Widowed at twenty-three, Savannah Grant is devastated and consumed with grief, a grief that she can't seem to move past. When her high school sweetheart, Lance Peterson, re-enters her life, Savannah struggles with the feeling that she would be betraying her deceased husband by moving on. Plus, she can't forget the way Lance broke her heart all those years ago.
Lance never stopped loving Savannah. He wants a second chance, and he's willing to do anything it takes to convince her to give him one. Will she give in and let Lance love her, showing her a passion beyond anything she thought possible?
Content adult language, explicit sexual situations, anal play
"Southern Embrace is a wonderfully written erotic romance." The Book Maven
"Emotional based love story dealing with a hard issue of lost love and finding a way to move to the future." Romance Book Scene
"[Soana] does a remarkably amazing job with this story. I think everyone should try it if they aren't afraid of real emotions." For the Love of Bookends
I first want to say Thanks to Tamaria Soana for the ARC of this story. This story has quickly become my favorite story written by her.
*WARNING* Tissues are needed for the first 25% of this story. *End Warning*
Savannah is the heroine in this story. At the beginning of this story, Savannah is mourning the lost of her husband after a tragic accident. The first chapter of this story shows Savannah's grief and emotions. Nikki, her best friend, pushes Savannah to live her life in the way only a best friend can.
Lance was Savannah's first love and that ended when Lance's family moves. Lance never stopped loving Savannah and when Nikki calls him to inform him of what Savannah was going through, he decides to make it known he was in town.
What happens when Savannah and Lance run into each other at the mall? What happens when Lance makes his feelings known? What happens when Savannah decides to have a friendship with Lance?
Southern Embrace is the poignant story of love, loss, heartbreak and second chances.
The story opens with nineteen year old Savannah (Van) getting over the heartbreak of her high school sweetheart, Lance Peterson moving out of state. Van's best friend Nichole (Nikki) encourages her to put Lance in the past and move forward with her life. While at a club, Van meets twenty-seven year old Stephan Grant, there is a mutual attraction between them. Fast forward three years, twenty-three year old Van is grieving over the death of her husband Stephan from a car accident. Once again best friend Nikki is encouraging Van to move forward with her life. A chance meeting brings Van and Lance together again, but Van wants nothing to do with the man who had once broke her heart. Can Lance find a way back into Van's heart? Will Van be able to move past her husband's death for a second chance at love?
Author Tamaria Soana weaves a beautiful story of love, loss and second chances. Written in the third person narrative and set in Georgia, the reader follows Savannah's emotional journey of love, heartbreak, loss and gaining a second chance at love. This poignant short novella will pull at your heartstrings, you can't help but feel for Van as she overcomes the traumatic adversities in her life, the intensity of her emotions is palpable and will have you reaching for the tissues. With the loving support of her best friend Nikki, Van is able to move forward in her life and open herself up to a reunion with her ex-high school sweetheart Lance Peterson. I loved the easy flow of the story, it captivates you and sweeps you along as Van moves through the stages of grieving and getting her life back on track. Her love and loyalty for her late husband is inspirational, but her ability to open herself up to renewing a friendship and possible romantic relationship with Lance was heartwarming and left a smile on my face. This short novella was an enjoyable read, it will simply touch your heart.
Southern Embrace is a heartfelt romantic novella that is a wonderful testament to the power of love and second chances.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by FMB Promotions.
I’ve read some of the reviews for this story and have to admit I was dubious as to how a book can make you so emotional one chapter in. I mean, one chapter isn’t enough to invest in a character and make you really feel them, right?
Wrong. I couldn’t see the words for crying half-way through chapter one and had to put the book aside until I calmed down. It didn’t take long before I HAD to go back to it.
Oh Savannah, you poor, poor thing. She was broken, but not down. Weak, and so much stronger than I could have been when faced with the hand she was dealt. Her journey to happiness is a long one, filled with so much grief that my heart broke and healed right along with hers.
And Lance, oh what a man he is. When he ran into Savannah again I really wasn’t sure I’d like him. He broke her when she was young, but he helps put her back together after everything and I fell for him in the process.
Southern Embrace is bursting with so much emotion it felt like I’d read a 100,000 word story instead of a novella. It’s very intense, both heart wrenching and passionate. I loved every second of it. Please don’t let the emotional aspect put you off. It’s what makes the story great. Pick it up now, you won’t regret it.
When Savannah’s husband is killed in a car crash she is widowed at just twenty three, and she is understandably completely broken. Even though I’d read a lot of reviews warning me I’d cry, I honestly didn’t think it would affect me the way it did. Within the first chapter I was reaching for the tissues, and the scene where Savannah at her husband’s grave gave me goosebumps. I was totally absorbed by the story, and I imagined that if I were in her position, I would not have had the strength to go on. It was a page turner from the start, since Tamaria managed to create such a strong character right from the word go, and I just had to make sure that she found her happy ever after. I was a bit dubious about Lance at the beginning, as the Savannah herself surely was, but after a couple of chapters you can see that he doesn’t want to replace her dead husband at all, but wants to help Savannah reach a place where she can remember her husband, but also live her own life, and more importantly enjoy it. I also loved the role that her friend played in the book, because although Lance is Savannah’s hero, it is clear that her best friend Nicki kept her going at the start. This was a book I couldn’t put down, and even though it was emotional, it was also extremely uplifting, and it’s a story that will stay with me for a long time. If you haven’t read it yet, this is definitely one you shouldn’t miss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I am very honored that I was able to get an advance copy of this story. My sincere thanks to Tamaria Soana.
This was a short story but definitely packed full of emotions.
23 year old Savannah(Van) is grieving after loosing her husband Stephan, in a tragic car accident. She is learning how to live her life without Stephan when she runs into the man who broke her heart so many years before. Lance has moved back and wants to renew his friendship with Van but she wants nothing to do with Lance. After being pushed by her best friend Nikki, Van decides to give Lance a chance to explain why he broke her heart. Little did she know that the more time she spent with Lance as they worked on their friendship, all the feelings that she once had for him are starting to come back but she still feels loyal to her late husband.
What happens when Lance confesses to Van that he has always loved her and wants more than a friendship with her?? Is Van able to move on and not feel like she is not being loyal to Stephan??
I absolutely LOVED how Van honored her late husband's memory.
Savannah is utterly destroyed when her husband is killed in a car accident and at the beginning of the story we see her at rock bottom, in the graveyard in the rain. If not for her friend Nikki we are sure she would have given up. Enter old flame, Lance.
This book is a total roller coaster from Vann’s own emotional ups and downs to how she copes with the vagaries of her mother, somehow managing to come out on top.
I really liked that the character believably did not fall into the ex’s arms in the first 5 pages... instead there was the build up that is far more realistic than many you see in romance books.
The sex is super hot too... not overwhelming the story, which could be easy to do in such a short story. Well done Tamaria Soana. This is another example of how the contemporary romance genre is continuing to evolve.
This title was supplied by the author for an unbiased review. No payment has been exchanged for this review.
Wow, this story had a lot happening. If you're looking for a quick read that will give you the experience of a full novel Southern Embrace is the right novella for you. I loved Van (Savannah) she overcame incredible adversity. This poor girl finds love only to have it snatched away. Most people would let them break them, but not Van. I loved how the secondary characters enriched the story. This one is necessary read. It's very one-clickable!
Look at the reviews for this book, Don't hate me for my low rating.
It is not often I rate a book so low, but this book just seemed way to rushed for me. The story was there but everything was rushed along. I think If this was written with more detail it would be a great read for me.
This novella has a good storyline. The main character is Savannah and it’s the story of how she finds her way back after tragedy. She and Lance were high school sweethearts. They talked about getting married and having a future, until Lance moved away. When that occurred he completely stopped talking to her. She didn’t understand why and with a broken heart she closed herself off. One weekend her best friend Nichole had had enough of Savannah’s self pity. She talked her into going to a club to get back out there. That’s the night that Savannah met Stephen. Stephen was a good fit for Savannah and they ended up getting married. She was blissfully happy, feeling as though she finally belonged. Then tragedy struck after two and a half years of marriage. Stephen was killed in a car accident. Her world crashed around her and her grief took over. She couldn’t move past the pain. Nichole was helpless and didn’t know what to do, until Lance came back into town. She sent him to Savannah, hoping it would pull her out and show her there was more reasons to live for. Savannah is shocked to see Lance, who claims to still love her. Her confusion and guilt are ruling her emotions and she isn’t sure if giving Lance another shot is the best thing for her. She can’t handle another heartbreak. The story line, as I said, was a good idea. I just didn’t like how it was written. The author gave lots of details that were unnecessary in some places and then left out others that were important. It would jump too soon to the next part of the story. The flow, in my opinion, wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. I only give it a 2 out of 5.
