To Win Her Favor

GIVEAWAY

ALEXANDER, TAMARA
TO WIN HER FAVOR

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He's come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he'd wagered, especially when Maggie Linden's father makes him an offer he shouldn't accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance---and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder---Maggie's father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail---Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

My Review:

Such a riveting story with so many interesting elements you don't often see in historical fiction. First up -- the treatment of the Irish in the 1800s. Alexander describes the narrow-minded prejudice with appalling clarity. Even the heroine isn't exempt from it. Quite an eye opener. As is the description of the plight of the freed slaves in the post war South. Both elements of our history that are hard to read but important to remember.

And I loved the thoroughbred racing elements in the story. Especially since it's Maggie who has the passion for horses and the God-given talent to train them. So maverick for a woman of that time which ups the conflict and makes for a page-turning read.

Alexander pairs the two most unsuitable people together and creates a sweeping love story with plenty of angst and a whole lot of passion. In fact, this marriage of convenience novel definitely pushes the envelope when it comes to portraying the intimacies of marriage in a Christian fiction book. It is tastefully done, but sensitive readers should beware.

Love the contrasts between Maggie and Cullen. She's defensive, judgemental and a little bit of a snob at the beginning of the story. Cullen is apologetically brazen and surprisingly compassionate. And oh so very patient -- and he needs to be as far as Maggie's concerned! But he's determined to win her favor. You'll have to read the book to see if he's successful.

Cautionary note: there is a bit of questionable language. Not a lot, but blatant enough to mention. As well as the use of the derogatory (though historically accurate) word for Blacks.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/talexander

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of To Win Her Favor 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 May 3 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Tamera Alexander’s To Win Her Favor Blog Tour and Kindle Giveaway

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera's blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!



{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Fugitive Trackdown

GIVEAWAY

ROBBINS, SANDRA
FUGITIVE TRACKDOWN

Deadly pursuit

Nothing will stop Claire Walker from finding her father's killer. But a shy Southern librarian is no match for a murderer, and as a novice bounty hunter, she's quickly cornered. Fugitive recovery specialist Adam Knight arrives just in time to rescue Claire. But now she owes her life to the man who once broke her heart. With the killer still tracking Claire, Adam decides she needs a guardian—and he's the best man for the job. Set on seeing justice served, Claire and Adam must join forces…and try to outrun a desperado and his deadly traps.

Bounty Hunters: Finding justice one fugitive at a time

My Review:

The bounty hunter angle intrigued me. I don't think we have a Canadian equivalent. But, oh my goodness, Claire is way out of her element!  (And I did cringe a bit at the shy librarian stereotype.) Almost like a teenager thinking she's the next Nancy Drew. Some things are best left to the professionals and Claire learns that the hard way. Thankfully Adam knows what he's doing but this wily fugitive has plenty of nasty tricks up his sleeve and that keeps the tension amped and the plot fast paced. The romance is a slow simmer -- just the hint of a spark from a youthful relationship that never got off the ground. It's rekindling is sweetly satisfying.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Fugitive Trackdown 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 May 3 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

When Grace Sings

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHEN GRACE SINGS

When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion? 
Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.

But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths.

Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.

My Review:

Probably my favourite book by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- and that's saying something since I missed Book 1 in the Zimmeran Restoration Trilogy! Sawyer does an excellent job of infusing the pertinent bits from the first book into this one so there's no confusion. Mind you, my curiosity is piqued and I can't go without reading When Mercy Rains so look for it in a retro Saturday sometime soon.

This is the kind of emotional roller coaster ride I love to read. The author tells the story through multiple viewpoints and that creates a sense of urgency to the read. I could see how everyone interconnects and anticipating the fallout when that happens is pure torturous delight! And fallout did happen, but the author wisely left some for Book 3. So while there is a satisfying resolution to a few threads, she's left her readers eagerly anticipating the grand finale for the rest. And she's done that in such a way that the reader doesn't feel robbed. I hate abrupt cliffhanger endings and this isn't one. She leaves each character solidly planted on the right path so I feel I can leave them untended until September! (When Love Returns release date.)

I think Briley's story made the most impact on me. I really did not like him at first (and he opens the book!) The kind of guy who is too good looking for his own good -- and worse -- knows it! And he's out to prove himself regardless of who he has to step on to do that. Sawyer slowly unravels layers of Briley's past and allows readers a peek at festering hurts that have never healed. My heart couldn't help but soften towards the guy. And I loved how his heart softened after getting to know the Old Order Mennonites community in Arborville.

So many twists and turns. Emotional conflict that left me on tenterhooks for the entire read. Captivating. Exciting. Riveting. But most of all -- hopeful.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When Grace Sings 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 May 3 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Where Trust Lies

GIVEAWAY

OKE, JANETTE
LOGAN, LAUREL OKE
WHERE TRUST LIES

She loves her friends and students in the West, but family obligations have called her home. Where does she truly belong?
After a year of teaching in the Canadian West, Beth Thatcher returns home to her family. She barely has time to settle in before her mother announces plans for a family holiday--a luxurious steamship tour along the eastern coast of Canada and the United States. Hoping to reconnect with her mother and her sisters, Beth agrees to join them, but she quickly realizes that things have changed since she went away, and renewing their close bond is going to be more challenging than she expected.

There's one special thing to look forward to--letters and telephone calls from Jarrick, the Mountie who has stolen her heart. The distance between them is almost too much to bear. But can she give her heart to Jarrick when it will mean saying good-bye to her family once again--and possibly forever? And will she still want to live in the western wilds after the steamship tour opens up a world of people and places she never imagined?

Then comes a great test of Beth's faith. Someone in her family has trusted the wrong person, and suddenly everything Beth knows and loves is toppled. Torn between her family and her dreams, will Beth finally discover where her heart truly belongs?

A companion story to Hallmark Channel's When Calls the Heart TV series!

My Review:

This is my first Janette Oke novel so I'm seriously behind the times as far as the Christian fiction legacy goes! I had to see what all the fuss was about so I scooped this book up at my public library -- a real coup since there's now a humongous waiting list for it. After reading it though, I'm a jumble of mixed feelings so I hope I can make sense to you.

First off, this is the second book in the Return to the Canadian West series. I haven't read Where Courage Calls so I feel like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage. It's not that Where Trust Lies doesn't read well as a standalone -- it does. I didn't ever feel lost in the plot but I missed an emotional connection with Beth and Jarrick, which I think I would have developed if I'd read the first book. I found myself feeling a bit detached as I progressed through this story.

 Another reason, I think, is the style of writing which is very reminiscent of a few decades ago. The story unfolds almost as a narrative, so instead of being plunged into the life (and heart) of the heroine it felt like I was an observer from the outside looking in -- if that makes any sense. Don't get me wrong, the writing is fluid and carries the plot seamlessly forward. I guess I just felt like I was trailing in its wake instead of braving the currents right next to Beth.

Where Trust Lies is a complicated study in the changing relationship of a daughter who has grown into womanhood. It captures that awkward conundrum of wanting to be your own person while still feeling an emotional pull to meet the expectations of your parents. Add in trying to figure out a burgeoning romance and Beth has a lot to think -- and pray -- about. There's a wonderful underlying message about trust in all its many facets. And a surprising mysterious twist towards the end. So, definitely worth the read, though it wasn't as emotional a read as I would have liked.

And worthy to note: CBC will be airing the TV series, When Calls the Heart, this summer. I believe it has been on the Hallmark Channel, but we haven't been able to view it in Canada. The TV series includes the characters from the book series so I'm looking forward to seeing how the actors bring Beth and Jarrick and everyone else to life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Where Trust Lies 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 May 3 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

April 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:

Every Bride Needs a Groom

GIVEAWAY

THOMPSON, JANICE
EVERY BRIDE NEEDS A GROOM

Somewhere in a sea of tulle and taffeta, satin and crepe, Katie Fisher needs to find a key ingredient of the perfect wedding--the groom.
Small-town girl Katie Fisher is busy planning her fairy-tale wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in Texas Bride magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? Anyway, she's sure he'll be getting down on one knee any time now. And a one-of-a-kind designer dress doesn't just fall out of the sky right when you need it.

But when Katie's boyfriend takes a job in another town and breaks up with her--on the very same day she wins her dream dress--her world is turned upside down. Dare she go to Dallas to claim her prize? And will the hunky pro basketball player who runs the beyond-swanky bridal shop--yeah, you read that right--discover her humiliating secret if she does?
My Review:

Like reading a sit-com...from the good ol' days. Plenty of witty dialogue, a bit of slapstick humour, a bevy of quirky secondary characters that help the hero and heroine shine even brighter. Love the bridal shop backdrop and the clever storyline that goes with it. A basketball player managing the store? Outrageously sweet and a little bit funny. And there's such wonderful back scene insights into the bridal biz. But, look out, there are some sweet, poignant bits mixed in and they make all the more of an impact for the zaniness of the rest of the read. Snappy and charming and brimming full of love and laughter.

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 Every Bride Needs a Groom 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 April 26 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Mist of Midnight

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
MIST OF MIDNIGHT

In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

My Review:

Okay -- seriously -- if you read only one book this year make sure it is this one. Yes, I think I really mean that! Because this is beyond incredible. Hello -- Gothic romance at it's absolute best. Be still my Victoria Holt loving heart! Just thinking about this story sends me into a near swoon of spine-tingling, toe-curling ecstasy!

Exquisite details create the classic dark ambiance of this genre. Just the name, Rebecca Ravenshaw screams Gothic heroine, doesn't it? And an enigmatic Captain, usurper of all that is hers. Hero or villain or something in between? Then there's the mystery -- questions Rebecca asks that no one will answer. Meddling servants. Two-faced friends. Distrustful locals. A bleak shroud of danger that hangs over Rebecca page after page.

The characterization and historical aspects are sublime. Such incredible details, from mannerisms to the whole upstairs downstairs vibe and, of course, the social proprieties of the day. It all just thrilled me right down to my toes. Still does. And, someone hand me a paper bag to hyperventilate in, Mist of Midnight is the first of a new series entitled Daughters of Hampshire but -- sob -- they are being released one a year so we have to wait until 2016 when Bride of Poseidon comes out. I might just have to read this one a couple of times over to get me through until then.

In case you missed it -- I loved this book!!!! And highly recommend it!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mist of Midnight 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 April  26 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Inn At Ocean's Edge

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
THE INN AT OCEAN'S EDGE

Claire's visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year---and until now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents' best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances---at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire's very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone-maybe everyone-is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

My Review:

Totally riveting. Don't blink or you'll miss something important in this twisty, turny tale of suspense. Mercy, but I barely came up for air! My heart started racing from the compelling opening scene right through to the hyperventilating conclusion.

Claire's arrival at the Inn at Ocean's Edge is the catalyst that threatens a host of buried secrets and puts her life in danger. But that's not all she's dealing with. The emotional ramifications that come from a multitude of revelations leaves her -- and the reader -- reeling. If I had a dollar for every time I said, "I didn't see that coming" I'd be able to buy a truckload of books! I love it when a suspense writer keeps me on my toes.

Coble isn't stingy in the romance department either. There's definitely a crackle of attraction from Claire and Luke's very memorable first meet. And things just keep heating up as the story progresses. It's a complicated relationship developed in the midst of chaos and I love Luke's steadying presence and unwavering belief in Claire. Some lovely romantical scenes bring much needed relief from all that intensity in the suspense plot.

A stunning beginning to a new series by an incredible author.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson for supplying me with a review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge 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 April  26 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!



One grand prize winner will receive:


A Kindle Fire

A copy of A Heart's Disguise

A copy of A Heart's Obsession

A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!




April 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:

Dining With Joy

GIVEAWAY

HAUCK, RACHEL
DINING WITH JOY

"Chef" Joy Ballard longs for a simpler life. But when a good-looking outsider arrives and spices things up, life becomes deliciously complicated.

Host of a regionally syndicated cooking show, Joy Ballard has a little secret: she can't cook. But when her show is picked up by a major network and given a prime time slot, her world heats up faster than a lowcountry boil.

Enter Luke Redmond: handsome, creative, and jobless after having to declare bankruptcy of his Manhatten restaurant. When her producers ask him to co-host the show, Joy sees Luke as her way out. But Luke sees much more than just a co-host in Joy.

Their relationship begins to simmer on and off set. Until Joy's secret is revealed and her reputation is ruined on national television by her rival, Wenda Devine.

But could Devine's cruelty be a divine gift? Losing Luke--and her sister--forces Joy to consider where her worth really comes from. Could God be cooking up an even bigger adventure from the mess? And will Joy hang on long enough to find out?

My Review:

First published in 2010, I found this literary gem at my public library. Funny and sweet and a thrill to read. But there are squirmy, angsty bits too where I was so worried about Joy's secret being discovered. It was almost a relief when it happened! But, oy, the fallout! A satisfying blend of all that is good in a romantic story. Still grinning (and wincing.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Dining With Joy 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 April 19 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!  

