Review & Giveaway of 'The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise' - by Ta'mara Hanscom

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.

Frankie Valli sang "My Eyes Adored You," and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It's within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined-and had been for many years-yet they had no idea. 

From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart---and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride's deception.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My review:

This was an interesting story that wasn't what I expected.  I liked Tillie and Noah a lot and was especially impressed with the change in Noah.  However, I was a little confused by the description above.  There was no murder or bride's deception in this book and I can only assume it must happen in a later book.  The story doesn't conclude and while I knew there were more books, I thought there would be more of an ending.  It sounds like there's five books in the series about the Caselli family, so this is much more of an epic story than I realized.  While the story started off strong, I kept waiting for more to happen so it felt slower to me.  I was also a little confused about one of Tillie's siblings and the allusion to his wife having gone missing for years before they married.  That's not really explained so I felt like I was missing something.  I was pretty frustrated with Tillie's parents and a choice they made and continued to make.  I did like the strong Christian message as the gospel was explained well and there was much talk of faith, prayer, remaining pure and waiting for a knight rather than a blackguard.  I also liked the strong sense of Italian culture as there's plenty of talk about food and family.  I also loved Tillie's brothers and how they were so protective and loving toward her.  You might want to check it out if you like romance with a strong Christian message!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:

Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God's plan for marriage

Find out more about Ta'Mara at https://www.tamarahanscombooks.com.

 

Despite just meeting each other, Tillie and Noah's lives have been mysteriously intertwined for many years in Ta'Mara Hanscom's The Pretender. From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart-and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride's deception.

Join Ta'Mara in celebrating the release of the second printing and new covers by entering to win her $75 prize basket giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Pretender
• A $75 Amazon gift card
• A decorative box containing measuring cups, ten recipes from the book, a potholder, a kitchen towel, pepper and salt grinders, kitchen utensils, and an olive oil dispenser

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 11. The winner will be announced October 12 on the Litfuse blog.