The Potter's Lady

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, JUDITH
THE POTTER'S LADY

In the beautiful rolling hills of West Virginia, Rose McKay seeks a measure of success--in business and in love.

When Rose McKay convinces her brother, Ewan, to invest in a pottery business, she's determined to assist him in making the endeavor a success. A recent graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, she believes she can design pieces that will sell well. Rose also reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who oversees his own family's pottery works and promises to help her.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change, but the new owners of the pottery seem to be decent folks. He just wishes Rose wouldn't insist on changing the way they do things. Then McKay Pottery begins to lose business to the Harkness company, and Rylan suspects Joshua may be secretly taking advantage of Rose.

When Franklin Hotels announces a design contest, it could be the opportunity McKay Pottery needs to achieve recognition and clients. Rose and Rylan work together to create something magnificent. With Joshua's company as their main rival, can Rylan convince Rose her trust in Joshua may spell ruin for them all?

---

My Review:

This second book in the Refined by Love series is as fantastic as the first (The Brickmaker's Bride.) A rich read full of history and the everyday struggles of the human condition.  Miller has an exceptional talent when it comes to characterization and it wasn't long before I became invested in Rose and Rylan's story...so much so that I was guilty of reading past bedtime! Such a wickedly delicious thing to do on occasion!

 And it's not only the hero and heroine who caught my attention -- the secondary characters were pretty unforgettable as well. Loved being reunited with the rest of the McKay family -- especially getting a glimpse into the married life of Ewan and Laura!

But there's treachery afoot as well -- brought about by the most despicable characters you will ever have the misfortune of meeting within the pages of a book. Gah! But they made my blood boil with all their conniving and manipulating! And added a whole new dimension to the plot.

An utterly compelling read...and I think the Refined by Love series might just be my favourite Miller series yet.

Oh -- you don't have to read The Brickmaker's Wife in order to enjoy this one but there is some carry over with the McKay family and their brickmaking business that follows through in this 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 Potter's Lady 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 September 6 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

August 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:

Wanted

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
WANTED

For a split second, Katie feels certain she is about to receive everything she’s ever wanted….

Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the brokenhearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time-yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better.

Just as she’s settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie’s past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her Rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she’d strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart.

Will the past destroy Katie’s chances for love? Or will Katie finally allow herself to accept God’s love, forgive her past…and receive everything she’s ever wanted?

My Review:

Published in 2009, Wanted is the second book in the Sisters of the Heart series. No worries if you haven't read the first one though, this reads well as a standalone. Mind you, there are some great continuing Anna and Henry (Hidden) romance scenes that are very soul-satisfying so if you have read the first book you'll get a bonus thrill.

There's such a sense of yearning in this story. Katie's desperate to find fulfillment in her life and she's been harboring a secret attraction to Jonathan for a while. Even though it seems like a hopeless dream she can't manage to disengage her heart. But Jonathan is too mired in the logistics of navigating life as a single father to give much thought to a different future. He still yearns for that sense of home and family -- a place of belonging -- which he can't seem to create in his own household. Katie's presence changes all that, but also stirs up painful memories of the past for both of them.

A gentle love story that made my heart sing.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Wanted 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 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Frontier Engagement

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SCOTT, REGINA
FRONTIER ENGAGEMENT

School Bells and Wedding Bells

James Wallin's family is depending on him to find a schoolteacher for their frontier town. Alexandrina Fosgrave seems to be exactly what he needs to help fulfill his father's dream of building a new community. If only James could convince her to accept the position.

Alexandrina has traveled west to seek a fresh start, not to find a groom. But after she's stranded in the wilderness with James, he offers her his hand in marriage to protect her reputation. Both are afraid to fall in love, but maybe an engagement of convenience could make them reconsider…

Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms.

My Review:

James is such a teasing rogue that I want to be annoyed with him, but I can't. I'm too busy swooning! And laughing. He's outrageous and flirty and has a wicked sense of humour and is all too determined to make life into one big lark. Of course, Rina just happens to be his exact opposite. A little uptight and too serious for her own good. Cautious where James is impulsive. You might think her reserved nature would be overshadowed by James's larger than life persona but actually the opposite is true. Rina can hold her own and the two compliment each other -- if only they'd stop sparring long enough to notice!

