The Captain's Daughter

GIVEAWAY

DELAMERE, JENNIFER
THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER

London 1879 - Forced to leave all she loves behind, she seeks a new life in a city bursting with opportunity, but fraught with danger.

When a series of circumstances beyond her control leaves Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater putting on the most popular show in the city. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage. That is, as long as the shadows from her past don't catch up with her.

After a hand injury forces Nate Moran from his army regiment in India, he returns home to London, a place that holds bitter memories. He agrees to fill in temporarily as a stagehand while his brother recuperation from a broken leg, but Nate is counting down the days until he can rejoin his regiment. His future is decided -- until he meets a beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate yearns to leave behind.

My Review:

A spectacular start to a promising new series. I felt that special thrill of discovery a reader gets when she embarks on what she knows is going to be a memorable fictional journey. It was anticipatory delight from the very first page! I mean, what's not to love -- a bit of Dickenish overtones mixed with Gilbert and Sullivan and the London stage! And make sure to check the author's notes at the back of the book (once you've finished reading, of course) to sort out the facts from the fiction. Fascinating historical details are expertly woven throughout Rosalyn and Nate's love story.

And what a sweet, tender...and reluctant...love story it is. Nate is all stoic military who thinks the only way he can run from his demons is by facing the rigors of army life head on. India is no place to bring a wife even if Rosalyn was so inclined. Which she's not. She has no intention of leaving her sisters in England behind. And then there's the lure of the stage and the new life she's creating for herself in a world she's never imagined. There's the kind of dynamics between these two that still makes me slightly giddy. Such a rich, multi-layered romance.

Be prepared for plenty of angst and drama. Laughter too. And a host of intriguing secondary characters -- both delightful and sinister -- and just plain infuriating. I'm excited to continue the London Beginnings series when Rosalyn's sister Julia's story comes out in March 2018 -- The Heart's Appeal. I can't wait!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Captain's Daughter, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2107. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets

GIVEAWAY

SCOTT, REGINA
THE BRIDE'S MATCHMAKING TRIPLETS

Marriage by Necessity

When mail-order bride Elizabeth Dumont's intended weds another, her only option is to take a job as nanny to abandoned triplet babies. Though she longs to provide a real home for her three precious charges, as a single woman she can't adopt. Until her onetime sweetheart, minister Brandon Stillwater, offers a match of convenience...

It's only for the triplet's sake -- that's what Brandon tells himself. Insecurities once drove him and Elizabeth apart, and now small-town rumors have made them man and wife. And though Brandon doesn't want to risk his heart this time, he's not sure he can resist the feelings that are once again starting to bloom for Elizabeth. But can he convince her that this sweet surprise family is more than just convenient?

Lone Star Cowboy League : Multiple blessings -- abandoned triplets find a home and bring hearts together in Texas

My Review:

Combine the Second Chance at Love and Marriage of Convenience themes and toss in 3 bundles of joy and you get hours of reading pleasure. The babies are adorable and more than a handful and I love how they drew not only Elizabeth and Brandon together but the entire town as well. In fact the town has a character all of it's own and the townsfolk are wonderful busybodies that drove me crazy and left me alternately laughing and fuming. And if they did that to me, you can imagine how Elizabeth and Brandon felt! Sweet, fun and satisfying.

This is the third and final book in the Lone Star Cowboy League - Multiple Blessings though it can be read as a standalone (I haven't read the first two.) However, there's plenty of 'read time' with the previous heroes and heroines so makes for a satisfactory wrap-up for followers of the series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets leave a comment below or send me an email at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please put the title in the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017.

Bounty Hunter

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
BOUNTY HUNTER

On a killer's trail...

While on a mission to bring his sister's killer to justice, bounty hunter Riley Martelli spots a missing FBI agent in a Colorado national park. When he calls in the tip, he's joined in his search by Special Agent Harper Prentiss. Harper, aided by her faithful German shepherd, is determined to locate the missing agent...without falling for the charms of the handsome bounty hunter. Working together is the best option to find their targets, but it also doubles the danger they're in. With a killer looming large, poised to end their search for good, can Riley and Harper unite to find both men without becoming the next victims?

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

My Review:

Things really heat up in this fourth installment of the Classified K-9 Unit continuity series. There are some startling revelations in the over-arcing suspense plot that will carry through all six books when we will finally get full resolution.

But there is also a suspense thread unique to Riley and Harper's story -- and it does have a satisfactory conclusion...after a breathless game of cat and mouse with a sinister felon who has murder on his mind.

This hero and heroine understand each other -- both are law enforcement professionals with distinct goals and plans for their futures. Neither has the time or inclination for romance. Love it when characters dig in their heels, forcing the author to drag them kicking and screaming towards their happily ever after. LOL

And, of course, I adore the K-9 aspect of this series. German Shepherd Star is our canine heroine in Bounty Hunter and she proves to be as stalwart and faithful as her counterparts in the K-9 Unit. Nothing like a little dog drool to cement a relationship. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Bounty Hunter leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email address to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw please add the title to the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Grace and the Preacher

GIVEAWAY

 

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
GRACE AND THE PREACHER

Can the faith of one small prairie town and a kind woman's generous heart survive such a great deception?

At the age of twenty-three, postmistress Grace Cristler has all but given up of finding a husband among the narrowing group of eligible men in her town of Fairland, Kansas. But when her uncle decides to retire from the pulpit, Grace is responsible for corresponding with the new preacher set to take his place. She can't deny the affection growing in her heart for Reverend Rufus Dille -- a man she deeply admires but has only met through his letters.

Theophil Garrison is on the run from his past. Ten years ago his outlaw cousins convinced him to take part in a train robbery, but Theo fled the scene, leaving his cousins to face imprisonment. Now they've finished their sentences, but their plan for vengeance has just begun. Branded a coward and running for his life, Theo has a chance encounter that could provide him with the escape he needs.

But the young man's desperate con might come at an enormous price for the tenderhearted Grace -- and the entire town. Will Grace's undeserved affection and God's mercy make something beautiful from the ashes of Theo's past?

My Review:

A sweet and touching romance develops in the midst of deceit. My tummy was in knots trying to figure a way for things to work out. I thought it might be hard to connect with the hero given his desperate con, but that's just what it is -- desperation and Sawyer does a wonderful job of appealing to a reader's tender heart where Theo is concerned. I totally got the way he fell into the con and what made it so hard for him to get out. And since he's totally not what the town expects in a new preacher there's some pretty funny moments that brings levity to all that desperation.

Grace is dealing with her own kind of desperation. On the shelf at twenty-three with no prospects in sight, she's fallen for  the soon-to-be-new preacher through the letters she's been exchanging on behalf of her uncle who happens to be the retiring reverend. But Rufus Dille isn't anything like she expected he'd be when they actually meet. He keeps her discombobulated even as she is drawn to his shy sincerity.

I love how this author expertly weaves faith into the very fibre of her stories and it is front and center here. And I love the title tie-in as it can be taken in different ways. Very clever. And impactful. All in all a captivating inspirational historical romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Grace and the Preacher, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Raging Storms

GIVEAWAY

CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
RAGING STORMS

In the darkness anarchy awakens

When a massive solar flare wiped out all modern technology across the globe, the small town of Abney, Texas, was thrown into chaos. Shelby Sparks and her teenage son, Carter, have found refuge, but Shelby knows she can't simply remain hidden. Carter has type I diabetes and needs insulin...and Shelby will risk her life traveling to Austin to make sure he gets it.

Shelby's best friend and high school sweetheart, Max Berkman, won't even consider letting her make the perilous journey alone. Together, they manage to reach the capital...only to discover that while things are desperate in Abney, Austin has turned into an urban nightmare on the brink of anarchy.

Shelby and Max's search for medical supplies will lead them into terrifying territory, where the only thing more uncertain than finding what they need is the hope of making it out of the city alive.

In this second book in an eerily plausible, action-packed dystopian series, survival will be threatened and faith will be put to the ultimate test as a raging storm engulfs America.

My Review:

Truth be told this series kind of scares me. It has left me with a whole string of 'what ifs' that make me realize that I am totally doomed if a solar flare actually does wipe out all modern technology. LOL And yes, I know this is fiction but Chapman has created a realistic vision of what life might be like after this kind of natural disaster. And it's unsettling. But makes for a riveting read.

This is book two in the Remnant series and this is definitely a case of needing to read the books in order as, with all dystopian series, each book depends upon the others and there tends to be cliffhangerish endings that leave readers gnashing their teeth and pulling out their hair, which Raging Storms definitely does!

There's plenty of action and stomach churning twists and turns as Shelby and Max and their friends make their harrowing journey across an apocalyptic Texas. And it isn't pretty. Truly terrifying in places. Plus there's a secondary plot involving Shelby's teenage son which brings its own unique spin to their desperate situation.

As overwhelming as parts of this story can be, hope still shines through as people of faith rise to the challenge and seek to serve the 'least of these.' I'm anxious to see what develops among the Remnant in the final installment of this epic saga. I can't wait for Light of Dawn to release and I can (hopefully) breathe a huge sigh of relief!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Raging Storms, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY LORI

WON BY SARA JOHNS

WON BY BECKY

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY CINDY REGNIER

WON BY JACKIE SMITH

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 a winner 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:

Home at Last

GIVEAWAY

RANEY, DEBORAH
HOME AT LAST

When the world just sees mistakes, God sees beautiful opportunities for love and grace.

Link Whitman has settled into the role of bachelor without ever intending to. Now he's stuck in a dead-end job, and as the next Whitman wedding fast approaches, he is the last one standing. The pressure from his sisters' efforts to play matchmaker is heavy as he helps his parents at the Chicory Inn.

All her life, Shayla Michaels has felt as if she straddled two worlds. Her mother's white family rejected her African American father without even knowing him. Her father's family also disapproved, but they eventually embraced Shayla as their own. After her mother's death and her brother Jerry's incarceration, life has left Shayla's father bitter, her niece, Portia, an orphan,; and Shayla responsible for them all.

Everything changes one icy morning when a child runs into the street and Link nearly hits her with his pickup. Soon he is falling hard for the little girl's aunt, Shayla, the beautiful woman who runs Coffee's On, the bakery in Langhorne. Can Shayla and Link overcome society's view of their differences and find true love? Is there hope of changing the ugly perspective of the world around them into something better for them all?

My Review:

Published in 2016

The last book in the Chicory Inn series and I sure am going to miss the Whitman clan! This has been an exceptional series where the author highlights realistic struggles that families face in this complicated modern world. She deals with tough topics with sensitivity and humour and always leaves me thinking. And while Home at Last can be read as a standalone novel, you'll appreciate it more if you've read at least a few of the other books to get a feel for the family dynamics.

Link's the last man standing among his happily married siblings and he's not averse to finding 'the one' and settling down, In fact he might just have found her but...it's complicated. Shayla can't deny she's attracted to Link but she's overwhelmed with the responsibilities she has at home. Helping to run her father's bakery, raising her incarcerated brother's child, tiptoeing around her embittered father. Starting a relationship with Link would just add to her burdens...wouldn't it?

Link's determined to prove her wrong and he pursues her in an endearing bull-in-a-china-shop kind of way. His upper class white collar upbringing clashes insensitively with Shayla's bi-racial blue collar world at times. It's a fascinating study in perspectives on racism and the difficulties that come from bridging two diverse backgrounds. There are scenes that made my blood boil and my skin crawl. But they are balanced by the sweet tenderness of a burgeoning love story that's definitely complicated but worth the effort.

Triumphant conclusion to the Chicory Inn series. I'm sad to let the Whitmans go. Perhaps we can encourage the author to fast forward through time and bring us the Whitman grandkids edition. :-)

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Home at Last, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in a comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Deep Waters

GIVEAWAY

PATCH, JESSICA R.
DEEP WATERS

Duty to Protect

Thirty feet underwater when her oxygen fails, Caley Flynn fears it's been sabotaged -- and she'll be the next to die. Her intern's already dead, her home breached and something's amiss at her Florida marine-life rescue center...but no one believes she's in danger. Except Shepherd Lightman. When Caley's brother asked him to check on her, the marine turned security specialist hoped it would be a case of calming down a nervous veterinarian. But the threats are all too real. Rescuing Caley and remaining alive isn't easy, but resisting his boss's sister is where the real danger lies. Because with his heart in the balance, he'll do whatever it takes to stop a killer who's desperate to keep a secret hidden.

The Security Specialists: Their mission is protection.

My Review:

If you like the strong, silent type in a hero, look no further. Shep is the man for you. My pulse still jumps at the thought of this tough, often brusque, ex-marine. He likes to "keep words and emotions hostage"  (p.79) which drives Caley to distraction. But it's hard to vent at someone "more machine than man." (p.20) Cue the delightful banter and sardonic comebacks. Like Caley complaining to the tight-lipped Shep that she's "not fluent in grunt." (p.29) Bwahahaha! These two made this such a fun read despite the dead body and the ever present danger. I was alternately giggling and swooning while nervously glancing over my shoulder the entire read. An exhilarating mix of romance and suspense. (And the first book in a new series -- can't wait to read them all!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deep Waters, leave a comment below or email me at kavulvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Invitation

GIVEAWAY

MYERS, BILL
PERETTI, FRANK
HUNT, ANGELA
GANSKY, ALTON
INVITATION

Four strangers with gifts they don't understand. A world falling into darkness. This is Harbingers.

You're invited on a journey of suspense and the supernatural as four of your favorite bestselling authors team up for a unique series.

From the minds of Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky, Invitation compiles the first four episodes of Harbingers, each following a different character.

Brenda - the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future
The Professor - the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic
Andi - the professor's brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns
Tank - the naive, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power

Brought together for the first time in "The Call," the four soon realize pockets of darkness are emerging throughout the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the unexplainable death of animals around the world, or an otherworldly little girl, each puzzle they solves brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what's happening. But will they discover the truth in time?

My Review:

Twilight Zone with a twist of faith.

 Invitation follows the format so popular  with TV show these days -- where diverse characters with unique gifts band together to fight evil. Only instead of superpowers we have divine gifts. And there's definitely a supernatural quality to these novellas which gradually develops over the course of the four stories. Love the ragtag team of reluctant heroes. Diverse doesn't begin to describe this very eclectic group.

There's Brenda the African American tattoo artist who wears her cynicism on her sleeve. She's snarky and sarcastic and pretends she doesn't care. At all. But she does. And she hates that she does. Then there's the Professor -- an intellectual snob with a gigantic sense of entitlement. Insufferably short-tempered and so annoying! Andi is his geeky assistant (translation: slave.) She has an uncanny ability to create pattern out of chaos which comes in handy more than a time or two.  And last of all there's bighearted, football hero, Tank. His gentleness and pure faith are at odds with his 'tank' physique. He might appear to be a plain ol' simple country boy but he possesses a spiritual depth that I found inspiring.

These four definitely aren't kindred spirits but they find themselves thrown together in an unprecedented fight to thwart pockets of darkness that threaten to smother the world.  Each novella is told in first person point of view from one of the character's perspectives. And in the process we get some backstory and insight into what makes each of them tick.

Enthralling. A little bit creepy. Eerily good and a definite must read for fans of speculative fiction fans.

An a note to sensitive readers -- there is some crude language in a couple of the stories.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Invitation, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

When Tides Turn

GIVEAWAY

SUNDIN, SARAH
WHEN TIDES TURN

Tess Beaumont is tired of being thought of as just a pretty face. Eager to do her part for the war effort, she joins the Navy's newly established WAVES program for women. Perhaps there she can convince people that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills in the fight against German U-boats and hoping to make admiral. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. Convinced that romance will interfere with his goals, Dan is determined to stay the course, no matter how intriguing a distraction Tess is.

But love, like war, is unpredictable. When Dan is shipped out at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he finds himself torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help the beguiling Tess root out a possible spy on shore. Could this fun-loving glamour girl really be the one?

My Review:

The kind of compelling story that sparks your imagination and plays through your mind like a cinematic wonder. It contains all the elements that make up a blockbuster hit -- a World War II theme with plenty of action and intrigue and glorious romance. Sundin is such a smooth storyteller. Her words drew me in until I was immersed in the lives of characters who are as real to me as my own family and friends (maybe more so!) I'd truly love to see this whole series on the silver screen!

If you like a hero that sets your heart all aflutter look no further than Lt. Dan Avery. A true Navy hero, he's married to his career. He doesn't have time for a woman in his life -- particularly not one as bubbly and outgoing as Tess. He is one serious man with his life all mapped out and every goal and advancement involves the Navy. If Tess manages to coax a half smile out of him she counts it as a good day. :-)

She's been the pretty, popular girl all her life. The proverbial adornment for a gentleman's arm. No one really takes Tess seriously until she joins the WAVES where being the pretty girl threatens to hold her back from her dream of contributing to the war effort. This is a really interesting twist for a heroine to struggle with and it makes for a fascinating -- and sometimes infuriating -- read. Especially since some of her harshest critics are women!

The historical details are divine! They are what made When Tides Turn such a vivid read for me. I'm not sure that I can explain how the author does it but the history is never at the expense of the story. There are just so many subtle ways she fits it in from fashion to '40s banter to battle drills! And, oh my goodness, those battle maneuvers! I don't know how she does it but they are full of accurate details that lend authenticity to some stellar action scenes. But not so technical that it's hard for the layman(woman) to absorb. All very rivitng (and nail biting) stuff.

The only bad thing about this novel is that it brings the Waves of Freedom series to an end. I had a bit of a bibliophile's hissy fit when I reached the last page. Saying goodbye to beloved characters can be such a hard cross for a dedicated reader to bear. But I'm on the road to recovery -- especially since I've just discovered that Sarah Sundin has a new series in the works. Here's a sneak at the gorgeous cover of the first book due out in Feb 2018

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When Tides Turn, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from Spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please put the title in the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Falling for the Rancher

GIVEAWAY

RUSTAND, ROXANNE
FALLING FOR THE RANCHER

The Cowboy's New Family

All veterinarian Darcy Leighton wants is a good life for her daughter. But when the vet practice she hopes to inherit is bought out from under her by newcomer Logan Maxwell, she stands to lose her position completely.

Recovering from a bad breakup, the handsome cowboy wants a fresh start -- one that doesn't include working with a woman he's undeniably attracted to. No stranger to heartbreak, Darcy has reservations of her own, but she can't walk away from this job. She'll just have to convince Logan to take a chance on her...and believe that what they have together is strong enough to last.

Aspen Creek Crossroads: Where love, faith and healing meet

My Review:

Woot -- this is me doing ecstatic back flips over both a veterinarian hero and heroine in one story. My critter lovin' heart is all aflutter -- even if Dr. Logan Maxwell didn't make the best first impression. I was squarely on Darcy's team from page one and, frankly, Logan poses a threat to her future happiness right out of the gate so that got my dander up.

Turns out he's just a misunderstood hero with a gnarly backstory that is slowly revealed as the story progresses. My heart thawed a bit. And when his innate compassion and kindness kept slipping past his defenses, well, my heart softened a bit more. But what really dissolved me to mush was a certain scene between Logan and an abused dog. Be. Still. My. Heart.

Darcy's focus is clear and simple -- build a secure future for her daughter. That does not involve falling in love with her new (and cantankerous) boss. These two have personal battles to fight before they can begin to envision a future together and that makes for one glorious read!

This is the fifth book in the Aspen Creek Crossroads series and the first book I've read by Roxanne Rustand but you can bet I'll be sure to get a hold of her earlier books!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Falling for the Rancher leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Amish Weddings

GIVEAWAY

GOULD, LESLIE
AMISH WEDDINGS

Will love be enough to fix what tragedy threatens?

Gregarious Rosie Lehma, who's always the life of the Amith youth singings, is determined to marry the bishop's son, Reuben Byler -- until the handsome Army buddy of her future brother-in-law shows up in Lancaster County. In comparison to Trevor, Reuben seems downright boring. Trevor shares Rose's sense of fun and adventure, and her easygoing disposition.

When her sister Lila is injured in a devastating accident, Rose finds herself with more freedom than she's ever experienced in her life. Only Reuben seems to notice, but he never voices his concerns. Part of her relishes the freedom she's found with Trevor, but the other part wishes Reuben would finally express his love and 'fight' for her. Have her choices ruined her best chance at love, or is there another path to happiness she just hasn't seen yet?

My Review:

Book Three in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series  continues with Lila and Zach's story (Amish Sweethearts) as well as focusing on Lila's sister, Rosie. While Rosie's part of the story can be enjoyed as a standalone, a reader will need to be familiar with the intricacies of all that has happened between the Lehman and the Beck families to fully appreciate Zane and Lila's portion of this book. So I'd recommend reading them in order. Plus, there's a whole contingency of secondary characters that might be hard to keep track of without the benefit of having read Amish Promises and Amish Sweethearts.

And, mercy, but the author doesn't hold back when it comes to putting her characters through the wringer! She throws them all into the refiner's fire and I squirmed and fumed and sighed as Lila and Zane and Rosie and Reuben  faced untold tragedy and loss. It shattered my sensitive reader's heart time and time again. But then the author deftly put the pieces back together again as she transformed tragedy into a story of deep love and abiding grace.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Amish Weddings, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment make sure to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please add the title in the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced in Sunday June 25 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Three

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY ELLY

WON BY CONNIE LEE

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY CAITLIN M.

WON BY RACHAEL

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 a winner and I don't seem to connect so I have a month time frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited. 

 LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

The Pattern Artist

 

GIVEAWAY

MOSER, NANCY
THE PATTERN ARTIST

Can a lowly housemaid realize her own American dream?

Born into a life of hard work, English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York City in 1911 with his wealthy mistress. Wide-eyed with the possibilities America has to offer, Annie wonders if there's more for her than a life of service.

Annie chooses to risk everything, taps into courage she never knew she had, and goes off on her own, finding employment in the sewing department at Macy's department store. While at Macy's Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God's leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer -- a pattern artist of the highest degree.

As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.

My Review:

Published 2016 (yes, we've reached that point in the new year where the previous year's books are officially considered retro reads. Where did the time go?!)

Moser has captured the American pioneering spirit in this enthralling account of a young immigrant woman rising from the ashes of unforeseen misfortune. I was spellbound from the very first page.  Loved the historical details! I've sewn a Butterick pattern or two in my time so it was really interesting to see the inner workings of the company. As wells as an insider's view of Macy's Department Store. If only sales service was as exceptional today as it was back then!

Annie is a young woman with a lot of potential who pushes ahead with courage and faith in order to follow her dream. There is a certain naivety in the way she views the world at the beginning of the story but struggling through obstacles and hardships take their toll. But Annie is a survivor and she has the love and support of new friendships to help her carry on. Though she drags her heels when it comes to a certain potential suitor!

There are plenty of stunning plot twists -- some so unexpected that I had to stop reading and get my bearings. The Pattern Artist is the kind of story that entertains and inspires...and leaves you wanting more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Pattern Artist, leave a comment below ore send me an email at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email address in a comment, please remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so that it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 18 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

With You Always

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY
WITH YOU ALWAYS

Could following the opportunity of a lifetime cost them the love of their lives?

One of the many immigrants struggling to survive in 1850s New York, Elise Neumann knows she must take action to care for her younger sisters. She finds a glimmer of hope when the New York Children's Aid Society starts sending skilled workers to burgeoning towns out west. But the promise of the society's orphan trains is not all that it seems.

Born into elite New York society, Thornton Quincy possesses everything except the ability to step out from his brother's shadow. When their ailing father puts forth a unique challenge, Thornton finally sees his chance. The conditions to win? Be the first to build a sustainable community along the Illinois Central Railroad and find a suitable wife.

Thrown together against all odds, Elise and Thornton couldn't be from more different worlds. The spark that ignites between them in undeniable, but how can they let it grow when that means forfeiting everything they've been working toward?

My Review:

One of the things I absolutely love about Jody Hedlund's novels is the way she brings to life some of the lesser known aspects in history -- particularly issues that affected women. And that's exactly what she delivers in With You Always. Of course, I've heard of the Orphan Trains but I had no idea that women were also sent west with that program. Or that it broke up families and left desperate women torn between staying with their children or finding work far away in order to keep their children alive.

And that's the predicament Elise finds herself in. After her parents death, she struggles to keep what's left of the family together. Heartache and sorrow dog her heels as she tries to make a life in the crowded, impoverished slums of New York City. Until the day fate throws Thornton Quincy into her path.

He comes from a life of privilege and, while he's kind and compassionate, he can't grasp the harsh circumstances the immigrants endure. Or how his business endeavors can help or harm hundreds of desperate workers. This contrast between these two lifestyles is sheer brilliance and makes for a riveting read.,,and a complicated romance!

Though Elise isn't his social equal, she's not cowed by Thornton's power and wealth. And she's not afraid to speak her mind and challenge his preconceived ideas. She's good for him and he knows it. He just isn't sure what to do with that knowledge. There's angst and confusion and a piercing sweetness as an impossible love begins to flourish.

A plot filled with the unexpected -- even a hint of intrigue -- and the freeing hope that comes from placing your trust in Jesus even in the most difficult times, makes this first book in the Orphan Train series a stunning success.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of With You Always leave a comment below or send me an email at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and .to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your email. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 18 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Lone Star Bachelor

GIVEAWAY

GOODNIGHT, LINDA
LONE STAR BACHELOR

Her unexpected hero

Sawyer Buchanan was against hiring Jade Warren. The escalating threats against his family's construction business -- and Sawyer in particular -- don't warrant the time and money spent on a private investigator. Even if Jade's smart, beautiful and challenging in a way that intrigues him. Jade has personal reasons to mistrust any Buchanan -- especially one as handsome and smooth as Sawyer. But everything she's been led to believe about the successful Buchanans crumbles in the face of Sawyer's decency and sweetness. And the closer Jade gets to Sawyer, the more intense her feelings for him become. Soon the biggest risk she'll face is having Sawyer steal her heart.

The Buchanans: steeped in loyalty, bound to family

My Review:

A moving love story that touched both my heart and my funny bone. Some great laugh-out-loud moments in unexpected places.

Jade has Sawyer pegged the second she lays eyes on him and she refuses to be hoodwinked by that easy-going Buchanan charm...or so she thinks. And, truth be told, he didn't make a great first impression on me either. Too suave and sure of himself when it comes to women. But then I got to know him and discovered that he just plain ol' likes women. And respects them. And appreciates them. He knows his world is a better place  because of the women in it...and he'd like to include Jade in that circle.

But she's definitely prejudiced thanks to a few misconceptions. It was fun watching Sawyer pick away at her cool reserve, one aloof layer at a time. But, man, did he ever have to work hard! I was exhausted for him. And for Jade who had to work so hard at keeping her distance. Talk about wasted energy!

Emotionally charged scenes are balanced by snappy dialogue and droll wit. The perfect recipe for a summer romance read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lone Star Bachelor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please 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 June 18 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Rocky Mountain Sabotage

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NELSON, JILL ELIZABETH
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SABOTAGE

Wilderness peril...

When the plane Lauren Carter is traveling in crash-lands near an abandoned mining town, pilot Kent Garland is convinced the charter jet was sabotaged. And one of the other injured passengers may be responsible. Struggling to keep their group safe, Lauren and Kent fight the elements -- and the ill-timed feelings they are developing for each other. But as a string of "accidents" pits survivors against each other, exposing a deadly traitor means looking beyond appearances. Who can be trusted? With someone determined to kill off all the plane's passengers, they must catch the murderer in their midst if they hope to leave this town alive.

My Review:

Action, adventure, intrigue and the sizzle of romance! And there's plenty of fodder for the armchair sleuth. The reader becomes acquainted with all the characters during the intense plane crash scenes -- and pay attention -- one of them is up to no good! But which one? As the story progresses we learn more about each individual's personality as they react to the danger and uncertainty in desperate ways. My head was spinning with possibilities (or maybe it was from hyperventilating over hero Sawyer.) In any case, I definitely felt light-headed by the time I reached the resounding climatic end. Phew!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Rocky Mountain Sabotage, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email address in your comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 18 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

For Love and Honor

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY
FOR LOVE AND HONOR

A wealthy noblewoman. A desperate knight. A dangerous secret that threatens their love...and their lives.

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger and damage her chances of making a good match. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman.

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

My Review:

A spectacular YA romance with a fairy tale feel. There's even a knight in shining armor, though he's the one who needs rescuing from a desperate situation. Sabine has the power to come to his aid -- or, at least, her fortune does. Neither are keen on a marriage devoid of love, but when Bennet pays court to his lady, friendship ensues -- with the promise of more...if only Sabine didn't harbor such a desperate secret. A thrilling blend of danger and romance will keep readers glued to the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of For Love and Honor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, remember to add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 18 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!