Tuesday, April 30, 2019

A Perfect Amish Match

GIVEAWAY
CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
A PERFECT AMISH MATCH

Every courting disaster has led him to her. An Indiana Amish Brides story.

After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah's perfect match becomes clear -- it's Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn't planned on love and marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she's been missing?

My Review:

The perfect combination of funny and poignant. Love a romance that keeps me laughing and sighing straight through to the happily ever after and this one sure did! Noah had a lot to do with that. He's just so....exasperatingly befuddled and incredibly insightful -- sometimes at the same time! My heart started melting at first meet but I knew Noah was the man for me...er Olivia Mae..on page 113. Call me smitten!

Despite multiple professional successes as a matchmaker, Olivia Mae is nigh on clueless when it comes to finding her own perfect match. Love the irony -- and the sweet romance that slowly develops between these two. But there are major hurdles to overcome as Olivia Mae and Noah learn to place their trust in God's plan for their future.

Vannetta Chapman is one of my favourite authors and A Perfect Amish Match is a perfect example of why.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Perfect Amish Match, 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 May 4 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Monday, April 29, 2019

Formula of Deception

GIVEAWAY
PARKS, CARRIE STUART
FORMULA OF DECEPTION

An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II's most dangerous secrets -- a secret that desperate man will do anything to keep hidden.

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she's an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man's memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again -- and back in the killer's crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

My Review:

Whoa! I'm stunned speechless after that ending! Gobsmacked. Sucker-punched. Reeling in astonishment. And I have no idea how to review Formula of Deception without letting a herd of cats out of the bag so all I can say is -- stunningly stupefying suspense!!!! Pay attention, readers, because it's going to get a whole lot more complicated before things start to make any sense. Loved every clue-deducing second!

I had some pretty hare-brained theories as I waged deeper into the cold case mire and then I had such a scathingly brilliant idea and I was sooooo certain I was right...until I wasn't! Carrie Stuart Parks shocked me numerous times throughout this read. And Murphy's backstory shocked me most of all. Honestly -- I'm in a post-read-dithery state and can't make much more sense than this: read Formula of Deception and experience all the chills and thrills for yourself!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Formula of Deception, 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 May 4 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Saturday, April 27, 2019

April Giveaway -- Week Four


WON BY MARK

WON BY JANA LEAH

WON BY PATTY

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY PERRIANNE

WON BY KAY GARRETT

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:

Formula of Deception42550661
4039222241755335
38915884

Friday, April 26, 2019

Killer Exposure

GIVEAWAY
PATCH, JESSICA R.
KILLER EXPOSURE

A killer with a secret motive...a mother with a secret baby

Crime scene photographer Greer Montgomery didn't expect to witness a murder at a small town carnival -- nor to be rescued by the father of her secret baby. A storm chaser, Locke Gallagher often stares down death, but he's never known true fear until Gwen's life is at risk. But how can he protect his newly discovered family when the killer could be anyone?

My Review:

Well....I won't be going to any carnivals this summer, that's for sure! Cue the creepy music and maniacal laughter. Bwahahaha! Okay, it's not that super scary so don't be afraid to read Killer Exposure but it does have some alarming moments. And a bit of spine-tingling and gasp-out-louding ones. The kind of suspense where you think you know what's going to happen next but you're wrong half the time. And when you're right the other half it's really, really bad. :-) And the ending? I can't even...comfort chocolate recommended.

But what really bedazzled me was the raw and gritty sucker punch of the secret baby trope. I'm not a huge fan of the whole secret baby theme, though I know other readers love it. I find it hard to relate to a heroine who has deliberately hidden a child from its father so an author has to work some real magic to get me on board. All I can say is Jessica Patch must have a fairy wand because I totally lost myself in this aspect of the romance.

Locke is gutted when he finds out about the baby. He's running on fear and anger for a good portion to the story. And the emotions are palpable. I ached for him! And when he meets his child for the first time I just....tissue alert!

And just because I felt everything right along with Locke, Patch still managed to soften my heart towards Greer. Yes, what she did was wrong but I could see where she was coming from and how she messed things up in her mind and came up with the idea that Locke was better off not knowing. And when these two finally come together it's all fireworks and toe-curls and me cheering myself hoarse from rapturous delight!

Phew, reader conflict crisis averted. I gobbled this romantic suspense up in one sitting!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Killer Exposure, 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 April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Driftwood Bay

GIVEAWAY
HANNON, IRENE
DRIFTWOOD BAY

After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life.Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room -- until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.

Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invited readers back to the charming seaside town of Hope Harbor, where they are sure to find peace, healing, and a second chance at happiness.

My Review:

Rambunctious beagle alert!!!!! Perfect for comic relief, exasperating interruptions and copious warm fuzzies! That right there is enough of a reason to read Driftwood Bay. But there's so much more to this divinely magical story (the whole series, really) that elevate it to the absolute top of my everyone-in-the-world-should-read-this-book-NOW list.

Like taco maker extraordinaire and town sage, Charley. I love that he has more page time in this novel. If you're familiar with the Hope Harbor series, you're probably as crazy about Charley as I am. And as curious about just how he knows the things he knows. I love an air of mystery in a man, but there's an extra sparkly special something about Charley. Seagulls Floyd and Gladys know that to be true and if you can't trust a seagull who can you trust?

I know, I'm not making any sense, might as well be speaking gibberish but, all will be made known once you've ventured into Hope Harbor. And if this is your first time with this series, no worries, Driftwood Bay (book 5) reads as a standalone -- all of the books do. But, be forewarned, once you sample the delectable  sweetness of Irene Hannon's storytelling you'll have to read the rest of the books too.

Here's one of the reasons why -- Charley sage-isms. Like this:

"God's timing isn't always ours. Sometimes he opens doors we aren't certain we're ready to walk through. And it's fine to be cautious. Not every door that beckons is divinely inspired. But at some point we do have to make a decision because most don't stay open forever." (sorry I can't quote page numbers -- I listened to the audio version.)

Then there's Jeannette and Logan's poignant love story. There's something so fragile about their wary relationship. Certain scenes kept snatching my breath away. So much pain and anguish in their pasts. My innards were twisted up in knots as I read my way through their angst.

And the Syrian refugee family brings another dimension to the overall theme of finding hope after a catastrophic loss. Each character deals with their grief in different ways and it isn't until they find the courage to take risks, drawing strength and support from one another that they can begin to heal.

"Don't let fear stop you from being everything God intended you to be."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Driftwood Bay, 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 April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The Rancher's Redemption

GIVEAWAY
JOHNSON, MYRA
THE RANCHER'S REDEMPTION

The cowboy wants solitude...until she makes him an offer he can't refuse

Including his property in the local historical society's grand tour could have huge benefits for Kent Ritter, but he has no clue how to decorate it. So he strikes a deal with town newcomer Erin Dearborn: she'll give him decorating advice if he'll make repairs to her home. It's a fair bargain...but love was never meant to enter the mix.

My Review:

She's hesitant and wary, struggling to gain back some confidence. He's single-minded, determined to make his ranch a success. Neither is ready for a relationship. But then they meet and the artist in her embraces the practical in him and suddenly they can both see how good it might be...if they dared. Lovely romantical vibe all the way through with lots of highs and lows and aching tenderness. And don't get me started on Erin's daughter, Avery! What a heart-tugging angel. Kent's a goner at first contact and so was I! Sweet perfection from start to finish.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rancher's Redemption, 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 April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Between Two Shores

GIVEAWAY
GREEN, JOCELYN
BETWEEN TWO SHORES

She has always moved between worlds, but now she must choose a side

The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval would rather remain neutral in a world tearing itself apart. Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the Seven Years' War against her wishes where her British ex-fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father. Samuel claims he has information that could end the war, and he asks Catherine to help him escape.

Peace appeals to Catherine, even if helping the man who broke her heart does not. But New France is starving, and she and her loved ones may not survive another winter of conflict-induced famine. When the dangers of war arrive on her doorstep, Catherine and Samuel flee by river toward the epicenter of the battle between England and France. She and Samuel may impact history, but she fears the ultimate cost will be higher than she can bear.

My Review:

As a Canadian I have to admit to being thrilled over a novel set during a pivotal time in my country's history. Brings me back to my junior high school studies and helps me make sense of the complicated cultural clash that still affects my country today. And I had a literary flashback to a novel study we did on The Plains of Abraham by Brian Connell. So reading Between Two Shores held more than a hint of nostalgia for me.

It's a tough read, though. You can't pretty up the brutality of war and the senseless compulsion to conquer land and people. Catherine is at the heart of it all, battling her own private wars at the same time. Green's impeccable research brings it all to a crescendo of desperation and longing and heartache. It's both appalling and riveting and definitely unsettling.

Love that women are at the heart of this story. Catherine, of course, caught between two cultures, her sister Bright Star and indentured servant/friend Thankful. It boggles my mind to think history is full of heroines like these -- women of strength and resilience who made their way in a world turned upside down by the greed of unscrupulous men.

A compelling novel of courage and faith and the peace that comes from finding a place to belong.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Between Two Shores, 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 April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Monday, April 22, 2019

Shelter of the Most High

GIVEAWAY
COSSETTE, CONNILYN
SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a city of refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood, het chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawin her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Can they uncover the betrayal in time to save thier lives and the lives of those they love?

My Review:

I'm pretty sure Connilyn Cossette is my favourite biblical fiction author. She has a gift for bringing this time period to life, delving deep into culture and customs and I come away from reading one of her books feeling like I have a better understanding of this era. And her storytelling skills are exceptional -- so beautifully lyrical that I find myself reading bits out loud just because it deserves that kind of recognition.

Love the theme of cities of refuge that carries through this series. Shelter of the Most High is the second book but I think it can be read as a standalone. The author does a great job of picking up the pieces from the last book and making sure new readers won't be lost as they delve into this one.

This story is both brutally harsh and achingly tender. My emotions ran the full gamut as I followed Sofea and Eitan on their quest to find the true meaning of refuge. Action, adventure, intrigue and plot twists galore make this book hard to put down. But it's the sweet testimony of mercy and grace which is at the heart of their story that I will carry away with me. If you love biblical fiction, add this book to your wish list. If you don't like biblical fiction, give Connilyn Cossette a try and I bet she might just change your mind. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Shelter of the Most High, 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 open and winner announced on Satruday April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sunday, April 21, 2019

No Way Out

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!
SLEEMAN, SUSAN
NO WAY OUT

Who can she trust?

Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner -- a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn't be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything she's been through? Cole's sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she's trusting Cole with more than her safety.

The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand

My Review:

published in 2013

Heart-in-throat, fingers-trembling-while-turning-pages good. I've fallen in love with Susan Sleeman's writing all over again. The opening scene took my breath away and I had a hard time keeping my oxygen levels up for the rest of the read. Danger and action expertly paired with romance -- the decadently toe-curling kind. If I wasn't lightheaded from the taut suspense, I was swooning over Cole! (Experiencing heart-palpitations just remember some of those scenes. Happy sigh,)

This is the third book in The Justice Agency series though it can be read as a standalone. I absolutely love this patchwork family -- five adopted siblings who have all served in law enforcement but have banded together to create their own PI agency, each bringing very unique skills to the group. The sibling banter is sublime, as is their tender "I'm telling you this because I love you" moments. One of my favourite fictional families. Right up there with Dee Henderson's O'Malleys.

No Way Out is sweet romantic suspense perfection!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This book is only available in ebook format so this giveaway is for a KINDLE copy.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of No Way Out, 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 April 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Saturday, April 20, 2019

April Giveaway - Week Three


WON BY MARIAN BAAY

WON BY JANA LEAH

WON BY FAITH CREECH

WON BY LIZ R.

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS

WON BY RUBYNREBA
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:

1616007536436246
4388032540390724
4186166140392254

Friday, April 19, 2019

Restoring Her Faith

GIVEAWAY
SLATTERY, JENNIFER
RESTORING HER FAITH

She left belief behind...yest this family could change her mind

With two boys to raise, a fledgling contracting business to run and a family ranch to keep afloat, widower Drake Owens finds his hands aren't just full -- they're overflowing. When Faith Nichols is hired to help him renovate the church, he's drawn to the beautiful artist, but he can't fall for a woman who isn't a believer. Can love restore her faith...and his heart?

My Review:

City girl meets country boy and sparks fly! Drake is all cowboy charm and Texan manners while Faith is about as closed off and prickly as a body can get! They both totally misread the other and start circling like wary prize fighters. So much fun!

Sage Creek is the kind of town you want to call home. Love the community dynamics which include a bevy of secondary characters clamoring for their own stories to be told. Since this is Jennifer Slattery's debut Love Inspired novel I sure am hoping it's the first of many and they all take place in Sage Creek!