 Action and romance plied with plenty of laughter make this a read to remember.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Frontier Engagement 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 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

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VOGT, BETH K.
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

My Review:

Utterly compelling. Reader beware -- open this book and be prepared to lose all concept of time and place. You won't be able to shake yourself clear until you reach 'the end'.

Complicated pasts lead to complicated futures when an unexpected (and dramatic!) reunion with her ex-husband threatens all of Vanessa's carefully laid plans. The dynamics between the two leap off the page and the ensuing mayhem is both angsty and exhilarating.

Vogt teases her readers with enticing flashbacks of Vanessa and Logan's teenage romance. We can see how the vulnerability and inexperience of youth worked against them. But they are older and wiser now -- but oh so wary. There are some tender and poignant scenes where they both remember a good time, an inside joke, a pet name. Drawn together by sweet memories and torn apart by painful ones. An emotional roller coaster ride of epic proportions!

In fact, at one point,Vanessa laments how being with Logan is like "inhaling adrenaline" and that pretty much describes this reading experience. Inhaling adrenaline right to the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Crazy Little Thing Called 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 August 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

High-Risk Homecoming

GIVEAWAY

STONE, ALISON
HIGH-RISK HOMECOMING

After being attacked in her own store, Ellie Winters no longer considers her hometown a safe haven. Nor can she believe the lawman helping her recover is Johnny Rock, her former childhood friend—and the boy who once threw her family into turmoil. Though she's secretly happy to see Johnny again, he's only back to stop a drug ring. Too bad the trail leads straight to Ellie's shop. Despite their rocky history, Johnny knows the pretty business owner can't possibly be guilty. Now, with Johnny as the only thing standing between Ellie and a killer, he will do anything to keep her safe…and prove he's worthy of Ellie trusting him with her heart.

My Review:

An interesting and topical subject brings a gripping air of realism to this romantic suspense. I found it made more of an impact since the drug ring is operating out of an idyllic small town.

Ellie and Johnny have a rocky history (pun intended) and I enjoyed their light romance. Ellie was a starry-eyed fourteen-year-old when she first met the older Johnny. It didn't take long for a school girl crush to take hold and, years later, there's still that teenybopper vibe to her early reactions to Johnny which made me smile.

But there's plenty of danger and mystery afoot and it takes both Johnny and Ellie's concerted efforts to get to the bottom of a lethal drug running operation. Plenty of action, a sweet romance, and a realistic ending fueled with hope made this a compelling read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of High-Risk Homecoming 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 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Not By Sight

GIVEAWAY

BRESLIN, KATE
NOT BY SIGHT

Gripping Sophomore Novel from a Rising Historical Romance Talent

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country's cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she'll set off when she hands a feather to Jack.

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them--or the faith they'll need to maintain hope.  

My Review:

This one has been hovering on the top of my TBR pile for a couple of weeks. As anxious as I was to read it since I loved Breslin's debut novel, I was apprehensive too. Why? I dreaded reading that white feather scene. Anyone remember Walter Blythe in Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery? He's Anne and Gilbert's son -- a gentle soul with a poet's heart. He gets a white feather when he doesn't enlist in the army as soon as war breaks out. My eleven-year-old heart took a beating over that scene and I still remember it to this day. So, yes, you might say that a former traumatic reading experience hindered my ability to pick up this book. (Now my book nerdiness is well and truly confirmed!)

I'm glad I overcame my trepidation though because Not By Sight is a soul-stirring read I wouldn't want to miss. It's definite Downton Abbey ambiance holds huge appeal while the gripping plot kept me spellbound. There are so many twists and turns and downright surprises! And the history revealed -- aspects of the British home front in World War I that I wasn't even aware of made this read all the richer.

I grew to love Grace (after the white feather incident!) She's passionate about every cause she embraces, from the suffragette movement to supporting the war effort. And though she is from a privileged class, she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty in order to help either cause. Her naivety at the beginning of the novel gradually falls away as she begins to grasp the fact that not everything can be measured in black and white.

Her hero, Jack, is as brooding as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. I loved their encounters. Witty dialogue highlights Grace's gumption and humour. Jack is intrigued in spite of himself. But a different kind of intrigue is afoot as well. This is a spy story after all, and Breslin sets her characters (and readers) on a merry chase.

Absolutely loved the scripture tie-in for the book -- both in story and title. For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is intricately woven throughout the plot and affects a multitude of characters in various ways. Breathtaking and uplifting stuff.

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 Not By Sight 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 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Counting on a Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

CLOPTON, DEBRA
COUNTING ON A COWBOY

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she's brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn't interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become---or the women who might be looking at him like he's their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn't looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can't help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

My Review:

I want to say 'Best Romantic Comedy Ever' but as I think back on this story I realize there are a lot of really intensely emotional issues that various characters are struggling to deal with. So there's definitely gritty realism delivered in an honest, and sometimes heart wrenching, way but I still start grinning when I think about Counting on a Cowboy. I guess the humorous bits that shine through the drama really made an impact on me.

Like two cowboy brothers dealing with the day in, day out care of an infant: "Aw, come, Jarrod. Give me a break. I've changed him three times and you should see the stuff coming out of that kid. Maybe we should take him to the doc." (p. 75) Bumbling cowboys out of their element are always a treat to read about.

As is the simmering romance between Bo and Abby. Attraction confirmed, desire to do something about it, not so much. Because it's truly complicated. From a crash bang first meet to Abby's painful past, there just doesn't seem to be a way for them to move forward. Cue the audacious town matchmakers -- Clara Lyn and Reba -- though, honestly, their clumsy attempts do more harm than good a time or two. And that's because they don't have all the facts.

Neither does the reader when it comes to Abby's haunting past. Clopton expertly tantalizes with subtle hints that grow clearer as the story progresses. I was gutted by the time the whole truth was revealed but thrilled when Bo proves to finally be the hope for her future.

Clopton delivers another spellbinding read. Lovin' this series to pieces. Bring on Book 3 of A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/dclopton

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Counting on a Cowboy please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 30 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!


Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 8th. The winner will be announced September 9th on Debra's blog.

August 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:

Taming Rafe

 

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
TAMING RAFE

Hotel heiress Katherine Breckenridge just wants to make a lasting difference in her world by running her late mother's charity foundation. But she fears she lacks the passion and courage to be as successful as her mother was--a fear that's realized when money from the foundation goes missing and Katherine's one shot to recover it is ruined by Rafe Noble.

Two-time world champion bull rider Rafe Noble is at the top of his game when tragedy hits. Guilt stricken over the loss of his best friend, Rafe accidentally drives his truck into the lobby of the Breckenridge Hotel during Katherine's fund-raiser. With a broken knee, a ruined reputation, and the threat of several lawsuits, Rafe goes back to his family's ranch--the Silver Buckle--to recover.

Desperate to save the foundation, Katherine heads to the Silver Buckle to talk Rafe into helping her raise the needed funds. But a few days under the bright Montana skies give her more than she bargained for, and Kat discovers there's more to both herself and Rafe Noble than she realized.

My Review:

Vintage Warren -- if you can call 8 years vintage since it was published in 2007. It's the second in The Noble Legacy series but I had no trouble reading this one first, though I'm definitely going to hunt down Reclaiming Nick! Love a series centered around brothers.

Taming Rafe is an emotional roller coaster of a read. There are plot twists galore, two romances and an unexpected 'book within a book' angle that was so much fun (and angsty) to read. To say this one packs a wallop would be a gross understatement.

Rafe's in a bad place when we first meet him and there's something about a hurting cowboy that pulls at my heartstrings every time. Kat thinks she's made of stronger stuff, but thankfully she isn't. They go from wary adversaries to cautious friends and finally reluctant attraction. A tenuous romance blossoms and then...well, you just won't believe what happens next. The story takes the kind of turn that makes you afraid to read further and afraid not to! The only solution is to read at breakneck speed until you reach the end when you can finally whoosh a big sigh of relief.

Awesome! Awesome!! AWESOME!!!!
 
