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Review of “Room for Love” by Marguerite Martin Gray—A Celebrate Lit Book Tour with a giveaway!

About the Book

Book: Room for Love

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2023

God gave her peace then; maybe He’ll do it again.

When Amy Lee’s son heads off to college, the bed and breakfast owner finds life even lonelier and emptier than she had after losing her husband. She needs something to occupy her mind and heart while she reinvents her life again. What more could she ask for than an after-school program for local children and a renewed interest in painting?

Then the arrival of a professor of archeology shakes her world and makes her yearn for the way things were only a few short months ago.

Still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, and ignoring the warnings and protests of his grown children, Professor Walker Standish escapes on a six-month sabbatical. His heart, barely beating these past months, jerks to life again when he finds more than a room at a B & B.

 Where an ocean meets the shore, love has room for one more.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this sweet and clean Christian romance. The two main characters, Amy and Walker, have both had loving, successful marriages, but they each have lost their spouses.  Amy has been a widow for twelve years and finds herself now an “empty nester” as her son has left for his first year in college.  Walker has been a widower for two years and has two grown daughters.  When they meet at Amy’s B & B on the island, they both feel the stir of attraction towards each other.  However, their lives are very different with Amy living in the Suamalie Islands and Walker’s job as a professor of archeology is in New Mexico. Trying to bring two such different lives together seems to be an impossibility—-but is it?  Both must depend on faith in God to see if they can plan a life together.

The author’s descriptions of the beauty of the sea and islands; the island citizens; and the tropical food made reading this book feel as if I was staying in Amy’s B & B on the island.  It was nice reading about a mature romance and their perspective on life and faith.  The only thing that I wish would have been different about this book was that it was longer!  I wasn’t ready for Amy and Walker’s story to end quite were it did, and I’m hoping these characters pop up again in this series.  I’ll not only be watching for a book about them, but also more from this author.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of Hold Me Close, Surround Me, and Bring Me Near– Revolutionary Faith Books One, Two and Three. Besides researching her historical novels, she enjoys studying history and writing fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Marguerite is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Abilene Writers Guild, Daughters of the American Revolution, South Carolina Historical Society, and Preservation Society of Charleston. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and Cleo, her cat. Her two adult children keep her up to date and young.

More from Marguerite

I am so excited about being a part of this series. I have read all of the previous books and love having the collection on my shelf. I feel like I am traveling around my “home” with my characters, seeing all of the other islands and making new friends. Room for Love takes place on Alexandre Island just south of Laumua where the capitol and government are situated.

My husband and I traveled to Maui, experiencing the culture, food, sites, climate—the whole deal. My bucket list includes Bora Bora, but I couldn’t get my husband to splurge for a trip before writing this book. Yet, I have a hope to travel there one day.

For now, I’m relying on my experiences and research. The salty air and ocean offered awesome snorkeling and diving opportunities with the sea turtles and colorful fish. The humpback whales entertained us with their majestic beauty. Lorikeets and tropical birds serenaded from flowering treetops and sweet-smelling bushes and flowers.

Curvy roads in a convertible led us to cascading waterfalls and volcanoes. Many hours found us strolling on the beach or resting in hammocks. Needless to say, a week was not long enough.

I envisioned Alexandre Island as a perfect place for a B & B. We run three Airbnbs in Louisiana and really try to stay in others across the world when we can. Amy Lee, my heroine who owns the B & B, adds a wonderful breakfast and special authentic meals. On the property in an old barn, she, her staff, and friends offer an after-school program for local children.

Although tourism is a major source of island income, I realize and appreciate that the islanders have their own lives. I ask many questions of my characters to obtain a reality check about life on an exotic island. A little side note: I am a French teacher and have a strong love for the language, history, and culture surrounding these fictional islands.

I hope you enjoy the journey on all of the islands. Welcome to Alexandre.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 2

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 3

The Book Club Network, September 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 5

Aryn the Libraryan, September 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

Simple Harvest Reads, September 8 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Susan K. Beatty, Author, September 9 (Author Interview)

Karen Baney Reviews, September 9

Splashes of Joy , September 10

For Him and My Family, September 11

She Lives To Read, September 12

Back Porch Reads, September 13 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/278c1/room-for-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

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