A touching faith thread that moved me to tears brings extra depth to this sweet romance. And I love the role the church restoration plays in the plot, providing intriguing layers to different aspects of the story. Divinely delicious!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Restoring Her Faith, 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 April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Breach of Trust

GIVEAWAY
DYLAN, RACHEL
BREACH OF TRUST

When an open-and-shut murder case gets complicated, can she overcome her need for justice?

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw suffers the shock of her life when she finds her colleague and frienc brutally murdered. Grief-stricken and furious, Mia vows that she will do anything to make the killer pay.

The man accused of the murder is a friend of security tech guru Noah Ramirez, but the evidence just doesn't add up. To save his former ATF partner, Noah needs to convince Mia that the real killer is still on the loose.

Mia soon has more to worry about than the criminal prosecution. She is tasked with taking over her friend's last case and learns he was hiding dark secrets about his client. She thinks she may have stumbled upon corporate espionage that has turned deadly, but she has no idea of the danger involved. Her only ally is Noah, despite their difference of opinion about the killer's identity. Can Noah win Mia over to his side and protect her from ever-growing threats?

My Review:

Whoospie -- forgot to schedule this review -- it was just languishing as a draft! Sorry for the delay!

"God has an interesting way of tugging at our hearts and opening up our minds. Using the dark and painful challenges of life to speak into our hearts." (p 168)

Enthralling doesn't begin to describe all that is good about Breach of Trust. I know very little about the law but Rachel Dylan manages to write the legalize in a way that I can understand. And the combination of legal drama and intriguing suspense is such a powerful lure.

This is the kind of read where the suspense slowly builds and unexpected danger snatches the breath right out of an unsuspecting reader. Over and over again. You're like -- wait...what just happened...did that...did he...did she...aaagggh! Talk about keeping a reader on the edge of her seat! And by the halfway point I was about jumping out of my skin in anxious anticipation of what was to come.

And my emotions were all over the place. I got so seething mad at injustice -- whether it was a corporate bigwig or a nasty coworker....gah --- I was right there ready to pull some punches on Mia's behalf! Not to mention the subtle undercurrents of romance that can't possibly come to anything -- not with Noah and Mia so solidly on opposite sides of a murder investigation. He's passionately positive that his friend is not a killer while she's just as passionate about seeing the man prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law -- which might mean the death penalty! Angst anyone?

What an adrenaline rush of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Breach of Trust, 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 April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Act of Valor

GIVEAWAY
MENTINK, DANA
ACT OF VALOR

She saw something she shouldn't have...at true Blue K-9 Unit story

When airline employee Violet Griffin encounters several suspicious passengers, she's thrust into the crosshairs of a drug smuggling operation. NYPD officer Zach Jameson and his drugs detection beagle, Eddie, can tell this is no small-time threat. Someone's gunning for Violet, and after recently losing his brother, Zach refuses to lose her, too...especially now that she's gone from friends to the woman he's falling for.

My Review:

I am so easily smitten by soulful eyes, silky-soft ears and a wagging tale. Eddie is my dream canine hero - meticulous on the job but he has a hidden wild side during off hours. There's a reason they call him Officer Chewsalot! Love me a hero with a bad boy image!

And Eddie's two-legged partner, Zach, makes a droolworthy sidekick. :-) He's a bit gruff and testy as he wrestles with the emotional fallout of a recent loss but that doesn't phase bestie Violet. She's the girl next door who has known him forever and been crushing on him since junior high. He, of course, has been oblivious...until Violet becomes the target of a killer. Suddenly friendship morphs into something much deeper. Cue the toe-curling and exasperated sighing. It's tough to concentrate on romance when someone is trying to kill your lady love. :-) Great balance of suspense and romance and there's plenty of frantic page-turning action that makes this the kind of read you just can't put down!

 Act of Valor is the second book in the True Blue K-9 Unit continuity series though it can be read as a standalone. There is an over-arcing suspense plot that builds throughout the series and won't be solved until the last book. Each story does provide individual romantic and casework resolution so there aren't any nasty cliffhanger type endings. Plus the books release monthly so we won't have long to wait until #3 Blind Trust by Laura Scott releases!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Act of Valor, 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 April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh

GIVEAWAY
MILLER, CAROLYN
A HERO FOR MISS HATHERLEIGH

As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society and has always followed them preciously. But when she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken. Questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith suddenly confront her -- and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance. What if God wants to be the center of her life, rather than merely a social obligation?

Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of long-extinct creatures is a joy he won't willingly give up. But his scientific leanings are being challenged both by his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister's illness becomes more desperate, her care more demanding. Adding a viscount's daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected -- especially since he must stay far away from this young woman he's falling for in order to protect his beloved sister's secret.

When a mysterious stranger visits the village, all Gideon's efforts to keep her secret may be in vain. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. If the shaky bond he and Miss Hatherleigh have nurtured isn't strong enough to overcome their differences, three lives may be torn apart.

Carolyn Miller's many fans will be thrilled with her newest series, packed ith the authentic characters and abundant historical detail that have put her firmly in the ranks of today's most beloved Regency romance authors.

My Review:

Squeallll! Regency swoon!!!! "Surely a prospective husband must elicit greater feeling than the comfort experienced when wearing one's favorite slippers?" (p 9) Snort! I so love Carolyn Miller's droll humour and the way she captures the subtle nuances of the Regency era. So many conversations have double meanings which are fun to spot. And always oh-so-proper. I feel like I've been dropped into the middle of a Jane Austen BBC mini-series set! lol

I'll have to admit to being a bit lost in the first two chapters -- events seemed to be non-events to me? Or I didn't get the significance of them. I have a feeling they are a carry over from The Making of Mrs Hale (the third book in Miller's previous series) which I haven't read yet but once Caroline gets to Devon it smoothed out for me.

Absolutely loved Caroline's faith journey. She is the product of generations of snobbish, gossipy, I-am-so-superior women so it's no wonder she's on the verge of being a 'mini-me' of her mother and grandmother. Really interesting to see how that sense of entitlement sharpened as the women aged. I was righteously indignant so many times and I do so love getting my dander up on behalf of favourite characters!

But God is pursing Caroline and when she is exiled to her grandmother's home in the country, she begins to look at life with a fresh perspective. New friends, unusual circumstances and a sudden attraction to a man her family would consider unsuitable, all contribute to her startling transformation. A beautiful redemption story.

And the genteel romance had me reaching for my smelling salts with all the subtle sub-text, veiled glances, the slightest touch of gloved hands...so delicately choreographed and so foreign to our 21st century 'courting' rituals. So much fun to read!

There's even a wee bit of mystery and adventure to add even more page-turning qualities to an already compelling plot! A definite not-to-be-missed for Regency Romance lovers.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh 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 April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Monday, April 15, 2019

Code of Valor

GIVEAWAY
EASON, LYNETTE
CODE OF VALOR

What Detective Brady St. John really needs is a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, just as the sun is setting on his second day at a friend's cabin on Lake Henley, he hears a scream and races to rescue a woman from her would-be killer. When the killer escapes only to return to finish the job, Brady vows to utilize all of his many resources to keep her safe -- and catch those who would see her dead.

Financial crimes investigator Emily Chastain doesn't trust many people. And even though she let the detective who saved her life in on a few pertinent facts about why she was being attacked, there are some things you just don't share with a stranger. Little does she suspect that the secret she is keeping just might get them both killed.

My Review:

That moment you realize you mistakenly returned your cherished copy of Code of Valor to your library! Gasp! In the crowded book bin! Double gasp! Passing out the black armbands and requesting a moment of silence for my loss. Sniffle.

Whoa -- my head is still spinning! You might need a healthy dose of caffeine (in the form of rich, dark chocolate, of course) to keep your brain sharp and ready for some serious convoluted story threads that gnarl into one colossal tangle before our hero and heroine manage to smooth it all out. Perfectly perfect for intrepid armchair sleuths everywhere. :-)

And it all starts with a gripping edge-of-your-seat opening scene. Poor Brady, in need of a relaxing vacation and getting anything but! (And this is where I go all fan-girling over the St. John family -- especially those brothers!) Because, of course, they're not about to leave Brady floundering on his own. Love that connection between the books (this is #3 in the Blue Justice series.) Code of Valor reads wonderfully as a standalone though -- so no worries if you haven't read the the first two books and the novella. Eason does such a great job of making returning readers feel like they've come home while welcoming new readers to the family.

A fast-and-furious plot with lots of action and gasp-out-loud moments buffered by sibling rivalry and teasing make this an inhale-in-one-gulp kind of read. Not to mention the heavenly toe-curling romantical scenes that provide a buffer between all the angst! 

This right here is why Lynette Eason is a best-selling author -- she knows how to weave a spellbinding tale that won't let you go -- even after you've reached the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Code of Valor, 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 April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!