Tamari Island by Joy Allyson is a Celebrate Weddings Bookish Event pick #historicalromance #romance #weddings #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Title: Tamari Island
Author: Joy Allyson
Genre: Historical Romance
Book Blurb:
Emmie Prescott, the smart, pretty granddaughter of a United States senator, leaps at an offer to work on Tamari Island, a remote South Pacific Island, after a disastrous family exposé crushed her dream job aspirations. Her first day on the island sparks fly when she meets handsome Jack Manderly, a reporter who works on ambiguous stories for the same paper that sabotaged her career hopes. Once serious problems emerge in her new role at the designer silk plant, Emmie chooses to ignore the man whose very presence leaves her breathless.
Jack harbors a bitter sense of betrayal against Washington politicians who pressured his editor to exile him to Tamari after he linked stories of Emmie’s grandfather’s alleged activities while posted in D.C. His new assignment, tracking rumors in Southeast Asia years after the Vietnam ceasefire, is increasingly perilous. Embroiled in a dangerous mission where love and sacrifice can’t coexist, Jack strives to erase Emmie from his mind.
Despite their intentions and forced proximity, Emmie and Jack’s attraction deepen as alarming incidents occur around the island. Amidst the swirling chaos, Tamari Island deals her own hand. Will Emmie leverage her fashion connections and escape to Paris or go home and grow her political roots? And will she ever forget the man who makes her body and soul sing?
Excerpt:
In less than an hour, she would be married. Emmie closed her eyes for a moment and imagined Jack seeing her in her wedding gown for the first time. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Does every bride feel her wedding day is perfect? She looked out over Middleton Place’s vast landscaped grounds edging down to the Ashley River. The weather in South Carolina during early June could be unpredictable, with temperatures ranging from sweltering, humid heat to blustery cold. Today, on the day she was marrying Jack, she was blessed with idyllic fair weather.
Upon hearing the couple wanted an outdoor ceremony, one of Senator Prescott’s colleagues suggested Middleton, an hour’s drive north of Charleston. The venue had been owned by a Declaration of Independence signer and its skillfully nurtured and maintained grounds made it the ideal site for their wedding and reception.
“You look beautiful, Sweet Pea,” her father whispered, using the nickname he had not used in ages as the bridal party lined up for the processional. Smiling, she kissed his cheek before intertwining her arm with his.
“Don’t make her cry.” The words a warning by her mother to be careful. Coralee dressed stylishly in a fuchsia French lace gown, brushed a tear away with her thumb, then touched one of the lace cap sleeves of Emmie’s off-the-shoulder candlelight gown. “I have to admit, you made a beautiful selection.”
Emmie gave a nervous laugh, remembering for a fleeting moment the hysterics she shared with her cousins when she tried on her mother’s princess bridal gown designed for Coralee’s five-foot-two frame over two decades before.
“Mother of the bride. Mrs. Prescott! Please, your escort is waiting,” the wedding coordinator prompted.
“Yes, your gown is quite lovely, and I must say Jack will love this deep V-shaped back.” Clare winked at her before circling to get into her place in line.
“Oh, Clare.” Emmie squeezed her fingers.
Her friend gave her an approving glance after she adjusted a strand of hair beneath Emmie’s pearl headband and checked the knot at the back. “I knew by styling your hair in an updo, it would showcase your shoulders and neckline.”
“The flower girls are doing splendidly. Bridesmaids, matron of honor, line up,” ordered the coordinator.
“We’re next. Are you ready?” her father asked.
“Yes, Daddy.”
With a gentle squeeze of her arm, he led her toward the terraced lawn, which was flanked by heavy lavender hydrangea blooms and perfumed rose bushes, while strains from a string quartet filled the air. As they turned to walk down the makeshift aisle decorated with tulle rosettes, her father and she were met with loving and encouraging smiles that warmed her heart. How fortunate she and Jack were to have the support of countless friends and family, none of whom she was certain would have ever matched them together. For whatever reason, Jack and I are meant to be.
Her groom, looking as dashing as ever in his dark tuxedo tailcoat and black silk tie, stood patiently waiting for her with an adoring gleam in his eyes, causing her pulse to quicken. That heart-stopping smile always made her legs go weak. Her father released his hand and placed hers into Jack’s. The two of them were finally drawn together, along an extraordinary journey.
Emmie allowed the magical moment under the arbor of live oaks adorned in Spanish moss to sweep her away. As a nod to the senator, the chaplain from the United States Senate performed the rituals. Following prayers, the traditional scripture, and marriage vows, the pair included personal verse selections.
“You are the one who makes life come alive for me,” she said. “I will marry you today, my friend, my lover, my husband, the one I will live with, dream with, and love forever.”
The late afternoon sun filtered through the oak tree leaves; its honeyed glow matched the amber in Jack’s eyes as he fixed his gaze upon her. “You are the best parts of me—my love, my darling, my wife. I give you all that I have and all that I am,” he responded.
They exchanged rings and at last, she heard, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Jack kissed her with abandon until the chaplain cleared his throat. “Ahem. May I present Mr. and Mrs. Jack Manderly.”
Clare handed Emmie back her bouquet, and as the guests clapped, the newly wedded couple hurried down the aisle walkway, followed by the flower girls, and the bridal party.
As Emmie stood on the reception area’s stone terrace, surrounded by knockout roses and camellias, she was reminded of the night she and Jack first met on the back patio of the Consulate on Tamari Island. It felt like forever ago.
“Did you ever imagine this day in your wildest dreams?” Emmie tilted her head and gazed into Jack’s eyes, happiness radiating through her.
Pressing his forehead to hers, he whispered, “I will tell you all night about my wildest dreams. I am a lucky man, indeed.”
Jack led her over to the open space created for dancing, took her in his arms, and swayed to the music. Guests crowded around to watch the newlyweds’ first dance.
He relinquished her to her father for their traditional turn and then Emmie watched as he invited Coralee to partner, delighting their guests with what appeared to be a well-choreographed spin. Cameras flashed relentlessly when she danced with her grandfather. The uninvited Washington and Charleston reporters who crashed the reception sought to capture the unexpected moment shared between the senator and his granddaughter.
Jack retrieved Emmie again long enough to share another slow dance before the band livened up the musical selection for the younger set.
“Have I told you, Mrs. Manderly, you look beautiful today?”
”Yes, but tell me one more time,” she smiled up at him, kissing him once more. “What I’m feeling now is joy,” she answered and sealed it with a kiss.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
If you love an enemies-to-lovers story, you won’t want to put Tamari Island down. Set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Emmie Prescott grapples with her disdain for all things political, choosing to strike out on her own, rather than remain behind in the States working for the very men she helped pass their finance and accounting finals. She takes a job on a far-off South Pacific Island and vows not to be distracted by any man, especially a handsome reporter with a dubious assignment. Washington Post reporter Jack Manderly, who factored in the very reason she is on the island, unbeknownst to Emmie, is on a mission to discover missing military service members.
Soon after arriving on the seemingly sleepy island, Emmie finds herself embroiled in a refugee crisis that challenges her aim not to get involved in anything political. Mysterious deaths, love triangles, and betrayals between lovers occur as character secrets are revealed, among action-packed tension and suspense. Fans of gripping historical context and star-crossed lovers will not be disappointed! A must-read!
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs June 9 – June 17, 2025.
Winner will be drawn on June 18, 2025.
Author Biography:
As the daughter of a United States military officer, Joy Allyson grew up with a deep appreciation of history and a love of travel. A former teacher-turned-writer, she has an unquenchable thirst for historical romances in her reading choices and loves inserting historical nuggets in all her romances. Her favorite characters–are rebel heroines and salvageable scoundrels. She believes the best romances are the ones you want to read over and over again.
Whiskey Love, her debut novel, was selected as a 2023 Killer Nashville Best Historical Silver Falchion Award Finalist. Whiskey Secrets was chosen as a Top Pick for the 2024 Silver Falchion Awards. She has just published her third novel, Tamari Island, which has a South Pacific Island setting, and is currently writing another story to complete her Whiskey Love Trilogy.
Joy loves classic movies, chocolate, coffee, cards, and carbs. She and her husband call the beautiful hills of Tennessee home, and her two daughters and six grandchildren are nearby.
Visit her Website at www.joyallyson.com
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