Gallagher's Hope Blog Tour: guest post, excerpt and review
We are featuring cowboys, the beautiful Montana landscape, feuding families and some good old fashioned romance with today's Gallagher's Hope Blog Tour stop. Besides the summary, there's a guest post by the author on her own journey to publication, an excerpt and our review. Welcome and Happy Thursday!
Series: The Montana Gallaghers, Book 2
Author: M.K. McClintock
Genre: Western historical romance
Genre: Western historical romance
Format: Paperback, 256 pages; ebook
Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing (August 1, 2012)
Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing (August 1, 2012)
Summary: She sought a new beginning.
He sought what he didn’t know was missing.
Together they would discover hope in unlikely places
Isabelle Rousseu must escape New Orleans and the memory of her family’s tragic loss. With her younger brother in tow, she accepts a position as the new schoolteacher in Briarwood, Montana. Desperate to keep what’s left of her family together, Isabelle joins her life with a stranger only to discover that trust and hope go hand in hand.
Gabriel Gallagher lived each day as it came believing he had everything he could possibly want...until a determined woman and her brother arrive with a little luggage and a lot of secrets.
It will take a drastic choice to protect her and give them both, hope for the future.
Guest Post:
A Writer’s Journey
By MK McClintock
I wish I could say that my journey to becoming a writer was as interesting as Isabelle’s journey from New Orleans to Montana in Gallagher’s Hope or Brenna’s journey from Scotland in Gallagher’s Pride. Instead my journey began many years ago when I didn’t yet realize I was on this path. I’ve always had an active imagination; creating stories in my head and even acting out those stories as a child. Some of those stories made it to paper and others in the form of poems. Two of my friends and I in grade school formed a little club and we would write stories about each other—I still have those childhood stories.
As time went on, the stories grew from a few pages to a few chapters. I began to discover that my characters had no desire to be kept to only those few verses and thus was born my first novel. To this day I can’t pinpoint just one moment where I thought to myself, “I’ll write a book and publish it.” I never had that moment—it’s always been a gradual and natural progression. In fact, I felt absolute surprise when I finished that first book. It was unexpected and yet opened a new world.
I would also say that moving and traveling helped play a part in this journey. I’ve always been adventurous and love exploring and experiencing other places and cultures. Whether I stood on top of a mountain in Montana or walked along the beaches of Maine, my mind constantly created stories to adapt to wherever I was at the time. The most powerful of those places for my imagination have been Montana and Scotland and without knowing those two lands, I know I would not have written that first book.
This journey is never-ending and in my mind, what’s happening now is just the beginning.
An excerpt:
There was nothing left of the life she had known.
Her slender arm wrapped around the little boy’s shoulder and pulled him closer to his side. She could feel his slight trembling and wished more than anything that she could take his sadness. They were alone in the world. They had each other and she prayed that would be enough for them both.
They stood and listened as the priest gave the final blessing and the caskets were lowered into the ground. It wasn’t something anyone should witness, but she needed the closure. She needed to know that it was over. ‘A very sad affair’ everyone called it for it wasn’t every day that a man murdered his wife and then shot himself. It wasn’t healthy to think on the possible reasons why, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She had truly believed that they had been a happy family. One of the wealthiest in New Orleans and one of the most respected and sought out for social gatherings. The truth however, was revealed with her father’s death. No one would speak of it to them of course, but the lawyer had made it quite clear.
They were penniless.
He sought what he didn’t know was missing.
Together they would discover hope in unlikely places
Isabelle Rousseu must escape New Orleans and the memory of her family’s tragic loss. With her younger brother in tow, she accepts a position as the new schoolteacher in Briarwood, Montana. Desperate to keep what’s left of her family together, Isabelle joins her life with a stranger only to discover that trust and hope go hand in hand.
Gabriel Gallagher lived each day as it came believing he had everything he could possibly want...until a determined woman and her brother arrive with a little luggage and a lot of secrets.
It will take a drastic choice to protect her and give them both, hope for the future.
