November Giveaway - Week Five

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.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

The Woman Code : 20 Powerful Keys to Unlock Your Life

NELSON, SOPHIA A.
THE WOMAN CODE : 20 POWERFUL KEYS TO UNLOCK YOUR LIFE

Every woman lives by a code, whether she realizes it or not. It informs how she treats others and herself, how much she expects of herself, and how far she is willing to go in order to find success. But is the code we're living by truly helping us create the lives of purpose and fulfillment we desire? Or are we sacrificing the deeper things for mere achievement?

In this inspiring book, Sophia A. Nelson calls women to live out a powerful life code that will lead them to purposeful and successful lives. With the wisdom that comes from experience, Nelson reveals to women

· the true meaning of "having it all"
· how to take better care of their minds, bodies, and souls
· how to achieve professional excellence without compromising their values
· how to find lasting love and purpose in life beyond their accomplishments
· how to navigate the sisterhood of women, to build collaboration rather than competition
· how to heal from past hurts, rejection, and life's inevitable storms
· and much more

The Woman Code is a way of living, of navigating life's challenges, and of interacting positively with other women. It's a way of pursuing our dreams and our deepest desires. It reveals a universal and timeless set of principles of the mind, body, and spirit that help women balance the demands of work, home, family, and friendship. The Woman Code not only calls on women to practice purpose in their lives, it shows them how to do it with grace.

My Review:

One of my favourite quotes from this book: "To be a woman is to be power in motion." (p.27) And that really sums up the direction Nelson takes her readers as she encourages us to find fresh perspective in every aspect of our lives. The topics covered aren't new, but the approach is. Nelson's writing is fluid, thoughtful and kept my attention. It almost felt like we were having a conversation. I really got a lot out of the Living the Code sections where she challenges the reader to dig deeper and turn thoughts into action. Very motivational. The Woman Code is the kind of book you want to have close at hand for frequent consultation. I don't read many non-fiction books cover to cover but this one is an exception. It has definitely earned a place on the keeper shelf.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Perilous Refuge

GIVEAWAY

TAILER, KATHLEEN
PERILOUS REFUGE

Nowhere to turn

When she witnesses her boss's murder, Chelsea Rogers is forced on the run. Hiding out as a personal assistant to a wealthy matron on a Hawaiian vacation, she hopes to stay off-the-radar. But then Alex Sullivan, her employer's dashing but highly suspicious attorney, starts digging into her identity—and hired guns begin stalking her every move. Another murder leaves her with no choice—she has to trust Alex to have any chance of surviving. But when the threats against her put them both at risk, will the danger she can't outrun cost her the man she's learned to love?

My Review:

A game of cat and mouse that just doesn't let up! One harrowing scene follows another as Chelsea desperately tries to evade the men stalking her. You might just need a defibrillator for this one! There is literally no place to hide but kudos to Alex for his determination to help Chelsea through it all. He goes from distrustful cynic to valiant protector as the story progresses. Kind of hard to resist -- even for Chelsea who has a lot on her mind! A great blend of action and romance that will keep you on your toes right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Perilous Refuge 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 November 30 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Dream of Home

GIVEAWAY

CLIPSTON, AMY
A DREAM OF HOME

Moving to Pennsylvania wasn't in Madeleine's original plans. She should still be in California and should have married her pilot fiance a year ago-but death has a way of changing everything. Now the former Air Force flight nurse is living alone in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and working as a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel. She isn't exactly a widow . . . but she sure feels like one.

Saul Beiler isn't exactly a widower . . . but his wife is long gone. His eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, doesn't know that her mother fled the Amish community-and married another man-but she does know that her dat is lonely, and that a pretty young maedel just moved in next door. Madeleine's numb heart begins to thaw as she spends more time with the innocent and ever optimistic Emma. The stronger her friendship grows with the young girl, the more intrigued Madeleine grows about the humble, strong, man raising her on his own.

But even as a strange attraction pulls Saul and Madeleine across a stark cultural divide, they-and everybody else-have to wonder: What could they possibly have in common besides heartache? Will love allow Madeleine to finally find the home she's been dreaming of all along?

My Review:

It's easy to see why Amy Clipston is a best-selling author. She knows how to create a community readers keep wanting to come back to. This third in the Hearts of the Lancaster Hotel series is a delightful mix of old and new.  The old comes in the form of continuous storylines that carry over from A Mother's Secret and A Hopeful Heart. The author helpfully supplies family trees for the various families featured in this series and I'll admit I needed the refresher course but things quickly fell into place as I began to read. A Dream of Home can be read as a standalone novel but I think reading the other two books first will bring maximum enjoyment.

