Courageous

GIVEAWAY

SLEIMAN, DINA L.
COURAGEOUS

Inspired by the vision of the young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives near Tripoli. She'll gladly give herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and feels she no longer deserves such joys a marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church but has always dreamt of protecting the innocent as a Templar knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of adolescents. When faced with political intrigue and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

My Review:

Book Three of the Valiant Hearts series and I'll admit to feeling forlorn now that the series is complete. I've really enjoyed these Medieval tales of adventure and romance. You don't need to have read the first two books in order to enjoy this one, though Rosalind played a prominent secondary role in Chivalrous, where we left her in a bad spot. So I am all kinds of thrilled over getting to share her journey in this book. And what a journey it is!

The Crusades is such a confusing and fascinating period in history and I think Sleiman did justice to this era. Her Historical Notes explain her connection with this part of the world and includes some interesting observations. And it certainly provides a tumultuous backdrop for a novel!

Rosalind is an unusual woman. A lady's maid, trained as a soldier. She can wield a sword and shoot an arrow as well as any man. And she has a heart for the Lord, but can't quite fully accept His gift of grace. Desperate to make amends for past mistakes, she tries to prove her worth through her actions.  She understands the concept of divine forgiveness but though she can apply it to others, she can't accept it for herself. Such an inspiring and exhilarating faith journey -- well worth the read.

I fell for Randel pretty quickly. I mean, seriously, a knight in shining armor -- what's not to love? He's fiercely protective, committed to the cause...and Rosalind. But he also has demons from his past to conquer. The kind that keep him at arms length from the woman he is developing deep feelings for. I do so love a tortured hero caught in an impossible love story!

And then there's treachery from within and threats from without. Not exactly a conducive backdrop for romance. Angst and action ensue as the story unfolds. Breathtaking and heart-tugging -- an exciting conclusion to a wonderful series.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Courageous 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 October 2 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Tapestry of Secrets

 

GIVEAWAY

THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
A TAPERSTRY OF SECRETS

What is the weight of a secret? And what happens when that buren becomes almost too much to bear?

For decades, Perla Phillips has hidden the truth of a decision that still fills her with guilt. But now, seeing her granddaughter, Ella, struggle in a similar way, she's prepared to finally open the past to her family, no matter the consequences. But when the opportunity is snatched from her in a most unexpected manner, will she have waited too long?

Spanning generations, this moving family drama weaves together the interlocking stories of two women as they navigate relationships, family, faith, and the choices that will shape their lives. Heartwarming and nostalgic, the story explores the courage to share the wounds of the past and celebrates the legacy a family passes from one generation to the next.

My Review:

I've loved each of the books in the Appalachian Blessings series even though they have turned my heart inside out. Thomas knows how to portray a multi-generational family with real insight. You don't need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one but if you have you will sink deeper into the thrill of the story.

And this is an interesting series since it tells the story of Perla in three different decades. First as a young woman with an exceptional gift who catches the eye of a Casewell Phillips (Miracle in a Dry Season), then as a mature mother of a difficult adult son (Until the Harvest) and finally as a grandmother in A Tapestry of Seasons.

But this isn't just Perla's story. We get her granddaughter, Ella's point of view as well. It's a delightful mix of past and present, artfully told with flashbacks into Perla's youth.

I loved Ella -- could so relate to her fear of change. She's steeped in mountain tradition and wants everything to stay the same. Of course it can't and though she's in her late twenties, this reads like a coming of age story as Ella struggles to find her place...and a future. Which might just include one of two young men playing court to her.

And as in each of the other books, A Tapestry of Secrets is ripe with faith truths that have me assessing my own thoughts and actions. I do so love a novel that challenges me.

Sweet perfection in 294 pages.

 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  A Tapestry of Secrets 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 October 2 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Family for the Farmer

GIVEAWAY

BLOUNT, LAUREL
A FAMILY FOR THE FARMER

When she inherits her grandmother's farm, Emily Elliott must return to the small town she thought she'd permanently escaped. The citified single mom of twins must live on Goosefeather Farm for the summer...or lose it to neighbour and childhood friend Abel Whitlock. It's Abel's chance to own the land he's always wanted, but he won't do it at the expense of the girl he's never forgotten -- or her adorable twins. Instead, Abel will show Emily how to take care of the farm and its wayward animals. He has three months to fight for a lifetime with the family he loves.

