Hidden Affections by Delia Parr~Book Review

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

Annabelle Tyler is looking for a fresh start. Harrison Graymoor, Philadelphia's most eligible bachelor, would prefer to remains single and alone. Quite unexpectedly they are forced into an undesired predicament. What happens when two determined individuals resolve against marriage ... but their hearts tell them otherwise?






Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Bethany House (May 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764206729

ISBN-13: 978-0764206726

Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches

Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounce

Delia Parr, pen name for Mary Lechleidner, is the author of 10 historical novels and the winner of several awards, including the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book. She is a full-time high school teacher who spends her summer vacations writing and kayaking. The mother of three grown children, she lives in Collingswood, New Jersey. Visit www.deliaparr.com for more information





MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed this third book written by Delia Parr. Hidden Affections is a sweet love story about two people who don’t want to fall in love ever again, because they both have lost in love.

It talks about divorce in the 1800’s, which wasn’t something that was done and when it was the divorced people were shunned and couldn’t work in certain jobs.

Hidden Affections also talks about a forced marriage that neither Harrison or Annabelle want or should have happened. They are married in name only and both want a divorce as soon as you can.

I like the description of the mansion Harrison lives in and of the gowns and parties they go to. Delia is quite a storyteller and I enjoy her insights in the lives of others. She knows how to write a good romance with tender and is good at showing the story instead of telling it.

Quite a good story to read on a rainy afternoon and I recommend it. It’s a light kind of read full of happiness, joy with some sadness and heartache in it.







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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr*a review

Ruth Livingstone's life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father's trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist. Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River--a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for. Love begins to slowly bloom...but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?


Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Bethany House; Original edition (September 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764206710
ISBN-13: 978-0764206719
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces



The Author
With prestigious credentials such as the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance, Romantic Times Award for Best First Book, and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book, author Delia Parr endears herself to critics and readers alike.
Delia is the author of twelve historical novels who now devotes herself to writing inspirational historical romance. The mother of three grown children, she is a full-time high school teacher in southern New Jersey who spends her summers writing on Anna Maria Island in Florida.
http://www.deliaparr.com/pages/about.html


My Review
This is the second book I read of Delia Parr’s and I enjoy her style of writing very much. In this book Ruth Livingstone's father is accused of killing a prostitute, he is a minister, her father sends Ruth into hiding with the murdered woman's secret child. Many reporters are trying to find out all they can about Ruth and her father, so they follow here everywhere. Ruth gets herself into a new life. She makes believe she is the recently widowed, Ruth Malloy, with her child little Lilly. She moves into the home of the Garners, a retiring couple who are part of a association of Christians who support her father's ministry.
Jake Spencer says he is an injured craftsman, but is a reporter seeking liberation at any cost. He means to write the biggest story to hit New York newspapers in years, successfully sealing his comeback, Jake tricks Ruth into feeling sympathy for him.
You will read how hard it is for Ruth to raise a toddler when she isn’t use to children and Lily misses the only life she has known. Many battles are fought and many emotions are displayed.

You will see how Jake and Ruth get to know each other and how their friendship starts.

In this little town there are many colorful characters. Come along for the journey of Ruth, Jake and little Lilly.
This book is full of heartbreak, tenderness, loss, kindness, friendship and many more things.
I enjoyed reading this book, but my favorite of Delia’s is still her last book Hearts Awakening. I recommend Love’s First Bloom. It is a light kind of read with a sweet ending. I love ending like this.



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I wish to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Winner of Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

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Hearts Awakening Book Giveaway

YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK!
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With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal.

Check out my review here!
http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/07/hearts-awakeneing-by-delia-parra-review.html

About the author!
Delia Parr, pen name for Mary Lechleidner, is the author of 10 historical novels and the winner of several awards, including the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book. She is a full-time high school teacher who spends her summer vacations writing and kayaking. The mother of three grown children, she lives in Collingswood, New Jersey. Visit www.deliaparr.com for more information

All you have to do to win this book is be/become a follower and leave a comment,also leave an email address to enter!
This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is July 28, 2010. A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator and the winner will be notified by email.

Hearts Awakeneing by Delia Parr*A Review

About the book:
March 2010:

With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal...


Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764206702
ISBN-13: 978-0764206702
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches



About the author:
Delia Parr, pen name for Mary Lechleidner, is the author of 10 historical novels and the winner of several awards, including the Laurel Wreath Award for Historical Romance and the Aspen Gold Award for Best Inspirational Book. She is a full-time high school teacher who spends her summer vacations writing and kayaking. The mother of three grown children, she lives in Collingswood, New Jersey. Visit www.deliaparr.com for more information






My Review:
At the end of the year I’m going to post my 10 most favorite books of the year and “Hearts Awakening” will most certainly be one of them.
From the very beginning this book grabbed me. Telling about Ellie struggling/walking two hours just to get to a new job as a housekeeper and care taker of Jackson’s two sons Daniel and Ethan.
This book tells us of Ellie's faith, an attractive, hurt man Jackson with two sweet, lonely children add to that some scandal, gossip and on top of that a long-ago first love.
Island/orchard setting is just beautiful and you will be able to picture it quite easily. It is a place that we all would love to live.
Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects of a place to live, or work or anyone to marry, but she has common sense, wisdom and compassion.
“Hearts Awakening” has every emotion from sorrow to humor, anger and love.
Here are a few paragraph from “Hearts Awakening” that really spoke to me. I’m sure you will love them also.
“ Overhead, a fluff of a cloud was framed with pure golden light from the sun that was hidden from her view. Awed by the sight, she studied the dark nooks and crannies in the body of the cloud within the frame and smiled.
Like the cloud, her life was filled with troubles and doubt, as well as joy. At times like this, she needed to remember that God was always behind her, surrounding her with the light of His love, even though she could not see He was there.”
This book is so good you will want to read it again and again. A keeper for sure that will not gather dust. Wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I recommend “Hearts Awakening” very, very much.

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I received a free copy of this book from Bethany Publishers in exchange for a free and honest review of the novel.