Madeleine and Saul's story is the new part, though we have met them both before in previous books. Theirs is an impossible, twisty, turny kind of romance that seems doomed from the start. It's about soul searching and following God's leading even when it doesn't make any sense. Tender and touching and breathtakingly beautiful,

There is still one more book in the series due out in April 2015 as is evidenced by a few dangling threads at the conclusion of this one. The author has definitely left me anxious for more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Dream of 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 November 30 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Chateau of Secrets

GIVEAWAY

DOBSON,MELANIE
CHATEAU OF SECRETS

A courageous young noblewoman risks her life to hide French resistance fighters; seventy years later, her granddaughter visits the family’s abandoned chateau and uncovers shocking secrets from the past.

Gisèle Duchant guards a secret that could cost her life. Tunnels snake through the hill under her family’s medieval chateau in Normandy. Now, with Hitler’s army bearing down, her brother and several friends are hiding in the tunnels, resisting the German occupation of France.

But when German soldiers take over the family’s château, Gisèle is forced to host them as well—while harboring the resistance fighters right below their feet. Taking in a Jewish friend’s baby, she convinces the Nazis that it is her child, ultimately risking everything for the future of the child. When the German officers begin to suspect her deception, an unlikely hero rescues both her and the child.

A present day story weaves through the past one as Chloe Sauver, Gisèle’s granddaughter, arrives in Normandy. After calling off her engagement with a political candidate, Chloe pays a visit to the chateau to escape publicity and work with a documentary filmmaker, Riley, who has uncovered a fascinating story about Jews serving in Hitler’s army. Riley wants to research Chloe’s family history and the lives that were saved in the tunnels under their house in Normandy. Chloe is floored—her family isn’t Jewish, for one thing, and she doesn’t know anything about tunnels or the history of the house. But as she begins to explore the dark and winding passageways beneath the chateau, nothing can prepare her for the shock of what she and Riley discover…

With emotion and intrigue, Melanie Dobson brings World War II France to life in this beautiful novel about war, family, sacrifice, and the secrets of the past.

My Review:

What a tumultuous read! I had dreams about this book! Chateau of Secrets captivated me that much! Exceptional writing and an intricate plot consumed me. The story goes back and forth between Gisele's life in German occupied France and her granddaughter's experiences in present day. The way the author weaves their stories back and forth, slowly meshing the pieces together as we head to a crescendo of a climax -- well, breathtaking doesn't begin to describe the kind of read this is. Honestly, I'm gobsmacked.

A masterful tale that includes a different spin on the World War II theme. An emotion filled, complicated story that, while painful at times, is ultimately uplifting. Dobson has done a tremendous job of capturing the courageous spirit of some incredible people. She turns despair into hope and breathes new life into a timeless tale of sacrifice. A book that truly honors the heroes of our past.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Chateau of Secrets 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 November 30 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Silver Lake Secrets

GIVEAWAY
 

STONE, ALISON
SILVER LAKE SECRETS

Nicole Braun left Silver Lake under a cloud of suspicion—and someone isn't about to let her forget her troubled past now that she's returned home. The single mom has worked hard to overcome her reputation, but suddenly she's the target of an unknown enemy. Only local police chief Brett Eggert has the power to protect her and her young son. But nothing prepares the lawman for the discovery that Nicole's little boy is the nephew he never knew he had. With Nicole's secret revealed, Brett is more determined than ever to ensure her safety and find out what's behind her deadly homecoming.

My Review:

In a word: intense. And not just from the suspense. Nicole's personal life has just as much tension -- if not more. Her return to a town that doesn't want to let go of her past mistakes made for a gut-wrenching read. I was frustrated with everyone, including our somewhat judgemental hero. Luckily Brett has a soft side that comes across early on and I'll admit, it was kind of fun to watch him eat some humble pie by the end. :-) The sinister suspense matched with a twisty romance makes this a page-turning read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Silver Lake Secrets 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 November 30 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

An October Bride

GIVEAWAY

 GANSHERT, KATIE
AN OCTOBER BRIDE

What if the only way you could make your father’s last wish come true . . . was to marry the man of your dreams?

Emma Tate has just moved on from one fiancé, so when she announces a sudden engagement to her lifelong buddy Jake Sawyer, every busybody in Mayfair goes into high alert. Of course, no one but Jake and Emma know the real reason they’re getting married—so Emma’s dying father will have a chance to walk her down the aisle.

 But while Jake and Emma move forward with their plan—and frantically plan an October wedding—it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications . . . the biggest being their true feelings for each other.

