Deep Fried Trouble

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

MOODY, TYORA
DEEP FRIED TROUBLE

Widowed and officially retired, Eugeena Patterson throws herself into organizing the neighborhood association. This presents a great opportunity to re-connect with old friends and get to know new neighbors like recently widowed Amos Jones, that is until Eugeena stumbles upon her estranged neighbor's dead body. Eugeena's daughter is fingered as a prime suspect, but where is she?

Determined to find her missing daughter, Eugeena and Amos sort through a list of neighbors with shady or unknown backgrounds. The more she searches, the more Eugeena becomes unsure about this neighborhood association idea. Someone closer than Eugeena thinks, wants to keep it that way.

My Review:

published in 2013

Short, snappy and so much fun! Eugeena is a hoot -- and I loved the way she continually calls on the Lord whether the appeal is heartfelt or exasperated. And when her Mama Bear acts up, it's best to get well out of the way (even if she might want to do some harm to the child in question herself!) Equal parts humour and heartwarming. Family drama gets equal billing with the murder mystery and I enjoyed both immensely. I'd like to be an honorary member of the Patterson family! As to the mystery...I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong!!!!! So very, very, very wrong. I'd entertained several suspects seriously but perhaps Eugeena's sharp wit and pithy comments  interfered with my armchair sleuthing spidey senses! At least, that's the story I'm sticking with!

I listened to the audible version of this book and absolutely LOVED it! Sharell Palmer brought Eugeena to life. Her narration really enhanced my 'reading' experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deep Fried Trouble, 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 July 6 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Five

WON BY LESLIE W.

WON BY READER!

WON BY PAM K

WON BY MARIA DB

WON BY SUSANLULU

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:

An Amish Summer

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
CLIPSTON, AMY
FULLER, KATHLEEN
IRVIN, KELLY
AN AMISH SUMMER

Four Amish stories about summer romance.

A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray

When sisters Sharon and Sherrilyn Kramer attend a wedding in Shipshewana, one of them returns with a new penpal while the other returns to her job at the bakery. After sending weekly letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham Holland arrange a reunion in Pinecraft. Upon Graham's arrival, however, he realizes he's been writing to the wrong sister. Can he sort through the confusion in time to turn the worst vacation ever into something truly wonderful?

Summer Storms by Amy Clipston

Ariana is counting down the days until her wedding to Jesse. They had been friends longer than Ariana could remember, and that friendship had turned into love over the past couple of years. But when Ariana's brother, Tobias, who happens to be Jesse's best friend, gets them both in trouble, Ariana's puts an end to her engagement to Jesse. Some summer storms pass quickly, but Ariana is afraid the damage from this one may be too much to repair.

Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller

Esther has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sister Sarah. Even the boy she has known -- and loved -- her entire life, Judah, only has eyes for Sarah. But when a handsome young Englischer cmes to live with the family for a summer, everything begins to change.

One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin

Everybody in Little Bee county, Texas, can see the obvious: Jacob King and Martha Byler are meant to be together. Everyone, that is, except Martha. Ever since her mother died when Martha was a young girl, she has taken over the role of caregiver to her large family. And restless Jacob, who has had a little too much fun on his rumspringa, only seems to add to the list of people to manage. But one summer changes everything, and these two may just find a way to meet in the middle and share one sweet kiss.

My Review:

Love me a summertime read chock-full of summer romance. Add in the fact that they are all Amish novellas by some of the best authors in the biz and my bibliophile euphoria is complete. These compact stories deliver a satisfying punch of angst along with the sweet bliss of romance. There's a great mix in this collection -- humour, drama, emotional highs and lows and, of course, the sublime hope of not one but four happily-ever-afters! Absolutely perfect for some lazy, hazy summer days of reading.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Summer, 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sweet on You

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
SWEET ON YOU

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who has spend the past eighteen months traveling the world. He's achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him -- Britt's heart.

When Zander's uncle dies under mysterious circumstances, he returns to Merrywather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. Britt is determined to resit any change in their relationship, but Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

As they work together to uncover his uncle's tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also finally come to light?

My Review:

Heaving Sigh.
Shuddering hiccoughs.
Chronic sniffles.

Excuse the state I'm in but this is the last Bradford Sister Romance and...it's Zander's story! I've been rooting for him the whole series. He's been Britt's shadow since high school. The angry kid with a troubled past prepared to hate the entire town but Britt blithely blew through all his defenses. He fell in love. She didn't. But they've been the best of friends for thirteen years. That's over a decade of unrequited love, people! Oh, the angst and the turmoil and the hopes dashed! My tummy is still in knots and my heart still beats erratically! I might not recover -- especially since we've run out of series.

Honestly, Zander could do no wrong for me...even though he insisted on being all stubbornly silent about his love for Britt. I wanted to shake some action into him, but mostly I just wanted to hug the stuffing right out of him! Britt, on the other hand...well, I might have had some bloodthirsty thoughts about her. I mean, what she put Zander (and me!) through!!!! That girl was clueless while being all sweet and endearing and unknowingly beguiling! And then, when she suddenly starts to feel attracted to Zander she doesn't say peep either. Gah! Love a good friends to lovers romance and this is excellent if somewhat nerve-wracking for readers with gentle sensibilities like moi. :-)

But when these two finally connect -- ahem! -- roll in the fainting couch and prepare for some rigorous toe-curling calisthenics! There's nothing quite like a love that builds out of the firm foundation of an enduring friendship.

There's even a bonus mystery to round out the story -- and lots of sisterly snippets to savor one last time. (Excuse me while I quietly weep into my lace hankie.) Definitely a blockbuster conclusion to a memorable series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sweet on You, 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Low Country Hero

GIVEAWAY

MCCLAIN, LEE TOBIN
LOW COUNTRY HERO

Welcome to Safe Haven, where love -- and a second chance -- is just around the corner...

Sunny, carefree days splashing in the ocean -- it's the life Anna George has always wanted for her five-year-old twins. And now that they've made it to Safe Haven, South Carolina, she won't let anyone stand in her way. Not the abusive ex she's just escaped and not the rugged contractor who caught her setting up house in the shattered beachfront cabins he's refurbishing. When he offers Anna and her daughters a place to stay in exchange for her help with renovations, she's tempted. His gentle way with her girls makes her want to trust him, but she's been wrong before...

A family is the last thing contractor and former military man Sean O'Dwyer wants right now. But when he discovers Anna and her girls, he recognizes kindred spirits. They're survivors who've seen the worst of people, just like he has, and he'll do anything he can to help them. As he and Anna spend their days bringing the cottages back to life and their nights sharing kisses in the warm bayou breezes, Sean must choose between the life he always wanted and the family he can't live without.

My Review:

I was familiar with Lee Tobin McClain as a Love Inspired author so when I saw this book at my public library I scooped it up and started reading. Then I had to check it out. Of course. It's very much like a Love Inspired book except I'd define it as more of a sizzling sweet romance...with lots of zzzzzz's in that sizzle! lol Still a clean read but the romantic tension is heart fluttering and temperature rising!

And woohoo -- this is the first book in her new Safe Haven series and McClain has done a superb job of setting up the town and the O'Dwyer clan (hello -- two blood brothers and a very intriguing foster brother!) Loved the longer length of the novel (as compared to a LI) which allowed the author to really flesh everything out. I don't like heat and humidity but I'm all ready to moved down to Safe Haven, South Carolina because I am totally sold on this community of caring neighbours! If only it wasn't fictional!

Angst with a capital 'A', toe-curling romance and a plot with some surprising twists all conspire to make this a glorious page-turner of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Low Country Hero, 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Artful Match

GIVEAWAY

DELAMERE, JENNIFER
THE ARTFUL MATCH

London 1881
Her entire world is changing but will she follow the leadings of her heart or her head?

Cara Bernay has never fit in. At loose ends in 1881 London after a near tragedy costs her a job, she is befriended by a rising young artist. With his help, she begins planning a new life and developing her own artistic talent. But soon Cara finds herself at odds with the artist's brother -- a handsome but stern earl forcing his brother back to a 'respectable' life.

Henry Burke, the Earl of Morestowe, feels the weight of growing financial burdens. His spendthrift and emotionally unstable brother is making matters worse, and Henry needs him back home. Despite misgivings about Cara's mysterious background, Henry sees she's a positive influence on his brother and on Henry's unruly young ward, and he strikes a deal with her to return with them to their estate.

But the family has their own secrets, and when Cara drawn ever closer to Henry, stumbles onto the truth, she must choose between following her heart and pursuing a bold plan that could bring disaster.

My Review:

I've really loved this London Beginnings series! Three orphaned sisters finding their way in Victorian London equals three fabulous books and The Artful Match is the third (and final --sob!) one. It can be read as a standalone, however followers of the Bernay sisters will be truly tickled by one element in Cara's story. That's all I'm saying so as to avoid posting any spoilers.

