Christmas Captive

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, LIZ
CHRISTMAS CAPTIVE

Sabotage at sea

On his cousin's Christmas cruise wedding, navy SEAL Jordan Somerton anticipated having the typical best man duties -- not facing down criminals boarding the ship. But when the luxury liner is infiltrated  by men determined to kidnap the flower girl, he's plunged into an unexpected mission. Maid of honor and DEA agent Amy Delgado hasn't forgiven Jordan for a misunderstanding in their pasts. But with her young niece targeted, she must draw on Jordan's skills as a protector. Signs point to an inside job. With a traitor in their midst, can they ensure that every passenger returns home safely for the holidays...even as they find love amid deepening danger?

Men of Valor: These navy SEALs were born to excel...

My Review:

Taut. Tense. Breath-snatching.Adrenaline rushing. Page turning perfection. And that's just the romance. Seriously. You'll want to order some toe braces to prevent chronic toe curling when you read scenes like this one: "...she tried to look away, but there was nothing but him. Up and down. On each side. He surrounded her. Big and broad and ever the protector." (p 105) Thud!

And the suspense is pretty compelling as well. There's something incredibly edgy about limiting the action to the confines of a cruise ship -- and despite those restrictions there is plenty of action! Lots of cat-and-mouse chases and danger around every corner. Oh -- and macabre humour at the most inopportune times. Loved that the most....though I choked more than once when I tried to gasp and laugh at the same time, so be forewarned.

A heart-stopping romantic suspense that belongs on every reader's keeper shelf. It's that awesomesauce good.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas Captive, leave a comment below or email me 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 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 November 5 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

You'll Think of Me

GIVEAWAY

HATCHER, ROBIN LEE
YOU'LL THINK OF ME

In a small town in Idaho's idyllic wine country where the past looms large, can two people realize their individual dreams for the future...together?

Abandoned once too often, Brooklyn Myers never intended to return to Thunder Creek, Idaho. her hometown holds too many memories of heartache and rejection. But when her estranged husband Chad Hallston dies and leaves his family home and acreage to her and their ten-year-old daughter Alycia, it's an opportunity to change their lives for the better -- a chance Brooklyn can't pass up for Alycia's sake if not her own.

Derek Johnson, Chad's best friend since boyhood, isn't keen on the return of Brooklyn Myers to Thunder Creek. He still blames her for leading his friend astray. And now she has ruined his chance to buy the neighboring ten acres that would ahve allowed him to expand his organic farm. To add insult to injury, Chad's dying request was that Derek become the father to Alycia that Chad never was. How can he keep that promise without also spending time with the girl's mother?

Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Derek and Brooklyn must both confront challenges to their dreams and expectations. He must overcome long held misconceptions about Brooklyn, while she must learn to trust someone other than herself. And if they can do it, they just might discover that God has something better in mind than either of them ever imagine.

My Review:

An inspiring romance that tugged at my heartstrings as I lived each exhilarating moment with Brooklyn and Derek.

Brooklyn is a real overcomer though she is still taunted by her harsh upbringing. But she fights her way through as she strives to make a better childhood for her own daughter. For the most part, she's got this, even though returning to her hometown has stirred up feelings she thought buried long ago.

Brooklyn's arrival challenges Derek on so many levels. (And can I insert major fan-girling here over an organic farmer hero. Stuff my dreams are made of!) Alas, he's stuck in the past too. Ever loyal to his deceased best friend, he's sure that Brooklyn was trouble back then and is certainly trouble now...at least where his dreams are concerned. These two struggle with loss and forgiveness as they begin to clear a path towards a joyous future...if they have the courage to let go of the past.

Hatcher writes relatable characters with realistic dilemmas and I love how she weaves the power faith brings to the most challenging circumstances. Her words reached into my life and ministered to me through Brooklyn's journey and I am so grateful to an author who isn't afraid to speak Truth into her stories and consequently into my life.

You'll Think of Me is the kind of read that will capture your heart and soul and leave you glad you spent some time in Thunder Creek, Idaho.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of You'll Think of Me, 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 November 5 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

October Giveaway - Week Five

WON BY BETHANY

WON BY KAY GARRETT

WON BY AMANDA T.

WON BY SUSAN FUCHIKAMI

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY CC

As always, I will contact the winners by email (if one has been provided) however, thanks to the nefarious ways of the Internet, my email may 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 one month time limit. If I can't reach you within four weeks, your win is forfeited.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

I'm sneaking in more Christmas books so we'll take a break from Retro Saturdays so that I can share more holiday stories...unless I find some Retro Christmas books and thanks to my library, I have a few on hold. This week though, these are all 2017 selections.

The Proving

GIVEAWAY

LEWIS, BEVERLY
THE PROVING

After five years as an Englisher, Amanda Dienner is shocked to learn her mother has passed away and left her Butterfly Meadows, Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. What's more, the inn will only truly be hers if Mandy can successfully run it for twelve months. Reluctantly, Mandy accepts the challenge, no matter that it means facing the family she left behind - or that the inn's clientele expect an Amish hostess! Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this prove a dreadful mistake?

My Review:

Classic Lewis. There's an old-fashioned flare to her storytelling and reading one of her books always makes me feel like I'm sitting in a cozy kitchen listening to a story being told by an elderly Amish woman as she looks back on her life and imparts wisdom to her young listeners.

In The Proving (great title tie-in) Lewis explores the complicated dynamics of estranged sisters. Forgiveness is at the heart of this story -- and the freedom letting go of past hurts can bring. Mandy's on a year long journey of self-discovery as she comes to terms with her past and finds a new strength in her faith and family.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Proving, 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 October 29 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Mail-Order Christmas Baby

GIVEAWAY

SHACKELFORD, SHERRI
MAIL-ORDER CHRISTMAS BABY

The Rancher's Special Delivery

The 'package' is addressed to him, but rancher Stirling Blackwell certainly didn't order a baby! more scandalous still, he and the town's pretty teacher are named as parents. With gossip running wild, only a marriage of convenience can protect little Gracie and their reputations until her real family is found.

Heather O'Connor is content to be the spinster schoolmarm of Valentine, Montana...until Gracie's arrived stirs her heart. She can't keep the adorable child without Sterling's help, though she promises not to interfere with his life. But staying aloof from her handsome husband isn't easy with a tiny matchmaker in tow. A mistake brought them together, but love might just make them a family by Christmas.

Montana Courtships: Romance unfolds under the Big Sky

My Review:

Absolutely love the clever premise for this Christmas romance. A neat switch on the traditional mail-order bride story. And little Gracie is as adorable and beguiling as she appears on the cover of this book. It isn't long before she has Stirling and Heather wrapped around her baby finger.

Which is my cue to say there is something so...heart-stopping attractive about a big ol' rancher turning into a marshmallow over the feminine wiles of a two-year old. :-) And that's a good thing because he is so gnarly stubborn about being noble he nearly misses the boat when it comes to Heather. And she's just as gnarly stubborn with her determination to not disrupt Stirling's life even though they are living in the same house! There's a lot of frustrated longing in that marriage of convenience and I loved every page-turning second. But then an unexpected mystery draws these two together into a united front as they fight for a future they suddenly both desperately want.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mail-Order Christmas Baby, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email address 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 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 October 29 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Beyond Justice

GIVEAWAY

PUTMAN, CARA
BEYOND JUSTICE

Hayden is on track to become the youngest partner in her prestigious DC law firm...if the case she's just been handed doesn't destroy her first.

Hayden McCarthy knows firsthand the pain that follows when justice is not served. It's why she became an attorney and why she's so driven in her career. When she's assigned a wrongful death case against the government, she isn't sure if it's the lucky break she needs to secure a partnership -- or an attempt to make sure she never gets there.

Further complicating matters is Andrew Wesley, her roommate's distractingly attractive cousin. But Andrew's father is a congressman, and Hayden's currently taking on the government. Could the timing be any worse?

The longer she keeps the case active, the higher the stakes become. Unknown enemies seem determined to kill the case -- or her. Logic and self-preservation indicate she should close the case. But how can she, when justice is still just beyond her reach?

My Review:

I think I'm going to have to stop saying I'm not into legal thrillers because this is the second one in as many weeks that totally floored me. The legal backdrop brings an interesting edge to the suspense as does the Washington political scene. What a gnarly, twisted mess it all is! 

And Hayden's smack in the middle after she lands an intriguing case at the same time an equally intriguing man enters the picture and I don't know which thrilled me more. Well, maybe Andrew gets my vote as most thrilling. :-) He's interested, she's not, they both have complicated lives...the perfect foundation to start a lasting relationship, right? Plus Adam is a dog person. You can't go wrong with a hero who has a dog.

The suspense builds from seemingly unrelated incidents and I love the way the author pulls all the pieces together. Slow, deliberate, evenly paced 'aha' moments until the frantic breakneck speed to the finish line! Kept me glued to the page, anxious to figure it all out.

A great cast of secondary characters -- particularly some up and coming lawyer friends of Hayden's -- bring depth to the story. Loved Emilie, Andrew's cousin and Hayden's roommate, and am excited because the next book in the Hidden Justice series is about her -- look for Imperfect Justice in December. I will be!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beyond Justice, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooCA. 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 October 29 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Lone Star Christmas Rescue

GIVEAWAY

DALEY, MARGARET
LONE STAR CHRISTMAS RESCUE

Identity unknown

A baby's frantic cries lead Texas Ranger Drake Jackson to an injured woman in Big Bend Park, the infant by her side. But "Kay" has no idea who she is or what happened. All she seems sure of is that she's in terrible danger. When someone comes after her -- determined to snatch the child -- Drake takes her and little Kaleb to his family's ranch to protect them. But with the attackers circling closer as Christmas approaches, the guarded ranger knows they won't be safe there for long. Vowing to uncover her identity and catch her attacker, Drake plans to give mother and child the holiday they deserve...safe by his side forever.

Lone Star Justice: Lawmen protecting Texas -- and falling in love

My Review:

Wait a sec...I'm still catching my breath. Gripping. Compelling. The kind of plot that has you puzzling right along with the characters. Daley knows how to keep her readers in suspense and turning pages late into the night. I finally turned the lights off when I started going cross-eyed with fatigue only to wake up at 2:30 in the morning ready to start reading again! So definitely the kind of story that grabs you and holds you hostage until everything gets sorted out.

And there's a lot to sort out. It about drove me crazy trying to figure out Kay's story. Amnesia has left her a blank slate. Oh, she gets glimmers of the past now and then but not enough to help us with the mystery. I honestly think I was more frustrated than she was over her loss of memory and that's saying something. I kept rehearsing scenarios in my mind, playing them out, trying to figure out which was the most likely. I love getting that involved in story! Especially a suspense. And Daley draws this one out with painstaking precision. Brilliantly executed.

Then there's Drake. I can feel the heart palpitations just thinking about him. He's got the whole hero thing down-pat. Dedicated to his job because he cares about protecting the innocent. Earnest and kind and totally intrigued by Kay and the mystery surrounding her. These two draw closer as danger amps and they struggle to find answers. The light Christmas theme adds some extra pizzazz to an already captivating romantic suspense. Seriously people, read this one. Soon.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lone Star Christmas Rescue, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 October 29 2017. Offer opent to International Readers. Good luck.

The Thing with Feathers

GIVEAWAY

HOYLE, MCCALL
THE THING WITH FEATHERS

Emilie Day believes in playing it safe: she's homeschooled, her best friend is her seizure doge, and she's probably the only girl on the Outer Banks of North Carolina who can't swim.

Then Emilie's mom enrolls her in public school, and Emilie goes from studying at home in her pj's to halls full of strangers. To make matters worse, Emilie is paired with starting point guard Chatham York for a major research project on Emily Dickinson. She should be thrilled when Chatham shows interest, but she has a problem: she hasn't told anyone about her epilepsy.

Emilie lives in fear her recently adjusted meds will fail and she'll seize at school. Eventually, the worst happens, and she must decide whether to withdraw to safety or follow a dead poet's advice and "dwell in possibility."

My Review:

An enthralling story of recovering from loss and finding the courage to accept new challenges. And Emilie doesn't always do it gracefully but there is such exhilarating hope in her story.

I can totally relate to Emilie because I struggle with change too and have had periods in my life where I've been sure that I'm the only one with problems -- that everyone else is leading a perfect life. I loved being a part of Emilie's awakening -- not only in coming to grips with who she is and how she can relate with the larger world, but in her growing awareness of the people in that world. Of their individual struggles and challenges.

Emilie has a great 'voice', punctuated with humour and drama and plenty of teenage angst. The opening line sets the stage perfectly: "My mother lost her mind today, and I'm going to prison."  That prison is high school and Emilie is suddenly thrust into a world she has been hiding from for years. I lived every awkward, terrifying, exciting and ultimately triumphant moment right along with her. Budding friendships, first love and the joy of finding a place where you can grow and thrive and make a difference -- all the stuff that makes for a fascinating story. Not to mention my hero, Hitch, seizure dog extraordinaire who has never met a stranger. An inspiring debut novel that will delight YA and older readers alike.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Thing with Feathers, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 October 29 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Total Christmas Makeover (Review) + Reader's Choice Giveaway of a Christian Fiction Christmas novel published in 2017

Today I'm reviewing a truly awesome little book of Christmas devotions so I thought it would be fun to do another Reader's Choice Giveaway -- this time for a Christmas novel (Christian Fiction) published in 2017. Scroll down to the GIVEAWAY graphic to see info about the giveaway.

SPOELSTRA, MELISSA
TOTAL CHRISTMAS MAKEOVER : 31 DEVOTIONS TO CELEBRATE WITH A PURPOSE

Give your Christmas makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.

In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it's important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ's birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.

In Total Christmas Makeover : 31 Devotions to Celebrate with a Purpose, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra presents key scriptures, practical ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection that help you grow in faith while spending daily time focusing on God's Word and grace. The 31-day devotional guides individuals and families in rediscovering Rituals and how to reflect on God in the midst of them, Relationships and our call to love and serve others, and Rest, which we must intentionally pursue in order to connect more deeply with Christ during the holiday season.

My Review:

An awesome little book that is both user friendly and thought-provoking and quite possibly life-changing for those feeling overwhelmed by all that bustle of the season. The author asks a pretty probing question at the beginning of the book: "Do you find that you too have been caught up in the 'have-to's instead of the God-centered-love-to's?" (p.2) She's referencing the way we celebrate Christmas and how easy it is to get caught in the trap of activities and shopping and insane busyness.

I love how she approaches the biblical example of celebration which involves Ritual, Relationship and Rest.That last one is probably the trickiest to embrace during the holiday season! This devotional is the perfect guide to help readers bring a new, refreshing perspective -- and it releases early enough to actual read it before the craziness begins!

I also love the Questions for Reflections and A Practical Approach sections at the end of each devotional. They made a world of difference for me as they helped me distinguish my love-to's from my have-to's and identify practical ways to keep my focus on Jesus this season. Tons of creative ideas for any type of family including single, senior and empty nester households. If you're looking for A Total Christmas Makeover consider this book as the first step.

Book provided courtesy of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Group.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/MSpoelstra

GIVEAWAY

Winner's Choice of any Christmas novel (Christian Fiction) released in 2017.

State the title and author of the book you want to win in the comment section.

-- up to 3 suggestions per person

BUT

each title/author must be in a separate comment

(makes it easier to tally)

Books must be categorized as both Christmas and Christian Fiction

Remember to add your email address in one of your comments (don't need to do it each time) but use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers

Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 29 2017

Offer open to International Readers

October Giveaway - Week Four

won by Marian Baay

won by Nancy M.

won by Terrill

won by Patty

won by Becky Smith

won by Trixi

As always, I will contact the winners by email (if one has been provided), however, thanks to the nefarious ways of the Internet, my email my 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 to kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. From time to time a winner and I don't seem to connect so I have a one month time frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

PLUS MONDAY WILL BE ANOTHER READER'S CHOICE GIVEAWAY DAY -- THIS TIME FEATURING ANY CHRISTMAS NOVEL (CHRISTIAN FICTION) PUBLISHED IN 2017

Sketchy Behavior

GIVEAWAY

MANGUM, ERYNN
SKETCHY BEHAVIOR

Other than harboring a somewhat obsessive fondness for Crispix and completely swearing off boys after a bad date (don't ask), sixteen-year-old Kate Carter is about as ordinary as they come, except for her two notable talents: art and sarcasm. After an introduction to forensic sketching in her elective art class, Kate discovers a third and most unexpected gift: criminal profiling. Her photo-quality sketch helps the police catch a wanted murderer and earns her celebrity status in South Woodhaven Falls. But when that murderer appears to be using his friends to exact revenge. Kate goes from local hero to possible target. Will she manage to survive? Will life ever be normal again? And will local news anchor Ted Deffle ever stop sending her flowers?

My Review:

published in 2011
My thanks to my public library for keeping me piled high with excellent retro reads.

Another brilliant Young Adult novel told from the delightful (and sarcastic) first person point of view of Kate Carter. Her inner dialogue is so much fun to read. Especially the observations of her parents -- a scientific oriented engineer father and 'get-in-touch-with-your-feelings' psychiatrist mother. Such a hoot! And when she begins attending church -- oh my goodness -- the things we take for granted seem so odd from her fresh perspective. Definitely kept me chuckling.

But then there's this uncanny gift that Kate has. The ability to draw a photo-like-portrait based entirely on description. It's a talent that catches a killer and suddenly Kate is in the limelight...and in the crosshairs of one ticked-off murderer. And suddenly Kate's predictably boring life is anything but! I couldn't put Sketchy Behavior down. A fun, fast and engaging read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sketchy Behavior, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment be sure 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 October 22 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

A Child's Christmas Wish

GIVEAWAY

VETSCH, ERICA
A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS WISH

A baby for Christmas

The only Christmas gift Oscar Rabb's four-year-old daughter prays for is one the widower can't provide: a baby sibling. And when his neighbour's house burns down, he's willing to open his home to pregnant and widowed Kate Amaker and her in-laws -- but not his heart. Even if his little girl's convinced Kate's unborn child is the answer to her wish.

Kate quickly sees the generous but aloof Oscar has little interest in growing closer to his houseguests. Still, she intends to make the coming Christmas a season to remember for his daughter. And as Oscar starts to open up to her, Kate can't help picturing just how wonderful the holiday -- and a future together -- might be.

My Review:

A heartwarming Christmas story destined to become a traditional favourite.

I adore the way Erica Vetsch includes historical details that make me feel like I'm right there smack in the middle of the story. I think I might just be able to make cheese now -- at least the old-fashioned way. The author has created a little bit of Switzerland in the wilds of Minnesota, including some delightful Christmas traditions.

Take one reclusive widower with a heart-stopping adorable four-year-old daughter and thrust him completely out of his comfort zone when he's compelled to provide shelter for  his stranded neighbours. Watching Oscar slowly unbend as Kate and her in-laws transform his solitary life into a buzz of activity was pure reader delight.

A hope-filled story that definitely belongs on the discerning reader's Christmas reading list.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Child's Christmas Wish, leave a comment below or email me 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 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 October 22 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Planting Hope

GIVEAWAY

ANDERSON, BRENDA S.
PLANTING HOPE

When flowers and chocolate collide, romance is sure to bloom.

Family has always been the one constant in Jess Beaumont's messy life, so when her parents separate, she puts "Operation: Planting Hope" into action. All she has to do is recreate the circumstances that helped her parents fall in love. Unfortunately, that includes the daunting task of restoring the family's cabin's gardens. When the handsome candy store owner shows up to help, she's certain she has all the elements required for her parent's love to bloom again. After all, flowers and chocolate are the perfct ingredients for romance.

Luke Harrison has spent his life trying to win his father's approval, and a promotion in the family land development business would be a step in that direction. But when he inherits Gran's candy store, his dreams of being promoted start melting away. Then his dad dangles a vice president position in front of Luke, with one caveat -- acquire the land on both sides of Gran's store within five months, including the Beaumont cabin, and the promotion is his.

What at first seemed a simple challenge for Luke becomes a tangled mess. Buying the Beaumont cabin and land will nip his blossoming romance with Jess in the bud. Even worse, it could end her parents' marriage. But if he doesn't succeed, he could be trading in his corner office for the corner candy store.

My Review:

Warning: this book may cause extreme chocolate cravings so have plenty on hand before you start to read!

Family dynamics are at the heart of this contemporary love story as Anderson explores the power we hold over the people we love. Honestly, there are a few characters I wanted to smack up side the head in a fit of seething fury. Not the hero or heroine though. They were delightful fun -- as in cue the teasing banter and dust off the fainting couch 'cause the sparks fly fast and furious every time Luke and Jess get together.

But they seem to be on a collision course for disaster thanks to the pressures put on them by both their families. These are real people with real problems -- the kind that seem insurmountable without the hope God can bring to any situation.

One of the best takeaway quotes from the book: "You can't change the past, but you can impact the future ".(p 87) Luke and Jess set out to do just that and the result is a funny, angsty, and ultimately hopeful love story.

Of note: This is the third book in Brenda S. Anderson's Where the Heart Is romance series but it reads beautifully as a standalone. However, fans of the second book, Capturing Beauty, will be thrilled to catch up with Callie and Haven in Planting Hope.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Planting Hope, 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 . 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 October 22 2017. Offer open International Readers. Good luck.

Cowboy's Christmas Guardian

GIVEAWAY

MENTINK, DANA
COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS GUARDIAN

Under the rancher's protection

Someone is dead set on stopping Shelby Arroyo from doing her job: assessing mineral rights in a mine in gold country. But after rancher Barrett Thorn rescues her from an attack, the handsome widowed cowboy seems to feel responsible for her. That is, until he discovers she's from the family that he'll never forgive for his wife's death.

As the threats against Shelby escalate, cowboy honor and an unexpected attraction keep Barrett by her side, even at his own risk. And since Shelby won't back down, Barrett must protect the brave, loyal woman he has no business falling for...a woman someone wants to kill by Christmas.

Gold Country Cowboys: The code of the West rules the land for these men

My Review:

Significant to note -- Barrett has brothers and this will become an important fact you'll want to remember after you've read this novel. Because it's so sublimely good you'll want all the Thorn men to have their own story and since this is the first book in the Gold Country Cowboys series, I think the author is going to indulge us. I'm getting a thrill of shivers just contemplating that. Honor bound cowboys genetically programmed to fight for truth and protect damsels in distress. Yes please! Bring 'em on!!

So, Barrett's all that and more. A grieving widower who has had four long years to come to grips with the death of his wife. He's moving on -- but not past -- the tragedy. Bitterness has taken hold and that makes for major fireworks when he discovers who Shelby is. But that doesn't stop him from watching out for her. Reluctantly -- which makes it all the more noble.

And Shelby definitely needs protection. She's in desperate danger from the moment we first meet her right through to the breathtaking conclusion. Fasten your seatbelts because this is one wild and scary ride. Hair raising good stuff. And the romance? It'll toe-curl with the best of them. Awesome start to a thrilling new series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cowboy's Christmas Guardian, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an 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 October 22 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Freedom's Price

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, CHRISTINE
FREEDOM'S PRICE

Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first step forward

When Englishwoman Catherine Haynes loses both her father and her home in 1856, she decides to cross the Atlantic to find her American mother's family in Louisiana. She enlists the help of Tom Worthington, a dashing Key West man who makes his living salvaging wrecked ships.

When Catherine arrives at the plantation, she finds that her family has left it in the care of a manager -- who's let if fall into disrepair. Torn between returning to Key West with Tom and beginning the hard work of restoring the plantation. Catherine soon finds herself snared in a plot to steal her inheritance. When an incredible secret comes to light, both she and Tom will face a choice: grip their dreams ever tighter or step forward in faith -- even if it costs them everything.

My Review:

Captivating and enthralling and all things scrumptiously good. And...squuueallll...there's a definite Gothic vibe to this historical romance. Sent chills up my spine in places. A derelict plantation with all kind of mysteries. Darkly sinister. An unprotected young woman trying to make connections with her past. And a truly despicable villain. Thankfully he is countered by the most gallant of heroes.

Tom Worthington. Be still my heart. Noble and daring and tormented by his past. I do so love a conflicted hero. Fireworks spark the first time he meets Catherine and she leads him on a merry chase. Impulsive and independent and determined to make a new life among her mother's people. Only it all goes horribly wrong. A real nail-biting page-turner with plenty of swoonworthy moments peppered throughout. A delicious conclusion to the Keys of Promise series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Freedom's Price, leave a comment below or email me 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 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 October 22 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

KJV Know the Word Study Bible (Review) + Biblical Fiction Giveaway

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the release of the KJV Know the Word Study Bible I'm hosting a different kind of giveaway today. I'll be reviewing this study bible BUT I'll be doing a giveaway of any Biblical Fiction novel. Check out the details further down in this post -- look for the red lettering! But first my review of:

I'm a stick-in-the-mud bible reader. Once I find one I like I'm not keen on switching to another, never mind that the actual scripture is the same. It's all the extras that sell me on a particular version and the proclamation on this KJV Know the Word Study Bible -- "Gain a greater understanding of the bible, book by book, verse by verse, topic by topic" intrigued me so I thought I'd give it a try and am I ever glad I did!

First off, all the extra content in this study bible is super reader-friendly. No quaking in my boots with dictionary in hand trying to figure out what some scholar has to say about Paul. Plain and simple is the way I like it and that's just what this bible delivers.

True confession. I've only read the bible cover to cover once and that was more about being able to brag  that I did (I was young and foolish) than about seeking a deeper understanding. I'm older and wiser now but I haven't attempted another cover-to-cover reading. I've been content to meander around the various books in the bible on a whim or in pursuit of information on a certain subject. So, naturally, I thought the topic-by-topic feature offered in the KJV Know the Word Study Bible  would hold the greatest appeal.

Guess what? I was totally wrong! I am actually over-the-moon crazy about the book-to-book feature! And I can seriously see myself reading the bible cover to cover again, only this time getting a whole lot more out of it! And that's because the authors have made scripture so much more approachable. Lots of plain speak and valuable context and bringing scripture to life in a new way.

So, it works like this. Each book starts with a brief (like 2 or 3 sentences) summary so you can get your bearings. Then there's a Study the Book Highlights insert which simply lists the important scriptures in that book. So in 1st Timothy it's "Paul warns against false teachers (1:3-15)" and "Guard your heart against greed (6:6-10)" And yes, I had this wicked thought -- if you wanted to cheat you could just skip to those sections -- egads, did I just say that out loud?  Yes, I did, and what's worse I meant it. :-)

Now when you get to one of those highlight scriptures there's another Study the Book insert that explains in more detail, bringing more insight than if you just read a few lines of verse. I guess what I like the most about this study bible's approach is that it makes me think. I can't just skim a verse and call it a day. There so much more that beckons to me. Entices me to stay awhile. Ponder more deeply. And it's all delivered in digestible doses that make me feel like I just might have the potential to become a biblical scholar some day after all.

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

http://litfusegroup.com/author/TNelson

The Giveaway Details: 

Winner's Choice of ANY Biblical Fiction novel (Christian Fiction). Here's how it works:

State the title and the author of the book you want to win in the comment section. 

-- up to 3 different suggestions per person 

BUT 

each title/author must be in a separate comment 

(makes it easier to tally.) 

Books must be categorized as both Biblical and Christian Fiction.

Remember to add your email address in one of your comments (don't need to do it each time) but use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Sunday October 22 2017.

Offer open to International Readers

October Giveaway - Week Three

WON BY CHANEL M.

WON BY DIANA FLOWERS

WON BY LISA EDGE

WON BY BECKY

WON BY MINDY H.

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY ELLY

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

As always, I will contact the winners by email (if one has been provided), 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  one month time to frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win with be forfeited. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

PLUS YOUR CHOICE OF A BIBLICAL FICTION TITLE PUBLISHED IN 2017