Riverbend by Tess Thompson Book Tour, Review and Giveaway

Riverbend

by Tess Thompson

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BLURB:

“Tag. I found you.”

Just as Annie Bell’s reputation as one of the best chefs in the Pacific Northwest grows to new heights, she receives a threatening phone call from her abusive ex-boyfriend. Marco is out on parole and hungry for revenge, blaming her for his ten-year imprisonment. Fearing for her life and that of her young son, Annie reluctantly accepts help from Drake Webber, a cold and wealthy recluse hiding a dark history of his own. Supported by the gang of misfits from their restaurant Riversong, Annie forges ahead despite her growing terror that Marco will appear at any moment and make good on his threats.

Author Tess Thompson reunites the colorful cast of endearing small-town characters from her bestselling novel Riversong and takes you on a journey that will renew your faith in love, friendship and the power of community – even in the face of seemingly insurmountable grief and fear. You’ll find yourself once again cheering for the residents of River Valley, especially the big-hearted and compassionate Annie Bell.

Escape with a blend of love, laughter, friendship, suspense and gourmet food while remembering it’s never too late for second chances.

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Excerpt:

Two days later, the first Monday she was to start work for Drake Webber, Annie dreamt of a man chasing her down the streets of Los Angeles as she carried baby Alder in her arms. Was it Marco? She couldn’t be sure. At a bump in the sidewalk, she tripped and fell. Blood spilled onto the cement. Then, there was a phone ringing, an old-fashioned ring tone like phones from her childhood.

With a start, she awakened, sitting up in bed, the blankets tangled around her legs and her pajamas soaking wet from perspiration. The ringing continued; it was her cell phone. She’d recently changed the ringtone to that of the old rotary phones. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she reached for the phone on the bedside table. What time was it? Not yet six a.m. Who would be calling this early? It was probably her mother with news of another boyfriend who left her penniless and unable to pay rent. This happened every year or so and Annie always sent money. And her mother always found one more loser to move in with a short time later.

           

“Hello,” she said, fully prepared to be annoyed that her mother had awakened her so early.

           

“Tag. I found you.”

           

Her stomach, like it might during a sudden five-story drop in an elevator, sank below her knees. Marco. His voice was rough, hard—she would recognize it anywhere.

           

Was she still asleep? Please, God, let this still be my nightmare, she prayed silently.

           

She trembled, the sweat-soaked pajamas cold on her skin. Her hand twitched, as if in a move to hang up the phone, but he spoke again. “What? Cat got your tongue?” She continued her silence, frozen. “Listen, bitch, I know it’s you. You’re all over the Internet these days. All you have to do is put your whore name into Google and there’s a dozen articles on you. You’re looking good, especially compared to what a cow you used to be. I’m coming to town. Shouldn’t be hard to find you. And then you’ll pay for what you did to me.”

Review:

Pregnant and alone Annie Bell knows if she doesn't do something drastic  she will lose not only her baby, but her life to her abusive boyfriend.   Ten years later Annie is a successful chef at a restaurant and raising her son to be the best man he can possibly be.  Everything seems to be falling into place until she receives a threatening phone call from her ex, promising to find her and hand out the retribution he feels she deserves.

Drake Webber moved to River Valley to live in exile from others.  Having had his own happiness stolen from him, he is haunted everyday by his past.  When a rocky introduction to Annie has her agreeing to cook his meals on a weekly basis, for the first time in a long time he finds himself able to breathe again.  With Annie comes her son Adler, who he quickly builds a friendship with.  When Drake finds out about Annie being threatened, he is by her side offering his home for security.  He had not planned on falling for Annie, he wants her but feels he is damaged goods and she deserves better, but never underestimate the power of a determined woman, Drake finds himself an equal partner in the relationship.  If he can only keep her safe until her ex is found, Drake can begin to hope for a wonderful future.

I thought this story had a kind of Gothic feel to it with Drake. When you are first introduced to him he is broody, rude, and  curt but once you understand him he is sweet, charming, and fiercely protective.  I thought this was a wonderful read, powerful love story.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tess Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. In 2011, she released her first novel, Riversong, which subsequently became a bestseller.

Like the characters in Riverbend, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella. She is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.

Tess is working on her next novel and regularly blogs about her journey as a mother, author and friend at www.tesswrites.com.

www.tesswrites.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessThompson

@tesswrites

http://pinterest.com/tesswrites/

http://www.amazon.com/Tess-Thompson/e/B004W3WOTG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Riverbend-River-Valley-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CLDQT2W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_1

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/riverbend/id646742987?ls=1

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Riverbend/book-q9484jKDBEai5dde_Oc47Q/page1.html?s=FZOdyZuKck6lPmqviKmQZg&r=3

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115304168?ean=2940016644004

Tess will be awarding an ebook of Caramel and Magnolias at each stop to a randomly drawn commenter, along with a grand prize of a paperback of Riversong, the first book in The River Valley Collection (Paperback - US ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Leave a comment and email address to enter.  For more chances to win, follow the tour.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/05/virtual-review-tour-riverbend-by-tess.html