Always Watching

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
ALWAYS WATCHING

Intensity, skill, tenacity. The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.

When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians to protect his son. But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap.

Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him -- including Olivia. But in her mind, even more dangerous than the threats to her life is the hold her handsome client has on her heart.

My Review:

Squeeeaaaallllll! Happy dancing over this stellar start to what promises to be an amazing new series. So much to love -- especially the bodyguard heroines. Love that twist. Drawing on her law enforcement background, Olivia has started up her own agency -- and all the elite bodyguards are women. Each one waiting to share their own story I hope.

Always Watching is Olivia's turn and this book has it all. Creepy stalker, puzzling mystery, dashing hero, the lure of impossible romance. A truly delicious white-knuckle read on all counts. I shouted myself hoarse as I tried to warn characters of danger -- both real and imagined. As usual, they ignored me and seemed intent on charging into one threatening situation after another.

For all that Olivia is the bodyguard, Wade is no slouch. His manly pride won't allow him to stay on the sidelines while Olivia takes all the risks. Makes for some highly charged moments. Insert blissful sigh. If my heart wasn't racing over the suspense it was dipsy-doing over the romance.

A truly sublime 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  Always Watching 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 March 6 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

February 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:

Murder, Simply Stitched

 

GIVEAWAY

 

ALAN, ISABELLA
MURDER, SIMPLY STITCHED

When Angela Braddock enters her quilts in an Amish auction, she never expects one of her neighbors to end up going, going, gone....
                     
Angie is finding her niche as the new owner of her late aunt’s Amish quilt shop, Running Stitch. But as the summer is winding down, so is business. To bolster support for the shop, Angie decides to sell her quilts in the Rolling Brook Amish Auction, including some of her aunt’s most prized works.

The quilts promise to be a hit—but the gavel comes down on the lively event when Angie stumbles upon the body of township trustee Wanda Hunt behind a canning shed. The cause of death: a poisoned blueberry fry pie from Rachel Miller’s bakery table. Now Angie’s closest friend is a murder suspect. With Angie taking the lead, she and the other women of her aunt’s quilting circle set out to patch together the clues and stop a killer set on shredding the simple peace of Rolling Brook.

My Review:

I'm in love with this series. Seriously, murder shouldn't be this fun. Alan's refreshing humour adds an extra zing to her cozy mysteries. As I mentioned in my review of Murder, Plain and Simple (two weeks ago), Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower who writes Amish mysteries for the Christian market. So, while not technically Christian Fiction, Murder, Simply Stitched is a clean read with some gentle faith messages courtesy of the Amish characters.

We're back in the Amish community of Rolling Brook and all is not as idyllic as it seems. Another murder has Angie in hot pursuit of suspects as she tries to clear her friend's name. She's an endearing busy body who just can't leave the investigation up to the police, much to Sheriff Matthews' chagrin. There's a sweet romance brewing between these two -- but it's just at the beginning stages.

And of course, my fav character is back and in full form -- Oliver the bird paranoid French bulldog. And, glory be, this time round he has a Nubian goat sidekick not to mention his very own kitten. A captivating read full of mystery and humour and the hint of romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Murder, Simply Stitched please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Treasure of Gold

GIVEAWAY

HUGULEY, PIPER
TREASURE OF GOLD

Trusting in the One who orders her steps, Nettie Bledsoe is determined not to deviate from her route to the charity kitchen. Don't stop for anything, her sisters say. Pittsburgh isn't like Georgia, they warn.

Yet when low moans of unholy suffering drift from an alley, she can't help but investigate. It's a man. The most beautiful man she's ever seen. Despite his scandalous reputation, something within her responds to his sinfully rich voice.

Jay Evans is trying hard to stay on the straight and narrow, and doesn't want help from any church do-gooder. But until his wound heals, he needs help caring for his young daughter, Goldie. Especially since Nettie saw fit to fire Goldie's barely competent nanny.

Despite their mismatched backgrounds, Nettie and Jay fight a losing battle against their growing attraction. But it's only when Nettie is kidnapped that Jay realizes that if he doesn't get her back safe and sound, his heart will shatter into unaccountable pieces.

My Review:

Nettie has been stuck in the middle all her life. With two older sisters and two younger ones, she's the odd sister out. She takes comfort in her faith and the whole family believes that she is destined to remain unmarried so that she can serve the Lord with her spiritual gifts. And then she meets -- rescues really -- Jay and her whole world shifts. Suddenly the biddable, predictable sister develops a backbone and strives for independence. What a conundrum for her family!

