Wednesday, May 21, 2025

HEART SPRUNG by Rachel Dacus Giveaway, Excerpt & Review

 


HEART SPRUNG

Rachel Dacus

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 GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

A journey across India. A quest for enlightenment. A romance tested by destiny. Songwriter Daniel and his beautiful, free-spirited muse Lara travel to India, following her urge to seek higher consciousness. Daniel’s goal is to make a life in music and to settle down in their new home on the Italian coast. But of course he’d follow her anywhere, and as they wander through sacred temples and bustling streets, he finds purpose in protecting her from the perils and to persuade her to return home. But Lara’s spiritual path beckons her on. When she finally finds the place she knows will change her life, their differences become impossible to ignore. Will their paths diverge, or will they find love is the highest truth?

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Excerpt One:

“Morning, honey,” I whisper into her lusciously soft neck, and then nuzzle it and move up to kiss her silky hair. I long to bring her back to bed and have all the time today to caress every inch of her in the way she likes.

Lara breathes a soft exhale of pleasure and then turns in my arms. I can’t wait to see what she’ll say.

“Know what, babe? We should go traveling!”

“Traveling? We just moved in here. Don’t you want to at least unpack all this stuff my family gave us for the kitchen? Tonio thinks we have to have a set of nested colanders or we’re not truly civilized.”

Lara laughs, but she pushes her idea in a strong voice. “We need adventure! We’re young. We should shake things up.”

Here I am settling for once, not traveling, not adventuring. Settled, not shaken, for once in my life.

“Where were you thinking?” I ask, hoping she means a short vacation in, say, Venice. Or Paris. Though can I afford that?

Lara’s grin is wide and so beautiful I almost don’t catch her answer. “I’m thinking India. For some enlightenment. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Enlightenment—what?

“But that’s so far—and expensive. I don’t have enough, I don’t think. Even if we traveled by train, it’s beyond my means. I can’t just—”

“My treat,” she says, cutting me off. “I can pay for us to go. I have money, remember?”

I remember something vague she said about a trust fund, but why does she need to be enlightened? She’s twenty-two. She’s full of light in my eyes. But If she wants an adventure and to travel, I’m not going to say No. Now I remember: the night we met she said she’d always wanted to go to India. I wish I’d asked her why. I suppose there will be time enough while we’re traveling to ask.

Staring out at the sea, my paradise seems wrecked. But only temporarily. An excursion is something to share, and then we come home and make more sweet music together. Home.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel Dacus is the author of seven novels of women’s fiction, romance, and fantasy. She’s also the author of four poetry collections and has published in Boulevard, Gargoyle, Prairie Schooner, Eclectica and Image: Art, Faith, and Mystery. She enjoys the beauty and culture of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she walks her Silky Terrier and sometimes follows the trails on nearby Mt. Diablo. Read more of her work, her blog, and sign up for her newsletter at her website.

Website: http://www.racheldacus.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelDacusAuthor

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/racheldacusauthor.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheldacusauthor/

My Review:

This is a fun story about a couple that learn what they mean to each other while traveling in India. This is especially hard for characters that have not decided where they want their future to be. How can you plan a future for yourself and another person, when you can't even plan for yourself? I enjoyed the story and would love to read more about these characters. I enjoyed reading about India and Italy. I also enjoyed how the characters were into meditation. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy, all opinions are my own.

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GIVEAWAY 

Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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