By Your Side

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
BY YOUR SIDE

ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She's finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl's in deep trouble. Macy's determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to "make it happen" in any situation life throws at her -- even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome -- and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he's been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he's attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?

My Review:

I can't tell you how much I loved this book!!!! But I'm sure going to try. Kind of like an ER episode (remember that show?) where the drama in the ER spills over into the every day lives of the characters. The medical scenes are compelling, but not overwhelming, and they add an extra thrill to an already edge-of-your-seat read. There's action and suspense, heart-tugging sorrow and the thrill of romance.

Hard-hitting and full of gritty realism, Calvert doesn't shy away from tough topics like mental illness and addiction. But she also doesn't shy away from the hope and peace that can come through trusting God even in the hard times. That's something Macy and Fletcher struggle with to varying degrees. Fletcher, solid in his faith but still questioning his circumstances. I could so relate to that! And Macy, well, she's been burned too many times and she doesn't place her trust easily -- in man or God.

The story is told from multiple points of view, though this is clearly Macy and Fletcher's story. Still, there's a wealth of complicated relationships and situations -- both good and bad. And Calvert has such an incredibly unique way with words. So expressive, and totally in character with a medical drama. Like this:

"Sometimes it happened that way. Just when things were going great, when Taylor dared to trust that she was through with the worst of it, the grief would come back and pick at the edges of that wound -- whisper that she'd lost too much to ever really heal. There were no sutures for this." (p.93)

And I mustn't forget the toe-curling, heart-palpitating, weak-in-the-knees kisses...which more often than not morph into side-splitting laughter. Love that touch of humour no matter how frustrating it could be at times. I will never look at marmots in the same way again. :-)

A truly stunning and unforgettable read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  By Your Side 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 June 5 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Calling

GIVEAWAY

DEKKER, RACHELLE
THE CALLING

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels -- he must destroy the hope their message represents...from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp -- and the CityWatch soliders closing in -- Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold...before one of them becomes his undoing.

My Review:

The Calling is the second installment of the Seer novels and I think it's best if you read the first book, The Choosing before starting in on this one. There are a lot of characters and situations that you need to be familiar with in order to be able to hit the ground running with this one.

What a powerful story! Action-packed and full of twists and turns and chockfull of so many moving inspirational truths. Like:

"When you know who you truly are, you realize there is no war left to fight at all." (p. 326)

and

"I know that you are afraid, that fear and failure haunt you. I know you long to be free but only see freedom in escaping what you fear instead of surrendering to it." (p.382)

There's a resounding thread of hope woven through this Dystopian novel. And so many biblical parallels I could sink my teeth into. Honestly, at some points I just had to stop and haul out my bible and read a few passages and then marvel at how Dekker incorporated so much depth of faith into a heart-pounding, soul-stirring read.

A stunning novel with such depth and scope it took my breath away. I want to see this series on the big screen. It would give The Hunger Games a run for the money!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Calling 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 June 5 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

May 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:

The Hesitant Heiress

GIVEAWAY

CRANDALL, DAWN
THE HESITANT HEIRESS

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother.

Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt's Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men -- Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother's tragic death.

However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems...and everything she never knew she wanted. But cans she ever really trust an Everstone man?

My Review:

The kind of delicious read that's sweet and satisfying and more than a little addictive. I should be mourning the fact that I've reached the end but I'm actually happy dancing instead because I have the next two books in The Everstone Chronicles to look forward to. So deep mourning has been staved off until the end of book three. :-)

This is the kind of story a reader can easily slip into. The cares and worries of real time disappeared as I became completely absorbed in Amaryllis's tale. In fact, thanks to the first person point of view, I became the heroine, living and breathing right along with her. Though I will confess that I was the first to swoon over the enigmatic hero.

While this isn't a Gothic novel, it does possess some of my favourite elements of that genre. A heroine at the mercy of others, a brooding hero she can't quite identify as friend or foe and the alluring air of mystery that cloaks them all. In fact, the feeling of something sinister afoot grew with every turning page. Amaryllis was not as concerned as I was, perhaps because of her annoying propensity for jumping to the wrong conclusion -- especially where Nathan in concerned.

