Welcome to my tour stop! Check out my review and enter the tour giveaway below...
Sincerely Yours
(Great River Romance #1)
By Kari Trumbo
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 176 Pages
July 26, 2019 by Inked in Faith Publications
Summary
What if you fell in love with a man you’d never met?
When marketing coordinator Liberty Dryden tries to help radio station owner and DJ Tom Higgs attract new listeners and advertisers, she hits a roadblock.
He refuses to meet with her, and she has no idea why.
Tom has an affliction that’s plagued him his whole life—a painfully crippling stutter. On air, he can speak to thousands, but in person, he stumbles to find every word.
After a woman stalked him, he’s convinced his fame and fortune are all women want. He’s unable to tell Liberty why he won’t meet in person. How could he explain his unfounded doubts and his own issues?
Without her, disaster looms for his station. But, meeting her might prove he’s right about women.
Liberty takes matters into her own hands and calls into his radio show… using an assumed name.
She never expects to hit it off with him. If she reveals her secret, it will put her new relationship and her job at risk.
My Review
SINCERELY YOURS is a story about two people who find that their lives have become very lonely and secluded. They connect over the phone which leads to the possibility of more, but one of them pretends to be someone else and the other has an issue he's trying to hide. The happily-ever-after ending faces additional challenges with characters who need others to need them and depression. There are some inspirational elements and a light romance for inspirational romance fans.
It took me a bit to get into this story. From the start I felt like this wasn't the first book in the series as there was some background on some side characters who were involved from the beginning and I think it would have worked better to be introduced to the heroine before introducing all the other characters. I did like both Liberty and Tom and started to get more into their story as I read on. I liked that they were both feeling like something was lacking in their lives and had the opportunity to help each other break out of their loneliness.
It took me a bit to get into this story. From the start I felt like this wasn't the first book in the series as there was some background on some side characters who were involved from the beginning and I think it would have worked better to be introduced to the heroine before introducing all the other characters. I did like both Liberty and Tom and started to get more into their story as I read on. I liked that they were both feeling like something was lacking in their lives and had the opportunity to help each other break out of their loneliness.
However, a little over a third of the way through, the story turned awkward for me. The whole situation with Liberty calling Tom on the radio and then them continuing phone conversations and falling in love... it just didn't work for me. Then there were these awkward statements, like: "I really love to help people, to love the unlovable, but she is so sweet." What does that say about the heroine or the person she's talking about? It just rubbed me wrong. No one wants to be a project or be labelled as unlovable (plus I think that statement is just wrong) and the person she was referring to I wouldn't have categorized as unlovable, sweet for sure though. Another example would be: "Then Destiny wouldn't need her anymore, either. Hopefully she'd quickly find someone new to help." And if you're the kind of person who only reaches out to people you feel need you or who are lonely, what does that say about you? Honestly I felt Liberty needed a lot of help that romance wasn't or shouldn't just "fix." It sends the wrong message to those who might be struggling with loneliness or depression that they need someone else to make them happy. So I think that just made me fall out of love with Liberty and then the whole situation with Tom. It was just weird and didn't feel like it developed naturally. Also, the whole time Tom was marking off the similarities between April and Liberty and she was outright being dishonest, on purpose. And then there was a lot of drama towards the end (some of it quite public), which I'm not a huge fan of. It all worked out and ends sweetly, of course. I think there was a lot of potential here, but again, this story just didn't work for me.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This wasn't my kind of story, but other inspirational romance readers or fans of the author may enjoy it.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This wasn't my kind of story, but other inspirational romance readers or fans of the author may enjoy it.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
More from Kari
Thank you all so much for joining me on my blog tour! I’m happy to be here. I write an eclectic mix of historical (western) and contemporary (western and not) romance, sometimes with a hint of suspense woven in. I can’t help it; my education is a degree in psychology with a sociology minor focusing on criminality and deviance… the suspense just happens whether I plan it or not.
I am one of those writers who usually gets a story idea and then writes it. I usually don’t write a book just because I “should”. That being said, this is one of those books where readers asked for it and I delivered. The first story in the series is in a popular book bundle Betwixt Two Hearts. In my story, the secondary character Liberty Dryden (named after one of my readers) is a really fun character, even though she’s only in a few scenes. Readers liked her so much, they wanted her to have her own happily ever after.
Then the hard part began.
I liked Liberty and I spent a while in her head, trying to figure her out. She was a tough one because Liberty has some hurts. She feels alone and a little used. Don’t we all? But how to write that in a way where the reader wasn’t bored by her self-doubt. Because, let’s face it, it’s cool when a story touches us in a way that is familiar, but if it’s overdone…snooze. I liked the idea that because of their hurts, both characters were shy. So, I gave myself a challenge. These two couldn’t meet until later in the story, but it still had to feel like a romance.
It’s a little like the movie You’ve Got Mail, but different too.
This series was my first big step outside of the western genre (which is funny, because I’m not at all western) and that forced me to think in new ways, which helped with the characters and bringing this story to life.
My favorite poignant quote from Sincerely Yours is, “If I can’t forgive those who ask for it, it ruins my witness. I literally can’t be the love of Jesus if I’m not willing to forgive those who wronged me. Especially if they earnestly ask.”
Thank you for joining me and happy reading!
Tour Schedule
Texas Book-aholic, July 24
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 24
Inklings and notions, July 25
For Him and My Family, July 26
deb’s Book Review, July 26
Older & Smarter?, July 27
Through the Fire Blogs, July 28
reviewingbooksplusmore, July 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 29
Wishful Endings, July 30
Rebecca Tews, July 30
Britt Reads Fiction, July 31
Life, Love, Writing, July 31
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, August 1
Read Review Rejoice, August 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 2
Captive Dreams Window, August 2
Book of Ruth Ann, August 3
Pause for Tales, August 3
Godly Book Reviews, August 4
Livin’ Lit, August 4
Batya’s Bits, August 5
Artistic Nobody, August 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 6
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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