Thursday, August 20, 2015

Blog Tour/Review: Guardians of the Heart by Loree Lough


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Guardians of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #2)
by Loree Lough

Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 272 pages
August 3rd 2015 by Whitaker House


Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn.

Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. 

Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

This is one of those books that once I started, I settled in and had a hard time putting down. It's set in the late 1800's. Asa Stone left Denver years ago after a family argument and has now returned but has secrets which make him believe he doesn't deserve happiness. His plan is to restore his grandparents' inn, Stone Hill. Nell Holstrom is looking for a new job and Asa hires her as the housekeeper for his inn. Together, they work hard to restore it to its former glory. Just when things are going well, something disastrous happens which drastically changes their plans.

I loved Asa and Nell! Asa puts on a rough front but does care about others while trying not to. He feels guilt for some things he did in the past and needs to learn to forgive himself. Nell was sweet from the beginning! What I loved about this book is that the author didn't just tell me; she showed me. Nell had to leave the home she was in at the beginning and she could have been bitter, but she wasn't. In fact, she left the furniture she had purchased for the next tenant to help her feel more at home. When she was cleaning out the inn, she found Asa's grandfather's old pipe, and gave it to him rather than throw it away. It brought back good memories for him so he was excited to have it. There were other instances like that throughout the book. Her life wasn't easy and she wasn't perfect but she made the most out of her situation. I absolutely fell in love with her! 

 I was loving what was going on at the beginning and then it took a sad turn and I felt devastated for them. As time went on, though, they came up with a new plan and were able to make it work. What they wound up with in the end was better than what they had in the beginning and I liked that, too. Sometimes in life, a bad situation can actually be the best thing for us in the long run. 

 This is Christian fiction so there are faith elements throughout the book. It's a book anyone will love that enjoys a good, clean, faith-based romance. It's also the second book in a series but I didn't realize that until I started writing my review, so it works very well as a stand alone novel. This author is new to me but I will definitely read more of her work in the future (and she has lots of books out so there's plenty to choose from)!!

My Rating=5 Stars

The First Book in the Series

Currency of the Heart
(Secrets on Sterling Street, #1)
by Loree Lough

Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 256 pages
January 1st 2015 by Whitaker House


Young widow Shaina Sterling hates living a lie. Desperate to keep bill collectors from the door, she secretly sells valuable possessions piece by piece, and hopes Denver’s elite never discover that his lavish lifestyle left her a near pauper.

She’s unaware that as her husband lay dying, successful rancher Sloan Remington made him a promise. And Sloan guards her secrets as carefully as he looks after her safety.

When fire devours Sterling Hall, leaving her homeless and penniless, he brings her to Remington Ranch to manage his household. His kindness makes Shaina beholden to him … and threatens to expose the secret that could destroy him.

Will trials and tragedies bring Sloan and Shaina together?

Or will secrets—and the cost of exposing them—drive them apart forever?


With 105 books (5,000,000+ copies in circulation!), best-selling author Loree Lough's stories have been compared to those by Nicholas Sparks, and she has been dubbed by readers and reviewers as “a gifted writer whose stories touch hearts and change lives.”

With a long list of industry awards, it isn't likely this prolific author will ever retire...not even to her cozy li'l cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. She loves to hear from her readers and personally answers every letter sent tohttp://www.loreelough.com/.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

Print copy of Guardians of the Heart

Kindle copy of Guardians of the Heart (to be gifted through Amazon)

Open internationally

Ends August 29th

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Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM

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