Teatime and Books: Review ~ Quill & Ink Book Tours Presents Amulet: Heart's True Desire by Kathryn Amurra

Amulet

Heart's True Desire Book 1

Kathryn Amurra

General Information:

Title: Amulet

Author: Kathryn Amurra

Series Info: Book 1 - Heart’s True Desire series

Genre: Contemporary Romance with Mystical Elements / Paranormal Romance

Time and setting: Present day, Southeastern U.S. & Israel

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: April 3, 2024

Synopsis:

Intelligent, charismatic, and successful, Val Nikolov has achieved everything he’s ever wanted, thanks to a wish made on his grandmother’s magical amulet.

Alex Weaver, however, can’t seem to get her life in order. As a temp-agency lawyer helping Val’s company prepare to be acquired, Alex has no hope that she will ever land a full-time job as an attorney (or convince her boyfriend to marry her).

When one of Val’s key engineers abruptly departs, the acquisition is suddenly at risk. Hoping to salvage the deal, Val asks Alex to travel with him to Israel for a meeting with the decision-makers. The more time Val and Alex spend together, however, the more they question the things they thought were most important in their lives. Soon, they find themselves at a crossroads, having to choose between the lives they’ve always wished for and their hearts’ true desire.

Excerpt:

Val opened the passenger side door for her, silently grateful for having just cleaned the interior.

Thanking him, Alex got into the front seat. He couldn’t help noticing as Alex’s coat parted at the bottom and her skirt slid a couple of inches up her thighs in the process.

He shut the door before she could realize where his eyes and thoughts had been and went around to the driver’s side.

“I’ll try not to breathe too much on the short ride over to your parking lot,” he said, starting the car. “I’d hate it if I got you sick.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve got a pretty robust immune system. Plus, if I’m choosing between catching a cold and dying in a fiery car crash because you held your breath and passed out, I think I’d choose the former.”

Val laughed. “It’s always good to put things into perspective.”

He reached over to the stick shift and put the car in reverse. It was only after grasping the shifter that he sensed how close his hand was to Alex’s left knee. Indulging himself, Val glanced at her face in profile as he turned his body to look behind them and backed out of the parking spot. She was looking down at her lap and trying to adjust her coat.

Val shifted again, driving toward the exit. Alex was quiet, and he hoped she wasn’t uncomfortable sitting next to him. After their dinner and a pleasant conversation, she couldn’t possibly be worried that he was trying to put the moves on her, could she?

“We’ll have to see about getting you a parking spot in the building. I’ll talk to Judy about it tomorrow.”

Alex looked over at him. “That’s really nice of you, but I can’t afford to park here. It’s more than twice as expensive as the lot I’m in right now, and I can hardly afford that.”

Val knew that contract attorneys made less than in-house counsel or attorneys in big law firms, but he was curious how much less. “What are they paying you at Advance Legal?”

“Thirty dollars an hour.”

He was quiet for a moment. “They’re making a killing on you, you know. I should have hired you directly—you could have made more money, and I could have spent less money. Anyway, don’t worry about the cost. The company will pay for your parking.”

The unexpected offer had her eyes widening in surprise. “I can’t ask you to do that!”

“You’re not. It’s a business decision that I’m making. Look, it’s going to be crazy the next few weeks with this deal. I might need you to come in extra early on some days and stay late on others. And the days are short this time of year. I can’t be worrying about the seven-block walk you have to make to your car in the dark every night.”

Alex pressed her lips into a straight line, and even relying only on peripheral vision, Val could tell she was skeptical. “So, you’re saying I’d be doing you a favor by allowing the company to pay exorbitant amounts of money for me to park in the building.”

He could hear the smile in her voice as she said the words, and he wished he could take his eyes off the road for more than just a moment to see it.

“Yes, that’s exactly right.”

Sighing, Alex relented. “All right, then. I’ll do it. For the company.”

He laughed. “You might just get employee of the month at this rate.”

Oh my, you will need five teacups filled to the brim for this lovely tale! This is my first of Kathryn Amurra’s books and I’m just blown away. The story of Val and Alex is so sweet and the scenery throughout the tale makes you feel as if you are there. But most of all the whole way through you are rooting for Val and Alex and the love that blossoms between them. I especially could relate to Alex, she’s a down-to-earth young woman with a deep passion, and yet her career is being stifled by the love she feels for her boyfriend, but it isn’t true love. She finally knows what love is when she meets Val, and he recognizes her intellect and talents and allows them to shine. Then, who wouldn’t want a man like Val, so kind, caring, and yet so highly successful. He’s a go-getter and yet does not have a single arrogant bone in his body. He’s the perfect match for Alex. I seriously could not put this book down. Such a sweet romance with splashes of magic throughout. I highly recommend this tale!

Praise for Amulet:

“Kathryn Amurra’s Amulet is an absorbing tale of re-evaluating what’s important in life, of choices between what one has always wished for versus one’s true heart’s desires, and discovering that magic comes in many forms. Thoroughly enjoyed this enchanting story!”

—Joy Allyson, Author of Whiskey Love (Published by The Wild Rose Press)

“I loved it! I was speed-reading near the end—so anxious to see how the romance worked out! What a great ending! I look forward to more in this series.”

—Kel O’Connor, Author of The DAG Series

“For anyone who loves clean, contemporary romance with a hint of magic! Kathryn Amurra writes a story that will appeal to readers who enjoy contemporary romance combined with just the right dash of magic to their stories! She spins an engaging tale of a family heirloom that grants whoever possesses it their greatest wish.”

—Leanne Davis, Author of the River’s End Series

Author Bio:

Kathryn Amurra is the author of sweet and sensual love stories. Her debut series, Soothsayer's Path, is a historical romance series of standalone books set in Ancient Rome around 115 CE. Her new series, Heart’s True Desire, is a paranormal romance series of standalone books published through The Wild Rose Press. Kathryn has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and writing since grade school. Against the advice of her 12^th grade English teacher, she studied Mechanical Engineering in college, then worked as an Engineer for a few years. After finding and marrying her own hero, she and her hubby went to law school together. They currently live in North Carolina with their three girls.

Contact The Author:

Email - kathrynamurra@gmail.com

Website & Newsletter Sign-up - https://www.kathrynamurra.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kathrynamurra/

Twitter - @AmurraKathryn

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20280375.Kathryn_Amurra

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/amulet-heart-s-true-desire-book-1-by-kathryn-amurra

Buy Links:

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSZG3YW3/

Nook - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amulet-kathryn-amurra/1144656859?ean=2940186000730

Giveaway: