Author: Rachel Fordham
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
Alone in a strange town, can she find healing for her new home . . . and herself?
Ada,
Mich.—Between 1854 and 1929, the orphan train movement relocated over
200,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children from the eastern
United States to rural areas throughout the country, focusing primarily
in the Midwest. Since that time, this movement has captured the
attention and curiosity of readers. In The Hope of Azure Springs, debut
author Rachel Fordham masterfully blends history and romance in her
well-crafted tale of a former “train rider.”
Seven
years ago, orphaned and alone, Em arrived at a new home in Iowa after
riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her
new life in the western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is
shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for
her long-lost sister, but she won’t be able to do it alone.
Sheriff
Caleb Reynolds is determined to solve the case and secure justice for
Em. But what he doesn’t expect is the hold this strange young woman will
have on his heart.
Historical
romance readers will be charmed by the town of Azure Springs as they
journey with Em to face her past, embrace her future, and rescue what
she’s lost.
Debut Author Deftly Combines Orphan Train Tale with Sweet Prairie Romance
Here's an excerpt to the story:
Prologue
Iowa, 1881
She dead?”
Em heard a man’s voice from somewhere above her. A strange thumping pulsed through her with each word he spoke. Her throat burned, screaming for water, but she could not cry out.
“There’s life in her. Not much of it though,” a second, raspier voice answered. She felt a hand press against her throat and then move over her body, gently probing. “She’s bleeding pretty bad.”
“Gunshot?” the first voice asked.
If only her eyes would open and she could see them. Straining, she struggled to pull her heavy eyelids open. Finally, bits of light darted in front of her eyes, but she could not focus. The faces above her were fuzzy and indiscernible.
Fear swept through her, suddenly waking her battered body. Afraid the men from before had returned, she opened
her eyes wide, finding strength that only moments before she had lacked. With thrashing arms she flailed at the men. Her arms flopped about but offered little defense—she was too weak from blood loss. And then they moved no longer, subdued by large, strong hands.
“Easy, girl. We aren’t going to hurt you. We just want to help. Take you into town, that’s all. There’s a good doctor there.” The man’s deep voice sounded gentle, but still she did not trust him. Voices could be deceiving. Arms could hurt as well as help. She knew these things well.
Soon she felt her body being raised above the ground, and moments later the hard planks of a wagon became the resting place for her injured frame. Too weak to move, she lay looking at the sky, wishing there were a way to end the agony, but knowing that for Lucy she would fight on.
Once the wagon lurched forward, she lost track of everything again. The wheels bouncing over ruts made her pain so intense that everything closed around her and then faded to black.
Read more excerpts on the other blog posts in this tour!
TO PURCHASE A COPY*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for
stories at night. She'd pull a book from the shelf, but they'd insist
she make one up. Finally she put her
love of good stories with her love of writing and she hasn't stopped sinc
e. She lives with her husband
and children on an island in the state of Washington.
Credit: Kylee Ann Maughan
GIVEAWAY
The pu
blisher has graciously offered
(3) winners each a copy of The Hope of Azure Springs and special Revell
swag!
Credit: Kylee Ann Maughan
GIVEAWAY
The pu blisher has graciously offered (3) winners each a copy of The Hope of Azure Springs and special Revell swag!
Giveaway will begin at midnight July 9, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 17, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Complete prize open to US mailing addresses only. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.
Be sure to stop at a stop each day for extra entries!
TOUR SCHEDULE
For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to post by 11:00 AM EST)
Thank you for the spotlight on 'The Hope of Azure Springs' by Rachel Fordham. I really enjoyed reading the excerpt which confirms that I would love to read this book.
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
I love historical fiction, and the Orphan Train has always been a source of fascination for me. Would love to win this book!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDelete