Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Classified Christmas Mission

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
CLASSIFIED CHRISTMAS MISSION

Undercover guardian

Days before Christmas CIA agent Amber Starke is on the run with her murdered best friend's special-needs son. And they're next on his criminal father's hit list. Amber failed her undercover mission to bring down her friend's husband for his crimes, but she won't fail to protect her friend's son. Now that the killer knows she's not just a nanny but an agent, she must rely on her childhood crush, Deputy Lance Goode, the handsome lawman was burned in love by his first wife, who was killed while evading the law. But he'll do everything he can to help Amber, except offer his heart. Unlocking the secrets in Amber's autistic charge is the key to their survival, but with the killer on their trail, one mistake could cost them their lives.

Wrangler's Corner: Family comes first

My Review:

There is an air of desperation right from the very first page and it just doesn't let up. Amber's lived a secret life for years while serving her country but now, with her cover blown and assassins tracking her every move, she makes her way home to Wrangler's Corner. It's supposed to be a quick in and out kind of stop -- there's no way she wants to lead the sinister danger stalking her to family and friends. But childhood friend (and secret crush) Lance  has other ideas. Can we say clashing of wills and gnashing of teeth? Not to mention lot's of sizzling sparks as attraction amps up. But the bad guys are relentless in their pursuit and the key to stopping them is trapped in the unique mind of a young autistic boy. Eason knows how to play out a suspense to nail-biting perfection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Classified Christmas Mission 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 December 4  2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Missing

GIVEAWAY

HARRIS, LISA
MISSING

Nikki Boyd Enters the Deadly World of Counterfeit Drugs to Find a Missing Woman

Nikki Boyd isn't usually called in on homicides; her forte is missing persons. But when a case with two murdered and two missing pops up on a quiet suburban street, she's ready to start the investigation and find missing homeowners Mac and Lucy Hudson. When the first clues lead her to the boat of her friend Tyler Grant--and another dead body--Nikki must untangle what ties Tyler to the Hudsons. The clues pull her into a deadly maze of counterfeit drugs and a killer who will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens his business--including Nikki.

Christy Award-winning and bestselling author Lisa Harris puts readers right into the action in this fast-paced thriller that will have them turning pages long into the night.

My Review:

Suspend breathing for the duration of this read. You'll need an oxygen mask to make it through. Page-turning suspense delivered in television crime drama format. This series reminds me of Without a Trace. If you remember that show you have a good idea of what to expect when you open the pages of this book. A tight-knit team with occasional humorous banter to break the tension. The inner workings of  a time-sensitive missing persons case. And so many clues and suspects to sort through! Harris takes us along on Nikki's investigation and it's a mesmerizing journey.

But this isn't all business -- her romance with a long time friend is heating up. (If you read Vendetta, you'll remember Tyler. Sigh.) But taking that uncertain leap from friendship to romance is terrifying and Harris captures Nikki's inner turmoil as she wrestles with a myriad of emotions. Tyler and Nikki share a special bond and the tenderness and longing between them is so fragile and sweet and utterly swoonworthy. But complicated. The kind of romantical angst sure to stir a reader's sensitive emotions.

And there is also a secondary suspense thread that carries through each book in the series as she continues to search for her sister who went missing a decade earlier. So, yes, this is book two in The Nikki Boyd Files series but the author does a great job of catching readers up to speed so you could read it as a standalone. But Vendetta is really, really, really good so I recommend reading it too!

Intense. Nail-biting. A real page-turner that is sure to enthrall the discerning romantic suspense aficionado.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Missing 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 December 4 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Monday, November 28, 2016

A Baxter Family Christmas

GIVEAWAY

KINGSBURY, KAREN
A BAXTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes A Baster Family Christmas, the first in a new series, combining the charm and holiday ambiance of The Bridge with the familiar members of fan-favourite family, the Baxters.

Two sorrowful years have passed since the terrible car accident that took the life of John Baxter's daughter, Erin, along with her husband and three of her four daughters. But this year John has invited a stranger for dinner -- Kendra Bryant, the transplant recipient who now has Erin's heart.

In light of her father's idea, Ashley and her brother Luke don't think it's right. They want to protect their ten-year-old niece, Amy -- the only surviving member of the accident. But John is determined and believes meeting this woman is something his deceased daughter would want.

At the same time, Maddie West, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Brooke Baxter West, is praying for meaning this Christmas. Could she find it in a newfound friendship with a boy she never expected to see again? Maddie believes in miracles, especially at Christmastime, but this is a stretch even she can't imagine.

Meanwhile, Kendra Bryant has been struggling these past few years to find meaning in the tragedy that gave her a second chance. She believes this invitation to see the Baxters and witness their unwavering faith in God can instill hope and happiness back into her life.

Heartwarming and touching, filled with love and hope, A Baxter Family Christmas brings together two families in the aftermath of tragedy and in the midst of an unfolding love story, all with the help of one very special child.

My Review:

Five Kleenex and multiple goosebump alert! And I haven't read any of the other Baster Family series, so if you have you'll be even more emotional than I was. This is actually the 24th Baxter book but the author kindly provides a 'who's who' list at the beginning of the book so us newcomers can keep things straight. And it did work well as a standalone Christmas story, with all the spiritual elements of the season and celebration of family and faith. In fact, that's something that really impressed me. Kingsbury doesn't hold back when it comes to faith and prayer and families who are striving to live a Christian life.

The story is told from multiple points of view and carries the reader through a tumultuous time during the heart of the holiday season. It's the kind of book I'd like to see come alive in movie format. It makes that kind of an impact. And good news for Baxter Family fans because this series is being made into a TV series, according to the author's notes. Plus she's committed to continuing the series with more books about the Baxter's adult children as well as their grandchildren.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Baxter Family 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 December 4 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

November Giveaway - Week Four


WON BY AMADA

WON BY CANDIDCORINTHIAN

WON BY ELLY

WON BY DONNA BROOKMYER

WON BY DIANA FLOWERS

WON BY SAMANTHA


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:


PLUS A WINNER'S CHOICE OF A MARY CONNEALY BOOK ON RETRO SATURDAY

Saturday, November 26, 2016

The Lightkeeper's Ball

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
THE LIGHTKEEPER'S BALL

It is the dawn of a new century and Olivia Stewart is heiress to an empire. Her family numbers among the Four Hundred -- those considered the wealthiest and most distinguished in America. Unfortunately their wealth has nearly disappeared, and now their security rests upon the Stewart daughters marrying well.

Olivia's sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, one of the nation's wealthiest men, but has since died. Now the pressure is on Olivia to take her place, despite her suspicions about Eleanor's fiancé. Using her family's long-forgotten English title, Olivia travels to Mercy Falls, California, as Lady Devonsworth, hoping to learn more before committing to marriage. There she finds that Eleanor's death was no accident. And Harrison is not the man she thought he would be.

When Mercy Falls holds a charity ball masquerade to raise funds for the new lighthouse, secrets -- and truths long hidden -- will be revealed. But can Harrison really love Olivia when he finds her true identity? Can she live with the repercussions of failing her family, or will she finally realize that nothing -- not money, family, or romance -- will ever compare to God's unconditional love?

My Review:

A delicious blend of suspense and romance with a healthy dose of Gothic for good measure. Compelling from the very first page. Coble creates an eerie atmosphere as Olivia wrestles with the loss of her sister and the circumstances of her death. The armchair sleuth in me was on tenterhooks as I tried to put the pieces of a complicated puzzle together. I managed to solve some of the mystery but was gobsmacked by some of the suspenseful plot points.

And can I just say I wanted to slap some sense into Olivia more than a time or two? So stubbornly determined to uncover dark secrets all on her own! Placing her trust in some characters while being blatantly wary of Harrison Bennett. Gah! Of course, I had the benefit of being party to the hero's inner most thoughts but still...made the romance all the more edgier.

Another stellar romantic suspense by a favourite author.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Lightkeeper's Ball 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Friday, November 25, 2016

Made Well : Finding Wholeness in the Everyday Sacred Moments

GIVEAWAY

SIMMONS, JENNY
MADE WELL : FINDING WHOLENESS IN THE EVERYDAY SACRED MOMENTS

When He walked the earth, Jesus said to an unwell man, "Do you want to be made well?"  His invitation stretched beyond physical healing -- He sought to restore the soul. The same invitation stands for us today. For anyone struggling on the journey toward wholeness, Jenny Simmons offers a resting place and a friend along the way. With personal insight into emotional pain, she invites you to encounter a God who is working out your restoration -- often in surprising ways. Her humorous and inspirational prose lights a path toward wholeness.

My Review:

A hope-filled book that encourages readers to find wholeness in the midst of their brokenness  whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual. Simmons' writing style is warm, inviting and often humourous as she shares her heart through moving personal experiences. She asks the questions we all ask when we are faced with the impossible. Loved 'hearing' my own doubts and frustrations addressed within the pages of this book. Simmons understands and I felt heard even though I hadn't uttered a word.

Made Well is all about looking for God’s healing beyond the big and bold miracle moments we all hope for. It’s about the quiet, unobtrusive things that gently carry us through the pain, supporting us in the midst of darkness. As Jenny Simmons says: “…God is often quietly at work behind the scenes answering in ways we would never expect or pray for.” (p 32) I’ve had so many of those quiet moments during my 6+ years dealing with chronic neuropathic pain.

One of those sacred healing moments crept up on me yesterday. I was heading out to a women's bible study across town and the cold, snowy weather had messed up the bus schedules so I was running late. Missed my first connection and the second bus was overdue. I was cold, in pain and feeling discouraged after a month long battle with painful side effects from a new physical therapy. I wanted to turn back and just head home but 'something' compelled me to keep going.

It took forty minutes for the bus to make its way out to the suburban church. I missed the worship service and headed straight for the classroom where we had a smaller than usual turnout. And in the course of one hour my spirits were lifted, my discouragement washed away by the words of one lady who shared the simple truth, "Do not be afraid."

Every word she spoke was as if specifically directed to me. Every. Single. Word. She glowed as she shared and testified. I've never seen a sweeter expression. Joy radiated from her. She spoke from the heart, eyes filled with compassion.  Praising Jesus in the midst of some heavy tribulation. I listened to her, spellbound knot after knot of tension slowly unravelling within me. I began to feel the wholeness I craved. Not through the healing of my broken body, but rather, in spite of it.

Yes, I’m still in pain and I struggle with the enormity of that and how massively it has changed my life but God keeps showing up in awesome ways, meeting me where I need Him most through the actions of others. And that is exactly the message that Made Well conveys.

An encouraging and compelling read that offers solace and hope to any and all who are hurting.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Made Well: Finding Wholeness in the Everyday Sacred Moments 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Mail Order Mommy

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, CHRISTINE
MAIL ORDER MOMMY

A mother for Christmas

Nursing a broken heart, Amanda Porter had answered a frontier mail-order bride ad placed by Garrett Decker's children -- only to find the groom-to-be didn't want a wife. The widowed bachelor she hoped to marry does need a housekeeper, though, and taking the job is Amanda's only option. But his adorable children are determined she'll be their mother by Christmas...

His wife's betrayal and tragic death demolished Garret's life. Now he can't even look at another woman, let alone marry Amanda, who resembles his first love. Even if she does make his house feel like a home, filling it again with laughter and his children's smiles. But with his daughter convinced Amanda is the perfect mother, will Garrett realize she's also his perfect match?

Boom Town Brides: Taking a leap of faith for love

My Review:

Garrett Decker is a dunderhead -- let's just get that out there from the get go. Infuriatingly nursing no small amount of bitterness and not averse to holding a grudge either. Not quite a curmudgeon, but close. LOL And I loved watching him becoming discombobulated as his heart slowly starts to melt thanks to Amanda's winsome ways. Of course, the man is set in his ways so it's a slow process with frequent setbacks. Add in a small town Christmas pageant, a couple of cute kids and a twisty/turny plot and you get one fantastic holiday romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Mail Order Mommy 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Christmas Conspiracy

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN
CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY

Witness in jeopardy

It's a typical day at Rachael Long's day-care center -- until a masked gunman tries to abduct one of the children in her charge. First response commander Jake Marsh manages to defuse the situation before anyone is harmed...but not before Rachael unmasks the would-be kidnapper. Now Jake must lead a manhunt and protect Rachael from the criminal who's turned his focus on her. But the case is reawakening painful memories for Jake, and Rachael's treating emotional wounds of her own. And with danger mounting as Christmas nears, they must learn to let go of the past in order to outwit a killer...and find the peace that's always eluded them both.

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

My Review:

Sniffle. This is the last book in the First Responders series and I'm gutted! Such an awesome series I wanted it to go on forever. I've read them all except for Explosive Alliance which is out of print now. Sob! So don't dally over this one -- get it now before it's too late!

Fitting that the first and last books are Christmas stories, bringing the team full circle with a delightful round of happily ever afters. Christmas Conspiracy reads well as a standalone, however, if you've been keeping current with the series you'll be thrilled with the way Sleeman wraps this up. Great glimpses of the whole team interacting together. Love that camaraderie. They are a tight, ready-made family and I'm going to miss them all! Sob!!!

There's a great blend of intriguing suspense and hesitant romance in this story with plenty of Christmas blended in. (And the end...be still my holiday lovin' heart!!!) Rachael and Jake have emotional reasons for wanting to remain aloof and unattached. They both are determined to guard their hearts and pour their passion into their jobs which seem more like callings to them. But what they are really doing is running away from the hard stuff. Yes, even big, brave, uber-protective Jake is running scared. Loved watching their hearts shift in the midst of a trying case.

Danger, edge-of-your-seat suspense and heart-melting romance combine to make this an amazing conclusion to a fantastic series. (But I'm still disgruntled and cranky that it's over.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Christmas Conspiracy 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Finding Margo

GIVEAWAY

TURANO, JEN
FINDING MARGO

Off the charts and on the run.

International pop star Margo Hartman could use a night off. A grueling tour and overbearing entourage have sent her over the edge. It's time for this diva to disappear. And who would think to look for the superstar in a small town in Ohio?

Sheriff's deputy Brock Moore is undercover as well. He knows Margo isn't who she appears to be, but her uncanny resemblance to a local Amish woman is raising all sorts of questions...the kinds that maker her a target for a killer.

Both are determined to find answers, but their mutual attraction stands in the way of either of them doing it alone. Is finding Margo the solution to Brock's problem or just the beginning...?

My Review:

Love Jen Turano's historical books? Well....suspend any preconceived notions you might have of her writing style and story telling technique and prepare to be entertained in an entirely new way! Still good...but different! So don't let that discombobulate your book karma, okay?

Campy and quirky with the occasional over-the-top slapstick, this book is comedy at its finest. Love the ridiculous in some scenes, the pithy dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humour. And the Amish angle? Sublime! Not quite suspense, not quite mystery -- somewhere in the middle maybe? With a generous side of laughter. And a duck. Gotta love a strong duck character in the middle of all that romance and mystery, right? Book One of the Coming Home series and I'm eagerly anticipating Book Two's release this coming winter. Woot!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Finding Margo 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Guide Me Home

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
GUIDE ME HOME

Working in the massive cave might allow
Rebekah the chance to bring joy back to her family.
But will it claim more than it gives?


After tragedy leaves its mark on Rebekah Hardin's family, she plans to help her parents and six siblings honor her beloved brother's memory and alleviate their poverty by working as a guide in the dangerous cave system. Kentucky's renowned Mammoth Cave presents profitable opportunities for hardworking, capable men. But Rebekah is determined, and if it means presenting herself as a himself, then she's up to the job.

Under the wing of experienced guide Tolly Sanford. "Reb" begins to learn the complexities of the cave. The two are joined by an aspiring young Cartographer, Devlin Bale. The university student has traveled to the hill country to map tunnels -- not to fall for a girl in disguise.

Can the God who designed miles of underground astonishment shape Devlin's ambitious plans and free Reb from the weight of her past?

My Review:

I've had a secret fascination for the Appalachian culture since reading Where the Lilies Bloom when I was a kid so it thrilled me to my toes when I started reading Guide Me Home and immersed myself in the lives of the people of the hill country.

And, goodness, but isn't that a stunning cover? Captures Rebekah perfectly. Definitely eye-catching and promises what the text delivers. Told from four points of view -- Reb, Devlin, Tolly and Cissy (Rebekah's younger sister), Sawyer gives each character a unique voice and it was easy to lose myself in their simple but oh-so-complicated lives. Tolly in particular has a special place in my heart. An older African American gentleman with the wisdom only true faith can bring. He knows what's right and he isn't afraid to say so. Everyone needs a Tolly in their life.

Rebekah and Devlin's friendship seems doomed to stall right there. Class distinction, educational differences and family backgrounds all seem insurmountable stumbling blocks to their budding romance. Plenty of fodder for angst!

And I so appreciated the guileless way the author wove faith throughout the story...and the lives of these endearing characters.

This is the kind book you willingly lose yourself in only to emerge hours later all discombobulated over finding yourself in the 21st century. Love losing a piece of myself in a good book!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Guide Me Home please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the  subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

November Giveaway - Week Three


WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY DIANA FLOWERS

WON BY SUSAN F. & BOOSMUM

WON BY CONNIE

WON BY MARIA

WON BY KAREN HADLEY


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:


Saturday, November 19, 2016

Downfall


GIVEAWAY

BLACKSTOCK, TERRI
DOWNFALL

Will her shady past lead to a dark future?

Emily Covington has turned her life around after the fallout of her drug addiction, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily completed a yearlong treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, her mother walks on eggshells around her, fearing she'll relapse. After her behavior during her drug years, Emily has a lot to prove.

When Emily and Lance discover a homemade bomb under Emily's car, and she learns the wife of a one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she begins to connect the dots. But her family doubts her. Has she angered drug connections? Has she dragged chaos back into their lives again?

A conversation Emily had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double murder all conspire for one explosive ride. Emily is the only one who can identify the killer and save the life of the next potential victim. But will anyone believe her?

As she frantically works to solve this puzzle and convince authorities of the truth, Emily finds the focus of the investigation turned back on her. She's played right into the killer's hands...and he won't stop until more lives are destroyed.

My Review:

I inhaled this book in one gulp. Seriously, I started reading and then it was over and I have no idea where the time went. Impossible to put down. Blackstock has the amazing ability to draw a reader in and hold her hostage until the very last page.

Love the Covington family. This is book three in the Intervention series. You don't need to have read Intervention or Vicious Cycle first, but you'll grasp the family dynamics and mom's love interest, Kent, better if you have.

Sinister suspense brings danger spiraling out of control for all the Covingtons. A desperate kind of read that won't let you go until the breath-taking conclusion.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Downfall 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Forever Safe

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY
FOREVER SAFE

Heiress to a vast fortune, Victoria Cole has everything she wants, including the perfect fiancé. Having left two other men at the altar, Victoria is sure that this time she's found her true love and will finally live happily ever after. As her wedding draws near, however, Victoria's life is threatened. To keep her safe, Victoria's father hires a bodyguard.

Tom Cushman's number one priority is protecting his clients which means no personal entanglements. But he's never guarded someone as beautiful and winsome as Victoria. After a near-kidnapping, the wedding is cancelled, and Tom hides Victoria at Cape Cod's Race Point Lighthouse until her attacker can be found. Appointed as assistant light keeper with Victoria posing as his wife. Tom believes the isolation of the lighthouse will keep her safe.

As Victoria struggles to live without familiar luxuries, her heart betrays her with growing feelings for her protector. Determined to help Tom stop fleeing from his haunted past, can the runaway bride learn to face her own fears? With the attacker closing in, will both of them ever be able to stop running and find the safety they long for?

My Review:

Supply checklist necessary before starting to read Forever Safe:

fainting couch (and you might just need a back up one! Or a lot of cushy pillows on your floor to soften those mid-swoon falls.)
Fan...electrical, ceiling, paper...all of the above...in duplicate.
Chocolate....just because it goes so well with a reading binge and you won't be able to stop reading once you start this one.

Y'all think I'm joking, right? Uh-uh. Because while this is the fourth book in the Beacon of Hope series, it's the first indie published one. And that means that the author hasn't been restricted by traditional Christian publishing rules when it comes to the romantical. Now that doesn't mean that she crosses any lines, but gentle readers should know that passion explodes off the page in some scenes. In others it is barely restrained desire that set my heart a pitter-pattering. But both are always tempered by respect and gentle tenderness. Tom is just....thud.....well, he's why you need the fainting couch and the pillows on the floor. An honorable protector who made a promise to Victoria's father and intends to keep it....despite the fact that Victoria doesn't want him to. :-)

Victoria is ridiculously wealthy, spoiled but not snooty and endearing from the very first page -- and I loved the runaway bride angle! They say opposites attract and that fits Tom and Victoria perfectly. He challenges her to look beyond her pampered lifestyle so she can become the woman God made her to be. And she soothes the brokenness in his battered soul. Together they make each other stronger....if they can stop running from each other long enough to figure that out!

Hedlund blends humour, suspense and toe-tingling romance into a page-turner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Forever Safe 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Unraveling the past

GIVEAWAY

REES, ELISABETH
UNRAVELING THE PAST

Falsely accused...

After six months undercover with the meth dealers plaguing her town, deputy Joanna Graham's cover is blown -- and someone's framing her for corruption and drug trafficking. She turns to her boss, Sheriff Tyler Beck, for help, but in coming to her aid he's knocked unconscious...and loses his memory of the past seven years. Now Joanna must convince Tyler to trust her as they go on the run to figure out who set her up and who's at the top of the meth gang. But as their lives are in danger, so is Joanna's heart. This new Tyler has no recollection of their brief relationship. Could this be a second chance for them? Or will the fragile connection they've made be shattered when Tyler's memory returns?

Navy SEAL Defenders: Bound by honor and dedicated to protection

My Review:

A gnarly suspense and an even gnarlier romance makes this one a nail-biter. Joanna is all grit and determination -- an over-achiever who often reacts before thinking something through. Not exactly the greatest attributes to possess when you're in law enforcement. At times I found her to be exasperating...and then Rees dishes out more of her back story and suddenly her reactions start to make sense. An unusual and unique plot point turns this gripping story into much more than a romantic suspense. Intrigued? You'll just have to read the book. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Unraveling the past 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Reunited at Christmas

GIVEAWAY


CALHOUNE, BELLE
RUNITED AT CHRISTMAS

A season to remember...

Two years after the avalanche everyone though had claimed her life, Ruby Prescott returns to the remote Alaskan town of Love. And no one is more ecstatic than her husband, Liam, and their young son. Even if amnesia has robbed Ruby of her memories, she's soon woven back into the fabric of their lives. As they celebrate the holiday season, Ruby is falling head over heels for the man she's told was the love of her life. But she can't escape the feeling that there's something Liam is keeping a secret. Will the return of her memories tear them apart for good -- or will this be a Christmas she'll never forget?

Alaskan Grooms: Meeting their matches in Love, Alaska

My Review:

I can't begin to tell you how much I love the Alaskan Grooms series. The characters have become real people and I want to visit Love and sample all it has to offer...though not the reindeer pizza, thank you very much! This is the fourth book and I sure hope there will be more to come. Each reads well independently but there is a delicious carryover of secondary characters who are so much fun to revisit. And there's a comedic secondary love story -- Grandpa Jasper's romance has been brewing (or should I say boiling?) in the background.

I don't know what it is about amnesia stories -- but a well-written one really draws me in and Ruby's ticked at all the boxes. Presumed dead for two years, she's been living void of memories until a chance encounter with a news show highlighting Love, Alaska's matchmaking program, Operation Love, sparks something familiar. Of course she has to investigate and that means a trip to Alaska where she hopes she'll find answers. And she does, only nothing seems to be familiar...especially the handsome doctor who claims to be her husband. Mercy -- talk about a romantical knot of heartache! Liam remembers every detail of their courtship and marriage and he's been grieving for years. And little Aidan is thrilled to have his mother back but confused over why she doesn't remember him. Does that mean she never loved him? Tear out my heart and stomp on it, why don't you, Belle Calhoune! And it all plays out against a nostalgic Christmas background. Phew, definitely an emotional blockbuster of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Reunited 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Change of Heart

GIVEAWAY

GOOD, RACHEL J.
CHANGE OF HEART

Lydia Esh's younger sister, Emma, is running wild during Rumschpringa, causing the family major heartache. Although it means risking her reputation, her job as a schoolteacher, and her courtship with Jakob Zook, Lydia attends parties to watch over Emma and protect her sister's virtue.

When Emma begins a relationship with Kyle, an Englischer, Lydia teams up with Kyle's older brother, Caleb, to keep the couple apart. As Lydia and Caleb spend time together keeping an eye on their siblings, Lydia falls for this forbidden love.

Will Lydia stay true to her faith even though it means giving up the love she longs for?

My Review:

Eureka! I've just discovered a new-to-me favourite author and she writes Amish stories! Woot! I was completely captivated by the Esh sisters and thrilled to discover this is Book One in the Sisters & Friends series. And we don't have to wait long to get a hold of Book Two -- it comes out this winter. Double woot!

Good has created an enthralling family tale rife with angst, forbidden love and abiding faith. I was on tenterhooks the whole read. The Esh family dynamics had my tummy in knots for most of the read. From Lydia's unbending father to her outspoken grandmother -- well I was laughing and fuming and ready to scream in places. And poor Lydia tries to serenely navigate her way through it all while her heart is in turmoil and her dedication to her faith is tested. Riveting stuff.

If you love Amish fiction, you need to read Change of Heart. Really.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Change of 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Monday, November 14, 2016

The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection

GIVEAWAY

HICKEY, CYNTHIA
WELBORN, GINA
ALLEE, JENNIFER
BREIDENBACH, ANGELA
FRANKLIN, DARLENE
PAGELS, CARRIE FANCETT
STOCKTON, AMBER
TURNER, NIKI
WHITHAM, BECCA
THE BLUE RIBBON BRIDES COLLECTION

All's fair in love and friendly competition.

The competition is fierce at state and county fairs when nine women between 1899 and 1930 go for the blue ribbon to prove they have something valuable to contribute to society. From sculpting butter in Nevada to baking pies in Colorado, from stitching quilts in Michigan to polishing pigs in Arkansas, there are grand prizes to be own.

Walk the displays and watch the judging of contests as men and women meet at the fair and enter into the greatest Prize pursuit -- that of a devoted and godly heart.

My Review:

There's something in this collection for everyone. Drama, comedy and plenty of sweet romance. Love the fair theme and readers get to visit them all across the country. Short stories (approx. 50 pages each) still manage to pack a punch and provide a quick reading getaway. You can easily finish a novella in one sitting so perfect as we approach the busy holiday season. In fact, The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection would make a fantastic gift.  The book nerd in me can't get over this exquisite book package. Quality paper with deckle edges. Divine! (yes, I notice details like that!) And the photographed end pages. Scrumptious. Take a gander and you'll see what I mean.



My thanks to Carrie Fancett Pagels for providing me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection 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 November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

November Giveaway - Week Two


WON BY CARYL KANE

WON BY PAM K.

WON BY CC

WON BY CHERYL BARKER

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS



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: