In the Shadow of Denali

GIVEAWAY

PETERSON, TRACIE
WOODHOUSE, KIMBERLEY
IN THE SHADOW OF DENALI

Their future depends on unlocking the secrets the mountain holds from the past

Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, work at the new and prestigious Curry Hotel near the foot of Mount McKinley -- Denali as it's still called by the natives. John is the wilderness and exploration guide for the wealthy tourists while Cassidy works in the kitchen as Cook's assistant. The entire staff buzzes with excitement during the busy days preparing for the President's imminent visit. His historic trip to dedicate the new national park on his way to driving in the golden spike to officially complete the Alaska Railroad will be the beginning of a new era for all of them and place The Curry at the heart of Alaska.

Allan Brennan travels to the Curry Hotel to be an apprentice to the seasoned Alaska mountain guide, with hopes of discovering the truth about his father's death on the mountain years earlier. His father's business partner blames the guide for Henry Brennan's untimely death, but Allan cannot be at peace until he knows for sure. He finds an unlikely ally in Cassidy, and as the two begin to look into the mystery, they suddenly find that things are much less clear, and much more dangerous, than either could ever imagine.

My Review:

This first book in a new series -- The Heart of Alaska -- delivers sweet romance steeped in rich historical detail along with an air of mystery. From the sinister prologue (written from the villain's point of view), actions are set in motion that have far-reaching effects. Six years later, Allan arrives, bringing the past with him. Burdened by suspicion and anger, he's determined to discover the truth behind his father's death. And unfortunately, he's been groomed to believe that mountain guide John Ivanoff is guilty.

Tension abounds as Allan struggles to reconcile the out-going, kind and faith-filled John with the cold-blooded murderer he's been expecting. Though a secondary character, John became a favourite of mine. A man dedicated to the Lord and unafraid to share his faith with open candor.

His daughter, Cassidy, has the same spiritual outlook as well as an optimistic nature that grates on her dour boss, Mrs. Johnson. Love how she wears down the cook's gruff exterior by slow degrees. Of course Cassidy catches Allan's eye which brings it's own kind of complications. But first there's a mystery to be solved and a murderer to thwart -- all against the stunning backdrop of Alaska's new national park.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publications and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of In the Shadow of Denali please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 5 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Can't Help Falling

GIVEAWAY

ISAAC, KARA
CAN'T HELP FALLING

She's moved to Oxford looking for a new start. He's only interested in chasing his dreams. But when they discover a shared passion, they can't help falling for one another...

Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down, beyond her fearless, tabloid-reporter façade, there's a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can't resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England -- home to C. S. Lewis -- to try to make amends for the damage she has caused.

Peter Carlisle was on his way to becoming one of the Great Britain's best rowers -- until he injured his shoulder. He's determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking everything. It's the only way he can honor the memory of the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.

When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can dreams of a fantasy land be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threatened to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an English manor house, and an antiques shop with a curious wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in this inspiring and romantic story about second chances.

My Review:

Sqqqueeaaallll!!!! Kara Isaac has taken my favourite ever children's series and incorporated it into a contemporary romance. I'm beside-myself-giddy!!!! Do you love all things Narnia? Yes? Then this book is for you. No? That's okay, you might not thrill at every literary reference but you'll still thrill at Peter and Emelia's complicated love story.

The Narnia tie-ins are fantastic! Love Emelia's obsession with wardrobes...and I guess now is as good a time as any to confess that I share that same fascination. So, of course, I love the pivotal role a wardrobe plays in this story. And I'm thrilled that Reepicheep makes an appearance in an impactful way. :-)

Infused with humour and witty dialogue this almost reads as a romantic comedy except for the shadow of secrets looming in the background. So even as I laughed over pithy comments and situational slap-stick, I felt the weight of those secrets bearing down on Emelia and Peter...and me. Deliciously conflicting and made for an anxiety-riddled read.

A clever first meet had me grinning...and quickly falling for a certain Oxford rower. Brilliantly done. But did I mention it's complicated? Really, really complicated. And Isaac doesn't let us know exactly how complicated right at the start. She dangles delicious tidbits that we have to slowly piece together until we get the whole awful truth. That's when my laughter turned to tears -- some of them angry as I railed against stubborn ol' Peter. Gah!

