Loves Comes Home

GIVEAWAY

GABHART, ANN H.
LOVE COMES HOME

When the flush of victory fades, there remains a winding road to an uncertain future.

World War II is finally over and the people of Rosey Corner are joyfully welcoming the boys home. The Merritt sisters in particular are looking toward the future. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline craves a beautiful house and encourages Mike to pastor a big-town church. Victoria wants what can never be. And Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her birth family.

Each sister must learnt to hold her plans with a loose hand, trusting that God will guide and strengthen them as they share the joys and sorrows of life in their little corner of the world.

Award-winning and bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you back to Rosey Corner for a heartfelt story closes the distance between the things that were and things that can yet be.

My Review:

We're back in Rosey Corner with the Merritt sisters and I couldn't be happier. I love this town and the people who live there -- especially the Merritt clan. You don't need to have read the first two books in the series, Angel Sister and Small Town Girl, but I think this concluding story will pack more of an emotional punch if you have.

Gabhart excels at writing true-to-life drama that stirs the soul and challenges the mind. Post-war small-town America is the perfect venue to highlight the trials that faced both  returning servicemen and civilians. Married sisters, Evie and Kate are ready to take up where they left off with their newlywed husbands. Mike and Jay are just as eager, but neither is prepared for the difficult transition into civilian life. Heartache and joy and every emotion in between bond husbands and wives in a new and everlasting way. I cried and laughed right along with them.

Their war widow sister, Victoria, has her own challenges as she struggles to discover what the future holds for her and her fatherless child. And fourteen year-old baby sister, Lorena has her own riveting soul-searching plot thread.

Once again, Gabhart has created an ambiance of hope and faith that lingers long after the covers of the book are closed. An exceptional conclusion to a magnificent series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Love Comes 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 August 3 2014. 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 Amish Nanny

GIVEAWAY

DAVIDS, PATRICIA
THE AMISH NANNY

A Family In Need

A reclusive Amish logger, Ethan Gingerich is more comfortable around his draft horses than the orphaned niece and nephews he's taken in. Yet he's determined to provide the children with a good, loving home. The little ones, including a defiant eight-year-old, need a proper nanny. But when Ethan hires shy Amishwoman Clara Barkman, he never expects her temporary position to have such a lasting hold on all of them. Now this man of few words must convince Clara she's found her forever home and family.

Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.

My Review:

The Barkman sisters are back and this time it is Clara's story that held me spellbound. I gobbled this one up in an afternoon, it was that good. Loved the blend of humour and drama and the stilted romance. I say stilted because poor Ethan is truly out of his element and that makes for fun reading!

Also appreciate the fact that the author understands that even shy, retiring maidels can be heroines in their own right. Clara isn't your typical heroine. Not only is she shy, but she's fearful about many things. Situations in her past have fed those fears, but she has nurtured them until they've grown out of proportion. Watching her find her inner strength and develop into a woman of courage makes for a moving inspirational read.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Amish Nanny 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 3 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my review copy of this book.

Miracle in a Dry Season

GIVEAWAY

THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
MIRACLE IN A DRY SEASON

It’s 1954 and Perla Long’s arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor…until he meets Perla. She’s everything he’s sought in a woman, but he can’t get past the sense that she’s hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla’s unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

My Review:

Spectacular debut novel! Book one in the multigenerational Appalachian Blessings series, Miracle in a Dry Season has woven me under its spell. Thomas writes with intricate detail, each measured word and phrase combines into a sumptuous feast of delicious proportion! There is an ethereal quality to the story that reminds me of a folktale. Such a pleasure to read -- its the kind of book where the words just sink into your heart and nurture your soul.

A compelling plot, memorable characters and a timeless love story all conspired to make Miracle in a Dry Season impossible to put down. And even though I've finished the book and started another one, I'm still basking in the lingering warmth of the inspirational message about forgiveness that is at the heart of the story. A memorable and uplifting read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Miracle in a Dry Season 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 3 2014. 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.

Protective Instincts

GIVEAWAY

MCCOY, SHIRLEE
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS

Stalked!

After losing her family, and then nearly her life when she was held hostage in Africa, grieving widow Raina Lowery only wants to put the past behind her. Instead, she's finding her son's toys in the woods and dodging a gunman's bullets. Raina is trapped in a real-life nightmare—until Jackson Miller reappears. Months ago, saving Raina was Jackson's job as a member of HEART, a private rescue team. But now it's personal. The hardened protector wants to give Raina—and himself—a second chance at love. But first he has to save her…again.

Mission: Rescue—No job is too dangerous for these fearless heroes

My Review:

Great new series by a much loved author. Jackson has my vote for swoonworthy hero of the year. I didn't even bother getting up from my fainting couch when I read this one. :-) Jackson is a wonderful combination of tender and brawn and one hundred per cent protector. Just what Raina needs when her life is turned upside down by a creepy stalker. You're going to want to keep shoulder checking if you read this book at night! But McCoy has woven some precious moments of humour along with all that taut suspense. And she's done a great job of introducing her readers to the HEART team. I predict more thrilling reads in the future.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Protective Instincts 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 2 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

July Giveaway - Week Four

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 month time frame. If I can't reach you within four 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:

Woman of Courage

BRUNSTETTER, WANDA
WOMAN OF COURAGE

Take a three-thousand mile journey with Amanda Pearson as she leaves the disgrace of a broken engagement and enters the work of a Quaker mission in the western wilds. The trip is fraught with danger, and Amanda is near death before reaching her destination. Among those she meets are an Indian woman who becomes her first convert and a half-Indian trapper who seems to be her biggest critic. But love follows her into the wilderness and will determine the course of her future. You are sure to enjoy this historical romance adventure from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

My Review:

An epic tale of courage and faith though I think the title should be Women of Courage since it was the Indian woman, Mary's story that held me spellbound. Now that's courage! Amanda's journey into the wilderness does make for a fascinating read as well. Exchanging her orderly life in a Quaker settlement for the perils of being a missionary among the Nez Perce tribe results in many life altering consequences. Amanda and those closest to her survive untold dangers. I barely had time to catch my breath before something unexpected lurked on the next page. From one peril to the next Amanda struggles to find her place in this untamed land. An interesting look at a fascinating time in American history.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a review copy of this book.

Blind Trust

 

GIVEAWAY

ORCHARD, SANDRA
BLIND TRUST

Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can’t believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker’s investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor’s innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation–and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world–and her budding romance with Tom–begin to crumble. To Kate, it’s clear that she won’t be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster’s secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom?

 

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard draws readers into a world of rogues, red herrings, and romance as she unfolds the continuing story of amateur sleuth Kate Adams.

 

N.B. Each book in this series is a stand-alone mystery featuring Kate Adams, a herbal medicine researcher turned amateur sleuth, and Tom Parker, Port Aster’s newest detective. Together the three-book series reads as a romantic suspense, with Kate and Tom’s romance and an underlying suspense plot arcing the series. For that reason, and because book two is a spoiler for book one, we recommend the series be read in order.

 

My Review:

 

 As the author's disclaimer says, Bind Trust is best read as the second book in the series. Having said that, it does read well as a standalone, however obviously acts as a spoiler to the mystery in the first book.

I think Orchard has created a new genre...suspestry? Or myspense? A suspense/mystery hybrid. :-) Whatever you want to call it, this is a page-turning read. The author's detail-oriented, steel-trapped mind is scary! How she keeps everything straight as she weaves the current plot and overall series arc together is beyond me. I'm just glad she does! Honestly, my mind was reeling by the end of the book. And the end? Sob, more of a cliff hanger!

Kate and Tom are back dancing around a relationship. One step forward, two steps back. That's all right, I know they are destined for each other. Can't wait until the next book to follow their romance to it's rightful conclusion.

If you like a good mystery with a liberal dose of suspense and dashes of humour and light romance then Blind Trust is definitely the book for you!

