Moonflower by Leigh Archer (excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Moonflower

by Leigh Archer

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BLURB:

Sophie Kyle, takes up a position on a private game farm outside Cape Town in the hopes of paying off her student loans and adding a glowing reference to her resume. And, of course, getting the chance to indulge her passion for wildlife conservation.

Reuben Manning is a British businessman who has bought a game farm in Africa which he intends to use as a venue to entertain friends and business associates.

With all the suddenness and intensity of a bushfire, a powerful attraction ignites between the conservationist and the tycoon. But their lives are set to play out on opposite sides of the world. Sophie has only ever wanted to spend her days in the African bush, while Reuben’s life is in corporate London.

As the sensuous bond between the two grows, they must overcome obstacles to find common ground or they are doomed, despite their passion for each other, to spend the rest of their lives a continent apart.

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EXCERPT

The cabin had been transformed into a fantasy bushveld haven of browns, creams and ochre; linen, silks and woven thread.

‘How?’ she breathed, gazing around her.

‘You approve?’

‘Do I approve? It’s beautiful. But when did you do all this? We were here… four days ago. It was in a complete mess…’

‘When there’s something I want, Sophie, I stop at nothing ’til I get it.’

The thudding of Sophie’s heart told her he meant every word he said. He had spoken with utter certainty. He was standing so close to her she had felt the breath of his words against the bare skin of her shoulder. He was a phenomenon. A whirlwind. A tornado. Passing through her life with such force she wondered if she had the strength to survive the encounter.

‘It’s beautiful,’ Sophie breathed softly, feeling calm, at peace; as if she moved in the eye of the storm.

‘It’s for you, Sophie.’

The tenderness of his words made her tip backwards, towards him, knowing he would not let her fall. She felt the press of his chest against her back. She knew why he had brought her here, the reason he’d done this for her, but she wanted to hear the sound of his voice, that sent a frisson of pleasure up her spine. ‘Why?’

He touched her shoulder; ran fingertips lightly down and along her bare arms. He kissed her shoulder, his lips feather-light against her skin. ‘Because I can’t promise you anything… except this, Sophie; here and now. You deserve more, but I’m not the one to give you that. Still, I want this to be special for you…’ He paused. ‘This has to be a time apart. There’s no future in it. Do you understand that, Sophie? Do you accept my terms?’

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Leigh writes romance novels set in her native South Africa. She has always had a love affair with Africa’s wild spaces, the intensity of its people and sunsets. Her love of storytelling began as a child when she spent every spare moment playing barefoot in golden grass, watching meerkats, learning to track spoor and dreaming up heroes and heroines dynamic enough to stand out in all the beauty and drama of the African landscape.

Always in search of adventure, Leigh’s journey as a writer has taken her from journalism to communications, all the way to writing novels.

AUTHOR URLs:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon author page

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here


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My review:

4 stars

Moonflower by Leigh Archer is part of the ‘Untamed Safari’ series and highlights conservationist Sophie Kyle, who starts a new temporary job working for wealthy owner Reuben Manning. Sparks fly between them, but how can a young idealistic woman be a match for a captain of industry with a playboy reputation? Only by being herself and finding a way through his walls, with a little help from unexpected sources.

This contemporary romance novella provides an intriguing look at different aspects of conservation efforts, seen through the prism of a woman who is studying the balance of the animals and vegetation on a particular game farm in Africa. The inauspicious start to the relationship she has with her new boss eventually morphs into something more as she becomes more comfortable with her job, and impresses him with both her competence and her passion. There are great interludes to balance the sizzling interactions between the main characters, particularly the contributions of a mysterious elderly man, Mr. Solomon, who delivers beautiful blooms as well as pithy statements, as well as a young baboon who is determined to make his own impression. An entertaining light romance set in an exotic locale.

A copy of this title was provided to me for an honest review.