Blue Moon Promise

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
BLUE MOON PROMISE

Lucy Marsh's worldly resources are running out, but she's fiercely determined to care for her younger brother and sister. When she discovers that their father's recent death was no accident, Lucy is eager to leave town. She accepts a proxy marriage she believes will provide safe refuge. But trouble follows her to Texas where her new husband is surprised to suddenly have a wife and children to care for.

Nate Stanton always hoped he'd marry someday, but running the family ranch meant he had no time for romance. When his father deposits Lucy Marsh—a city girl—on his doorstep, with two siblings in the bargain, he expects ranch life will send her running on the first train out of town. But Lucy is made of tougher stuff than Nate imagined. When danger moves in, Nate finds he'd give anything to protect Lucy and the children he's grown to love. Even if it means giving up his ranch.

Blue Moon Promise is a story of hope, romance, and suspense . . . immersing the reader in a rich historical tale set under Texas stars.

My Review:

One thing I learned after the latest Reader's Choice Week is that I have not read enough Colleen Coble. As a Romantic Times reviewer noted: "Coble is a great writer, she knows what readers want and she does not disappoint." Amen to that. And this reader definitely wants more.

Blue Moon Promise was originally published in February 2012. A delicious blend of historical and suspense, I was reader-giddy all the way to the end. Page one finds Lucy in dire straits, definitely a great hook to catch my interest but Coble doesn't leave it there. She ratchets up the tension by throwing more disasters at poor Lucy in rapid fire succession. What's a girl to do but get out of town?

Which brings us to Gothic meets Wild West. Wow. This book took my breath away. That sinister Gothic vibe shadows Lucy all the way to Texas. Of course, she doesn't believe it at first and then tries to figure suspicious happenings out all by herself (Lucy has some control issues.) A true Gothic Romance heroine. And that obviously exasperates our stunning cowboy hero, Luke. Their marriage is off to a rocky start yet Luke can't help but be captivated by his unexpected wife. Their romance is sweetly tentative with just enough toe-curling to set my heart a stuttering. All in all a blissful read -- and bonus -- it's the first in the Under Texas Stars series which means there's more enjoyable reading to look forward to.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Blue Moon Promise 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Silent Hunter

GIVEAWAY

BLACK, MAGGIE K.
SILENT HUNTER

Edge of Survival

Trapped on a deserted island and targeted by a deadly hunter, camp director Nicky Trailer must turn to the one man she vowed never to forgive. Luke Wolf abandoned her without a word years ago and crushed her girlhood dreams. When he suddenly returns to help her save her beloved summer camp, she doesn't want to forgive and forget. But with the mysterious hunter picking off campers one by one, Luke is the only one who can help her get off the island. With danger stalking their every move, can Luke and Nicky move beyond their past and work together to survive?

My Review:

A hair-raising read full of intrigue and action. This one is a page-turner for sure. Never mind the awkward reunion between Nicky and Luke which kept me on emotional tenterhooks, it's the sinister danger stalking them that made this a not-to-be-put-down read. I was right there with the hero and heroine, trying to outsmart a stalker intent on playing a lethal game of cat and mouse. Diabolical mayhem ensues with a host of potential suspects that made it next to impossible to figure everything out. A gripping read that went by much too quickly.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Silent Hunter 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Wayward Hearts

GIVEAWAY

MASON, SUSAN ANNE
WAYWARD HEARTS

Hairstylist Maxi North is living her dream in Manhattan, poised to become junior partner in one of the city's classiest salons. Her father's death puts her plans on hold while she travels home to face her past. There, she is forced to confront unrequited feelings for her former best friend, Jason Hanley, as well as her deeply buried guilt over her younger brother's death. Fireman-in-training, Jason Hanley knows how badly Rainbow Falls needs its own fire station. As a new Christian, he pledges to serve the people of his community and to open a fire station as soon as possible. When his friend, Maxi North, and her mother almost perish in a fire, Jason becomes involved in helping them re-build their farmhouse. Soon he finds himself wondering if he and Maxi can ever put aside their differences to find a future together.