Jay has reached a turning point in his life when he meets Nettie. Deep down he knows he's ready for change but that doesn't mean he's not ornery about it. Great dynamics between these two who spar more than woo their way through a rocky romance. And Jay's daughter, Goldie, is an endearing scamp -- a real scene stealer.

Faith-filled and heartwarming right to the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an EBOOK only.

If you would like an opportunity to win an e-copy of Treasure of Gold please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Ransom

GIVEAWAY

REED, TERRI
RANSOM

"We have your sister."

Liz Cantrell is terrified when she receives a call from a man holding her newlywed sister captive -- and she's convinced her sketchy brother-in-law's involved. Willing to pay any price for her sister's freedom, Liz flies to Niagara Falls with the ransom: an uncut diamond necklace worth millions. But the moment she lands, a handsome, world-weary Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent takes her into custody. Blake Fallon's determined to catch a ruthless diamond smuggler -- and the pretty antiques dealer trying to save her sister could be just the break his case needs. But as they team up to rescue Liz's sister and trap the criminal mastermind, a desperate standoff will threaten everything they hold precious -- including their lives.

Northern Border Patrol: Keeping the US-Canada border safe

My Review:

Be prepared for fast action and lots of suspense when you open this book. It starts with Liz's desperate (and misguided) attempt to save her sister. Cue the stalwart and inscrutable ICE agent. Be still my heart. Seriously droolworthy. Liz doesn't know what to make of Blake Fallon at first. He possesses a relentless determination to capture the criminal mastermind who killed his partner so we can forgive him his tendency towards taciturn. And it makes for such delicious romantic tension.  The undercurrents between those two heighten an already tense read. And bonus -- Sami and Drew from Joint Investigation play a significant role in this story as well. Awesome from beginning to end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Ransom please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Plain Danger

GIVEAWAY

GIUSTI, DEBBY
PLAIN DANGER

Dangerous inheritance...

When Carrie York arrives at the house she inherited from her father in Amish community, she's shocked to discover a soldier's body on the property. Her neighbor, army special agent Tyler Zimmerman, starts investigating the murder, and Carrie fears it's related to her father's mysterious death. Tyler doesn't trust the pretty speechwriter or the suspicious timing of her arrival -- especially since her boss is responsible for his father's death. But when someone attacks Carrie, Tyler insists on protecting her. With his help, will Carrie be able to hold on to her inheritance and her life?

Military Investigations : Serving their country and solving crimes

My Review:

Giusti always handles the military aspect of her novels with such grace and passion. She honours the men and women who serve in each story. That's evident in this novel as well. And I love the addition of an Amish setting -- creates an interesting contrast.

Tyler arrives on the scene with a bit of prejudice against Carrie which creates some delicious tension as things heat up between the two. Both are burdened by issues from their past and that makes them wary of trust. Makes things mighty complicated when Carrie becomes the target of a killer. Trust needs to develop in order for them to deal with the imminent danger lurking around every corner, A stellar romantic suspense that will keep you on your toes right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Plain Danger please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Mermaid Moon

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
MERMAID MOON

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.  

My Review:

Oh. Mercy. Oxygen mask required for this breathtaking read! Suspense on top of suspense and the romance...five star swoonworthy! This author never disappoints, but she outdid herself with Mermaid Moon.

So -- the mystery -- incredibly intriguing. Coble kept me riveted trying to follow all the clues. Love the clever way she lines the story with subtle hints that gradually come together as the tale progresses. I created one hypothesis after another in my armchair sleuthing attempts to figure everything out. I was successful in some cases but the author totally blew me away in others. Like I said, keep the oxygen handy.

And then there's the romance. Mallory and Kevin were much more than childhood sweethearts but it ended badly. The tension between the two is palpable. Hurt and anger -- even bitterness -- threatens their future. Mallory in particular is paralyzed by past mistakes. She's lived in the shadow of guilt for so long she doesn't know how to let it go. There's a powerful inspirational thread about forgiveness and what it can mean for second chances. A faith thread that is repeated among other characters in the book as well. Compelling stuff.

Another brilliant romantic suspense by an incredibly gifted author. You need to read Mermaid Moon. Really. Truly. Absolutely!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Mermaid Moon please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Refuge at Highland Hall

GIVEAWAY

TURANSKY, CARRIE
REFUGE AT HIGHLAND HALL

The Great War shakes the world of a spirited young woman and the brave British pilot she loves, taking her from London to her family’s magnificent country estate, and sending him into the war-torn skies over France.

Penny Ramsey has always considered Highland Hall her home, but when Britain becomes involved in World War One she travels to London to assist her sister Kate with the eight orphan children she and her husband Jon have taken into their home. Doing her part for the war effort takes priority over Penny’s dreams of romance until she meets Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.

Alex is determined to prove his worth and do his part to defend his country. Knowing he is heading off for the dangerous assignment of  chasing Zeppelins across the front line in France, he feels it’s unwise to form any romantic attachments. But he can’t help admiring the pretty, warmhearted Penny and wondering what it would be like to find her waiting when he returns home from the war.

As Penny writes to Alex, their friendship blossoms, and she becomes his tie to home and normalcy as he faces the hardships war. But being an RNAS pilot means confronting the enemy, and the fallout form those experiences push Alex beyond Penny’s reach. Can God mend the brokenness left by the losses of war? Will faith and forgiveness bring them together again?

My Review:

If you are a Downton Abbey fan you will love Refuge at Highland Hall -- and the entire series for that matter. This is the third book but reads well as a standalone though the author has done an incredible job of concluding this series. I'm all agog over how Turansky incorporated favourite characters from the previous books into this one. I had so much fun catching up with William and Julie and Kate and Jonathan. Thrilled me to my toes to be able to visit with dear friends from previous books so I was happy dancing all the way through this one. :-)

Captivating from the very first page, Turansky spins an intriguing and angst-riddled story. The historical detail is fascinating and I learned some things about World War I that I didn't know before. Fiction is my favourite kind of history lesson!  And that war puts a damper on the first stirring of romance between Penny and Alex. They do a good bit of their courting through letters and as their feelings grow deeper times grow more desperate and suddenly a simple romance becomes impossibly complicated.

Brimming with love and laughter and faith (and more than a small amount of angst), Refuge at Highland Hall delivers the kind of story that brings the past to life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Refuge at Highland Hall please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 28 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

February Giveaway - Giveaway 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:

Hannah's Choice

GIVEAWAY

DREXLER, JAN
HANNAH'S CHOICE

When love and family conflict, will she listen to her head...or her heart?

Hannah Yodder loves her quiet life on the banks of Conestoga Creek. In 1842, this corner of Lancaster County is settled and peaceful -- yet problems lurk beneath the placid façade. Hannah strives to be the one person who can bind the threads of her family together in spite of her father's worries, her mother's depression, and her sister's rebellious ways. But her world threatens to unravel.

When two young men seek her hand in marriage -- one offering the home she craves and the other promising the adventure of following God's call west -- Hannah must make a choice. Will she stay true to the faith of her family or defy her father and abandon her community?

My Review:

Heart engaged.
Tears shed.
Mourning period begun.

Truly, my heart hasn't quite settled yet. I was so immersed in Hannah's story that I think I worried years off my life before she finally made her choice. (Awesome title tie-in, by the way.) In fact, I have never been so tempted to sneak a peek at the last few pages of a book. I was desperate to find out Hannah's choice and at the same time dreading that ultimate revelation. And that's because Drexler has fleshed out these characters to breath-taking proportions. I came to care for all of them, including both suitors so my heart is slightly crushed right now. This author should be reported for cruelty to readers. :-)

Love the mix of Amish and Historical and the author does an amazing job of bringing that rich history to life. Funny to think that the Pennsylvania Amish of 1842 worried about the encroaching world threatening their way of life just as much as their 21st century counterparts. I was also thrilled to find an underground railroad story woven into this read. Lots of scope for conflict and battles of conscience right there. More for Hannah to struggle with as she stretches and grows in her faith.

And speaking of struggling -- hello -- two suitors that would lead her in two different directions. A family suffering with a brokenness only God can heal...if the individuals are willing. And Hannah in the centre of it all trying to be everything to everybody while following her own faith journey. Riveting stuff.

A compelling read that's sure to thrill both Amish and Historical Fiction readers.

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  Hannah'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 February 21 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Under Duress

GIVEAWAY

CARVER, MEGHAN
UNDER DURESS

Family on the run

Criminals are trying to kidnap attorney Samantha Callahan's adopted daughter, Lily -- and she has no idea why. So when bullets start flying, Samantha and Lily speed of in her car...and crash right into help.

Ex-cop Reid Palmer is shocked when former law school student classmate Samantha rear ends his car and then climbs in with her daughter and begs him to drive. Now they are on the run, and Reid will do anything to protect them and figure out why kidnappers are after Lily.

As they struggle to evade capture, Reid begins to realize that Samantha is more to him than just a woman in trouble. But with the enemies closing in and their motives finally revealed, will Reid be able to make sure justice is served?

My Review:

An apt title because Reid and Samantha are under duress the entire book. The cat and mouse chase just doesn't let up and they can't figure out why. How are they being tracked? And what do the criminals want? No matter what they do they are never safe for long. I was a nervous wreck on their behalf by the end of the story! Luckily Samantha is made of sterner stuff -- though she does have her moments. Nice to meet a heroine who doesn't have it all together all of the time. She even snipes with Reid just because. Poor Reid, he really doesn't deserve it either, but he is the stoic type. A whirlwind of a read that will leave you feeling dishevelled by the end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Under Duress please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 21 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Kissed by a Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

CLOPTON, DEBRA
KISSED BY A COWBOY

Cassidy was looking for a home and a place to belong...not for a cowboy to steal her heart.

Having lived through her parents' endless string of 'matrimonial bliss gone wrong,' Cassidy Starr knows when the odds are not in her favour. Divorced and humiliated, her faith on rocky ground, Cassidy is through with love. She's been bucked off that horse far too many times. Instead, she returns to Wishing Springs, Texas, and the rundown farm she's inherited from her great aunt Rosie. She'll reopen the strawberry farm and a bed & breakfast and follow in her aunt's footsteps, remaining forever-independent, happy...and single.

Rancher Jarrod Monahan's hands are full running the ranch, looking after his ailing grandfather, and chasing down a group of rustlers on the loose. He's pushed his longing for a family to the bottom of his list of priorities. Besides, he was in love once but ran scared and lost his shot at happiness. But suddenly, the biggest regret of his life has moved in next door with a wounded heart, determined to become a spinster...and that's a challenge that Jarrod can't pass up.

Jarrod sets his mind to breaking down the walls around Cassidy's stubborn heart. How can he show her that a cowboy's kiss lasts forever? For the good folks of Wishing Springs, falling in love has never been so much fun to witness.

My Review:

Holey smokin' pine cones! Make sure the fainting couch is plumped up and you have a fan or two handy...or you could just stick your head in a snow bank periodically if you live in Northern climes...because you are going to swoon over Jarrod Monahan.

He's a take-charge cowboy with a heart for service and his sights are set on Cassidy.  Only gremlins from her past cause her to interpret his neighbourly overtures as overbearing. Talk about a confusing clash of wills and a definite lack of communication at times. But it's impossible for Cassidy to remain aloof as memories from their past take residence in her mind...and unfortunately...her heart.

But she's one determined lady and her life plan involves living alone on her organic strawberry farm. It definitely doesn't include a male and most certainly not Jarrod in particular. But this cowboy won't be dissuaded. His toe-curling pursuit of the woman he loves is sublime in hyperventilating proportions. Swoon inducing kissing scenes and a relentless cowboy bent on getting the girl made my heart stutter a time or two...or three or four...during this read.

Clopton's trademark humour is evident on every page. From the quirky secondary characters readers have come to love in this series to brotherly advice on matters of the heart -- well, it's sweet perfection and I'm still grinning.

An incredible conclusion to the Four Hearts Ranch Romance series - faith-filled and brimming with hope -- Jarrod and Cassidy's story will grab your heart and linger with you long after the last page.

My Thanks to Litfuse Publicity and the publisher 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  Kissed by 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 February 21 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

February 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:

Murder, Plain and Simple

GIVEAWAY

ALAN, ISABELLA
MURDER, PLAIN AND SIMPLE

When Angela Braddock inherits her late aunt’s beautiful Amish quilt shop, she leaves behind her career and broken engagement for a fresh start in Holmes County, Ohio.
With her snazzy cowboy boots and her ornithophobic French bulldog, Angie doesn’t exactly fit in with the predominantly Amish community in Rolling Brook, but her aunt’s quilting circle tries to make her feel welcome as she prepares for the reopening of Running Stitch.

On the big day, Angie gets a taste of success as the locals and Englisch tourists browse the store’s wares while the quilters stitch away. But when Angie finds the body of ornery Amish woodworker Joseph in her storeroom the next morning, everything starts falling apart.

With evidence mounting against her, Angie is determined to find the culprit before the local sheriff can arrest her. Rolling Brook always appeared to be a simple place, but the closer Angie gets to the killer, the more she realizes that nothing in the small Amish community is as plain as it seems....

My Review:

Thrilled to have discovered this new Amish series. Doubly so to discover that Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower who writes Amish mysteries for the Christian market. So, while not strictly Christian fiction, Murder, Plain and Simple is a clean read with some gentle faith messages concerning forgiveness courtesy of the Amish characters.

Completely captivating read. Loved the humour that Alan instills throughout the story -- especially when it comes to Angie's bird phobic dog, Oliver. Hysterical. He stole every scene he was in.

The mystery is...mysterious...lots of suspects, including poor Angie so she decides to take things into her own hands. She's not a subtle investigator by any means and steps on the sheriff's toes more than a few times. A handsome, intriguing Sheriff, by the way. There's just the hint of a budding romance in their future and I'm looking forward to watching that pan out in future books.

A superb specimen of the cozy mystery genre -- and the Amish setting makes the read all the more sublime in my book (pun intended.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Murder, Plain and Simple please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 14 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Blue Ribbon Trail Ride

GIVEAWAY

FERRELL, MIRALEE
BLUE RIBBON TRAIL RIDE

Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp—a horse scavenger hunt! As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the entry fees in her mom’s antique jewelry box.

But when the box and the money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope, and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.

My Review:

What can be more exciting to a preteen than a book about horses and friends and exciting adventure? Not much -- unless you add a mystery into the mix. This is the fourth book in the Horses and Friends series but it reads well as a standalone. I haven't read the first three books yet and had no problem connecting with the characters and setting.

Love the dynamics between Kate, Melissa, Tori and Colt. They make an intrepid team that can't be beat. Especially when it comes to cracking a case. When fundraising money goes missing and threatens the chance for autistic children to attend a special summer camp, this fab four sets out to make things right. They unravel clues in hot pursuit of a heartless thief. They learn some important lessons along the way and I love how the author seamlessly weaves Christian living throughout the story. That mix of adventure and inspiration make for a truly captivating read.

My thanks to the publisher and Litfuse Publicity for providing me with a copy of this book

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mferrell

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Blue Ribbon Trail Ride please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 14 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Cold Shot

GIVEAWAY

PETTREY, DANI
COLD SHOT

Four best friends and then one went missing...

In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world -- and friendship -- crumbled.

Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind. Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he's living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg. Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top -- and they aren't Civil War-era.

Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he -- and those he cares about -- are going to escape a downward spiral of crime, danger, and murder.

My Review:

Exceptional start to a new series. I have to admit to being gutted after I read the last book in the Alaskan Courage series. I didn't want to leave the McKennas and I was mildy put out at the author for not making that clan bigger so there could be more books. :-) However, Dani Pettrey has redeemed herself with this magnificent start to a promising new series and a new host of swoonworthy heroes.

The stars of the Chesapeake Valor series aren't from the same family, but they are a brotherhood...of sorts. Fractured relationships are the result of past tragedies but they are beginning to move towards restoration. In Cold Shot they are united by a common goal -- solving a complicated cold case.

Pettrey provides delectable hints of background that she slowly reveals throughout the read. There's still plenty to learn about these intriguing men though, which has me rabidly anticipating the release of the next book.

So for now we'll concentrate on Griffin -- a taciturn and gruff park ranger who is carrying around a world of hurt and bitterness. He doesn't make a good first impression on Finley...or a good second, third or fourth one either. It is sheer delight to be privy to their inner thoughts as they size each other up. Finley's unsettled by her attraction to Ranger Grumpy until she burrows beneath the gruff exterior and catches glimpses of the real man. Be still my heart -- I was swooning way before she started (mind you I had the advantage of 'hearing' his musings about her.)

A delectable romance with loads of promise ensues. Pettrey develops it slowly, teasing her readers with just a glimpse of what is in store. Finley and Griffin learn to work together, respecting each others' strengths and weaknesses before gradually unbending enough to engage in some heart-to-heart talks that lead to a deeper relationship. Unexpected humour and compelling faith conversations make their love story even more thrilling.

As to the suspense -- intense, complicated -- the kind that keeps your heart racing and breath puffing out in shallow gasps from time to time. "Duck!" and "No!" became a kind of reading chant as I raced along plenty of hair-pin plot turns. Phew! Still catching my breath.

And I can't forgot to mention the road trip loving Irish wolfhound. Yes, I said Irish wolfhound. I might have swooned more over the dog than the hero. :-)

A definite 'must read' if you enjoy romantic suspense. Dani Pettrey fans will be ecstatic and she's sure to garner new ones with this enthralling story.

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  Cold Shot please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 14 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

February Giveaway - Week One

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:

This is my TBR pile...it's kind of getting out of control because I've had a few health issues that have made...gasp...reading difficult. I like to read at least a week ahead for my blog and I'm sadly lagging behind. So --- giveaways will be random offerings for the next little while. Stick with me and hopefully I will get back on track real soon. In the mean time, you can anticipate what might show up as a review and when. Think there's some Pettrey, Coble, Turansky, Eason, Clipston, Wingate, Mehl...and more in that pile. Now to just be able to focus on the print. Bwahahahahaha!