Thursday, December 15, 2011

Livvie's Song

Giveaway!

MACLAREN, SHARLENE
LIVVIE'S SONG

A young widow trying to keep her business and hopes afloat...

Life is far from a breeze for Olivia Beckman, owner of Livvie's Kitchen, a favourite of locals in Wabash, Indiana. The widowed mother of two is struggling to make ends meet -- no simple feat, especially when her cook resigns. Yet she's determined to pull through on her own, just as she did when God failed to save her beloved Frank.

An ex-convict ready to make a fresh start...

Newly released from a ten-year prison sentence, Will Taylor is ready for a fresh start. With harmonica in hand -- the only possession he values, aside from his bible -- he makes his way to Wabash, where a late-night meal at Livvie's Kitchen turns into a job opportunity when the outgoing cook learns about his restaurant experience. What he doesn't know is that the his restaurant experience. What he doesn't know is that the "restaurant" was a prison cafeteria.

An unlikely recipe for romance...

But Will became a new man behind bars, thanks to a Christian friend, and he credits God's providence with landing him a job he loves. Soon, he cooks and bakes his way into the stomachs of his customers -- and the heart of his employer. Both are hesitant, though, still healing from past hurts. A recipe for love between them will require sharing secrets, braving dangers, and believing God for a bright future.

My Review:

There is an air of unhurried charm about this book. The story unfolds with gentle, deliberate care and it captivated me from the very first page. There's definitely drama and a plot rife with unexpected twists but I delighted in the unpredictability of what otherwise might have been a predictable story.

The inspirational message is embedded so deeply that it feels natural even as it testifies. MacLaren doesn't preach but she makes an impact nonetheless. And the scriptures that head each chapter are worth the price of the book. I've never seen such convicting passages laid out in sequential order like that. They made me pause and ponder and then eager to read on so that I could see how they applied in the character's lives.

And oh, what characters! Will Taylor, bent on change and a future of promise, delighting in the simplest things after being incarcerated for ten years. Everything is a wonder to him, including the faith he has embraced. He's the perfect foil for Livvie, who has buried herself away beneath the cloak of her mourning. Reading their love story was like watching an old black and white movie gradually changing into colour until it becomes a vibrant kaleidoscope by the end.

This is the kind of book that not only entertains, but it makes you think. A definite keeper shelf edition.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Livvie's Song, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to put the title in the subject line so your entry is easy for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 18. Good luck!

17 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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  2. It is a great book, Amy. Good luck!

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  3. would love to read this story...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  4. I just got the second one for review but would love to read the first one:) Nice to read them in order.
    THanks!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  5. Whoa -- there's a second one????? And I thought I was on the cutting-edge here. LOL. What's the title?

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  6. Sounds like a great book. Please add me to the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. The message of this story sounds very heartwarming. Thank you for the review Kav.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. Sounds like a great book, I'd love the chance to win it!

    Courtney
    kcmelone at yahoo dot com

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  9. Hey Kav, the second one is Ellie's Haven. Got it in for review but haven't started it yet. Looks pretty good though:)

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  10. Good luck everyone...and thanks for the info, Charity. I can't wait to hear what you think of the next in the series. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for it.

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  11. Thankyou for the chance to go in the draw for this book! Sounds great!!

    ettaman89ATyahooDOTcomDOTau

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  12. Livvie's Song sounds like a lovely, inspiring story. I love second chance stories!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  13. This sounds like a great inspirational read. This is another new author to me. Can you please add my name to the draw as I would dearly love the chance to read this book.

    zabook at tpg dot com dot au

    Many thanks.

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