My Review:

Mason delivers a gritty love story full of twists and turns and unexpected detours that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The rawness of Maxi's unrequited love is so heartbreaking. Coming face to face with the man she's loved for years sets her world upside down at a time when she is already dealing with way too much. Jason just wants to try to salvage their once strong friendship and love unexpectedly follows. But so does a ton of complications -- enough to give a dedicated reader gray hairs! This one kept me on my toes right to the very end.  Thankfully, love triumphs allowing this fragile reader's heart to rejoice at last.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Wayward Hearts 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Gathering Shadows

GIVEAWAY

MEHL, NANCY
GATHERING SHADOWS

Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

My Review:

A riveting read. Honestly, I couldn't put it down and read right through into the wee hours of the morning. Mehl has a talent for pacing a mystery so that the reader is held captive -- in a delicious way, of course! The problem with that is the read is over all too soon. Luckily the next in this series, Deadly Echoes releases February 3. Guess what I have on order? LOL

The suspense angle totally captivated me. Wynter's desperate search for her missing brother -- the repercussions of his kidnapping still haunting her a decade later. Her parents have given up all hope but Wynter can't let it go and now she's found proof that her brother might actually be alive. There are so many emotional layers to her story and Wynter has to work through them all one by one.

Reuben lends his expertise and his support to the newcomer in town, but he's hard pressed to gain her trust. More emotional layers to delve into. Raw and real and ultimately renewing.

The suspense is palpable all the way through. It just doesn't let up as Mehl taunts the reader by slowly revealing pieces of the puzzle bit by bit. Danger lurks and grows more sinister as Wynter and Reuben get closer to finding answers someone doesn't want uncovered. And the whodunit? Nigh impossible to figure out until...wait...could it be? You'll just have to read Gathering Shadows to find out.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Deadly Echoes 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Finding His Way Home

GIVEAWAY

ROSS, MIA
FINDING HIS WAY HOME

Book 3-Barrett's Mill: In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a family legacy leads to love.

Prodigal son Scott Barrett is back home in Barrett's Mill with plans to atone for his past mistakes and restore his future. But the quiet Virginia village feels like a different place since his return. The old cottage and chapel are crying out for repair--much like Scott himself. Luckily, sensitive artist Jenna Reed offers to help. Jenna sees Scott without judgment, though she reveals little about her own troubled past. As they work together to renovate the chapel, Scott begins to earn her trust, and soon he's envisioning life with the beautiful Jenna. Can the love of a good woman finally make him whole?

My Review:

True confession: I read this book in one sitting even though I couldn't afford to lose the sleep. Sigh. I just couldn't bring myself to put it aside and start counting sheep! I love the Barrett family, love this wonderful community Ross has created. Lots of southern charm and brotherly shenanigans. But there's sorrow too, and anguish over pasts that can't be undone. Ross weaves a bright thread of hope through that darkness and brings resolution in the form of redemption and forgiveness. That's what  made this an unforgettable read for me.

I really loved Jenna. Thinking she's right up there on my favourite heroines list. Direct and upbeat and just a little bit fragile, the residual fallout from a rough past. She was full of surprises. I couldn't believe some of the things she said, the courageous ways she faced off with Scott. Sometimes I held my breath to see how he would take it and then let it out in a whoosh of relief when he reluctantly admire her straightforwardness. The give and take between these two was a delight to read. Ross delivers an amazing love story liberally laced with realism. Awesome read.

Oh, and though this is the fourth book in the Barrett's Mill series, you don't need to have read the other books. If you have though, you'll enjoy catching up with Scott's brothers and his extended family. Love the feeling of coming home when I read one of Mia Ross's novels.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Finding His Way 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread

GIVEAWAY

HATHAWAY, MARY JANE
PERSUASION, CAPTIAN WENTWORTH AND CRACKLIN' CORNBREAD

A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.

Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.

Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?

My Review:

I can't begin to convey how much I've loved this series. Revisiting Austen in the South with Hathaway's unique spin has been reading nirvana for me. And I do believe that Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread is my favourite of the three. I just loved Lucy and Jem's story even though it was angst riddled to the very end...or maybe because it was. Carefully plotted and flawlessly executed, every precious word built up sights and sounds and smells and oh, so many emotions in my mind. A total escape read -- so much so that it was surreal to be jarred out of it when real life got in the way.

If I never get my blood pressure down, I'm blaming Lucy's family. I was foaming at the mouth over some of their antics. Gah! I wanted to shake that girl for capitulating so many times. All that Southern breeding has made her a tad too biddable.

Stalwart Jem, hurt by past rejection but still drawn to the girl who broke his heart. There is something about a sensitive hero who struggles to stay on an even keel. These two have such history -- and it goes way beyond personal. Their past is cluttered with societal expectations, class consciousness and even racial prejudice. The heart of this story is the hero and heroine's willingness to create something enduringly beautiful from the shards of their shattered pasts.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread 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 February 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week Four

Before we move on to this week's winners I just wanted to let you know I'm adding a new feature to the blog starting next week thanks to all the great book recommendations y'all gave me during Reader's Choice Week. So keep an eye out for retro Saturdays -- the day I'll be reviewing books from years past. The thing about Retro Saturdays is that it will be totally random depending on my reading time and personal whims.  :-) In other words I won't necessarily post a retro review every Saturday. And if I do, it won't necessarily also be a giveaway. Sounds confusing? LOL. Not really. Just remember to stop by on Saturdays and check it out. If the book reviewed is also being offered as a giveaway you'll see the familiar colour book graphic with the caption 'giveaway' underneath. Because of the randomness of Retro Saturdays, I won't post them in the next week giveaway preview graphic. It'll be just a random surprise...so stay tuned.

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:

Plain Peril

GIVEAWAY

STONE, ALISON
PLAIN PERIL

Killer in Amish Country

After her sister is found dead and her brother-in-law goes missing, Hannah Wittmer rushes back to the Amish community she abandoned to care for her young nieces. Although she makes every effort to blend in, she's still seen as an outsider and quickly attracts the attention of a killer. She knows Sheriff Spencer Maxwell is fast on the murderer's tracks, but the Amish townspeople are as suspicious of him as they are of Hannah. As threats escalate now targeting Hannah and the handsome sheriff they'll follow any trail to uncover a vicious criminal. Even if that trail leads them right to their own backyard.

My Review:

This enthralling mystery carries a distinctly sinister tone. Apple Creek is definitely not your warm and fuzzy Amish community. In fact the Amish are downright unapproachable. Very different from the typical Amish stories out there. This community is closing ranks and they treat Hannah as an unwanted outsider even though she grew up among them. That leaves her struggling not only with her grief over her sister's untimely death, but with the harsh rebuffing of former friends and neighbours. With incredible courage, Hannah bears their overt scrutiny as she endeavours to live within the strict boundaries of the ordnung so that she can care for her abandoned nieces. And if that isn't challenging enough, she has to contend with escalating threats from someone who is trying to force her to leave. Talk about page-turning suspense!

That brings me to our hero, Sheriff Spencer Maxwell. Be still my heart! He tries to keep a professional distance but he can't ignore the fact that he's immediately drawn to Hannah. There's a crackle of romantic tension right from their first meet and as the story progresses, so does their relationship. And that makes Spencer's investigation personal. Tension and danger abound as this fast paced suspense races to a surprising conclusion.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Plain Peril 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 January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Dakota Love

GIVEAWAY

ZEDIKER, ROSE ROSS
DAKOTA LOVE

Modern South Dakota individuals use quilting to bring them joy and comfort, but suddenly quilting is leading them to romances they didn’t even know they wanted. Caroline and Rodney have each been loaded with many worries, but a tattered quilt could bring them together to share their burdens. Sarah and Mark embrace their independence until a quilting class throws them together and reveals their need for companionship. Lil is outgoing where Walt is private, but as they use quilting for physical therapy, an old secret could be revealed that will expose just how different they really are.

