Monday, February 23, 2015

Prism Book Tours Grand Finale Blitz for After the Silence!

It's the Grand Finale week of my book tour! That means there are just a few days left to enter the huge Rafflecopter giveaway (scroll down for details). It also means that my release day, March 1st, is just around the corner! If you missed any of my interviews or posts on the tour, no worries...teasers and links are listed below. Many, many thanks to all of you who have followed, commented, tweeted, entered or even pre-ordered. And huge thanks to Prism Tours for being so wonderful and to all the awesome bloggers who were generous to host me on the tour. Words aren't enough to express my gratitude. Good luck to all who enter the giveaway (ends Feb 28th)!

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

We're blitzing the GRAND FINALE for
After the Silence
By Rula Sinara

Two people from different worlds and separated by an ocean. Can love span the distance? Did you find out more during the tour? Did you miss some posts? Go back and check them out now!
What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?
That there are no boundaries to love: not mountains, oceans, physical or emotional challenges, race, different cultures and not even species (sometimes a pet can open a heart when another person can’t). Love is a universal power that has an extraordinary ability to heal. And it always finds a way.

The Written Adventure - Ten Tips on Strategic Parenting from a Marine
A marine accustomed to battlefields—not babies—is thrown into single parenthood after the tragic loss of his wife. This man has braved worse things than a civilian could imagine, but raising a ten year old who hasn’t spoken since her mother’s death, a hyperactive four year old and an infant who can some major diaper damage…is a whole new kind of battle.

I Am A Reader - Soul Mates Stranded Oceans Apart
In my latest book, After the Silence, Ben Corallis, a widowed marine in America and Hope Alwanga, a medical intern in Kenya manage to meet despite the ocean between them, but that’s just the beginning of the impossible road ahead of them.

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima - Suffering in Silence: Selective Mutism in Children
It’s a whole different world when the inability to communicate doesn’t stem from language differences, but from deeply rooted fear or anxiety. In particular, trying to help or raise a child who suffers from selective mutism is heartbreaking and often frustrating because you don’t want to watch them suffer.

JoJo's Corner - Review
"The author does a fabulous job immersing readers into the story and creating powerful scenes throughout. . . . If you love stories of love and loss and second chances…don’t miss After The Silence."

Mythical Books - Heroes and Heroines: How Visual Are You?
When I embark on a new story, one of the first things that pops into my head is an image of the hero and heroine. After all, it would be kind of creepy stepping into their world and encountering faceless people. Don’t you think?

Christy's Cozy Corners - Review 
"The characters in After the Silence are very well-written, and you'll feel like they could be your neighbor or best friend. This story drew me in very quickly, and I finished it within 2 days. It is very realistic and moving."

Brooke Blogs - Excerpt
     But I need you to get some rest before I end up having to resuscitate you. Or before you do make a human mistake.”
    Hope pressed her lips together and cringed at the mental image of Zamir resuscitating her. He’d love that, wouldn’t he? Zamir to the rescue. Always looking out for her. That was exactly why her parents loved him so much.

i blog 4 books - Review
"[After for Silence] is a sweet romance that tackles some tough issues as well. The intro gives readers a glimpse into the "what could have been", making the reality throughout the rest of the book even more heartbreaking. . . . I thought this was a great book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series, so we can keep track of Ben, Hope, and the kiddos! [4 stars]"

WV Stitcher - Review
"Easy to connect with characters that provide depth and feeling for what they are going thru really captured my emotions as I read this story. . . . A touching story that left me wanting to read more from this author." 

Wishful Endings - Review
After the Silence was a wonderful, heartfelt story. It was full of challenges, family, self-awakening, friendship, grief, and hope for a brighter future. I loved the romance and I loved these characters. If you enjoy sweet romance and this line of books then this is one you definitely don't want to miss!

Katie's Clean Book Collection - The Month of Love
Have you ever played the word association game? Isn’t it funny how, any given month is identified by its main holiday? I say November, you say….I’m betting you said Thanksgiving. I say December, you say…Christmas, right? And I can’t think of February without thinking of Valentine’s Day. But in a perfect world, shouldn’t every single day of the year be Valentine’s Day? Doesn’t love deserve 365 days instead of just 30…or 1? 

Savings in Seconds - Review
"The story is gentle yet heartbreaking; the contrast makes the sweet parts even sweeter. . . . This clean romance has a tender story that all women, especially moms, can appreciate."

Rockin' Book Reviews - Interview & Reviews (Book One & Two)
5. Give us a hint of what the next book in the series will be about.
Thanks for asking! I'm so excited about Book 3 (yet to be titled) in the series. Those who read Book 1, The Promise of Rain, may remember Mac, the Serengeti bush pilot who volunteered time to helping wildlife rescuers and who had a thing for Anna ;). Well, he's the next hero, it'll be back to the wilds of Africa for his story! Stay tuned!

"I love her approach in addressing each topic and in the way she truly draws the reader into the story. The characters are very real and endearing and the scenes portrayed well and easily visualized." (Review)

After the Silence
(From Kenya, With Love #2)
Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 368 pages
March 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Does following her passion mean losing her way?

Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He's left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn't uttered a word since her mother's death.

It's hard not to care for the widowed marine with three young children. Yet he's still grieving, too burdened with guilt to fall in love again. And Hope Alwanga's future as a doctor awaits her on the other side of the world, in Nairobi. If two such opposites can't agree on a common country, how can they ever create a safe place to call home?


About Book One in the Series
(Each can be read as a standalone.)

The Promise of Rain (Book 1)The Promise of Rain
(From Kenya, With Love #1)
Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 384 pages
January 1st 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He wants to take her child out of Africa...

The Busara elephant research and rescue camp on Kenya's Serengeti is Anna Bekker's life's work. And it's the last place she thought she'd run into Dr. Jackson Harper. As soon as he sets eyes on her four-year-old, Pippa, Anna knows he'll never leave...without his daughter.

Furious doesn't begin to describe how Jack feels. How could Anna keep this from him? He has to get his child back to the States. Yet as angry as he is with Anna, they still have a bond. But can it endure, despite the ocean--and the little girl--between them?

Rula Sinara
Rula Sinara lives in Virginia’s countryside with her husband, three boys and zany but endearing pets. When she's not writing or doing mom stuff, she loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard (cool bugs included) or watching romantic movies. She also enjoys interviewing fellow authors and is a Special Contributor for USA Today's Happy Ever After blog. Her door is always open at her website and blog.


Tour-Wide Giveaway


Gift Card Prize Pack: $100 Amazon Gift Card and ebooks of The Promise of Rain and After the Silence (open internationally)
US Prize Pack: Paperbacks of The Promise of Rain and After the Silence + Swag
3 ebook of After the Silence (open internationally)
Ends February 28th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prism Book Tours

Monday, February 9, 2015

After the Silence: Prism Book Tours Launch & Giveaway!

Welcome to the official Prism Book Tours launch for my upcoming March release, After the Silence! The following post and interview is courtesy of Prism Book Tours, where you can find the original, plus info on so many fabulous tours, giveaways and books...so be sure to check them out! In the meantime, scroll down to find out more about me, the giveaway (including a $100 gift card) and the wonderful blogs I'll be visiting over the next two weeks. I'd love your company! :)

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

We're launching the BOOK TOUR for
After the Silence
By Rula Sinara

Two people from different worlds and separated by an ocean. Can love span the distance?

The February Tour
9 - Launch
22 - Grand Finale

More About After the Silence and Author Rula Sinara

What is your motivation behind this book? Why did you want to write it?

This entire series grew from everything I’ve been passionate about since childhood, including Africa, wildlife rescue, nature and children. When I wrote the first book, The Promise of Rain, I was able to live my childhood dream of being a wildlife veterinarian in Africa’s Serengeti, or becoming the next Jane Goodall, vicariously through my heroine’s experiences. And as that story unfolded, I knew exactly which characters needed their own stories to be told in books 2 and 3 of the series. Sadly, I also knew that the death of a dear character in The Promise of Rain would happen in After the Silence. And I knew that my own emotional struggles with raising children who were blessed with being ‘outside-the-box’ would fuel Ben and Hope’s journey in After the Silence. Although so much of me comes through in my stories, they’re by no means autobiographical, however I hope that they do make readers experiencing similar circumstances know that they’re not alone.

