About Heather:

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

Author Website * Author Blog * Timeless Romance Anthologies Blog * Heather B. Moore Amazon Page

H.B. Moore Amazon Page * Facebook * Facebook “Fans of H.B. Moore” page * Twitter – @heatherbmoore

Synopsis:

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost  . . . a handsome stranger  . . .
What more could Eliza Robinson want?
Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza’s life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt’s death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

Review:

I read this book while on a cruise over Christmas and it was the perfect book to read, just enough mystery to keep it interesting, but not an intense story for the reader.  I enjoyed many aspects of this book including Eliza dealing with her aunt’s death, several suitors (but not the one she liked) and how the lives of several characters intertwined so tightly.   I thought that some of the characters got their just rewards for their actions and good prevailed in the end.  I give this book 4 1/2 paws and suggest checking it out the next time you are looking for a historical light mystery to read.

Excerpt:

“She was banned from sight?” Eliza asked her aunt.

“Helena’s shame was so great, she couldn’t even accept visitors,” Maeve said, her expression grave. She sipped at her tea, closing her eyes briefly. “The poor dear lived alone—couldn’t face her own family or any of the townspeople for the disgrace of it.”

A pang twisted inside Eliza. Alone. Pregnant. Disgraced. “Wasn’t there anyone she could turn to?”

“Oh, some took pity and left baskets of food at her doorstep, but only on the darkest of nights.” Maeve looked past Eliza as the candles in the room flickered. “The night of her son’s birth, there was a violent storm—the townspeople had never experienced such a one. By morning, Helena’s place was hardly recognizable, yet she’d delivered a healthy boy despite it all. She stayed away from town for the first year. Her mother never came to visit the baby.”

What sort of mother refuses to see her own grandchild? Eliza wondered. The madness of Mistress Talbot must have been a mixture of grief and guilt.

“I still remember his dark locks and black eyes . . . He was only three years old when his mother disappeared.” Maeve stared at the fire as if seeing it all in her mind. Her voice quavered, and after a deep breath she said, “Someone found the boy wandering the edge of the cliff all alone, looking for his mother. Many think his mother drowned.”

Blog Tour Giveaway

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Ends 1/31/13

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