Let's talk heroes for a minute. Poor Henry, long suffering head the of the Burke family -- and I wouldn't wish his mother on my worst enemy! Lots of scope for some readerly indignation and wrath and I do love going to bat for my heroes! But I have to be truthful and say that he really is a tad stuffy. Thankfully, it doesn't take Cara very long to loosen him up -- with delightful results, I might add. :-) (Insert swoony sigh here!) Loved their first meet -- Henry so quick to leap to conclusions that are all wrong and Cara so blithely unaware of his judgmental thoughts. Fun for the reader to be in the know when he isn't!

There's lots of family drama and a mutinous little girl to befriend but Cara's up to all the challenges the Burke's throw at her...until things go horribly awry! The kind of novel that lures a reader in and holds her captive right to the very delightfully satisfying last sentence.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Artful Match, 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 . If 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Warrior Maiden

GIVEAWAY

DICKERSON, MELANIE
THE WARRIOR MAIDEN

She knows women are expected to marry, cook, and have children. Not go to war. Can she manage to stay alive, save her mother, and keep the handsome son of a Duke from discovering her secret?

When Mulan takes her father's place in battle against the besieging Teutonic Knights, she realizes she has been preparing for this journey her whole life -- and that her life and her mother's, depends on her success. As the adopted daughter of poor parents, Mulan has little power in the world. If she can't prove herself on the battlefield, she could face death -- or, perhaps worse, marriage to the village butcher.

Disguised as a young man, Mulan meets the German duke's son, Wolfgang, who is determined to save his people even if it means fighting against his own brother. Wolfgang is exasperated by the new soldier who seems to be one step away from disaster at all times -- or showing him up in embarrassing ways. From their rivals to reluctant friends, Mulan and Wolfgang begin to share secrets.

But war is an uncertain time and dreams can die as quickly as quickly as they are born. When Mulan receives word of danger back home, she must make the ultimate choice. Can she be the son her bitter father never had? Or will she become the strong young woman she was created to be?

This fresh reimagining of the classic tale takes us to fifteenth century Lithuania where both love and war challenge the strongest of heart.

My Review:

Dickerson is back with another fabulous fairy tale retelling for the teen market (or for the young-at-heart YA fiction fan, regardless of a reader's actual age.) This time with an ingenious twist to the legend of Mulan. This feisty heroine is equal parts womanly compassion and warrior courage. There's lots of battle scenes in this action-filled story and Mulan is at the heart of most ot them. As is Wolfgang and I have to say it makes for an interesting romance when the hero and heroine bond over archery and sword fighting! lol Dickerson has kept many of the traditional elements from this Chinese legend while spinning her trademark Medieval European flare. A satisfying page-turner.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Warrior Maiden, 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY PATTY

WON BY PERRIANNE

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY JASMINE A.

WON BY CC

WON BY PAM W.

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:

Shattered Trust

GIVEAWAY

PARKER, SARA K.
SHATTERED TRUST

Protecting her was his job. Failure wasn't an option.

After Natalie Harper was left at the altar, enjoying her honeymoon alone is the best way to cope -- until she's attacked on the beach. Luke Everett, the bodyguard secretly hired by her federal judge father, arrives just in time to rescue her. It'll take all his professional skills to keep Natalie safe. One wrong move and they could fall prey to the enemy's deadly scheme.

My Review:

A whiplash stunner! Loved the exotic locale where the mayhem starts -- makes it all the more shivery. And that opening scene -- my goosebumps had goosebumps. Luke and Natalie make a dynamic duo as they try to stay ahead of relentless attacks. 

And, being truthful, I wasn't really keen on the idea of a romance coming hard on the heels of  a broken engagement. The idea of a bride left at the altar and then meeting someone else on a solo honeymoon didn't seem plausible so, (hangs head in shame)  Shattered Trust stayed in my TBR pile way too long. But guess what, people? I WAS WRONG!!!! And I promise to follow Parker wherever her creative mind wants to take me from now on. Natalie's backstory, her relationship with her ex, her attraction to Luke (along with her determination to do nothing about it) are all completely believable...and, more importantly, kept me immersed in the story. Brilliantly done (if a whole lot angsty!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently used copy of Shattered Trust, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstreadATyahooDOTca.  If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and dot instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Almost Home

GIVEAWAY

LUESSE, VALERIE FRASER
ALMOST HOME

The things that tear us apart can also bring us together

With America's  entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants -- and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

My Review:

"All we can do is the best we can do, and all we can see is what's in front of us. So there's no point in looking back and judging ourselves based on things we know now but didn't know then." (p 54)

Wow -- this is one of my favourite reads of the year! Everyone needs a Dolly and Si in their lives! And I want to live in Blackberry Springs at their boarding house because 'little mama's' house has a personality all of its own! Loved the magical feel that brought to this heartwarming tale brimming full of love and loss and the hope of second chances.