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Taming Rafe 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 23 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Proof of Innocence

GIVEAWAY

WORTH, LENORA
PROOF OF INNOCENCE

Innocent fugitive

Erin Eagleton has been on the run for months after her ex-boyfriend was killed in front of her. She escaped from the killer once, but the police consider her a prime suspect. She is determined to prove her innocence and bring down the real criminal…before he finishes the job. Her high school sweetheart, Capitol K-9 officer Chase Zachary, has been searching for her with his trusty police dog. Now that he's found her, he vows to keep her safe at all costs. He'll stop at nothing to reveal the truth—and to protect the woman he's never forgotten.

Capitol K-9 Unit: These lawmen solve the toughest cases with the help of their brave canine partners.

My Review:

The sixth and last book in the Capitol K-9 continuity series and it's a doozy! This is the one I've been waiting for since the very first story. I knew Erin was innocent, despite the evidence building against her and I adored Chase for adamantly championing her in the other books. LOL. Yes, I might just take my reader involvement to a whole different level from most folks. But really, I was euphoric to finally get to 'meet' Erin and she's everything I thought she would be -- and more. A stubbornly determined woman with enough grit and gumption to manage to stay ahead of her killer for months. All while accumulating information to clear her name.

Chase has been just as determined to find her -- not to arrest her  though -- he wants to help prove her innocence.  A true hero championing her cause. And, honestly, Erin's at her breaking point when he finds her. Action and mayhem ensue, with danger lurking in unlikely places. Proof of Innocence kept me on my toes right to the end. A glorious conclusion to an awesome series.

Oh -- and no worries if you've missed the other books. This one reads well as a standalone, though it does post major spoilers from the previous stories.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Proof of Innocence 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 23 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Father's Second Chance

GIVEAWAY

OBENHAUS, MINDY
A FATHER'S SECOND CHANCE

Repairing Her Heart

Businesswoman Celeste Thompson has one goal: to make her restaurant and hotel a success. She doesn’t need any distractions, even from handsome contractor Gage Purcell and his two adorable little girls. Besides, single dad Gage is just biding his time before a big job at the mines comes through. But as Celeste’s project springs to life, their arguments transform into attraction. Gage isn’t looking for romance, especially not with another career-driven woman like his ex-wife. But openhearted Celeste is more than just another work-consumed client. She might just be his happily-ever-after.

My Review:

There's something about the surly construction type, isn't there? Especially when you know why he's less than enthusiastic when it comes to a powerhouse city girl like Celeste. Of course, she thinks he's just plain rude. Let the sparks fly! Reluctant attraction on both sides creates quite a sizzle as the pair are constantly thrown together. And Gage's two little girls add a whole new level of delight to an already captivating read. High drama and hilarious comedy make this a fast-paced read that any avid romance reader will happily devour.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Father's Second Chance 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 23 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Until the Harvest

GIVEAWAY

THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
UNTIL THE HARVEST

"Once in a while a new author...makes you sit up and take notice."--"Library Journal" When a family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. Although Henry tries to find escape in bad company, the only things that can tamp down his anger and grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and sweet but unusual pre-teen Mayfair Hoffman.

Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, with the freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has the opposite effect. Worse, she's his grandmother's housekeeper and helper, so she's always around and ready to push his buttons. At first he thinks she doesn't care about his loss, before beginning to understand she's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries, and Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as both Henry's future and Mayfair's life are put at risk.  

My Review:

 Until the Harvest is set in 1975-76 which makes it just on the cusp of being considered historical fiction (up to the end of the Vietnam War -- April 1975.)  Though I found it to have a real 1930s vibe, perhaps because of the rural setting.

This is Book Two in the Appalachian Blessings series but reads well as a standalone. If you have read Miracle in a Dry Season you will recognize Perla and Casewell and that's where I ran into difficulties because the author really messes with my preconceived happily ever after for those two.

So my heart hurt during this read. A lot. I don't regret reading Until the Harvest, it was just hard in places. Really hard.

For one thing, Henry is not the son I envisioned for them. I mean if you had Perla and Casewell for parents wouldn't you turn out perfect? LOL. Okay, so that's very unrealistic which makes this a very true to life kind of story. Because, honestly, really good parents have kids who do really stupid things. Kids who don't recognize how good they have it. How much they are loved. How blessed their childhood has been. Sigh. That describes Henry to a T. He's headed in the wrong direction, allowing bitterness and anger to dictate his actions.

I did not like Henry. In fact, I was prepared to dislike him until the bitter end, but Thomas weaves her magic and pretty soon my defences started to crumble. Though there is an awesome scene where Margaret finally lets him have it -- a scathing paragraph that I loved so much I read it several times over. Take that Mr. Self-Absorbed Henry Phillips!

Which brings me to Margaret. Wounded but steadfast. She has emerged from a difficult childhood with an inner strength that is inspiring. One of the delights of this book is watching her blossom under the multi-generational friendship with Henry's mother and grandmother.

And then there's Mayfair, Margaret's fragile little sister. She brings an ethereal quality to the tale. The unexpected anchor for so many people battling life's storms. The sweet purity of her faith brings a special kind of healing.

Emotionally engaging (infuriatingly so at times) -- a memorable story ultimately filled with hope.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Until the Harvest 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 23 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Through Waters Deep

GIVEAWAY

SUNDIN, SARAH
THROUGH WATERS DEEP

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

My Review:

Best declaration of love ever...ever, ever, EVER!!!! Classic film worthy. I wanted to stand up and cheer! Ahem -- please excuse my euphoric tizzy -- I guess I should start at the beginning.

Love the way Sundin brings the early 1940s to life. From the slang to the mannerisms and the clothes -- especially the dresses -- completely captivating and served to make me feel like I'd slipped back in time or right into a vintage movie.  And all the naval details! And actions scenes. Not to mention the political climate in pre-war America that I was totally unaware of. Thrilling stuff!

Adored Mary's intrepid sleuth tendencies as well as the Nancy Drew references peppered throughout the novel. Here's where I reveal what a hopeless book nerd I am because I fell into a frenzied fever when I realized that -- gasp -- Mary had actually read first edition Nancy Drews because she was alive when they were being written and published. Take a moment to process that profound thought. Yeah -- I bet some of you are experiencing the same kind of thrill, right?

Okay -- back to the mystery. Intriguing doesn't begin to describe it. And I loved Mary's doggedness. She has to fight her natural tendencies to hang back and keep a low profile in order to fight for what she believes to be right. Definitely gives Nancy a run for her money!

The romance is sweet and slow and exasperating in a page turning kind of way. There were times I wanted to knock some heads together. Lucky for the characters I couldn't fit in the pages so they were safe. I had to rely on the expertise of the author, thankfully, because I was able to swoon my way through that aforementioned declaration of love scene she delivered at the end. Blissful sigh.

A wonderful inspirational thread about placing your trust in God -- forging ahead in His purpose -- in order to fulfill your destiny affects both Mary and Jim in different ways. Sundin creates a powerful parallel between their two stories which turns into a profound conclusion.

Honestly, this book has it all, intrigue, romance, action and a killer declaration of love scene (did I mention that already?). Definitely one for my keeper shelf.

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 Through Waters Deep 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 23 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Married 'til Monday

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
MARRIED 'TIL MONDAY

With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Summer Harbor, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college—her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It’s just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

What could possibly go wrong indeed? Just about everything as Ryan and Abby try to navigate being together while not really being together. And in the midst of the subterfuge they are confronted with way too many memories -- both good and bad.

An emotional read that kept me on tenterhooks right to the very end. After reading the other Chapel Springs Romance books I felt a real allegiance to Ryan. He was so earnest and endearing in his desire to reconcile with Abby. It about broke my heart.

Abby, on the other hand, claims to have moved on. She certainly doesn't want to open old wounds and risk even more pain. But Abby's past -- long before Ryan -- was riddled with pain. The kind she's still carrying around with her. It makes her prickly and unresponsive...at first.

Ryan's relentless pursuit makes him a truly swoonworthy hero. Abby's resistance is agonizing. She's too pragmatic -- "Whether he liked it or not, they dragged their failed marriage behind them like a noisy string of cans on a "Just Married" car." (p. 57) The whole story is a riveting 'one step forward, two steps back' kind of read. Hunter does a stunning job of portraying the crushing heartache of divorce and the desperate hope of reconciliation. And the fact that Ryan and Abby were married makes the whole romance edgier. There are so many undercurrents and delicious nuances that constantly simmer below the surface.

A breathtaking love story that rises from the bitter ashes of monumental loss.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Married 'til Monday 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 23  2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

August 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: