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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Review With Blog Tour Giveaway: Bleeding Heart by Amber Stokes

Posted by Melanie on Sunday, August 25, 2013 with 27 comments

Bleeding Heart by Amber Stokes
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

 Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.

Summer 1886

Sally Clay's livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.

But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others - and hers isn't the only heart that's broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.


All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.

My rating:
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My thoughts:

Bleeding Heart is Amber Stokes' debut novel, so I had no idea what to expect, but, since the description sounded good, I thought I might like it. Well, I ended up really enjoying the book and am so glad I read it!

Bleeding Heart was a fairly short and quick read, but, let me tell you, it was emotional and unpredictable. There were a couple times I was completely shocked by something that happened and I loved the suspense thrown into this historical novel.

I really felt for the characters - Sally, especially, but also Joe, Myghal, and Seth. There were some very sad scenes in Bleeding Heart and, I'll admit, I got a little teary-eyed/emotional.

Overall, Bleeding Heart was a wonderful historical read! I'm hoping Amber writes future books with these characters. I recommend this book if you enjoy historical novels, but, be warned, this isn't a "light" read.

*I received an ARC eBook copy of this book from the author for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!


~Check out the complete tour for Bleeding Heart by clicking here~

Blog tour giveaway!


The picture is missing the Bleeding Heart paperback, as it's not available yet, but the winner will be sent a signed copy as soon as it's available. Giveaway is only open to US residents.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I will not be choosing or announcing the winner, as I'm not hosting this giveaway, just sharing it.
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27 comments:

  1. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 2:40 AM

    Thank you so much for taking a chance on Bleeding Heart, Melanie! I'm so glad you enjoyed it - and I really appreciate your review and support. :)

    ~Amber

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    1. MelanieAugust 25, 2013 at 9:17 AM

      It was my pleasure! I can't wait to read your next book! :)

      Delete
  2. Kathie (katmom)August 25, 2013 at 7:15 AM

    I love the Redwoods! Been there once and it was magical. This sounds like a lovely first novel, and your review has enticed me!

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    1. MelanieAugust 25, 2013 at 9:18 AM

      It was a great read! I hope you enjoy it if/when you read it. :)

      Delete
    2. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 4:05 PM

      It really is a beautiful part of the world - I love my home county! :) Glad you've had the chance to see the redwoods! I'm hoping to write more about Falk (former redwood lumber town) in a companion short story. :)

      Thanks so much for your interest in Bleeding Heart, Kathie!

      ~Amber

      Delete
  3. UnknownAugust 25, 2013 at 8:10 AM

    Oh!!! I just LOVE this giveaway!!!! SO rustic! Awesome giveaway!! I just love anything rustic/natural!!

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    1. MelanieAugust 25, 2013 at 9:20 AM

      Glad to hear that! :)

      Delete
    2. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 4:06 PM

      Oh, yay! I had a lot of fun picking out the items and playing tourist. :) I love all things Old West and Pacific Coast, too.

      Good luck in the giveaway, Beth!

      ~Amber

      Delete
  4. Angela - BookauntAugust 25, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    I would love to visit Tombstone. I have read and watched a lot about it and think it would be neat to go there

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    1. MelanieAugust 25, 2013 at 9:25 AM

      Thanks for commenting! :)

      Delete
    2. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 4:07 PM

      I imagine that would be a fascinating place to visit, Angela! Thanks for stopping by. :)

      ~Amber

      Delete
  5. KayMAugust 25, 2013 at 12:34 PM

    I have been planning to read Bleeding Heart, since I first heard about it. I think the cover is beautiful and the love the idea of the story. I remember when I first read about the redwoods and saw pictures of them in my Weekly Reader. My, that was long ago! I've never had the pleasure of visiting them. Maybe someday...

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 4:08 PM

      Oh, I'm honored to hear that, Kay! I love what Lena did with the cover, and I'm glad the story sounds intriguing to you. :)

      I hope you get a chance to come visit the redwoods! This is a special part of the world, and I love it. :) God's creation is stunning!

      ~Amber

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  6. UnknownAugust 25, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    Have been reading everything I can about this book. To the author: Was there a specific moment that gave you an idea about writing this book?

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 4:16 PM

      Well, that's awesome, Martha - thank you!

