Book Tour for The Promise of Paradise by Allie Boniface (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Today's author, Allie Boniface, brings her sweet new contemporary story The Promise of Paradise to my site today.  A big city girl running from her past finds an unexpected sanctuary in small town living.  Keep reading to get a glimpse between the pages along with my impressions of the story.  Before you leave make a comment for your chance to win an iTunes gift card......

Harvard grad Ashton Kirk is headed for a promising law career when scandal breaks apart her family. To escape, she changes her name and rents an apartment in the small town of Paradise, New Hampshire, where no one knows who she is.

Ash hopes for solitude, but all bets are off when Eddie West, the town’s most eligible bachelor, moves in downstairs. The sexy auto mechanic loves his women and his cars shiny, sleek, and fast, and when he meets his new housemate, he wastes no time getting friendly. But Eddie is nursing his own recent loss, and the last thing he wants to do is let someone new into his life or his heart.

Can two people from different worlds find common ground and a place to fall in love? Or will Ashton’s past and Eddie’s scars keep them apart just as summer heat brings them together? Is it possible to find your soul mate in the place you least expect?

EXCERPT:

Near the curb, engine still running and rock music bellowing from the speakers, idled a red pickup truck. White and yellow flames danced along both sides. Bending over the tailgate was a broad, bare, definitely male back. Yow. No wonder Jen looked like she was about to start drooling. Even one floor up, Ash could trace the outline of nearly every muscle in his arms and back. A bright red and yellow king cobra tattoo curled around his left triceps. Wavy brown hair fell across the sides of his face. His jeans, faded in all the right places, sat low on his hips. Ash squinted harder and ran one hand over her hair.
Oh God. They still make men who look like that?
“Turn around, please,” Jen commanded under her breath. As if he’d heard her, he straightened up, biceps flexing as he hauled two large boxes from the back of the truck and turned up into the sidewalk. Her sidewalk. He looked up, and Ash’s heart dove into her stomach. A neatly trimmed goatee underscored a crooked nose. He flashed a smile and winked.
“Hey,” he called up. “You live here?”
Jen nodded and jabbed a thumb in Ash’s direction. “She does.”
“I’m Eddie West. Movin’ in today.” It was hard to hear him over the noise of the truck’s humming engine and the music. Ash watched his mouth move instead.
“Need any help?” Jen asked.
Eddie shook his head. “Nah. I’ve just got a couple of boxes to bring in. The rest is coming tomorrow. But thanks.” He continued up the sidewalk.
Jen cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled down. “Come up later, if you want.”
Ash elbowed her. “What are you doing?”
Eddie backpedaled and nodded, grinning wider. As he disappeared from their view, the heavy front door creaked open and, after a few seconds, thudded shut behind him.
Jen straightened up. “See? I told you he’d be good-looking.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s beyond good-looking, Ash.” She fell back against the railing, hands to heart in a dramatic pantomime. “He’s perfect.”

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE BOOK:

Ashton Kirk has always been the dutiful daughter living her life as her parent's desire until the day a family scandal drives her into hiding in a most unlikely place.  She's always hobnobbed with the elite and never had to work up much of a sweat when it came to work, but her recent move to small town Paradise has completely transformed her.  Just when she thought she was running away from her problems, a whole new problem arises in the form of her new sexy neighbor Eddie West who has a lot of emotional baggage he tries to keep hidden too.  Once they meet a bumpy journey to a satisfying HEA ensues.

Ashton is a likable character who's surprisingly sweet, and non-judgemental, considering her pedigree.  She's not afraid of hard work and quickly immerses herself in the family-like feel of the community. She became a stronger person as she created a life for herself and I applauded her for coming out of her high society bubble.  The only times she disappointed me was in her holding back until near the end of the story to admit the truth about herself even as Eddie is begging her for the truth.  I also disliked her wishy-washyness regarding her ex.  He only wants her for her pedigree, but Ashton is drawn to the certainty and comfort in the expected that he represents.  In a predictable turn of events, it takes a near death experience for her to realize who and what she really wants that finally allows for a sweet and hard-won HEA.

Eddie West is by far the highlight of this story!  Sexy with a hint of bad boy courtesy of his tats and popularity with the ladies I found myself drawn to him and his charming and suave demeanor.  After an accident that takes the life of someone close to him he's left with scars inside and out that has left him with nightmares and survivor guilt.  He's drawn to Ashton the moment he sees her but knows she has secrets that he's willing to wait to hear.  With her he can be himself and sees a bright future when she smiles at him.  He opens his heart to her way before she acts on her feelings, he tells her the gutwrenching truth early on and it made him even more endearing.  He's clearly the better man and it's frustrating that he's kept in limbo so long.

This is a well-written story with a slowly evolving romance between two characters from very different worlds.  The interactions between Ashton and Eddie crackle with sexual tension as their relationship evolves in a sweetly believable way.  There are very few sexual interludes as it's the emotional journey that's being focused on.  The colorful denizens of Paradise as well as the safety and support of small town living was vividly depicted and helped immerse me even further in the story.  Ms. Boniface has written an immensely satisfying story with a drool worthy hero that's still on my mind and I look forward to the next book in this series.

My rating for this is a B.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Allie Boniface is a small-town girl at heart who's traveled around the world and still finds that the magic and the mystery of small towns make them the best places to fall in love and find adventure. From the New England coast to Rocky Mountain hotels to tiny European bars, she's found more character and plot inspirations than she could ever count. Currently, she's lucky enough to live in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley with her own "Hometown Hero," a guy who can fix, build, drive, and grill anything and is the epitome of the strong and silent type.
When she isn't writing love stories, Allie is a full-time high school English teacher who gets a kick out of helping her teenagers negotiate the ups and downs of writing along with the ups and downs of life (because, really, she's still trying to do the same thing!). And while she'll continue to travel far and wide, Allie knows there's really nothing like coming back to the place where the people who have known you forever welcome you home with open arms.  

www.allieboniface.com
www.allieboniface.blogspot.com
Twitter: AllieBoniface1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Boniface/213522468685926?ref=hl

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Prize is a $25 iTunes GC.

-To be entered, leave a comment, along with your email addy.

-A winner will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 4/12.