January 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:

Hearse and Buggy

GIVEAWAY

BRADFORD, LAURA
HEARSE AND BUGGY

Claire Weatherly has fled a high-stress lifestyle for a slower pace—in Amish country: Heavenly, Pennsylvania. She only planned a short visit but instead found herself opening an Amish specialty shop, Heavenly Treasures, and settling in. Claire loves her new home, and she’s slowly making friends among the locals, including Esther, a young Amish woman who works in the shop. So when the store’s former owner, the unlikable Walter Snow, is murdered, and the man Esther is sweet on becomes a suspect, Claire can’t help but get involved.

My Review:

I really adore these cozy mysteries. Hearse and Buggy is the first book in An Amish Mystery series. I've been reading them out of order and trying to catch up before the fifth book releases in March. The snappy pace with a hint of romance make for a winning combination.

Recently divorced and in search of a fresh start, Claire joins her aunt in Pennsylvania's Amish country. She's setting up a new business and learning all the ins and outs of living and working among the Amish. It's the perfect respite...until a dead body is found outside her shop. The cleverly contrived mystery kept my mind whirling with all the possibilities. Loved putting the pieces together right along with Claire.

There's a bevy of secondary characters both English and Amish that bring life to the town of Heavenly. Lots of scope for suspects. And then there's the handsome and attentive detective, Jakob Fisher -- a shunned Amish man trying to solve a murder when half the town won't talk to him. Interesting dynamics that pull Claire into the investigation as a go-between. Page-turning mystery ensues. A truly delectable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Hearse and Buggy 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 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Mountain Midwife

GIVEAWAY

EAKES, LAURIE ALICE
THE MOUNTAIN MIDWIFE

For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart.

Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.

Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.

Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of having her own family that she has long put aside in favor of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

My Review:

Exquisite mix of romance and mystery. This is Laurie Alice Eakes first contemporary novel and I was completely captivated. Has all the intricacy and depth of her historical novels but with a modern twist. And woot -- book nerd alert -- Ashley is a direct descendant of Griff and Esther from Choices of the Heart and Tabitha and Dominick from Lady in the Mist. Loved that nod to her historical midwife series.

I'm smitten by this setting. Eakes captures the essence of this Appalachian community. From the geography to the people  -- especially the women -- through Ashley's midwifery connections. So much history and sense of belonging. Ashley is anchored in the knowledge of her roots while Hunter is unable to fathom the legacy of family steeped in generations of tradition.

His quest to find his birth mother brings these two together and they are soon immersed in a mystery with some surprising twists. Mired in secrets from the past, the slow-building suspense begins to draw them closer. Theirs is a breath-taking and soul-stirring journey towards love. Exquisitely tender moments are equally matched by hard head-butting ones which makes for a thrilling read.

An exceptional beginning to a new series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Mountain Midwife 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 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

If I Run

This is the book that I was supposed to review this week but it hasn't arrived. There was a problem shipping for all the Litfuse Publicity bloggers, however they asked if we would post the author giveaway information even though we can't review the book yet. The info is below along with an interesting video link with Terri talking about this new series and the book trailer. Sounds really exciting and once I get the book and read and review I'll do my own book giveaway. For now though, click on the links below for the author giveaway.

link to If I Run trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTRLmi7_wwA

link to Terri Blackstock talking about If I Run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7WMZ94GGcs

Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer . . . but her DNA is all over the crime scene, and she's now a fugitive. Don't miss Terri Blackstock's next page-turner, If I Run. Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than Dylan has, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. But as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

Join Terri in celebrating her new book with a Fitbit giveaway and a special $4.99 digital pre-order deal!


One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of If I Run
A Fitbit One™ or a Fitbit Flex (winner's choice)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on February 16th. The winner will be announced February 17th on the Litfuse blog.

 Plus don't miss out on the special $4.99 digital pre-order pricing, now through February 15. Pre-order the book through your favorite e-book retailer; details here.

LINK TO GIVEAWAY: https://promosimple.com/ps/8f48




The Midwife's Choice

GIVEAWAY

PARR, DELIA
A MIDWIFE'S CHOICE

Come Home to Friendship, Family, and Faith in the Town of Trinity

In a time when the traditional ways of medicine are constantly being questioned by new doctors fresh from medical school, midwife Martha Cade tries to balance her life's calling with the demands of her family. Recently reunited with her estranged seventeen-year-old daughter, Martha finds herself torn between guiding her child and allowing her to be an adult. At the same time, she must decide whether she'll risk reopening the heart she'd long closed off to love.

Though a small town, Trinity, Pennsylvania, is fraught with secrets, and as a midwife, Martha moves among its people. She knows which homes are filled with light and love, which families have slipped into grief, which wives are unhappy, and which husbands dare to cross lines...As Martha struggles with the conflicts of being a mother, a midwife, and a woman, she learns the greatest lessons of all--that hope can shine even in the darkest hours, and that faith has a way of making the impossible possible.

My Review:

The Midwife's Choice is the second book in the A Home in Trinity series. I didn't read the first book and will admit to feeling like I missed out on some things when I started reading this one. Not enough to get me lost or confused, the author does a great job of summarizing when needed. But she has whet my appetite so I'll definitely be backtracking and reading The Midwife's Tale soon.

At the age of forty-two, Martha is not a typical heroine. She's hard-headed, opinionated and just a tad controlling. You might even say, set in her ways. But that's par for the course since she holds a unique position in the community. A midwife wields more power than any other woman and has even earned the respect of the menfolk. Her take-charge attitude is necessary in the birthing room but carries over into her personal life with varying degrees of success.

Like with the man who has been gently wooing her -- a childhood sweetheart, now widowed himself. The groundwork for that romance was laid out in The Midwife's Tale, and while there are some sweetly tender moments between Thomas and Martha in The Midwife's Choice, I wouldn't label it historical romance. There is hope by the last page, but a true happily ever after seems destined for book three.

Told strictly from Martha's point of view, this story deals with the changes in her world and the inevitable choices she must make as a result. Riveting stuff. From her struggles to recognize her daughter as a woman to her desire to fix things for friends and patients in need. Her heart is in the right place, but sometimes she is blinded by her own opinion.

Loved the bevy of memorable female secondary characters. A true sisterhood in the midst of a sobering subplot about wife abuse. Parr has done an exceptional job of staying true to the time period (which is infuriating at times) but brings around a satisfying resolution in the end that left me both exhilarated and giddy. Clever, clever women.

A rich, fascinating glimpse into the life of a 19th century midwife.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Midwife's Choice 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 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Mountain Hideaway

GIVEAWAY

BARRITT, CHRISTY
MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY

No safe haven

After being caught collecting evidence on her ex-boyfriend's criminal dealings, Tessa Jones has no choice but to go into hiding. She feels safe in her mountain refuge, right up until private investigator Trent McCabe comes knocking—and bullets start flying their way. Now for the second time, Tessa is on the run. And Trent's mission has shifted from tracking down a missing person to keeping the brave beauty alive. Trent once lost a woman in his care, and he won't make the same mistake again. But Tessa trusts no one—not even Trent. Out in the wilderness with danger closing in, Tessa must make a choice: rely on the handsome stranger…or take her chances with a killer.

My Review:

Give me a moment... I. Can't. Catch. My. Breath. Phew! When they say 'no safe haven' they literally mean no safe haven! At all. Anywhere. No sleep either. And uber bad guys hot on their tail all the time! Like don't blink or you might be gunned down. A whirlwind three days of hair-raising action and the hint of romance.Defibrillator suggested to have on hand before you start to read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Mountain Hideaway 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 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Beyond the Silence

GIVEAWAY

PETERSON, TRACIE
WOODHOUSE, KIMBERLEY
BEYOND THE SILENCE

Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother's dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. There are rumors in town that her new employer, Woodward Colton, caused the death of his wife. This accusation doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know--and Mrs. Goodman, Woody's long-time housekeeper, is decisively on Woody's side--but many in town stay far away from Lillian because of her association with the Colton family.

Lillian's six-year-old charge, Jimmy, was there when his mother died, and he hasn't spoken a word since. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he'll one day feel safe enough to tell her the truth about what happened. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. Will Mrs. Goodman and Jimmy be able to speak what they know in time to save Lillian from tragedy?

My Review:

Argh!  Most despicable sheriff in the West. And the townsfolk aren't much better. My stomach roiled every time they were in a scene and I wanted to take them all to task. Luckily Lillian, for all that she's led a sheltered life, stood up to the scoundrels. Took the words right out of my mouth, as a matter of fact. Her willingness to stand up against a crowd of vicious gossip mongers made me a fan. You go girl! The warning against gossip and passing judgements is the clear message in this story but it felt exaggerated in places and the resolution seemed abrupt and unrealistic to me.

Multiple points of view made the read interesting. The villain's viewpoint is menacing, little Jimmy's is heartrending and sweet Harry, a young man with a child-like mind is so sweet and pure. He is by far my favourite character of all. The authors masterfully weave these unique story threads together culminating in an action-packed climax.

A sweet romance, clouded by looming danger kept me turning pages. Woody is raw and vulnerable and so very lost. I love his willingness to take his fears and worries to the Lord; to backtrack and apologize when he lashes out in pain. He's been going through the motions since his wife's murder and only begins to realize that once Lillian appears on the scene.

Lillian is a breath of fresh air. She brings a fresh perspective to this wounded little family and begins to work miracles in short order. A satisfying mix of thwarted romance and sinister treachery make for a very enjoyable read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Beyond the Silence 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 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January 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:

I'm waiting on a book I'm scheduled to review this week but if it doesn't arrive I'll have to substitute. Plus it's been kind of crazy around here so there may or may not be a fifth book and retro Saturday is still a go. :-)

Live Loved : an Adult Coloring Book

 

GIVEAWAY

FEINBERG, MARGARET
LIVE LOVED: AN ADULT COLORING BOOK

PRAY * CREATE * MEMORIZE * REFLECT * JOURNAL

How would your attitude, actions, and responses change if you lived in the unconditional, immeasurable love of God? What would it look like for you to live loved?

Live Loved provides an opportunity for you to pull away from the hustle and bustle of life to pray, reflect, journal, and unleash your creative gifts as you marinate in the truth of God's fierce love for you.

By yourself or with others, unleash the creative talents God has given you in a meaningful way. Color and doodle, commit Scripture to memory, share your artistry, and learn to live loved as you craft God's Word into your heart.

My Review:

I've always been drawn to the Arts. I learn best through story or song, dance or visual arts -- and that includes learning about the gospel. Some of my most profound experiences at church have been listening to a choir or the worship songs. So the concept of an inspirational themed colouring book really intrigued me.

A lovely introduction defines what living loved means: "Living as if we're loved by God instead of responding out of the usual petty jealousies, insecurities, fears, or annoyances that try to get the better of us."

This colouring book provides budding artists an opportunity to celebrate some of the scriptures that reveal God's love. The idea is to reflect upon and even memorize the passage as you colour the floral design surrounding it. Each image is accompanied by a journaling page, providing space to write down thoughts, prayers or even your own drawings.

I've begun to anticipate the quiet, reflective time this activity has brought me. A chance to pull away from the stress of life, turning my attention inward as I contemplate what a scripture passage really means to me. Here's an example of one of my pages...no journaling done on this one yet, but it gives you a good idea of how the book is laid out.

I'll definitely continue to incorporate colouring into my daily study and prayer routine. I've already gone online and discovered there's a great selection of inspirational colouring books from all the major Christian publishers.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Live Loved : an Adult Coloring Book 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 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Worthy Heart

GIVEAWAY

MASON, SUSAN ANNE
A WORTHY HEART

Can an Irish Lass with a Dream
for America Find True Love?

Maggie Montgomery's long-held wish to see America is finally coming true. She'll visit her beloved brother Rylan and his wife, Colleen, and at the same time, escape Neill Fitzgerald's unwanted attention. In addition, Maggie has a secret! She plans to remain in America to seek her fortune and to hopefully find love. While visiting Irish Meadows, she meets an intriguing man whom she thinks is a stable hand. Only when Rylan demands she stay away from Adam O'Leary does she realize he's Colleen's brother, recently released from prison. Nonetheless, Maggie can't seem to make her heart conform to her brother's request.

Adam O'Leary has never felt worthy of his place in the family. Spending time in jail only reinforces his belief. Now that he's free, Adam hopes to make amends and earn back his family's trust. Falling in love with Maggie Montgomery, however, was never in his plans.

Despite everyone's effort to keep them apart, the two develop a bond nothing can break--but has Adam truly changed, or will the sins of his past prove too much for Maggie to overcome?  

My Review:

That moment when you reach the last page of a book and you spend another ten minutes staring at the blank end pages willing there to be more. Wistful sigh. It's really over...until September when the third book in the Courage to Dream series comes out. I'm officially in mourning.

Mason has created a sweeping family saga in this series. Happily though, each book is complete in and of itself so no worries if you haven't read Irish Meadows (but, oh mercy, you really should!) This author has the ability to hurdle a reader into emotional chaos right along with her characters. Seriously, I think I'm dehydrated from crying -- lots of happy tears but some anguished ones too.

As in the first book, this is another case of double romance doubles the reading pleasure. This time it is visiting Montgomery siblings, Maggie and Gabe, who find unexpected romance in America. Maggie with her steadfast heart is just what Adam O'Leary needs as he struggles to put his past behind him. And Gabe's Irish charm unexpectedly captivates Aurora Hastings (a secondary character from Irish Meadows who really did deserve her own happily ever after.) Both plot lines complement each other and make for a riveting (and often anxious) read. I was on tenterhooks all the way through.