Savannah, a.k.a. Van, has no desire to move on after her husband is ripped from her life in a horrible accident. Although her time with him was short, she loved Stephan deeply. The handsome hero that saved her from the torment of losing her first love is not someone she feels she’ll ever get over. Things take a drastic turn when Van literally runs into her old flame, Lance. No longer the boy she dated in high school, she is faced with a surge of emotions as the gorgeous man vows to never leave her again. Battling with the guilt of letting Stephan go, and the fire that Lance has rekindled in her heart, our heroine is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever. While Van may be content to remain in a brokenhearted state, her best friend, Nikki, will not let her give up on finding happiness. With Van’s best interest in mind, she gives things a little push. Hoping she made the right decision, she stands firm and braces herself for the emotional blows that are sure to come
It takes an outstanding author to captivate the reader in this manner, and in such a short period of time. From the beginning, my heart went out to Van. Be it good or bad, none of us ever forget our first love. The pain of losing her husband was described so perfectly, it struck a nerve and made me cry. (The cemetery scene from Steel Magnolia’s immediately popped in my head, which just made it worse) The characters, setting, and storyline were depicted very well. The sex scenes were steamy and compatible with the characters. It was an easy and very entertaining read that flowed perfectly. I would love to see what this author could do with a full length novel.
Savannah had her heart broken as a teen when her high school boyfriend cut all ties with her and moved away. It took time and she recovered finding a new love. Her world was shattered once again as at twenty-three she becomes a widow. As she just wants to give up on her life her ex Lance shows back up wanting a second chance. At first her anger towards him gives her a drive to live again but she feels guilty for thinking of moving on. Lance has to help her see he is there for her and still loves her. Can she get over the past to have a future?
Savannah or Van as she is called has been dealt a bad hand in life. At times reading this I thought she was going to give up on life. It is very hard to see her struggle. Lance I thought I would not like but getting to see him try and help Van changed my mind. He is a great guy after all and one thing that he does really got me to like him. He just lets Van talk about her feelings. There is plenty of upbeat scenes so don't think it is l sad. Lance really brings out some sexy moves to make some hot scenes. I liked the storyline and enjoyed the characters. I think if the author ever wanted to expand this book it would be a wonderful one. For a quick story full of goodness that will pull at your heart strings give this one a try. I loved the ending and the cover fits the book great!
Finding the love of her life as a teenager, Savannah felt sure they would be together forever. She is now a staunch believer that those she loves are destined to leave her. When he and his parents moved away, it was out of Lance’s control, yet he will never forgive himself for how he handled everything else. Meeting Stephan reignites Savannah’s heart after Lance’s rejection leaves her feelings destroyed. They are only married a couple of years though when Savannah once again feels the devastation of loss. Lance shows up at a time when Savannah is ready to give in to her grief, begging for a second chance. His love for her has never waned, but she is not at all sure she has the strength or will to put her heart on the line once again. Crushing grief and anger are all Savannah feels for so long it is easy to understand her reluctance to fall into Lance’s arms. She is still too broken and raw to think of her own health and welfare, which is where Lance and her best friend comes in. In my opinion though, Lance’s explanation for his cut and run is pretty weak, and now it feels like he is thinking more of himself than Savannah. This is a very sweet romance however, with a little hot and sweaty tossed in to keep you reading. Lototy - See more at: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Book...
I was provided a copy of Southern Embrace by the author and Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I found it to be a refreshing read! The book is very romantic, realistic, and even heartbreaking at parts, not to mention extremely steamy as well!
Savannah has experienced a lot of grief in her 23 years. Her high school boyfriend breaks her heart after years together. She really loved him, even planned on spending her life with him, but it ends, leaving her in heartbreak.
