Montana Dreams

GIVEAWAY!

HART, JILLIAN
MONTANA DREAMS

Bumping into her ex-fiancé shatters Millie Wilson all over again. Now that she's back in Montana to care for her dying father, her real burden is the secret she's never divulged to Hunter McKaslin.

Millie can't blame Hunter for his anger upon learning he's a father. He's never gotten over opening his heart, only to have it broken. Yet Millie senses a new goodness in Hunter. Finding their lost dreams now seems possible—if forgiveness and trust can find a place in this fresh start.

My Review:

I can see why Jillian Heart is a USA Today bestselling author! This is only the second book I've read by Hart but I am hooked! Scrambling to catch up with the rest of this series, I love it that much.

The author has created a memorable cast of characters -- a big, mildly dysfunctional family that doesn't quite meet the norm. The McKaslin Clan definitely got my attention. I read Luke's story in Montana Cowboy earlier this summer (and see I forgot to post my review during my computerless state) and just couldn't wait to get back to Montana for another McKaslin fix so I shouted with glee when I discovered Montana Dreams was already out. Especially since Montana Cowboy expertly set up Hunter's story with a tantalizing tease.

And this book packs quite a punch. Millie hasn't had an easy life. She has reasons for the decisions she has made in the past and, while we don't know her full story from the beginning -- I mean really, how can a woman hide the paternity of her child in good conscience?-- Hart did an excellent job of making me sympathetic to Millie's plight. My loyalty grew as pieces of the past were gradually revealed. Loved that build of emotional momentum that peaked at just the right time.

And Hunter. He was such a grump in the previous book I couldn't wait to get under his skin! Taciturn and reserved, his views on love and matrimony are not what romance novels are made of -- unless they happen to be authored by Hart. Hunter's back story is captivating, as is the internal struggle in evidence every time he is around Millie.

A dream of a book you won't want to miss and you don't have to because...

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Montana Dreams, 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 September 2 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Love's Reckoning

GIVEAWAY

FRANTZ, LAURA
LOVE'S RECKONING

On a bitter December day in 1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself, Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep him in Lancaster. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love?

In this sweeping family saga set in western Pennsylvania, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come. "Love's Reckoning" is the first entry in The Ballantyne Legacy, a rich, multi-layered historical quartet from talented writer Laura Frantz, beginning in the late 1700s and following the Ballantyne family through the end of the Civil War.

My Review:

Bludgeoned. That's the way I feel after reading Love's Reckoning. Truly gutted. My heart has been skewered on the rapier point of Laura Frantz's pen. I even had to put the book down and leave it for a whole evening I was that upset! Only that backfired because then I dreamt about it which made for a very sorry excuse of a night's rest. And then, before I could continue I actually snuck a peek at the end in order to boost my morale!!! Only that backfired because I read the epilogue which was not comforting at all! Phew! Now that I've vented a bit, I'll admit that I LOVED this book even though it has left me a fragile emotional wreck of my former self.

Frantz knows how to grab a reader's interest and hold on tight from the get go. She also excels at weaving exquisite images with her words -- descriptive and hard-hitting, they'll pull you into the past until you'll swear you actually live in the late 1700's.

And the complexities of the relationships! The depth of the characters! The strength of their emotions! All makes for a thrilling read that will tempt you away from everything in your life until you finish this epic tale. Guaranteed that you'll stew over it for days afterward as well. Honestly, what more could a reader want? :-)

Historical fiction at it's best and then some. Don't pass this one up for any reason. It's not to be missed and would be a definite (and heated) addition to any book club. We should make September National Love's Reckoning Book Club Month. LOL.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Love's Reckoning, 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 September 2 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

Finding Home

GIVEAWAY!

HANNON, IRENE
FINDING HOME

One stubborn boy is getting the better of Scott Walsh. The very busy project manager keeps finding the kid on his dangerous construction site. One warning to the boy's parents should take care of it. But when Scott meets widowed mother Cindy Peterson, she's already carrying so much on her narrow shoulders. He wants to help Cindy and her boy, but didn't he vow never to get involved with a family again? Scott can't bear to break a child's heart. But this time it's his own heart asking for a chance.

My Review:

Hannon has such a gift for storytelling. Measured words, taut pacing, endearing characters and plot twists abounding! I've enjoyed everything I've read by this gifted author, including this heart-tugging Love Inspired story.