And a special kudos to the author for getting the Irish 'accent' right. So many don't -- turning it more Scottish than Irish or using exaggerated Americanized clichés.. Mason has captured the essence and flavour of the lilt by carefully placed (and authentic) word choice as well as a sprinkling of Irish phrases thrown in for good measure. (A couple of  the most swoothworthy scenes include whispered endearments in Irish. Melting in a puddle. Right. Now.)

A wonderful inspirational thread explores the true meaning of grace as characters strive to prove themselves worthy, only to fall short time and time again. It isn't until they learn to accept that special grace that surpasses all understanding that they can begin to trust in their dreams for the future.

Captivating. Soul-stirring. Uplifting. If you love historical romance you will love A Worthy Heart.

A heartfelt thanks to the author for providing me with an autographed copy!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Worthy 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 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Baby Barter

GIVEAWAY

HALL, PATTY SMITH
THE BABY BARTER

A baby to cherish..
Home from the war, army nurse Thea Miller is determined to adopt her late sister's baby and begin a new life. But someone else has the same intentions—the town sheriff and Thea's old friend, Mack Worthington. Now, in order to keep her niece in the family, Thea must reach an agreement with him.

Mack isn't sure Thea—whose actions once hurt him badly—is committed to baby Sarah. And a judge may never approve a single-parent adoption for either of them. But what if they got married? It would be a marriage in name only. Yet the more time Mack spends with Thea, the more he begins to believe their pretend family can become the real one they've both been longing for.

My Review:

Seriously. Show me a man that's gaga over a baby and I'll be gaga over the man. Hello Sheriff Mack -- definitely a swoonworthy hero. And a wounded one. So that's a double whammy -- besotted over his baby girl and holding a heap of trouble trapped inside his heart. A winning combination that can't help but thaw Thea's rigid attitude. She's a woman on a mission and Mack is in the way. She carries a world of hurt beneath the professional nursing façade she presents to the public. A love story ripe with conflict but sweetened with tenderness. Delicious right to the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Baby Barter 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 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Littlest Witness

GIVEAWAY

CHOATE, JANE M.
THE LITTLEST WITNESS

To protect a child...

When Delta Force soldier Caleb Judd's brother and sister-in-law are murdered, the killers turn their attention on his orphaned nephew. Caleb's new mission: protect little Tommy—who hasn't said a word since witnessing his parents' deaths—and figure out who's targeting his family. He needs help, and security expert Shelley Rabb is perfect for the job. But Caleb's used to calling the shots, not taking orders…even when they come from a beautiful former Secret Service agent. Shelley knows firsthand what can happen when business becomes personal, so she vows not to get too close to Caleb and his nephew. She will risk her life to make sure they're safe, but will that mean risking her heart, too.

My Review:

I fell for Caleb fast and hard. Reeling from grief, he can barely keep a step ahead of the assassins pursuing his nephew. This hero is all hard edges, gruff and growly, used to giving orders, making plans. The tug of war between Caleb and Shelley, the protective detail a Delta buddy has set him up with, is really fun to read. There's this charged give and take between the two that crackles with an undercurrent of awareness that kept my romance loving heart doing happy somersaults. But the chase is on and some really great choreographed action scenes had me wincing. An intense, page-turning read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Littlest Witness 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 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Where She Belongs

GIVEAWAY

ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE
WHERE SHE BELONGS

Shelby Kincaid is ready to move on from her grief. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family's ancestral homestead so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she'll have her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted the homestead. Inherited as a punishment from his grandfather, it has sat empty for fifteen years and fallen into ruin. He's glad to finally unload it. But a clean break isn't possible when he can't get the young widow Shelby off his mind.

Welcome to Misty Willow, a place that will have as great a hold over the reader as it does over its inhabitants. With writing that evokes a strong sense of place and personal history, Johnnie Alexander deftly explores the ties that bind us to home--and the irresistible forces that draw us to each other.  

My Review:

That moment when you are happily reading a wonderful story and suddenly what you think is going to happen doesn't and then other things you never even dreamed of start happening instead. You're like -- whoa, wait. Noooooo! And you start waving your arms around like a rabid music conductor as you try get Character A to cool his jets so you can coach Character B to stick with it a bit longer while praying for Character C to just shove off to another book all while trying to hip check secondary characters into an appropriate holding pattern while...Yeah. There were a lot of those moments in this book.  All that arm waving and not one single character listened to me. Not even the dog.