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Blind Trust 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 July 27  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Captured by Love

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY
CAPTURED BY LOVE

It is 1814 and the British have taken hold of Mackinac Island and its fort, forcing American residents to swear an oath of loyalty to the British crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a voyageur--a fur trader who left his family home to find freedom and adventure. He's been gone five years and when he returns, his family's farm is at the mercy of the British invaders.
Torn between the life he's grown used to and guilt over leaving his brother and mother, he's drawn back into the loyalist fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique Mackenzie, a beautiful local girl who's been befriended by the daughter of the British commander. As tensions mount and the threat of violence increases, both Angelique and Pierre must decide where their loyalties rest, how far they will go to find freedom, and how much they will risk to find love.

My Review:

Oh my stars, I don't know where to begin. Absolutely amazing writing. It's in the minutest of details from dialogue to characterization to action-paced adventure. The pages are steeped in history so vivid I could smell the gun powder, feel Angelique's gnawing hunger, hear the battle sounds. I felt like a time traveller!

And the romance! Oh la la you'll need your fainting couch and smelling salts for this read. You can't expect any less when it comes to such vibrant, opinionated, passionate characters as Pierre and Angelique. Tension crackles off the page every time they are together. Angelique reliving her girlhood crush until it becomes something much deeper and more meaningful. Pierre -- the consummate flirt and the best reformed rake I've met within the pages of a book. He really grapples with Angelique's transformation from girl to woman in his absence from the island. And there are so many obstacles in the way of a happily ever after.

And if the romance doesn't bring enough tension to the story the gritty reality of war certainly will. Hedlund explores a fascinating piece of North American history. Fur traders, voyageurs, Indian alliances, British and Americans at war. An epic tale that left me breathless. You. Must. Read. This. Book! Yes...you!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Captured by 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 July 27  2014. 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.

Saving Amelie

GIVEAWAY

GOHLKE, CATHY
SAVING AMELIE

Increasingly wary of her father’s genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him to Germany—in the summer of 1939—will be her last. But a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.

Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father’s files may hold answers about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems “unworthy of life.” She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known.

Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young—a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally—who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife’s edge, risking their lives—and asking others to do the same—for those they barely know but come to love.

My Review:

Mesmerizing. Captivating. Contemplative. Agonizing. I'm having difficulty corralling my scrambled brain. Gohlke's words have penetrated my heart, mind and soul. This is the kind of read that changes you. Challenges you. Charges you to strive to be a better person in a fallen world.

I've long been fascinated by holocaust and resistance stories and this one is an incredible tribute to the courage of the every day people who dared to stand against the Nazi's reign of terror. Gripping from the very first page, I pretty much dropped everything and read my way to the end. Read with an accelerated heart rate, a lump in my throat and terror tracking down my spine. I am still reeling over the stupidity of the masses who blindly followed a madman. But I'm filled with hope as well, because Hitler was ultimately defeated by thousands of individuals who did the right thing under unconscionable circumstances.

Saving Amelie is a compelling novel with a stand-up-and-cheer kind of ending worthy of the biggest blockbuster hit. I wept buckets at the end. An exceptional read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Saving Amelie 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 July 27 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

My thanks to Tyndale Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Her Stolen Past

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
HER STOLEN PAST

A stolen baby

When Sonya Daniels finds a kidnapped baby's birth certificate hidden in her late mother's home, she's shocked. What was her family's connection to the child, still missing for over two decades? And what happened to the little girl? Sonya hires detective Brandon Hayes to help her get to the truth. But someone doesn't want the truth to come out and will stop at nothing to keep them from investigating. Sonya knows the guarded cop won't rest until he unravels the mystery—but the answers could be more than she can bear alone.

Family Reunions: Bringing loved ones back together

My Review:

Eason is an expert at drawing out suspense. I've read nearly every book she has written and have loved each one. She has the incredible ability to balance suspense and romance which always makes for a rich, satisfying read.

And, oh my goodness, the tension! The mystery! The 'Ack! Run! Duck!' moments!!! I got all smug about half way through thinking I'd figured it all out. "Ha!" I scoffed at the imaginary author in my head, "I've got this baby all wrapped up. Pretty soon you'll have to hire me on at the Finding the Lost Agency." Ahem. Egg on my face. I was wrong...but I was close! Sigh, Maybe next time.

Needless to say, I devoured this book in one sitting and then went into a sulk because the adrenaline-pumping interlude was over way too fast! And yes, there are a lot of ! in this review, but I stand by them all. It was that kind of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Her Stolen Past 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 July 27 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

July Giveaway - Week Three

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 month time frame. If I can't reach you within four 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:

A Hero in the Making

KINGERY, LAURA
A HERO IN THE MAKING

Man on a Mission…

Nate Bohannan won't let anything stand in the way of his grand plans in California. Even if it means traveling there with unreliable huckster Robert Salali. But after a destructive bender in Simpson Creek, Texas, the unscrupulous Salali runs out, leaving Nate to carry the blame—and the debt. He can fix broken furniture…but can anything fix the despair in café owner Ella Justiss's eyes?

When her café was destroyed, Ella felt sure she'd lost her dreams along with it. Yet somehow Nate's cheerful care and optimism fill her with hope again. Painful secrets from her childhood make Ella wary of men. When danger threatens, will Nate be the hero Ella can finally trust—and love?

Brides of Simpson Creek: Small-town Texas spinsters find love with mail-order grooms!

My Review:

I love historical westerns and this one has a number of unique twists that make it stand out. I love that Nate really is a hero in the making. He has a noble heart but that doesn't always translate into noble actions. He has a somewhat dubious job when we first meet him. He knows it, but justifies away his misgivings until it's nearly too late. His journey toward becoming a true hero makes for a satisfying read. Mind you -- he's never perfect and makes plenty of mistakes but his brash, cheerful personality win over most of the townspeople.

Except Ella. At first. Ella's distrust runs deep and lasts longer than it should. By slow degrees, the author reveals just why that is. A painful past haunts Ella. Nate can see that and his tenderness and care even when Ella is at her prickliest makes him a true hero in my books.

Plenty of plot twists and enough emotional angst makes A Hero in the Making an excellent read.

Catch a Falling Star

VOGT, BETH K.
CATCH A FALLING STAR

Successful career gal Kendall Haynes is tired of wishing on stars for a home and a family. Can God’s dreams for her be even better than her own?

What does a girl do when life doesn’t go according to her plan? At thirty-six, Kendall Haynes has seen some of her dreams come true. She’s a family physician helping kids with severe allergies and asthma achieve more fulfilling lives—a childhood struggle she knows all too well. But are Kendall’s dreams of having it all—a career, a husband, children—nothing more than a childhood fantasy? God says He knows the plans He has for her—why can’t Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?

Griffin Walker prefers flying solo—both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of “flying a desk” are complicated by his parents’ death—making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can he get his life back on track…or has there been a divine plan all along?

Catch a Falling Star reminds readers that romance isn’t just for twenty-somethings and that sometimes letting go of your “wish I may, wish I might” dreams is the only way to embrace everything God has waiting for you.

My Review:

Superb!!! The romance is toe-curling, fainting couch swoonworthy! I love how the author builds their relationship out of nothing. I've never met a hero and heroine who disliked each other quite so much at their first meet. :-) Kendall's hard put to find a kind word for Griffin. He couldn't care less. Not an auspicious beginning. But fate keeps throwing them in each other's path and soon they bond over a jeep. But it's just friendship. Griffin has no intention of getting involved with anyone. Ever. Again. Kendall has finally met a handsome doctor type who seems too good to be true. But again fate intervenes.

There are some surprising twists in the plot which lead to a whole lot of heart ache. But reader, don't despair, you're in Vogt's capable hands. She weaves a story of wonder and awe filled with second chances.

His Montana Sweetheart

GIVEAWAY

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
HIS MONTANA SWEETHEART

Catching His Heart

Olivia Franklin suspected coming home to Jasper Gulch would mean eventually running into her first love, Jack McGuire. But she's adamant that she not repeat the mistakes that led to her broken heart. Yet from the moment she lays eyes on her former sweetheart, her resistance begins to crumble. The tall, handsome rancher made his choice all those years ago. He'd gone from the baseball diamond to a high-rise office and finally back home to the Double M—all without her. And no amount of centennial nostalgia can change the past. But the future is another story, and the pretty historian is about to get a lesson in romance from the lonesome cowboy she will never forget!

Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love.

My Review:

Cowboys, baseball, a couple of cute kids and even cuter critters -- can it get any more all-American than this? I think not! Herne's distinctive style captures the warmth and chaos of small town life with sublime perfection. This writer succeeds in grabbing my emotion on a gut level and pulls me through the wringer a few times before the happily ever after is handed out at the end. Love that kind of roller coaster read.

Herne explores the crippling consequences lack of trust can have on a relationship...and a life. Jack and Olivia's present is complicated by a past that hasn't been forgotten. It's a journey doomed to failure but the author has no intention of leaving them floundering. She knits old wounds together with threads of hope making this a wonderful inspirational read.

I love a good second chance story and this one is excellent.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of His Montana Sweetheart 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 July 20  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Revealing

GIVEAWAY

 

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
THE REVEALING

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work-- something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

My Review:

Crazy good. Though I'm bereft now that I've finished The Revealing and have to say goodbye to this incredible series. Though this is the third in The Inn at the Eagle Hill series you don't have to have read the other two in order to enjoy this one. However, I do think the book will mean so much more if you have. Desperately praying that the author will pick up with a couple of characters in her next books. There are a  few who need their own happily ever afters.

Fisher weaves her magic within the pages of her stories which makes all her characters take on a life of their own. They turn into living, breathing people that become friends for life. And oh my goodness this book is rich with a wealth of such characters! I'd be hard pressed to name a favourite...though I could mention a couple of ne'er-do-wells that set my blood to boiling!

A zig zaggy plot will keep you on your toes -- and your emotions yo-yoing up and down, especially if you've read the other two Inn at the Eagle Hill books. I was alternately exclaiming, raging and screeching as things really heated up. All to no avail though -- those stubborn characters would insist on doing things their way!

Honestly, I was breathless by the end. I had to close the book and spend some time savoring all the nuances of a masterfully told story before I could even contemplated starting on another book...and that doesn't happen to me often! The Revealing is a heart-breaking and heart-warming conclusion to a much loved series.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Revealing 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 July 20  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Mother For His Children

GIVEAWAY

DREXLER, JAN
A MOTHER FOR HIS CHILDREN

From Amish nanny to bride

After her sweetheart's betrayal, Ruthy Mummert leaves behind the small-town gossip of her Amish community for the first opportunity she can find: a housekeeper position in faraway LaGrange County, Indiana. Ruthy didn't realize the job meant caring for ten children—and for their handsome widowed father.

To Levi Zook's mind, Ruthy is too young and too pretty to be anyone's housekeeper. A marriage of convenience will protect her reputation and give his children the security they dearly need. But it could also give them the courage to grasp a new chance at happiness—if Ruthy is willing to risk her wounded heart once more.

My Review:

This book tickled me so much I'm still grinning. I kept thinking of the song I Have Confidence from Sound of Music. The line -- "A captain with seven children, what's so fearsome about that?" -- readily transformed into "A farmer with ten children, what's so fearsome about that?" in my mind and I found myself humming as I read. The way Ruthy finds out about the children is hysterical. Totally priceless. Loved, loved, loved everything about the beginning of this book. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and then I was hooked and had to read it in one sitting. Nothing like wiling away a summer day with an excellent book, right?

Drexler is a great new voice in Amish fiction. Fans of her debut novel, The Prodigal Son Returns will welcome catching up with Bram and Ellie but A Mother For His Children reads easily as a standalone story so no worries if you're not familiar with characters from the first book.

The subtle romance between Levi and Ruthy heats up by slow degrees to a first-rate conclusion -- toe curls and all! And a packed plot has enough twists to keep a reader paying attention -- including a few gasp out loud surprises. Love finding the unexpected in a novel! An all round excellent read that belongs on everyone's summer reading list.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A MotherFor His Children 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 July 20  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Safe Haven

GIVEAWAY

SCHMIDT, ANNA
SAFE HAVEN

When journalist Suzanne Randolph hears about FDR’s plan to bring a boatload of displaced WWII refugees to America, she knows it may be her last chance to redeem her flagging career. Suzanne follows the story to Oswego, New York, where she meets Theo Bridgewater, a Quaker dairy farmer from Wisconsin who has come to reunite with his uncle and aunt and cousin. Theo’s fight to spare his relatives the return to Germany becomes Suzanne’s fight as she does everything that the “power of the pen” can muster to help win public sympathy for the cause.

