Joyfully yours by Amy Lamont Review, Giveaway and Interview

Synopsis:

A musician and a priest walk into a grocery store—singer Faith Leary thinks this is a better opening for an off-color joke than a recipe for romance, until she finds herself ogling Father Michael in the checkout line the day before Thanksgiving.

When Father Michael first steps in to bail Faith out of her financial jam, Faith thinks she’s being picked up at the grocery store. Right up until she catches sight of the black shirt and tab collar. Since not much in her life is going her way lately, it doesn’t come as much of a shock when Michael turns up at her mother’s Thanksgiving dinner. What does come as a surprise is the attraction that springs up between them. If only he weren’t a priest, he would be perfect for her.

Faith’s sister finds Father Michael attractive, too, and she’s making no bones about it. Scenes from the Thorn Birds flitting through her head, it comes as a relief to Faith to find out Michael is not exactly what he seems. It’s good news until she realizes her sister is a far better match for him than her screw-up self could ever be. But if that’s true, why does Michael insist on seeing only the good in Faith, no matter how often she falls short of her too perfect sister?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18713149-joyfully-yours?from_search=true

Buy Link:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Joyfully-Yours-Amy-Lamont-ebook/dp/B00GCWLZX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383780545&sr=1-1&keywords=joyfully+yours+amy+lamont

Author Bio:

Amy Lamont writes contemporary and New Adult romance about quirky heroines and hunky heroes. Over the years she’s had some jobs she loved (working as a program coordinator for a non-profit animal rescue), some jobs she liked (freelance writing), and some jobs she hated (her experience as a waitress has turned her into the excellent tipper she is today). But nothing gives her greater joy than writing romances that pack an emotional punch and come with a guaranteed happily ever after.

Amy lives in New England with her husband, twin daughters, and two rescue mutts. She loves chatting with readers. To get in touch, visit her at www.amylamont.com.

Author Interview:

Thank you so much for having me here at Deal Sharing Aunt to chat about my Christmas novella, Joyfully Yours!

1. Is this a present version of The Thorn Birds?
Although Faith, my heroine, has the same concern, this is definitely not a modern day version of The Thorn Birds. Pretty early in the story we realize that Faith’s attraction for Michael is not the taboo she first thought. The romance between Faith and Michael is sweet and I hope readers will easily see why these two are perfect for each other. 

2. What are your thoughts on the taboo of priests dating? Have you gotten a lot of feedback?

You know, when the idea for the character of Father Michael first came to me, it was hard to imagine him with quirky, bohemian Faith. I questioned whether Michael’s profession/vocation would keep readers from picking up the book, but in his case, it doesn’t have quite the same taboo.

After spending a lot of time with these characters, I forgot about my initial surprise when Michael showed up insisting he was the one for Faith. I think for readers, it’s definitely unexpected. But in the end, I don’t think it’s something that will keep them from enjoying Faith and Michael’s story.

3. Why did you pick sisters to fall for the same guy instead of friends?
There’s a really strong family dynamic in Joyfully Yours. Most of the early interactions between Faith and Michael take place with her family present. There’s also a lot of sibling rivalry between Faith and her sister, Maddie. And the funny thing is, Maddie doesn’t seem too interested in Michael until Faith shows an interest. I can’t help but wonder hwo much of the attraction is real for Maddie, and how much comes from a desire to one-up her sister.

4. What would you like my readers to know?

Joyfully Yours was a lot of fun to write. I love any romance, but I’m really a sucker for romances that take place against the backdrop of the holiday season. And Faith and Michael’s story is no different. I hope your readers enjoy getting to know this unlikely couple and escaping into this cozy Christmas romance.

Contact Links:

Website: http://amylamont.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.lamont

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amy_Lamont

My Review:
This was a book about loving someone, and having faith in them. No matter how many mistakes they have made in the past. At first I thought that this book would have a certain stigma like The Thorn Birds did. However this book is not what it seems. The characters interacted well together. As the younger of four siblings I can definitely relate to Faith. She reminded me of how my sister got to do everything first, and how she got her license on the first try (took me 4 times). This was also a nice book about family, especially during the holidays. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

Giveaway:

One $25 Amazon giftcard plus gift bag that includes some book swag and some other holiday goodies.

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