Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The Cautious Maiden

GIVEAWAY

CRANDALL, DAWN
THE CAUTIOUS MAIDEN

Everstone, 1892

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their parents' beautiful New England inn into a brothel. But that becomes the least of her worries when her own reputation is mysteriously sabotaged.

In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced to accept a hasty proposal from a dark-eyed acquaintance with a tarnished past: Vance Everstone. He is infamous for being a rake -- and yet, against his will, Violet finds herself falling for this man she knows she cannot trust.

As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet gradually learns that her brother isn't done with trouble. He had staked her hand in marriage  in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowan Steele, and lost. Now Rowen is intent on cashing in on his IOU.

With danger stalking her, a fiancé who hides both his emotions and his past, and an old lover eager to save the day, Violet must decide who to believe -- and who to leave behind.

My Review:

Mercy! Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly while frantically waving a fan. Someone hand me the smelling salts...wait...scrap that, if you intend to read The Cautious Maiden you'll need all the smelling salts you can get your hands on. And that's because this is one toe-curling, swoon-inducing, heart-palpitating romantical read.

And that kind of surprises me because if you are familiar with the series (no worries if you aren't you still NEED to read this one) you will know that Vance has not always been an upstanding character. In fact, he's been downright...yucky. But here we see him in a whole new way. Crandall uses some powerful symbolism to illustrate his transition as he becomes a new man in Christ. Really powerful stuff. And got me thinking about sin and sinners and judgement and the way we humans tend to measure sin -- you know some are way worse than others? And yet God sees sin as sin and He sent His son to free us from their consequences so, really, who am I to hold up someone in condemnation for something that has already been forgiven? There are real life lessons in the pages of this book.

And that made me fall in love with Vance all the more. Because he is so committed to living a new life but, like all of us, he struggles with feeling worthy of the kind of love God is offering him. His mind can grasp it, but in  his heart he feels undeserving. The contrast Violet presents to him -- innocent, honorable, faithful -- draws him to her even though he feels she could do so much better than him. And then circumstances become desperate and Vance finds himself engaged to Violet and, believe me, your toe-curls are going to curl!

Intense romance, sinister treachery and an uplifting inspirational thread combine to make this an incredible, not-to-be-missed novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Cautious Maiden 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

52 comments:

  1. Ohh! I really need to read this series!!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  2. Two words: Must. Have. :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. One word. Yes!!!!! (with a lot of exclamation points.) Good luck, Trixi.

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  3. Your review makes me want to read this!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Glad to hear that. You will love it, rubynreba. Good luck.

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  4. Oh, this is a must read for me; thanks for the chance, it sounds fabulous :) Happy New Year!
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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  5. I LOVE "toe-curling, swoon-inducing, heart-palpitating romantical reads!" But then who doesn't? Besides hubby, that is... Thanks for the opportunity, Kav!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. LOL -- yes, I can see how hubby might not be as keen on this kind of read. LOL Good luck, Diana.

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  6. The first sentence in your review let me know I sure need to read this book. Thank you , Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Guess you could tell it made an impression on me. :-) Good luck, Melanie.

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  7. Oh yes! I've been looking forward to this! (And aren't the covers of this series SO beautiful?)
    Elly -Indiana-

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    1. Yes, the covers are gorgeous and they blend well together...and look mighty fine on the shelf together. Good luck, Elly.

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  8. What a way to start a story - turning a hotel into a brothel! That just sounds like potentially intriguing opportunities for chaos and redemption! Thanks. dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. It's full of twists and turns so be prepared. Good luck, CC.

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  9. Oh, this has been on my to-be-read shelf for forever. Must read.

    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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  10. I have this on my to-be-read list, after your review I will be remedying this very soon!

    Please enter me and thanks so much!
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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  11. I've seen the books in this series but haven't yet read any of them. After this review, I think I will have to add them (especially this one) to my ever expanding wish list. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of The Cautious Maiden.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  12. I've heard so many good things about this series! Would be lovely to win!
    Thanks for organising!
    Lydia

    littlemisslydiaATgmailDOTcome

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  13. O Yes, yes, yes, yes!!! Randomness, please choose ME! hahah. I am LOVING your review: "Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly while frantically waving a fan." and break out the smelling salts??! hahah.

    I'm soooo happy to be back reading your reviews. Always so fun! My month-long self-impose break have caused me to miss some much needed reader/blogger community connection!

    Annie JC
    justcommonlyATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Glad to have you back, Annie. Hope all is well and you're looking forward to all the beautiful reads in store for you in 2017. Good luck.

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  14. Just bought a new bottle of smelling salts and I'm saving it for this book! Your review made me laugh out loud, Kav. Thanks for the chance.

    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. A reader who lives the bookaholic 'always be prepared' motto! LOL Love it. Good luck, Diane.

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  15. I haven't read this series but I've seen this book on several blogs. Ready for curled toes, though!
    Dianna G.

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    1. It's an awesome toe-curling read, Dianna. Good luck.

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  16. Looks Great I've heard of Dawn a lot but haven't read any of her books yet. Thanks for the giveaways and The Chance to Win> iamabho (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. If you like a New England historical with a Regency vibe then this series is for you. Good luck, Linda.

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  17. yaaaay!! I've been waiting for you to review this one! :D Blissful sigh - Vance :)

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    1. LOL -- I know and I was so wary of Vance as a hero. Sheesh, I should have trusted you more. :-)

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  18. Kav! Thank you for your review and the giveaway for your readers! Your words definitely made me smile and basically made my day. :) Good luck, everyone! I hope you all get a chance to read The Cautious Maiden--and The Everstone Chronicles series--sometime soon! If you don't win, you can always put in a request for the series at your local library! ❤😍❤

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Dawn, and your writing such awesome stories that stretch a reader's faith. And yes, every library should have this series on their shelves.

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  19. I love finding new places to look for good books. I followed Dawn Crandall here from Facebook. I will be returning.

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    1. It's all about book sharing here, Mrs. Deedrick, so come on back any time.

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  20. I loved the first three - need to read this one! truckredford(at)Gmail(dot)com

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  21. This was my first book by Dawn Crandall and it was amazing. I need to get my hand on print copies of all the books in this series!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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    1. Yes -- this is a series you want to have on your keeper shelf. Good luck, Samantha.

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  22. Sounds like a great book, love a good romance! fancynoodle(at)yahoo(dot)ca

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    1. Then you'll adore this one, Kirsten. Good luck.

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  23. I read her first book and enjoyed it. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  24. I LOVE this series!!! So glad to hear of Vance's redemption! I have to admit he was extremely loathsome in The Bound Heart. I am so excited to read The Cautious Maiden and find out Vance and Violet's story! You give the most descriptive and tantalizing reviews, Kav :) I know I can always count on you to get a good idea of what a book is like. I so appreciate that!!!
    ~Alison

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

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    1. Oh, yes, loathsome is the perfect word for the earlier Vance. LOL Thanks, Alison. Good luck.

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  25. I have read the first two books in the series and loved them! I'm looking forward to reading the next ones as well! Thank you for the great review!

    jdennis298(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. I've been hoping to read this series but haven't yet. After reading your review, it is a must read! Thanks for this giveaway and as always your great review. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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