BLOG TOUR STOP: REVIEW, EXCERPT, TEASERS, AND GIVEAWAY: Heart of Light by T.K. Leigh

Title: Heart of Light

Author: T.K. Leigh

Release Date: August 25, 2014

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES EIGHTEEN AND UP DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL SITUATIONS, STRONG LANGUAGE, AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE.

Twelve years ago, Jolene’s adoptive mother died. Twelve years ago, a man showed up at Jolene’s door and promised to take care of her. Twelve years ago, Jolene was happy.

Then it all changed…

Jolene Bergio has spent the last twelve years of her life asking one question… Why? Why was she left in the custody of a man who would sell her each and every night to the highest bidder? After a few years, she shut off, giving up hope that anyone would ever find her. Until her luck changed one night and she escaped. Twelve years later, she finally feels something she hasn’t felt in a long time… Free.

Scared that her past will find her unexpectedly, she hides away in a rented beach house, trying to distance herself from everyone… Until Dr. Cameron Bowen enters her world and slowly tears down the walls that she has built up over the past twelve years of her captivity. Jolene begins to learn to love again.

And trust again.

But when a man from Jolene’s past emerges, will she be able to keep her identity hidden? When lies are told and hearts are broken, will the truth surface in time to bring Jolene back from the shadows that threaten to expose who she really is?

Heart of Light is a captivating story of love, strength, and survival.

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Review

Heart of Light is an emotional journey that will leave readers’ hearts both wounded and healed by the harsh reality of mankind and those sordid beings who take pleasure in others pain and fear and those who fight to rectify injustices caused by the scum of the earth who prey on the innocent and weak. It’s a complex tale about the inner workings of the human psyche and the damage people willingly inflict on others without remorse and the struggle it takes for the victims to find the strength to reach for the light despite the darkness threatening to trap them indefinitely. It’s not a story for the weak of heart, but it’s one that illustrates exactly how love can restore even the most horrendous damage.

There are a lot of different players in Jolene’s story, and through the multiple perspectives, readers see how all of the pieces fit together in this twisted game of deceit, murder, and destruction. Jolene is a woman on the run from a group of men who have used and abused her for the past decade; with the help of a few key individuals, she escapes their disgusting clutches and goes into hiding, looking to put her past behind her and no longer live in fear. But that task is easier said than done and the darkness has a way of creeping up on people when they least expect it, allowing the monsters to come out and play. But Cameron Bowen wants to be the light that breaks through the shadows hidden behind Jolene’s eyes. He has his own past of heartbreak and regret to deal with, but when he first meets the stranger renting the beach house he refuses to step foot in, his issues become irrelevant, and the more he learns and understands about Jolene and the scars and nightmares that consume her, he realizes Olivia, the woman he thought he loved, wasn’t the one he was meant to be with…but this woman whose past dominates her present is the one he wants to give everything to…his love…his touch…his light, and despite Jolene’s fears and struggles, he’s going to fight like hell to ensure that he keeps the blue eyed woman who makes his heart feel lighter. But when the monsters Jolene’s tried to escape rear their ugly head again, it’s going to require some outside help to push the darkness back again and let in the light. Does Jolene have what it takes to continue to fight when everything seems to be closing in on her? Can Cam erase her past and forge ahead with a future that is nothing but bright? Take their journey with them to find out.

T.K. Leigh is a writer who forces harsh realities on her readers in order for them to understand how fragile and precious life truly is. She creates characters who are damaged and flawed and then she slowly puts them back together, offering us an insider’s look at the healing powers of inner strength and fortitude. Jolene has literally been through hell, but she continues to fight for a future she never thought she would be granted, and despite the demons that threaten to consume her and pull her back down, she holds on to the light that looks to hold her up. Although Cam has his moments of idiocy in the story, he becomes the hero he’s meant to be for Jolene; he breaks through to her when no one else could and helps her take back control – something that she hasn’t had for over a decade.

Heart of Light is a story that illustrates the contrasting nature of human beings and the horrendous acts some commit as well as those who are committed to fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves. It’s a tale of innocence lost and the guiding light that can allow someone to feel cleansed despite all that she has been through. It’s not an easy read, but it’s a must read.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 poison apples

Excerpt

“Why don’t you like being touched?” he asked quietly in a bold move.

Jolene stopped dead in her tracks, glaring at him. “I just don’t, alright?” she hissed, her voice raised. “And it’s none of your fucking business why I act the way I do. I see what you’re trying to do, Doctor.” She spun around and stormed back toward the house, wanting to get far away from his prying, yet consoling, eyes.

“What, Jolene? What am I doing? I just want to get to know you. I want to spend time with you, and I need to know why certain things set you off so that I don’t do them!” He ran along the shore, catching up to her, stopping short when he almost reached out and grabbed her arm to force her to talk to him.

Feeling him approach behind her, she reeled around. The expression on her face was fierce. “You’ve been a therapist for far too long. You need to get it out of your head that you can help me.” The ocean wind whipped her hair in front of her face and her voice rose in anger. “You can’t! No one can! So just stop! Stop taking an interest in me! Stop with the whole nice guy act because, based on my experience, that’s all it is!” she cried through her tears, her voice becoming barely audible. “A fucking act.”

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them, the pain of what she had experienced the past decade of her life visible in the look of unease on her face. She took a step closer, her eyes remaining glued to Cam’s.

“You show up on my doorstep acting like my savior when the world has gone to shit. You tell me how you’ll look after me and protect me. And you know what those are?” She could see the hurt that her words were causing him, but she didn’t care.

“Lies, Cam,” she said quietly. “Just lies. You say you’ll help me and watch over me, but you’ll turn. I can’t… I can’t go through that again. Please. I beg you. Just stay away from me.” She spun around and began walking briskly away from him.

“You don’t have to do this, Jolene!” he shouted, running to catch up with her. “You don’t have to choose fear.”

“Yes, I do,” she insisted, turning to face him once more. “It’s the only way that he won’t…”

“You can choose me instead,” he interrupted.

Her breath caught at his unexpected reply. “Cam, I…” She trailed off, hiding her tear-filled eyes.

“Don’t let your fear control you, Jolene,” he implored, his voice soft. He brought his body close to hers. “Please, choose me, not fear.”

About the Author

T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre.

When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

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