      I'm not sure there was a specific moment so much as a lot of little moments of watching the story unfold... :) You see, Bleeding Heart is actually the sequel to my first manuscript (which I hope to publish next), and I guess the main inciting moment came when I decided to start a sequel rather than edit the first book right away. The initial cast of characters and title came together, and then it went from there. :) You can learn more on the FAQs page on the BH site - and there are also some interviews along the tour that might include a more in-depth response!

      ~Amber

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  7. AnonymousAugust 25, 2013 at 3:49 PM

    Hi Amber. Sounds like a good book to me. And, I love the cover picture. Sounds like history, mystery, and some Romance.
    And, I love winning authors debut book. I hope you sell loads of books. I can't imagine holding your first published book. Must be a real special thrill. Please enter my name for a chance for this great gift package.
    MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 10:31 PM

      Thank you, Maxie! :) There is indeed some history, some mystery/suspense, and some romance in Bleeding Heart - although it might not be exactly what you're expecting! It's kind of a darker story, although I believe it's a hopeful one. :)

      I appreciate the kind words! I have yet to hold the paperback in my hands, although I should hopefully be able to within the next week or two. :D But even seeing the Kindle version up is exciting. ;) Good luck in the giveaway!

      ~Amber

      Delete
  8. LAWonderAugust 25, 2013 at 6:24 PM

    Amber,
    This sounds like a great novel. I love most genres but top are historical romances and mysteries. I hope to read and review it.
    As far as a special western stat, I would love to spend time in Montana and Wyoming for that is where my mother lived most of her childhood. I have never been to Montana and only briefly stopped in Wyoming during the early morning hour in a blizzard.

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 25, 2013 at 10:33 PM

      I'd love for you to read and review it! Hope you enjoy it if you do. :) Historical romance is one of my fave genres, too! (I suppose that would be obvious, since that's what I write, LOL.)

      That's neat that you'd like to learn more about your mother's past and your family's history. My dad was born in Montana, and I think I've just passed through it like you did with Wyoming... That must have been quite a trip with the blizzard!

      ~Amber

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  9. EmiAugust 25, 2013 at 8:52 PM

    How did someone in 1886 get from Virginia City to Redding and back? I was just up in the Redding area for the weekend and stuck in traffic on the way home for hours. There are still lots of unpaved mountain roads to get to the ranch areas where my friend moved to. Love to visit Virginia City when we go to Reno but we try to go in the "off" season because it is a one land road off of the interstate to get there and sometimes painfully slow.

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 26, 2013 at 2:19 AM

      You won't find Redding in this book... The characters travel by train from Virginia City to Reno to San Francisco, then by ship from San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay, and that's how they get to Falk (around Eureka area). :)

      But I initially had the characters take a train to Sacramento and then a stagecoach to Eureka - until I read Falk's Claim: The Life and Death of a Redwood Lumber Town by Jon Humboldt Gates when I was preparing to edit, which helped me to realize that the stagecoach thing probably wasn't the likely route to go. ;)

      However, I will confess to being very imaginative in my descriptions of their travels - I like adventure in a story, what can I say? :) But I do try to be historically accurate where I can with what I learn along the way.

      Thanks for your question, Emi! I will totally agree that there are some crazy mountain roads near the Redding area - 299 is beautiful, but super curvy! And I love visiting Virginia City, too. :)

      ~Amber

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  10. lag123August 26, 2013 at 7:22 AM

    I would love to go to Jackson Hole. I want to see the Tetons.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 26, 2013 at 4:11 PM

      Oh, that would be awesome! I imagine the Tetons are quite the sight. :) Good luck in the drawing!

      ~Amber

      Delete
  11. Sandra LeesmithAugust 26, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    Great review. And interesting comments about the research. I lived in Eureka area and thought Amber did a great job with the descriptions.

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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 26, 2013 at 4:13 PM

      That means so much, Sandra - I'm glad you found the descriptions fitting! :)

      ~Amber

      Delete
  12. AerykahAugust 27, 2013 at 6:24 PM

    I love historic fiction & this looks like a really good book! :)
    As for where out west that I would like to visit... Um, yeah. Does everywhere count? ;)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Amber HolcombAugust 27, 2013 at 9:48 PM

      I love historical fiction, too - to write and to read! :) Hope you enjoy Bleeding Heart if you decide to give it a try!

      And yes, I believe that totally counts. ;) There are a lot of places out here in the West I still would love to visit, too!

      ~Amber

      Delete

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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

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