Skye Larsen loves her peaceful
life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors,
and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to
escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to
fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected
feelings he awakens can’t distract her from her goal.
Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay.
An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms?
Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay.
An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms?
About the Author:
Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her
RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and
fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys
reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and
her books at www.sandraleesmith.com.
Where to Connect With Sandra:
You
can connect with Sandra on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. You can also
find her and her talented writing buddies at the Seekerville blog.
My Thoughts:
I thought Love's Refuge was a sweet romance. I really liked Danny's character from the very beginning of the book. I had no patience for Skye! While realizing that she had a lot of hurdles to overcome, and having a great reason to cut herself off from the world, I found after a while that instead of feeling sympathy for her I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a grip on reality! And you know what? Eventually she did get a grip on reality! I liked her slow move in faith towards God and how she reached outside of herself and helped a troubled young girl. Both characters grew throughout the book and I enjoyed seeing how they helped each other. Danny definitely needed the relaxation and calmness that Skye and her island were able to bring him and Skye needed Danny's strength and patience to help her overcome her fears. I liked that faith played a much more prominent roll in Love's Refuge than it did in Love's Miracles. And yet it didn't venture into preachy, but showed that God is our ultimate refuge. I also have to give some cover love here! The picture on the cover of the book depicts the couple so well! As I read the book and would read about Skye's braid or Danny kissing her forehead I had the cover image right there to help with the mental picture I had.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a basic Kindle loaded with Sandra Lesssmith's books!
Giveaway:
Enter to win a basic Kindle loaded with Sandra Lesssmith's books!
Love's Refuge will be available for purchase through Amazon for .99 during the blog tour. For more information on the tour make sure to visit:
Blog Tour Page
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Love's Refuge and participating in the tour, Julie! :) I agree it's neat that there is a more prominent faith element in this brand-new story - but that Sandra was able to edit it and make it organic (non-preachy), while still being touching (as you noted).
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the story engaged you, even if that meant frustrating you at times, haha. ;) And didn't Lena do a fabulous job with the cover?? I'm amazed that she can get the story so well without having read it before doing the design. And I absolutely love how Sandra used the cover as inspiration to make a few tweaks (namely with the lighthouse references) while editing. I work with such talented ladies!
Thanks again!
~Amber
I always think that if I get emotional during a book then the author did a good job in portraying his/her characters. So getting frustrated with Skye just meant to me that Sandra did a great job in portraying Skye's emotional state :) And yes, I was engaged in the read :) thanks for including me in the tour and for all of your work putting it together. I'm going to go enter the contest now ;)
DeleteHi Julie, Thank you for your insightful review. I had to laugh when you said you wanted to give Skye a shake. Isn't that how it is sometimes in real life? There are times I want to shake the daylights out of some of my friends, but they do need to take their own journey. At least I've learned that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you love the cover. I think Lena Goldfinch did an outstanding job with it. I have to give Amber some credit too because she brainstorms with Lena and I think the title was her idea. I really love it.
I'm glad you got a laugh Sandra! And yes yes yes that is the way it is with some friends and family ;) I'm thinking if the characters in books don't evoke some kind of emotion good, bad or otherwise then the author didn't do a good job in portraying that character. I've been frustrated with many a character while reading and that is a GOOD thing :) Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment and having me on your tour! Amber and Lena are definitely the Dynamic Duo when it comes to editing and book covers and blog tours! :)
DeleteAwww, you guys! *blushing* I'm blessed to work with all of you!
Delete~Amber
I LOVE the cover as well! And it works marvelously with Love's Miracles, too... Sandra has such a way of pulling you in to her stories :)
ReplyDeleteLena did such a magnificent job of branding the covers while making each unique and fitting for its story. :) And Sandra does have a talent for taking you to another place, doesn't she? I feel like her stories are very atmospheric.
Delete~Amber
You made me laugh too!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm wondering if some of my friends want to give me a shake. NO DOUBT! ;)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I'm looking forward to reading this story!
I'm sure many an author has heard from their readers that they would like to reach into the pages and shake a character. ha! At least I know I have wanted to several times :) I told Julie Lessman that I would like to reach into one of her books and smack a character! She laughed at me as well. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteThis sounds like a great story! Sounds like a place I'd love to visit for a vacation, too!
ReplyDeleteCover is great!! Congrats, Sandra!
The Pacific Northwest is a great place to live and vacation, in my opinion! :) And I think Sandra does a great job of describing the setting.
DeleteFun to see you here - thanks for checking out the tour, Sue!
~Amber
Hi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds really good! Love the cover too!
Puget Sound sounds like a place I'd like to visit!
Cheers,
Sue