Justice at Morgan Mesa

GIVEAWAY

NIGHT, JENNA
JUSTICE AT MORGAN MESA

Her father's killer is back...and now he's after her

Attorney Vanessa Ford was only a child when her father was murdered, but now she's returned to her hometown, determined to find answers to the unsolved case. When the attacks start, she knows she's close to the truth...too close. But with policeman Levi Hawk volunteering to work with her on the investigation, can Vanessa finally find answers...or will deadly trouble strike them first?

My Review:

Cue the scary music and grab your favourite blankie before you settle down to start in on Justice at Morgan Mesa...and you might want to have the lights on. All of them. Seriously breath-snatching, heart-hammering, shoulder-checking opening scene that tips the creep-o-meter scale. Phew!

But don't worry...things settle down (a bit) after that...well, not exactly, but at least Levi shows up to provide a swoonworthy distraction. Love a tense cold-case mystery and this one is definitely that! Vanessa has stirred up a heap of trouble when she starts making inquiries about her father's murder and then suddenly the twenty year old cold-case is anything but cold.

Love the balance between suspense and romance. A specter of danger looms over Vanessa throughout, but there are some sweet (and heated) scenes between the hair-raising ones. Levi and Vanessa come from two different worlds, but that doesn't hinder their attraction, though both are reticent to act on it. Love the push/pull that kept me on romantical edge right to the very end.

And -- whoa -- that ending! Stay in your seats and keep your seat belts buckled until it's all over. A riveting romantic suspense!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Justice at Morgan Mesa, 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 Saturday February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Night at the Opera

GIVEAWAY

HENRIE, STACY
NIGHT AT THE OPERA

An unforgettable kiss. A kaleidoscope of senses. A night she'll always remember.

1908

When American heiress Gwen Barton aids an injured gentleman in an opera box in London, she shares a kiss with the stranger that changes her life. More determined than ever to be herself, in spite of the limp she's sustained since childhood, she will marry for love and not a title. She also resolves to learn the identity of the man she helped -- and kissed. Surely he can't be the irritating Avery Winfield, though. But as circumstances continue to throw Gwen and Avery together, she begins to wonder if there is more to this man than she first thought.

While most of London only knows him as the nephew of a duke, Avery Winfield is actually working for the Secret Service Bureau to ferret out German spies from among the ton. It's a profession that gives him purpose and a reason to remain a bachelor. But the more he interacts with Gwen Barton, an heiress from America, the more he begins to question his plans and neglected faith. Then he learns Gwen is the young lady from the opera box who helped him. Now his most important mission may have nothing to do with saving Britain from danger and everything to do with risking his heart for the woman he met that night at the opera.

My Review:

 The hint of intrigue, assistance rendered and a stolen kiss all cloaked in the shadows -- what a thrilling start to a romance! Or it would be, if Gwen could figure out who her mysterious gentleman actually is.

She's an American heiress in London for the season -- he's English nobility...and a spy. Night at the Opera is all cloak and dagger and star-crossed lovers set against the opulent backdrop of a London season. There's as much mystery in the romance as there is in the suspense and both are deliciously thrilling!

I love the way both hero and heroine flaunt convention as they strive to follow their dreams. Gwen in particular, has to continually fight against the constraints that society and her family have placed upon her. Marrying by the end of the season is the goal but her servant's heart yearns to find fulfillment working with orphans.

Avery hides a wounded heart behind his service to King and country and yet he can't resist the outspoken American heiress. Love the way their relationship develops -- from aloof acquaintances to cautious friends, both almost too stubborn to fall in love. And when they do, things get complicated!

An Edwardian era romance full of heart and hope...and plenty of intrigue! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Night at the Opera, 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 Saturday February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Her Last Chance Cowboy

GIVEAWAY

RADCLIFFE, TINA
HER LAST CHANCE COWBOY

She came seeking family...will she find love at Big Heart Ranch?

When pregnant single mother Hannah Vincent shows up professing to be the half sister of the Maxwells of Big Heart Ranch, horse trainer Tripp Walker is wary. Wounded before, he doesn't trust easily. If only Hannah and her feisty five-year-old daughter weren't so impossible to resist. Now, despite his doubts, joining this little family is quickly becoming the cautious cowboy's greatest wish.

My Review:

I'm seriously tripping over Tripp even though he "tends to be as confused as a cow in a parking lot." (p 204) when it comes to relationships and romance and basically all things Hannah! But I can handle that inconvenience if Hannah can.

I mean, it's not often a girl runs into a vegetarian hero in the pages of a romance novel -- especially a cowboy one. Be still my tofu-lovin' heart! (side note: what's with Tripp not sharing his prize-winning vegetarian chili recipe with his avid readers?!) That man sure knows how to keep a secret. Come's from being more than a tad distrustful and a whole lot closed mouth. Except when it comes to Hannah -- then he's all about spewing out all kind of rants which put Hannah on the defensive and then...kapow! Fireworks. As wise old wrangler Dutch says, "Whoo-ee. You two are as much fun as being caught in a thunderstorm in your long johns." (p 84) Which, is actually, a whole of fun! Nothing like sparks and sizzles crackling the pages in an edge-of-your-seat romance!

And did I mention Tripp is a horse whisperer? Gotta love a man who cares about animals, right? Even if he's not that great at human interactions. Unless they are kids. Then he goes all soft and mushy and so did my heart every single time little Clementine was around big ol' taciturn Tripp. Some of the meltiest scenes ever!

And, yes, you may have noticed that this review is very Tripp-centric, but I've been waiting for his story the whole series so indulge me, please. I knew he'd make a great lead in his own story and I'm thrilled that he got to be the hero in the grand finale of Radcliffe's Big Heart Ranch series. (Mind you, that doesn't mean I'm thrilled that the series is over! Sob!) But the author did an amazing job of giving fans closure when it comes to all the other heroes and heroines. Yes, we knew they achieved their happily-ever-afters at the end of each book but it was exciting to get an actual glimpse of what that really looks like. So now I'm a mess of happy/sad and waxing/waning bookish bliss because this stupendous series is over and that sounds so final. Sniffle. But the author promises to head west again with her new series so I guess I just have to patiently anticipate until the first book comes out.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Whoohoo -- Tina Radcliffe is giving away an autographed copy too!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Her Last Chance Cowboy, 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 Saturday February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
MY HEART BELONGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE : LAUREL'S DREAM

A British missionary meets a chilly welcome in a remote Appalachian community

Laurel McAdams is well acquainted with trouble, but her dreams keep her hopeful that life can improve on her mountain in the Blue Ridge. Still, trouble does come in the form of an outsider.

Having failed his British father again, Jonathan Taylor joins his uncle's missionary endeavors as a teacher in a two-room shcoolhouse. Laurel feels compelled to protect the tenderhearted teacher from the harsh realities of Appalachian life, even while his stories of life outside the mountains pull at Laurel's imagination.

Faced with parents angry over his teaching methods, Laurel's father's drunken rages, and bad news from England, will Jonathan leave and never return, or will he stay and let love bloom?

Journey into North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918 where a young woman's dreams are held captive by rugged landscape and long-held traditions.

My Review:

"Dream, girl, but trust God to take better care of your dreams than you ever could." (p 139)

Sometimes you come across a book that defies description and this is one of them. I've been grappling with words that won't come because I don't think anything I say can do justice to the depth and breadth and overall bookiliciouness of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream.

I wish I had Laurel's 'lyrical phrasing' to help me. "She's always got the mullygrubs but down deep she's as soft as fresh biscuits." (p 113) But any attempts to wax poetic have fallen embarrassingly short so I'm not sharing them here! Just know that this is the kind of story you live through with all your senses. The kind that carries you away so completely that it's hard to pull out of. And, if someone or something does manage to haul you back to your sorry 21st century reality, you will be utterly discombobulated for awhile...in fact the disorientation will likely last until you can slip back to Basham's mountain setting again.

This is such a sublime read I can't even...head thunking on desk...I have no words!

Laurel charmed me -- she's bewitching and beguiling and exuberant and hopeful. Steadied by her faith and a mountain folk practicality that captivated me. And she loves books!!!!  "If a book comes by, any book, I'm obliged to give it my attention." (p 72) How can you not love a heroine like that?!

And Jonathan is an intriguing mix of noble and broken and searching. He comes to this Appalachian community with an open heart and the desire to not only teach, but learn as well. And then the story unfolds -- only you forget it's a story -- you feel like you are living their lives right along with them and every day is an adventure and you're wrapped up in something so epic and elemental and true that it takes your breath away.

True fact: I'm all kinds of giddy after living Laurel's Dream right along with her that I'm all out of words. Just plum happy and basking in the literary afterglow.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream, 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 Saturday February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Bathed in Prayer : Father Tim's Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series

KARON, JAN
BATHED N PRAYER

"In Mitford, a reader may find sorrow and disappointment, sickness and loss, but there will always be connection and community, a safe place to run." Jan Karon

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mitford series comes a must-have collection of prayers and inspiration from Father Tim and from Jan Karon herself.

Millions of readers have fallen in love with the faith and encouragement at the very heart of a universal small town called Mitford. In Bathed in Prayer, the prayers, sermons, and inspirational passages from the fourteen novels are gathered together in one remarkable collection. Here we will walk with Father Tim through favorite Mitford moments -- Christmas sermons, humble prayers, marriage ceremonies, funerals, and everything in between. Thankfully, fans will hear directly from author Jan Karon in a brand new essay about her faith journey, and the ways the Mitford novels have impacted her.

This beautifully designed compilation is a staple for any Mitford reader, and a perfect gift for the ardent Mitford fan.

My Review:

There are fourteen Mitford books and I've only read one -- #13 -- and I remember feeling totally lost because this is definitely a series to read in order. But that's a lot of catch up to do so I haven't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, I've been intrigued by the series for awhile now so when I saw Bathed in Prayer in my public library I scooped it up. And guess what? It's actually the perfect introduction to the series!

Karon sets up each scene from her books perfectly, so it was easy for me to get the most out of them without feeling lost or confused (as I felt when trying to read that 13th book!) I got a real feel for what the series is all about and understand now why Mitford has so many fans! Stunning, touching, sweet and tender and poignant -- this book touched my heart. I can only imagine how much more of an impact it would make on Mitford fans. A revisiting with old friends at pivotal points in their lives.

Inspirational quotes and Karon's new essay on her faith journey bring an extra depth and I could totally see using this book as a daily devotional. An ingenuous celebration of a much-loved series.

January Giveaway -- Week Four

WON BY CARYL KANE

WON BY LINDA MOFFITT

WON BY LWAT

WON BY MVANBEEK
and
ABBI HART

WON BY SUSAN P

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 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 ordered 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:





As well, on Sunday I'll be reviewing Bathe in Prayer by Jan Karon, but won't be doing a giveaway.

Amish Hideout

GIVEAWAY

BLACK, MAGGIE K.
AMISH HIDEOUT

She must survive to testify...
The first exciting Amish Witness Protection thriller!

With a price on his witness's head, U.S. Marshal Jonathan Mast can think of only one place to hide Celeste Alexander -- in the Amish community he left behind. As a computer expert, leading a life off the grid isn't easy for Celeste. But will staying in Jonathan's childhood home save her...and convince them a future together is worth fighting for?

My Review:

The first book in an exciting three book multi-authored series -- Amish Witness Protection. As far as I can tell there aren't any over-arcing suspense plots -- just the connection of hiding witnesses in plain sight so to speak.  Kind of like that Harrison Ford movie, Witness. I'm excited to see what the next two books have in store for us after reading Maggie K. Black's tense page-turner.

The first nail-biting scene in Amish Hideout had me hooked and I actually read this book in one sitting, because, really, how could I put it down? Relentless pursuits and multiple threats keep the suspense plot hopping while the romance gently develops through heartfelt dialogue and is sharpened by the desperate edge danger brings. Like I said, page-turning stuff! A great start to a new Amish series!

Sidenote:  Jacob refers to his father as Pa which sounds more pioneer than Amish to me. I've read a lot of Amish novels....a lot!...and I've come across Dat, Daadi, Father, Dad, Vater but never Pa. I know different communities have different dialects so I'm wondering if anyone else has ever come across this form of Father.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win a copy of Amish Hideout, 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Romancing the Bride

GIVEAWAY

JAGEARS, MELISSA
ROMANCING THE BRIDE

Marrying a stranger to save a ranch is one thing; losing the land on their wedding day is another.

Desperate to keep the land where three of her children and her husband lie buried. Annie Gephart must marry or sell. Which of the few bachelors in town would consider a surprise proposal to wed a plain widow with a rebellious daughter, a spirited boy, and unpaid taxes -- without laughing in her face?

Jacob Hendrix has never fully let go of his ranching dreams despite ending up as a small Wyoming town's marshal. The job wouldn't be so bad, except he's more errand boy than lawman. When Annie proposes marriage without a single coquettish bat of an eyelash, can he commit himself to a woman he hardly knows for a choice piece of property he'd be an idiot to pass up?

But taxes aren't all that threaten Annie and Jacob's plans. Cattle rustlers, crumbling friendships, and wayward children make this marriage of convenience anything but. When they lose what they've sacrificed everything to save, will the love of a stranger be enough?

Romancing the Bride is the first book in the Frontier Vows series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like heartwarming marriage-of-convenience stories, you'll love this sweet romance filled with endearing characters.

My Review:

A marriage of convenience story with heart and grit! Love the Wyoming setting -- haven't read many stories that take place in this state...in fact, this might be the first one! Jagears works her time-traveling magic with all her excellent historical details. From ranch life to a small town steeped in mystery and some of the unusual duties of the Marshal. And, of course, the harsh realities of a woman's life in this rugged man's world.

As far as the hero goes -- Jacob definitely earned a spot on the swoonworthy podium! Because, once committed, this man pursues not just Annie, but her children as well.  Prepare for curled toes and smelling salt moments! And he's a man of faith; deliberate in the way he pursues the Lord's will in his life. Gotta love a hero with that kind of singular focus.

Annie is beleaguered and overwhelmed and still reeling from the violent death of her husband and everything that has transpired since then. My heart hurt and my body ached for her. Vulnerable and wary, she has a lot to figure out before their marriage of convenience has a chance of growing into something more meaningful. Loved the way the romance slowly builds in fits and starts. Had me on tenterhooks the whole read.

But then there's all the sinister things going on in town and somehow, the Marshal's new family is caught up in the middle of it. Plot twists led to some unexpected revelations and I like that not absolutely everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Not that there isn't a happily ever after -- there is, but it's a realistic one. Which kinda makes it all the sweeter somehow.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Romancing the Bride, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahoo.ca. If you leave an email in 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Bride of Ivy Green

GIVEAWAY

KLASSEN, JULIE
THE BRIDE OF IVY GREEN

Much has happened in idyllic Ivy Hill in recent months, and while several villagers have found new love and purpose, questions remain -- and a few dearly held dreams have yet to be fulfilled.

Jane Bell is torn. Gabriel Locke is back and has made his intentions clear. But Jane is reluctant to give up her inn and destine another man to a childless marriage. Then someone she never expected to see again returns to Ivy Hill...

Mercy Grove has lost her school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires seems out of reach. Should she uproot herself from Ivy Cottage to become a governess for a former pupil? Her decision will change more lives than her own.

A secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, but the ladies soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. Will they oust the imposter, or help rescue her from a dangerous predicament?

In the meantime, everyone expects Miss Brockwell to marry a titled gentleman, even though her heart is drawn to another. While the people of Ivy Hill anticipate one wedding, an unexpected bride may surprise them all.

Don't miss this romantic, stirring conclusion to Tales from Ivy Hill.

My Review:

I am a frazzled mess of euphoric bliss and abject misery because, while this was a spectacular conclusion to the Tales of Ivy Hill series, it is also the last book! Gulp. Ever. Like in never getting to armchair travel there again. And though this delectable, multi-romanced story charmed me into a flummox of heart-palpitating delight there's a niggling pain deep down inside my heart because it's really and truly over! Forever! Did I say that already? Sorry. I'm truly gutted...in a way that only true literary aficionados who have been forcibly ejected out of a fictional setting can understand.

I love Ivy Hill! I love all the villagers and especially the businesswomen who pull together and support one another no matter what the need! They came together magnificently in this last (sob) installment. And this book does read like an installment -- or third season in a spectacular BBC period drama. Think Cranford or Larkrise to Candleford. Because of that, I think it's best to read this series in order. You'll miss out on so many nuances in relationships and plot if you don't...and, honestly, why would you want to deprive yourself of starting at the very beginning anyway?

There is so much romance in this book that I'm still all aflutter. From married couples to courting couples to desperate-longing-but-slow-to-act-on-it couples, to the sweet-fresh-beginnings couples. Oh, this reader's anguish over the wicked twists and turns to their happily ever afters! Sensitive readers might require smelling salts and copious amount of chocolate to make their way safely through to the end.

A stunning conclusion to an exceptional series and I guarantee I'll reread it more than once over the coming years because I don't think I can go Ivy Hilless for very long!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bride of Ivy Green, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahoo.ca. If you leave an email in 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Rancher's Unexpected Baby

GIVEAWAY

LYNN, JILL
THE RANCHER'S UNEXPECTED BABY

From bachelor to daddy...overnight!
A Colorado Grooms novel

After his marriage ended, Gage Frasier vowed he'd never remarry or have children -- but now he's guardian of an orphaned baby boy. Thankfully, his friend's sweet sister, Emma Wilder, offers to nanny while Gage weeks a more suitable family for the child. But soon Gage finds himself bonding with his new son...and with Emma. Parenthood surprised Gage, but will love sneak up on him too?

My Review:

That cover! Blissful sigh. Between gushing over the baby and swooning over the cowboy I'm romanticaliously discombobulated. What a toe-curling extravaganza of utter delight! And I'm giving myself a time out in the corner because after reading Jill Lynn's debut novel in 2015 I somehow missed 3 other novels before I got my act together and bought this one! I'm aghast and appalled and wholeheartedly ashamed of myself!

Love, love, love this heroine. I've fallen under the spell of 'the Emma Effect' just like Gage has. It's impossible not to. She's sunshiny optimism to his cynical pessimism. Her passion for life and capacity to love knows no bounds and when she sets her sights on helping someone --- well, best to back out of the way and let her get on with it! And she's harbored a full-blown crush for her brother's best friend for a while now. I grew more and more besotted over Gage right along with her.

Because, hello, cowboy! With a past that's made him bitter. Caused him to doubt his capacity to love but noble enough to honor a friend's impossible request which makes him guardian of baby boy. And -- be still my heart -- the gift he gives Emma at the end! Thud -- that's me swooning so hard I bounced off my fainting couch!

Laughter and tears and the sweet thrill of romance make The Rancher's Unexpected Baby an astonishingly not-to-be-missed-go-out-and-buy-it-now (or win it here) kind of read! :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rancher's Unexpected Baby, 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 . 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Things Left Unsaid

GIVEAWAY

WALSH, COURTNEY
THINGS LEFT UNSAID

An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but is unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best -- and worst -- memories. It's not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for the last ten years, it's the other secrets she's buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn't the only one with secrets.

Cassie's mother, father, and brother, still struggling with loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart -- to escape the darkness and all its regrets  and to finally come to terms with the past, and, especially with each other.

My Review:

"Some things have to be said out loud. 

That's how they lose their power."

Whoa -- kinda speechless here. This story wasn't at all what I expected it to be...it was all that and so much more! Walsh digs deep into the fractured lives of her characters and delivers an emotionally breathtaking read. This is a story about the many facets of grief. About the kind of brokenness only grace can heal. About stilted friendships and past mistakes and how it all comes crashing down one week when everyone gathers for the wedding of the season.

Honestly, I was mesmerized from the very first page. The author tells the story from multiple perspectives which let me into each character's heart and mind. I love an emotional read -- the kind that ties you up in knots and makes chocolate and tissues a necessity and Walsh definitely delivers that! I was on edge the whole read, trying to figure out how a past tragedy altered the lives of each character. And the slow reveal of backstories was excruciating!

Consider this your rabid-compulsive-read warning. You won't be able to put this book down...unless it's to scribble out profound quotes that you end up sticking up all over your house so they can bring you the same kind of transformation they brought Walsh's characters. In fact, I did so in such a frenzy that I neglected to record page numbers for the quotes included here. My apologies!

"You can keep struggling and trying to do this your own way, or you can actually lay it down and let God do whatever He wants with it."

Profound and powerful. Steeped in faith. Brimming with grace. Boldly proclaiming the magnificence of a God who forgives and forgets. An unforgettable story that might just change your life in the same way it changed the lives of the characters in this book...if you dare let it.

"You give away the very thing you need. If you need hope, find a way to give others hope. If you need a friend, find a way to be a friend. If you need forgiveness, give forgiveness."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Things Left Unsaid, 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 . 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY CONNIE

WON BY JANA LEAH

WON BY SHARON TIMMER

WON BY SABRINA TEMPLIN

WON BY LUCY R.

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 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 ordered 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:

Explosive Reunion

GIVEAWAY

KIRST, KAREN
EXPLOSIVE REUNION

"I'm not leaving you."
He made a promise to protect her.

Back in her hometown, Tori James never expects to spend time with her ex-fiance -- until someone blows up her car. Now she has a target on her back, and accepting Staff Sargeant Cade McMann as her bodyguard is her only hope of staying alive. But even as Cade and Tori are drawn back together, a killer is determined to tear them apart for good.

My Review:

Catchy title for a riveting 'debut'. This is Karen Kirst's first romantic suspense and it's an explosive page-turner. Impeccable pacing, intriguing suspense, diverse action and some great hero/heroine heart-to-hearts. It was easy to lose myself in the story and savor each scene as I tried to puzzle out the how and why of Tori's mystery threat. And there are a couple of interesting secondary characters I'm hoping might get their own story sometime in the future. Pretty please with a cherry on top! This author has shot up to the top of my LIS 'must buy NOW' authors list. Super excited to see what comes next from Karen Kirst!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Explosive Reunion, leave a comment below or email me at kavlvustoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 Saturday January 19 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Lieutenant's Bargain

GIVEAWAY

JENNINGS, REGINA
THE LIEUTENANT'S BARGAIN

Hattie Walker dreams of being a painter, while her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to head to Denver and place her works in an exhibition or give up the dream forever. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescue by a group fo Arapaho...but she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.

Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children . When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to take her home...and plead his case once more.

He's stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart -- but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril. -- and tests Jack's resolve to remain single.

My Review:

That cute cover promises reading bliss within and Jennings delivers in this drama/romcom/mystery. Great opening scene full of action and danger and some surprising laugh-out-loud moments. The perfect set-up for Hattie's wild west adventures! She's kinda prissy, prone to making snap judgments and fiercely determined to live her life on her own terms...until a vicious gunman dashes her plans.

Cue Lieutenant Jack Hennessey -- her knight in shining armor -- who rescues her from one scrape only to land her into an even bigger one. And poor Jack, he's besotted -- has been since they were classmates in school. Hattie didn't notice him then -- not in that way! But she's noticing him now and having a hard time connecting the school boy with the army officer who has suddenly become the focal point in her life. Lots of fodder for romantic tension, not to mention laughter.

It's an intriguing time period -- and not without controversy. I'm always uncomfortable when I think about the ways both American and Canadian governments 'managed' the Native populations. Issues like sending the children to mission schools, cutting their hair, refusing to allow them to speak their own language etc. The force-feeding of white culture at the expense of Native traditions. So I was wary of that aspect of the story but I think Jennings did a marvelous job of being historically accurate while showing compassion and understanding through the thoughts and actions of her characters -- especially through Jack.

Then there's the mystery, some danger, the enthralling details of fort life and even a Christmas twist towards the end! All combine to make this the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's night.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lieutenant's Bargain, 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 Saturday January 19 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Wait For Me

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
WAIT FOR ME

Pete Brooks can't believe he's waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiance. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job has cost lives, and Pete isn't sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward.

EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, be it seems he's no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn't get worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness -- with murderous intent.

Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he's learned to find Jess and Esme -- and pray that his past mistakes don't cost him the life of the woman he can't stop loving.

My Review:

"He wasn't looking for trouble, but if Pete didn't act right now, at least one person was going to die." And so it begins -- the much anticipated/dreaded conclusion to Susan May Warren's Montana Rescue series. I'm in an addlepated stupor of bookish proportions but will try to rally long enough to write this review.

So Jess....gah! And Pete...whimper. And Jess and Pete...I can't even...I mean, honestly -- I adore Pete. I'm madly in love with Pete. I kept telling Pete, "Forget about Jess. I'm right here. Ready to make all your dreams come true!" But did he pay me any attention? Pffft. Sigh. I guess I can cut him some slack with all the bullet-flying-car-crashing-cliff-dangling etc. distractions Warren placed in his way. Clearly he had more on his mind than one simpering, swoony reader fangirling all over him but it still cuts.

And that Jess --- I. Have. No. Words. Well, expect, maybe to say that if any heroine in all the fictional heroines in the world ever deserved a good purse whomping -- it's Jess Tagg. And I would have followed through except that Warren did her own diabolical version of purse whomping in multiple harrowing ways so I felt sorry for Jess and gave her a pass. :-)

The whole Montana Rescue crew makes multiple appearances in this sixth and final installment which was scrumptious but leaves me with one burning question: What is it with all these long engagements you guys?!

As always, Warren deftly weaves an inspirational thread through the chaos and mayhem which actually makes it all the more poignant. "Yeah. I'm talking about God's love, Pete. You gotta start trusting in God's love for you. For Jess. Lean into it. Let it change you. Let it set you free." 

A breath-snatching, tail-spinning, mind-blowing conclusion to one of my favourite series! I'm still feeling a bit shell-shocked but I'd go through every nerve wracking moment all over again. In fact, I likely will because this set goes on my keeper shelf to be enjoyed again at some future date.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Wait for Me, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email ot 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 Saturday January 19 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Just Plain Murder

GIVEAWAY

BRADFORD, LAURA
JUST PLAIN MURDER

Claire Weatherly and her beau, police detective Jakob Fisher, learn that when it comes to murder, evil can hide in plain sight in this all-new addition to the national bestselling Amish Mysteries.

Jakob and Claire have been enjoying more time together in Heavenly, Pennsylvania. With Claire's help, the detective is making slow progress reconnecting with the members of his Amish family sho stunned him when he left to prepare a career in law enforcement. Jakob's mentor, Russ Granger, the long-retired police chief who inspired him to become a cop, is back in town. Claire has always wanted to meet the man who changed the course of Jakob's life. But not long after he arrives in Heavenly, Russ is murdered.

Jakob can only imagine that his old friend must have been killed by someone outside the Amish community. He and Claire soon find that things are not as they seem -- and that Russ must have stumbled into something sinister before he was killed. the answers they uncover are closer to home and more shocking than they ever expected.

My Review:

Yay!!! Another visit to charming Heavenly, Pennsylvania was just the kind of armchair traveling I needed during a frigid bout of winter weather. There's nothing more sublime then cozying up with a cozy! And I love Claire and Jakob and the interesting mix of Amish and Englisch secondary characters that make up this quaint small town...which has had more than it's fair share of murders!

Claire just can't help but become involved even though her boyfriend is the town's detective. But this time it's personal and Jakob's assaulted by emotions and regrets as he tries to remain objective while investigating his mentor's murder. Love that these two are in a solid relationship now and the way Claire supports him as he struggles to work everything out. Sometimes it's fun to celebrate a romance without all the angst, you know?

This is the sixth book in Bradford's Amish Mystery series but it can be read as a standalone -- though there are a lot of secondary to become acquainted with. I think the author does an excellent job of introducing them and their back stories, but readers familiar with the series will be happy to renew acquaintances!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Just Plain Murder, 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 Saturday January 19 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!