Welcome to the Blog Tour for Once Upon a Horse by Helena Smrcek, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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 T errier, 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.

My Thoughts

This is a charming and captivating retelling of fairy tales with happy endings and a horse that plays a big role in the romance. Stella is an accountant who has moved to the small village of Heavenbrook to get back to the roots of her grandparents who have passed away. She works at the local country store, has a darling dog named Milkbone and is basically a lonely young woman just trying to survive. Enter Prince Charming in the form of a local vet named Dr. Jason Alba. He wins Stella’s attention and affection right away by giving Milkbone a treat each time he sees him. The two seem destined for romance until the big secret that Stella does not want to tell Jason comes out during her Thanksgiving dinner celebration. Sparks fly, the explosive kind, not the romantic ones, and the two separate, both disillusioned with love and each other. This is a story that is fast-paced, easy to read and absolutely well told with characters that made me want to either cheer for them or slap them, depending on their current actions in the tale. With realism mixed with romance and a little magic of well-loved fairy tales, this book is an enchanting clean read that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Just Read Blog Tour for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

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.

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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.

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