 

My Review:

 

Safe Haven is an incredibly moving story that explores a unique take on the popular World War II genre. I did not know about the displaced refugees that were brought to America towards the end of the war so I found that angle completely fascinating. And what a backdrop it makes as Schmidt weaves diverse tales of survival and hope among a cast of fascinating characters. At the forefront, Theo and Suzanne's friendship and eventual romance are the common thread that weave it all together. I became invested in their stories from the very first chapter. A compelling, stirring read that showcases the resiliency of humanity after the onslaught of despair. Truly remarkable.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Safe 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 July 20  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a review copy of this book.

July Giveaway - Week Two

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 month time frame. If I can't reach you within four 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:

Distortion

BLACKSTOCK, TERRI
DISTORTION

A husband’s lies can have deadly consequences.

When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. “Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don’t turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you’ll be burying more family members.” Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger.

She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves. Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

My Review:

Whoa -- what an intense, page-turning read. The tension leeched off the pages right up my fingertips. Talk about an edgy read! I think I hyperventilated my way through the whole thing. I'm still feeling light-headed.

This is the second in the Moonlighters series and in some ways it continues right on from the first book. I haven't read Truth Stained Lies and I had no trouble picking up the few continuous threads so definitely a good (really, really good) standalone read.

Superb suspense, a taut plot and a layers deep mystery make this an incredible read but Blackstock's strength lies in the magnificent way she weaves spiritual truths into the story. I got goosebumps. I wept. The author not only engaged my emotions, she stirred my soul. Absolutely amazing.

The Governess of Highland Hall

GIVEAWAY

 

TURANSKY, CARRIE
THE GOVERNESS OF HIGHLAND HALL

Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help?

Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.

Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is the distraction coming of a kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.

While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?

My Review:

A finalist in this year's Carol Awards in the Historical Romance category and I can totally see why. A fantastic turn-of-the-century novel with a Downton Abbeyish vibe. This story just flies from the very first page. Turansky has captured the time period perfectly including the whole upstairs/downstairs conundrum. And she's created some memorable characters.

Julia is the shining star. Her unusual upbringing and years working along side her parents in the mission field in India have made her a force to be reckoned with. This is no shy, missish lady. She stands her ground with conviction and compassion. A lethal combination that soon pierces the heart of her reclusive employer and turns his household inside out.

An absorbing novel that delivers an emotional, soul-satisfying read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Governess of Highland Hall 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 July 13  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Her Montana Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

HANSEN, VALERIE
HER MONTANA COWBOY

The Man of Her Dreams

Julie Shaw is up to her ears in parade preparations…and cowboys! As the mayor's daughter, she needs to make sure the centennial celebrations for her beloved hometown of Jasper Gulch, Montana, go off without a hitch. Surely that's why she's feeling so flustered. It couldn't have anything to do with the handsome Ryan Travers. Of course she'd noticed the visiting rodeo star with the sparkle in his eye. But Julie is way too sensible to fall for his obvious appeal. As the town gossips about a century-old mystery, Julie's thoughts keep drifting to the charming cowboy. Despite her father's objections, she may soon find herself roped in…by love.

Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love

 My Review:

What a great introduction to the Big Sky Centennial series. This is pure romance at its best. One of things I loved most about this book is the instant attraction between Julie and Ryan. And Miss Julie is kind of brazen about it too. It was great to read about a woman setting out to get her man. I knew from the start that Ryan didn't stand a chance. The romantic development is exquisite -- such a joy to read. And the snappy banter between the two kept me smiling right on through. And seriously, how can you not love a book that has a diner named Great Gulch Grub in it? A lot of heartfelt scenes take place in that diner. Hansen did a wonderful job of setting up the plot threads that will link the series together. My mind is spinning with all the possibilities. So excited to read a new one each month...until December I believe.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Her Montana Cowboy 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 July 13  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!