BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: ETHAN'S DAUGHTER by RACHEL BRIMBLE

There's safety in solitude isn't there?

ETHAN'S DAUGHTER

Templeton Cove #7

Rachel Brimble

Releasing Aug 8, 2016

Harlequin Superromance

In Ethan's Daughter (Templeton Cove #7) by Rachel Brimble, Leah Dixon isn't afraid to give reclusive best-selling author Ethan James a piece of her mind when it comes to his daughter's safety. However, when the trouble Ethan is facing lands on her doorstep, Leah is determined to help Ethan, even though he doesn't want anyone's help to deal with the danger he's facing because of his ex. Will Leah and Ethan be able to find a way to stop what's happening, or will they lose their shot at happy ever after?

This series has such wonderful characters and Leah and Ethan were a fantastic addition, except there were moments where I got frustrated with the heroine, as she didn't know when to back off. Certainly, her job as a nurse causes her to be protective of those that aren't strong enough to be able to protect themselves from harm, but Ethan had his reasons for how he wanted to handle the situation he found himself in. Will she respect his wishes? However, in saying that, I really enjoyed the growing relationship between this pair and everything these two go through on their journey to happy ever after.

The way this story started had me liking the heroine straight away, as she does the right thing by Ethan's daughter and then does her best to discover the truth from Ethan about what's happened to him. Will he tell her the truth? Furthermore, the dialogue was fascinating due to the main characters back stories, which has made Ethan uninterested in forever after. His ex is a real piece of work that only seems to care about herself. Will Leah be able to make the hero realize that she's not going anywhere? That she does fight for what's important. I also liked the bond he shared with his daughter and that he would do anything for her, even if it means protecting the young girl from her own mother.

While the heroine, she's strong and brave and I liked how she did what she thought was right, even though she knew Ethan might get upset with her. I also liked how kind and caring she was and that she would do anything to make her patients feel cool, calm and collected, even if they have the most painful of injuries. Yet, what I did find frustrating is how much pressure she put on Ethan to do the right thing for himself and for his daughter. Certainly, the threat was palpable, but why couldn't she see things from his perspective?

Overall, Ms Brimble has penned a wonderfully sweet, fast-paced, thrilling read in this seventh book of her Templeton Cove series where the chemistry between this pair was intense and the ending of this story had me concerned for the main characters. Will Ethan be able to keep Leah safe? However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, because after all that Leah and Ethan have been through, he had an important question to ask her. Would she accept? I would recommend Ethan's Daughter by Rachel Brimble, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope or books by authors Claire McEwen, Kristina Knight and Sharon Hartley.

BLURB

There's safety in solitude isn't there?

Single dad and best-selling thriller writer Ethan James has no problem being Templeton Cove's most famous recluse until a surprise visit from the past plunges him into a real-life crime drama just as feisty nurse Leah Dixon barges her way into his world.

Ethan's first priority is to protect his daughter. His second priority is to keep Leah out of this dark web and that means out of his bed. Except Leah isn't going anywhere; she's afraid little Daisy is in danger.

Ethan couldn't live with himself if anything happened to Leah but pushing her away may be even harder!

Leah froze. How could she have been so stupid? He couldn’t possibly drive with his injured hand and now she’d have to endure sitting side by side with the man all the way to Clover Point. Which, strictly speaking, was a ten-minute drive tops…but still.

She forced a smile. “Of course, you are. I’ll grab a child seat from the trunk.”

Surprise widened his eyes. “You’ve got kids? I didn’t realize…”

“No.” She huffed a laugh. “But I am a little anal about being prepared for anything and everything.”

“Right.” His gaze softened with something that looked far too much like acceptance…as though he should have guessed as much. “Got it.”

Leah quickly looked away and walked to the back of her car. Shoving her first aid kit, car jack and mini tool box to the side, she pulled out one of the two child seats. Closing the trunk, she opened the back door and pushed the seat inside. She waved toward the open door. “All yours.”

She stood back as Ethan buckled Daisy safely inside, her gaze roaming over his strong back and perfectly edible ass encased in cargo pants. Sighing, and purposefully ignoring the twitch deep in her abdomen, she walked around to the driver’s side…but was too slow opening the door. Ethan’s steady gaze met hers over the car’s roof and for the first time in a long time, her automatic smile was far too long in coming.

She stood frozen to the spot.

The air seemed to charge with electricity as they stood staring at one another, until Leah broke the moment and took blessed escape by sliding into the driver’s seat.

Rachel Brimble lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had seven books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and an eight coming in Feb 2018. She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press. 

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

GUEST POST

Catharsis of Writing Romance

This is such a great topic for a romance novelist as, in my opinion, emotions are the entire basis for any romance novel. I write contemporary romance, romantic suspense and historical romance but for each sub-genre, emotions such as joy, love, loss, bereavement, fear and courage are all felt the same today as they were in any past century. It’s the constant that we all share and always will.

As I create my characters and their goals, motivations and conflicts, I focus my mind on what issue will evoke the most emotion in the characters and the reader. This is a vital consideration if I want my readers to be wholly invested in the characters’ journeys and, ultimately, their happy ever after.

Romance writers also tend to use their stories to explore an issue they feel strongly about or as an avenue in which to purge a conflict they are enduring, or have endured, in the past. Hopefully, everyone has the opportunity to experience falling in love, but it’s not always a happy one. By the time we hit our mid-twenties (quite possibly younger), many of us would’ve experienced heartbreak, betrayal and/or disappointment. These memories and the feelings that we went through provide a melting pot of emotion to pour onto the page.

One of the hardest of my books to write was Saved By The Firefighter, but it was also one of the most cathartic. Just before I started writing this book, I had lost my beloved, ten-year-old black Labrador, Max. He was my first family dog and my constant companion. He was with me pretty much twenty-four-seven and would lay for hours at my feet while I worked. During our walks I would plot and plan, solve problems and gain new inspiration. He was everything to me.

When he died, I was literally struck down with grief. I was lost. Didn’t want to do or think about anything…and I had a deadline looming. I had to start work. But how?

That was when I knew the book I needed to write had to involve bereavement, a fight through the hero or heroine’s grief until they come out the other side, happier and stronger than they were before their loss. As soon as I believed the writing of this book could be my way of healing, of purging everything I was feeling and how much I was hurting, the writing began to flow.

I poured everything I had into every word, every scene and every character action and decision.

The feedback from readers has been fantastic! People have told me how Trent and Izzy’s story brought them hope, evoked tears and memories, but they finished the book smiling. Happiness! This is my aim when I write – to heal a little of something in me and in the lovely people who read my books.

For my latest release, Ethan’s Daughter, I tackled the issue of single parenthood and the mistakes we make raising our children and sometimes, often unconsciously, making decisions for them based on our own fears and concerns rather than what is best for our kids. We all know loving our children, the fears and caring we have for them, can bring out the best and worst in us. A subject I think I’ll write about over and over as my own children grow, change, learn and love.

Romance writing is therapy. Great therapy! And something I hope will help me through the good and bad times for many, many years to come.

Happy Reading,

Rachel x

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