Blog Blitz Bonanza – The Helping Heart

Today, I’m participating in a blog blitz bonanza book launch for the story The Helping Heart by author Annie M. Ballard. This bonanza hosted by Xpresso Book Tours includes a giveaway so be sure to participate. Keep reading to find out about this new book release.

Book & Author Details:

The Helping Heart
by Annie M. Ballard (Sisters of Stella Mare, #4)
Publication date: March 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

Check it out on Goodreads and grab your copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, or Kobo.

Synopsis:

Helen comes home and everything should be wonderful. Even if she’s returning due to a divorce. But there is
more…
The Madison sisters, once close, are suddenly alienated as oldest Helen returns to Stella Mare. Her desire to help
everyone includes keeping them at a distance, so her own secrets stay private. Her plan backfires, making her
persona non grata and upsetting her father. To keep the peace with Dad, she suggests a group activity: the four
sisters will hike the Fundy Footpath, an iconic and challenging backpacking trip along the Bay of Fundy. Why not?
They’re young, they’re strong, and besides, they’re Madisons.
Despite each sister’s reservations, the desire to reconnect pulls them into this adventure. The hike is arduous and not for the faint of heart. Daunting cliffs, deep forests, rushing rivers and unpredictable tides accompany the gorgeous views, stunning sunrises, and the sheer power of nature. The challenges, though shared, fracture things further, and even Helen’s campfire confession doesn’t heal the breach. But when crisis happens, Helen is called to rise to the occasion and be the sister they need her to be.

Returning to Stella Mare was hard. Regaining her place in the family was harder. Come home to Stella Mare
with Helen, as she, Rett, Evie and Dorie learn once again how to be sisters.

Back Cover Copy

Four sisters alone on a hiking trip. Will it make them or break them?

Helen, nearly forty, returns to Stella Mare after twenty years with secrets. The village reminds her of things she’d rather forget, including her grief from her mother’s death, but she hopes to strengthen connections with her family. Turns out, being with her sisters is impossible. They don’t understand her, and she can’t understand them, though she’s tried.
When the bickering becomes too contentious to be ignored, Helen tries to fix it. A hiking trip is Helen’s answer, even when the hike consultant suggests they’re better suited for a day at the spa. To her surprise, her sisters agree to a four-day backpacking trip along the Bay of Fundy. Only a few kilometers from home, it’s truly a world apart. The Fundy Footpath, beautiful and challenging, offers gifts: a chance to lead, to follow, to take care of each other, to allow others to care. But the gift you get might not be the gift you wanted.

Adversity makes a trip into an adventure, and adventure abounds, testing everyone to their limits. With only themselves to count on, their connections are strained and tested, and the truth begs to be heard. Helen’s secrets threaten to derail them all, but bringing her shame to light is too painful. Except these are her sisters….
On the hiking trail, perhaps no one will get what they want, but will they get what they deserve?
The Madison sisters embark on a journey of secrets and rediscovery in the final volume of the Sisters of Stella Mare quartet.

Excerpt 1:

“Time to burn some of those calories,” Helen called out. “Let’s get going.”

Evie cast her a curious gaze. “Is there something we’re hurrying for? You should let us know, Helen.”

She narrowed her eyes. “We need to get going. We’re like sitting ducks here.”

Rett laughed. “We’re nobody’s target. We started early, we already did the tidal crossings, so we are not worried about tides right now, and we have time to take a break if somebody is vomiting. Really.”

Helen shook her head and walked away toward the tree line. Where was that wolf? And why couldn’t her sisters take direction?

Annoyed, she kept gazing into the woods, though she kept an ear tuned toward the conversations behind her. Soon enough, everybody got ready to go again, and Evie called to her. “We’re all set, Helen.” She huffed a little as she headed back, chin held high.

Evie started off beside Dorie, the two easily chatting. Rett waited for Helen. “Tone it down a bit,” she advised.

“Are you bitching about me, too?” Helen snapped.

“Like that,” Rett said noncommittally. “Take it down a notch.”

“You’re so helpful,” she sniped. “Like anybody even notices me.”

“Everybody notices you.” Rett’s tone was correcting. “Especially when you’re being a royal pain in the neck. Tone it down. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you.”

Helen, shocked, took the impact of those words on her chest. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you. She had nothing to say.

Rett nudged her with an elbow. “Come on. Let’s make it a good day for a hike.”

She nodded tightly and followed.

Hiking made her brain run faster. Rett’s words rang in her memory. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you, Helen.

I don’t need anyone to do that. I’ve done it myself, more than once. A lot more than once.

Despite her tired body, her mind was super-charged as thoughts, memories and feelings flooded her. She couldn’t outrace them, and even the challenging terrain didn’t distract her, though after a series of switchbacks, landing at the brook felt like an accomplishment. Or at least a break from her thoughts

Excerpt 2

“Earth to Helen! Come in, Helen,” Evie said, in good humour.

Startled, she jumped and snapped, “What?”

“We’re just checking in. See how everyone’s doing.” Evie’s voice stayed even, unperturbed.

“I’m fine,” she snapped again. Her sisters gazed her way. The fire popped, and a frog started singing up the creek.

“Helen —” Rett began. 

Helen interrupted. “Sorry. I’m fine, really. Except I didn’t get much sleep last night, and today has been really long. Really long.” She took a long shuddering breath, shocked to find tears forming. Rett moved closer on the log.

The frog abruptly quieted. Into the silence, the sound of ragged breathing came with intense pressure on her chest. Darkness closed in fast, until all she could see was the licking flame of the campfire.

“Helen!” Her shoulder got a rough shake. “Come back,” Rett said.

Turning her head to look at her sister restored her vision, eased the pressure. She drew a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m here. I’m okay.”

“Are you gonna tell me what just happened?” Rett was in no-nonsense mode.

Hell, no, she wasn’t. “I told you, I’m just tired. More than I expected because of no sleep. I should hit the hay now. You guys should consider it, too,” she said precisely, and got up.

As she headed away from the fire, she listened hard. What would they say about her? It didn’t matter, really. Everything was fine, her, the hike, all of them. Fine.

AUTHOR BIO:

Annie M. Ballard writes about women and family ties in the small villages that feel like home. With one foot in the
Canadian Maritimes and the other in New England, she digs deep into the lives of her characters. When she’s not
writing, she’s happily baking, gardening, powerlifting and trying to make friends with every dog in her neighbourhood.
Annie’s stories include strong women living real lives, good men trying to do better, and always a happy ending.

Author links:

https://anniemballard.com/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annie-m-ballard
https://www.instagram.com/anniemballard/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071779791861
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21745788.Annie_M_Ballard

Subscribe to my blog to get updated when I post a review of this exciting romance. And sign up for my email list to be notified of upcoming contests, giveaways, and ways to get free stuff!

Also check out my other blog blitz posts with Xpresso Book Tours:

• Catch and Release
• Seven Perfect Days
• Slashed Potatoes and Grave-y
• Belle of London
• Awakening
• The Space Between Us