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~ MONDAY ROMANCE FEATURE ~
-- 'ONCE UPON A HORSE' --
AUTHOR HELENA SMRCEK
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Welcome to the Blog Tour for Once Upon a Horse by Helena Smrcek, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
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About the Book
Title: Once Upon a Horse
Series: The Vets of Heavenbrooke County #1
Author: Helena Smrcek
Publisher: EverWind Press
Release Date: November 15, 2024
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
In the charming Heavenbrooke county, where country life meets big-city dreams, 28-year-old accountant Stella Barkley is about to discover that sometimes love arrives when you least expect it.
After a flat tire leaves her stranded on the side of the road, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue—Dr. Jason Alba, a dedicated veterinarian with a heart as big as his ambitions. Their initial encounter sparks an undeniable connection, aided by Stella's spirited Jack Russell Terrier, Milkbone, who takes an immediate liking to Jason thanks to his pocket full of treats.
As their paths intertwine, Stella finds herself drawn to Jason, despite their differing views on farm life and future aspirations. Their budding romance takes unexpected turns, especially when a mysterious missing horse from a local breeder, Enrique Rodriguez, complicates matters.
When Thanksgiving arrives, Jason becomes Stella's unexpected hero, saving her from a culinary disaster and charming her city friends with his warm spirit. But just as their relationship begins to flourish, a crisis emerges in the barn: the missing mare, Starling, is discovered in distress, leading Jason to perform a life-saving surgery that brings them even closer.
However, secrets and misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart. Stella’s desperate attempt to protect a champion mare sends her on a collision course with both Jason and Enrique, forcing her to confront her choices and the future she thought she wanted.
When Stella realizes that her life in Heavenbrooke may be over, she pens a heartfelt goodbye letter to Jason, leaving it at the church where their story began. Alone on Christmas morning, she grapples with loneliness and regret, only to be surprised by the appearance of the man who stole her heart.
Can a simple letter and the magic of Christmas lead them to a second chance? Will they find a way to bridge the divide between city and country, love and loyalty?
Join Stella and Jason on a heartfelt journey of love, loss, and the enduring power of second chances in Once Upon a Horse. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, this tale of unexpected connections and the bonds we forge will leave you believing in the wonder of love.
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EXCERPT:
Dr. Jason Alba
stepped into the Four Corners Country Store as the bell chimed over his head. This
better be the right place. He gripped the garment bag a little tighter. If
I’m wrong, the person working here will have a good laugh on my account, suit,
and tie in a feed store. But the woman he met on the side of the road
earlier today was worth searching for. How many feed stores could there be in
Heavenbrooke County? This was the Four Corners, as the vet tech described when
he’d told him about the girl with the red 1976 Ford pickup truck. He took a
deep breath and slowly shut the door behind him.
And then he saw her. His heart did the same
strange thing as earlier today when he spotted her parked on the shoulder.
Thankfully, he listened to that quiet voice, somewhere deep in his soul,
telling him to pull over and see if she needed help. He was sure she also felt
the spark between them when their eyes first met. She was cautious, and who could
blame her, but there was something there, a sense of connection, this visceral
reaction he’d never felt before. Like their chance meeting was not by chance at
all. Or was he wrong?
In any case, here he was, and he would
savor the moment. She was standing behind the cash register, her black hair
cascading over her shoulder, momentarily unaware of his presence. And here was
the strange feeling again. She was here but didn’t quite fit, like her
brand-new Spider ski hat and the well-worn parka, the designer bag on the
console between the front seats of the old beat-up truck, or the lack of a
diamond sparkle on her ring finger.
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~ AUTHOR GUEST POST~
JUNE: Please share some 'Behind-the-Scenes' Facts about your book.
HELENA:
1.) I learned about the world of horses from my friend Sarah, who worked at our local feed store. She is a wealth of knowledge and super patient, answering all my questions.
2.) My love of dogs inspired Milkbone’s character. We live with three Vizslas, so I have plenty of material on which to base my character.
3.) Lili and Milo are based on our real feline friends as well. Cats are such a wonderful part of our lives. My grandma had cats, and they were my patient friends who even allowed me to dress them up as dolls and put them in my toy stroller. Currently, we have four of these beauties living on our farm. They must think they are dogs, too, because when we take our Vizslas for a walk in the forest, they come along, too. I no longer dress them up, but I am always ready for a snuggle and a purr session.
4.) Kim, who works at my chiropractor’s office, is a horse lover. Just ask her a question, and her eyes light up. She was my first reader because I truly don’t know much about the world of horses. So gracious and kind, she patiently marked up my manuscript with horse-related terminology, facts, and suggestions. Thank you, Kim, for you have made a huge difference.
5.) I really like Jason Alba. He is such a great character, and his heart is full of love and kindness. I think the readers will love him too.
6.) And yes, the feed store is almost a character, too. Small rural communities depend on these country stores, which often supply not only feed for livestock but also tools and equipment. In my case, the feed store staff was a source of advice and encouragement–and delicious locally made ice cream.
It was there that I saw a beautifully crafted birdhouse for the first time. These works of art were created by an older Mennonite farmer who spent his winters building them. I love birds, so I just had to include these birdhouses in the story.
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JUNE: Who is your favorite character in this story and 'why'?
HELENA: I love Stella Barkley because her struggles are so relatable. Every one of us occasionally wrestles with tough life choices and needs to make difficult decisions. And when we mean well, but our actions blow up in our faces, life becomes really hard. I hope that my readers will find hope and encouragement in Stella’s story. The truth is, even though life seems hopeless from time to time, it never is. As long as we are able to turn to our Father in Heaven and pray. So many people suffer from loneliness, which often leads to sadness and depression. Stella found a way back to her childhood faith, and even though she made mistakes along the way, the church community embraced her. The people in her small village accepted her and showed her the love of Jesus as she tried to rebuild her life and find true love. Her story gives me hope, and my prayer is that it would do the same for every reader who picks up Once Upon a Horse.
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PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Also Available
About the Author
Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author, screenwriter, public speaker and writing coach. From her romantic suspense series to women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and humor, and her latest favorite, dual timeline historicals—like a box of chocolate truffles—she loves them all. With a passion for storytelling sparked by her grandparents, Helena Smrcek weaves heartfelt tales that explore themes of faith, love, and redemption.
Connect with Helena by visiting helenasmrcek.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a print copy of all 3 books in the Alicia Yu FBI series plus Once Upon a Horse!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 9, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 16, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Winner location limited to where Amazon will ship. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Enter Giveaway
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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