 Our first glimpse of Scott Walsh is less then favourable. A crusty man -- gruff, stand-offish or so Hannon would lead us to believe. But she allows us into his mind and peels back layer after layer as the story progresses until we recognize Scott for the hero that he is. 

Both Scott and Cindy made snap decisions about each other based on their first unfortunate encounter.  I love how Hannon slowly changes their minds as their romance ignites. A pure pleasure to read. I know I can never go wrong with a book by Irene Hannon!

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Finding Home, 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 September 2  2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Proof

GIVEAWAY!

REDWOOD, JORDYN
PROOF

Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?

My Review:

 A medical suspense/thriller that kept me up at nights! Redwood's debut novel is riveting. It's like watching a crime drama on television. The pace is frantic, the puzzle pieces confusing until they come together in an explosive 'aha' moment. Redwood draws on her nursing background to weave incredible medical details into the plot. But be forewarned, I also found Proof gritty and disturbing.

Complex characters include two likable heroes which threw the romantic in me for a loop. The heroine, Lilly, is a tortured soul grappling for some semblance of truth in the midst of horrific chaos. I couldn't shake these characters from my mind days after I finished reading. They even invaded my dreams at night!

Intriguing and definitely edgy, Proof deserves a spot on suspense lovers TBR lists.
  

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Proof, 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 September 2  2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

August Giveaway - Week Three

Congratulations to the winners who will soon be just as absorbed in a new book as these lovely ladies. :-)

won by:
deb
and
Mary Cline

won by:
Carol N. Wong
and
Jillian

won by rubynreba

won by KarenK



As always, I will contact the winners by email however thanks to the nefarious ways of the internet my email might land in your spam folder so keep your eyes peeled! :-) If you haven't heard from me by Monday evening please email me your snail mail address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. From time to time winners and I don't seem to connect, so I have a two week time frame. If I can't reach you within two weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

Looking Ahead to Next Week:

Spine-chilling and compelling!

Another great romance for a master storyteller.

Blissful sigh -- losing myself in this one now!

Great continuation of a fantastic series.

A Love Surrendered

GIVEAWAY

LESSMAN, JULIE
A LOVE SURRENDERED

Okay -- so this giveaway isn't here -- it's here: http://inkspirationalmessages.com/2012/08/welcome-julie-lessman/  That's the group blog I participate in. Head on over there for three chances to win a copy of Julie Lessman's October release or any one of her books. Your choice. :-)  And stay tuned closer to October when I'll review A Love Surrendered and host a giveaway here as well.

Live to Give : Let God Turn Your Talents Into Miracles

GUTWEIN, AUSTIN
LIVE TO GIVE : LET GOD TURN YOUR TALENTS INTO MIRACLES

Want to do something for God but don’t know what? Want to help others but don’t know who? Want to know what it is you’re really good at doing? Your gifts may feel small and insignificant. But God can use them to work a miracle!

Inspired by the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000, Live to Give delivers a message of hope that we all have something to give.Written in the down-to-earth, candid voice of the gifted young man who as a kid founded a relief ministry that has saved and improved countless lives in Africa, Live to Give is the message that every teen needs to hear: You are more special than you know, and you can do big things.

Jesus proved that no gift is too small when He used five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of thousands. And if no gift is too small, too ordinary, or too random, there is no limit to what the youth of today can accomplish!

A teenage philanthropist who has built a high school, two medical clinics, and a dormitory in Africa—all before the age of 16—Austin Gutwein shares how to take what may seem like the simplest of talents, gifts, and interests and use them for something Jesus can use to move mountains.

My Review:

I like the conversational tone of this book. Gutwein's style is very down to earth and inviting. He's talking to his readers, not preaching at them which I find really appealing. And he makes some good points with a refreshing twist. Like God doesn't need you he wants you.

Using biblical examples, the author shows how God can use ordinary people to help Him make amazing things happen. The logical correlation to our lives today is that God can use the ordinary in us to make something extraordinary. Short chapters pack a punch and end with a few thought-provoking questions to encourage readers to apply sacred principles in their own lives.

A book that will make you think...and just might change your life.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson". 

Groom Wanted

GIVEAWAY

ULLRICK, DEBRA
LOVE TO ORDER

It's a perfect plan-best friends Leah Bowen and Jake Lure will each advertise for mail-order spouses in the papers, and then Jake will help select Leah's future husband, while Leah picks Jake's bride-to-be! Surely the ads will find them what they seek: a wife who'll appreciate Jake's shy charm and a groom who'll take Leah away from the Idaho Territory she detests.

