Stealing Jake

GIVEAWAY

HILLMAN, PAM
STEALING JAKE

When Livy O’Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-Fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she’s helping to run an orphanage. Now she’ll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.

Sheriff’s deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy―literally while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town―as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off―Jake doesn’t have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can’t seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn’t willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.

My Review:

A plot so riddled with action and suspense that it'll give you itchy fingers (which means you want to find out what happens so badly that you're tempted to start turning pages faster than you can read.) Such a delicious dilemma for an avid reader!

Love that the romance is front and centre right from the start. The reader is in no doubt that chemistry exists between Jake and Livy and romance could blossom quickly under ideal circumstances. Alas, since the circumstances aren't ideal, there isn't a smooth path to matrimony -- but I sure enjoyed all the bumps and detours along the way!

Trust is a core issue that threads its way throughout this story. It's something Livy in particular really struggles with because of her past. But Jake harbors his own share of doubts which compound Livy's trust issues and it spirals into quite a quandary. Then there's young Luke, a mistrustful street kid who holds the key to a lot of questions that need answering...if only he could trust someone with the information.

The surprising suspense thread kept me riveted right to the very end....and then I mourned that it was all over. You know -- that black moment in a reader's life where you realize there is no more story but you're not ready to let it go? And the thought of starting another book leaves you feeling unsettled? That's how I felt when I reached the last page of Stealing Jake and what a wonderful (and disturbing) conundrum for an avid reader to be in. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Stealing Jake please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 2 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!