With dubious friends, deliriously thrilled parents, and a town that won’t keep its nose out of their business, Emma and Jake will have a lot to contend with if they’re going to pull this off. The real question is: Who wants this wedding more, Emma’s dad . . . or Emma?

My Review:

Please note: available in ebook format only

Kudos to the author for engaging my emotions in such a short word count. This novella reads with all the satisfaction found in a novel length story. Told in first person point of view, it's all about Emma. We watch events unfold through her eyes only and that creates a lovely intimate reading experience.  An October Bride is a bittersweet love story packed with valuable life lessons and the hope that comes from truly believing. Delectable.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of An October Bride 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 November 30 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

November 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.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Princess Spy

GIVEAWAY

DICKERSON, MELANIE
PRINCESS SPY

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha-one of the few who speaks his language-understands the wild story. Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin's message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself "Lord Colin" is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy-not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she's sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot.

My Review:

First, let's just bask in the glory of that striking cover. That dress is gorgeous -- can't you just feel the silky softness of the fabric? What a wonderful advertisement for the lushest of stories inside.

Dickerson has woven her magic into another splendid fairy tale retelling. This time she adds her own unique twist to The Frog Prince. There are some very clever nods to the original tale along with truly dastardly villains and hopeless treachery and a heroine who needs rescuing...or wait, is that the hero who needs rescuing? Love how Margaretha can hold her own in the midst of diabolical plots. This princess certainly isn't faint of heart!

A brilliant fairy tale rendering with lots of action and romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Princess Spy 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 November 23 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Her Christmas Guardian

GIVEAWAY

MCCOY, SHIRLEE
HER CHRISTMAS GUARDIAN

To save her daughter

Former army ranger Boone Anderson immediately senses danger when he spots Scout Cramer and her precious little girl while holiday shopping. Then two cars suddenly give chase in the parking lot—kidnapping the child. His worst suspicions are confirmed, and professional instincts propel him into action. Having lost his own infant daughter years before, Boone is determined to reunite the beautiful single mother and her missing child. But when a secret from Scout's past finally catches up to her, she must work with her self-appointed guardian to save her daughter. Before the kidnappers cancel Christmas for all of them…permanently.

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

My Review:

A sense of danger shivered up my spine as I read the very first page and I didn't stop quaking until the end. This is the second book in the Mission: Rescue series and it is just as good as the first. Reoccurring secondary characters in the form of Hostage Rescue and Extraction team members play an integral role in solving this case. I love the continuity they bring to the series, the chance to get to know them a little better and the thrill of being able to read their stories in future books.

But this is Boone's story and what a dynamic hero! Protective, sharp, determined, focused. Failure is not an option for this guy. He's in the right place at the right time to become entangled in Scout's treacherous life. The consistent, breakneck pace kept me frantically turning pages. In fact, Her Christmas Guardian is the kind of book you want to read in one sitting. It's that good.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Her Christmas Guardian 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 November 23 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Love Without End

GIVEAWAY

HATCHER, ROBIN LEE
LOVE WITHOUT END

Chet and Kimberly have both failed when it comes to love. Will they risk their hearts to love again?

Chet Leonard’s life was forever changed when his seventeen year old son died and then, soon after, his wife walked out on their family. Over two years later, all he wants to do is hold onto his horse ranch and raise his remaining sons to be honorable men.

Kimberly Welch, widowed mother of Tara, a rebellious fifteen-year-old, has reached the end of her finances and nearly the end of her rope. She and Tara come to Kings Meadow to try to piece their lives back together again. Kimberly has no intention of become involved with the residents of this remote mountain community and certainly not with any man.

When 84-year-old Anna McKenna returns to Kings Meadow and to the Leonard ranch, she becomes an agent of change and healing for the two hurting families. With her help, Kimberly and Chet’s families at last discover a love without end.

My Review:

I'm delighted to know that this is the first in a new series. I have fallen in love with Kings Meadow and I'm anxious to return. I felt right at home on the ranch and that's saying something for this city girl. Hatcher has created a setting that takes on a character all its own.

And speaking of characters -- there are a bevy of living breathing ones in the pages of this book. I adored Nana Anna. The wisdom of her life experience is just what Chet and Kimberly -- and their families -- need. The book goes back and forth in time to tell Anna's story while developing Kimberly and Chet's romance in present time. Love how the two blend together and there are so many nuances to the title, Love Without End.

Hatcher takes her readers on an emotionally explosive journey towards second chances. A brilliant and inspiring read.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/rhatcher

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Love Without End 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 November 23 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Patmos Deception

GIVEAWAY

BUNN, DAVIS
THE PATMOS DECEPTION

An ancient island holds an ancient secret...

Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

My Review:

Seriously good. Bunn immerses his readers into the Greek culture from the very first page. Sights, sounds, emotions -- we feel it all right along with Carey as she soaks in her first impression of the country. I love how she gets swept away by a large, boisterous and definitely opinionated Greek family. They nearly smother her but it's just what she needs when she first arrives and they definitely provide some levity in an otherwise tense plot.

Nick has perfected the cool detachment of a seasoned journalist. He's ready to make his mark in his chosen profession and approaches his assignment with passionate single-mindedness. Such a contrast to Carey's wide-eyed wonder. Love watching the two play off each other and even though Carey is somewhat naive, she can hold her own with Nick. Familiarity from growing up together certainly helps.

And then there's Dimitri whose life is as far removed from the Americans as you can get. He and his family are struggling to survive after the collapse of the Greek economy. His story line is fascinating and plunges the reader into intrigue and danger. The author expertly weaves a complicated plot with some serious twists and turns that kept me on my toes. And I really appreciated the vibrant spiritual thread that builds to a startling conclusion. My only complaint with The Patmos Deception is that it ended...and with a few cliff hangers (including the romantic kind) that will hopefully be cleared up in the next book.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Patmos Deception 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 November 23 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Yuletide Baby

GIVEAWAY

KASTNER, DEB
YULETIDE BABY

A Christmas Surprise
 
Shawn O'Riley is shocked to find a baby girl abandoned at his church on Christmas Eve. He's a pastor and a cowboy—not a daddy! Haunted by family tragedy, he's not sure he can risk his heart to baby Noelle—or to anyone else. But he needs help. Experienced foster mom Heather Lewis was anticipating a quiet holiday. When Shawn pops up at her door, she's happy to show him the ropes of baby care—but isn't prepared for the way he melts the walls around her heart. Can Shawn and Heather give each other the best Christmas gift of all—family and love?

Cowboy Country: Surprise babies lead to unexpected love in Texas

My Review:

Cover cuteness factor of 110! I just couldn't resist. And hello -- cowboy hero, abandoned baby and small town rallying around to help. Seriously, how could a reader go wrong? There were Shawn/Baby Noelle scenes that melted me into a pile of goo. In fact,  I didn't fully solidify again until I reached the end. Blissful sigh.

Even Heather (who is determined to guard her heart at any cost) couldn't resist that O'Riley charm and that's very disconcerting because he is the last man on earth she should feel comfortable around. Having survived a horrific past, she is determined to make it on her own. Shawn hasn't had an easy time of it either. Kastner slowly reveals both their pasts in tantalizing snippets throughout the story. I was about jumping out of my skin to put all the pieces together.

The author does an exceptional job of developing a complicated plot to a surprising conclusion. Love it when you can say "Whoa, I didn't see that coming!" An awesome Christmas read full of heart and spirit.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Yuletide Baby 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 November 23 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

November 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.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

The Yuletide Rescue

GIVEAWAY

DALEY, MARGARET
THE YULETIDE RESCUE

Mistletoe and murder

When Dr. Bree Mathison’s plane plummets into the Alaskan wilderness at Christmastime, she is torn between grief and panic. With the pilot—her dear friend—dead and wolves circling, she struggles to survive. Search and Rescue leader David Stone fights his way through the elements to save her. David suspects the plane crash might not have been an accident, spurring Bree’s sense that she’s being watched. But why is someone after her? Suddenly Bree finds herself caught in the middle of a whirlwind of secrets during the holiday season. With everyone she cares about most in peril, Bree and her promised protector must battle the Alaskan tundra and vengeful criminals to make it to the New Year.

Alaskan Search and Rescue: Risking their lives to save the day

My Review:

Loved the intense start to this taut suspense and it doesn't let up until the very end. It left me breathless -- but whether from the tense situations or the hero in protective overdrive, I'm not sure. :-)The Alaska setting adds an extra edge as well. It's a fascinating (and underused) setting for books. I was on tenterhooks as the mystery slowly unravels while the danger keeps ramping up. Phew! A doozy of a read and a thrilling new series. Doesn't get any better than that.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Yuletide Rescue 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 November 16 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

An Amish Christmas Journey

GIVEAWAY

Their Holiday Adventure

Toby Yoder promised to care for his orphaned little sister the rest of her life. After all, the tragedy that took their parents and left her injured was his fault. Now he must make a three-hundred-mile trip from the hospital to the Amish community where they'll settle down. But as they share a hired van with pretty Greta Barkman, an Amish woman with a similar harrowing past, Toby can't bear for the trip to end. Suddenly, there's joy, a rescued cat named Christmas and hope for their journey to continue together forever.

My Review:

Best line in the whole book: "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." That's advice Greta is given early on in the book and it sets the tone for this inspiring story. Love the concept of Toby and Greta's Christmas journey. I could see parallels with the Wise Men's journey of old. Both present and past seekers are searching for truth and the peace finding it can bring. Appropriately, for both Toby and Greta that peace comes from finding true forgiveness. Such a powerful story of coming to terms with loss and having the courage to move on from it. The sweet romance adds a deeper dimension to an already moving tale.  An Amish Christmas Journey brings the true meaning of Christmas to life. A 'novel' addition to any seasonal reading list -- especially if you are an Amish fan.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of An Amish Christmas Journey 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 November 16 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Every Tear a Memory

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, MYRA
EVERY TEAR A MEMORY

Joanna Trapp found adventure serving in France as a "Hello Girl," one of over 200 telephone operators called upon by General Pershing to serve in the Army Signal Corps, but she still mourns her doughboy sweetheart killed in battle. Returning to Hot Springs, Arkansas, she takes a job as a switchboard operator at the Arlington Hotel and quickly discovers that after her experiences overseas, civilian life proves dull.

Thomas Ballard still regrets he was medically ineligible to serve in the war and feels inferior to those who did, especially his war-hero brother, Gilbert. When Thomas finds himself attracted to Joanna, he strives to match her adventurous spirit, when all he really wants is to settle down, raise a family, and earn respect as a successful businessman.

As romance blossoms, can two such different people learn to accept not only their own but each other's God-created individuality . . . or will love change them both?

My Review:

A prodigal son story with a twist because Thomas is the dutiful son who does everything right. His prodigal brother has brought enough heartache and tragedy to the family (When Clouds Roll By and Whisper Goodbye.) But now Gilbert has his life on track and Thomas is having difficulty adjusting to 'normal'.

Just a side note: This is an awesome series, and there is plenty of character overlap in Every Tear a Memory but don't worry -- you needn't have read the first two books to enjoy this one. Johnson does a wonderful job of setting up past threads so they are easily understood by the first time reader. Mind you, if you have read the first two you will have some lovely interludes with friendly faces to look forward to.

Joanna doesn't know the meaning of normal. She fled a dysfunctional home right after graduation and ended up overseas in France for the duration of the war. She hides hurt and insecurity beneath an adventurous spirit but her wings are clipped when circumstances call her home. Resentful and wary, she arrives with a chip on her shoulder, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Of course Thomas falls for her. How could he not? She's everything he isn't and for the first time in his life he starts thinking outside the box.

Joanna and Thomas are polar opposites and yet they are magnetically drawn to one another. Loved the push/pull in their relationship. And it's an emotional one as they both learn to bend into the storms of life so they won't snap. Alas there are a lot of broken pieces to pick up before they get that lesson right.  Johnson keeps us on tenterhooks throughout the whole book as she hurls one complication after another at her hapless hero and heroine. We all know I love it when my emotions are engaged so no surprise when I say I found Every Tear a Memory to be a sumptuously satisfying read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Every Tear a Memory 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 November 16 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

My thanks to the author and publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book.

Her Holiday Family

GIVEAWAY

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
HER HOLIDAY FAMILY

Home for the Holidays

When her café goes up in smoke, Tina Martinelli decides to make a big change. She plans to leave Kirkwood Lake and start over—somewhere without the haunting memories of family and failure. But just as she's plotting her new life, her girlhood crush Max Campbell returns to town…and suddenly takes notice of Tina all grown up. Having retired from his military career, Max's ready to start over, too. He's given his heart to her. Now, if only Max can convince Tina to stick around this Christmas—and forever after.

Kirkwood Lake: A town full of heart and hope

My Review:

Another timeless Christmas story from this talented author.  She captures the excitement and anticipation of the season but it's not sugar-coated.  Herne adds a liberal dose of reality accompanied by grace and hope. The perfect combination for a story that will wrap itself around your heart.

This author's genius is in her characterization. Even the secondary characters come alive to carry the story forward...and to help reveal the essence of both the hero and heroine. Tina is a fireball of hurt. She decides that leaving town will also mean leaving that hurt behind. But then Max arrives and gives her a reason to stay. Talk about complicated. Easy going Max is impossible to ignore. He's gallant and kind and calls a spade a spade when necessary. I was openly swooning long before Tina was! Admittedly, she has a lot on her plate as she struggles to find her footing in the aftermath of tragedy. I cheered myself hoarse when she finally came to a pivotal decision. The result is a heartwarming, toe-curling conclusion worthy of a classic Christmas tale.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Her Holiday Family 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 November 16 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!