Everyone around her knows. Everyone she trusts has lied. And the one man who held the key to Jessica McCabe’s past is dead.
Welcome to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Lives are peaceful, streets are quiet, but behind the tranquility is many a tale to be told. Veterinarian Jessica McCabe has returned, but it is not the homecoming she had expected. Her grandfather, Jonas McCabe and Gracier’s longtime vet has died, leaving behind the practice they had hoped to share.
The reading of Jonas’ will sets off a series of events that bring into question Jessica’s birthright, the truth surrounding her mother’s untimely death and her grandfather’s sanity. With her world turned upside down she is thrown into a partnership with Matthew Cassidy, the man who chose his family’s wealth over Jessica’s love.
Her determined spirit leads Jessica to stay, continue the veterinarian practice and return to the life and the community she loves. But a secret loft and a box filled with a hidden past change the course of her life once again.
Longtime family friends, Dr. Andrew Harrison and retired Sheriff Chester Caughlin know the truth. A promise made to a dear old friend to protect the girl they helped raise is one they intend to keep. But the wheels of fate have been put in motion. The people entrusted with protecting Jessica from the past are losing control. The small town of Gracier, Iowa holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.
Book Trailer
Praise
"I was pulled in with the depth of this story and couldn't stop myself from finishing the second half in one sitting. GRACIER is a beautiful reminder of all that is important in life. Bailey has a wonderful gift and I hope she will continue to "breathe"!"
--Leisa Anslinger, author of Forming Generous Hearts, Here Comes Everybody
"...think Jennifer Chiaverini or Jan Karon" - Burlington by the Book
“It was one of those books that I stayed up late reading and picked back up the minute I woke up! ” -Mari Kait
"Milissa Bailey's depiction of small town Iowa is both charming and mysterious--the perfect combination to captivate readers." -C.G.Reader
“Add to that a group of supporting characters you can't help but love. Gracier is a must read.” -Shari
"I couldn't put the book down...can't wait for book #2!!!!" -RJW
BUY THE BOOK
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Google Play * Kobo
Milissa Bailey grew up among the rolling fields of rural Iowa, where she continues to live with her husband, and three children. In her debut novel she draws upon her rich knowledge of the Midwest as she welcomes us to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Readers are introduced to a cast of characters they will come to know, love and hate. Vivid descriptions, palatable anguish, forbidden romance and touches of humor lend itself to the stories weaved in this idyllic setting. The small town of Gracier holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.
Milissa, along with her husband, own a marketing firm located in Iowa. She is currently at work on the second book in the Gracier series.
Author Interview
$100 BookBlast Giveaway
Win A $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Contest Dates:Jan 9 - 20
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Contest Giveaway Ends 1/20/13.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Review
Publisher: Boone River Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Format: Paperback - 304 pages / Kindle - 451 KB / Nook - 467 KB
ISBN: 0985073608
ASIN: B007XY9OZI
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Mystery / Thriller
BUY THE BOOK: Gracier (Book 1: The Gracier Series)
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
GOOGLE PLAY STORE
KOBO
Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book for the purpose of reading and providing an honest review. I am participating in a virtual book blast promo event hosted by Book Blasts and Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Everyone around her knows. Everyone she trusts has lied. And the one man who held the key to Jessica McCabe’s past is dead.
Welcome to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Lives are peaceful, streets are quiet, but behind the tranquility is many a tale to be told. Veterinarian Jessica McCabe has returned, but it is not the homecoming she had expected. Her grandfather, Jonas McCabe and Gracier’s longtime vet has died, leaving behind the practice they had hoped to share.
The reading of Jonas’ will sets off a series of events that bring into question Jessica’s birthright, the truth surrounding her mother’s untimely death and her grandfather’s sanity. With her world turned upside down she is thrown into a partnership with Matthew Cassidy, the man who chose his family’s wealth over Jessica’s love.
Her determined spirit leads Jessica to stay, continue the veterinarian practice and return to the life and the community she loves. But a secret loft and a box filled with a hidden past change the course of her life once again.
Longtime family friends, Dr. Andrew Harrison and retired Sheriff Chester Caughlin know the truth. A promise made to a dear old friend to protect the girl they helped raise is one they intend to keep. But the wheels of fate have been put in motion. The people entrusted with protecting Jessica from the past are losing control. The small town of Gracier, Iowa holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.
Book Excerpt:
Jessica stepped to the coffin. The rain fell, and as the water cascaded , she could feel the few loose strands that framed her cheeks curling into perfect ringlets.
The sky's tears mixed with hers. She turned her face upward asking the gray weeping clouds to wash away the pain. They continued to cry together ... alone.
She stood in the mist not concerned with the dampness that engulfed her. Jessica touched the coffin and allowed the sadness to seep in, her guard down. something she rarely did. But she was so tired. The long suppressed anguish racked her body.
"Jess."
The deep baritone penetrated the sorrow in which she had cloaked herself. Jessica inhaled slowly, drawing in all that she had let go of. Rigid, she turned.
He ran his tan fingers through his wavy black hair. A nervous habit he hadn't outgrown. Surrounded in shadows, there was still sufficient light to catch the emotion that glistened in his deep, emerald green eyes. This is not the time or place to deal with this, with him. There never would be.
He came forward, leaving the corner of the tent. She could sense his apprehension.
Even now. Here. The same effect. She hated it with every fiber of her being. His familiar scent invaded and sent her reeling ... this was all too much.
"Jess." He touched her.
It was still there, the intensity, years of denial, gone.
Without warning, Jessica's head was on his broad chest, unleashed sorrow staining his shirt and tie. His arms went around her and although tarnished by the moment, she sank into the support of his body.
He didn't move, his response, a shock of cold water. He is his father's son. How had she loved such a man? The fresh pain fulfilled its purpose. Her resolve strengthened.
The sky's tears mixed with hers. She turned her face upward asking the gray weeping clouds to wash away the pain. They continued to cry together ... alone.
She stood in the mist not concerned with the dampness that engulfed her. Jessica touched the coffin and allowed the sadness to seep in, her guard down. something she rarely did. But she was so tired. The long suppressed anguish racked her body.
"Jess."
The deep baritone penetrated the sorrow in which she had cloaked herself. Jessica inhaled slowly, drawing in all that she had let go of. Rigid, she turned.
He ran his tan fingers through his wavy black hair. A nervous habit he hadn't outgrown. Surrounded in shadows, there was still sufficient light to catch the emotion that glistened in his deep, emerald green eyes. This is not the time or place to deal with this, with him. There never would be.
He came forward, leaving the corner of the tent. She could sense his apprehension.
Even now. Here. The same effect. She hated it with every fiber of her being. His familiar scent invaded and sent her reeling ... this was all too much.
"Jess." He touched her.
It was still there, the intensity, years of denial, gone.
Without warning, Jessica's head was on his broad chest, unleashed sorrow staining his shirt and tie. His arms went around her and although tarnished by the moment, she sank into the support of his body.
He didn't move, his response, a shock of cold water. He is his father's son. How had she loved such a man? The fresh pain fulfilled its purpose. Her resolve strengthened.
My Book Review:
Gracier is an intriguing romantic suspense story of long-held secrets, drama and romance set in the small town of Gracier, Iowa. Jessica McCabe returns home to Gracier to attend her grandfather Jonas McCabe's funeral. Jonas was the town's longtime beloved veterinarian, and it had been his and Jessica's dream to one day share the practice, but his sudden fatal stroke left it up to Jessica to pick up the pieces. Her homecoming brings revelations of long-held secrets that her grandfather had kept hidden from her. Determined to get to the bottom of the secrets and questions of her family's past, Jessica is forced to deal with the one man who had broken her heart, Matthew Cassidy.
In the first book of The Gracier Series, author Milissa R. Bailey weaves a gripping tale of mystery, suspense and romance that easily draws the reader into Jessica's story. Told in the third person narrative, the reader is transported to the small Norman Rockwell like Midwestern farming community of Gracier, Iowa, where long-held secrets and town gossip keeps the reader riveted as the suspenseful twists and turns of the McCabe family's past unfolds. And if that isn't enough to keep you engaged, add in some unrequited love from a best friend and a painful past romantic relationship with the son of an arrogant man who was Jonas' bitter rival, and you have one heck of a page turner!
With a large cast of realistic characters from a small Midwestern town, the author does a great job of bringing them to life in vivid detail and with engaging dialogues and interactions. The small town setting of Gracier is richly described, you could close your eyes and picture the sights, sounds and smells of the farms and the main street of the town and its townspeople. I loved the author's creative style of weaving together the multi-layered plot, the balance of mystery and suspense with the drama of a complicated romance kept me enthralled and guessing what would happen next. Gracier will engage you to revisit this charming small town and its townspeople as each new book in the series is released.
Gracier is the story of living in a small Midwestern town where charm, drama, romance ... and even secrets do abound!
Gracier is the first book in The Gracier Series.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
No comments:
Post a Comment