Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Pearl's Promise Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 

Pearl's Promise JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Pearl's Promise by Edwina Kiernan, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Pearl's Promise
Title: Pearl's Promise 
Series: Gems of Grace #2 
Author: Edwina Kiernan 
Publisher: Moliant Publishing 
Release Date: May 1, 2021 
Genre: Christian Historical Romance 

A duty-bound heir. A dejected spinster. An encounter that could ruin both their families' demands for their futures... 

Horrified to see the man she had always dreamed of marrying saying his vows to someone else, Pearl Acton’s devastation only seems to confirm one of her deepest fears - that she’ll remain unseen and alone, never mattering to anyone. 

And when her family falls on hard times and seeks to marry her off to a wealthy suitor as soon as possible, her other deepest fear seems inevitable - being trapped in a loveless marriage, just like her parents. 

Until an encounter with a quiet and soulful heir, Nicholas Dalton, sparks a fragile hope that perhaps Pearl might save her family’s fortune and marry for love. 

But when circumstances on both sides of their families take drastic turns, the promise of happiness seems irrevocably shattered. 

As Pearl and Nicholas each strive to uphold their family duties, they soon discover that things aren’t quite what they seem. But is it too late to escape their crushing obligations and forge a new path - together? 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES


Edwina Kiernan

Edwina Kiernan is a Christian writer, and author of the well-received Inspirational Regency romance novel, Ruby’s Redemption.

An enthusiast of classic novels and history, Edwina combines her faith, imagination, and research in hope-infused tales set in times past. Her latest novel is the second in the Inspirational Regency romance series, Gems of Grace. 

A lifelong word admirer, with Welsh and Irish heritage, she started writing stories early in childhood. She still loves to learn, taking courses from places like Oxford University and the Beau Monde, for both fun and further education. 

When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel, and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist. 

 For free gifts, updates, and lots of classic and historical fiction goodness, join her mailing list at EdwinaKiernan.com

CONNECT WITH EDWINA:
Website | Facebook | Instagram



Welcome Edwina! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get to know you and your newest book Pearl’s Promise.

I like to start these interviews the same way, with something fun to break the ice.
Can you share 5 random facts about you that we will not find in your bio.

-       My absolute favourite colour is red.

-       I have been navigating chronic illness since the age of 3. Some symptoms have a diagnosis, some symptoms are currently under investigation.

-       My favourite meal is risotto, and I’m a huge fan of rice dishes.

-       I photographed a lot of celebrities during my time working as a media photographer. Ewan McGregor once rushed over to hold a door open for me as I was leaving a press interview room.

-       The oldest book I own is an 1891 edition of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.


When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?
I discovered my passion for writing when I was little. I was constantly writing stories on every scrap of paper I could find, and had notebooks filled with little stories that I loved to imagine and invent. Since then, I’ve always been writing in some shape or form and have read various books and taken different classes to work on honing my craft. Reading good fiction also has taught me a lot about various aspects of writing. The first novel I wrote was through NaNoWriMo in 2010 and it is in my digital drawer (and best that it stays there!). With each book I write, hopefully I improve, and my editor has been a great help and encouragement to me, helping me learn as I go.


What drew you to Regency romance?
I’ve always loved watching period dramas and reading classic literature, especially Regency and Victorian (which are extremely different worlds even though they’re in the same century). I love historical fiction and when I set out to write the Gems of Grace series, I settled on the Regency era, because it’s such an interesting little slice of history - so different from the rest of the Georgian era and the Victorian era. Perhaps, in future series, I may write Victorian, but as a huge fan of Emma and Mansfield Park (and most of Austen’s novels!), I knew I had to start with Regency!


What type of research goes into creating this type of historical book?
A lot! Every aspect of life and society is so different now than it was then, so it’s important to understand all the social customs, what was permitted and what wasn’t, and what the general milieu of the time period was like. So there has been a lot to take in, and I still have so much more to learn!


What was the most challenging part of bringing this story to life?
In truth, I think it was the concern as to whether or not people who enjoyed Ruby’s Redemption and gave me such great feedback on it would enjoy this one as much or not! Some of the research was tricky, too, but overall the biggest challenge was after it went live and I was waiting for some reviews to appear! It was difficult to stop second guessing it. It’s quite a different story from the first one - this one has probably the most conventional Regency storyline and characters, and not as much danger and intrigue as the first one had. So even though it’s the same genre and same series, it’s quite a different dynamic than the first one. That was a bit unnerving at times - wondering if people would like it as much as they said they liked Ruby’s Redemption. So far, so good, though!

Can you tell us a little bit more about Pearl’s Promise?
Pearl is a dejected young lady, who has recently been heartbroken by the marriage of the man that she secretly admired from afar. Nicholas is heir to Thornton Hall, yet a huge disappointment in his father’s eyes. He loves riding his horse through the fields and composing poems - not wealth and prestige, despite possessing both. The story follows both of them on the paths their parents are forcing them to take, and the journeys that lead them both to each other. But whose plans will ultimately prevail?

 


What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
I hope that people will feel encouraged and uplifted after reading Pearl’s Promise by the truth that no matter how bleak our circumstances appear - especially when we must travel paths we’d rather not venture down - that God is in control. He will guide us if we’ll ask Him to, and in His presence - not in our circumstances - we’ll find true and lasting joy.


Pearl’s Promise is the second book in the Gems of Grace series. Will readers who have not yet read the first book still be able to enjoy this one on it’s own?
Yes. Pearl does make an appearance in the first book, but each of the 3 books in the series are written in such a way that they stand alone as their own stories, too. If you’ve read the other books, you’ll notice the connections, but if you haven’t read any of the others in the series, you won’t miss anything in terms of story. They’re more of a standalone series - not a sequential series.



Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share? 

I am currently writing Beryl’s Blessing, the 3rd book in the Gems of Grace series. Not-your-average heroine meets not-your-average hero and they face some pretty tough themes on their journey toward their happily ever after... Guilt, death, disability and forgiveness all play a part in the story. Lord-willing, it’s set to release on November 1st, 2021, and the eBook is available on Amazon to pre-order now.

 

 



(1) winner will receive a print copy of Pearl's Promise and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Pearl's Promise

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 22, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 29, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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