Seventh Wonder
Renae Kelleigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+
Publication Date: December 16, 2014

June 1969 – Meg Lowry, with a cadre of her friends from UC Berkley, is speeding toward Grand Canyon National Park and their very last summer break. At least she THINKS they’re friends – in the first days of their final farewell to the innocence of young adulthood, she wonders whether she has ever felt more alone. Little does she know how close she stands to the brink of an all-new chapter of her life that will prominently feature one all-new character.

John Stovall is an artist of minor note and modest aspiration. His presence at the Canyon is for an entirely different reason and under drastically different circumstances. He doesn’t have much interest in either establishing new or retaining old characters in his story – yet he is about to discover that, at times, one has little to say about such things.

Can two people on such dramatically different paths find their way to each other? Even when a frightening new event threatens to tear the delicate fabric of their relationship, will they accept that love – true love – can sometimes conquer all?

You can purchase your copy today on Amazon.

I honestly do not know what I was expecting when I decided to read this book. It sounds interesting and perhaps I was intrigued. Yet nothing prepared me for what an incredible story I was about to dive into. This story follows the love of a young college graduate, Meg Lowry, and the artist-in-residence at the Grand Canyon, Johns Stovall, in 1969. The book starts off by looking at the artwork on display from John in the present day and giving us a glimpse of what caused the revolution in John’s artwork. I wish I could see the artwork and imagine those scenes throughout the story. When Meg and John meet, it is attraction and connection that keeps them making plans and exploring the canyons together. That connection grows deeper and develops into a beautiful love affair. Yet when Meg’s time is up and her vacation is over and John’s future takes a drastic turn, they must decide what their connection means and what they will do.

First off, one of my favorite places to see in the US is the Grand Canyon. It is a majestic place that creates wonder every time I see it. It is gorgeous and a masterpiece to behold. I loved that this story is centered around the Grand Canyon. I loved the imagery and seeing what they see through this story. I loved the science and history that is shared and how it adds to the story, creating a sense of wonder and never dragging the story down with details. The love between Meg and John was perfect. I loved their relationship. It was carefree and giving. They explored the world around them and fell in love so beautifully. When starting this story, I had assumed that it would be solely about their time in the Grand Canyon, yet there was so much more! They left that place and stayed in contact, realizing that what they had was deeper and more powerful than they thought. Yet in 1969, life is a bit chaotic and these two are not immune to the world around them.

When they are apart, I loved reading their letters, poems, and journal entries. Each moment and line tied my heartstrings to what was happening. Despite all the beauty, I could not help but feel like there was something coming. You feel the emotions within this story so well and foreboding to something more happening. When I read the last bit of the story with tears in my eyes, I realized that this book was something worth sharing. It was perfect, a bittersweet story of love, life, and truth. I want to go on and on about the details, but one of my absolute favorite parts about this story was the surprises and emotions along the way. If you are looking for a fantastic read, then pick this book up! I will be looking for more form Renae and I cannot wait to see what she has in store next!

In the instant the sun slipped below the horizon, he turned his face to look at her.  Meg closed her eyes, taking a brief moment to compose herself before returning his gaze.  When I look at him, she thought, everything will change.  She wasn’t sure yet precisely how – only that a part of her felt pressed to hurry, while the other part deigned to prolong this liminal moment for as long as possible.

Now.  Now she turned.

Plates shifted.  Rivers flowed.  Winds blew.

John bent toward her, and she met him in the middle of the space that had previously existed between them.  His hand came up to cradle the side of her face.  “Meg,” he whispered.

Then he kissed her.

His lips were yielding but firm as they pressed into hers.  This kiss: every cleft and crater, every vacant space inside of her felt full of it.  Behind all conscious thought, Meg pictured remaining this way for hours, even days.  She was loath to break contact, because doing so might feel like a part of her was emptying.  So she clung to him.  She rested her hand against the side of his neck, where the muscles responsible for the movements of his head flowed into the ones accountable for the set of his shoulders.  With her thumb she felt the strength of his jaw, while her fingers sifted through the hair at the nape of his neck.

John made an involuntary noise deep in his throat, somewhere between a groan and a growl.  He pulled back from her for only a percentage of a second so he could angle his body toward her.  As he kissed her again, he held her head firmly between both of his hands.

Check out this giveaway for your chance to win something awesome! Fill out this Entry-Form for your chance to win a copy of  Love to Love Her (Silver State Series Book 1) and Forever With You (Silver State Series). Don’t miss out!

Renae Kelleigh is originally from the Midwest but now lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband, dog and rabbit. Besides reading and writing, she also enjoys hiking and photography.

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