Handmade Hearts Blog Blitz

Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for Handmade Hearts by June McCrary Jacobs, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Handmade Hearts
Author: June McCrary Jacobs
Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books
Release Date: December 18, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance

'Handmade Hearts' is an historical romance short story set in New Orleans during World War II and was inspired by a true story.

Toward the end of his life, the author asked her Uncle 'Allen' how he met his wife. He shared about how he met 'Irene' at a church social in their neighborhood in New Orleans in the early 1940s. He had been seriously wounded in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific as a young Marine and was using crutches to get around as best he could.

He had many inner wounds which needed time to heal, too. He had no way of knowing when they first met that Irene had suffered her own wartime tragedy. She bravely sought to keep her grief locked away deep inside because thinking about her loss caused her even more sorrow. She needed to be strong because she was the breadwinner for her small family.

Times were tough, but these two unique individuals made it through each day with inner fortitude, determination, and the sincere hope of something greater just over the horizon.

This inspirational short story follows the growth of Allen and Irene's relationship beginning with their chance meeting and leading forward to a lifetime spent together. 'Handmade Hearts' was created to honor this unique couple's love for and devotion to each other in a relationship which spanned seven decades.

Excerpt:

'HANDMADE HEARTS' -- EXCERPT #2:

"Wow-ee," whispered Allen under his breath to no one but himself. "She is one classy lady."

As he lumbered home, he reviewed the evening's events with silent approval. Irene's lovely face was imprinted on his mind. Her ivory skin was flawless, and her sparkly hazel eyes were expressive and fit just right on her heart-shaped face. Soft, light brown curls framed her wholesome face, and her cute hat was the perfect accessory for the church social. When Irene smiled at him, Allen felt at peace. After the time they had spent together this evening, he somehow sensed everything would turn out fine.

As he made his way through the neighborhood, his thoughts remained on his new acquaintance. Irene appeared to be close to his age, almost twenty-one, but she possessed a maturity garnered from surviving difficult trials. She was at least a foot shorter than he, making her five feet three inches tall at the most. Her petite figure was slightly rounded, which Allen found appealing.

He perceived Irene Carston as an elegant lady filled with compassion and intelligence. Now he realized he had been so involved with his own discomfort and anxiety he had failed to ask Irene anything about herself. She’d been an empathetic listener, and her idea about his checking out another branch of service was superb. Although she hadn't offered any details of her life, Allen sensed she was suffering from a deep heartache.

Allen would admit he had never felt this comfortable around a woman other than his mother in his life. Raised on a small farm in rural Mississippi, he and his brothers had worked extremely long hours to keep the farm operating. They had not had the time or money to date. Once the family moved to New Orleans before the war, the three brothers were busy finishing high school and earning a living. There was not much time left over for dating.

When the unwelcomed news of the Pearl Harbor attack arrived, the young men willingly prepared to go off to war. Despite being uneducated and poor, Allen's parents had instilled in their sons the principles of honesty, respect, and kindness in their dealings with others—especially women. His mother would have been disappointed to know her youngest son failed to ask Irene about her own life.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing's 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, 'A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom'. 'Robin's Reward', her first full-length novel, was set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy'.

June's debut middle-grade novel, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop', an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, will be released in the spring of 2019. The second installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy', 'Penny's Promise', will be released in late 2019 or early 2020.

June's original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade. When she's not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.

CONNECT WITH JUNE: Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Goodreads Blog | Amazon

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win an ebook copy of Handmade Hearts + $15 Amazon Gift Code

(2) additional winners will each receive an ebook copy of Handmade Hearts

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 15, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 22, 2019. Open internationally except where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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