And as far as heroes go -- blissful sigh -- Nathan Everstone makes my top ten list. Instant connection from the first time we met. I didn't harbour the same prejudices that Amaryllis did so I saw him in a different light. In fact, that's the amazing thing about this first person perspective. Even though we only 'hear' the heroine's thoughts, the reader is able to discern words and actions differently. So when Amaryllis is positive that Nathan is regarding her with sneering disdain, I'm just as convinced that those taut features are conveying frustrated longing. That kind of perception brought a thrilling edge to my reading pleasure.

Well, pleasure isn't quite the right word. Reader torment might be more apt. There's twists and turns aplenty and a villain or two to flush out, not to mention the tangled emotions of two stubborn hearts to set right. And just when I thought all was well and my upended world could finally be righted...Gah!...It wasn't! I confess I had to skip to the last page just to make sure all was not lost!

An enthralling, captivating, sumptuous feast of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Seek and Find 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Seek and Find

GIVEAWAY

MENTINK, DANA
SEEK AND FIND

Killer headline...

Reporter Madison Coles wants to write an expose on the crime spree rocking Desert Valley, Arizona -- but the small town's residents and police are tight-lipped. Even when Madison herself is attacked, the only help she can get is protection from rookie K-9 officer James Harrison and his trusty bloodhound. Suspicious of the reporter's motives, the handsome cop keeps her at arm's length. But the more Madison's life is threatened, the more focused she is on finding the truth -- and the closer she gets to James. Can he help her find the story without them both ending up in the obituary pages?

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

My Review:

Hawk thrilled me to my toes. Still does, as a matter of fact. I fell for him hard. Those dreamy bloodshot eyes and satiny soft droopy ears! Be. Still. My. Heart. And those piercing looks that reflect the depths of his soul. He's not perfect, mind you. He can be a bit brooding at times -- especially when he's denied access to food...any kind of food.  And all that saliva -- but really I'm not the kind of girl to let something like a little drool stand in the way of my true love. I can also overlook his paranoia over squirrels mocking him. Hawk is sweet perfection even if the author has labeled him "a nose with a dog attached."

What? You're interested in my opinion of the human hero? Pshaw! He's nice enough, I suppose, if you go for the all-business-except-for-the-twinkle-in-his-eye-that-hints-at-something-more kind of guy. And he speaks Dog. That's a swoonworthy trait in any man as far as I'm concerned. But he doesn't speak reporter -- in fact he doesn't like reporters at all. Unfortunately Madison is a reporter and she needs protecting. Such a lovely romantical dilemma. There's plenty of action, an intriguing suspense and a sweet romance. You might just say this one is a howling success. :-)

Oh -- and FYI - Seek and Find is part of the Rookie K-9 Unit continuity series -- one book release each month for six months. Totally reads well as a standalone -- Madison and James get their man and a happily ever after though there are still a few open-ended story threads that need to be tied up. Looking forward to book four -- Honor and Defend by Lynette Eason.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Seek and Find 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Sister Eve and the Blue Nun

GIVEAWAY

HINTON, LYNNE
SISTER EVE AND THE BLUE NUN

After a murder at the monastery, Sister Eve may need a miracle if she is to prove a dear friend isn't a cold-blooded killer.

Sister Eve, a motorcycle-riding nun with a natural (or is it supernatural?) gift for solving murders returns to the enclave she once called home and quickly finds herself confronting yet another mysterious death.

Someone has poisoned Dr. Kelly Middlesworth -- a researcher on the life and ministry of 17th-century's revered "Blue Nun" -- and a set of irreplaceable historic documents have disappeared before they could even by examined.

When all evidence seems to point to the victim's brother, Sister Eve sets out to expose the killer and learn the explosive truth those missing manuscripts might contain.

Chasing a killer is dangerous work, and as her two worlds collide, Sister Eve may need some heavenly help simply to survive.

My Review:

This is the third book in the Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery series. I haven't read the first two books and didn't have any trouble diving in with this one however there were a few things that likely would have jived more if I had -- a couple of inside jokes and one relationship in particular.

A motorcycle riding, mystery solving nun makes for an interesting heroine -- though Sister Eve is on a kind of sabbatical as she tries to figure out if she wants to continue being a nun. That leaves her with enough time to assist her father at his private detective agency. Still wet behind the ears as far as sleuthing goes, she bungles her way through a crime scene, destroying evidence and getting herself into a pile of trouble. Her biggest flaw is a sheer stubborn will that propels her to go crime-solving on her own.

Interesting dynamics develop with a police detective -- not connected to the case -- a surprising twist I didn't see coming. But then, Eve is struggling with women's role in the Catholic Church and how she fits in a religious order. Lots of fodder for future books in the series.

While she might be struggling with the logistics of how her faith will play out, it's still strong -- something she relies on at critical moments in the novel. In keeping with her Catholic roots, Eve's prayers are directed to Mary and there is a supernatural element to the inspirational thread.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/LHinton

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Cowboy's City Girl 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Cowboy's City Girl

GIVEAWAY

FORD, LINDA
THE COWBOY'S CITY GIRL

Beatrice Doyle came to Montana to escape her father's marriage plans for her -- not to lasso herself a cowboy. Yet she can't ignore the sparks that fly between her and Levi Harding while she's at his family's ranch, caring for his injured stepmother. But opening her heart would mean sacrificing her quest for independence...

After being rejected by the girl he hoped to marry, Levi vows never to love again. Nevertheless, he's drawn to big-city girl Beatrice. In her, the half-Native American rancher sees himself: someone a little bruised, a lot lonely. And when the two join forces to care for an orphaned girls, he yearns to heal their fractured hearts -- and form the family they all long for.

Montana Cowboys -- These brothers live and love by the code of the West

My Review:

Third book in the Montana Cowboys series but easily reads as a standalone. I loved the dynamics between Beatrice and Levi from the very start. Both so wary, determined to walk an independent path until their worlds collide and a sweet little orphan girl stirs up yearnings neither are prepared for. 

Absolutely love the inspirational thread in this novel -- one that I haven't come across often. It's taken from the scripture "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139: 14. Both Beatrice and Levi struggle with accepting who God has made them to be. Cruel prejudice has left its mark on Levi while Beatrice struggles over the personal rejection of her earthly father. Situations that have shaped and defined them right into adulthood. Linda Ford does a wonderful job of weaving the spiritual into the story, convincing me, right along with Beatrice and Levi, that we are all precious children of a very loving Father who adores us just the way we are.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Cowboy's City Girl 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Amish Sweethearts

GIVEAWAY

GOULD, LESLIE
AMISH SWEETHEARTS

For years Zane Beck and his Amish neighbour Lila Lehman were best of friends. But just as Zane gathered the courage to discover if their friendship could develop into something more, her controlling father arranged for her to be courted by their bishop's son. Zane, heartbroken and frustrated, joined the Army, running away from his shattered dreams.

The passing of time and the distance between Zane and Lila haven't been enough to halt their -- now completely hidden -- feelings for each other. Any hope for their love grows even more impossible through as Zane's service takes a dangerous turn when he's deployed to Afghanistan. Being on the frontline, confronted with the hard choices of war, has him questioning everything, including whether he can continue to serve or not. But all choices have consequences, and with Lila preparing to marry another, will these one-time sweethearts ever find the life together that they both still long for?

My Review:

Not your average Amish story. Gould takes her characters on an unexpected (and complicated) journey towards self-discovery and I was right there with them every step of the way. I loved all the little unpredictable things about this story. I mean, it could have gone in so many different directions with varying outcomes and I never knew what was going to happen next. Loved the thrill of the unknown and taking the opportunity to savor a scene while letting my imagination run free to create my own scenarios before continuing to read. Love being that invested in the lives of my character friends!

If you read Amish Promises, the first book in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series, you will already be acquainted with the Becks and the Lehmans. It's not necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one, but you will have more of a sense of history between the two families if you have.

So -- Zane. Stubborn. Proud. Closed-mouthed. Not to mention the impulsive-lets-not-think-this-through mentality that crops up at the most inconvenient times. And Lila. She's the glue that holds her ragtag family together. So determined to do the right thing that she often forgets that she has choices too. There's nothing more awkward than a childhood friendship on the cusp of something so much bigger. Do the risks outweigh the benefits? And then there's the whole Amish/Englisch issue. So many delicious dilemmas for a reader to lose herself in!

I really enjoyed the author's insights into the Afghanistan war. She tackles hard questions with grace and respect and that whole aspect of the novel really got me thinking. It's a conundrum Zane finds himself in the middle of -- and adds a whole new dynamic to his relationship with his Amish neighbours.