 

My Review:

 

 Dakota Love is the compilation of three novels originally published under the Heartsong Presents line. Bound by a central quilting theme they also share the commonality of 'mature' love stories. The heroines are all over forty and Zediker does a marvelous job of showing that romance isn't only for the young.

The strength in this author's writing is in the realism that infiltrates every scene. She delivers emotionally charged stories about real people facing real challenges. Nothing is sugar coated but each story is laced with hope.

Bound together by a quilting theme, Zediker explores the courage and resiliency of men and women willing to embrace the season they are living in. Tender and heartwarming, these stories celebrate God's presence in every aspect of our lives..
 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Dakota 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 January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Brentwood's Ward

GIVEAWAY

Grieps, Michelle
Brentwood's Ward

It takes a criminal to find one, and Nicholas Brentwood is just the man for the job. Reformed in more ways than one, the rough-around-the-edges Brentwood is a member of the Bow Street Runners, London's early nineteenth century fledgling police force. There's none better than Brentwood at catching the felons who ravage the city's streets, and there's nothing he loves more than seeing justice served.

Beautiful and beguiling, Miss Emily Payne is not the sort of miscreant Brentwood usually hunts down. When he is assigned as her bodyguard. he vows to protect her for her father's enemies, who will stop at nothing to carry out their mission fueled by greed and revenge.

All her life, Emily has longed for love, but it remains beyond her grasp. This season she's determined to find a husband, which is quite the undertaking with a hound-dog guardian like Brentwood watching her every step. If he would just give her some measure of freedom, she is sure she could win the heart of society's most eligible bachelor.

Emily's headstrong persistence, challenges Nicholas in ways he doesn't expect, but of one things he's certain -- of all the cunning criminals he's dealt with in the past, this time he's met his match.

My Review:

This was such a fun read in a menacing sort of way! A Regency that packs a wallop. If you combined Dickens with Austen and added a dash of Sherlock Holmes you'd come close to describing Griep's writing style as her imagination runs rampant through the pages of this book. She certainly grabbed my attention -- from the complex, sinister plot to the rapid fire pacing, I could barely catch my breath. Just when I'd think things were calming down...they weren't! The author definitely reveals the darker side of Regency London in an all too realistic way. Honestly, my head was spinning and my voice was hoarse from shouting dire warnings at the oblivious heroine.

Miss Emily Payne could be a...well, real pain. When we first meet her she is sheltered, definitely spoiled and extremely obstinate. As circumstances change and real life infiltrates her protective bubble she stretches and grows into a woman of strength and compassion and....okay she stays obstinate but that's Nicholas's problem now.

Speaking of the hero -- insert swoon here. I was smitten the minute we met. Rough around the edges yes, but there's a noble heart beating in that manly chest. He believes in justice (though not always mercy) and is passionate about his work as a Bow Street Runner. That whole angle is utterly fascinating and at the roots of an organized police force in London. History in the making.

Brentwood's Ward has received rave reviews from a multitude of big name authors and I heartily agree with their assessment. I only wish the publisher had given the author another thirty pages or so because the ending did seem to come upon me in a rush. Some of the threads had to be tied up with  dialogue after the fact rather than the reader actually witnessing them first hand.

All in all a brilliant (and edgy) blend of suspense and historical and I enjoyed every minute of the read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Brentwood's Ward 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 January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Healing the Widower's Heart

GIVEAWAY

MASON, SUSAN ANNE
HEALING THE WIDOWER'S HEART

A Child's Only Hope

When widower Nathan Porter brings his grieving son, Zach, to Wyndermere House's camp, he is desperate for a lifeline. Nathan's hoping the change of scenery to the woods of upstate New York will help mend his son's heart. But the counselor assigned to his son's care seems too young—and too pretty—to be qualified. Paige McFarlane's learned what loving someone—and losing them—costs. But soon her efforts with Zach reveal that to help the son she must also help the dad. As Nathan and Paige work together to mend the boy's broken spirit, they realize the walls around their own hearts could be crumbling, as well.

When widower Nathan Porter brings his grieving son, Zach, to Wyndermere House's camp, he is desperate for a lifeline. Nathan's hoping the change of scenery to the woods of upstate New York will help mend his son's heart. But the counselor assigned to his son's care seems too young—and too pretty— to be qualified. Paige McFarlane's learned what loving someone—and losing them—costs. But soon her efforts with Zach reveal that to help the son she must also help the dad. As Nathan and Paige work together  to mend the boy's broken spirit, they  realize the walls around their own hearts could be crumbling, as well.

My Review:

Have to start with a side note here: This is an author to keep on your radar. A year ago Susan Anne Mason was unpublished. Today she is a multi-contracted author with three (yes three) publishing houses! Her contemporary romances are published by  Harlequin's Love Inspired and White Rose Publishing while her debut historical romance from Bethany House comes out this summer. I love hearing mega success stories like this.  And, woot, she's Canadian to boot!

Healing the Widower's Heart is a just a little bit different from the other Love Inspired romances I have read. And I think that's a good thing. Refreshing actually, though definitely angsty! Truth be told, I didn't take to Nathan Porter right off the bat. Part of him has given up and he holds himself back from nearly everyone and everything. And I'll be honest, his troubled relationship with his son really bothered me.

In contrast, Paige is like an open book. Vibrant, alive, and living life to the fullest...except in the romance department. She has no intentions of going down that painful road again. Wills clash from this hero and heroine's very first meeting and I'll admit to being on Paige's side from the get go. However, Mason very cleverly shares glimpses of Nathan's past as the story progresses. My heart softened towards him as more is revealed until I could clearly see the wounded man beneath the 'uptight' exterior. Talk about reader meltdown!

In many ways, Paige is Nathan's strength until he can come to grips with his past and move forward with confidence into the future. Ironically, during the process, he becomes her strength from time to time and there's this beautiful meshing of give and take that is so true in any working relationship. Loved the realism in this story and the faith in God that made their happily ever after possible.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Healing the Widower's Heart 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 January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Take a Chance On Me

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

Darek Christiansen is almost a dream bachelor—oldest son in the large Christiansen clan, heir to their historic Evergreen Lake Resort, and doting father. But he’s also wounded and angry since the tragic death of his wife, Felicity. No woman in Deep Haven dares come near.

New assistant county attorney Ivy Madison simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charity auction. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case.

Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy—a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself.

My Review:

Yes, I have been reading these backwards. Take a Chance On Me, the first in the Christiansen family saga makes for a powerful start to this stunning series. I'm not quite sure where to begin this review. Perhaps to say that this story portrays one of the most moving testimonies of forgiveness that I have ever read. And the strength of the story is in the fact that the author shows the far reaching effects withholding forgiveness has. Not only for the individual harboring resentment and anger, but for all the people surrounding them, both family and friends and even neighbours. In fact, in a way, an entire community has born the burden of one man's unwillingness to forgive. And that man is our hero, Darek Christiansen.

Tormented doesn't begin to describe Darek. Mired in past mistakes that led to a fatal tragedy, his unwillingness to forgive extends towards himself as well as a friend turned arch enemy. Bitterness and anger are beginning to twine themselves around Darek's heart but he doesn't see it. Not until Ivy Madison shows up on his radar. And mercy, don't get me started on Ivy because she is exactly the wrong person for Darek, or maybe the right person going about it all the wrong way? However you look at it, be prepared for emotional angst that will churn up your tummy and cause you, the hapless reader, no end of heartache.

This is a true-to-life love story with none of the gnarly bits edited out. But there's incredibly tender moments too. Along with toe-curling love scenes and larger than life family times. And oh the joy of victory! The Apostle Paul's admonishment to "fight the good fight and finish the race" comes to mind when I think of Darek's journey. Not because he did it particularly well, but because he clung on to shrapnels of truth wherever he could find them. Because he was willing to soften his heart as a result. Because he might not have always" kept the faith" during that difficult journey, but he found it again. Truly inspirational.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Take a Chance On Me 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 January 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week Three

Thanks everyone for a fun week. Love 'talking' books and your suggestions have added pages to my TBR list! I get a kick out of seeing which books and authors turn out to be the most popular. We'll have to do this again sometime. Meanwhile, here are the winners of the Readers Choice Giveaway. And, bonus, two winners from each category!

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:

Steadfast Heart

PETERSON, TRACIE
STEADFAST HEART

Despite her spoiled upbringing, twenty-year-old Lenore Fulcher isn't pretentious. She simply believes a marriage should be built on true love. Her father, however, thinks she's wasted enough time searching for the perfect husband. He wants to marry her off to one of his business partners--who is seventeen years her senior--an idea that is out of the question for Lenore.

Kolbein Booth, a young lawyer from Chicago, arrives in Seattle looking for his headstrong sister, who he believes may have answered an advertisement for mail-order brides. Sick with worry, he storms into the Madison Bridal School, demanding to see his sister, only to learn she isn't there. But Lenore Fulcher is, and something about her captures his attention.

Is this the man Lenore has been searching for? She may not have long to find out...

My Review:

This is a difficult book to review because the description really doesn't match the book. Yes, Lenore and Kolbein are part of the story, but I would consider them more secondary characters than actual hero and heroine. It is Lenore's friend, Abrianna, and her would-be love interest, Wade, who I connected with. In fact, I'd say the majority of the book is from their POV. And the action, hints of suspense and a large part of the dialogue involve these two 'secondary' characters. In a way, it feels like Steadfast Heart sets the groundwork for their story (kind of like a very long prologue), which I'm hoping is the next one in the Brides of Seattle series.

Lenore and Kolbein are separated geographically for half the book so their romance doesn't really get started until very late in the read. While Lenore is away, Kolbein becomes friends with Abrianna and it's through their interactions that the reader becomes acquainted with this unlikely hero. In fact we are privy to his inner thoughts about Abrianna who he finds amusing, frustrating and endearing. His admiration is so clear that I almost thought this would be their love story. In fact, I almost wanted it to be.

The actual romance between Lenore and Kolbein felt rushed. Definitely a case of love at first sight without the whirlwind romance part. And certain darker bits of the plot never developed to a point where a resolution could be achieved. Again, I suspect this is just set up for the next book, but still, it was an important part of the plot in this one and the main characters are still clueless about there being anything untoward going on, yet the reader knows all the sordid details. That makes for a bit of a cliff hanger ending. I'm left wondering about what happens to Abrianna and Wade, knowing that they are going to get mired in intrigue and danger as their story progresses. So, while I'm looking forward to the next book, I won't be lingering in the afterglow of this one.

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

Reader's Choice - Romantic Suspense

GIVEAWAY

 

Woohoo! Reader's Choice Week at BestReads is baaaack! 

 What is Reader's Choice Week?

 

It's become a popular semi-annual blog event that helps grow my TBR list . Instead of me reading and reviewing books, you get to choose titles you would like to win. Please note each day is genre specific so you can only submit books from that genre on that day. You can offer three suggestions per day but they need to be made in three separate posts. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions and adding to my TBR pile! 

 

How does it work?

 Today it's Romantic Suspense Giveaway day. To be entered in the draw just leave a comment below, including the title of the book in the Romantic Suspense genre -- Christian Fiction only please -- that you would like to win.  Important: select only books with a February 2015 or earlier release date. If your name is drawn, I'll send you a copy of that book. Easy Peasy, right? And because I know how hard it is to pick only one book, you can enter this draw three different times with a different title each time. Just make sure each entry is in a different comment.

Remember:

• Today is Romantic Suspense day -- only Romantic Suspense titles will be included in the draw
• You can enter up to three different titles BUT they must be done in three different comments. (makes it easier for me to tally)
• publishing date of books must be February 2015 or earlier.

Please remember to include your email, using AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 18 2015. Offer open to international readers.

Reader's Choice - Contemporary Romance

GIVEAWAY

Woohoo! Reader's Choice Week at BestReads is baaaack!

 What is Reader's Choice Week?

 

It's become a popular semi-annual blog event that helps grow my TBR list . Instead of me reading and reviewing books, you get to choose titles you would like to win. Please note each day is genre specific so you can only submit books from that genre on that day. You can offer three suggestions per day but they need to be made in three separate posts. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions and adding to my TBR pile! 

 

How does it work?

 Today it's Contemporary Romance Giveaway day. To be entered in the draw just leave a comment below, including the title of the book in the Contemporary Romance genre -- Christian Fiction only please -- that you would like to win.  Important: select only books with a February 2015 or earlier release date. If your name is drawn, I'll send you a copy of that book. Easy Peasy, right? And because I know how hard it is to pick only one book, you can enter this draw three different times with a different title each time. Just make sure each entry is in a different comment.

Remember:

• Today is Contemporary Romance day -- only Contemporary Romance titles will be included in the draw
• You can enter up to three different titles BUT they must be done in three different comments. (makes it easier for me to tally)
• publishing date of books must be February 2015 or earlier.

Please remember to include your email, using AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 18 2015. Offer open to international readers.

Reader's Choice - Historical Romance Giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Woohoo! Reader's Choice Week at BestReads is baaaack!

 What is Reader's Choice Week?

 

It's become a popular semi-annual blog event that helps grow my TBR list . Instead of me reading and reviewing books, you get to choose titles you would like to win. Please note each day is genre specific so you can only submit books from that genre on that day. You can offer three suggestions per day but they need to be made in three separate posts. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions and adding to my TBR pile! 

 

How does it work?

 Today it's Historical Romance Giveaway day. To be entered in the draw just leave a comment below, including the title of the book in the Historical Romance genre -- Christian Fiction only please -- that you would like to win.  Important: select only books with a February 2015 or earlier release date. If your name is drawn, I'll send you a copy of that book. Easy Peasy, right? And because I know how hard it is to pick only one book, you can enter this draw three different times with a different title each time. Just make sure each entry is in a different comment.

Remember:

• Today is Historical Romance Fiction day -- only Historical titles will be included in the draw
• You can enter up to three different titles BUT they must be done in three different comments. (makes it easier for me to tally)
• publishing date of books must be February 2015 or earlier.

Please remember to include your email, using AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 18 2015. Offer open to international readers.

Reader's Choice - Amish Romance Giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Woohoo! Reader's Choice Week at BestReads is baaaack!

 What is Reader's Choice Week?

 

It's become a popular semi-annual blog event that helps grow my TBR list . Instead of me reading and reviewing books, you get to choose titles you would like to win. Please note each day is genre specific so you can only submit books from that genre on that day. You can offer three suggestions per day but they need to be made in three separate posts. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions and adding to my TBR pile! 

 

How does it work?

 Today it's Amish Romance Giveaway day. To be entered in the draw just leave a comment below, including the title of the book in the Amish Romance genre -- Christian Fiction only please -- that you would like to win.  Important: select only books with a February 2015 or earlier release date. If your name is drawn, I'll send you a copy of that book. Easy Peasy, right? And because I know how hard it is to pick only one book, you can enter this draw three different times with a different title each time. Just make sure each entry is in a different comment.

Remember:

• Today is Amish Fiction day -- only Amish titles will be included in the draw
• You can enter up to three different titles BUT they must be done in three different comments. (makes it easier for me to tally)
• publishing date of books must be February 2015 or earlier.

Please remember to include your email, using AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 18 2013. Offer open to international readers.