Monday, June 4, 2018

Olivia Twist

GIVEAWAY
LANGDON, LORIE
OLIVIA TWIST

Olivia Brownslow is no damsel in distress. Born in a workhouse and raised as a boy among thieving London street gangs, she is as tough and cunning as they come. When she is taken in by her uncle after a caper gone wrong, her life goes from fighting and stealing on the streets to lavish dinners and soirees as a debutante in high society. But she can't seem to escape her sticky-fingered past...or forget the teeming slums where children still scrape to survive.

Jack MacCarron rose from his place in London's East End to become the adopted 'nephew' of a society matron. Little does society know that MacCarron is a false name for a boy once known among London gangs as the Artful Dodger, or that he and his aunt are 'robbing' them blind every chance they get.

Between plans for his next huge heist and the threat of rival street gangs, Jack encounters Olivia Brownslow in the strangest of places -- no place for a female, that's for sure. Why is an upper-class girl helping homeless orphan thieves? Even more intriguing, why does she remind him of someone he once knew?

In a world of double-lives and double-crosses, each must make the most important decision they've ever faced. Is turning their backs on the posh lifestyles they have built for themselves worth it for one great love?

My Review:

This book makes me rapturously giddy! That's in a large part due to the toe-curling romantical nature of this tale. Be still my heart. Jack MacCarron is a rogue and a scoundrel with a heart three sizes too big beneath that sardonic exterior. And Olivia may present as a sweet and guileless debutante but she's as scrappy as any street kid. They are both playing roles and hiding secrets and when their worlds collide -- oh my stars -- fireworks of cosmic proportions! Serious sizzle and sass and enough toe-curling to be mildly painful (but oh, so worth it.)

And the characterizations are so brilliantly done! Love the twist (ha -- pun not intended but I'm leaving it in) of Oliver being an Olivia. This is a story inspired by the classic Dickens novel -- a re-imagining more than retelling, because really, how could you improve upon perfection? But taking the essence of the story and creating something new and thrilling and utterly captivating -- well that's more than doable and Lorie Langdon surpassed my expectations.

This is the kind of novel that is so much fun to read you try to slow down to make it last longer only it's so good you want to race ahead to find out what happens next...or actually, if I'm being completely honest...to get to all the swoony, heart-palpitating bits. Which there are a lot of. Like in every scene where Jack and Olivia appear together. Such a delicious undercurrent between these two. They honestly fight more than they kiss but they do both in a supremely satisfying way. :-)

And then there's the fast-paced plot packed with so many surprises even the most jaded of readers will find herself gasping out loud at frequent intervals. And that includes a moving portrayal of sacrificial love that sent goosebumps charging up my spine. Where passion pays tribute to love and the concept of faith is not only understood but embraced. Wow! Just...wow!

An extraordinary take on a literary classic (psssst....I like this one better than the original!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Olivia Twist, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 10 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

47 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I have heard amazing things about this and the cover is beautiful! Sign me up! LattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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    1. Isn't the cover catchy? Very unique so it makes you take notice. Good luck, Susan.

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  2. Wow! Sounds amazing! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  3. I do enjoy twists on the old classics.This one sounds like a lot of fun!

    rachaeldalquist AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. It's brilliant! And there's something about reading a familiar-but-not-really story, isn't there? Good luck, Rachael.

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  4. I know this is a twist on an old classic, but it is interesting this is a bit of the feel that Roseanna White is using in her current series. So, we are expanding our horizons in the types of main characters. Sounds fun! Thanks!

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    1. Yes -- I was thinking about the Shadows Over England series too when I read this. Good luck, CC.

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  5. New author for me. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. She co-authored a series retelling Brigadoon. ...called Doon. More YA than this one but really fun. Good luck, Kim.

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  6. This one sounds like a wonderful retelling on a classic! I'm so intrigued! Enter me please, thank you!

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  7. I've been wondering about this book. I'm glad to see your review on it. I love the cover and the twist on the classic sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. It's getting rave reviews -- ironic because the author had a hard time selling it originally. She kept getting rejections. Bet those publishers are fuming now that they missed out on the fun! Good luck, Loraine.

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  8. I'll be the first to admit, I've not read one version of Oliver Twist (no tomato throwing, please)! Or if I'm completely honest, I don't recall reading any classical books...

    That being said, I love the premise of this so I hope that redeems me in your eyes...lol!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. lol -- sounds like a lot of people haven't read it. I went through a classical phase in my teens and read a lot of Dickens. And have seen a movie or two and plays but you really can enjoy this book without being familiar with the story. Good luck, Trixi.

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  9. Wow! This looks good! paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. You've got that right! Good luck, Paula!

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  10. I haven't heard much about this book but it does sound like a good one. I like the cover too.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. The cover definitely invites you in. Good luck, Pam.

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  11. This sounds like a great front porch summer read!

    ladepooh AT hotmail dot com

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. Sorry for the blunder of the last deleted post. Thanks for the giveaway. The book’s gotten some great buzz among the reviewers and sounds great.
    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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    1. No worries...what's a little blunder among friends? :-) Yes -- it's really doing well and I'm so glad. Good luck, Mindy.

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  14. All I know is you liked it! Haha! This is a book high on my want to read list. Can't wait.
    tlhcoupon(at)Hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I just picked up another book by Lorie Langdon from the library -- Gilt Hollow. Eager to read it too. Good luck, Terrill.

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    2. Why did I already think you read and reviewed this one? It must have been someone else. I do remember that they had great things to say about it.

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  15. Ooooooh romance! Yes please, I want to win!

    dianemestrella at gmail dot com

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    1. Yessss...toe-curling romance at it's best. Good luck, Diane.

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  16. I would love to read this book . . . . winning a copy would make it a lot easier, right?

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  17. Oops, my email is rmaney(at)firstarpchurch(dot) org

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    1. Bwahahahha -- yes, it would help. Good luck, Rebecca.

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  18. I haven’t heard of this book. Thank you for sharing.
    leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

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    1. I think I first heard about it during Reader's Choice week and then it's been buzzing around GoodReads so I had to try it out. Good luck, Lucy.

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  19. Sounds like such a fun read!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. Eeek! I've been hearing so much about this one and can't wait to read it!!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  21. This book sounds wonderful. I've heard so many good things about it. It's going on my wish list.

    whthomas13ATyahooDOTcom

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    1. They are all true!!!! Good luck, Winnie.

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  22. I never read Oliver Twist, but this one sounds adorable and a LOT more fun!

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    1. It's fantastic! Good luck, SavingsinSeconds.

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  23. I am so eager to read this one!!

    rosebudsinjune at gmail dot com

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    1. You really need to read it! It's sooooo fantastic! Good luck, Deborah.

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  24. Sounds like a lovely book, nice twist to the twist

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