A riveting read fueled with love and faith and the unending hope that comes from being part of God's plan.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Amish Sweethearts 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Flight of Arrows

GIVEAWAY

BENTON, LORI
A FLIGHT OF ARROWS

It is said that what a man sows he will reap--and for such a harvest there is no set season. No one connected to Reginald Aubrey is untouched by the crime he committed twenty years ago.

Not William, the Oneida child Reginald stole and raised as his own. Identity shattered, enlisted in the British army, William trains with Loyalist refugees eager to annihilate the rebels who forced them into exile. Coming to terms with who and what he is proves impossible, but if he breaks his Loyalist oath, he'll be no better than the man who constructed his life of lies.

Not Anna, Reginald's adopted daughter, nor Two Hawks, William's twin, both who long for Reginald to accept their love despite the challenges they will face, building a marriage that bridges two cultures.

Not Good Voice and Stone Thrower, freed of bitterness by a courageous act of forgiveness, but still yearning for their firstborn son and fearful for the future of their Oneida people.

As the British prepare to attack frontier New York and Patriot regiments rally to defend it, two families separated by culture, united by love, will do all in their power to reclaim the son marching toward them in the ranks of their enemies.

My Review:

An epic family saga that will sweep you back in time to the Revolutionary War. Benton is dedicated to getting her history right but it goes even deeper than just the facts. Her talent lies in bringing it all to life through the power of her words. I'm still wrangling my emotions under control.

Such complicated characters! Realistically flawed and all the more captivating because of it. I wept. I cheered. I fumed. And spent a good deal of my reading time with my heart in my throat barely daring to breathe. I had to pace myself, taking time to pause and absorb different aspects of the story. Reading is too mundane for A Flight of Arrows. This is the kind of book you live and breathe your way through. 

Powerful inspirational threads of grace and redemption transform an already incredible read into a truly profound one. It inspires me to renew my trust in a faithful God -- even in the most difficult times. I love when a novel reaches out and touches my life in a personal way like that. Alleluia! This is why I read Christian fiction!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Flight of Arrows 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 May 29 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

May 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:

The Beautiful Pretender

GIVEAWAY

DICKERSON, MELANIE
THE BEAUTIFUL PRETENDER

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king's approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn't select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse -- far deadlier -- consequences.

My Review:

Beauty and the Beast meets The Bachelor -- let the games begin!

Melanie Dickerson has such a talent for tweaking well-loved fairy tales into something fresh and new. I was thrilled to return to Thornbeck and become reacquainted with some favourite characters -- people I met in The Huntress of Thornbeck. If you've read that book you'll be happy to know that Odette and Jorgen play a significant role in this story. Don't worry if you haven't read the first book in The Medieval Fairy Tale Novels series though, The Beautiful Pretender reads wonderfully as a standalone as well.

There something so captivating about a 'beastly' hero. Reinhart may be a bit of a grumpy recluse but you can be sure there's a tender heart beating within that manly chest. It just takes a certain heroine to bring his softer side out into the open.

Avelina is boldly outspoken, endearingly kind and a little too attracted to the margrave for her own good. It seems the harder she tries to divert his attention, the more captivated Reinhart becomes. Oh what a tangled web we weave...

There's tension and drama and sweet romance. Diabolical villains to subdue and a forest of bloodthirsty wolves to best. Not to mention a treacherous plot to thwart before these two have a hope of a happily ever after. A delectable read from beginning to end.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdickerson

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Beautiful Pretender 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The author and publisher are holding their own giveaway -- check out the link below to enter.



Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

Plain Protector

GIVEAWAY

STONE, ALISON
PLAIN PROTECTOR

Amish Country Refuge

When an unknown assailant attacks Sarah Gardner shortly after she moves to Apple Creek, she doesn't know which of her fears has come true. Is someone trying to tell her that meddling strangers aren't welcome in this tight-knit Amish community, or has her abusive ex-boyfriend found her? The social worker doesn't want to run again, not when she's finally putting down roots. But she may not have a choice, unless deputy sheriff Nick Jennings can protect her. The former army ranger knows that Sarah has secrets...and women with secrets only bring heartache. But serving the community is Nick's job, and he can't turn away a woman in peril -- especially when he can't imagine a future without her.

My Review:

Cultures clash with sinister undertones in this intriguing romantic suspense. Love the pacing -- there's plenty of creepy stalkerish stuff going on, but Stone has created enough breathing space in between so that the relationship can develop. Sarah is a plucky heroine who knows when to seek help. Love that about her. She doesn't always agree with Nick but she trusts him.  Sweet romance, captivating secondary characters and ever present danger make this a very satisfying page-turner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Plain Protector 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Close To You

GIVEAWAY

ISAAC, KARA
CLOSE TO YOU

A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together -- and failing in love -- on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.

Allison Shire is a former academic who is done with love. Her belief in 'happily ever after' ended the day she discovered her husband was still married to a wife she knew nothing about. She finally finds a use for her English degree by guiding tours through the famous sites featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. By living life on the road and traveling New Zealand as a luxury tour guide. Allison manages to outrun the pain of her past.

Jackson Gregory was on the cusp of making it big. Then his girlfriend suddenly left him -- for his biggest business competitor -- and took his more guarded commercial secrets with her. To make matters worse, the Iowa farm that has been in his family for generations is facing forclosure. Determined to save his parents from financial ruin, he'll do whatever it takes in convince his wealthy great-uncle to invest in his next scheme, which means accompanying him to the bottom of the world to spend three weeks pretending to be a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan. The one thing that stands between him and his goal is a know-it-all tour guide who pegged him as a fake the moment he walked off the plane.

When Allison leads the group through the famous sites of the Tolkien movies, she and Jackson start to see each other differently. Neither expected to fall in love again, but can they find a way beyond their regrets to take a chance on the one thing they're not looking for?

My Review:

Seriously, how can anyone resist a heroine with hobbit feet? I certainly can't! A delightful mix of comedy and drama in the exotic (to me) locale of New Zealand.

I'm not a huge Tolkien fan -- don't speak Elvish and wouldn't know how to outsmart a troll under the direst of circumstances. I read The Hobbit in my teens but never could get into the Lord of the Rings and...gasp...I haven't seen the movies! BUT I still loved this book. I think the media has played a huge role in keeping Tolkien's imaginative realm in our minds and hearts all these years. So I was never floundering during this read. Even if I didn't get the reference, I understood it in context. All that to say no worries if your aren't familiar with Tolkien's works or the movies. You'll still love this story.

Because of my lack of true Tolkien fervor I completely related to poor Jackson. His circumstances are already dire and then to be thrust into the midst of true Tolkien fan-atics...well, it's no wonder he's out of his element. Delightfully grumpy and disgruntled as a matter of fact. :-)

And then there's Allison -- a wee bit jaded, running from her own unhappy problems while dealing with the eccentricities of an eclectic tour group. She might just be a tad short on patience and quick to judge when Jackson steps off the plane. Jackson and Allison settle into a "mutually disdainful relationship" that works well for them until some tour hijinks begin to change their point of view. Sparks vie with pure hard-headedness and culminate in an incredibly funny and poignant (and at times infuriating) rollercoaster of a read. This is one book that I would really love to see made into a movie!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Close To You 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Emergency Response

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Designated Target...

On her way to visit a little girl she recently helped save, paramedic Darcie Stephens is attacked by a stranger dead-set on killing her. She escapes unscathed when detective Noah Lockhart comes to her resuce, but an officer finds a hit list dropped by the assailant -- and Darcie's name is next. Now with an assassin constantly on their heels, Darcie and Noah must uncover why somebody wants her dead. Noah fights hard to protect Darcie, but she's determined to keep the cop at arm's length. After all she's lost, she's afraid to love again, especially a handsome lawman with a guarded heart. And a murderer doesn't plan to let Darcie live long enough for any second chances.

First Responders: Brave men and women alert and ready for danger and love

My Review:

This is such a great series. Each book reads well as a standalone but there are continuous characters that I have become quite attached to. Love the commraderie of the team -- the way they've become a family as they live and work together. Great dialogue, teasing, lots of give and take. It gets better with every book.

The intense action-packed opening scene sets the tone for this compelling romantic suspense. Darcie's in danger but no one knows why. Her pursuers are relentless and Noah's determination to protect her is more than purely professional. They've  known each other for a couple of years yet both have reasons to keep each other at arm's length. But God has other plans. A dynamic love story, intriguing mystery and solid inspirational thread all combine to make this a read to remember.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Emergency Response 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Bride of a Distant Isle

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
BRIDE OF A DISTANT ISLE

Miss Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers Day School for Young Ladies in Winchester when she makes a brief visit to her family home, Highcliffe Hall, at Milford on Sea. She believes her stay will be short but soon learns that she will not be returning to the safety of the school. Instead, she remains at Highcliffe, at the mercy of her cousin, Edward Everedge.

Annabel protests, but as the illegitimate daughter of a woman who died in an insane asylum she has little say. Edward is running out of money and puts the house up for sale to avoid financial ruin. He insists that Annabel marry, promising her to a sinister, frightening man. But as the house is readied for sale, disquieting secrets are revealed. Jewelry, artifacts, and portraits mysteriously appear, suggesting that Annabel may be the true heir of Highcliffe.

She has only a few months to prove her legitimacy, perhaps with assistance from the handsome but troubled Maltese Captain Dell'Acqua. But does he have Annabel's best interests at heart?

Will Annabel regain her life and property -- and trust her heart -- before it's too late?

My Review:

I'm basking in the warm glow of Gothic Romance Reader Bliss right now. I've mentioned before how much I adore this genre, right? Ever since junior high when I discovered Victoria Holt. And good Gothics are few and far between in the Christian market. So you can just imagine the sweet ecstasy I've been in since I first opened this book.

Each page is steeped in mystery. Deliciously thrilling plot twists, sinister foreshadowing, and a bevy of intriguing characters who run the gamut from bad to good. And it's up to Annabel to figure out where their loyalties lie.

I adore Annabel. She refuses to allow herself to be defined by her circumstances. As a woman, she has little say in her future but that doesn't stop her from digging in her heels and engaging in her own game of subterfuge. Her faith is the beacon of hope that sees her through the most trying of times. I loved her dedication, her desire to seek divine counsel and her strength to stand for what she believes to be true. Very inspiring.

 And now it's time for me to wax poetic over the Maltese captain. A swoonworthy hero with his own agenda. Even though Annabel can't be certain whether he is friend or foe, she can't resist his charm...and either could I. Oh goodness, but you'll need a fan for this read. Or maybe just stick your feet in the freezer periodically. This captain exudes toe-curling masculinity at every turn of the page. Be. Still. My. Heart.

 Sinister tension builds as the story progresses. Who is for Annabel? Who is against her? And who will emerge triumphant at the end? With all that page-turning intrigue, Byrd held me captive right up to the very last page. .

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Bride of a Distant Isle 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

An Unbroken Heart

GIVEAWAY

FULLER, KATHLEEN
AN UNBROKEN HEART

One minute, Joanna Schrock was arguing with her parents, and the next, her parents' lives were claimed in a hit-and-run buggy accident. Her body is broken, but her heart is in even deeper pain-after all, how do you cope with your parents' deaths when your last words were spoken in anger?After an extended stint in a physical rehabilitation center, she re-enters her Amish life. But nothing is the same-not even her feelings for Andrew Beiler. Joanna has loved Andrew since the age of twelve. She is thrilled when Andrew wants to get married, but she wonders whether it's love he's feeling, or pity. As the couple's wedding date approaches, Joanna isn't overcome with the deep joy she was hoping to find; instead, she's wracked with anxiety and guilt. Joanna hears God whispering to her, Be strong and courageous, but she's afraid that courage looks a lot like walking away from her dreams and into the plan of her Heavenly Father. If Joanna takes the first step toward healing, will it cost her everything she's ever wanted? Or could God be changing the desires of her heart?

My Review:

 The second book in the Amish of Birch Creek series but it works well as a standalone. I haven't read A Reluctant Bride (though I intend to!) and had no problem diving into this one. Fans of the first book will be thrilled to know that Sadie and Aden play a central role in An Unbroken Heart. They beguiled me enough to ensure that I will be reading their story very soon.

Though the book is told from multiple points of view, Joanna is very much at the centre of it all. Diverse personal narratives connect like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Lives combine...and clash...and deliver a powerful tale of hope for a future even in the midst of the most trying times. Both Andrew and Joanna can either turn away from God or lean into Him when troubles strike. And they do a little of both which really makes for a riveting and all too realistic read.

A rich romance filled with enticing scenes and complicated characters and the promise of more of the same when the concluding book releases later this year.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  An Unbroken 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

May 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: