Book description: On the surface, Eva Black’s life seems practically perfect. The small-town kindergarten teacher is set to wed ambitious lawyer Sean Langley, and their plans for a dream wedding are well underway. Eva accepts that she will soon live life in the spotlight as a member of the prestigious Langley family, but can she overlook her fiancé’s tendency to dominate the details of her life and push the limits of her standards?
Mere weeks before the wedding, Eva is thrown into a traumatic, life-changing event that changes her view of family commitment and creates a sharp contrast between her ideals and Sean’s. With her engagement to Sean in jeopardy, Eva finds herself relying on the support and encouragement of Peter, her kind and attentive next-door neighbor. Faced with a choice between her penitent fiancé and the increasingly mysterious Peter, Eva is unprepared for the consequences—and peril—that come with her decision.
Read an Excerpt: (taken from the first chapter)
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Sean opened the back of the car, and I twisted around to see what he was doing. Using his pocketknife, he opened a box of china and unwrapped a dish. A moment later he slid into the driver’s seat and offered me a square white salad plate with a box of Junior Mints—my favorite. “I’m sorry about the china, Eva."
I knew I should forgive him, but a nagging little part of me felt like I’d
missed out on a rite of passage. I looked at him without speaking.
He leaned in and whispered, “I promise there’s no blue in it.”
I was somewhat impressed that he remembered me telling him I hated
blue-patterned china, but I wouldn’t be the puppy distracted by a treat, even if it would pacify my skittish insides. Couldn’t he see my disappointment at not getting to pick out our china? I stared back at him without reaching for the plate.
“Just look at the plate, Eva. I know you’ll love it.”
I looked deep into his sea-blue eyes. I should have known better than
to look there if I’d wanted to stay mad. Those eyes with their hypnotic
spell never failed to draw me in, soften my frustration. Sean could be a
bit overbearing, but not because he didn’t care. I took the box, opened it,
and briefly inhaled the candies’ minty scent as I gazed at the plate pattern.
Sean’s impeccable taste once again triumphed. A solid silver band rimmed
a square white plate where long-stemmed, muted black and silver flowers
danced. “It’s beautiful.”
He grinned. “Told you I have good taste.”
“I know. It’s just . . .”
He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “I promise not to shop for your
wedding dress.”
“You know you’re not even tagging along, right?”
“Are you sure that’s the way you want it?”
“Sean!” I sent him a playful glare.
“Right. I know. Maybe you should go when I’m not in town.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard.” I’d be glad when the long distance part
of our relationship was over. When I’d moved to Ephraim last August, I’d
assumed that would be the end of our relationship. We’d dated on and off
for a year, but Sean seemed more focused on his doctorate studies than
marriage. I enjoyed teaching in Boise, but I missed my sister, especially since
she’s all the family I had. So I’d accepted a position teaching kindergarten in
Ephraim where my sister Rebecca and her new husband lived. Rebecca had
offered to let me live with them, but since I was twenty-seven and had given
up the idea of getting married, moving in with newlyweds felt too awkward.
Sean surprised me by continuing to call and even meet me in Provo or Salt
Lake for dates a couple of times a month. By Christmas, we were engaged.
Oftentimes it seemed surreal that this six-foot-two, stunningly handsome man
had chosen me. Unlike most guys I’d dated, ambition propelled Sean to be the
best. He wasn’t looking for a little school-teacher wife to support him. Without
my parents to lean on, I enjoyed the security Sean’s lifestyle offered me.
Sean checked his mirrors and backed out as the final rays of a golden
spring sunset in Provo glistened off rows of windshields. Leaning back
into the seat, I concentrated on breathing evenly, trying to let go of the
last bit of hurt. After all, Sean was only trying to please me. Not having
to borrow formal place settings would be one less thing for me to worry
about when we entertained. And I liked the pattern. It was unfortunate
that the dinners I would be preparing this week called for more casual
tableware. It would have been fun to set out the new plates.
I closed my eyes and mentally calculated timelines for the dinners I would
be cooking this week. My future father-in-law’s company was sponsoring
a geophysics study in the mountains above Ephraim, Utah, this summer.
About ten researchers were converging there this weekend for a spring retreat,
and since Sean was heading up the events, I’d be running point on a number
of them. Sean’s work demanded many social get-togethers running the gamut
from cozy and informal to professional and polished. I enjoyed planning and
preparing the details for these numerous occasions. Cooking’s methodical
yet creative nature provided a type of escape from reality for me. Best of all,
it made other people feel good. I liked giving that kind of a gift to others
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My thoughts: I am in the process of reading this book. It is a very interesting plot told from Eva's point of view.
She is engaged to Sean. My opinion of him isn't very high. He seems to be manipulating and overbearing. The universe seems to revolve around him. When Eva's life is forever altered, he doesn't seem to be understanding and accommodating. It's all about him and how it effects him, not them as a couple.
Here is an example from the book.
" Sean, a lot has changed since we made those plans," I said.
"You' ve changed Eva. Being a (word removed to not be spoilerish) is all that matters to you. Where do I fit in?:
I laid my palm against my chest. "Right here where you always have."
"Is there room? Because it feels crowded." Bitterness laced his words.
I am excited to finish this book and see where she is going with it. There are some religious aspects to the story, but it doesn't dominate, just sits nicely in the background and adds texture to the story.
Kate is offering a prize as a giveaway for this tour.(Copy of the book, Jr. Mints, and Eva's lemon chicken recipe) Enter using the rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway- Open from October 2 to November 2.
- Must be 13+ years of age to enter
- US mailing addresses only
Find her at these Links:
Where can you purchase a copy?
See the Trailer:
The guy gives me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great book & I need a break from my ususal genre. Thanks for the chance to win it.
ReplyDelete