Five Stars~Readers' Favorite

Not every goodbye is meant to last forever. In Denim and Dust by Harper Dale, Laurel returns to her small Texas hometown with her young son, Bowie, after years away. She's a teacher who has left her husband and is searching for peace for herself and her child. Being home brings back memories of the life she left behind, including her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Calder. Once upon a time, she thought he was her future. He’s busy managing his hardware store and other responsibilities. They try to avoid each other, but their paths keep crossing. The spark between them is still there, but neither wants to make the first move. Complicating matters is a store employee who seems unwilling to let go of her own interest in Calder. Can he and Laurel move beyond past mistakes? Or is their happily-ever-after still out of reach?

I really enjoyed Denim and Dust by Harper Dale. The romance was emotional and undeniably steamy, but it’s Bowie who completely stole the show for me. He’s such a sweet little boy, and I could feel how much he loved his Pop Pop. Their moments together added extra heart and reminded me that this book is more than just a love story. The other characters added personality, but Laurel and Calder kept me invested. They had a will-they-or-won’t-they thing going on that really had me guessing (and maybe a little frustrated, too). While reading, I couldn't help thinking about this line from Shakespeare: "The course of true love never did run smooth." It fits Laurel and Calder's journey perfectly. Even though it's a full-length novel, it moved at a fast pace. The writing was clear and easy to read. I also had no problem keeping track of both the changing perspectives and the flashbacks. Anyone looking for a second-chance romance or stories with strong family connections will want to pick this one up.

Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite

Marketing Plan

• Pitching Book Influencers on all social media, along with promotional packages

• Targeted email marketing to fans of small-town romance

• Social media posts through Harper Dale and RupertBossier platforms

• Advanced Reader Copies to fans of Liberty Stowe & and RupertBossier

• Direct email marketing to bookstores specializing in contemporary romance