When the responses to the postings pour in, it seems all Leah's and Jake's dreams will soon come true. But the closer they each get to the altar, the less appealing marrying a stranger becomes. Is it too late to turn back- or to turn around and find the happiness they truly seek together, at last?

 

My Review:

 

Unique twist to a mail-order bride story.  I love Ullrick's blend of humour and drama and she weaves her magic to perfection in this third of her mail-order bride series. You don't need to read the first two books -- The Unlikely Wife and The Unexpected Bride -- but if you have, you'll be thrilled to catch up with the Bowen clan.

Jake and Leah make a great combination of unrequited love veiled by pure stubbornness. Bouncing from great friendshipping scenes to internal yearning scenes was so much fun in a frustrated romance reader kind of way. :-)

There's a strong inspirational thread as well and Ullrick illustrates it beautifully through the actions of her characters. It's about having the courage to put God first and then the wisdom to recognize what He has in store for your life.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Groom Wanted, 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 August 26 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

 

To Love and Cherish

GIVEAWAY

PETERSON, TRACIE
MILLER, JUDITH

When Melinda Colson's employer announces they'll be leaving Bridal Veil Island to return to their home in Cleveland, Melinda hopes her beau, Evan, will propose. But Evan isn't prepared to make an offer of marriage until he knows he can support a wife and family. Evan works as the assistant gamekeeper on Bridal Veil but hopes to be promoted soon.
                      
Letters strengthen their love, but Melinda remains frustrated at being apart from the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Then she learns of a devastating hurricane in Bridal Veil and knows she must give up her position as a lady's maid and make her way back to Evan.
                       
The destruction on Bridal Veil is extensive, meaning every available person is needed to help with cleanup and repairs. Melinda finds a new job on the island, but Evan seems even busier than before, meaning she still never gets to see him. Has she given her heart to the wrong man?
                      
And when Melinda overhears a vicious plot against President McKinley, who is scheduled to visit the island, is Evan the one she should turn to? Will Melinda and Evan ever get the chance to stand at the front of a church and promise "to love and cherish"?

My Review:

The second in the Bridal Veil series, To Love and Cherish reads well as a standalone. I just love the way these authors delve into history. They make everything so tangible for me and I'm completely fascinated with the standards of the day. Not just the class consciousness part, but the expectations placed upon women. What a restricted society!!!!

I could really relate to Melinda. Impetuous, impatient, planning her future in her head without involving anyone else! I was a might put out by Evan a time or two myself...until his actions started to make solid sense. Sigh. As annoying as his practicality was, it endeared me to him as well. Who can resist a man who is focused on being able to provide for his future family?

There are a couple of riveting sub-plots that are guaranteed to get a reader's dander up too and the plot takes an unexpected twist before reaching a startling climax. To Love and Cherish definitely has all the mixings for a great historical read destined to enrapture its readers.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of To Love and Cherish, 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 August 26 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

The Colonel's Daughter

GIVEAWAY

GIUSTI, DEBBY
THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER

Under siege.

A ruthless killer is targeting the families of soldiers in a U.S. Army colonel's brigade. Special agent Jamison Steele, of the Criminal Investigation Division, vows to stop him -- because this time, Jamison's heart is involved. The colonel's daughter, the woman who loved and left Jamison without a word, came face-to-face with the murderer. Protecting Michele Logan means constant surveillance. And solving the mystery of the serial killer's motive requires asking Michele the questions she least wants to answer. Questions that may lead them both into a deadly trap.

My Review:

This one is a heart-stopper. Giusti cranks up the tension to an almost unbearable pitch from the very first scene. I was swept away in a nano-second and remained buffeted by fear and stress for the duration. :-)

And the author not only stumped me -- she bamboozled me into thinking the killer was who he wasn't! I love a suspense that keeps up to the very last page! And I particularly adore it when the romance takes equal billing with the suspense. That's hard to achieve, but Giusti did a superb job. Tension of the romantic kind crackles from Jamison's and Michele's first encounter. The connection from their past is obviously still there no matter how hard both try to fight it.

This one is a read-in-one-sitting suspense that you won't want to miss!

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Colonel's Daughter, 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 August 26 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Path Towards Love

GIVEAWAY

JAMES, CARA LYNN
A PATH TOWARDS LOVE

Katherine came home to forget her past.