My Review:

Oooeeee -- I've just discovered a new favourite Love Inspired author and this is her debut book! Love getting in on the start of an author's career.

 This is the kind of story that will put a smile on your lips and an anxious knot in your tummy. Lots of love and laughter and more than a wee bit of angst. Love the farm that comes complete with a few quirky animals. The sassy goose and kicking cow seem to think they rule the roost but they haven't bargained on a determined, if inexperienced, Emily.

Childhood summers spent on her grandma's farm avoiding work haven't prepared her for the daily grind of running a farm. Enter old friend Abel who does have the skills and is more than willing to pitch in and everything should  be just peachy, right? Nuh-uh! Emily's name should be found in the dictionary as the definition for stubborn. And she has this unrealistic penchant for doing everything all by herself. Trust no one is her motto. Clashing of wills, gnashing of teeth and two precocious preschoolers add to the mayhem.

A scrumptious read from start to finish. I'll definitely buy Laurel Blount's next book...and the next...and the next...

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Home to the Farmer 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 October 2 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Artisan's Wife

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, JUDITH
THE ARTISAN'S WIFE

As Ainslee McKay reluctantly leaves all she's known, the beauty of forgiveness and new beginnings comes to light in a West Virginian town with hidden depths.

Ainslee McKay's world is upended when her twin sister secretly elopes and leaves Ainslee alone to move to Weston, West Virginia, to fulfill their obligation at the McKay family's new tile works. While her brother, Ewan, agrees to travel with her and help her learn the ropes, she still intends to sell this business she no longer wants if a buyer can be found.

When the talented Levi Judson arrives to show Ainslee his designs for new tiles, she's impressed by his sill and passion for the business but feels she must keep her true plans for the business a secret from him. And though Levi hopes for a long, successful career at McKay Tile Works, he's hiding his true reason for coming to Weston. Can the growing feelings between them survive if the truth comes to light -- or is a future together as uncertain as the future of the tile works itself?

My Review:

A satisfying conclusion to the Refined by Love series. It reads beautifully as a standalone but fans of the series will be thrilled with the involvement of Ewan and Laura in this book -- including a wonderful plot thread that brings them full circle.

I love the way this author steeps her novels in history. Fascinating details make up the very fibre of the story and there's some awesome gems in The Artisan's Wife. Details I can't share without posting spoilers but just know I was riveted by the historical content...and it would make great book discussion fodder for a book club read.

I enjoyed the unique perspective of a woman managing a 'man's' business in the 19th century. Ainslee has grit and stamina and an abundance of ideas, even though she's very reluctant to carry them out without her sister by her side. She has spent her life content to hide in the shadows of Adaira's outgoing persona and her twin's abrupt departure has left her forced to stand on her own for the first time. But Ainslee has a talent for business and has no intention of failing. Levi is just as committed to the enterprise...and his lady boss. The result?A sweet romance rich in heart and faith.

 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 Artisan's Wife 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 October 2 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Kidnapped at Christmas

GIVEAWAY

BLACK, MAGGIE K.
KIDNAPPED AT CHRISTMAS

Her holiday bodyguard

When journalist Samantha Colt finds herself tied up and dumped on a landmine outside her bosses country house, she has no memory of how she got there. And her only clue is an ominous note warning her to quit before it's too late. Fortunately, the quick-witted soldier who's house-sitting for her boss rescues her...and agrees to become her bodyguard until the danger ends. Joshua Rhodes might be protecting Sam as a favor, but the spark that immediately sizzles between him and the determined, lovely reporter can't be denied. If the puzzled pair can't swiftly outsmart Samantha's tormentors, though, their brimming holiday romance will be snuffed out...along with Samantha's life.

My Review:

Gripping from the very first sentence: ''A fierce, biting cold that seemed to dig right into her skin was the first thing journalist Samantha Colt felt as her groggy brain swam back into consciousness.''  Brrrrr...this story chilled me to the bone between it's frosty outdoor scenes and sinister suspense. Definitely a read worthy of hot chocolate and comfort cookies.

I love Samantha's analytical mind. She's all about processing facts and finding patterns in random events. She's quite brilliant at what she does and Joshua can't help but be impressed. These two make an instant connection in the midst of impossible circumstances; an attraction that neither is prepared for.  There's angst piled upon angst in this taut thriller. Black feeds her reader's clues and it was fun (in a heart-pounding kind of way) to try to fit the pieces together right along with Samantha and Joshua.

If you like a little sinister with your holiday cheer than this is the perfect festive read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Kidnapped at Christmas please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

September Giveaway -- Week Four

Sorry for the late post....internet woes. :-(

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

WON BY LORAINE NUNLEY

WON BY JUST COMMONLY

WON BY RENEE G.

WON BY NANCY M

WON BY DONNA BROOKMYER

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS

 

Just a reminder: if you win a book and haven't left your email address, it's up to you to contact me so I can get the book to you. I try to get notification emails sent promptly -- usually on Sunday -- so if you don't hear from me by mid-week and you did leave your email address in the comments, it's likely that the email went to spam so don't hesitate to contact me. You have a month to claim your win. 

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:

Under the Cajun Moon

GIVEAWAY

CLARK, MINDY STARNS
UNDER THE CAJUN MOON

What secrets can be found by the Light of the Cajun Moon?

New Orleans may be the "Big Easy', but nothing about it was ever easy for international business etiquette expert Chole Ledet. She moved away years ago, leaving her parents and their famous French Quarter restaurant behind. But when she hears that her father has been shot, she races home to be by his side and to handle his affairs -- only to learn a long-hidden secret that changes everything she knew to be true about herself and her family.

Framed for murder, Chloe and a handsome Cajun stranger must search for a priceless treasure, one whose roots weave through the very history of Louisiana itself. But can Chloe depend on the mysterious man leading her on this cat-and-mouse chase into the heart of Cajun country? Or by trusting him, has she gone from the frying pan into the fire?

My Review:

Wow, what an exhilarating read! The intrigue doesn't let up. I was spellbound from the compelling opening scene to the astonishing conclusion.  An incredible mix of faith, suspense and romance with a whole lot of treasure hunting thrown in. And a dual timeline that takes us back to the early 1700s in France!

And the romance? Be still my heart. Travis is a toe-curling example of hero material. His Cajun accent set my heart hammering. And yes, I could hear him, even though I was reading the words. He's flirty and tender and knows his way around the bayou. Something city slicker, Chloe learns to appreciate. She is such a contrast to Travis. He's from a big, loud, fun-loving extended family and has the gregarious personality to match. She's the one and only surprise baby of parents getting on in years and spent most of her childhood at boarding school. She's stand-offish where Travis is outgoing. A perpetual outsider while Travis has never met a stranger. And when it comes to faith -- Travis has a real relationship with Jesus while Chloe thinks of the bible as "original guide to etiquette.' You can just imagine how interesting their conversations are.

And then there's the Louisiana setting -- it takes on a life of it's own, though there might be one too many snakes included in the telling of this tale for my liking. Shudder. But I really got a sense of the unique beauty of the culture and geography. As well as its fascinating history.

 An intrinsic plot full of twists and turns and plenty of surprises made this an exquisite read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Under the Cajun 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 September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Sheriff's Christmas Twins

GIVEAWAY

KIRST, KAREN
THE SHERIFF'S CHRISTMAS TWINS

Holiday baby blessings

Convinced that Allison Ashworth deserves better, Sheriff Shane Timmons has always tried to remain aloof around his childhood companion. But with Allison in Gatlinburg for the holidays, insisting on caring for two motherless babies, Shane feels obliged to help her. How can he keep his distance when she and the children are quickly becoming the family he never dared to wish for?

As a girl, Allison was drawn to the wary yet handsome Shane, who never seemed to look her way. But in spending time with him and two sweet babies, she might yet find a chink in the confirmed bachelor's armor. Every shared moment gives Allison hope that this Christmas, her dreams of motherhood -- and a life with Shane -- may finally be coming true.

My Review:

 Love and laughter and some heart-tugging Christmas spirit!

The first meet is so funny --  I love it when an author finds an innovative way of getting a hero and heroine together. It really gets my attention and pulls me into the story.

Allison and Shane are pretty much at odds from the get go. She's dismayed to discover that her long ago crush hasn't diminished. He's trying to ignore the lure of that winsome smile in favour of preserving his solitary bachelorhood. Of course attraction and circumstances (like motherless twin babies) get in the way. Shane finds that the more time he spends in Allison's company the more territorial he gets which proves difficult when she naturally attracts attention from other men. "Shane was like an unarmed man in an ambush as jealousy pummeled him." (p.38) Don't those words paint a vivid picture? So there's this wonderful push/pull dimension to this romance which leads to some heart-skipping, toe-curling scenes. Delish!