She doesn't find it easy to get over him. After a lot of effort, her friend finally convinces her to go out with them to a nightclub. Nearly immediately, she meets a wonderful man and eventually marries him. Life is completely perfect for Savannah, but in a tragic circumstance it all ends. To avoid giving the story away, I'm just going to stop there! Needless to say, I found the plot very interesting and inspiring and continued to do so through the last page.
Tamaria Soana can definitely write romance! I really enjoyed how much action she covered in her book... And how much emotion and plot she could pack within the pages. The book isn't overly large. It's a perfect read for an otherwise boring afternoon or evening. Southern Embrace will keep you enthralled!
This book was one of those romances that left me a little bit conflicted. Normally, I love quick, fast-paced stories but at times, the development of Lance and Savannah's relationship seemed too fast. Sure, the two had known each other since high school. But everything in Soana's story seemed to wrap up just a little two neatly. That's not to say the book is not worth reading.
In fact, it's actually pretty good. What Soana lacks in plot points she makes up for in emotions. Van's life has been less than easy. Her first love abandoned her after high school. The man she loves enough to marry is ripped from her life. Her family is all but non-existant and her best friend is about to get married. Van is dealing with a wide array of HEAVY DUTY emotional baggage.
Soana captures her emotions beautifully. At the end, Southern Embrace is a beautiful tale of a woman triumphing over adversity. She weaves a picture of what it is really like to put past hurts aside and open up your heart once more. For me, the emotional relationship between Van and Lance made up for the quickness of the storyline. I was left with a smile.
Disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
I just finished this book today, and I was disappointed. The story has a good concept but it just moves to fast and it feels as if it leaves a lot out of the telling. It reads more like a quick letter to a friend, then a story. And it leaves some questions that are not quite explained in the telling. Now that being said, overall it was well written. This would be a good book for those who just want to dip into erotica. The scenes are pretty tame, and they throw around the "D" and "P" words. (You know what I mean) Another plus is there are few if any typos, so that was great not having to reread lines repeatedly to figure out what the author was trying to say. :)
In this story Savannah looses the love of her life and doesn't understand why. To help her get over it her best friend drags her out to a club where she meets her future husband, only to widowed 3 years later. Which is when your high school sweetheart comes back into the picture. See how Savannah moves on from hurt and heartache. Southern Embrace
Simply put - I didn't like SOUTHERN EMBRACE by Tamaria Soana. I felt rushed and put upon to connect with characters in a story that spanned too many years without any real emotional upheaval, except what was in Savannah's past. There was too much over too long a time to take it all in, and not enough detail to allow me to feel anything substantial for any of the characters. Had this story been broken down into more explicit time frames and been a full-length novel then perhaps the characters would've had better definition. But in the state that it is, I cannot recommend SOUTHERN EMBRACE by Tamaria Soana. The story potential was there but totally too underdeveloped to enjoy.
***eCopy was provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
Southern Embrace is a wonderfully written erotic romance. Sometimes with erotic novels it tends to be all about the hot sex and not about the story. That’s usually not bad, but I personally like a good story with the hot sex. It makes it all the better. This book definitely balances this. You really fall quickly for the characters of Lance and Van. You want them to work, but you also feel the pull that Van has to her deceased husband. Tamaria Soana does such a wonderful job illustrating Van’s emotions. I truly fell quickly for this book and couldn’t put it down until I was done. So, if you’re looking for a good story with hot sex you will love Southern Embrace. I think we all want our own personal Lance!
This book is the most heart wrenching but wonderful story I have read in a while. It was well written and you easily fall in love with Savannah. When her first love leaves and breaks her heart she feels like her world is never going to be the same. With the help of her best friend Savannah goes out to a club. She meets Stephan. Tragedy happens and at the age of 23 she finds herself a widow. Savannah is spiraling down hill and fast, lucky for her, her best friend wont let that happen. Her first love comes back into her life unexpectedly and now she is enraged and lost with her feelings. Will Lance help heal her heart? Will Savannah get the happily ever after she deserves? Read this amazing book to find out! Just beware you might want a box of tissues next to you!