Book tour & Giveaway for Hometown Girl by Mariah Stewart

Hometown Girl
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
 ISBN13: 9780345531216
Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 27, 2011)

From the publisher:

Life was always just about perfect for Brooke Madison Bowers. She was the prettiest, most popular girl in small-town St. Dennis, Maryland, a prom queen, local pageant star, and the pride and joy of her loving parents. She even married the man of her dreams. But the promise of happily ever after fell to pieces when her husband was killed while serving in Iraq. Brokenhearted and longing for the solace of better days, she returns to the idyllic world of St. Dennis, and the familiar comfort of the family farm. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she’s determined to build a new life, complete with her own cupcake bakery. She’s equally determined never to fall in love again.

For Jesse Enright, life has been a challenge. A fourth-generation attorney, he’s spent his life fighting to escape the shadow of his irresponsible father. Now he’s moved to St. Dennis to run the family law practice, and he’s ready to find the right girl, get married, and settle down. But his carefully laid plans go out the window when he meets Brooke and finds himself caught between the unbreakable law of attraction and Brooke’s resolve to go her way alone—despite the undeniable feelings Jesse stirs in her. But just like catching lightning in a bottle, is it possible to fall head-over-heels, heart-and-soul in love all over again?

My Thoughts:  Ahhhh, it's like coming home again and reconnecting with old friends and getting to know some new ones better.  In this story, we get to see Brooke and Jessee start a relationship and watch as the two slowly fall for each other. I love the way Ms. Stewart develops her characters and their relationships so realistically. With each book  we get to see one couple as the star of the show, so to speak with, the characters from the preceding book weaving in and around the main characters' lives. It's just like real life; families with their ups and downs, joys and sorrows and credible feelings.

Both Jesse and Brooke have some issues to work out; Brooke is still feeling afraid to trust her heart again after the pain of losing her beloved husband and Jessee is afraid he will turn out like his father even though he is nothing like him. With the help of each other, this couple should be able to live life full on for a very long time to come and I want to be there to witness it.

Even though a happily ever after is almost a guarantee in her stories, Ms.Stewart captivates the  reader along the journey. The little town of St. Dennis on the Chesapeake is almost a character in itself with caring residents and long time traditions being carried out. Along with the plot this small town atmosphere is very appealing to me.

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed the first three in this series and the latest, Hometown Girl is just as fresh and delightful as the first three. Last year I read and reviewed Coming Home the first book in the series, and Home Again, the second book. In May I reviewed Almost Home, the third book in the series.  If you visit Mariah's web site and click on books, you can read excerpts from the first two.

Hometown Girl is book # 4 in The Chesapeake Diaries series. Any of these books can be read as a stand alone, but in my opinion, it's best to start from the first one to see how all the relationships develop besides, you don't want to miss out on some truly wonderful stories. 4****

About Mariah Stewart: Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and enjoys country life. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah on her website or on Facebook.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by TLC tours and Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Thanks to the generosity of Ballantine Books I am able to give away one copy of Hometown Girl. Open to US & Canada. Be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Deadline to enter: Nov 24th at 5 PM (est).

Bonus entries are available as follows.

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Hometown Girl in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!