Enthralling because I wasn't sure what would happen next. Gut-wrenching because it didn't always go the way I hoped. Dipsy-swoony because when the romance is on it's really, really on! Thud! Heart-stirring because the author explores the power in relationships -- both the past and the present -- and how they shape us. Soul-nourishing because of a solid inspirational thread that anchors it all.

Read this one in a day because... I. Just. Couldn't. Stop.

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  Where She Belongs 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 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Carry Me Home

GIVEAWAY

ADAMEK, DOROTHY
CARRY ME HOME

Finella Mayfield hates two things: liars and thieves. And she’s determined to marry a man who’s neither. Chasing her dead father’s dreams, the twenty-year-old English bride arrives in Australia in 1875 for an arranged marriage. Anticipating her future as village preacher’s wife, she records her thoughts in her Everlasting journal.

But instead of her fiancé, Finella is met by Shadrach Jones, a poor farmer sent to collect her from the busy Melbourne pier. This is not what her father planned. And it’s only the beginning of the unraveling of Finella Mayfield ~ the bride with no groom.

All Shadrach Jones longs for is rows of mustard and chicory. He’s busy growing a farm near the Phillip Island fishing village of Cowes, and caring for Molly, his simple sister. Far from the brutal life they remember with their ex-convict father, Shadrach’s building something new.

But he’s also made a promise to a dying friend. To collect and marry the English girl destined to never be a preacher’s wife.

Can Shadrach convince Finella she has a future with a farmer? Can he convince himself, knowing his family secrets will haunt their future?

My Review:

Stunning debut novel! Exquisite writing creates vivid pictures guaranteed to carry any reader away. Loved the 'exotic' setting (well Phillip Island is exotic to this Canadian.) So refreshing to read a historical romance set outside North America or England. That alone made me eager to read this story. And the beautiful cover begged me to keep her at the top of the TBR pile. She wasn't in my home long before a peek inside captured my fancy and sent me on a dramatic tilt-a-whirl reading frenzy.

Emotions exude from every page. Heart-rending, funny, romantic and sometimes devastating. There were times I forgot to breathe. Take one proud and stubborn farmer doing his best to eke out a living under harsh conditions. Add one displaced English bride-without-a-groom, Throw them together in remote circumstances and watch the sparks fly.

Major clashing of wills and hidden sorrows make the going rough but there are some beautifully tender moments as well. And a very romantic muddy romp that made me giddy. Adamek captures it all -- the witty banter and blistering arguments. The nursing of hurt feelings. The fragile hope that comes from an unexpected act of kindness. I laughed and swooned and cried bitterly before I reached the end of this blissfully captivating read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Carry Me 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 January 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week Three

As always, I will contact the winners by email however thanks to the nefarious ways of the Internet my email might land in your spam folder so keep your eyes peeled! :-) If you haven't heard from me by Monday evening please email me your snail mail address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca From time to time winners and I don't seem to connect, so I have a month time frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

The Bounty Hunter's Redemption

GIVEAWAY

DEAN, JANET
THE BOUNTY HUNTER'S REDEMPTION

Staking his claim 

Recently widowed Carly Richards is shocked when a bounty hunter declares her seamstress shop belongs to his sister. But Nate Sergeant has proof—the deed her lawless husband gambled away without her knowledge. Now Carly must fight for her home and her son's future. And until a judge arrives to settle ownership, she's not budging…despite Nate's surprisingly kind demeanor—and dashing good looks.

Nate's faced the meanest outlaws in the land—but this petite, strong-willed seamstress may be his greatest challenge. He owes his sister his life, so he's determined she'll have the property that's legally hers. But as Nate and Carly battle for ownership, Nate realizes there's something he's overlooked—the hope of building a family with Carly and her adorable son.

My Review:

I'm a sucker for an attention-grabbing opening sentence so when I read "A woman should mourn the loss of her husband." a chill of anticipation shot right down my spine. Those nine innocuous words strung together had the power to light my imagination on fire. I immediately wanted to know this woman and the painful history that somber statement hints at. In short -- I was hooked.

Carly is a "female tinderbox" (Nate's words, not mine and don't they paint a vivid picture?). She is prickly -- especially where Nate is concerned. These two are at cross purposes from the get go. The ownership of the seamstress shop is a tangled legal mess that doesn't bode well for a burgeoning romance which makes the tender moments all the more appealing.

There's plenty of strife, a hint of danger and a wonderful cast of secondary characters who strive to help set things right. In fact, the innocent faith of a young boy goes a long way towards bringing Nate and Carly together for good. A touching story of redemption and second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Bounty Hunter's Redemption 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 17 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!