Sandra's Book Club: Blog Tour: SAVED BY YOU by Kimberly Daniels

Saved by You

by Kimberly Daniels

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Cole Stevens thought he was finally given a second chance in life. With the woman he always loved now by his side, an adopted son who felt like his own since the day he met him, and a baby on the way, Cole could finally see his forever. And then his past showed up on his doorstep, threatening to take it all away.

Now forced to relive painful memories and bring dark secrets to light, Cole begins a downward spiral that leads him back to the place he spent years trying to escape. As the pain of his past collides with the present, he finds himself lost again, fighting for his family's future. How can he find the way back in time for his forever to be saved?

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Excerpt One:

Footsteps approach. I feel a light touch, and then hands gently finding their way around my waist. Camryn lays her head on my shoulder and squeezes. Gavin stands up next to me on the other side of the bench and links his arms around my neck.

“Daddy, are you mad at me?” he asks.

I lift my head, pull Gavin onto my lap, and tilt his chin toward my face. “You listen now. I could never be mad at you for talking about the baby. You will be the best big brother anyone could ask for. So, you talk about the baby all you want.” I lift my thumb. “Thumbs-up to the best big brother in the world.”

He touches his thumb to mine. “Thumbs-up to the best daddy in the world.”

As the pain melts away, Camryn squeezes my waist and kisses my shoulder. “Are you ready to go, best-daddy-in-the-world?”

I gently kiss her lips and assure her, “With you, I’m ready for anything.” The meaning of my words run deeper than the family dinner awaiting us at home.

She stands up from the bench and turns toward me. “Let’s start small then.” She reaches her hand out. “One step toward home?”

The distant roar of the waves slamming the shore, and the strength in Camryn’s simple words, fortify my resolve. I reach out to my wife, my lifeline, and grasp her hand, knowing she is the only one who possesses the power to save me.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOU

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE. FOR STARTERS, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WRITING AND WHAT INSPIRES YOU.

I am fairly new to the writing world. Saved by You is my second publication in the Contemporary Romance genre. It follows the first book, Lost Until You. I have been writing since I fell in love with it in third grade when my story was chosen to be published in the school library. My daughters are my biggest inspirations because I want to show them that if you want to accomplish something , then you need to work hard at it and love what you’re doing.

JUST FOR FUN, IF YOU COULD TAKE A VACATION ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

I would want to go to the Maldives and stay in one of those huts that are right in the water.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?

I always refer back to 3^rd grade when I fell in love with writing and made it a hobby. I then pursued a full time career as a Middle School English/Writing Teacher.

ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY PROJECTS AT THE MOMENT?

Currently, I am writing a brand new contemporary romance outside of this current series. I hope to be finished writing by summer.

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

I am just starting It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. I’ll let you know what I think when I finish it ;)

YOUR WORK

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE FOR THIS BOOK?

The story is centered around the main character who is a bit damaged from his past. The idea of love and family saving him inspired the title, Saved by You.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK? IS IT PART OF A SERIES?

The first book in the series, Lost Until You, is the story of Camryn who meets Cole and needs to find her way out of her sadness and grief. Book Two, Saved by You, is Cole’s story and it lets the reader see a glimpse of his past and how damaged he was.

WHAT CRITERIA DID YOU USE WHEN SELECTING THE COVER FOR YOUR BOOK?

Wild Rose Press is the publisher and they do beautiful covers. I described the setting and really they ran with that. I think they did a beautiful job.

WAS THERE A MESSAGE IN YOUR BOOK THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO CONVEY?

That no matter how damaged your past made you, there is something bigger that will save you.

WHEN AND WHY DID YOU BEGIN WRITING?

A few years ago, one of my seventh grade students bought me a writing journal and in it said, “Just start writing.” I felt like I owed it to her to succeed at something I love to do.

DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE.

I definitely have a more casual, comfortable style. I love ending a chapter with something to think about or hang on to.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST LESSON YOU HAD TO LEARN AS A WRITER?

That not everyone is going to look at your writing as unique. That you have to rise above those opinions and keep doing what you love.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A WRITER?

I write in a very crowded genre space, so not being an over well-known author is tough in the romance market.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW WRITERS?

Just keep at it and don’t let others determine what you want for yourself.

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My review: With a son and a wife that was expecting another child, Cole was living a happy life. It was theirs. It was their forever. The last thing he expected was to run into the old thorn in his side—Tara, a woman he still shared secrets with. “The pain Tara brings to the surface is unbearable, making me realize I still hold on to a good deal of anger and grief.” (5)

Visions of Rose, his baby girl, still haunt his mind. If only he could drown the sound of those machines that were pumping life into her. Over and over and over…

Writing was gripping and lovely. Story is narrated with past and present scenes, summarizing Cole’s life. The air of mystery that this started with was tapered by trifling and lengthy accounts, even though they were well-written. Still, you can’t help but wonder what happened between Cole and Tara. Why was there such animosity between them?

It’s a nice story, full of pain and regret, but it was a little too drawn out for my taste.

My rating: 3 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kimberly Daniels is a middle school English Teacher who took the advice of her students to pursue her writing hobby as a career. When she’s not at her laptop dreaming up new happily-ever-afters, she can be found glued to the TV or Kindle consumed with a new show or book addiction. She lives with her husband and two daughters in in the suburbs of Philadelphia,

spending weekends at basketball games, softball fields, and dance recitals.

Connect with Kimberly Daniels:

Website: https://www.kimberlydanielsauthor.com/

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlydanielsauthor/?ref=settings

FB Profile: https://www.facebook.com/authorkimberlydaniels

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkdaniels

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_kimberly_daniels/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17942227.Kimberly_Daniels

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Daniels/e/B07BPMLDY3

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Kimberly Daniels will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.