A Heart's Obsession

COBLE, COLLEEN
A HEART'S OBSESSION

Will Sarah's journey west lead her back into the arms of the one man she can trust?

When her father succumbs to a long illness, Sarah Montgomery is freed from duty to family. At last she can be with the love of her life, Rand Campbell, who has gone out west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Sarah and her younger brother Joel make the arduous journey filled with hope.

But at Fort Laramie, the reception Sarah meets isn't what she had hoped for. Her friend Amelia is thrilled to have her, but Rand seems to be in the clutches of Jessica DuBois, the scheming daughter of the post commander.

Sarah resolves to remain at Fort Laramie and try to win Rand back. But things will get tougher before they get easier . . . especially when her ex-fiancé Ben Croftner arrives in Wyoming, obsessed with having her back in his arms.

My Review:

A Heart's Obsession is the second book in the Journey of the Heart serial. Each novella length book (6 in all) is being released monthly March through August. So A Heart's Obsession is definitely not a standalone read. For this reason I won't be offering it up as a giveaway. However, once the serial releases are complete (August) I will offer up a complete six book Journey of the Heart giveaway. So stay tuned.

Reading this series in monthly installments is killing me and this is only the second. book! I love how Coble builds suspense and tension. It makes for a compelling plot that is just too good to resist. I'm alternately thrilled and exasperated over the author's angsty trail of love and betrayal. Not sure I'll survive until the conclusion's release this summer! A fast paced story that can't be released fast enough for my liking!

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

Celebrate book two in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!





One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• A copy of A Heart's Disguise


• A copy of A Heart's Obsession


• A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge (blog tour coming in mid-April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!




RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

Manhunt

GIVEAWAY

PHILLIPS, LISA
MANHUNT

Chasing Justice

A daring escape by a dangerous fugitive puts US marshals Eric Montgomery and Hailey Shelder's careers on the line. With the criminal vowing revenge, Eric feels duty bound to protect his risk-taking partner. He doesn't agree with her methods, but he's drawn to the single mom who wants to prove she can make it in a demanding job. When her daughter is almost kidnapped, Eric and Hailey go from uneasy partners to a true team. But with floodwaters threatening the town and a killer on the loose, can their newfound trust survive the final showdown that awaits them?

My Review:

I read Manhunt all cozied up in my house during a torrential downpour which created quite the ambiance, let me tell you! I think my fingers were shriveled by the time I reached the end. Hunting down fugitives is a tough enough job without having to add a flood warning into the mix. I think poor Hailey and Eric spent more time sopping wet then they did dry on this manhunt. 

Phillips creates a dubious start to this romance. Hailey and Eric barely tolerate each other. Eric is a reluctant transfer from WITSEC. Hailey is determined to prove herself in a male-dominated environment. They're not so much partners as two individuals with personal agendas who just happen to work together. Still, there's a glimmer of a spark between the two that gives a reader hope.

And then a prisoner transfer goes wrong and the two are thrust into a manhunt of epic proportions as they battle the elements to catch the criminal before he can do more damage. A sink or swim situation -- learn to trust each other and work together or let murderous mayhem reign. Eric has to learn to live in the moment and accept what happened in the past so he can be at peace with his present. Hailey has to learn to let go and to put her faith in others. Neither makes those changes gracefully and that makes a riveting (and often frustrating) read. Honestly I wanted to bash their heads together more than a few times. There's nothing worse than a stubborn US marshal...unless it is two stubborn US marshals!

Intense. Action-packed. Emotion-laden. Really good read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Manhunt 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 April 19 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!  

The Beekeeper's Son

GIVEAWAY

IRVIN, KELLY
THE BEEKEEPER'S SON

Sometimes it takes a barren landscape to see the beauty of God’s creation.

Phineas King knows better than to expect anything but shock and pity wherever he shows his face. Horribly scarred from the tragic accident that claimed his mother’s life, he chooses to keep his distance from everyone, focusing his time and energy on the bees his family raises. If no one sees him, no one can judge him. So why does he start finding excuses to seek out Deborah Lantz, the beautiful new arrival in town?

Deborah can’t get out of Bee County, Texas, soon enough. Once her mother and younger siblings are settled, she is on the first bus out of this dusty town. She is only waiting on the letter from Aaron, asking her to return to lush Tennessee to be his fraa. But that letter never comes. As she spends time getting to know Phineas—hoping to uncover the man beneath the scars—she begins to realize that she no longer minds that Aaron hasn’t sent for her.

As both Deborah and Phineas try to come to terms with lives that haven’t turned out the way they imagined, they discover that perhaps Gott’s plans for them are more extraordinary than they could have dreamed. But they need to let go of their own past sorrows and disappointments to find the joy and beauty that lies just ahead for them both.

My Review:

A beautiful story about being open to following God's path instead of your own. Both Deborah and Phineas have internal conflicts that cause them to look back instead of forward. They are so mired in what could have been that they nearly miss out on the glorious future God has planned for them. I really took that message to heart. And I'll smugly admit to learning the lesson way ahead of the hero and heroine. :-) At their expense, of course.

There's great tension and conflict within the pages of this book-- so stark at times that it matches the equally stark Texan countryside. An unusual and alluring setting for an Amish story. The author has created a fascinating community in Bee County, Texas. It is struggling to remain viable despite an increasing number of families leaving for more thriving Amish communities. I loved the modern day pioneer spirit of those who stayed.  A fresh angle for this genre and it makes for a compelling read! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Beekeeper's Son 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 April 19 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!  

A Wife for Jacob

GIVEAWAY

KERTZ, REBECCA
A WIFE FOR JACOB

His Perfect Bride

Jacob Lapp has loved Annie Zook since childhood. But she's never seen him that way. Once courted—then rejected—by his older brother, Annie's wary of the Lapp men. But now that Jacob is working at her dat's blacksmith shop, he feels he's been given a second chance. It's no secret Annie wants a husband. Yet she's intent on marrying someone older, more established—someone the opposite of Jacob. Can he ever break down the walls she's forged around her fragile heart and prove to her that he's the perfect man for her?

Lancaster County Weddings: Binding two hearts as one in Amish country

My Review:

She's his perfect bride only she doesn't know it -- and he's not about to tell her! Such a conundrum! Kertz has crafted a gentle love story with plenty of conflict and insecurities. While I understood why Annie thought her plans made sense, I wanted to clout her upside the head for being such a dummkopf. And Jacob -- grrr, don't get me started. He's just as bad. If Jacob knew what Annie was thinking and if Annie knew what Jacob was thinking -- well, I guess there wouldn't have been a book, would there? Thankfully, Kertz doesn't seem to mind torturing her characters (and consequently her readers.) The result is a splendid, sweet read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Wife for Jacob 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 April 19 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Sparrow in Terezin

GIVEAWAY

CAMBRON, KRISTY
A SPARROW IN TEREZIN

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor's story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.

Present Day---With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairytale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels she's stumbled into a charmed life---until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy the perfectly planned future she's planned before it even begins. Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future.

1942---Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped occupied Prague in 1939, and was forced to leave her half-Jewish family behind. Now a reporter for the Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, Kája has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear---even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

My Review:

Another stunning offering from Kristy Cambron. Exhilarating and disturbing and complicated to the nth degree.  This sequel to The Butterfly and the Violin continues Sera and Will's tale as they discover another heartrending story of hope born from the holocaust.

I loved the beautiful imagery in the sparrow analogy. It brought me to tears at one point. And that's what is so masterful about Cambron's storytelling -- she knows how to mold her characters into living, breathing entities that a reader can't help but care deeply about. And in the process of discovering them, a reader is blessed to discover more about herself. At least, that has been my experience with this compelling series.

A Sparrow in Terezin is the kind of novel you'll want to savor long after you've reached the last word. Kaja's story will haunt you -- from the depths of despair to the soaring wings of hope. Definitely the kind of novel that makes your life richer for having read it.

*Just a side note: The present day plot -- Sera and Will's continuing story -- might make more sense if you have read A Butterfly and the Violin. It's pretty complicated and carries on from that first book.
I think you could still read A Sparrow in Terezin if you haven't read the first book, but just be prepared to be a little confused with the present day plot. But Kaja's story is well worth a little present day muddle so don't let not having read the first book discourage you from reading this one.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group for providing me with a review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/kcambron

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Sparrow in Terezin 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 April 19 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:

A set of poppy notecards

A poppy pin

A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly

A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD

Literary tea bags

Tumbler

A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy's blog.

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

April 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.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS: