Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Curiosity Keeper

GIVEAWAY

LADD, SARAH E.
THE CURIOSITY KEEPER

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whomever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop on Blinkett Street. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille has no choice but to accept help from the mysterious stranger who came to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content working as a village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may or may not be the answer to his questions.

Curious circumstance throws them together, and an intricate dance of need and suspicion leads the couple from the seedy backwaters of London to the elite neighborhoods of the wealthy to the lush, green Surrey countryside—all in the pursuit of a blood-red gem that collectors will sacrifice anything to possess.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, each will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.


My Review:

My Regency lovin' heart is pitter-pattering a rapid staccato beat once again. Can't explain why I love this time period so much but I do! Curling up with The Curiosity Keeper turned a bad day into something so much better. I love it when an author can sweep me away on page one and Sarah E. Ladd did just that.

I connected to Camille right away. It felt like the sharp shards of her brokenness pierced my own heart somehow.  My emotions ran all over the place on her behalf. From wild indignation to rampant rage to heart crushing sorrow. Camille was much more stoic in the face of adversity than I was during this read!

I love the fact that nobly bred Jonathan works as the village apothecary. He's such a contradiction of the time and doesn't quite fit with his own family. He's kind and compassionate, and has such an engaging bedside manner -- I came near to swooning in those scenes. Such a gentle man.

Camille and Jonathan's action-packed first meet sets the course for a dramatic tale full of intrigue and danger. That mystery casts a shadow over their chance at happiness though. Trusts have been broken. Family torn asunder. Greed and deceit threaten. There is a quiet message of hope in God's ability to bring about good from evil and the resounding climax of this story is a testimony of that.

A superb Regency that you'll want to gobble up in one sitting.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Curiosity Keeper please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 4 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

57 comments:

  1. Regency is my favorite era! I would love to read this book, especially after your review. :)
    Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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    1. I love that the Christian market is publishing more Regency. Seem to remember that it wasn't so long ago when 'they' claimed Regency didn't sell. LOL Good luck, Anne.

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  2. I like your comment that you were swept away on the first page. Sounds like my kind of book!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Don't you just love getting lost in a book? Good luck, rubynreba.

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  3. Ooh exciting! Must put it on my TBR pile. :)

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    1. I bet if we all put our TBR piles back to back we could circle the globe! LOL Good luck, Susan.

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  4. I loved Sarah's first series and just look at that cover. Wonderful sounding and love your review!

    Diane
    dianemestrella at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Diane. And yes, the cover is exceptional. Good luck.

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  5. Some good choices this week on reads.kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.

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    1. Yes, I've been enjoying my book time for sure. Good luck, Kim.

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  6. Count me in! I would love to read this book! I've enjoyed Ladd's other novels. Her style has a way of painting a picture in your mind, and it's beautiful.
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Yay a kindred Ladd reader. I so agree with you. Good luck, Nicole.

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  7. This sounds like a story I would love to get lost in! Thank you for sharing your lovely review and for the giveaway opportunity.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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  8. Squeee! I can't wait to immerse myself in The Curiosity Keeper with a cuppa hot tea! Kav, thanks for the splendid review and giveaway.

    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. Squeeel! I'm excited that you're excited, Caryl. Good luck.

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  9. Oh my goodness squee, I really,really want to read this. I have wanted to read this since I heard about it last year. I want to read book 2 in the series but it's not out yet. The covers of both books are gorgeous and the stories sound marvelous !
    Deanne
    Book1lovingmomma at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, I haven't seen the cover reveal of Book 2, must go check that out. Good luck, Deanne.

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  10. I've read one of Sarah books (The Heiress of Winterwood (Whispers On The Moors #1) and hope to rectify reading the other two in this series very soon! Her writing just drew me in immediately, she has such a powerful writing voice! So, of course, I want to add yet another one to my out of control personal library :-D This one sounds so intriguing! I agree with you, Kav, makes my Regency heart pitter-patter <3

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I loved that whole series, Trixi so you have some reading enjoyment ahead of you. Good luck!

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  11. I don't know about the era, but sounds good! I like the idea of the "hero" being a "gentle" man. I am sure I would enjoy the book!

    amylsmith at bledose DOT net

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  12. Sarah has written some wonderful books, I'd love to read 'The Curiosity Keeper'. Thanks for an amazing review, Kav!!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. Beautiful cover! I am intrigued by this one! Thank you, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. It's an awesome read, Melanie. Good luck.

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  14. I hope there are lots of opportunities to wander about this curio shop! I love a good regency and love good hearted male leads! Please enter me Kav!

    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. You have them both in this novel, Kelly. Good luck.

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  15. Sounds intriguing. Count me in, please, Kav! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  16. This sounds like a good read, thank you for bringing it to me attention and giving me a chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  17. thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel, kav

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  18. I love a good 'first meet'! And so nice to read about a true gentleman.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. This one is quite the first meet! Good luck, Patty.

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  19. I cannot imagine the work that is involved in just doing the cover alone. It is gorgeous!
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Isn't it? It's like a painting from that period. Good luck, Janet.

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  20. I really do love to read about the regency era. I can get swept away in the pages of books in this era. Thank You!
    karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Just the title is enough to bring me in! And I love rubies :)

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. A great title for an awesome book. Good luck, Janka.

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  22. Sarah Ladd really knows how to write a good Regency story. I liked her prior books very much and am looking forward to reading The Curiosity Keeper. Thanks for the chance to win it.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I have loved all her books as well. Good luck, Pam.

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  23. I love Regency fiction....throw in 'intrigue, danger, mystery & romance'.....I'm swooning already! Can't wait to read it!

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I know -- all that is in here. Good luck, agboss.

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  24. I'm definitely intrigued by your review, Kav! Regency didn't sell? Was that in the 90s? Maybe now that British period dramas are so popular, people are giving Regencies another look. =)

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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    1. You know, I when I first started reading Christian fiction (about five and a half years ago) there was nary a Regency out there and I remember reading a blog somewhere about Regency not being a popular time period and then one popped up a few years ago and it's slowly snowballed. Good luck, A. L.

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  25. patkf2007 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    I loved her whispers of the moor series!

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  26. Looks like a great book to read. I have been listening to nothing but good reviews on this book. Thank you for the giveaway. mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)net

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    1. It definitely deserves those reviews. Good luck, Tammy.

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  27. I've had this on my wish list... now I can hardly wait to read it! I can imagine it as a sweeping drama on BBC. :)
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if they made all her books into BBC dramas? Good luck, Merry.

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  28. Not sure if I've made it in time (it's the 4th) but if so, I would love to be entered! I so badly desire to read this one!!
    Thanks so much!
    Godspeculiartreasurerae(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Just squeaked in. I'm doing the draw now. Good luck, Raechel.

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  29. Red is my favorite color and I always wanted a ruby for my engagement ring. I love to read about people overcoming.
    Sonnetta_jones(at) hotmail(dot)com

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