REVIEW: One Safe Place (+$20 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: One Safe Place

Author: Robena Grant

Series: N/A

Pages: 237

Date Published: 2016

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Format: Kindle

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours

Synopsis:
American, Naomi Paverman, finds clues to her heritage when her grandmother passes. Realizing her existence is based on many lies, she yearns for connection and one safe place to call home. She rents a cottage in an English village to search for her biological father. What she discovers is resistance to questions, but she befriends an attractive and interesting local man…could he be related?

Oliver York is stirred to uncover family history he’s long ignored. Five years earlier, he inherited York Manor in Oldcastle. Oliver maintains an element of privacy to protect himself and his invalid sister from gossip. His interest in Naomi, and the secrets she reveals, causes him to come out of seclusion. Secrets threaten to expose admired citizens.

As their romance blossoms, someone attempts to run Naomi out of town. Is history repeating itself?

~My Thoughts~

Naomi Paverman is a bit adrift after the loss of her grandmother. In pursuit of clues about her history, she follows the trail to England where she finds more missing from her story than what she thought. She also discovers a reclusive man by the name of Oliver, who piques her interests. The story is driven by both the tension of underlying mystery and the overt thread of a budding romantic interest. 

 There is just a hint of romance was sweet and fun. I really enjoyed watching the emotions build as the characters got to know one another. This isn't really your love at first site sort of romance (though it does have a few of those whimsical touches) but it's one that builds upon shared interactions to strengthen both your affection for the characters and their affections for each other. 

Robena's writing style is unlike many contemporary romance authors I typically read. She writes using dialect and tone that is really personal and enthusiastic. It took a little while to get used to that, but after a while it became endearing. 

~Try an Excerpt!~

Naomi’s heartbeat took off like a rocket. She could be related to that stuck up, silent, mist-dwelling early morning walker…that Oliver York. Memories of checking out his thighs, and gorgeous tight ass, caused a pulse in her neck to throb. Her cheeks tightened. They were most likely bright red by now, but thank goodness for the roaring fire. 

The bell on the door tinkled. 

“Good morning, Mr. York.” Annie jumped from her chair, beaming. “What a pleasant surprise. We seldom get the pleasure of your company, sir. Will you be having breakfast?”

“Ah,” he said and cleared his throat.

Naomi took a peek. He looked wet and serious, as he rubbed a finger above his upper lip. “I came to apologize to the young woman. Saw her bicycle out front.” He stuck a hand inside his soaking wet jacket, pulled out two apples and put them on the table. Then he peeled off the jacket, walked back to hang it on a peg, dripping puddles of water as he went.

Naomi sat, transfixed. He’d returned her apples? 

“They’re new, picked them myself.”

They were damp. She held them gently, inspecting the fruit for bruises. Then she frowned, as her head shot up. “You stole these apples, picked them off someone’s tree?”

“I own the orchards, but no, I didn’t pick them from a tree. It’s winter.” He nodded toward the apples and one corner of his mouth quirked a little. “Those are from a barrel, and most likely from New Zealand.”

~Meet Robena!~

Robena Grant writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense about ordinary women thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Travel and discovering new places brings her great pleasure, and she often includes these discoveries in her stories. She is Australian by birth, lives in Southern California, and has two grown children.

 Robena will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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