Thursday, September 30, 2010

Blog Tour & Contest: Aching for Always

Aching for Always
Author: Gwyn Cready
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: 9/28/2010
Available from Amazon

Summary: In Aching for Always, one map can forever changes the lives of two people--Hugh Hawksmoor, a handsome, determined sea captain who has traveled from the eighteenth century to avenge his brother's death, and Joss O'Mally, whose struggles to keep her mother's mapmaking company afloat ties her to her own past. When they meet, there are fireworks--literally, and Joss finds herself falling for Hugh's ample charms. But when he tricks her into returning to the past with him, each will face the hardest decision each has ever had to make.


I asked to participate in the blog tour for Aching for Always because I had enjoyed the author's last book, Flirting With Forever, and I wanted to check out what she had created for readers this time around. Aching for Always is part time travel adventure and part historical romance. It's an enchanting story revolving around the creation of maps and how a simple adjustment can change the course of history. It takes place in Pittsburgh, which I visited last summer, and loved for it's history and beauty. It's a historic and lovely setting for a romance.

Old fashioned maps have always intrigued me with their beauty and detail. I'd never taken the time to learn more about the making of maps and was taken in by this aspect of the book. The author mixed elements of mystery, adventure, romance and magic together to create a story that captures the reader's imagination and heart. Hugh, our hero, is a brooding naval captain set on revenge, which of course makes him sexy, especially as he alternates between charming Joss and wanting to ring her neck. Our heroine is often like a bouncing ball in the story, not knowing who to trust or give her heart to. Though their romance is very sexually charged and steamy, especially near the end of the book, I actually loved the romance between Joss's mother and Hugh's brother more in some ways. As I was reading, I found myself wishing the author would share more of their relationship. Joss's mother is a passionate mapmaker and Hugh's brother is the man who gives up everything to protect her. Every mention of Joss's mother is captivating and romantic.

WIN A COPY OF ACHING FOR ALWAYS!
The publisher has graciously allowed me to give away one copy of Aching for Always in paperback. I will randomly pick one winner from the comments on October 15, 2010. Please answer this question for me:

Have you read books with a time travel element? If so, is there one you'd recommend to me, and why? If you haven't read any books with time travel, is there a reason you haven't?

Leave your answers in the comments, and include your email if you don't have an email attached to your Google profile.

GWEN'S LAUNCH CONTEST!
Aching for Always Launch Contest is going on now too. The prize is a GORGEOUS Kate Spade handbag with a leopard print that evokes the shoes on the cover of Aching for Always. It's easy to enter. Just click here. But hurry, this contest ends October 4, 2010.

9 comments:

Qwill said...

This book is on my TBB list. It sounds like an excellent and fun read.

Thank you for the contest.

Unknown said...

The Outlander books are fantastic time travel books. I love time travel books, there are not enough.

robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

Martha Lawson said...

I have read lots of time travel books, but not recently!! This one sounds really good. Please enter me for it.

I follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Cathie said...

I read a time travel book years ago that has stuck with me, but I can't remember the title or I'd have bought it and put it on my shelf by now. Anyways it was about modern day people going back to the Civil War with modern weapons trying to change the outcome.

lovemybabysquid@yahoo.com

k_sunshine1977 said...

i've loved time travel stories since i was a kid and saw back to the future for the first time! lol i still have a lot of time-travel romances on my keeper shelves from when they were the big thing, and unfortunately, they're getting to be quite the rare thing. i'm glad that gwyn is still writing them - she rocks! i'm sure they'll make a comeback - remember, for a while, paranormal romances were hard to find as well!

i would recommend any time-travels by constance o'day-flannery, lisa cach, and the outlander series (as mentioned by robin) for a start. jack finney wrote a really good time travel series as well, and it has a romantic element, but it's not considered romance.

k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I have all 3 of 4 of Gwyn's books. This is the only one I don't have yet and I am dying to get it when I can free up some cash. I love time travels they sit right next to paranormals ;) My favorite other authors who write time travel romance is Lynn Kurland and Susan Squires- both of which have several TT-bks and can be read alone are part of their series :) Hope this helps
Stephmartin71(at)yahoo(dot)com

*yadkny* said...

Gwyn is a new to me author, so I'm excited to be adding her books to my wishlist! I absolutely adore the cover:) I have read a great book with time travel elements in it... Eris by D. Renee Bagby. It's a great story that could be split in two because of how much was developed before the time travel actually occured and then when it actually happened. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great romance element as well with just a warning for those that have restrictions on what they like to read... it is a menage story. I thought it was beautifully written and the plotline is wonderfully suspenseful!

yadkny@hotmail.com

susan said...

The Outlander series are great. I have heard so much about them that I had to check them out and really like them. susan Leech garysue@dejazzd.com

LSUReader said...

I've read two of Gwyn's books, and I'd recommend them both: Tumbling Through Time and Seducing Mr. Darcy. Glad to hear you enjoyed her third book. That one and this newest one are on my TBR list. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. (Email in profile.)