Guest Post:
A Writer’s Journey
By MK McClintock
I wish I could say that my journey to becoming a writer was as interesting as Isabelle’s journey from New Orleans to Montana in Gallagher’s Hope or Brenna’s journey from Scotland in Gallagher’s Pride. Instead my journey began many years ago when I didn’t yet realize I was on this path. I’ve always had an active imagination; creating stories in my head and even acting out those stories as a child. Some of those stories made it to paper and others in the form of poems. Two of my friends and I in grade school formed a little club and we would write stories about each other—I still have those childhood stories.
As time went on, the stories grew from a few pages to a few chapters. I began to discover that my characters had no desire to be kept to only those few verses and thus was born my first novel. To this day I can’t pinpoint just one moment where I thought to myself, “I’ll write a book and publish it.” I never had that moment—it’s always been a gradual and natural progression. In fact, I felt absolute surprise when I finished that first book. It was unexpected and yet opened a new world.
I would also say that moving and traveling helped play a part in this journey. I’ve always been adventurous and love exploring and experiencing other places and cultures. Whether I stood on top of a mountain in Montana or walked along the beaches of Maine, my mind constantly created stories to adapt to wherever I was at the time. The most powerful of those places for my imagination have been Montana and Scotland and without knowing those two lands, I know I would not have written that first book.
This journey is never-ending and in my mind, what’s happening now is just the beginning.
An excerpt:
There was nothing left of the life she had known.
Her slender arm wrapped around the little boy’s shoulder and pulled him closer to his side. She could feel his slight trembling and wished more than anything that she could take his sadness. They were alone in the world. They had each other and she prayed that would be enough for them both.
They stood and listened as the priest gave the final blessing and the caskets were lowered into the ground. It wasn’t something anyone should witness, but she needed the closure. She needed to know that it was over. ‘A very sad affair’ everyone called it for it wasn’t every day that a man murdered his wife and then shot himself. It wasn’t healthy to think on the possible reasons why, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She had truly believed that they had been a happy family. One of the wealthiest in New Orleans and one of the most respected and sought out for social gatherings. The truth however, was revealed with her father’s death. No one would speak of it to them of course, but the lawyer had made it quite clear.
They were penniless.
About the author: MK McClintock was born on the west coast, but after less than eight years she left with her family to the Rocky Mountains. After more adventures around the country, business-college and culinary school, MK McClintock found a place to call home in Montana.
Over the years MK McClintock traveled the country and visited magnificent Scotland. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, MK McClintock still calls Montana home.
MK McClintock is also the author of Gallagher's Pride, the first of her Montana Gallagher Series and Alaina Claiborne, the first of her British Agent novels.
Author Links: Website | Official Blog | Goodreads Profile | Amazon Author Page |Facebook | Twitter | Kindlegraph
Book Links: About the Gallaghers | Gallagher's Hope Book Trailer
Review: I began reading Gallagher's Hope all excited by the old fashioned feel of storytelling. A young woman sets out with her brother to begin a new life after their parents are laid to rest. This new life entails a long move, a new town and lots of new faces for schoolteacher Isabelle and her five year old brother Andrew. One of these faces belongs to rancher Gabriel Gallagher, immediately smitten by the beautiful stranger. And so pure escapism for the reader begins.
My brain needs a rest between paranormal and fantasy tales and what better than to dive into a historical western romance? Gallagher's Hope grabbed me at the beginning with Isabelle's dire predicament and Gabriel's smile. As soon as the story moved on to include more of the Gallagher clan, I felt there were some parts of the family history I had missed out on--like Brenna and Ethan's meeting and subsequent marriage--and then I realized this is the second title in a series. I would have preferred reading the first title but as a standalone this book was okay.
The Gallagher family is dedicated, hard working and loyal. So admirable and I liked them all. The alternating points of view kept the story moving along even if I thought there were a few too many pov's to keep track of. The transitioning from alternating pov's wasn't always smooth. All in all I enjoyed the adventures of Isabelle's new family, learned about country life, and was able to detest the bad man named Nathan Hunter. Gallagher's Hope is fun, romantic, and takes one back to the wonder and splendor of pioneer days.
Rating: 3.5
Cover comment: Not one of my favorites at all.
Book source: Received a promotional ebook copy form the author for my honest review during a book tour.
Over the years MK McClintock traveled the country and visited magnificent Scotland. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, MK McClintock still calls Montana home.
MK McClintock is also the author of Gallagher's Pride, the first of her Montana Gallagher Series and Alaina Claiborne, the first of her British Agent novels.
Author Links: Website | Official Blog | Goodreads Profile | Amazon Author Page |Facebook | Twitter | Kindlegraph
Book Links: About the Gallaghers | Gallagher's Hope Book Trailer
Review: I began reading Gallagher's Hope all excited by the old fashioned feel of storytelling. A young woman sets out with her brother to begin a new life after their parents are laid to rest. This new life entails a long move, a new town and lots of new faces for schoolteacher Isabelle and her five year old brother Andrew. One of these faces belongs to rancher Gabriel Gallagher, immediately smitten by the beautiful stranger. And so pure escapism for the reader begins.
My brain needs a rest between paranormal and fantasy tales and what better than to dive into a historical western romance? Gallagher's Hope grabbed me at the beginning with Isabelle's dire predicament and Gabriel's smile. As soon as the story moved on to include more of the Gallagher clan, I felt there were some parts of the family history I had missed out on--like Brenna and Ethan's meeting and subsequent marriage--and then I realized this is the second title in a series. I would have preferred reading the first title but as a standalone this book was okay.
The Gallagher family is dedicated, hard working and loyal. So admirable and I liked them all. The alternating points of view kept the story moving along even if I thought there were a few too many pov's to keep track of. The transitioning from alternating pov's wasn't always smooth. All in all I enjoyed the adventures of Isabelle's new family, learned about country life, and was able to detest the bad man named Nathan Hunter. Gallagher's Hope is fun, romantic, and takes one back to the wonder and splendor of pioneer days.
Rating: 3.5
Cover comment: Not one of my favorites at all.
Book source: Received a promotional ebook copy form the author for my honest review during a book tour.
Giveaway:
MK will be awarding an ebook copy of the first book of the series (Gallagher’s Pride) to one random commenter at every stop and a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. She'll also award a $15 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn host from her tour. Follow the tour and comment. The tour dates can be found here.
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Thanks for hosting today
ReplyDeleteThis book series sounds awesome. So few folks write in this genre anymore (I grew up on Zane Grey, et al). Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeletemnark111 AT gmail DOT com
It's definitely not Zane Grey, but I too love this genre and wish more would write in it. Thank you so much for joining the tour!
DeleteI absolutely love, love western based stories. I think this one sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! My love of Montana and westerns certainly made it into the story. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI don't think I've read a book that sounds quite like this! I'm looking forward to it! :-)
ReplyDeletejustforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Thank you coming by today Chelsea!
DeleteWould love to travel to Montana and Scotland one day. Enjoyed your posting about how you became a published writer. I never could write past the first page of a story when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteJess1
strive4bst at yahoo dot com
Both Montana and Scotland are amazing places! I highly recommend them. Thank you for visiting today!
DeleteThis book sounds lovely!! I love traveling. I am just dying to visit Venice and the Mayan Temples at some point in my life. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteVivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Thank you for joining us Vivien! I too love traveling and the Mayan Temples sound like a great place to visit. Good luck!
DeleteWhat a good review. As a reader, I appreciate an honest, thoughtful review. And, as a librarian, I like stories with librarian or teacher heroines.
ReplyDeletecatherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Thank you for your review. I find I always need to read a series in order.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks for your review. I feel the same about books in series. They could be written as 'stand-alone', but they are still part of a series and in a lot of cases, there are character histories that one must go back to Bk 1 to read about. That's why I only read them in order.
ReplyDeletekareninnc at gmail dot com
This sounds very good.
ReplyDeleteBecky01x(at)gmail(dot)com
I really want to read these type of guest post. sound so amazing
ReplyDelete