What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?

That there are no boundaries to love: not mountains, oceans, physical or emotional challenges, race, different cultures and not even species (sometimes a pet can open a heart when another person can’t). Love is a universal power that has an extraordinary ability to heal. And it always finds a way. Think of all the adopted children who found loving families in countries across the world where they’d never set foot before…yet those families were destined to come together and complete one another. Or soul mates, like Ben and Hope in this story, who also lived on opposite sides of the world and, given their circumstances, had very little chance of ever meeting…yet they did. So it’s all about a little destiny, serendipity, unconditional love and acceptance. And the world really needs more of it.

Do you have a favorite scene?

Oh, this is a tough one. There are so many! Anyone who knows me knows how self-critical I am, but this was an emotional story for me to write, so every scene is close to my heart. But if I had to boil it down, there’s a scene that takes place in the kitchen at Ben’s in-laws house where, for the first time, we see him letting his guard down a little as he plays a joke on Hope in front of his kids. We see that, behind his hardened exterior, he has a sense of humor. We get a glimpse of the father he used to be…the type of father his daughter is desperate for if she has any chance of breaking through her mutism…and we do see the potential impact his letting his guard down would have on her. So it’s a big turning point for all three characters: Ben, Hope and little Maddie.

Share something about you that is unique—maybe about how/where you write…or a favorite snack.

I’m chuckling because there are many things about me some might weird, as opposed to unique, LOL…like the fact that, when I need a moment to relax or decompress, I go outside and pet my chickens. I have a small backyard flock and anyone who has chickens knows just how sweet and loving the little ladies can be J. Plus, they give me delicious, organic eggs (I’m big on organic gardening and foods) every day. But really, they’re very grounding and such a symbol of life’s basics, that watching them puts life’s challenges in perspective.

As for a favorite snack, I’m such a coffee addict it’s not funny. And not just any coffee. It has to be good coffee. Smooth and rich. I think I hit a world record on coffee consumption while writing After the Silence, and when I was writing The Promise of Rain, I actually went out and bought a Kenyan roast to enjoy along with my heroine, Anna. Oh, the things I do to immerse myself in a story, LOL!


After the Silence
(From Kenya, With Love #2)
Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 368 pages
March 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Does following her passion mean losing her way?

Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He's left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn't uttered a word since her mother's death.

It's hard not to care for the widowed marine with three young children. Yet he's still grieving, too burdened with guilt to fall in love again. And Hope Alwanga's future as a doctor awaits her on the other side of the world, in Nairobi. If two such opposites can't agree on a common country, how can they ever create a safe place to call home?


About Book One in the Series
(Each can be read as a standalone.)

The Promise of Rain (Book 1)The Promise of Rain
(From Kenya, With Love #1)
Rula Sinara
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 384 pages
January 1st 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He wants to take her child out of Africa...

The Busara elephant research and rescue camp on Kenya's Serengeti is Anna Bekker's life's work. And it's the last place she thought she'd run into Dr. Jackson Harper. As soon as he sets eyes on her four-year-old, Pippa, Anna knows he'll never leave...without his daughter.

Furious doesn't begin to describe how Jack feels. How could Anna keep this from him? He has to get his child back to the States. Yet as angry as he is with Anna, they still have a bond. But can it endure, despite the ocean--and the little girl--between them?

Rula Sinara
Rula Sinara lives in Virginia’s countryside with her husband, three boys and zany but endearing pets. When she's not writing or doing mom stuff, she loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard (cool bugs included) or watching romantic movies. She also enjoys interviewing fellow authors and is a Special Contributor for USA Today's Happy Ever After blog. Her door is always open at her website and blog.


Tour-Wide Giveaway


Gift Card Prize Pack: $100 Amazon Gift Card and ebooks of The Promise of Rain and After the Silence (open internationally)
US Prize Pack: Paperbacks of The Promise of Rain and After the Silence + Swag
3 ebook of After the Silence (open internationally)
Ends February 28th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prism Book Tours