An Amish Cradle

GIVEAWAY

WISEMAN, BETH
CLIPSTON, AMY
FULLER, KATHLEEN
CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
AN AMISH CRADLE

Tiny fingers, tiny toes, and lives that will never be the same. Journey with four families as their lives are about to change forever.

In His Father's Arms by Beth Wiseman -- Ruth Anne has been dreaming about motherhood her entire life. Now she is doubly excited that she and her best friend are due with their children the same week. But when Ruth Anne's baby is born with Down syndrome, she and her husband struggle to understand God's plan.

A Son for Always by Amy Clipston -- Carolyn and Joshua are thrilled to be pregnant with their first child together. Carolyn was just a teenager when she had her son, Benjamin, and she still feels solely responsible to secure his future. As Joshua watches Carolyn struggle to accept his support, he knows he has to find some way to convince her that she -- and Ben -- will always be taken care of.

A Heart Full of Love by Kathleen Fuller -- Ellie's mother hasn't stopped meddling in her personal life since Ellie lost her sight -- and she's taken it up a notch now that Ellie's pregnant. When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother insists on moving in to care for them. But when her mother's behavior becomes unbearable, Ellie is forced to take a stand...and finally find out why Mamm can't let go.

An Unexpected Blessing by Vannetta Chapman -- At 42, Etta thought she was finished having children, but she's pregnant again. After a frightening labor, Etta finally gives birth, but her constant worry over her estranged grown son, David, haunts her still. As a new mother again, Etta must hold tightly to the promise that God will watch over her children -- and that one day David will return.

My Review:

Published in 2015
As always, I am grateful to my public library for keeping me in retro reads!

What a captivating collection by some favourite Amish fiction authors! Amazing how you can give four authors a theme like new motherhood and they come up with four amazingly distinct stories! I'm not sure I can pick a favourite but I really liked the way this collection is bookended by nineteen-year-old first-time mom, Ruth Anne's challenging story about coping with the additional stress of giving birth to a Down syndrome baby and 42 year-old Etta's surprise addition to her nearly grown family. And, of course, the two novellas sandwiched in between are just as good. A heartwarming collection that celebrates the unexpected challenges and abundant joy families bring to our lives.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Cradle, 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 . so it's easy to spot your entry. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Fatal Recall

GIVEAWAY

POST, CAROL J.
FATAL RECALL

Amnesia stole her memory -- a killer wants her dead.

When Paige Tatem loses her memory, she knows just two things: she has a target on her back, and police officer Tanner Brody is the only man she trusts to protect her. As they piece together her past, Tanner wonders what lies hidden in Paige's mind. And as the truth begins to emerge, it becomes clear that a ruthless enemy wants certain secrets to stay buried.

My Review:

And just when you think you've read every likely amnesia story an author comes along and surprises you with a new twist.This heart-stopping, breath-snatching suspense kept me committed to seeing Paige and Tanner through to their happily-ever-after.

The sinister opening line piqued my curiosity --  "The sharp crack of gunfire split the silence." and I kept collecting questions with every page turn. Post takes her time when it comes to revelations -- especially about Paige and her history. It about drove me crazy waiting to piece all the bits of the puzzle together and when I did I was blown away. What impeccable mystery building talent this author has! And the romance thread is just as strong. The perfect edge-of-your-seater for the armchair sleuth who enjoys plenty of action and a lots of suspense. Not to mention toe-curling romance. Fatal Recall has it all -- including a very appropriate (and immensely clever) title.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fatal Recall, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Words from the Heart

GIVEAWAY

FULLER, KATHLEEN
WORDS FROM THE HEART

Her fingertips brushed against something else in the box of doilies. She lifted a bundle of letters, neatly tied with a thin red ribbon.

Ivy Yoder hasn't heard from John King in over a year. She knows it's time to let go of the idea that they will one day marry, but it means she'll be one of the oldest single women in her Amish community of Birch Creek. When quirky Cevilla Schlabach asks her to help clean out an attic, Ivy gratefully agrees to the distraction.

Noah Schlabach isn't from Birch Creek or even Ohio. His job as an auctioneer takes him around the country and away from a typical Amish life, but he still remains devoted to his family. So when his aging aunt asks him to help clean out her attic, he agrees. Plus, who knows what curious itmes he might find up there?

As Noah and Ivy work side by side, they come across a different kind of treasure: a packet of letters written during the Korean War. Soon they are swept up in the story of two young people falling in love -- even as they remain determined not to fall in love themselves.

Words from the Heart is a moving story of lost love letters, fragile fears, and the beauty of taking another step forward.

My Review:

A sweet, gentle love story with unexpected twists that had me doing a double take. The author seriously surprised me! And because of that, writing a review is kind of tricky because I don't want to let any cats out of any bags. :-)

Fuller has created some intriguing characters -- the kind of folks you'd want as neighbours and friends. Aenti Cevilla is a hoot! Sweetly sly but not very subtle about sums her up. But she's also a woman of mystery. And I like the way Noah and Ivy take her matchmaking digs in stride. You can't help but love Cevilla no matter how outlandish she behaves!

In many ways Noah and Ivy are opposites. He's tall, she's short. He's a traveler, she's a homebody. Ivy longs for a husband and family. Noah can't see how family life could fit into his nomadic lifestyle. So they are both good with just being friends...or so they tell themselves. But friendship has a way of deepening even though romance doesn't come easy.

Not with so many challenges and obstacles stacked in their way! Not the least of which is their own fear. Noah because he suddenly can't envision what his future might hold and Ivy because, having been badly hurt once, she's wary of venturing into the unknown. Oh, but these two could be infuriating! I wanted to shake them and hug them and shake them again!

And then there's the letters, deliciously tying past and present together to create a hope for the future -- if Noah and Ivy only have the courage to grab onto it!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Words from the Heart, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Vanished in the Night

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
VANISHED IN THE NIGHT

Someone is after her and her baby...Danger returns to Wrangler's Corner

After saving Kaylee Martin from abduction and delivering her baby boy on the side of the road, Dr. Joshua Crawford can't get them out of his mind. Unfortunately, neither can Kaylee's violent stalker. He'll stop at nothing to get to the new mom and her child. Can Joshua keep them safe so they can become the family he's dreamed about?

My Review:

Reader Beware: Don't let your guard down for a minute! 'It ain't over 'til it's over' definitely applies to this gripping, eye-ball tripping, hold-your-breath-until-your-turn-blue romantic suspense. Phew! I have reader whiplash!

What a crazy unique way for Kaylee and Joshua to meet! I don't think I've read anything quite like it. The frantic energy just leaps off the page...and doesn't let up. Eason expertly draws the tension chapter after chapter. If I wasn't on edge over the creepy stalker angle I was having heart-palpitations over the romance. Love the way this author finds the perfect balance between both. And there's a lovely inspirational thread about stepping out in faith - taking risks and trusting God. Pretty much everything you could want in a romantic suspense -- the only way to improve Vanished in the Night would be to make it longer. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Vanished in the Night, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hurricane Season

GIVEAWAY

DENTON, LAUREN K.
HURRICANE SEASON

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their dream for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm's day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for "just two week," Betsy's carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world -- and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she's made back home as a single mom.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decidion that will change her family's future, eve as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm and their hearts. Hurricane Season is the story of one family's unconventional journey to healing -- and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

My Review:

An emotionally-charged, character-driven glimpse into the complicated dynamics of sisterly love. Denton's voice is rich and sweet and carefully measured. Her words flow so beautifully that it's easy to become immersed in the story with all your senses. I think I might have even come away from this read sporting a southern drawl! If this is what Southern Fiction is like, I want more of it!

This is family at it's best...and worst...as past collides with present and futures hang in the balance. Sisters at odds but also fiercely protective of one another. Free-spirited Jenna is the wild child. Betsy is the reliable older sister. Their roles have been defined since childhood, shaped by dysfunction.

Now Jenna is an unplanned single mom while married Betsy's happily-ever-after has been redefined under the looming shadow of infertility. It's a formula for the perfect storm. Emotions are raw, dreams conflicted as these two sisters struggle to find their place in their new realities.

Tender and touching and funny -- Jenna's girls are a riot! -- and ultimately triumphant.

Please note: I have not categorized Hurricane Season as a Christian Fiction selection even though the publisher is Thomas Nelson. Really disappointing, but sadly predictable since more and more of this publisher's fiction has strayed from being faith-based. It is a beautifully written, moving story and a clean read. Just no inspirational thread.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hurricane Season, please 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 the titel to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hometown Girl

GIVEAWAY

WALSH, COURTNEY
HOMETOWN GIRL

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Courtney Walsh returns with a hopeful and emotional new book about seizing second chances, finding yourself, and forging your own path.

Beth Whitaker isn't supposed to be a small-town girl. She's always dreamed of leaving Willow Grove, Illinois, for the bi city, but she feels trapped, struggling to make up for a mistake that's haunted her for years. Just when Beth is finally ready to break free, her sister impulsively buys a beloved but run-down farm on the outskirts of town, and she begs Beth to help with the restoration. Reluctantly, Beth agrees to help -- and puts her own dreams on hold once again.

Drew Barlow hasn't been back to Fairwind Farm since he was a boy, and he's spent all these years trying to outrun the pain of a past he thought he buried long ago. When he learns that the owner has passed away, his heart knows it's finally time to do the right thing. Returning to Willow Grove, Drew revisits the old farm, where he attempts to piece together his memories and the puzzle of the crime he witnessed so long ago.

Both on a journey to find peace, Beth and Drew are surprised when they begin to experience a restoration of their own. But when long-buried secrets break through the soil and the truth unfurls, will it threaten their budding relationship -- and the very future of the farm?

My Review:

"I'm saying if you do what you were made to do, then you'll find the peace you've been looking for. You can't work for it, you know. You just have to rest in it." (p 279)

A tumultuous quest for peace is at the heart of Hometown Girl and this quote really settled into my heart. Love that last line -- "You just have to rest in it." And isn't that hard? It shouldn't be, but it is. Especially for this hero and heroine.

Beth is...well, complicated. And, honestly, I didn't connect with her at first. In fact, I found her downright annoying. I was much more of a Molly fan (her effervescent younger sister.) I was ear-to-ear grinning whenever Molly showed up in a scene and I'm hoping we get her story someday! (Though I don't see any indication that Hometown Girl is part of a series. A reader can hope, can't she?)

But I digress -- back to Beth, who isn't nearly as fun as Molly but we all can't be pie-in-the-sky kind of people, can we? Some of us need to be pragmatic and hardworking and dependable. Not bad qualities to have but boring without a whimsical balance of...something! And Beth is steeped in dour when we first meet. She is such a tightly-wound worrier that my stomach was in knots whenever Walsh took us into her point of view.

But that's the beauty of this story...it's the magic that happens as, in spite of herself, Beth begins to loosen up. When she does, she's finally able to 'let go and let God' and it's such an ecstatically freeing feeling that I was floating in giddy spirals right along with her! Powerful lessons here and so true to life!

And then there's Drew. I fell for him in a nanosecond -- maybe even faster. Cowboy with a tortured soul and an affinity for animals. Need I say more?  He's stuck in the past, unable to get over a traumatic event from his childhood.

So we have two rather lost souls who might still be floundering without the lively and loving input of Willow Grove's citizens. Friends, family, animals -- even a dilapidated old farm -- conspire to ease a way to the kind of happily-ever-after that I adore. I particularly love Birdie -- a sage, quirky eccentric who isn't afraid to speak the truth. We all need a Birdie in our lives to keep us humble. :-)

An emotional romance (that's sure to kick your air-conditioner into overdrive in a few places!) paired with a decades old mystery and the zany warmth that is small-town living make Hometown Girl one for the Keeper Shelf!

PS Cutest cover ever! And I want those boots!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hometown Girl, leave a comment below or email me at kavlvustreadATyahooDOTca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY WENDY NEWCOMB

WON BY MELISSA OLDAKER

WON BY CAITLIN MCCUTCHEON

WON BY WINNIE THOMAS

WON LADY SNOW ANGEL

WON BY PERRIANNE ASKEW

I'll contact the winners IF they left their email address. Otherwise it's 
up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your mailing address. If I can't connect with a winner within a month, the win will be forfeited. Books are usually sent out within a week of receiving the winner's address but give it a month before making inquiries about delivery to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAY:

Betrayal

GIVEAWAY

HATCHER, ROBIN LEE
BETRAYAL

Can two wounded hearts find a way to trust again?

Julia Grace has no desire to enter into another marriage. But with her dead husband's half brother threatening to take away her Wyoming ranch, Julia realizes marriage may be the only way to keep what is rightfully hers.

A man well acquainted with betrayal, drifter Hugh Brennan finds himself drawn to the attractive widow. Yet when he looks into Julia's eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him.

A thoughtful romance from the turn of the twentieth century, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the souls of two seekers learning to trust God's love no matter the circumstances.

My Review:

published in 2012
My thanks to my public library for keeping me in retro reads like this!

Yes -- my second Robin Lee Hatcher book this week! Between trying to keep current with her new releases and catch up on her backlist, well, I'll be a busy reader for some time to come! And enjoy every moment of it too!

This is book two in Where the Heart Lives series. I read and reviewed the third book a few weeks ago and had no trouble working backwards as each book reads as a standalone though I love the thread that links these stories together -- siblings separated on the orphan train.

"Wounded hearts" is an apt description for this hero and heroine. Both have tasted the bitterness of betrayal and, as a result, have become wary loners. But they need each other now -- maybe Julia more than Hugh at first. Because a woman trying to run a ranch -- even a small one -- on her own is asking for trouble! And Hatcher happily supplies that in abundance. Like any good Western, Betrayal has a nefarious villain who causes no end of problems and I found myself gritting my teeth as I anticipated what would happen next. Oh -- and there's a spectacular dog -- appropriately named Bandit and he made this read all the sweeter. :-)

Another captivating love story with lots of grit and faith from an incredible author.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Betrayal, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadAT yahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT nd DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hometown Reunion

GIVEAWAY

CARTER, LISA
HOMETOWN REUNION

A single dad starting over. Is this his second chance at love?

Widowed former Green Beret Jaxon Pruitt comes home to face his toughest battle: reconnecting with his toddler son. He also makes an unwitting enemy of childhood friend Darcy Parks when he takes over the kayak shop Darcy hoped to buy! For little Brody's sake, she'll stay until summer's end. But could a growing connection turn their temporary truce into an unexpected forever?

My Review:

Blissful sigh...I'll never think about lightning bugs in the same way again after reading Hometown Reunion. Sometimes it's those simple, precious scenes that touch this seasoned reader's heart the most. Lucky for me, Lisa Carter excels at those kind of story moments.

My heart's a ball of moosh right now -- not only over Jax but over his son as well. I think Brody wins the most adorable kid ever in a contemporary romance award! Poor little guy is adjusting to the stranger-that-is-actually-his-father taking charge of his young life. Jax wasn't an absentee father due to neglect though -- he was overseas serving his country. His story helped me understand the depth of sacrifices soldiers and their families make. I am truly humbled.

So Jax has missed out on a lot of his almost 'thwee' year-old son's life and it's a hard adjustment for both of them. Heading home to Kiptohanock to raise Brody among family and friends makes sense -- and also provides a buffer between this single dad and his toddler son. "As a former Green Beret, he'd always known what to do on any given mission, but Jax didn't know how to fix things with the son he barely knew." (p 7)

Watching this big, tough guy blunder his way into his role as full-time father is sheer heaven. It's funny and heart-tugging and sigh-worthy-sweet all on it's own but when Darcy is added to the mix -- oh-la-la -- toe-curling times are ahead! They have a history as friends...and were almost, maybe sorta on the verge of something more but Jax went off to boot camp and that was that. Sparks fly the first time they meet up and I couldn't get enough of these two (well, three if you count Brody.) They sent me into full romantical reader delirium!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hometown Reunion by Lisa Carter, 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. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 17 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

You're Gonna Love Me

GIVEAWAY

HATCHER, ROBIN LEE
YOU'RE GONNA LOVE ME

Who knew fate could twist a tragedy into a second chance at love?

Samantha Winters lives her life the way a good accountant should -- measured, deliberate and safe. After watching her father die in a tragic skiing accident, she decided never to allow risk into her life again. But she didn't count on falling for Nick Chastain, who embodies everything she doesn't want in her safely constructed world.

Against Samantha's warnings, Nick plans a dangerous kayaking trip over spring break. Furious that he's so careless with his life, she ends their fledgling relationship with harsh words.

Two years later, Samantha is desperately in need of a change. When she learns her grandmother has had an accident and is in need of a caretaker, Samantha quickly packs her bags and heads to Thunder Creek, Idaho. But nothing could prepare her for the surprise awaiting her in her grandmother's hospital room...Nick.

With the charming backdrop fo small-town friends, beloved cousins, and a whole church congregation rooting for them, can they set aside the disatrous ending of their first try at love? Has Nick changed enough to meet Samantha in the middle -- and can she realize that a risk in love might be worth taking?

My Review:

"None of us knows what the future holds. Much of what happens in life will never make sense to our mortal minds. But nothing is random or by accident. Our God still reigns, and He still has a plan for every one of us." (p 143)

I adore Gran! Love her wisdom and her patience and the way she opens her heart to everyone. She lives her faith, even as she sweetly conspires to see her granddaughter into a happily-ever-after. Gran and her friends may be secondary characters but their support is pivotal to the story. Love how Hatcher writes 'real' -- makes you feel like you are stepping into an actual town with the kind of folks you'd want for neighbours and friends.

Sam comes home to help her grandma, but the tables are turned when Gran helps her work her way through some crippling life choices. Because Sam lives in fear. She holds on to it and nurtures it to the point she hardly has a life at all. Such a contrast to Zach who lives loud and exuberantly...or he did until circumstances changed. Now he carries around his own fears, different from Sam's but just as incapacitating. Theirs is a moving second-chance love story and it doesn't come easy! Their struggles are relatable and there were times my faith in the outcome actually wavered. Because fear can be a bully that's hard to stand up to. Loved the faith aspect in this book as much as I did the romance!

And fans of the Thunder Creek series (this is book two) will be thrilled over the page time Derek and Brooklyn (You'll Think of Me) get in this one. Mind you, don't despair if you haven't read the first book because You're Gonna Love Me reads fine as a standalone (but I bet you won't be able to resist getting the first book after you read this one!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of You're Gonna Love Me, 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. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Dying to Remember

GIVEAWAY

PARKER, SARA K.
DYING TO REMEMBER

Her missing memories could expose a killer.

After a gunshot wound to the head, Ella Camden turns to the only man she knows will believe she's being targeted, ex-love and security expert Roman DeHart. Trouble is, amnesia keeps her from remebering why someone might be after her. Roman let her go once. This time he'll do whatever it takes to make sure she stays alive -- and his -- forever.

My Review:

Eeep Alert! This is a suspense that generates unnatural bibliophile shrieks of reader joy so apologies for any shattered eardrums. Super enthralling and edgy and kind of hair-raising, but not in the usual sense. It's more a subtle, mess-with-your-mind kind of creepy. Paired with blatant murder attempts and...well, let's just say I read it all in one sitting.

And I guess I wouldn't be doing my due diligence if I didn't issue a Swoon Alert as well. Roman DeHart is all that is sublime in a romantic suspense hero. Driven by a tragedy in his past, he's created Shield Protection where security specialists like himself do everything in their power to protect desperate clients who require their unique services. People like Ella. (insert a second chance love story mini squeal here.)

Roman is an appealing contrast of tough and caring. His relentless pursuit of the truth, his desire to believe Ella when no one else will, the deeply buried longing that breaks through the surface at the most inopportune times...Phew! The stuff curled toes are made of. BUT what really captured my heart is that he is a man of faith. There's this one scene...so unexpected and endearing and spiritually powerful...well, I fell head-over-heels.

Dying to Remember (clever title tie-in, by the way) isn't marked as a series, but I think it might just be the first book in one. Parker has introduced her readers to some intriguing security specialists and I simply have to know their stories so there better be more books!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win Dying to Remember, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 17 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

The View from Rainshadow Bay

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY

Her photographs capture the beauty of Puget Sound. Do they also expose a darkness that someone would kill to keep buried?

After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing accident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has.

When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she's in danger too. But where can she turn?  Zach Bannister was her husband's best friend and is the person she blames for his death.She's barely spoken to Zach since. But right now he seems to be her only hope for protecting her son.

Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack's death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna's childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden.

In The View from Raindshadow Bay, suspense, danger, and a longing to love again ignite amidst the gorgeous lavender fields of Washington State.

My Review:

There's nothing like a Colleen Coble romantic suspense to send a reader into a tilt-a-whirling tailspin of frenzied delight! Because the villains are diabolical and not always easy to spot and the heroine comes with emotional baggage and the hero wrestles with past decisions and there's murder and mayhem at ever turn and there is hope (however unrealistic it seems at first) in a happily-ever-after...if everyone can stay alive long enough to enjoy it!

Complex characters (and I DID NOT like Shauna at first!) I had to keep reminding myself that anger is a grieving stage but she is so over-the-top hard on Zach in the beginning! Gah! I wanted to throw my book, I was that steamed (but of course, I didn't because, contrary to these broiling emotions, I am, at heart, a gentle reader.) Phew! But she does figure things out and draws closer to the Lord in the process so I've forgiven her. And Zach -- oy -- constantly beating himself up over his friend's death because Shauna won't let him forget...wait, I'm not going there because I have forgiven her...I think. Maybe. Well, it's a process. My heart's in the right place even if my feelings are still a bit messed up. :-) Okay, we can tick the box that says this story is an emotional read! My favourite kind! Add in the twisty turn suspensey bits and you get the kind of page-turner that will keep you on edge right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The View From Rainshadow Bay, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Who the Bishop Knows

GIVEAWAY

CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
WHO THE BISHOP KNOWS

What you don't see might hurt you.

Every year, residents of the small Amish community in Monte Vista, Colorado, look forward to the Ski Hi Stampede, the state's oldest professional rodeo. The rodeo is always good, clean entertainment for the hardworking farmers of the San Luis Valley. But this year, the Stampede turns deadly for one Amish man. Did rodeo fans see an unfortunate accident? Or was it something more sinister?

Amish bishop Henry Lapp is known far and wide for his uncanny ability to remember and draw the smallest details of anything he's seen, talents that have served him well in past investigations. He was at the rodeo that day. The problem? He didn't see Jeremiah Schwartz's death.

With a murderer on the loose and members of his community being threatened, Henry must act fast. But can he solve a crime he didn't see? This time around, Henry will have to rely on his knowledge of human nature and keen obeservational abilities, skills he's honed in his role as bishop, if he hopes to crack the case.

Who the Bishop Knows is a story of accepting our talents, putting others first, and trusting God will care for His children.

My Review:

"Messing with the Englisch police was one thing. Pushing an Amish grandmother to the end of her kapp strings was quite another. Both were dangerous." (p 302)

The perfect blend of humour, mystery and trademark Amish wisdom. I've really enjoyed this series and am sad to see it come to a close. But, if it has to end, this is a fitting grande finale!

Henry's back with yet another murder to solve. And, as in the previous books, his sweetheart Emma is right there at his side, helping to decipher clues and make sense of the senseless. In fact, the whole Amish community gets involved -- including Lexi, Henry's 'mostly beagle'. I'll admit, the mystery had me stumped and I went down a whole rabbit warren of false trails before finding out the truth...right along with Henry. I was soooo sure the murder was someone else! Very clever writing, Ms. Chapman!

I read this in a day because I couldn't put it down no matter how hard I tried. 'Just one more chapter' I'd tell myself, and then, because the chapters are short, I'd convince myself to read another. And another. Pretty soon I gave up all hope of getting anything else done until Henry, Emma and I solved the mystery once and for all!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Who the Bishop Knows, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstroreadATyahooDOTca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway -- Week Three

Phew! This has been one busy and exciting week! I am so into my listmaking that I've started a new wishlist book wherein I am colour coordinating the books I intend to buy, the ones I want my library to order and the ones I get to review. It's fantabulous! And now I have lots of titles to list...and more to come when autumn rolls around...not that I'm greedy or anything. :-)

So, here they are....the winners of the Summer Edition of Reader's Choice Week:

HISTORICAL FICTION DAY WINNERS:
CC
AND
CARYL KANE
RELEASES SEPT. 4

CONTEMPORARY DAY WINNER:
KATHLEEN (LANE HILL HOUSE)
RELEASES SEPT 24

CONTEMPORARY DAY WINNER:
PAULA
RELEASES JULY 3

SUSPENSE/MYSTERY DAY WINNER:
HEIDI ROBBINS
RELEASES JULY 31

SUSPENSE/MYSTERY DAY WINNER:
DIANA FLOWERS
RELEASES JULY 24

AMISH DAY WINNER:
ELLY
RELEASES SEPT 25

AMISH DAY WINNER:
SAVINGS IN SECONDS
RELEASES JULY 3

CHRISTIAN FICTION DAY WINNER:
ALISHA
RELEASES AUGUST 7

CHRISTIAN FICTION DAY WINNER:
DIANE ESTRELLA
RELEASES JULY 31

RETRO DAY WINNER:
KAY GARRETT

RETRO DAY WINNER:
KATE

If you left an email in one of your comments this week, I'll notify you of your win (though I guess if you're reading this you already know...snicker.) I'll request that you send me your mailing address NOW so that my records are complete and it's easy peasy for me to order your book on release date. I'll email you once I order it to jog your memory and let your know to expect delivery. 

IF YOU DID NOT INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL IN A COMMENT, IT'S UP TO YOU TO CONTACT ME WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS. kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 

If I don't connect with a winner within one month of the release date of their book their win is canceled so keep bright-eyed and busy-tailed, fellow readers! 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

(and I'm preening because I've read them all and even have the reviews scheduled! Woot! That hasn't been the case since April. This makes me super happy 'cause I don't like reviewing on the fly.)