The last thing she expected is a hopeful future.

Young widow Katherine Osborne returns to her family's rustic camp on Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. She's determined to live a quiet life, but her socialite mother is equally determined to push her into a new marriage while shes still young.

Andrew Townsend has known Katherine since they were children. An attorney who is successful, but not wealthy, he knows she is socially out of his reach. But he's curious what changed the free-spirited girl he once knew into this private, somber young woman.

Katherine has kept hidden the details of her unsuccessful marriage. When past sins come to light, she must turn to God for the courage to be honest. But how can she trust the God she feels has let her down? When she confides in Andrew, their relationship takes a dramatic turn into uncharted territory.

Amid impossible obstacles, two young people must learn to trust enough to walk the path that God has cleared for them. A path that leads to healing and restoration. A path toward love.

My Review:

An amazing read that stirred my emotions and kept my stomach in knots to the very end! I don't think I've ever been more infuriated at a charcter than I was with Katherine's mother! Seriously, I advise reading this while cuddling a favourite pet in order to keep your blood pressure down!

James gives a fascinating glimpse into the socially elite at the turn of the century. Vivid descriptions made me feel as if I'd visited the 'rustic' Adriondack camp. What an intriguing setting for a novel! But -- oy -- the fuss and bother of social niceties and keeping up appearances and all the trappings for a class conscious society made my blood boil!

 Loved Katherine's determination to follow her own path as she navigated her way around all the obstacles her parents set before her. And Andrew's solid friendship and support provide the anchor she desperately needs. I was riveted by their love story.

If you like a romance steeped in history and a myriad of impossibilities, you'll want to lose yourself in A Path Towards Love.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Path Towards Love, 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 August 26 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

August Giveaway - Week Two

Hooray -- I'm back in my cyber groove so giveaways will go back to being weekly again.
Congrats to our latest winners!

won by Teresa Mathews

won by KarenK
and
rubynreba

won by Liz R

won by Ingrid Sukey

won by Abbi Hart

won by Lila



As always, I will contact the winners by email however thanks to the nefarious ways of the internet my email might land in your spam folder so keep your eyes peeled! :-) If you haven't heard from me by Monday evening please email me your snail mail address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. From time to time winners and I don't seem to connect, so I have a two week time frame. If I can't reach you within two weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

Looking Ahead to Next Week's Giveaways:

Stunning read! I was entranced from the very first page!

A very fun continuation of Ullrick's Love to Order series.

Exquisite!!!! What a stellar combination these authors are!

Page-turning suspense that you'll want to read in one sitting!

The Search

Gray, Shelley Shepard
The Search

In the midst of a murder investigation in the heart of Amish country, one young policeman finds his heart led astray


The serenity of the quiet Amish community of Marion, Kentucky, is disrupted when the body of Perry Borntrager is discovered in an abandoned well. Now the small town faces the first death by mysterious circumstances in more than twenty years, and Detective Luke Reynolds is brought in to help investigate. But before he can solve the crime, he faces unexpected feelings for Frannie, the Amish owner of the local bed-and-breakfast. Though they butt heads at first, Luke finds himself drawn to Frannie's bedside when she's injured in a kitchen accident.

Soon it becomes clear that Frannie knew Perry better than she let on . . . they'd been secretly courting when he disappeared.

Has Luke fallen for the very woman responsible for the crime?

My Review:

Book two of The Secrets of Crittenden County series, this is not a stand alone read. You'll definitely want to start with Book One: Missing in order to enjoy the intrinsic plot and mystifying mystery that binds the books together.

And if you have read Missing and thought you had a handle on all the ins and outs of these Marion Kentucky townsfolk -- well, you'd be wrong. There's much more in store for the intrepid mystery lover. In fact, I would be remiss in not alerting devoted readers to a major cliffhanger ending warning.

I still don't know who killed Perry Bontrager, or what possible secrets Detective Luke Reynolds will uncover next. Luckily I don't have to wait long -- the conclusion to this series will release in September and I can't wait!

A Horseman's Gift



GIVEAWAY



JOHNSON, MYRA
A HORSEMAN'S GIFT

Filipa Beltran is tired . . . sick and tired of living out her parents’ dreams. After years of guitar lessons and the seemingly endless string of part-time jobs to pay for them, Filipa makes a drastic decision to leave New York and the hope of becoming a professional musician behind and return to her hometown, to move forward with her life--on her terms.


