{"id":32439,"date":"2018-04-24T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T13:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=32439"},"modified":"2019-12-17T20:47:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-18T01:47:26","slug":"release-blitz-excerpt-arc-review-love-at-last-by-claudia-connor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=32439","title":{"rendered":"Release Blitz, Excerpt, ARC Review & Giveaway: Love At Last by Claudia Connor"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Amazon US<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon CA<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon AU<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 B&N<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 iBooks<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n

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Blurb<\/strong><\/b><\/h4>\n

All new romance from\u00a0New York Times<\/em>\u00a0Bestselling Author Claudia Connor\u2026<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

How many times can you be unlucky in love before you decide it\u2019s not luck, it\u2019s you?<\/em><\/p>\n

With her ex-groom’s words,\u00a0I\u2019m in love with someone else,<\/em>\u00a0still ringing in her ears, Clare Franklin flies off alone to her would-be honeymoon. Forced to accept not everyone gets that happily ever after she\u2019s always dreamed of, she\u2019s done with men. Until she gets tangled up, quite literally, with one sexy veterinarian.<\/p>\n

The only thing Dr Deacon Montgomery wants is to share his surgical expertise and get back to his two year old twin daughters. But, the connection he feels with Clare highlights just how alone he really is and makes him wonder if he can be more than doctor and daddy.<\/p>\n

Long talks and moonlit walks under the rustle of palms has Clare thinking maybe she gave up on love too soon. Until one phone call from home changes everything.<\/p>\n

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Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

4.5 stars<\/b><\/p>\n

This is such a beautiful story! A sweet, sexy, chemistry-filled love story that is surprising and unexpected, and that completely swept me off my feet.<\/p>\n

Clare is literally minutes away from walking down the aisle when she hears the words that no bride\u2026 no person ever wants to hear \u2013 \u201cI\u2019m in love with someone else.\u201d <\/i> To clear her head and pull herself back together after such a shock, she takes her planned trip to the Dominican Republic, turning her honeymoon into a \u201cladymoon\u201d (I freaking love that name btw), giving herself a much-deserved break and time to relax and just \u2018be\u2019.<\/p>\n

So immediately, I\u2019m already half in love with Clare. She\u2019s smart, strong and sensible, and I was so proud of her for handling her situation the way she did. However she very quickly realises that moving on isn\u2019t going to be too difficult. She\u2019s not as devastated as she should be, and looking back, her fianc\u00e9 never really gave her the butterflies she always imagined would happened when she fell in love. In fact, maybe she\u2019s narrowly escaped what could have been the worst decision of her life. And that is only reinforced when she literally stumbles into the hottest man she\u2019s ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather have nothing than something that isn\u2019t real. And I\u2019m okay with that. Coming so close to almost making a mistake has made me okay with that.\u201d
\n\u201cReally?\u201d
\n\u201cYep.
\n\u201cSo you\u2019ve given up?\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe I\u2019ve finally grown up. You have to let go of the fairy tales at some point. I always thought when it was right, you\u2019d just know and that would be it. But how can you really ever know when it\u2019s real?\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Deacon is in the Dominican Republic speaking at a veterinary conference when Clare comes crashing into his life. He\u2019s a single father of two-year-old twin girls and doesn\u2019t have time for dating or romance, but being away from home and being completely captivated by Clare, he allows himself to get swept up in his attraction to her.<\/p>\n

And OMG, I loved this romance! Easy and natural, it just flows. It happens quickly, but the pacing felt realistic and I loved seeing the chemistry sizzle between these two as they enjoy living in the moment with each other, allowing their emotions (and their libidos) to take them on an amazing journey together, and it\u2019s so, so beautiful! Sweet, fun, spine-tingingly flirty and gorgeously steamy.<\/p>\n

But it all comes to a sudden stop when real life gets in the way of their burgeoning romance, and when they return home they both find that nothing will be the same for either of them again.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t say anything more than that because I don\u2019t want to spoil anything, but OMGOMGOMG, I loved it! The story twists in directions I didn\u2019t see coming, written with lots of heart, humour and emotion, and I loved watching it all play out. My heart ached, I swooned, and I may have even squeed out lout at one point. And I couldn\u2019t put this book down, desperate to see what was coming next.<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t she more than anyone know how rare it was to find a love that made your heart tremble? And if you found it you should grab hold with both hands and not let go.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I fell in absolute love with these characters. I\u2019ve already gushed about Clare, but I need to gush even more over Deacon because he is an absolute sweetheart! I knew that from seeing him in the role of romantic hero, but when he switches over into single father mode he is still just as incredible. Beware your ovaries reading this one! And his little girls are absolute scene-stealers! I loved their importance to Deacon, and to the story, and I thought the theme of family was beautifully carried throughout the book. And on a personal note, I am a parent of twins myself, so I was particularly invested and giggling away at the truth behind a lot of those scenes.<\/p>\n

He crossed the room and standing beside her in the quiet, stroked a hand over her hair. She was the loving, fierce mama bear his girls never had. And she was the woman he loved with everything in him. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I was captivated by this story from start to finish, and though I was a little bit wary at times, in the end it all worked out, unfolding as it needed to, with scenes that had me clutching my heart, laughing, or tearing up at the gorgeousness of it all.<\/p>\n

Absolutely beautiful, and I\u2019m keeping my fingers crossed for a follow up book for Jess and Connor soon!!!!<\/p>\n

4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Excerpt<\/strong><\/h4>\n

His wide, warm palm grazed her lower back as they wove their way through the tables to the exit. They crossed over the water garden in silence, slowing as they reached a fork in the path.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich way?\u201d Deacon asked. \u201cI\u2019ll walk you back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s sweet, but you really don\u2019t have to. It\u2019s a five-star resort, not downtown Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deacon kept walking. \u201cTrue. But you know, I took you to dinner and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She arched a brow at him. \u201cIt\u2019s also an all-inclusive resort. Maybe I took\u00a0you<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

He flashed her that slightly lopsided grin that hit her right in the chest. She conceded to the walk, and together, they followed the brick path. The resort was dark, but lights along the sidewalk lit the path and shined up the skinny gray trunks of the swaying palms. It was quiet, and when they didn\u2019t pass even one other person, she was glad he was walking her back.<\/p>\n

She slowed as they came to the breezeway leading to her building and pointed up the steps to the second floor. \u201cI\u2019m up there, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Deacon started up the steps. \u201cI\u2019ll walk you to the door. I\u2019m funny like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She probably should have said no, insisted that she could make it to her door on her own. Because of course she could. But she didn\u2019t insist, just followed enormously glad she\u2019d removed the HONEYMOON banner from her door.<\/p>\n

They reached her room, and she turned to face him. Just the two of them now, up here, alone at her door. She felt a slight buzzing in her head that had nothing to do with alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Clare of the here and now.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rolled her eyes at the reminder of her earlier word-vomit ramble. \u201cIt was nice to meet you.\u201d She stuck out her hand, hoping it wasn\u2019t sweaty.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was nice to meet you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t feel like a simple handshake as he wrapped his fingers around hers. \u201cI had fun tonight<\/span><\/span>. You turned what might have been a horrible night into something surprisingly nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for catching me and saving my top and for dinner and talking and\u2026\u201d And maybe she could\u00a0stop <\/em>talking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

A frog gave a low croak, and another answered, but she figured the pounding of her heart was louder.<\/p>\n

The buzzing in her head grew louder, and she felt dizzy from looking into his eyes and staring at his lips because she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel those smooth, firm lips on hers, to taste him and feel his arms around her. I’m losing my mind.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re beautiful,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been wanting to say that all night.\u201d He lifted his hand and lightly brushed his thumb over her cheek.<\/p>\n

Then he leaned in, and she moved. Just\u2026moved. In and up, her fingers twisting in the front of his shirt. She was just falling into the taste of him, just getting that warm, tingling flood of a first kiss when her brain fully registered that he\u2019d been leaning in to kiss her\u00a0cheek<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d She swallowed hard, felt a stinging heat flooding into her cheeks, and wished desperately to disappear. Deacon was staring at her in complete confusion. That made two of them. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026 really sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

She spun to her door. A stiff wind sang through the open-air hallway, slapping her hair across her eyes. How she got her key in the lock, she had no idea. Mumbling one more apology over her shoulder, she opened the door and closed it behind her. She stood, heart pounding in mortification, her lips buzzing.<\/p>\n

The champagne glasses and fruit and cheese tray had been cleared. The bed had been turned back, and the damn swans were back, nestled in the center of the bed and kissing right on their terrycloth lips.<\/p>\n

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Giveaway<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There is a giveaway for 3 ecopies of Love at Last (open internationally) + 1 signed paperback of Love at Last (US only) (4 winners total)<\/p>\n

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n

The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway<\/em><\/p>\n

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Author Bio<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Claudia Connor is an award winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance, including the beloved McKinney Brothers series. Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after. Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she’s not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.<\/p>\n

You can find out more about Claudia\u2019s books at\u00a0http:\/\/claudiaconnor.com<\/a>. News on upcoming releases, promotional sales, fan club swag, and chances for advanced reader copies can be found in her monthly Newsletter.<\/p>\n

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Facebook\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Website\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Twitter\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Pinterest\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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  Amazon US\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon CA\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon AU\u00a0 |\u00a0 B&N\u00a0 |\u00a0 iBooks   Blurb All new romance from\u00a0New York Times\u00a0Bestselling Author Claudia Connor\u2026 How many times can you be unlucky in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1036,29],"tags":[59,201,48],"class_list":["post-32439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-romance","category-single-parent","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-claudia-connor","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Love-At-Last.jpg?fit=150%2C225&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-8rd","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}