neighborhood, a specific group of friends it is a good place to be.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  4. A lovely, well-deserved review, Annette. I hope lots of people find it and read it and are intrigued enough to read the book. They won't be sorry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Mary,
      Thank you for dropping in today. Yes, it will be great when they read this review and give into the temptation to purchase Moving On-A Prairie Romance.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  5. Nice review, MJ. It sounds like a sweet, scenic romance. Perfect escapist fiction!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Catherine Lee,
      Thank you for dropping and in reading the 4 flower review. Moving On-A Prairie Romance is a good afternoon in a romantic world.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  6. I've always been intrigued by the Canadian prairies, and it sounds like there's a nice sense of place in this one...

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous,
      The Canadian priairies are a fascinating place to live. Sometimes where we live doesn't seem as intriguing to those of us who live here everyday. All landscapes reflects how we come to understand our place in the world.
      Thank you for finding It's Raining Books and commenting.

      Delete
  7. thank you for the wonderful giveaway. Your book sounds like a great read. Gale pgan427@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Gale,
      You are welcome for the giveaway. Thank you for reading MJ Thomas's review. I hope that if you have the chance you will think about reading Moving On-A Prairie Romance.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  8. It's very exciting to read such a great review of a friend's book. It would definitely make me want to put it on my list to read, if it weren't already there!

    And I love give-aways -- count me in: hekhmk (at) sasktel (dot) net. Hazel.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Hazel,
    Thank you for having me on your TBR list.
    You are definately in the contest for the give away.
    Good luck.
    Thank you for finding the review on It's Raining Books.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great Review! I love reading about places where everyone is treated like family. Its just the type of places I like to visit.
    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Cait045,
    Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books. The book lover read Moving On-A Prairie Romance with care and attention.
    When we feel loved and nurtured then we can grow and make the changes for ourselves and others. Nick and Anna were supported by a community which helped them make the necessary changes to start over.
    You are welcome to learn about Regina Beach along with Anna and Nick.
    Hope you join them one day on their journey.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  12. I enjoyed the review. The book sounds interesting.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear bn100,
    Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books and reading the review. Yes, book lover has created interest in Moving On-A Prairie Romance.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely review. Moving On sounds like a good summer read.

    anzuazura at yahoo dot de

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Lana A,
    Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books and commenting.
    Moving On-A Prairie Romance is a book that will keep you good company on a summer day or a winter day all cozy and warm.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Everyone,
    I have all the names for the draw. Thank you for participating.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete

So... inquiring minds want to know: what do you think?