September Giveaway -- Week 5

So, I could pretend I'm late posting because of another power outage BUT really, it's because I was lazy this morning and stayed in bed absorbed in a good book until I was nearly late for church! Oopsie! 

WON BY LAURA WALTZ

WON BY PAULA

WON BY KAREN G.

WON BY AMADA CHAVEZ

WON BY PAM WESTFALL

You know the drill: winners will be contact if they left their email address otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your 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 within 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 will be order within a week of receiving your mailing address and I'll email you to confirm your win is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping time. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Ha -- the joke is on me. I'd heard on the news of a pending postal strike in Canada so I held off ordering any new books only to discover that what was pending was a strike vote. The result is that the majority of workers are in favour of striking but that doesn't mean they are going to. Only that they might...at any time. So...if I had made my orders several weeks ago like I wanted to, I would have new books to review now. But I didn't, so instead...this week, courtesy of my public library, is Retro Week! Well -- five days are retro -- one is a scheduled new release review. 

The Spinster's Christmas

GIVEAWAY

ELLIOTT, CAMILLE
THE SPINSTER'S CHRISTMAS

A Regency romantic mystery

Miranda Belmoore has never felt attuned to the rest of society. Her family has never understood her blunt speech and unwillingness to bow to conventional strictures, and so they have always made her feel that there is something wrong with her. Now as a poor relation in her cousin's house, she makes plans to escape a life of drudgery and disdain from her own family members.

Naval Captain Gerard Foremont is having difficulty adjusting to life back on land, frustrated that his career has been cut short by his severely injured knee. Guilt haunts him as he sees the strain his long convalescence has had upon his parents. As they spend Christmastide with the Belmoores, he wants to help fulfill his mother's wish to have her orphaned niece come to stay with them.

However, an enemy has infiltrated the family party, bent on revenge and determined that Twelfth Night will end in someone's death...

My Review:

Squuueallll -- Regency + Mystery + Christmas!!!! I hope I can compose myself long enough to write this review! And there's definitely a Cinderella feel to this story as well. Not sure if it was written with a fairy tale retelling in mind, but I sure caught some similarities that increased my reader euphoria that much more. Eeeep!!!!

Gerard is the perfect tortured hero who matches wits with childhood friend Miranda. She has come upon hard times -- horrendously horrid, actually, as she is treated worse than a servant in her cousin's household. I do so love fuming over literary injustice and heaps are piled upon poor Miranda as she valiantly tries to see her way through.

And there's Gerard -- unexpectedly fighting more than friendly feelings though he's too broken by war to actually think something can come of it...until Miranda's life is threatened. Cue the attentively protective wounded hero who will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of his lady love. Be still my heart!

And if that isn't enough to curl your toes in Regency excitement, Elliott doesn't skimp on Old English Christmas traditions which lend a festive background to all the angst and romance. A spectacular holiday escape read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Spinster's Christmas, 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 spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 29 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Amish Country Amnesia

GIVEAWAY

CARVER, MEGHAN
AMISH COUNTRY AMNESIA

His past is a mystery to everyone...except for the men trying to kill him

When a snowmobile accident leaves a man injured and with no memory, Amish widow Sarah Burkholder and her young daughter rescue him. Even as Sarah's feelings for him grow, they discover unknown assailants are after him -- and Sarah and her little girl for helping him. But if he can remember who he is, he might just save all their lives.

My Review:

Snowball to the rescue! I love me a fluffy canine heroine and Snowball is a malamute so fluffy is an understatement. But she's all business underneath all that fuzz! Which comes in handy when her humans are pursued by sinister bad guys with malicious intent.  Amish Country Amnesia is a breath-snatching page-turner with a decided Amish flare. Amnesic hero, intrepid heroine and a race against time in Amish country. What more can you ask for from a romantic suspense?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Amish Country Amnesia, 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 30 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

No Less Days

GIVEAWAY

STEVENS, AMANDA G.
NO LESS DAYS

David Galloway can't die

How many lifetimes can God expect one man to live? Over a century old, David Galloway isolates himself from the mortal humans who die or desert him by making a quiet life as a used bookstore owner in Northern Michigan. But then he sports a news article about a man who, like him, should be dead.

Daredevil celebrity Zachary Wilson walked away unscathed from what should have been a deadly fall. David tracks the man down, needing answers. Soon David discovers a close-knit group of individuals as old as he is who offers the sort of kinship and community he hasn't experienced for decades - but at what cost?

David finds himself keeping secrets other than his own...protecting more than himself alone. He'll have to decide what's worth the most to him -- security or community. When crimes come to light that are older than any mortal, he fears the pressure is more than he can stand. What does God require of him, and is David man enough to see it through?

My Review:

Honestly, though I was intrigued by this back blurb, No Less Days languished on my TBR pile until just before it was due back at the library. Probably because I didn't know exactly what to expect. I'm such a cautious reader sometimes! And guess what? I was hooked by page two and settled into a serious reading fest since the book was due the next day! Bwahahaha!! I'm such a doofus!

The whole immortality concept fascinates me -- especially the unexpected burdens associated with living and loving among people who age and eventually die. Out of necessity, David attempts to keep himself apart from the rest of the world. A loner, hiding out in a used book shop (I so adore books about books!), he deliberately keeps himself aloof until his carefully contained world implodes.

He suddenly discovers that he isn't the only immortal on earth and that brings a whole lot of complications. Especially when, despite his best intentions, he becomes involved with an employee he's kept at a distance for years. (insert romance fan-girling squeal here because this was unexpected!)

But the thing that surprised me the most about this book is the amazing inspirational thread woven throughout. You don't usually get that in speculative fiction so it kinda blindsided me (in a good way.) David's faith is very 'old world', while his friend, Tiana, is an enthusiastic 21st century Christian and surprisingly, there's a lot he can learn from her.

"What would you have me do?" The clip in his voice wasn't only tiredness. She needed to back off. Instead, she pulled his hand into her lap. "I would 'have you' cast your cares on Him and let Him care for you." (p 209)

Such a concept for a century old man to grapple with. Can you imagine the burdens he carries? The sorrow he has born? The struggle to do it all alone? Stevens has really captured the fears and frustrations that come from a century of living. And the way she's thought through all the details makes this fantastical tale seem almost plausible. Plus she's left it wide open for at least a sequel if not a whole series which I'll be avidly looking out for because I'm completely captivated by David and his friends and what's next for them all.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of No Less Days, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email, 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 September 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Defense Breach

GIVEAWAY

PHILLIPS, LISA
DEFENSE BREACH

When one of their own is targeted, the Secret Service Agents must protect her

Counting the days unitl she's officially an agent, Secret Service trainee Skylar Austin is blindsided when she's nearly killed during a training exercise at the White House. Veteran agent Grady Farrow recognizes a dead-seriousness threat when he sees one. Someone is gunning for the pretty young rookie. But if they want to get to Skylar, they'll have to go through Grady first.

My Review:

Phew! I feel like I've been tossed upside down into Alice's rabbit hole and confronted by all her curiosities at once! My mind is still spinning as I contemplate how things got 'curioser and curioser' the more I delved into Defense Breach. You definitely need your wits about you for this mind-spinning read. I'm suffering from an acute case of reader whiplash from trying to keep up with every nefarious twist. And don't get me started on the multilayered suspense. Is it really a training exercise? Or is something more sinister going on? Lots of tension, plenty of action. A Sydney Bristow (Alias) kind of heroine and the agent that tries to keep up! Lots of page-turning goodness.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Defense Breach, 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 30 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Road to Magnolia Glen

GIVEAWAY

HILLMAN, PAM
THE ROAD TO MAGNOLIA GLEN

Natchez, MS -- 1792

Bitter since his eldest brother abandoned their family in Ireland, Quinn O'Shea travels to Natchex, Mississippi, ready to shuck the weight of his duty and set off on an adventure of his own. It's time Connor, as head of the family, took responsibility for their younger siblings. While aboard ship, a run-in with three half-Irish sisters lands Quinn in the role of reluctant rescuer. Though it may delay his plans, he cannot abandon the Young sisters, especially the tenacious yet kind Kiera.

Upon arriving in the colonies, Kiera Young prepares to meet her intended and begin her new life. But she soon discovers it's not a marriage of convenience her brother-in-law arranged, but a far more sinister deal was negotiated for her and her sisters.

Quinn offers to excort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother's care, fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice.

My Review:

Psssssttttt....Connor, I'll always love you best but your brother, Quinn...he's the kind of reluctant hero I can dust off my fainting couch for. Irish. Brooding. Gallant in spite of himself. Disgruntled verging on contented if he'd just stop seething long enough! The inner turmoil flies off the page and clobbers an unsuspecting reader right between the eyes! What's not to love, right?

Well, Kiera isn't a fan at the start. Not from their first little dust off  on the ship heading to America and not once they land and part ways but...doesn't Quinn go and transform into a hero on her? A grumpy one who doesn't hide the fact that he has his sights set on leaving asap. Blissful sigh. I do so love a struggling romance where both parties valiantly try not to fall for the other. And Quinn and Kiera give it a good try...but fail miserably in the end which -- yay -- results in a sublime happily ever after!

But not too soon because there's a villain afoot...in fact I whooshed out a startled gasp just after the 100 page mark when I suddenly realized that..well...not sure if I was slow on the uptake...but bam -- I made a text to text connection (that's school library talk for finding a tie between two books.) You don't need to have read The Promise of Breezehill to grasp the nefarious goings on but if you have...well, you'll appreciate them all the more. Cue the scary organ music and start turning pages faster!

And the really fun thing about this story is that we have ample opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with Connor and Isabella. And even though Connor is a bit of grouch in this book, he still set my heart aflutter. Pair that with the palpitations Quinn was giving me and you can imagine the state I was in by the time I reached the end. Rapturously discombobulated about sums it up!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Road to Magnolia Glen, 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 September 30 2018.

September Giveaway -- Week Four

This Sunday blog post was postponed by not one but two tornadoes! Up here in Canada! We don't do tornadoes. Two communities were devastated -- a total of  275 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged and many more with significant damage. At last count approx 800 people left homeless. There were injuries -- some critical -- but, thankfully, no deaths. And one of the tornadoes wiped out a hydro station and turned hydro towers into twisted piles of metal, not to mention knocking down hydro poles like a game of dominoes. So...no electricity, no internet, barely any cell service Friday through Monday morning. And that's why I'm late posting the results from last week's giveaways. 

Oh, and apologies for not replying to people's comments from Friday afternoon on...I did tally every one into the draws as well as the email entries -- just didn't think it made sense to reply after a 3 day lag. 

So, without further ado....

THE WINNERS ARE:

WON BY CONNIE LEE

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

WON BY BECKY

WON BY NANCY M

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY DEBORAH C.

You know the drill: winners will be contact if they left their email address otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your 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 within 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 will be order within a week of receiving your mailing address and I'll email you to confirm your win is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping time. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK...ER...THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Merry and Bright

GIVEAWAY

MACOMBER, DEBBIE
MERRY AND BRIGHT

Merry Smith is pretty busy these days. She's taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-books boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry's well-meaning  mom and brother create an online dating profile for her -- minus her photo -- and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects -- or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

My Review:
published in 2017
My thanks to my public library for providing me with a copy of this retro read

Funny and sweet and occasionally infuriating, Merry and Bright is a smart and snappy holiday read. Loved the way this online romance plays out -- and the way it gets so twisted complicated before it finally resolves in some excellent Christmas cheer. Especially adored Merry's brother Patrick who really brings additional charm to the story. I could definitely see this as a Hallmark movie! If you're looking for a great seasonal escape read with light romance and touches of humour, look no further.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Merry and Bright, 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 223 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Amish Holiday Wedding

GIVEAWAY

LIGHTE, CARRIE
AN AMISH HOLIDAY WEDDING

A business arrangement...or a Christmas proposal? 
Anything's possible with Amish Country courtships

On the bring of losing her bakery, the last thing Faith Yoder's interested in is courting -- until Hunter Schwartz returns to Willow Creek. After hiring him to deliver her treats to a Christmas festival, Faith's determined their relationship will stay strictly professional. But despite a secret that's kept her single, Faith can't help him wish she and Hunter could become husband and wife.

My Review:

Poignant and funny. Faith and Hunter both struggle with their own issues as well as a healthy dose of pride. Right from their disastrous first meet these two are at cross-purposes. One says something and the other skews the meaning and gets riled or hurt. Lots of leaping to conclusions that stirs up heartache and confusion. And their listening skills are practically non-existent. I yoyoed between frustrated groans and exasperated laughter as I read my way to the end -- wondering all the while how these two could make a go of it. I love a hard won happily ever after and that's exactly what Lighte delivers in this captivating Amish romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Holiday Wedding, 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 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Hidden Side

GIVEAWAY

CHIAVAROLI, HEIDI
THE HIDDEN SIDE

NEW YORK, 2016 - Every day Natalie Abbott offers sage advice to hurting listeners on her popular radio program. But away from the comfort of the studio, she struggles to connect with her family; with an out-of-control daughter and an uncommunicative and isolated son, Natalie takes solace in the daily woes of others, turning a blind eye to the pressing issues mounting at her doorstep. Her carefully constructed world implodes when a member of the family commits an unspeakable act. Known as the woman with all the answers, for the first time Natalie questions her way forward.

NEW YORK, 1771 -- Mercy Howard watches in abject horror as the man she loves, her fiance Nathan Hale, is arrested and hanged as a spy. When asked to join the revoluntionary spy ring in Manhattan, Mercy sees an opportunity to avenge Nathan's death. But keeping her true loyalties hidden grows increasingly challenging as the charming Major John Andre of the King's Army becomes more to her than a target for intelligence.

Mercy's journals offer comfort to Natalie from across the centruries as both women struggle with their own secrets and well-kept shame -- and wonder how deep God's mercy truly extends.

My Review:

"You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory." (p 365)

I'm not even sure how to review this one. So much to say but I really can't without posting a whole bunch of spoilers and I think it's best to experience The Hidden Side as the story unfolds because there really isn't any way to prepare you for what's to come.

It's a tough read -- the kind that singes your heart and forces you to look at things you'd rather not. That makes you uncomfortable as it stretches your capacity to understand your faith and accept grace in a whole new way. And, honestly, it will leave you feeling bruised and tender for some time to come.

Chiavaroli has courageously tackled some tough subject matter and exposes even more questions than answers by the time the story concludes. And that's a good thing because we need to be thinking and talking and listening. We need to be brave enough to come out of hiding; to tackle society's most difficult issues with compassionate honesty.

While this is a dual timeline novel, it's the present day story that held me captive. Mercy's historical viewpoint was interesting but I didn't feel a deep connection between the events of 1776 and those of present day. For me, the Abbott family's journey consumed me. I read each page with ever growing horror, reeling in despair as their lives unravel.. It took my breath away. It hurt. I was just as stunned and confused and grappling for answers as the characters were. But the author didn't leave us in that dark place. She reminds the Abbotts...and her readers...that we are not navigating through this complicated world alone.

"You are a broken mess. Your family is a broken mess. But your God is not." (p 361)

And when it comes to our brokenness -- we can choose to wallow in it or allow hope to carry us out of it.

"I chose the hope of something more in the center of our dire circumstances. I drew in a deep breath, made a decision to fall into His capable hands." (p 372)

Gut-wrenching. Sobering. Thought provoking. There's plenty to talk about so The Hidden Side would make a truly amazing Book Club selection. Definitely worth the time it takes to read and ponder.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Hidden Side, 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 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Fatal Response

GIVEAWAY

BAILEY, JODIE
FATAL RESPONSE

A killer knows his biggest secret...and is one step ahead

Someone's targeting the families of soldiers in Sergeant Jason Barnes's elite military unit, and Jason's determined his secret ex-wife won't become a victim. But with his heart still wounded, he refuses to risk falling for firefighters Erin Taylor again. As he puts his life on the line to guard her, though, he can't keep his distance if he wants her to survive.

My Review:

Angst and action overload in this head-swimming romantic suspense! If the case doesn't twist your innards into knots, the romance sure will.

Jason and Erin fell in love too soon -- high school sweethearts who didn't stand a chance given their dysfunctional backgrounds. But their divorce heaped on even more damage and when they come face to face again under the most dire of circumstances, their past is going to make or break them. A surprisingly deep delve into how the wounds of our childhood have the power to play havoc with our future.

As to the suspense -- fast and furious collides with gobsmacked!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fatal Response, 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 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Lady of Tarpon Springs

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, JUDITH
THE LADY OF TARPON SPRINGS

In 1905 Tarpon Springs, Florida, Zanna Krykos values the independence her career as a lawyer gives her from her very traditional Greek family and the pressure they put on her to find a husband. When a friend inherits a sponging business, Zanna finds herself agreeing to run it for her...even though she doubts her legal skills make her qualified.

