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| GIVEAWAY |
SANCTUARY FOR A LADY
Rescued by the enemy.
The injured young woman Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat. And in the midst of France's bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.
Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke's daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be...
My Review:
It boggles this reader's mind that this is a debut novel. Rawlings writes like a seasoned pro. With the tight plot, impeccable characterization and enough emotional angst to water-log the Kleenex company, this is a romance lover's dream. Seriously good.
Love the unusual setting -- revolutionary France. There's a history lesson or two or three within the pages which I found to be a fascinating bonus. Kudos to Love Inspired for branching out from their norm and to Rawlings for inspiring them to do so.
This is a stomach-churning, knuckle-whitening read from cover to cover. I was an emotional wreck all the way through, between shouting warnings, chiding stubbornness and wanting to throw something at someone (including the author) occasionally! LOL. But I survived to tell the tale -- to dream about the tale -- to carry on the tale -- to dream up a new tale based on this one...well, let's just say the story is still with me and I'm praying it's not long before Rawlings' next book is out!
And the romance! Oh-la-la! It's there in spades despite the impossibility of it all. And Rawlings creates incredibly intimate moments even in the midst of anger and hurt. Scenes that shot daggers at this sensitive reader's heart. Totally amazing; completely fulfilling.
The powerful inspirational thread made me squirm and I battled right along with Michel and Isabelle, marveling at what a benevolent God we have and the faith and strength of so many in history who survived untold horrors but still believed.
This one is a gem, a definite must read!
Giveaway Opportunity:
If you would like a chance at winning a copy of Sanctuary of a Lady please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvtoreadATyahooDOTca. Remember 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 April 22 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck everyone!
I have yet to see one of your reviews that did not promise a good read! Add me!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book, thank you for hosting this giveaway. Your review makes it sound even better than I thought it sounded before.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
This book sounds wonderful! Please enter me in the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
I've been hearing fabulous things about this book - your review is wonderful and totally makes me want to read this even more! :) I would love a chance to win this book!! Thank you for all that you do to share Christian fiction with others! :)
ReplyDelete~Amber
amberstokes[at]corban[dot]edu
thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Kav after reading your great review you have me very keen to want to read this book. Sounds like this could be the start of many great things to come from this debut author. Can you please enter my name in the draw...
ReplyDeletezabook at tpg dot com dot au
Many thanks.
I love the setting of Revolutionary France, very unusual. Would love to read this one.
ReplyDeletemchapman (at) windstream (dot ) net
Thanks everyone! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Kav... you are responsible for so many awesome books on my shelf! I've always been drawn to this time period and Sanctuary for a Lady sounds absolutely engaging. Please add me. :)
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Tee hee -- glad I can spread the good news about inspirational fiction, Merry! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteApril 22 is our youngest daughter's 26th birthday! I would like to celebrate winning Naomi Rawlings' Sanctuary for a Lady!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a good read!! Belanger is an offshoot of my married name. Three brothers upon leaving France to go to Canada and then the US, took three different last names (Belanger being one of them)!
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
Kav, I ended up buying the book tonight, so you can take me out of the drawing.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's interesting family history, lane hill house! Must have been hard to do the family tree though. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, Michelle. Hope you enjoy the read...well, I know you will!
I'm amazed time and again how an author can draw us in to the story. Hearing about it second hand, through the brief review above (as well as the book's own description) have done their job by convincing me I'm sure I'd LOVE to read this book. I am looking forward to seeing how the seemingly impossible 'fix' Michel has gotten himself into works itself out.
ReplyDeletepurensimplenatural at gmail dot com
Thanks for the chance to win this interesting novel.
ReplyDeleteyecenia@optonline.net
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