Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Red Door Inn

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, LIZ
THE RED DOOR INN

Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle's Victorian B and B -- and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn't expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just tow months will take everything they've got -- and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than ever imagined on this island of dreams.

My Review:

Wow...just...wow. My Anne-girl lovin' heart is all a twitterpated over the Prince Edward Island setting but when I discovered that heroine Marie also has an affinity for Anne and even carries around a dog-eared copy of Anne of Green Gables? Well that's book nirvana right there.

Marie is such an intriguing character -- she's a mystery right from the start. It's clear that she is a wretched shell of herself but why? Johnson draws out that answer with an intermittent slow reveal. Utterly riveting. I didn't want to stop reading until I knew it all and then, when I did, my eyes leapt over the words on the pages anxiously searching for the point when Seth discovers the answers as well. Of course that meant I just couldn't put The Red Door Inn down until I reached the end...and had a good cry.

Seth's plain mean from the start. Yes, he's carrying a world of hurt after a brutal betrayal but he's using Marie as a scapegoat. He's quick to judge and unwilling to trust and I just wanted to smack him upside the head a time or two...or maybe three. They are on shaky ground for quite a while until a tenuous truce develops. And when the stirrings of romance begin to unfurl...be still my heart. Reader delight!

An engaging plot, a solid inspirational thread and the magic of PEI all conspired to hold me spellbound. And, oh happy day! This is only the first book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series. The next one comes out in September.

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 Red Door Inn 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 20  2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

47 comments:

  1. I LOVE the setting. Makes me grin just thinking about it. Good luck, Kate.

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  2. I have seen this one but didn't think it would be for me but then started hearing how good it was. Now I am rethinking my first thought. :)
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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    1. Major rethink, Amy. If you like contemporary with a punch of emotion and great characterization you will love The Red Door Inn. Good luck.

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  3. Oh, doesn't this just make you want to sit down and watch the movie, Anne of Green Gables again? I have only ever been blessed to read one other adult Christian fiction book that was set on Prince Edward Island and I just love this awesome setting! This one has been on my wish list ever since I first saw this lovely cover. Thanks for such a lovely review, Kav, and giveaway opportunity!!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. You're welcome, Diana. It's such a delight. Good luck.

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  4. Another great new series to look forward to!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Yes!!!! PEI here we come. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  5. I wasn't initially interested in this book until I started reading all the great reviews! Thanks for helping convince me to give it a chance! ;)

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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    1. Any time, Heidi, any time. :-) Good luck.

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  6. I'd love to read this book. YaY! Please add me to the list :D Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  7. I've been looking forward to reading this book and have been hearing wonderful things about it. The cover is beautiful as well. I'm glad to see more contemporary romance among all the historicals.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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    1. There have been some stunning contemporaries releasing, haven't there? And more on the horizon. Good luck, Sylvia.

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    2. Please remove my name from this drawing as I have won this book elsewhere. Thank you.

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    3. Oh -- good for you, Sylvia. Hope you enjoy it...and thanks for letting me know.

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  8. Don't enter me . . . The Red Door Inn earned a spot on my "most anticipated" list for this year when I first read its description, Kav, and I was drawn to it for the same reasons you pointed out. Fortunately, I get to review this book soon and can't wait.

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    1. I predict sublime reading hours ahead, Carole. Enjoy!

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  9. I asked my adult daughter for the Anne of GG books for Christmas and she got them for me. I think they will be for reading at the cabin this summer. This title would make a great addition. Thanks for the chance to win.

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    1. Oh definitely -- great reading and fun to read them back to back. Good luck, Sue.

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  10. Missed adding my email address rwendt001atcenturytel.net

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  11. Great review! I was in at bed and breakfast....but looks like this is so much more! sheridastewart AT gmail DOT com

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  12. Liz Johnson is a new-to-me author but I've been reading great reviews of The Red Door Inn. I like the connection to Anne of Green Gables.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. This is her first contemporary fiction novel I believe. I've read a few of her Love Inspired Suspense books though. Good luck, Pam.

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  13. I've been reading great reviews as well and it's a series!! Thanks for your review. Looks like it's another must read.
    pwestfall7 at Hotmail dot com

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    1. I think it's a must read. Good luck, Pam.

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  14. I have read many good things about this one, Kav. Keeping my fingers crossed! Thank you for the opportunity!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  15. Kav, thanks for the awesome review! I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to do so.
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  16. Sounds like a good read. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom

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  17. I am definitely interested in this one. I loved that the heroine reads Anne of Green Gables! Thanks for the review and giveaway!
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. Yes, us Anne girls have to stick together -- even in fiction. Good luck, Loraine.

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway. The book sounds great. Steveandellengray(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. Sounds very good! And yes to your comment above, there have been some great contemporary inspy romances in the last year or two. And that is coming from a historical fiction lover.

    pattymh20009at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I like to bounce around genres so I'm thrilled there are more contemporaries being released. And yes, Patty, very good book. You'll love it. Good luck.

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  20. I'm so happy that you enjoyed this one. I have been looking forward to it and ordered it from my library. Yet, I'm sure I would enjoy my own copy. :) tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. Oh la la! Now, where is my Anne copy?
    Definitely interested! Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. Prince Edward Island sounds like a lovely wonderful setting for a book. The bed and breakfast location sounds very interesting too. I would love to read Seth and Marie's story
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  23. I've just recently seen this one around, sounds good!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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