When offered the chance to lead a team of sponge divers to the United States, experienced Greek diver Nico Kalos can't imagine a better opportunity. But his excitement quickly quells when their team arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience will be their boss. For the sake of his men and the families they support, he can't let the business fail.

But when both the buisness and the lives of the employees are threatened, can Zanna and Nico set aside their pride and come together to save what matters most?

My Review:

Judith Miller always astounds me with the historical details in her novels. She finds the most interesting tidbits in history to create a fictional story around. Like sponge diving off the Florida coast. And the Greek divers who shared their expertise and helped establish a flourishing sponging trade. Who knew? Judith Miller, that's who! And it's worth taking a peek at the author's notes at the back of the book (after you finish the story, mind!) where she shares her research and separates fact from fiction. Fascinating stuff.

As is our Greek hero. Nico. Be still my heart. Seriously -- it's still all aflutter just thinking about him. Opinionated. Savvy. Bold. Quick to weaken knees with the flash of a smile. Let's all shivery swoon together. One. Two. Three. Siiiiggggghhhh! But to be honest, I have to mention that Nico is...well...can an early 20th century hero be labeled chauvinistic? Very old world values when it comes to women. Which makes his first encounter with Adria delightfully combustible. A lady lawyer? A female interpreter? Business manager? What self-respecting man would take orders from a woman?! Nico can't wrap his head around that at all! And neither can his crew!

But Adria is scrappy and tenacious and not about to let these stubborn men get the better of her! Especially Nico. I actually felt sorry for him more than once as he bears the brunt of Adria's strong willed independence. The dynamics between these two are so much fun to read! In the end, it's Nico's easy-going nature that's able to soothe Zanna's fire and fury...some of the time!.

Plus there's a great cast of secondary characters too. Zanna's opinionated Greek family (she comes by her stubbornness honestly!) As well as the three Rochester sisters (think Baldwin sisters from the Waltons) who provide delightful comedic relief. One scene in particular in which poor Nico's noble deeds are gravely misunderstood is hysterical! I read it twice just because the comedy of errors is so much fun!

And if all that isn't enough to tanatlize an avid reader's senses, there's even an element of mystery within these pages! It truly doesn't get much better than that!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lady of Tarpon Springs, 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 September 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

River to Redemption

GIVEAWAY

GABHART, ANN H.
RIVER TO REDEMPTION

One young woman must stand up for freedom -- and perhaps find her own in the process.

Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave named Louis, a man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions.

Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840s Kentucky, she'll need all of the courage and strength she possesses -- and more.

My Review:

Pray Believing

What a powerfully moving novel! All the more so because it is based on a true story. Gabhart has done an incredible job of weaving together fact and fiction into a compelling tale of grit and promise. Beautifully written -- the author has a knack with words that settle deep into a reader's soul. I felt my way through to the end. Heartbreak and anger. Fear and frustration. I was on tenterhooks all the way through.

Adria -- with her spark of independence that leads her to challenge the social norms of the day. Her tender friendship with a slave named Louis that leads her question the morality of slavery.
Ruth -- Adria's foster mother. A widow who buried her heart along with her husband. A secret poet, a gifted teacher with a talent for baking that provides a much needed second income.
Will -- Widowed pastor with a floundering faith. He knows the right things to say and do to shepherd his flock, but his convictions have dimmed.
And Louis -- stalwart man of faith who teaches them all what "pray believing" actually looks like.

"All the time prayers are answered if you pray believin' the Lord is there with you. He can get you through some hard times like them we've had here tonight." (p. 295)

Simply put -- River to Redemption is definitely one of my top picks for 2018!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY;

If you would like a chance to win a copy of River to Redemption, 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 23 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

September Giveaway -- Week Three

Whoooeeeeee! Was this not a fun week or what?! And now our wishlists are all plumped up with delicious forthcoming releases. I've been slipping on drool for days! :-) Thanks for all the fun and frolic! Without further adieu...

THE WINNERS ARE:

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY FAITH, HOPE & CHERRY TEA

WON BY PATTY

WON BY CARYL KANE

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

WON BY DIANNA (SIS)

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY PAM WESTFALL

WON BY PAULA

WON BY ELLY

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS

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 will be ordered the week of release and I'll email winners to confirm their win is on the way. Give it a full month from that time before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK: