Lethal Legacy

GIVEAWAY

POST, CAROL J.
LETHAL LEGACY

Someone wants her family secrets buried.
He's her only chance to survive.

Andrea Wheaton through her parents tragic death was accidental -- until she's attacked during a burglary at their home. Now she's also being targeted. Her ex-sweetheart Sheriff Deputy Bryce Caldwell insists on protecting her, though she refuses to trust him again. But with a killer closing in, can she and Bryce uncover her family's secrets before it's too late?

My Review:

I was in that kind of mood -- you know, where you want to happily immerse yourself in murder and mayhem from the comfort of your sleuthing armchair but you're stuck on what to read. So I shuffled through my TBR pile and when I caught sight of Carol J. Post's name on the front cover of this spine-tingler, I knew I was in store of some exciting escape time. Because this author always delivers a delectable combination of suspense and romance.

The suspense starts with subtle danger that slowly builds to something much more sinister...and potentially lethal! And the mystery Andrea finds herself in the middle of is intriguing -- in a threatening kind of way. But she stands her ground because she's that kind of stubborn and that pretty much ties Bryce up in knots. Well, truthfully, just thinking about Andrea has the power to do that! He knows he blew it a decade ago and he can't hope for anything more than forgiveness and possibly friendship...can he? I get thrills just thinking about it. I do so love a good second chance romance and this one is excellent!

And if that isn't enough of a lure, let me entice you further. There's a dog! Cooper by name, with his own unique idiosyncrasies that made me smile. Plus -- bonus -- there's a little bit of Christmas threaded into this story as well. Now doesn't that make Lethal Legacy pretty near irresistible? I certainly think so!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lethal Legacy, 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. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 2 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection

GIVEAWAY

PAGELS, CARRIE FANCETT
VETSCH, ERICA
CHASE, C.J.
DIETZE, SUSANNE
GERLACH, RITA
MAHER, KATHLEEN L.
MEYER, GABRIELLE
RILEY, VANESSA
SEILSTAD, LORNA
THE VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS BRIDES COLLECTION

One Golden Ring by C. J. Chase -- 1855 Devonshire, England -- Wounded soldier Tristram Nowell returns home to indulge his mother's wish for a family Christmas -- and encounters Marianna Granville. Can he forgive the former heiress who jilted him years before?

My Review -- C.J. Chase is a new-to-me author but I'll certainly be hunting down more of her books after reading this exquisite novella. With an Austenish flair, she packs quite the emotional punch in this second chance romance. A delectable read from start to finish.

Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze - 1875 County Durham, England -- This Yuletide Bennett Hett, Lord Harwood, offers Lady Celeste Sidwell matrimony and the Star of  Wonder diamond necklace, as their fathers arranged. When the diamond disappears, will they find a greater treasure?

My Review -- An arranged marriage and a yuletide mystery -- how fun is that?! Well, maybe not for Bennett and Celeste who are opposed to marriage...until they band together to solve a crime and suddenly perspectives shift and their friendship takes an unexpected turn. Fast-paced and intriguing with a bit of Christmas miracle on the side.

The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach -- 1900 near Washington DC -- A glass ornament. Love letters tied in red Christmas ribbon. Lily Morningstar and British antiquities expert Andrew Stapleton are drawn into a family secret that binds their hearts together.

My Review: There's something very romantic about beginning a relationship through letters. And although Lily and Andrew have been corresponding for a year, she's reluctant to reveal her identity when they finally meet in person. She's sure her middle class America will clash with his aristocratic British roots. A sweet romance with an unexpected family mystery.

Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher -- 1857, Elmira, New York -- Sarah Ann Winifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing with pioneering doctors. Rufus Sedgwick , relocating his English estate, seeks help for his ailing mum. Christmas reveals the secret wish of both hearts -- for love.

My Review: Ha! Rufus seems a bit of a stuck up snob when first we meet, but it doesn't take long to uncover the charitable and caring heart beneath that staid British manner. Sarah Ann tries not to be smitten because they are worlds apart but Rufus is used to making things happen his way. Clashing wills and a few missteps later and we're looking at a happily ever after. Sweet romance with a touching message on forgiveness.

A Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer -- 1899 Cambridgeshire, England -- Lady Ashleigh Arrington is hosting a houseful of guests for Christmas when railroad executive Christopher Campbell unexpectedly arrives from America with a mysterious agreement signed by their fathers before their birth.

My Review: Matrimonial minded mamas matchmaking from the grave. How's that for an arranged marriage twist? Animosity sizzles as Ashleigh and Christopher fight to free themselves from the prospect of an unwanted Christmas engagement. But that sizzle soon sparks another kind of fire that might see them walking down the aisle after all. Loved all the sparring and the teasing as these two valiantly attempt to resist the inevitable Christmas miracle.

The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels -- 1867 Windsor, Ontario Canada and Detroit, Michigan -- When Canadian barrister Percy Gladstone finds his aristocratic British family unexpectedly descending upon him for Christmas, he turns to American social reformer Eugenie Mott and her fledgling catering crew for help.

My Review: What a neat surprise to see a little bit of Canada in this novella. A diverse cast of characters on both sides of the border conspire to create lasting Christmas memories. Pagels includes some interesting historical details -- like the Detroit socialites assisting Civil War widows in learning to make a living by catering. That's an aspect of the post-war era I never even thought about. Love when fiction teaches me a lesson -- especially when it comes all wrapped up in romance!

Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley -- 1837 Framlingham, England -- How can widow Ophelia Hanover give her son a perfect Christmas when her guardian, the Earl of Litton, arrives early to take permanent custody of the boy?

My Review: Litton is a boor! I'm all righteously indignant and ready to show him the door and I'm only on the first page! Gah! What an emotionally-charged, heart-wrenching romance! Past misunderstandings lead to present prejudices and it's such a catastrophic mess I wasn't sure how everything would work out. If you like to indulge in a cleansing holiday cry, this is the story for you! (In case you're worried, the hero won me over in the end.)

Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad -- 1880 Blackpool, England -- Widowed harpist Beatrix Kent believes love can only come once in a lifetime, but this Christmas, carpenter Hugh Sherman hopes to pull on the musician's heartstrings and prove her wrong.

My Review: Oh, I do so like getting steamed on behalf of a heroine and there is one character in this story that I really wanted to throttle on Beatrix's behalf! Hugh in patient (but relentless) pursuit of Bea...thud...the stuff dreams are made of. And the way his attention prompts her awakening from grief and guilt...sublime! That right there was enough to win me over but there's also a cute little girl who needs a mum -- and what better time to get one than at Christmas? 

A Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch -- 1881 London, England -- Melisande Verity might be in over her head trying to create the perfect Christmas window display, but if she succeeds, will she finally attract the attention of her boss Gray Garramond?

My Review: Oooohhhh, Mr. Gray, you persnickity upstart, you deserve a lump of coal in your stocking. Maybe two....wait...he's growing on me as Melisande chips away at his Scroogish tendencies. I think he's a keeper after all. Once she's replaced his profit margins and bottom lines for some Christmas joy. Love the nod to Dickens and this story has the same kind of heartwarming, tear-in-your-eye ending too!

Overall Review:

A superb collection of holiday romances that reflect the true meaning of Christmas. The physical book is stunning -- including beveled edges and a gorgeous end page art. Would make a great gift for the discerning reader on your Christmas list...but be sure to buy one for yourself as well!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection, 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 September 2 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Christmas with the Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

RADCLIFFE, TINA
CHRISTMAS WITH THE COWBOY

Home for the holidays
A second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch

Former navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots -- and the woman he couldn't have. Back to visit his brother's widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past...and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all -- love?

My Review:

Sqqquuuueeeeaaallll! I love a good Christmas romance and this one is that...and more. Sometimes a book labeled Christmas can be, well, very' unseasony' except for a scene or two. Definitely not the case here. Christmas is front and center and the perfect incentive to jump-start a second chance romance.

She's an over-analyzing overachiever with a complicated cowboy in her sightline. Emma might as well be Mrs. Claus's personal shopper and baker while Zach's holdiay mentor is Scrooge. Be prepared for a Christmas clash of epic proportions! A festive frenzy of  snappy banter and holiday hijinks as Emma lures Zach over to the light side. Christmas lights that is. Gazillions of them that need to be strung all over Big Heart Ranch. And that's just the beginning of her cowboy-do-list. I almost felt sorry for Zach, trying so hard to maintain his bah humbug facade while Emma's in full Christmas cheer mode.

And can we talk disgruntled cowboys? Blissful sigh. Not that Zach's mean or stingy or anything like that. More nobly stoic because his history with Christmas is anything but cheery. Watching Zach slowly thaw under Emma's boundless enthusiasm for all things festive is pure reading delight. It doesn't take long for him to have a holiday ephiphany of his own. Cue the toe-curls and fainting couch!

This third book in Tina Radcliffe's Big Heart Ranch series can be read as a standalone but you should read them all because they are scrumptiously good. And, if you are a fan, you'll be thrilled to reconnect with a bevy of favourite characters. Including Dutch and his isms -- prolific snippets of sage advice cowboy style. "Gossip spreads like a sneeze through a screen door around here." (p 149)

A great blend of love, laughter and faith -- exactly what I look for in a holiday romance.

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 Christmas with the Cowboy, 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 of the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 2 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Storm Front

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
STORM FRONT

Life and love hang in the balance during a deadly summer of storms.

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but also PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved -- and lost -- walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasters, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked -- no, ran -- from over a year ago. She had her reasons -- good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up -- not on the missing students or on her.

My Review:

Internal dialogue between Heart and Mind before I begin reading Storm Front.

Mind: Ohhhh...Susan May Warren. We love this author!
Heart: Sniffle
Mind: And it's the Montana Rescue series. Maybe we'll get to finally find out what happens with Jess and Pete.
Heart: (moaning over the faint skippity-skip beat of palpitations) Noooooooo. I'm still bruised from the last time.
Mind: But we have to keep up with the PEAK Rescue gang...
Heart: (skipping a beat and lurching into an unsteady thump..thumpity...thump) My wounds haven't healed from the last book we read. I'm scarred for life after all the shenanigans in Troubled Waters.
Mind: Exactly why we need to read this one. To put you at ease.
Heart: I don't think Susan May Warren is concerned with easing heartbreak. She's more about diabolically skewering the most tender organ in the body and letting us bleed out in a writhing mass of agonizing angst.
Mind: Ouch. That's harsh.
Heart: But true.
Mind: Okay, so maybe you've got a point, but we're going to read Storm Front anyway, right?
Heart: (whimpering) Easy for you to say, you're not the one who has to feel your way through a story. You just have to process information. You've got no heart, Mind!
Mind: Which is why I have you. We're a team and speaking of which, it's time for us to team up with our favourite team...
Heart: (groaning) You don't have to sound so cheerful about gutting me.
Mind: (wheedling) There'll be kissing scenes.
Heart: (blood pumping in a rush as she perks up) Oooohhh...well, maybe it won't be as traumatic this time...but you have to promise that we'll stop if it gets too heart bludgeoning.
Mind: Absolutely! I've got your back, Heart. (she says with her fingers crossed)

"God doesn't promise to keep the storms away, but he says he'll be with me through it. My faith won't protect me from the loss, but it will carry me and keep me from despair." (p 195)

What a tumultuous tempest of a read!  The parallels between real storms and the internal ones the characters wrestle with made a huge impact. Strips away the false facades to reveal the truth in all it's raw and wonderful glory.

Ty and Brette's love story might just be my favourite of the series (and not just because it looks like they actually get their HEA!) I think it comes from the brokenness in Brette and the way Ty doesn't run from it. They reconnect after she's come through a horrible ordeal and she doesn't know if it's finally over. She's survived by building walls around herself and the idea of knocking them down and allowing herself to be vulnerable is beyond her comprehension. Even if it's Ty on the other side of the wall.

Brette's battle within herself is so moving. As Kacey tells her at one point: "You have to stop seeing yourself through the eyes of your disaster and start seeing the woman you've become." (p 150) But Brette is grieving the loss of the pre-disaster woman and can't see the beauty in the one looking her in the mirror.

And Ty...Hero qualities galore. He's not perfect and he puts his foot in his mouth more than once when he tries to breach that wall around Brette. But he's steadfast. Unmoving. A prayer warrior. "And his heart said that someday, Brette would stop running. And when she did, he'd be standing there, waiting." (p 145)

But, oh mercy, is there angst and fear and danger and confusion! And heart palpitating kisses!!! Fainting couches and chocolate will be a necessity for this read. And you might want to grab some baby aspirin for your heart -- just in case -- because another pair of characters gave me conniptions -- I was like "Seriously, we're here again? Have you two learned nothing the past oh...what three years or so? " I almost washed my hands of them for once and for all. But then he...and she...and they...and, sigh, I melted like butter on a hot griddle. Again.

So I've made it nearly to the end of Storm Front and think I might just exit with my heart intact and then the cliffhanger ending happens! Noooo, seriously, Susan May Warren, you're just going to leave it there? I'm in such a tizzy now. I'd be really steamed except book 6, Wait for Me comes out in November. Phew! I think I can hang on that long. Maybe. With some intensive bibliotherapy sessions to help me make it through the next few months.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Storm Front, leave a comment below or email me at kavuvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 September 2 018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Things I Never Told You

GIVEAWAY

VOGT, BETH K.
THINGS I NEVER TOLD YOU

It's been ten years since Payton Thatcher's twin sister died in an accident, forcing the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. Now a lone twin, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine -- as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm's length.

But with the announcement of her middle sister Jillian's engagement, Payton's party planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside Johanna, her opinionated oldest sister, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them...until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian's plans for the future.

As old wounds reopen and the family faces the possibility of yet another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven apart for good.

My Review:

Lif'e's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are. (p 182)

But what happens if you're stuck in paralyzed mode and you don't know it? That's Payton, outwardly coping after the accidental death of her twin sister but she really isn't living. It's like she got stuck in time. And the things she's never told anyone are what's holding her back What an intensely moving story of loss and brokenness as a trio of sisters struggle to navigate their way towards a better future.

I hesitated a bit before picking this book out of my TBR pile. Mainly, I think, because it isn't my usual genre -- I mean, it's a well known fact that my romance loving heart loves, well, romance and this is a Women's Fiction selection. But I have loved Beth Vogt's contemporary romance novels so I threw caution to the wind and jumped genres and I am over-the-moon ecstatic over venturing out of my comfort zone! Because once I started reading Things I Never Told You I was hooked. This became the kind of 'savor and ponder' experience that touched me deeply...and more importantly, impacted my life in a profound way.

Three points of view -- Payton in first person, her sister Jillian and 'friend' Zach in third. (I put quotation marks around friend because he isn't in the beginning. Payton is quite hostile towards him.) Anyway, that unusual mash up of first person/ third person point of view actually works really well. Definitely made me feel like this is Payton's book even though Jillian has a compelling story to tell and gets her fair share of page time.

Zach is probably the most powerful secondary character I'v ever met in the pages of a book -- and the only Christian in Payton's sphere. The author uses him to bear a compelling witness to Payton when she questions him about his faith.

"Why do you believe in God, Zach?"

"... I realized that I needed God -- "

"Like a crutch --"

"No. Like the One who knows me best because He created me. The One who offers me more grace than I offer others...more grace than I offer myself. The One who forgave me of the things I still struggle to forgive myself for. That's why I believe in God, Payton." (p 385-6)

And, really, what more can I say, except that these characters and their stories will stay with you long after you close the book and file it away on your keeper shelf.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Things I Never Told You, 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 September 2 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

August Giveaway -- Week Four

+ DVD
WON BY LORAINE NUNLEY

WON BY BOOS MUM

WON BY PAULA

WON BY JANKA H.

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

WON BY PERRIANNE

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with their mailing address. From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you in 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now, so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU.

Books are usually ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address but give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

Deadly Encounter

GIVEAWAY

MILLS, DIANN
DEADLY ENCOUNTER

Airport Ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday ride around the perimeter of Houston's airport. What she encounters instead is a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery. Next to the body is an injured dog, the dead man's motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747. Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses. Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy. But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidences that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted. As a health emergency endangers Stacy's community, and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.

My Review:

published in 2016
My thanks to my public library for providing me with a copy of this retro read

What an amazing suspense! I started out expecting one thing and it morphed into so much more than I could ever imagine. So many twists and turns and puzzles to work out and I was blindsided again and again and again. Pay attention because the tiniest detail will come back and bite you at some point later on in the story. :-) My armchair sleuthing muscles got a real workout.

And the romance is just as enthralling. Stacy and Alex don't exactly see eye to eye when they first meet. He might be harboring a wee prejudice against beguiling women who appear to be innocent. Not that Stacy's guilty of anything except being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even Alex concedes to that in his calmer moments which are few and far between because Stacy is feisty and strong and once these two discover their common Louisiana roots their exchanges get a whole lot more heated -- and so does the attraction. And this is the kind of romantic suspense that takes the time to develop a relationship between the hero and heroine. It unfolds in an unhurried manner despite the edge of suspense that fills all the spaces in their lives.

And then there's Whit -- the twelve-year-old boy genius Stacy has taken under her wing. Love that kid and every scene he's in sparks with new life.  I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did an incredible job with the southern accents and Cajun phrases as well as giving each character a unique voice. Brilliantly done.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deadly Encounter, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstreadATyahooDOTca. 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Rancher's Answered Prayer

GIVEAWAY

JAMES, ARLENE
THE RANCHER'S ANSWERED PRAYER

A single mom. A bachelor cowboy...and an inheritance forcing them to share Three Brothers Ranch.

According to the will, single mom Tina Kemp's stepfather left her his house, but his nephew, Wyatt Smith, inherited the ranch -- including the land the house stands upon. With neither willing to give up their legacy, they must find a way to make it work. Can these adversaries possibly share a home without falling for each other?

My Review:

Snap. Crackle. Pop. That's the fireworks going off every time Wyatt and Tina step into a room together! At first it's open hostility and then it's something much more dangerous. Still grinning just thinking about some of their tussles.

What a great intro to a new series! James gives lots of page time to all three brothers and I love the dynamics between them. Wyatt is the sage and steady older brother who is always ready to step in and support Jake and Ryder in whatever form they need. So when they inherit a cattle ranch and both his brothers are at a crossroads in their lives, they all quit the city and head to Oklahoma.

Loco Man Ranch is the perfect place for them to start over...unfortunately it is also the perfect second chance for Tina and her son. The Smith brothers may own the land but Tina has inherited the only house on the property. Yeehaw -- let the games begin! Snappy dialogue (sometimes snappish!) and lots of spirited give and take make this an easy read to speed through...but slow down and savor the wisdom and faith (and yes, a fight or two) courtesy of some engaging characters.

I am totally invested in these brothers and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for Ryder and Jake in future books. Hopefully book two will be out soon!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rancher's Answered Prayer, 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sons of Blackbird Mountain

GIVEAWAY

BISHCHOF, JOANNE
SONS OF BLACKBIRD MOUNTATION

When Aven Norgaard leaves Norway to serve as housekeeper to her late husband's cousins in Appalachia, she expects lads in need of care, not three grown men -- each in need of a wife and bound by a powerful brotherhood. As the men carve out a living by brewing artisan liquor, young Haakon's pursuit tempts Aven's lonely spirit...but it is his Deaf brother, Thor, whose silent strength shows her the depth of real love.

Unable to speak to any woman, Thor Norgaard never anticipates Aven will befriend him, let alone treat him as her safe harbor. Though hard cider is their livelihood, and his greatest talent, he fights his way to sobriety with Haakon's help, defying the bottle for Aven's hand -- only to face a battle of the heart that tests even the strongest bonds of brotherhood.

My Review:

On the brink of speechlessness here, having just finished reading Sons of Blackbird Mountain. This book is so big and deep and powerful and tender and absolutely heart-bruising! It hurts to breathe. The kind of story that forces you to settle into a stupor of literary fogginess as you try to process everything once you come to the end.

Bischof is skilled at writing the kind of rich descriptive prose that tantalizes a reader's senses until she slips into the pages as the story comes to life around her. And these characters! So complex and true to life -- raw and real and flawed. The family dynamics among the Norgaard brothers play an important role in the events that occur on Blackbird Mountain the late summer and fall of 1890. Each brother has unique talents and personal struggles though together they present a united front...until Aven comes and upsets the delicate balance of their lives.

Thor has to be one of the most compelling heroes I've ever met in the pages of a book! He's big and brawny and a little rough around the edges but for all that he's gentle and kind and tenderhearted too. His deafness has kept him apart from the world but that doesn't stop him from communicating with those he counts as family through a mix of Sign and lip-reading and note writing. And the way the author writes his conversations! He can say more with one glance than his hearing brothers can say in a torrent of words.

And there's Aven with her Irish lilt and a heart full of sorrows and a yearning for a place to belong.  This is a messy story. And hard to read in places. The author deals with tough topics including racism, abuse, alcoholism and depression. But she does so with grace and hope and healing. Even laughter. Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a brilliantly crafted work of art. Definitely a 2018 top pick.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sons of Blackbird Mountain, 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 August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Explosive Force

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE
EXPLOSIVE FORCE

From reporter to witness on the run...
The next exciting Military K-9 Unit story

Just before the K-9 training center explodes, reporter Heidi Jenks spots the bomber -- and now he wants her dead. While military explosives expert First Lieutenant Nick Donovan doesn't trust journalists, it's his duty to protect Heidi. And with a killer circling closer, he and his bomb-sniffing K-9 are all that stands between Heidi and someone planning to silence her for good.

My Review:

Seriously, how can you not want to read a story with a bloodhound heroine named Annie? Doesn't that scream 'read me'? And isn't she a gorgeous girl? She could moonlight as a cover model. :-) 

The two-legger heroine is pretty nifty too -- even if she can't sniff out explosives. Heidi has other talents -- like getting under Nick's skin. He's had a love/hate thing going on over Heidi for a while. He abhors journalists and he has a very good reason for feeling that way. But, he's also impressed with the heart and compassion he sees in Heidi's articles which doesn't jive with the Cruella DeVille journalist image he's been nurturing. Talk about conflicted!

When he's assigned protection duty, Nick suddenly finds himself all up close and personal with the one woman on base he absolutely doesn't want anything to do with. Me thinks he doth protest too much. Like his Gramps says: "Gotta find me a woman I don't like as much as you don't like that one." (p 78)

There is an unexpected playfulness about this romance which brings some levity to very dark times as the Red Rose Killer continues to elude capture while wreaking havoc in his wake. Book six in the Military K-9 Unit delivers page-turning suspense and toe-curling romance as the hunt for Boyd Sullivan becomes more desperate. I cannot wait to solve this mystery!!!!!!! Two months and counting and we'll finally have all the answers.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Explosive Force, 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 August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Lone Witness

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL
LONE WITNESS

She's the only witness to a brutal crime. Now she can't outrun the target on her back.

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings...but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness in a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.

My Review:

Warning: This book will hold you in its grip until you reach the heart-palpitating, breath-snatching conclusion so clear your calendar and prepare to settle down for a binge read. Wouldn't hurt to have an extra store of chocolate on hand as well as a security blankie because it's that kind of a suspense.

Tension builds as the complicated plots twists and turns and leads the unsuspecting reader into a maze of corruption, deception and danger. Cold and calculating villains pursue exacting revenge on anyone who gets in their way...like District Attorney Sophie Dawson. She's a lawyer for all the right reasons -- seeking to bring justice to the victims of crimes -- so it's no surprise that she doesn't back down from threats that urge her to keep her mouth shut and cease digging into matters that aren't any of her business. She's not crazy brave but she's wickedly stubborn and quietly courageous and once her ire's up she won't back down. No matter what.

Enter Cooper Knight, hired by her father to protect his defiant daughter. They've met before through mutual friends, both intrigued by the other but never pursued a relationship. Now they are thrust into close proximity, working together to thwart unscrupulous individuals while staying a step ahead of their lethal attacks.

I have to say right here how much I love the way Dylan draws out the romance amidst all the mayhem and madness. It never feels rushed. Even the shortest 'getting to know you' scenes feel like we have all the time in the world no matter what the bad guys are plotting. It's a delicate balance to build the romance without detracting from the suspense and this author does it beautifully. I likened her to an early Dee Henderson when I reviewed Deadly Proof, the first book in the Atlanta Justice series and I still feel that way. Scrumptious.

We're given occasional secondary character points of view which really made things interesting and managed to add an extra edge to an already edgy read because I just didn't know who would do what next. Impeccable pacing -- I'd settle into a lull and think we'd have a bit of a breather and then...wham!...something else happened. And there were a few 'aha!' moments as well as 'you dunderhead, why didn't you see that coming?' ones. Definitely the kind of novel that keeps you on your toes.

While this is the second book in a series, Lone Witness can easily be read as a standalone though Atlanta Justice fans will be happy to get a glimpse of characters from the first novel. And I'm thrilled that Mia and Noah's own adventure is coming out in February. Woot! Can't wait!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lone Witness, 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 August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

God's Not Dead : a Light in the Darkness + Christian Fiction Giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Today I'm reviewing a DVD, but since this blog is all about promoting Christian Fiction, I'm doing a book giveaway as well. Look below my review to get full details but, basically, the winner will receive a gently viewed copy of the DVD plus an IOU for a Christian fiction title of their choice (published in October 2018). 

GOD'S NOT DEAD : A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

After a deadly fire rips through St. James Church, Hadleigh University leaders use the tragedy to push the congregation off campus, forcing the church to defend its rights and bringing together estranged brothers for a reunion that opens old wounds and forces them to address the issues that pulled them apart.

My Review:

The kind of movie that raises your hackles and makes you go all righteously indignant and ready to do battle for good and then....Wait. Oh. Wow...Love and faith in action happens and you find yourself doing a mind reset and a lot of self-reflecting. An inspiring and uplifting movie that had me re-evaluating and digging deep for answers to those big questions we all ask from time to time. 

And I love this line: "Uncertainty led to the pursuit of truth."  I'd never thought about it that way and it made me feel better about some of the apprehension I have felt on my faith journey. Because it's true -- every time I've struggled I've come out the other side with a better grasp of the truth that is Jesus. 

Entertaining and thought-provoking -- a great addition the God's Not Dead series.

DVD provided courtesy of PureFlix Studio and Graf-Marting Communications

And now, for the book part of this giveaway. Just for the fun of it, and because I've had a tantalizing glimpse of exciting novels about to be released the last quarter of this year, I thought it would be fun to get a jump on the final Reader's Choice Giveaway Week that will be coming up mid-September. This giveaway will be limited to Christian Fiction titles being released in October 2018. Details below. Winner will receive 1 DVD + 1 book (when it releases in October)

WINNER'S CHOICE OF ANY CHRISTIAN FICTION NOVEL IN PRINT (OCTOBER 2018 RELEASE DATE)

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 for me to tally)

MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION RELEASING IN OCTOBER 2018

Remember to add your email address in one of your comments

(no need to do it each time)

but remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers

Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 26 2018 

Offer open to International Readers

August Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY  MARIA DB

WON BY SUSAN P. 

WON BY CAITLIN MCCUTCHEON

WON BY DEANNE PATTERSON

WON BY WENDY NEWCOMB

WON BY LAURA WALTZ

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with their mailing address. From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you in 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now, so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU.

Books are usually ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address but give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

On Monday, I'll be reviewing the DVD God is Not Dead : a Light in the Darkness and the winner will receive a gently viewed copy of the DVD as well as her choice of any Christian Fiction book being released in October 2018...a little tease for our next Reader's Choice Giveaway Week coming in September. I'm a little giddy at the thought of basking in new release euphoria and October is my birthday month so why not think autumnal thoughts right now?

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

GIVEAWAY

KLASSEN, JULIE
THE LADIES OF IVY COTTAGE

Return to Ivy Hill in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage as friendships deepen, romance blossoms, and mysteries unfold.

Living with the two Miss Groves in Ivy Cottage, impoverished gentlewoman Rachel Ashford is determined to earn her own livelihood...somehow. When the village women encourage her to open a subscription library with the many books she has inherited or acquired through donations. Rachel discovers two mysteries hidden among them. A man who once broke her heart helps her search for clues, but will they find more than they bargained for?

Rachel's friend and hostess, Mercy Grove, has given up thoughts of suitors and fills her days managing her girls' school. So when several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes pretty Miss Ashford is the cause.  Exactly what -- or who -- each man's attention? The truth may surprise them all.

As the women of Ivy Hill search for answers about the past and hope for the future, might they find love along the way?

My Review:

published in 2017

Reading this series is like watching a British period drama -- very like Larkrise to Candleford and Crandford -- where we enjoy a real slice of village life and all the drama and romance that goes along with that. It's divinely captivating and utterly addictive.

Probably best appreciated if you've read the first book -- The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill -- as there are a lot of characters and relationships to sort out. If you haven't read Innkeeper, be prepared to feel a bit lost the first couple of chapters but stick with it and it will all come together. Kind of like starting to watch a TV series in the second season where it takes you a few episodes to get up to speed.

This is the kind of story you settle into and live right along with the characters.Three heroines face unique challenges as they make their way in the business world. All of them are gentlewomen whose circumstances have changed. Jane is the landlady of an inn, Mercy runs a small school for girls and Rachel embarks on setting up a subscription library (my favourite part of the story!) And that library becomes a catalyst for uncovering a number of secrets that have the potential to transform lives...or destroy them!

And we have no shortage of intriguing gentlemen to swoon over! That leads to the promise of romance -- not without despair, mind you! Heartache and misunderstandings and deep sorrows too. Because feelings are fragile and life can take the most unexpected twists and turns when you least expect it. Not everyone gets her happily ever after by the end of this novel. We'll have to wait until book three comes out this December to get full closure of the romantical kind. I can't wait!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Ladies of Ivy Cottage, 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 August 19 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!