A captivating Christmas romance that's full to brimming with the hope of the season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Sheriff's Christmas Twins please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Home on the Range

GIVEAWAY

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
HOME ON THE RANGE

Can the brother left behind and a woman without hope work together for the good of two precious children?

Nick Stafford stayed in central Washington, working his family's large ranch after his brothers left to pursue other passions -- but his toughest job is being a single dad. As a child he watched his father fail at marriage and parenting, so Nick was determined to show him up. He'd be a better husband, father, and ranch manager than Sam Stafford ever was. Despite that commitment, three years after Nick's wife left him, he has a daughter in trouble at school and both of his girls are facing issues that force him to rethink his stubborn plans.

For Dr. Elsa Andreas, life fell apart when tragedy caused her to abandon her family therapy practice and retreat to the backwoods of Gray's Glen. Her school principal sister believes Elsa can guide the Stafford girls and that working with kids will draw Elsa out of her protective bubble.

Summer on the Double S teems with life and adventure. Amid the bounty of God and land, will Nick and Elsa find the courage to build futures based on faith rather than fear?

My Review:

First off -- let's take a moment to savor that cover. Doesn't it make your heart all melty and turn your knees so wobbly it feels like your bones have been replaced by cooked spaghetti? Insert blissful sigh here. And the book delivers exactly what that beguiling cover promises.

Second -- I want to live in a hobbit house in the woods. Yes, that's my takeaway from reading this book. Not the only one...but important nonetheless.

Herne excels at reminding us of what matters most. Life is messy but God will see you through...if you let Him. That's a tough lesson to remember in the midst of family drama. Nick is barely hanging on, trying to figure out how things got so gnarled up. I can tell you -- Stafford male pride. But really -- what kind of cowboy hero isn't all prickly proud and of the "I can do it myself" mentality? And isn't that why we love them so much? And want to bop them over the head until some sense rattles through their brains?

Elsa is an intriguing mix of tough vulnerability. I love the inner strength that dictates her healing on her terms. And the way she handles Nick and his girls is sheer brilliance. She's unflappable, though not immune to the guy who is "a twelve on a 'smokin' hot cowboy' one-to-ten rating system." (p.9) Their romance is delectably slow and halting. There's plenty of complications and two sweet girls to protect after all.

And, oh mercy, the angst! I had to read with one eye closed as I braced myself for one particular situation. I kept thinking, "Ruthy wouldn't do that to her readers, would she?" Of course she did! But that's life, isn't it? Full of twists and turns that sometimes include desperate circumstances.

Fans of the first book, Back in the Saddle, will be thrilled to meet up again with Colt and Angelina. There's nothing like a teasing brother who also has your back. And the Double S ranch is the perfect backdrop of an epic family saga.

Real and raw and peppered with grit. The kind of story that can make a difference if you let it.

My thanks to the author for gifting me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Home on the Range please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Plain Truth

GIVEAWAY

GIUSTI, DEBBY
PLAIN TRUTH

Amish country secrets

When widowed doctor Ella Jacobsen is attacked and left for dead in her children's clinic, the peace she's found in Geogria's Amish country is shattered. Someone is after something in her clinic and wants her out of the way...but what are they looking for? Ella knows only that her life is in the hands of army special agent Zach Swain. Zach can't resist the vulnerable but headstrong Ella, who stares down danger to care for the people she loves. With one look, the loner soldier goes from investigator to protector. To save Ella, he must uncover the secrets that swirl around the idyllic community. And he needs to do it fast, because Ella is running out of time.

Military Investigations: serving their country and solving crimes

My Review:

I do so love a suspense that starts with a crash of ominous thunder. It puts me in the shiveries and I know I can settle in for some hair-raising scenes -- like the opening one in Plain Truth. Nail-biting! And the stellar suspense kept me on my toes right to the very end. And there's as much tension in the romance as there is in the suspense. The kind that kept me glued to the page and my poor garden languishing for an entire afternoon.  The way the author weaves it all together -- including some fascinating Amish elements -- is pure reader bliss!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Plain Truth please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Saddle Maker's Son

GIVEAWAY

IRVIN, KELLY
THE SADDLE MAKER'S SON

Rebekah Lantz feels imprisoned by circumstances she didn’t create. Tobias Byler is haunted by regret. Can two young runaways from half a world away teach them the healing power of true family?

Rebekah isn't like her sister who left the Amish faith, but the watchful gaze of her family and small, close-knit Amish community makes her feel as if she's been judged and found lacking. The men avoid her and the women whisper behind her back. She simply longs for the same chance to be a wife and mother that her friends have.

Tobias Byler only wants to escape feelings for a woman he knows he should never have allowed to get close to him. Moving with his family to isolated Bee County, Texas, seemed the best way to leave his mistakes behind. But even a move across the country can't erase the past that accompanies his every thought.

A surprise encounter with two half-starved runaway children forces Rebekah and Tobias to turn to each other to help a sister and brother who have traveled thousands of miles in search of lives of unfettered peace and joy.

In doing so, Rebekah and Tobias discover the key to forgetting the past is the one that will open the door to love and the future they both seek.

My Review:

I have to say that one of the things I love about this Amish Bee County series is the setting. This drought-stricken Texas community gives a totally different spin to the typical Amish novel. There's something so elemental about the barren countryside and how it dictates the kind of life the Amish live. This little community is struggling to survive and that means they must turn to different occupations in order to provide for their families.  Unfortunately that requires more interaction with Englischers which brings its own kind of threat.

Life is a balancing act for Rebekah who finds herself living in the shadow of her sister's transgression. She's smart and tenacious and a bit of a free thinker which can get her in trouble since she's not shy about speaking her mind. Tobias arrives in Texas looking forward to a new start. The last thing he needs in his life is an opinionated woman who doesn't know when to keep her mouth closed. :-) Angst and mayhem ensue -- much to this reader's delight.

Irvin reaches deep to deliver a thought-provoking and inspiring story. I don't want to give specifics because there are elements that a reader should discover as the story unfolds. But I will say that this book challenges the characters and the reader to ask themselves this one question: "What would Jesus have me do?" And then it's just a matter of doing the next right thing and trusting the Lord to see you through. My faith soared with a renewed conviction after reading The Saddle Maker's Son.

And the topical subject matter makes this a great book club selection. There's tons to discuss and celebrate about this novel.

A captivating page-turner that will keep you thinking long after you've closed the book. That's the best kind of read, isn't it? The kind that inspires you to reach higher and draw closer to the Lord.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Saddle Maker's Son please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Almost Like Being in Love

GIVEAWAY

VOGT, BETH K.
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE

From the author of Somebody Like You, a RITA finalist, and one of Publishers Weekly’s top ten books of 2014, comes the story of a woman who has everything for a perfect wedding—except the groom!

Winning an all-expenses paid Colorado destination wedding might seem like a dream come true for some people—but Caron Hollister and her boyfriend Alex Madison aren’t even engaged. How is she supposed to tell him she’s won their wedding and honeymoon when he hasn’t asked her to marry him? Being “perfect for one another” seems like the absolute best reason to get married. But what if their supposedly faultless relationship is merely a safe place to protect his secrets and a way to keep their families happy? After quitting her job, Caron accepts her best friend’s offer to visit Colorado. She needs to catch her breath. Who knows, maybe visiting the destination wedding site will make a future with Alex seem like a reality.

Kade Webster just landed the biggest deal of his life with his company, Webster Select Realty, participating in the Colorado Springs Tour of Homes. He never imagined he would run into the woman who broke his heart—Caron Hollister—right when his career is taking off. Seeing her again, Kade can’t help but wonder why Caron walked away from him years ago, leaving him with no explanation. When Kade learns his home stager won’t be able to help with the Tour of Homes, he vaults past all the reasons he should stay away from Caron, and offers her a temporary job helping him on the project. This time, their relationship is purely business.

Spending time with Kade has Caron questioning everything. The man intrigues her—at times infuriates her—and reminds her of what she lost. Has she been settling for what everyone expects of her? Just because others believe she and Alex are an ideal couple, does that mean they should get married? And how can Caron say “I do” to one man when she’s wondering “what if?” about another?  

My Review:

Wow -- I'm an emotional pretzel after reading this book! My tummy's in knots and my heart feels like it's been stretched inside out. But, hey, I'm an emotional reader so it's all good and I enjoy basking in the glow of a story well told...and this one certainly is!

First thing you need to know is...I hate love triangles. Second -- I didn't hate this love triangle! It's one of the reasons I feel like somebody's punching bag though. Because I fell for both Alex and Kade and I didn't want one of them to be left out in the cold. The author kept my romantical sensibilities on tenterhooks all the way through!

And that's because Vogt's characters are so relatable -- real people with real problems and hurts and the challenge of being forced out of their comfort zone. That's a common thread that binds Alex, Kade and Caron as they each face demons that need to be conquered.  Vogt has deftly woven these three lives together in a fascinating exploration of grace and hope.

A complex story about relationships and love and finding the courage to follow your heart.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Almost Like Being in Love please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

September Giveaway - Week Three

WON BY CHERYL BARKER

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY MARTHA STURM

WON BY CONNIE

WON BY AMBER SCHAMEL

WON BY TRUCKREDFORD2

WON BY SUSAN P.

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:

Mystery of the Heart

GIVEAWAY

KENT, JILLIAN
MYSTERY OF THE HEART

Lord Eden is intrigued by Lady Grayson's secret, but how can he hope to gain her heart if he is forced to betray her?

Lady Mercy Grayson longs to be a physician like her older brother, Lord Ravensmoore. However, society would never tolerate a female physician, let alone one who is a noblewoman. So Mercy takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a man to get through medical school. But when a colleague grows suspicious, Mercy is in danger of losing more than her dreams.

Returning home from a secret voyage for the regent, Lord Eden agrees to give Mercy passage back to London. As their attraction to each other grows, they face circumstances, decisions, and treachery that could forever change the course of their lives.

My Review:

Regency with Gothic tendencies! Swoon. There's more than one subversive plot, a worldly Lord, a spunky Lady and enough witty dialogue to keep me in stitches for most of the read. This is the third and last book in the Ravensmoore Chronicles but it reads fine as a standalone. However, in this one all the Ravensmoore siblings are together again and there is nothing quite so entertaining as a brooding older brother observing his younger sister falling in love. :-) A thrilling combination of romance and intrigue with a stirring dose of faith.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Castles in the Clouds please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 18  2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Hometown Holiday Reunion

GIVEAWAY

ROSS, MIA
HOMETOWN HOLIDAY REUNION

Falling for the girl next door

Returning home to take care of his ailing mother, Cam Stewart reunites with his best friend's little sister. And while Erin Kinley is still a firecracker, she's grown from an annoying tagalong to a beautiful woman and devoted foster mom. She and Cam still drive each other...until Erin turns to Cam for comfort during a stressful adoption process. Cam's fractured family had him convinced he'd never be a dad, but suddenly he's considering two things he never thought he would: having a family and staying in Oaks Crossing. Could Erin and her son be everything he's long for?

My Review:

Think back to your high school days: The nemeisis who shoved you in your locker -- the guy you had a crush on and had to watch from the sidelines while he dated all the popular girls. If he wasn't ignoring you, he was teasing you unmercifully. Yeah that guy. Now he's back in town. Not only is he your business neighbour but your landlord as well. Talk about conflict!

Love the way Erin and Cam start out right where they left off -- bickering and sniping and trading insults. Amusing and frustrating and so much fun to read! Erin's foster son, Parker, becomes the unexpected bridge between these two sparring 'lovebirds' and what results is a story that embraces the very heart of what family means.

This is the third book in the Oaks Crossing series, but like all Love Inspired books, Hometown Holiday Reunion reads wonderfully as a standalone. Though, as always, it's fun to catch up with the happenings in this little Kentucky town and a few favourite characters. I love the way Ross brings a setting to life and Oaks Crossing is the perfect backdrop for the Kinley clan to shine.

And a little sidenote -- don't be fooled by the cover. This isn't actually a Christmas story. It takes place right after Christmas and into the new year so it's the perfect read for any season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Hometown Holiday Reunion please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 18 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

God Bless Us Every One : a Contemporary Christmas Carol

GIVEAWAY

EVERSON, EVA MARIE
GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE : A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS CAROL

Keeping Christmas in our hearts

Charlene Dixon -- called Charlie by family and friends -- is devastated at the recent loss of her job. For the last five years, the twenty-seven-year-old has blossomed as the activities director of an exclusive all-girls school. But when a misunderstanding with the headmistress leads to a pink slip right before the holidays, Charlie packs up her dreams and returns to her grandmother, Sis, who raised Charlie as her own in the mountains of North Carolina.

When Charlie arrives -- broken and confused -- Sis immediately puts her granddaughter to work behind the scenes of the local school's Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. Charlie doesn't always like working with Dustin Kennedy, the drama teacher, but Sis encourages her to take a deeper look at why the book by Charles Dickens had been written in the first place and what it could teach Charlie about the needs of people in their own community.

My Review:

A novel that embraces the spirit of Christmas as it blends a Dickens classic with a contemporary twist. The author highlights the history behind the traditional tale and has created some fascinating parallels between Charlie Dixon and Charles Dickson. Very cleverly done. And each chapter starts with a pertinent quote from The Christmas Carol.

Charlie is all about looking ahead -- she prefers contemporary to classic anything! Dustin is a true traditionalist. Talk about opposites attract! Hark -- do you hear that? Those aren`t Christmas bells  -- it`s the noxious clanging of clashing wills! Funny and poignant and sweetly tender. A story about forgiveness and hope, Everson delivers the true magic of the season.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/eeverson

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  God Bless Us Every One please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 18 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Breach of Trust

GIVEAWAY

BAILEY, JODIE
BREACH OF TRUST

Lethal Reunion

Meghan McGuire's ready to put her military career behind her and start her dream job helping troubled children -- until a man from her past reappears. Tate Walker is supposed to be dead. But now he's standing on her doorstep, telling her she's in danger. Tate never thought he'd see Meghan again...and certainly not as the target of the hacker he's trying to bust. With both of their lives in danger, they have to work together to hunt down the criminal. But whne Tate learns about the past Meghan's been hiding, he's not sure if she's the woman he once loved. Or if he can trust her with his survival -- and his heart.

My Review:

Adrenaline rush from start to finish. Don't blink or you'll miss something. Lethal reunion is right -- love the connection that Tate and Meghan already have. It makes the romance angle so fraught with tension. I swear the air crackled around me while I was reading! Whew! And the emotional longing on both sides -- melted me into a puddle of anticipation. The. Whole. Read. Then there's the relentless, sinister pursuit of an unknown assailant who always seems to be a step ahead of them. My head's still spinning. My heart's still pumping. Breach of Trust makes a great cardio workout!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Breach of Trust please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 18  2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Castles in the Clouds

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, MYRA
CASTLES IN THE CLOUDS

Meet Larkspur Linwood, a young woman who has a passion for teaching, but yearning for more than life as a small-town Arkansas schoolmarm. Young and impressionable, Lark joins a college professor who is staring a school in Kenya. White picturing herself bring the light of knowledge to hundreds of African children eager to learn, the menial tasks she is assigned at the school aren't so different from life on the farm where she grew up. Worse, her fragile heart is broken. When Lark's fantasies come crashing down, she returns to the US, recruited by Professor Anson Schafer and put to work in the founding of schools and relief efforts for those struggling through the Depression. As they work side by side, Lark begins to realize that the deepest satisfaction comes not so much from what you do, or where you do it, but from the attitude of your heart.

My Review:

Book Two of the Flowers of Eden series is just as scrumptious as Book One! Johnson creates such memorable characters that I easily slipped back into life with the Linwood family even though it's been a year since we last met up (The Sweetest Rain, c2015.) I was quickly immersed in rural Arkansas, circa 1932, eager to catch up with Bryony, Lark and Rose. However, I think Castles in the Clouds would read fine as a standalone novel so do not despair if you missed the first book. There is some carry over with setting and characters but each book focuses on one of the sisters, so you do get a complete story.

It's hard to be the girl building castles in the clouds during the Great Depression. Lark's an interesting mix of naivete and determination. She doesn't always understand the full consequences of her actions but she works her way through every obstacle -- even the self-made ones. Talk about resilient! And while her family doesn't always understand her, they do support her. The Linwoods are a scrappy little family with big hearts and deep faith. There's something a wee bit Waltonish about them. I keep picturing Grandpa Walton in the role of Grandpa Linwood. :-)

Anson and Lark's love story is fraught with complications that seem insurmountable at times. Both ignore instant attraction in favour of professional courtesy. At least, that's what they tell themselves -- mostly they are both just running scared. But as their lives intertwine emotions become charged and a happily ever after seems inevitable...until it doesn't. Gotta love an author who keeps a reader on her toes.

I love the challenges and contrasts this time period brings to the story. The historically accurate portrayal doesn't always make it palatable and the realism blindsided me in places. There are big issues that don't get wrapped up in a neat little bow like racism and poverty and the drought. But all that makes for an emotionally gripping read...the exact kind I like to savor.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Castles in the Clouds please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 18  2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!