I thrilled over the faith thread Isaac has woven into this story. Because, well, as Reepicheep would say, "We have nothing if not belief." And Emelia has been living with nothing for a long time but learning to believe in a loving God -- and in her own self-worth -- is so hard.  I got shivers up my spine and at one point!

A poignant, funny and tender romance that inspires hope in second chances.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Can't Help Falling please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 5 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Purgatory Road

PARKER, SAMUEL
PURGATORY ROAD

When a day trip out of Las Vegas with his wife takes a turn for the worse, Jack is sure he has the ability to get them home. But he has driven into something far beyond reason.

Rescue comes in the form of a desert hermit, but hope fades as the couple comes to realize that the nomad has no intention of letting them leave. A chance encounter with a kidnapped runaway and her crazed abductor leads them farther into the wilderness -- and closer to the cold brutality that isolation brings.

At the edge of his sanity, Jack begins to learn that playing by another's rules may be the only way to survive.

In a voice that is as hypnotizing as a desert mirage, debut novelist Samuel Parker, entices readers down a treacherous road, where the forces of good and evil are as crushing as the Mojave heat.

My Review:

Criminal Minds meets Twilight Zone in a profoundly disturbing narrative. Graphic violence and the dark subject matter made this a difficult read for me. If it is meant to be an allegorical tale, I find it even more disturbing. And depressing. Just not my type of reading material, though others have certainly given it positive reviews.

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

January Giveaway - Week Five

WON BY KELLY BLACKWELL

WON BY JOY (BOOKS ARE A BLESSING)

WON BY TERRILL

WON BY LEA

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY DIANA FLOWERS

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 the 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:

Restoring Love

GIVEAWAY

SLATTERY, JENNIFER
RESTORING LOVE

Only when we let God write our love story do we live fully restored...

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old home in an idyllic Midwestern neighbourhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She's almost his worse nightmare. Unbeknownst to Mitch, Angela is also restoring something -- herself.

As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common -- a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband's incarceration. While Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this mother survive, they find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them in redemption and true love?

My Review:

Jennifer Slattery excels at writing about real life in all it's messiness. Her characters are flawed, struggling with the kind of issues that are all too common in our modern world. Meet Bianca -- a young mom struggling to raise her children in poverty, Angela -- a mature new Christian desperate to leave the sins of her past behind, and Mitch -- a devout man facing the complications of a struggling business and an addicted son. Three diverse people, on three separate paths whose lives connect in an inspired way.

Restoring Love is much more than a love story -- though there is a sweet mature romance brewing between Angela and Mitch. Love that they are just as uncertain and wary as teenagers -- maybe more so since they've lived a whole lot more and have experienced just how badly a relationship can go. But the more powerful love story here is the one between a loving Father and His children.

Bianca is lost -- running on empty. Barely holding her family together. She's proud and bitter and reclusive, shunning every advance that Mitch and Angela make. Bianca doesn't know Jesus and she needs Him in the worst way. Mitch and Angela know that and I love how tenacious they are about approaching her. Especially Angela, who boldly reaches out despite each rebuff. And she's not comfortable doing it which makes it all the more remarkable. Such a wonderful example of living in community.

A motivationally touching and uplifting story.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Restoring Love please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 29 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Shadow of Suspicion

GIVEAWAY

BARRITT, CHRISTY
SHADOW OF SUSPICION

Framed

First, computer specialist Laney Ryan's accused of kidnapping her neighbour's daughter -- and now someone's trying to kill her. The police don't believe Laney's story...except for Detective Mark James, whose instincts say Laney isn't guilty. Together, Mark and Laney must figure out who really abducted the teen and uncover why they're framing Laney. But when their search for the truth turns deadly, Mark realizes his feelings for Laney aren't strictly professional and that he'll stop at nothing to keep her safe. With a dangerous suspect swiftly closing in, can they find the missing girl and clear Laney's name...before their possible future together is fatally cut short?

My Review:

Whoa -- intensely riveting from the very first page. I hyperventilated my way through pages of breath-stealing scenes. My nerves were on edge throughout the entire story. A colossal suspense with so many twists and turns it was impossible to figure it all out from my armchair sleuth's chair. I had my suspicions...but Barritt still managed to gobsmack me more than once. Of course I knew that Laney was innocent but Mark didn't. And there's something swoony about a hero torn between love and duty. An awesome romantic suspense that will hold you hostage until the very last page.

Giveaway Opportunity:
 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Shadow of Suspicion please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 29 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

You're the One That I Want

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT

Owen Christiansen has been on a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start...maybe even a shot at romance with Elise `Scotty` McFlynn, the captain`s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn`t believe in happily ever after -- especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Caspar Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama -- and even worse, the news that Caspar is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts the brothers home to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending...if she`s brave enough to embrace it.

My Review:

The last Christiansen novel! (she gasps, heaving a shuddering sigh). And I might have the hiccoughs from a recent crying jag too. Because my poor heart has been pummeled and tossed around like a piece of flying pizza dough. Because...well...this is the last Christiansen novel and it`s a gut-wrenching one.

Warren knows how to deliver deep emotional angst mixed with the sweet wonder of grace. I breathed in every single word, savoring the force that is the Christiansen family. Scotty describes the sensation the best -- "The family wave had simply washed over her, like a ship at sea." (p.175)

If you are familiar with this series you know that Owen has been a bit of a wild child and he is struggling to cope with the repercussions of his mistakes. A bad boy who has finally turned back to God but doesn`t have it all figured out yet. He`s still incorrigible. A flirt. Full of boyish charm. Impulsive.

Everything Scotty is not. Tough and capable, she has an unorthodox background and very little experience with the inner workings of a family. She`s both fascinated and terrified by the Christiansen clan. And Warren blesses her readers by bringing them all together one last time. Sniffle. These characters will have a special place in my heart forever.

I laughed. I cried. I raged. There`s a mystery to be solved. Relationships to mend. Peace to restore. And the kind of romance that curls toes and makes a fainting couch a reading necessity. Not to mention a certain delectable kissing scene that fogged up my glasses. Oh -- and the best title tie-in EVER!

A scrumptious read full of love and laughter...and an abundance of angst. A perfect conclusion to The Christiansen Family series.

Giveaway Opportunity:
 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of You're the One that I Want please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 29 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Love for Leah

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, EMMA
A LOVE FOR LEAH

The widow's second chance...

Widow Leah Yoder married for love once. Now that she's come home to Seven Poplars, she wants a marriage of convenience that will provide a long-for-family without dishonoring the memory of her late husband. A steady, serious older man would be ideal -- someone completely unlike handsome, fun-loving Thomas Stutzman. She and the aspiring organic farmer agree to court to prove that this time, the matchmaker has made a mistake! But as their friendship deepens, will Leah settle for what she thought she needed, or put fear aside for a second chance at happiness?

The Amish Matchmaker: bringing love to Seven Poplars -- one couple at a time!

My Review:

I love this Amish Matchmaker series. Sara Yoder is back working her magic among the lovelorn of Seven Poplars and Thomas and Leah might be her biggest challenge yet! A serious grieving widow who can't seem to leave the past behind and a fun-loving bachelor who has been playing the field way too long. Time for them both to settle down...but with each other?! Sweet, funny and faith-filled -- the kind of romance you want to devour in one sitting.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Love for Leah please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 29 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
TWILIGHT AT BLUEBERRY BARRENS

"I need you to keep these girls safe..."

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family's blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she's forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.

Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won't be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it's almost too good to be true. And maybe it is -- because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn't exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.

Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle --in prison for murder -- has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won't leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will every flourish again...or is this twilight is her last.

Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.

My Review:

Another thrilling suspense from an author who knows how to create page-turners. Not one stalker but two...or maybe three? Multiple threats coming from all directions. Plenty of twists and turns riddled with angst. I'm still trying to catch my breath!

So many mysterious pieces to a scattered puzzle that need to be put together. Drake and Kate are trying their hardest, not always with the support of the local sheriff's department. And in the process they find their initial attraction growing into something so much more. Delicious romance in the midst of all that chaos. Phew! Be still my heart!

This is the third book in A Sunset Cove Novel series and some of the relationships carry over from the other books. In particular Kate and her sister's from The Inn at Ocean's Edge. I think it makes a better story if you've read that book first. You can still enjoy this one as a standalone, but some situations will be clearer if you've read Ocean's Edge.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Twilight at Blueberry Barrens please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 29 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

GIVEAWAY

KLASSEN, JULIE
THE INNKEEPER OF IVY HILL

Welcome to the English village of Ivy Hill, where friendships thrive, romance blossoms, and mysteries await...

The lifeblood of the village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant landlady. Jane has no idea how to manage a business, but with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must quickly find a way to save the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to overcome her losses and find purpose for the future. As she works with Jane, two men from her past vie for her attention, but Thora has promised herself never to marry again. Will one of them convince her to embrace a second chance at love?

As pressure mounts from the bank, Jane employs new methods, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place, including a mysterious newcomer with secret plans of his own. With the help of friends old and new, can Jane restore life to the inn, and to her empty heart as well?

My Review:

Opening up this book is like settling in for a binge-viewing of a British mini-series. It put me in mind of Larkrise to Candleford or Cranford. Has the same sense of community and village life -- including all the tension and drama that goes with it. Not to mention the strong women who make a place for themselves in a male dominated society. I made that BBC connection early in my reading so imagine my surprise and delight when the author mentions the same shows as a source of inspiration in her notes at the end of the book! Kind of tickled that I'm on the same wave length as a multi-published author!

The story unfolds with an unhurried grace as Klassen transports her readers into another time and place. It celebrates the unique connections found within a community. Every action has a reaction. I couldn't read fast enough to see how things played out -- even though I wanted to slow down and savor every descriptive word.

I love the sweeping multi-character approach Klassen uses. She writes from the viewpoints of very different women facing unique challenges. Exquisite detail and subtle nuances sparked my imagination and kept me desperate to for answers. Mind you, I didn't find them all...the author has left some loose ends to continue with in the next installment of the Tales of Ivy Hill series. But there is some closure and the story ends on a high note, for all that there are still questions left unanswered. But I'm fine with that. I'll bask in the glow of a story well told while eagerly anticipating what comes next in 'season 2'. Can't wait for The Ladies of Ivy Cottage to come out in December 2017!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill 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 January 29 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY LINDA MOFFITT

WON BY SHERRY MAE

WON BY LIZ R.

WON BY CAITLIN MCCUTCHEN

WON BY DEBBIE C.

WON BY CARYL KANE

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 the 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:

Critical Condtion

GIVEAWAY

MABRY, RICHARD L., M.D.
CRITICAL CONDITION

It was supposed to be a quiet dinner party with her colleagues -- not the scene of a murder

But the murder of a stranger on her front lawn is only the first in a string of events that have Dr. Shannon Frasier's life teetering on the edge of chaos. She's unable to make the deeper commitment her boyfriend deserves. Her sister shows up at her home needing a place to stay but with no promise she'll remain sober. And her father is diagnosed with cancer.

Then Shannon's life stops teetering and plunges into the abyss. Because the person behind the guttural voice on the phone wants to know what the stranger said before he died. And he won't stop until Shannon gives him the information he wants -- even if she doesn't have it.

He's coming for her. She's not sure the police on the case can be trusted. And her only hope of escape -- for herself and for those she loves -- is to overcome her buried past.

My Review:

Mabry delivers another page-turning suspense. There's something about his sparse, matter-of-fact style that captures my attention and urges me to read faster. It's easy to speed through one of his suspense novels for that very reason. Mystery and tension abound in this fast-paced plot that continuously left me reeling.

Shannon is hit with one catastrophe after another -- she barely recovers from one shock before the next one knocks her off kilter all over again.  I was just as discombobulated as she was. And things get a whole lot more complicated before there is resolution. Like I said -- page-turning stuff.

I really appreciate the faith thread that the author naturally weaves into the story. Shannon is struggling to reclaim her faith. Mark is a steadfast constant -- a gentle spiritual influence. Love that he supported -- never pushed. A great lesson for us all.

Action and suspense with enough twists and turns to leave an armchair sleuth breathless with delight.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Critical Condition 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

For the Record

GIVEAWAY

JENNINGS, REGINA
FOR THE RECORD

Rather than wait for a hero, she decided to create one...

Betsy Huckabee has big-city dreams, but nobody outside of tiny Pine Gap, Missouri, seems interested in the articles she writes for her uncle's newspaper. Her hopes for independence may he crushed, until the best idea she's ever had comes riding into town.

Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but unfair circumstances have made moving to Pine Gap his only shot at keeping a badge. Worse, this small town has big problems, and masked marauders have become too comfortable taking justice into their own hands. He needs to make clear that he's the law in this town -- and that job is made more difficult with a nosy reporter who seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

The hero Betsy creates to be the star in a serial for the ladies pages is based on the dashing deputy, but he's definitely fictional. And since the pieces run only in newspapers far away, no one will ever know. But the more time she spends with Deputy Puckett, the more she appreciates the real hero -- and the more she realizes what her ambition could cost him.

My Review:

Another lively gem from Regina Jennings. Love her mix of humour and angst and this one even has a mystery to unravel. All the ingredients for a spellbinding read.

There's nothing quite like a doomed romance. From the moment Joel lays eyes on Betsy he knows she's trouble. And she doesn't cotton to him either -- at least not right away. Though the writer in her is tempted to romanticize the dashing deputy even though he labels her the most bothersome woman he's ever come across. They don't court as much as they spar. Heated arguments that had me laughing out loud. Like: "I'm particularly incensed, three notches past riled. And you deserve to be doused with dredges of my vocabulary." (p. 215)

Then there are the tender moments when things turn heatedly romantical. Be. Still. My. Heart. Can you say toe-curling kisses? Delicious! Tantalizing! And oh so sweet in the midst of the turbulence that surrounds them.

A scrumptious blend of romance, action and mystery for discerning readers who like to laugh while they swoon.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  For the Record 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Bounty Hunter's Baby

GIVEAWAY

VETSCH, ERICA
THE BOUNTY HUNTER'S BABY

Brought together by a baby

Bounty hunter Thomas Beaufort has no problem handling outlaws, but when he's left with a criminal's baby to care for, he's in over his head. And the only person he can think of to ask for help is Esther Jensen, the woman whose heart he broke when he left town. But can he convince her to put aside the past until he tracks down the baby's outlaw father?

Esther is ready to run Thomas off her Texas ranch -- until she spies the abandoned newborn in his arms. Soon, working together to care for the precious babe stirs old hopes of a family. With trouble heading to their door, they could overcome it together -- if she'll entrust her wary heart to this sweet, second-chance family...

My Review:

I think that Erica Vetsch is really a pseudonym for a tough-as-nail cowpoke who roams the wild west. The truth leaks out in her ability to infuse cowboy colloquialisms into her stories. I swear I read the whole book with a Texas twang! And she has created the perfect cowboy hero, Thomas Beaufort. Bounty hunter extraordinaire who doesn't flinch at tracking down a murderer but can't get the best of one small nanny goat. A man devoted to his dog appropriately named after a famous Texas Ranger. Bested by a tiny scrap of humanity, he seeks aid from his former sweetheart. Be still my cowboy lovin' heart.

Of course Esther isn't as easily impressed. She's a heartbroken woman who has fallen on hard times and the last person she needs back in her life is the man who broke her heart in the first place. But she can't help falling in love with the orphaned baby he brings to her door. I spent my reading hours alternately laughing and swooning as these two lock horns. And there's the thrill of some good old-fashioned wild west action as well.  A sweet perfection of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Bounty Hunter's Baby 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Unblemished

GIVEAWAY

ELLA, SARA
UNBLEMISHED

Eliyana can't bear to look at her own reflection. But what if there were only one reflection -- one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn't come home, and that's when everything gets weird. Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you've gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she's ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him.  How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can't even save herself?

My Review:

Sheer brilliance! I am gobsmacked over this being a debut novel! It's astounding! Every detail of this parallel world is so carefully thought out. And the plot is so complicated -- the twists and turns have twists and turns! And yet I never felt lost -- well, occasionally my brain felt scrambled -- and my questions had questions -- but otherwise this was an easy fantasy to navigate through.

I love the way Sara Ella delivers the story -- the blend of real and alternate worlds. And the way she uses easy-to-picture pop culture references to build quick images that help set the stage....and give us a glimpse into El's droll sense of humour. Like: "Things are looking up. I'm not going to smell like a hobbit today." (p.119) I do so love a heroine with a clever wit.

And poor El has to live by her wits when her world implodes just weeks before her eighteenth birthday! Told entirely from her viewpoint -- first person, present tense no less (not a favourite of mine but somehow it works here) -- I was so captivated by her story it consumed me. It's the kind of book that is so good you can't wait to read more but you don't want to read more because it will be over much too soon.

 There are so many reader's-heart-stops-beating-as-she-collapses-on-floor moments that I still feel like I'm riding a tilt-a-whirl. I was constantly stunned. Gasping out loud. Had to stop reading in places while I wrestled with the whole 'need to know but don't really want to know' conundrum.

And can we say love triangle? Nooooooooo! Yes! Nooooooooo! Yes! Wait. What??????? Stay tuned for book two? And there it is...the dreaded cliffhanger of an ending. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of resolution and tons of answers covered in Unblemished BUT there are loose ends left dangling. And my mind is whirling with all the possibilities and ramifications and I'm not sure how I'll manage the wait until Unravelling releases this summer.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Unblemished 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

At Home in Last Chance

GIVEAWAY

ARMSTRONG, CATHLEEN
AT HOME IN LAST CHANCE

What happens when the life you're running from won't let go of your heart?

Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life: when the going gets tough, they get going -- out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over.

Kaitlyn is working to re-establish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way: How ill they learn to trust each other when they don't even trust themselves?

With emotional depth and characters who leap off the page and into your heart, Cathleen Armstrong invites you to return once more to the dusty and delightful town of Last Chance.

My Review:

A touching story that celebrates the miracle of second chances...and third and fourth and fifth....

The third book in the A Place to Call Home series delivers the same caliber of story as the first two. I just love the way this author deals with gnarly circumstances that stretch both a character and a reader. I'd met Kaitlyn in One More Last Chance and I wasn't impressed. In fact, I might just have started this read with a mighty big chip on my shoulder because it's kind of hard to relate to a woman who would ditch her daughter for half a year! But I wasn't bargaining on Armstrong working her magic -- weaving a story of loss and heartache and those all important second chances. And in the process convicting me of grace and forgiveness and accepting people for who they are now, not what they used to be.

News Flash -- Thanks to the intrepid Linda Moffitt we have this exciting piece of information. Cathleen Armstrong's debut novel (and first of this series) Welcome to Last Chance is available free (Kindle edition) on Amazon right now. I loved that book -- and this whole series -- if you like emotional contemporary romance that stretches you heart and soul, you'll love these books. And each book reads well as a standalone...should have mentioned that in my review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of At Home in Last Chance leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post your 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Consipiracy of Silence

GIVEAWAY

KENDIG, RONIE
CONSIPIRACY OF SILENCE

This is the way the world ends.

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his team, Cole "Tox" Russell has been disavowed by the United States. And that's fine -- he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed. Tox is lured back into action.

Tox and his former Special Forces team regroup to work with FBI deception expert, Kasey Cortes, and fiery archaeologist, Tzivia Khalon, to search the globe for answers -- and a cure. As the mission leads them from one continent to another, it becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague but battling an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and the threat of a global pandemic rising. Tox and his team realize their sole chance might be to reach back through centuries of silence to find the only answer that can save them all.

My Review:

Wow. Intense. Action-packed. Complex. This is a blockbuster thriller that could easily play out on the big screen. Has a Bourne Identity/Indiana Jones/ NCIS kind of vibe. Mind you, I always close my eyes in the fight scenes when I view a show but you can't do that when you're reading them so be prepared for some armchair cringing and wincing when those action-filled scenarios crop up...which is about every couple of pages. LOL  Compelling reading but my whole body is sore in sympathy with Tox and his crew.

This is the first book in a series -- The Tox Files -- and a free ebook novella (The Warrior's Seal) provides the backstory to Conspiracy of Silence, I didn't read the novella and had no trouble diving into this first book, but it's so complex, I think it might be a good idea to read the novella before cracking this one open.

Rife with intrigue, political corruption and secrets too many to mention Tox is reluctantly pushed into the center of it all. The story is told mainly from his point of view and all the more raw and gritty because of it.  Kendig writes a believable military scenario and the dynamics between the team -- the banter, support and wisecracks -- provide a bit of relief from the never-ending heart-in-throat action scenes. And I love the diversity of the team as well. Am eager to read their stories in future books.

The intricacies of a plot centered around biblical history and archeology makes for a fascinating twist to the typical suspense plot. And, while that suspense definitely takes center-stage, there is a thread of romance running through this tale as well.  And since Tox is involved, it's just as complicated as their mission. A mesmerizing read from start to finish. Eagerly waiting for book two. Crown of Souls which releases later this year.

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 Conspiracy of Silence leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post your 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 January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week Three

WON BY SWEETPEA

WON BY PAM K.

WON BY MARY

WON BY J DENNIS

WON BY DONNA BROOKMYER

WON BY DIANE BLASER

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: