Friday, July 26, 2019

Blog Tour: Guest Review + Excerpt- Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas Publisher:  Broadback (May 1, 2019) Category: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance Tour dates: June 24-July 31, 2019 ISBN:978-1093138429 Available in Print and ebook, 285 pages 

Daring Summer

Description:

 Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

A hot summer beach— A marriage gone wrong— Daring eyes and daring love, betrayed by a secret passion. Kim feels trapped in a loveless marriage to a jealous, wealthy older man. He blames her for crippling him in an auto accident that he himself caused. Kim strives to make the marriage work, despite her husband’s blame, verbal abuse, and bitterness. When she meets a wickedly handsome man on the beach, she fights not to want him, not to want a new life and not to fall in love. But Derek is seductive and irresistible—a former soldier who has recently come to town to start a landscaping business. Kim falls hard for him, as he does to her. Although Kim wants a divorce, her husband finds out about their affair and devises a plot to destroy them both. They must struggle to survive a web of lies, deceit and dangerous passion.

Praise Other Side of Summer

“5 stars, another great, emotional read from this author!! I was hooked the minute I started reading it. Be warned you will need a box of tissues to read. I really love this author!”- Melissa Mendoza, Anne & Melissa’s Book Love “I found this to be a satisfying, well developed warm and enriching read. It gave me a lot to think about. I will recommend it to readers of both genders, age high school and up, who like substance in their novels.”-Laura Reading, Laura’s Interests “The book is more than just a contemporary romance – it’s a family saga, a book about the bonds of family, about love (not just between partners but between parents and children), about life and the choices we make. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, and the author has a talent for crafting believable characters. An excellent book, and I look forward to reading more by this author.”- Majanka, I Heart Reading “Great story, I give it five stars.  I thought the book was wonderful and emotional, and I loved the writing style and how the words flowed.  I was happy to fantasize about being there to watch the story unfold.  I loved this story; took me back to my young beach days.”-Diana's Book Reviews

REVIEW: 

Guest Review by Nora S.
“Fog was clinging to the ocean, crawling along the dunes and faraway cliffs, obscuring the sprawling beach houses on the bluffs, creating a lonely, pensive seclusion.” 

From the first chapter of 'Daring Summer' I knew I was in for a delectable read. The above quote comes in while the main character, Kim is contemplatively staring out at the ocean from the windows of her beach house on Long Island.  She has more reason to be lost in thought than most, throughout the novel, Kim goes on a trans-formative journey that takes her from the abused wife of a rich and vicious man to a strong, self-possessed woman in her own right. 

This novel is a romantic suspense, and the romance between Kim and the man next door, Derek is beautiful, but what really took me off guard was the setting. The breathtaking descriptions of the beach and the coast line. The descriptions of the waves lapping against the rocky cove and the storms fiercely rolling across the restless sea were just lovely to indulge in as a reader. The description and setting alone really elevate this novel from an average romantic suspense to something entirely more.  I felt like I was right there on the beach with these characters and I loved every second of it. 

Setting is, of course, very important to a novel in terms of how it plays on the themes and situations that the characters are facing and the sea—both beautiful and stormy-- was a perfect analogy for Kim and Derek's romance. It was masterfully pulled off by the authors in a way that you just don't get to see very often. 

I'm not sure I've ever read another book like 'Daring Summer' or that I ever will again. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I give it all 5 stars.

Excerpt: 

Derek released her and they lay close on the bare sand, her head resting against his shoulder, her body still quivering and warm.  The sound of the sea rose and fell, lulling them both into a dreamy contentment.
He gently kissed her ear and cheek, her closed eyes.  He wiped sand from her face and neck, feeling peace, feeling he’d come home.
“You kill me,” she whispered.  “What the hell am I going to do with you?”
He pressed his cheek to hers, whispering in her ear.  “You’re beautiful.  You’re perfection.  Let’s get out of here, Kim.  Leave him.  Let’s leave this town and run away where no one will ever find us.”
Kim’s eyes were still shut.  She sighed, still wanting more of him.  She thought, “It’s impossible.  Impossible to want him so completely and relentlessly.  Impossible.”
Kim drew in a sharp breath, her muscles finally beginning to relax “… And where will that be, Derek?  We’ll just be running from ourselves.”
“Bullshit.  We’ll get the hell out of here and away from Ben.  I have some money.  Let’s go to Central America.  I have some friends there… a couple of old Army buddies moved to Costa Rica.  We can go there and start all over.”
Kim sat up, pulled on her top, and looked him full in the face, unsure.  “I don’t know.  I don’t think so…”
“Why?”
“I have to finish this.”
“Finish what?”
“I’m married.  I have to finish that.  I can’t run away from that.  If I do, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Derek was incredulous.  “Kim, you have run away from it.  You’ve already left him.  You’re here with me.  We’re together.  We fit together.  We go together.  That’s it.  Finished.  Your marriage is over.  Can’t you see that?  What crazy daydream are you living in?  This isn’t some Broadway show where everybody sings and dances and lives happily ever after.  This is the real world, and the real world is the world Ben lives in.”
Kim gave him a long, searching look and then she stood up and finished dressing. 
“Okay, then, I have to end it, officially.  I can’t run away until I end it.  I’m not going to run away like my father did.  I can’t.   He was a coward.  He was a son of a bitch.  Okay, maybe I’m no better than my father was.  Maybe I’m just a whore, but I’m not going to run away.  I’ll face Ben, and I’ll tell him the truth about us.  I’ll finish it.”
Derek stood, knocked the sand from his body, and pulled on his shorts.  His eyes held questions, but he kept silent.  “Okay… so finish it.”
He took her hands and held them.  She looked away. 
“… And?” Derek asked, trying to find her eyes.
“And… it won’t be easy.”
“Do it, Kim.  Let’s get out of here before it’s too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Before Ben makes his move—and he will make a move.”
Kim retracted her hands and turned toward the sea.  She thought about the yoga studio and the two million dollars.  It had all come so swiftly.  Ben’s change had been so sudden and complete.  She sighed.  “Until this moment, I hadn’t realized how scared I am of him.  He’s different.  He’s been different and changed for a long time.  Maybe I’ve always been scared of him.”
Derek moved behind her and took her shoulders.  “He knows about us, Kim.  Believe me.  You know it, too.  Finish it and let’s get out of here.”
Kim chewed on her fingernail.  “Okay, I’ll finish it.”
She turned and faced Derek, her eyes taking him in, fully, honestly, lovingly.  “I can’t stop seeing you.  I tried.  I did try, but I can’t.  I love you.”
“You’ll never get away from me, Kim.  Never.  We belong to each other.”

About Elyse Douglas:

Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature.  She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist. Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader.  He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. Website: www.elysedouglas.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse Facebook: www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas

Buy Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas  on Amazon

Giveaway Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas:

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends April 30, 2019, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only. 

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 21 Excerpt & Kickoff Kim Amazon June 24 Review Penny Amazon June 25 Review Jody Amazon June 26 Review Lu Ann Rockin' Book Reviews June 27 Review & Guest Post Kathleen Celticlady's Reviews June 28 Review & Excerpt Nadene Totally Addicted to Reading July 8 Review & Interview DD Amazon July 9 Review Tina/Rebecca Sassy Southern Book Blog July 10 Review & Excerpt Teaka Amazon July 11 Review Catherine Cuzinlogic July 12 Review & Excerpt Marina's Books July 15 Review Wendy Wall-to-wall books July 16 Review Author Amy Garrett July 17 Review & Excerpt Dawn Bound 4 Escape July 18 Review Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus July 19 Review Patricia Reviews by Room With Books July 22 Review                                           I Shannon L. Buck July 23 Review Ruth My Devotional Thoughts July 24 Review & Guest Post Donna Amazon July 25 Review Sarika The Readdicts Book Blog July 26 Review & Excerpt Melissa Amazon July 30 Review

  Daring Summer by Elyse Douglas


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