Through the Booking Glass: Heart of Marley by T.K. Leigh-Blog Tour, Giveaway & Review

Title: Heart of Marley

Author: T.K. Leigh

Release Date: November 3, 2014

Genre: New Adult/Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

To the moon and back… From the stars to the ocean… That was Marley and Cameron Bowen’s secret code. Twins born just five minutes apart, they have the perfect life… Until tragedy strikes just weeks after their eighth birthday and their father is killed by a drunk driver. Having trouble coping with the loss of her soul mate, their mother tries to find comfort in drugs and alcohol… And an abusive man with a penchant for underage girls. No longer able to stand listening to his sister’s screams and cries every night for nearly three years, Cam takes matters into his own hands and they’re finally able to escape the nightmare. They’re finally able to start over… But the nightmare still haunts Marley. The years go on and she is forced to put on a smile, making everyone think that she is the perfect, well-adjusted teenager that she is supposed to be… Until she is faced with a painful reminder of her past during her senior year of high school and she’s no longer able to keep on the mask that she has been compelled to wear. Recommended for ages eighteen and over due to strong language, sexual situations, and graphic violence.

Buy Links

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Google Play ~ Kobo

Review by Jenny

10 Emotional Stars

Wow!!!!! Heart of Marley is one of those books that you will NEVER forget! I was & still am totally wrecked from this book! I felt like she was MY sister and felt everyone's pain! I think it's the perfect way for sexual abuse to be voiced!

I read Heart of Light so I knew a bare minimum about Marley going in but I never imagined I would feel what I feel for her & Cam.

After Marley & Cam's dad died when they were around 8 years old, their mom took comfort in drugs, alcohol & men. She took a liking to this one particular creep, Buck. He did unthinkable & horrific things to poor little Mar for 3 years! Three long years until Cam had enough & took justice into his own hands leaving Buck in a pool of bloody mess! Fast forward 6/7 years later, they are seniors in high school now. Mar has tried her best to be "normal" but the town is impossible.
I was so glad that TK Leigh touched on the sexual exploitation of pageants that some go to the extreme with. Marley really needed therapy! I can't believe the aunt & uncle were so selfish! I could've slapped them so many times with their self-righteous & indignant attitude! When Mar's past becomes her present, the bottom falls out for everyone! Heart broken is an understatement!

Marley is an AMAZING character! She's so strong! She didn't think so but she truly was to go through what she did! Cam is equally amazing & the perfect brother! The roof top scene & epilogue gutted me! I just can't even imagine!

I can't wait to read more of Cam!! This story & subject is still so fresh & I know it'll be with me forever & always! I'll forever remember this masterpiece!

TO THE MOON & BACK! FROM THE STARS TO THE OCEAN!

Book Trailer

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/109320856]

Excerpt

I had gotten used to things over the years. Marley’s emotions always took you on a wild roller coaster ride, the ebb and flow often unexpected and sometimes tumultuous. But during those moments that things flattened out, and the ups and downs of her life were on an even keel, even if for just an instant, those were the times that I treasured. I wouldn’t trade those rare memories for anything in the world. Those were the times that I saw the real Marley…the girl that forced me to play Barbie’s with her, the girl that convinced me the mud pie she made for me was really chocolate. The way her eyes brimmed with enthusiasm and mischief at the same time, you couldn’t help but believe her, knowing that she would squeal with excitement and delight when you pretended to take a bite of her ‘chocolate’ pie. “Remember the tree house?” she asked, bringing me back from my own memories. I could hear the lump in her throat. “How could I forget? You hounded Dad for months to build you one.” “Remember going out there after he died, but before Mama lost the house?” I nodded, finding Marley’s hand and grabbing it. “Yeah, I do.” I felt her body tremble beside me as big, fat rain drops began to fall. “I think it would have been the best tree house on the block.” “The way Dad doted on you, it would have been a tree mansion by the time he was done with it.” Losing my father was hard enough when I was just eight, but having to be faced with the constant reminders of his life made it even more difficult. The worst was looking out our back window at a tree that he had begun to build a house in for Marley and me. The night that Mama had explained to us that Dad had gone to heaven and wouldn’t be coming back, I remember glancing out there and seeing Marley sitting on the lone wood plank that he had set up as the foundation of the tree house. Nearly every night that we lived in that house, we would go out there and simply lay down and look at the stars. “This reminds me of that,” I said softly. “Of those nights in the tree house.” The sound of thunder boomed around us and we remained on that roof, not caring that we were both drenched from the late summer downpour cloaking the town. “Me, too,” Marley said. “I think that’s why I like coming out here so much. It reminds me of ‘before’. It makes me feel closer to Dad. I always swore I could hear him talking to me in that tree house and, some nights when I’m out here, I can still hear him.” “What does he say?” She turned to face me and almost broke into tears. “That he’s proud of you. That he can’t believe how much of him he sees in you. That he’s happy you don’t let anyone or anything influence your decisions. That he’s thankful you’ve never abandoned me.

About the Author

T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Twenty Fun Facts

1. I wear a shirt when I write that has Shakespeare’s face on it and says “This shit writes itself.”

2. I am a middle child. I have a sister that is two years older and a sister that is two years younger.

3. My favorite movie of all time is Casablanca.

4. When I was 21, I did an internship working at Walt Disney World. Best seven months EVER!

5. I met my husband in the parking lot of a Jimmy Buffett concert. He was working. I was drinking.

6. My favorite beer is Blue Moon.

7. I love the Red Sox.

8. Every time I publish a new book, I drink champagne and watch Anchorman and Talladega Nights. It’s a tradition now.

9. When I was moving out to California from Connecticut after graduating law school, the hubs and I drove route 66 all the way from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier. It was such an amazing experience, and I think there may be a book in it.

10. My pen name is a play on my real name. My full name is Tracy Leigh Kellam. I don’t think I need to spell out where T.K. Leigh came from. ;-)

11. I have a yellow jeep wrangler that I love. Her name is Savvy J.

12. In my opinion, there is no such thing as too much coffee. Or peanut butter.

13. I am a sushi addict.

14. I am deathly afraid of snakes. I can’t even watch a movie with them in it or I’ll flip out.

15. My favorite New Kid on the Block was Donnie. I’m glad I picked one that aged well.

16. I am a huge proponent of “Adopt, don’t shop.” We have a dog and 3 kittens, all of whom we have found on the streets and saved.

17. One of my favorite TV shows is Arrested Development.

18. My favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby. What can I say. I’m a sucker for a story with no HEA.

19. I currently have 8 works in progress.

20. You will all be seeing Cam and Jolene again. ;-)

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads