Review + Giveaway: New Blood by Lorna Peel

New Blood by Lorna Peel

Release Date: 3rd November 2016
Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing

Genres: Romantic Suspense

Sophia Nelson returns to her hometown in Yorkshire, England to begin a new job as tour guide at Heaton Abbey House. There, she meets the reclusive Thomas, Baron Heaton, a lonely workaholic.

Despite having a rule never to become involved with her boss, Sophia can’t deny how she finds him incredibly attractive.

When she overhears the secret surrounding his parentage, she is torn. But is it the attraction or the fear of opening a Pandora’s box that makes her keep quiet about it?

How long can she stay at the abbey knowing what she does?

Sophia Nelson has, after coming out of a long term relationship finally landed a job with accommodation. Moving back from London to be with her dad as they both struggle to accept her mother's dementia, Sophia is looking for a new start. Months of either sleeping on her dad's sofa or staying with her best friend Michelle have meant that Sophia is now ready to grab life with both hands. 

After landing a job as a tour guide at Heaton Abbey House she has a rather abrupt meeting with the young Lord Heaton who despite his rudeness, Sophia finds very attractive! Very quickly stumbling across a family secret immediately, Sophia must struggle with the battles raging within her. Too many people stand to get hurt, her included. 

New Blood starts off at a relatively slow pace but when it does take off, the story flies along. And, be prepared for some hot love scenes. My first impression of Thomas Heaton is that he was a hot headed pig and it took a lot for me to change my opinion of him. He is desperately unhappy with his title and the responsibility it brings and being able to understand his frustration at what he views as a wasted life trying to run the estate did make me mellow a bit towards him. Although, I did feel throughout the book that he was a little too quick tempered for me to be comfortable with, particularly when his sister is caught in a violent relationship. But, the reader does get to see a more gentle side of Thomas eventually.

Despite their differences, both being complete polar opposites in terms of social status, Sophia and Thomas form an unlikely friendship, albeit one that is riddled with sexual tension. Despite turning weak at the knees every time Thomas is around her, Sophia is not afraid to say exactly what she thinks to him and Lord Heaton is not used to this! He is not a well liked man and is seen as a bit of recluse. The reality is, he works too hard and has no time for anything else.

Both Sophia and Thomas must bear the burden of an explosive family secret that has the potential to ruin the Heaton family and destroy Sophia's relationship with her best friend. Throw into the mix a drug dealer, domestic violence and a decent helping of passion and New Blood is an enjoyable read. The love scenes are a bit raunchy but not distastefully so and I had to reconcile the fact that this was not the stuffy, emotionally stunted Lord Heaton anymore but now a man in love and full of passion! This book had a bit of a slow burn in terms of the love story side of it but when it did take off it hurtled along. A few interesting secondary characters such as Lady Heaton and Lord Heaton's sister Stephanie added a further dimension to the story. Lady Heaton in particular interested me and despite doing the wrong thing continually, I could understand her reasons for doing the things she did and did feel a little sorry for her at times.  This story almost reminded me of an old Victorian saga but with a modern twist and I enjoyed it.

BUY LINKS

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KW0I7P2

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KW0I7P2

Universal Amazon Link: http://viewbook.at/NewBlood

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/660432

Netgalley: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/96399

 

GIVEAWAY

cotton tote bag, magnetic postcard, and a signed postcard

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ABOUT LORNA PEEL

Lorna Peel is an author of contemporary and historical romantic fiction.

Her debut novel, ONLY YOU, a contemporary celebrity romance set in London, England, was published in 2014. INTO THE UNKNOWN, a World War Two romance set in London, the south east of England, and Ireland, was published in 2015 and reached Amazon’s top 20 best sellers in 20th Century Historical Romance. THE IMAGE OF HER, a romantic suspense set in rural England about a woman’s search for her birth mother, was published in May 2016. NEW BLOOD, a romantic suspense set in a stately home in Yorkshire, England, will be published on 3 November 2016.

Lorna was born in England and lived in North Wales until her family moved to Ireland to become farmers, which is a book in itself! She lives in rural Ireland, where she writes, researches her family history, and grows fruit and vegetables. She also keeps chickens (and a Guinea Hen who now thinks she’s a chicken!).

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