* RELEASE DAY EVENT & REVIEW for Let Love Be *

Book Title: Let Love Be Author: Melissa Collins Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date:April 7, 2014 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

What would bring you happiness in a world that was suddenly empty? For Lucy Crane, the answer is simple: her daughter. When her husband is killed in a tragic accident, Lucy loses her desire to live, but only one thing keeps her going – her unborn daughter. Focusing on being a mother helps Lucy cope with her loss, but kids grow up and they leave home, eventually. Eighteen years after losing her first and only love, Lucy is faced with the opportunity to find the happiness for which she’s always longed. Her own fears become her worst enemies as she learns how to embrace love once again. Evan Donovan is also facing his own struggles. Forced to retire from the FDNY because of lung damage caused by 9/11, Evan moves to upstate New York where he hopes to find a little peace and quiet. Old habits die hard, and Evan’s hero complex and survivor’s guilt constantly remind him of how difficult it is to be vulnerable. But for the first time in his life, he’s tired of being alone. Drawing strength from one another, Lucy and Evan discover how beautiful it is to let love be a part of their lives.

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream. Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

 

 “Oh, I love this movie.” She settles on Forrest Gump as I grab my second slice. “So, you already know about my history. What about you? Have you ever been married?” Forrest’s proposal to Jenny plays in the background. “No. I mean, I’ve had a few relationships here and there, but work always got in the way. Staying single was somehow easier.” “Same here. I mean, when Melanie was a kid, it was much easier to just focus on that part of my life.” “Now?” I hazard a question that takes even me by surprise. She puts her plate down on the coffee table and swallows back a large sip of water. “Now, I’m not so sure.” Suddenly, my mind races with the possibilities of what her words mean. It’s crazy to think how just a few encounters with Lucy have made me re-evaluate my feelings. Obviously, she feels the same way. A calm and peaceful air falls on us as a small smile curls at my lips. A comfortable silence fills the space as we watch the movie, recalling some memories when certain scenes come up. Nothing prepares me for Lucy’s reaction when Jenny and Forrest get married and she tells him she’s sick. I try not to look at her, wanting to avoid making her feel like she’s in the spotlight or anything like that. I do notice a few stray tears streaking down her cheeks so I can only imagine what’s to come. As we watch Forrest sitting beside Jenny’s grave, reading a letter from their son, Lucy reaches for a napkin. Clutching it to her chest, I can see her breathing rapidly. What were just a few tears earlier is now a steady stream. She doesn’t say anything, won’t even look at me, but I can’t watch her cry like this. I shift on the small, overstuffed sofa and drape my arm around her. The top of her head fits perfectly into the crook of my shoulder. The scent of her hair takes over my senses; the sound of her softly sniffling through her tears tugs at my heart. I alternate between squeezing her arm and tracing my fingers up over her shoulder. When she seems to have gathered her emotions, calming down a bit, my instincts take over and I act seemingly without thinking. Or maybe I am thinking and I’m just afraid of what I’m thinking. Gently pressing my lips to the top of her soft, brown hair feels like second nature. She tenses momentarily, and I realize I may have just overstepped my boundaries. “Sorry about that.” I straighten in my seat and try to move my arm, but her fingers fall to my forearm. She looks up at me through long lashes with puffy, red eyes from crying. “Don’t be.” Her voice is soft, angel-like. “It’s nice to be held.” That piece of information prompts me to pull her even closer. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.” She laughs softly and then takes a deep breath before she shifts to move away from me, which just makes me pull her close once again. “Don’t,” planting another quick kiss to her head, “it’s nice to have someone to hold.”

 

Let Love Be

Let Love Shine

Let Love In

Let Love Stay

Let Love Heal

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Two heart's that are scarred, can they be healed?

Lucy has lost the only person she has ever loved, Jimmy. Losing her husband unexpectedly, while 8 1/2 month's pregnant, is the last thing she ever fathomed. Her heart is ripped, torn, shredded, but having Melanie it has eased some of the pain.

Evan is a Fire Fighter, who put's his life on the line on a daily bases. When one move changes his life and causes someone to get hurt, he doesn't know how to forgive his self, or to overcome the guilt.

"I do want this, but I guess I'm just scared."- Lucy

 Lucy and Evan have spent the last eighteen years alone and lonely. Both struggling with their own demons and not overcoming them entirely. With a chance encounter at Evan's sister-in-law's funeral, they meet each other and they could possibly be what each other needs to finally feel complete.

Both Evan and Lucy will take the step's that will bring them closer and learning more about one another. After having your heart closed for so long, it take a special person to open it up and tear your walls down.

 "The is no if. I want to be with you. I fucked up because I was scared, but I promise never to shut you out again."-Evan

With love healing old wounds, letting love in and finding someone who get's you, nothing could be better.

"He'll always be in my heart, Evan, but my heart- it belongs to you now."- Lucy

Taking steps together and moving along in their relationship, pain will once again find it's way into Evan and Lucy's life. Will the love they both have finally found be torn from them? Will hearts once again be broken?

 

 Let Love Be is a emotional, heartfelt, loving, sweet book. Both characters have been through so much. I can see why it would be hard to give in and let things happen. Scared to finally find that one person and have them ripped away from you, again. Lucy, we have came to know her throughout The Love Series as Momma, Maddy's "sergeant" and Mel's Mom. We know her back story, but we didn't KNOW her. As soon as I started this book, the tears came. My heart broke for her. I couldn't ever fathom that pain and I never want to. I wanted her to be happy and to find love. That is what Melissa Collins does, she writes stories that have you falling in love with these characters, knowing them and wanting nothing but the best for them. Evan, I truly enjoyed learning about him. Like in the previous books, we get glimpse of Evan, but we don't know the whole story and I'm so glad we now do. You will fall in love with this "Silver Fox" he is just sexy, sweet, loving, caring and will makes you say "AWW" over and over. This story was written well and flowed just right, we get both their POV through the entire thing, each having their own chapter, picking up with the other left off. I adore this series and I never want it to end, I know it will, but damn it I don't want it to!!! If your looking for a book that has it all from heart break, loss, finding yourself and love... well Ladies and Gents, this is the book for you. I give this book 5 stars!!!