The past year has been nothing short of crazy for Nathan Cross. Once set on becoming a big business mogul, Nathan’s plans derail following his father’s untimely death and his mother’s whirlwind remarriage. Now he’s headed back home to carry on his father’s legacy running an equine therapy program . . . and trusting God to sort out his future.

When Nathan discovers childhood friend Filipa is also back in town--to stay--he finds it hard to swallow. Maybe she wasn’t the girl he thought, or else she wouldn’t sacrifice everything her parents dreamed of for her.

Can Nathan and Filipa find contentment in their God-given gifts?

My Review:

I am such a Myra Johnson fan! She knows how to sweep me away with every book she writes!

Solid characters -- the kind you can see yourself being friends with -- create the base for this compelling read. Providing a an Equine Therapy ranch has a backdrop creates a perfect combination in this winning romance.

I love Filipa's story arc. Johnson digs deep to unfold an emotional journey that brings growth and ultimate satisfaction to  more than just Fil. What a thought-provoking story thread, relatable to many. I can't say more without giving intrinsic plot details away, but Johnson did a great job of allowing Filipa to find her own way. It culminates in an immensely satisfying conclusion that brings everything around full circle.

This is one sweet romance too good to miss!!!

And you won't have to because not only will two commenters receive a free book here -- but Harlequin Heartsongs Presents past releases are now available to order individually. How cool is that????


Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Horseman's Gift, 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 August 19 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Promise for Miriam



Giveaway



CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
A PROMISE FOR MIRIAM

A Promise for Miriam, the first book in a brand-new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, introduces the Amish community of Pebble Creek and some of the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.


Amish schoolteacher Miriam King loves her students. At 26, most women her age are married with children of their own, but she hasn’t yet met anyone who can convince her to give up the Plain school that sits along the banks of Pebble Creek. Then newcomer Gabriel Miller steps into her life, bringing his daughter, an air of mystery, and challenges Miriam has never faced before.

Will Gabe be able to let go of the past that haunts him? He thinks he just wants to be left alone, but the loving and warm community he and his daughter have moved to has other plans for him. After a near tragedy is averted, he hesitantly returns offers of help and friendship, and he discovers he can make a difference to the people of Pebble Creek—and maybe find love again.

My Review:

This first book in The Pebble Creek Amish series promises to deliver exactly what lovers of Amish fiction will want to read:

Characters that draw you in and take hold of your heart
A complex community that's worth getting to know
Sage Amish wisdom delivered in measured doses
A wounded hero who needs healing
A strong and stubborn heroine who won't give up trying to do just that
A captivating child with a heart-tugging combination of innocence and wisdom

All of this wrapped up in exquisite passages that made my heart sing. Just listen to Gabe trying to explain a father's love. He compares the child to water -- something you can't hold on to no matter how hard you try.

"Perhaps that's what you notice when you see me looking at Grace. You see me trying to pour my love over her as she slips through my fingers."

Chapman uses this kind of dialogue to develop the bond between Gabe and Miriam. Exchanges like these create layers of intimacy that draws them together and the reader into an incredibly touching love story.

A Promise for Miriam is also a refreshing one in that Gabe and Miriam's romance is built upon a mutual devotion to their faith -- though that doesn't mean their love story isn't without peril. Angst abounds, right along side humour and Chapman expertly evokes her readers' emotions with every page turn.

A wonderful, fulfilling, and inspiring read.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Promise for Miriam, 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 August 19 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Wedding Belles



GIVEAWAY



HANNA, JANICE
WEDDING BELLES

Against the backdrop of scenic Estes Park, Colorado, comes a story filled with mayhem, romance, and plenty of drama-most of it on the stage.


The year is 1912, and tomboy Lottie Sanders would do just about anything to help the fella she secretly loves. When Gilbert Parker's family lodge faces financial ruin, he suggests putting on a melodrama to draw in a crowd. He appeals to Lottie to direct the show. Her plan to bring in actresses from across the country is sabotaged when the local single men turn it into a hunt for brides. Lottie finds the drama shifting from the stage to real life.

Filled with villains, vixens, heroes, and enough actresses to fill a theater, this quirky melodramatic tale is sure to please lovers of historical romance.  

My Review:

Romantic Comedy at it's best. Has anyone seen those old B&W movies with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland where a group of 'kids' puts together a show for some worthy cause? Well, Wedding Belles kind of reminds me of that. There's just as much punch and humour and endless mayhem.

I don't think I've met so many lovable, eccentric characters in one book before! And then there's the heroine -- poor Lottie, wearing her heart on her sleeve while Gil, the erstwhile hero, is in complete oblivion. Throw in a passel of actresses, a bevy of lovestruck wannabe beaus, the desperate need to rejuvenate Gil's family's lodge and the stage is set for hours of reading pleasure!

Giveaway Opportunity:


If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Wedding Belles, 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 August 19 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Dying to Read

GIVEAWAY!

LORENA MCCOURTNEY
DYING TO READ

All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was a murder.


Cate Kinkaid's life is . . . well, frankly it's floundering. Her social life, her career, her haircut--they're all a mess. Unemployed, she jumps at the chance to work for her PI uncle, even though she has no experience and no instincts. After all, she is just dabbling in the world of private investigating until she can find a "real" job.

All she has to do for her first assignment is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? But when she reaches the dark Victorian house, she runs into an hungry horde of gray-haired mystery readers and a dead body. This routine PI job is turning out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

My Review:

An engaging mystery with no end of false trails and intriguing subplots. I have to admit this armchair sleuth (a graduate of the Nancy Drew/Trixie Belden School of Sleuthing) was hard pressed to solve the murder before heroine Cate Kinkaid.

Fascinating and amusing characters provide lots of scope for mayhem as Cate catapults herself into the thick of things. Loved Cate's pithy point of view -- and the whole story is from her perspective. Snappy dialogue mixed with Cate's unique insights provide humour in nearly every scene but that doesn't stop drama from unfolding too. Both professional and personal angst counter Cate's witty asides and make for a well-rounded and captivating read.

Oh -- and watch out for the kitty diva, Octavia. Doesn't every supersleuth need a little help from a familiar now and again?

And let's not forget about the dragon-slaying knight in shining armour hero - a cute guy but what an annoying habit! Cate wants to slay her own dragons, thank you very much...in theory anyway. This light romance sealed the deal for me -- and I'm hoping Dying to Read is just the beginning of a promising new cozy mystery series.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Dying to Read, 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 August 19 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!



"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Haven

GIVEAWAY!

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
THE HAVEN

On a warm spring day, Sadie Lapp returns home to her quiet, unassertive life in Stoney Ridge after spending the winter in Ohio.


Gideon Smucker, an awkward schoolteacher, has been in love with Sadie since childhood and eagerly awaits her return. But does Sadie feel the same about him?

Will Stoltz, a charming and impetuous college student, has been banished for a semester and sent to babysit endangered peregrine falcons nesting at the Lapp farm. He'd rather be anywhere else . . . until he befriends Sadie.

As the hopes and ambitions of these three young people converge, life in Stoney Ridge may never be the same.

Once again, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher intrigues and delights with a story that explores the bonds of friendship, family, and true love in this captivating series.

My Review:

I've been anxiously awaiting the second book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series and The Haven did not disappoint. Fisher has created such a set of beloved characters that it broke my heart when I finished the first book, The Keeper. Thankfully The Haven takes up right where The Keeper left off -- give or take a few months!

Windmill Farm has become like a home away from home to me. I might just covet it and the people who live there a wee bit more than I should! I just love a book that gives me a feeling of belonging. I felt like I was attending a family reunion the second I turned to the first page as I quickly became reacquainted with Fisher's characters.

I adore the Lapp family -- especially young Mary-Kate who just loves stealing every scene she's in. I have a great big grin on my face just thinking about that girl! But not to get side-tracked -- this is M.K.'s older sister's story. A wonderful coming of age tale featuring shy Sadie Lapp who just happens to be full of surprises. She even manages to shock Mary-Kate speechless a time or two!

Fisher's rich descriptions anchor every scene and provide the perfect backdrop that allows her characters to shine. Touching, funny, exasperating, exhilarating -- I ran a gamut of emotions as I immersed myself in this glorious read. It was over much too soon -- but that's all right. Mary-Kate's story is next in line and I can't wait to see how she grows up!

Note: While this is the second in a series, it reads well as a standalone too. But, beware, The Haven will whet your appetite for more and you'll find yourself scouring the shelves for a copy of The Keeper too.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Haven, 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 August 19 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!



"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".