USA Today Bestselling
Author Shanna Hatfield joins us with her latest
release, a sweet World War II romance. I'm also including the review I wrote of her book and an excerpt!
Can forbidden love blossom amid the constraints of war?
The moment the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor,
life shifted for Miko Nishimura. Desperate to reach the Portland Assembly
Center for Japanese-Americans, she’s kicked off the bus miles from town. Every
tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the land of her
birth. Exhausted, she stumbles to her grandparents’ abandoned farm only to find
a dying soldier sprawled across the step. Unable to leave him, she forsakes all
else to keep him alive.
After crashing his plane in the Battle of the
Atlantic, the doctors condemn Captain Rock Laroux to die. Determined to meet
his maker beneath a blue sky at his family home, he sneaks out of the hospital.
Weary and half out of his mind, he makes it as far as a produce stand he
remembers from his youth. Rather than surrender to death, Rock fights a battle
of the heart as he falls in love with the beautiful Japanese woman who saves
his life.
A poignant, sweet romance, Garden of Her Heart proves love can bloom in unlikely places even
under the most challenging circumstances.
Available on:
Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01LYTC7IG
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125098241
Review
Introduction:
I’ve read many of Shanna’s books before, but this one
interested me especially as I prepare to look into WWI and WWII history for
myself soon. This one pleasantly surprised me as I was drawn into the world of
the Japanese living in the Pacific Northwest shortly after the bombing of Pearl
Harbor as well as interracial marriage.
Characters: 1/1
The characters were varied, intriguing, and engaging. I’m
afraid Petey stole my heart, but I think that’s what he was supposed to do. I
did like Rock and Miko as well, but I loved Petey’s usage of so many different
phrases, metaphors, and similes. It was hilarious! If you don’t read the book
for any other reason, just read it for that.
Dialogue: 1/1
The dialogue seemed very appropriate for the time period and
characters and never made me stop reading.
Plot/storyline: 1/1
The plot was cohesive throughout, easy to follow, tense,
funny, and everything a good story should be.
Overall writing
quality: 1/1
Shanna has always had a way of drawing the reader in so they
don’t want to stop reading. She didn’t fail in this book, either.
Un-put-down-ability: 1/1
Garden of Her Heart had the perfect
amount of times that made it easyish to put the book done which was good
because I had already stayed up too late reading a book earlier in the week.
That isn’t to say that the book wasn’t good, it was one of those books that had
spots where you felt okay with leaving the characters where they were for a
while so you could function or do something. But then at the end, you will want
to make sure you have a little time set aside to read because you will
definitely not want to put it down.
Conclusion: 5/5
As I said earlier, even if you only read the book to read
about Petey, do it. He’s the show stealer. But if you like a book with a good
romance, you should read this one. It’s a clean romance about a couple who is
thrown together providentially and help each other survive.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are
my own.
Excerpt:
“Mmm, mm. Nobody bakes cake like Miko and Grandma Yamada,”
Petey said, taking a big bite. “Can you teach Mom how to make it like yours?
Her white cake always tastes like she used cornmeal mixed with sawdust and
forgot to add the sugar.”
Rock choked on a bite and took a drink from the glass of
milk Miko handed to him. If nothing else, the neighbor boy provided a welcome
diversion.
Petey finished his cake, thanked Miko, and promised to
return to check on them another day. Before he ran off, Miko caught him around
the waist and sat him on the table so he was nearly eye level with her and
Rock.
“Petey, you know I love you to pieces and you are welcome to
visit anytime you like, but I
“You name it,” he said, grinning at her. “If you want me to
jump off the top of that barn, just say the word. You need me to chase down a
bus, I’ll run ’til my legs give out. You ask me to sing ‘Yankee Doodle,’ I’ll
tune up the pipes and belt it out without a band.”
“It’s nothing quite as elaborate or drastic as all that.”
She tweaked Petey’s upturned nose. “You’ve seen the war posters that talk about
loose lips sinking ships, haven’t you?”
“Sure, I have.” Petey leaned toward Rock. “Everybody’s seen
them and even if you ain’t feasted your eyes on one, you hear ’em say it on the
radio all the time.”
“Yes, you do,” Rock agreed.
Miko placed a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What I’m
trying to explain, Petey, is that it’s very important no one knows I’m here.
Not even your mom and dad. Will you keep it a secret, just between us?”
“Will I? Will I keep a secret?” The boy vaulted off the
table and danced a little jig. “Boy, will I! The Germans could string me up by
my toes, the Japs could poke me with bayonets, the Italians could roast me over
a pit, but I ain’t talking. If they ask, I don’t know nuthin’.” Petey shrugged
and pulled an angelic, innocent face. “Miko? I haven’t seen her for a long
while. She went off with Grandma and Grandpa Yamada for the summer, don’t ya
know. They’re on a marvelous trip and who knows when they’ll be back.”
Petey turned and raced across the yard. He stopped at the
corner of the barn and saluted Rock, then bowed to Miko. “These lips won’t sink
a ship or a girl as swell as you.”
Miko blew him a kiss, then the boy disappeared in the
direction from which he’d come.
“Whew,” Rock said, propping his elbow on the table and
resting his chin on his hand. “That boy is like a cyclone riding a twister.”
USA
Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with
relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as
“reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her
contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little
heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending,
this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When
she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna
hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shanna-Hatfield/e/B0056HPPM0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1391485546&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/shanna-hatfield
Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her
online at:
Website: http://shannahatfield.com
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/shannasnewsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShannaHatfield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannahatfield/
Thank you so much for hosting me today, Faith, and for reviewing the book. So happy you enjoyed it! Best wishes and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Shanna!
Delete