I enjoyed the home front perspective of this World War II novel. I hadn't realized the impact the war had on different occupations and the migration that caused as workers moved to areas where munition plants had been established. Loved the diverse gathering that ends up at Dolly's house and the way their lives intertwine. It's told from multiple points of view, which I know isn't every reader's favourite but I had no trouble connecting with these characters and their stories. Such a true-to-life illustration of how unconditional love can heal the sharpest of wounds.

Friendships blossom and love ignites (or reignites as the case may be) -- three romances, in fact! And one of them comes in the form of journal entries from 1844. Lots of toe-curling and euphoric sighing from this avid romance fan! And the way all the pieces of their individual stories come together is sheer poetry.

The author's richly evocative writing style reveals the kind of depth and emotion that makes a reader feel like she's lived inside the pages of this book right alongside Dolly and her friends. There's even a bit of a mystery! Spellbinding from start to finish! Highly recommended.

"We don't get to see the whole map. We just have to cover our stretch o' the road best we can." (p 189)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Almost Home, 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 June 22 2019. Offer open on International Readers. Good luck!

Running Target

GIVEAWAY

GODDARD, ELIZABETH
RUNNING TARGET

She escaped right into danger...A Coldwater Bay Intrigue novel.

A routine patrol turns deadly when marine deputy Bree Carrington's boat is sunk by men carrying illegal weapons. Fleeing a barrage of bullets, she's suddenly rescued by DEA agent Quinn Strand -- her ex-boyfriend. Quinn's return threatens more than Bree's heart...because he's the one the men are really after. As criminals hunt her to get to him, can Quinn and Bree take down a drug ring?

My Review:

Grab your oxygen tank (and a spare) before you dare start reading Running Target! Aptly titled as your pulse will be racing straight through to the end. Great opening scene! Fast-paced and action packed and it just doesn't let up. Love the wilderness aspect which adds even more tension and drama. And really loved that Bree is a kick-butt, never-say-quit heroine, even when she's scared out of her mind! And, believe me, she has plenty to be scared about! Including losing her heart...again...to Quinn Strand who is quite the heart-throb and another reason you might need that second oxygen tank. :-) Running Target is breath-snatching perfection!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of Running Target, 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 the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Silken Thread

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
A SILKEN THREAD

She had come along late in Mama's life. Her siblings always accused her of being the favorite. But must Laurel forfeit her own chance at love and a future?

Laurel Millard is eighteen years old when her siblings issue an ultimatum: she must waive the rifht to a husband and family of her own in order to care for their mother. Not wanting to leave her beloved mama alone, Laurel agrees, but she secretly harbors the hope that she will find someone who is willing to accept them both.

As the Atlanta Cotton Exposition of 1895 prepares for its grand opening, Laurel eagerly applies to be a silk weaver, believing the position will be her chance to capture the hear of a wealthy suitor who can afford care for Mama and allow Laurel the life she dreams of. She catches the eye of the dashing Langdon Rochester, the heir to his father's steam-powered-engine empire. But when disaster strikes the Silk Room, Laurel makes the acquaintance of Willie Sharp, the security guard posted to protect the exhibit.

Laurel gets to know Willie and his good friend Quincy Tate -- a black groundskeeper -- and witness first hand the destructive divisions based on race, education, and social class. Despite pervasive prejudices and further trouble at the exposition, will Laurel discover the courage to pursue the kind of love that will make her heart sing?

My Review:

An enthralling story featuring four protagonists who each get page time with their own personal point of view. Love the backdrop of the Atlanta Cotton Exposition -- the perfect place for lives and values to collide. Sawyer really brings this setting to life with vivid descriptions that stole my breath (and heart) away. Because....tumultuous doesn't begin to describe my state of mind during this read. I hate injustice of any kind and there's plenty of that here. Race, education, social class...even women's rights. My tummy was flip-flopping and my heart was hammering and it got to the point where I nearly ripped pages I was turning them so fast!(Metaphorically speaking, you understand.  I would never really rip pages from a book!)

Love Laurel's gentle strength and the way her faith grows as a result of her experiences working at the exposition. A Silken Thread is a coming-of-age story in that respect. And there's romance...two possible beaus (not really a love triangle because it's pretty clear who the 'good' guy is...well, at least, she ended up with who I wanted her to be with!) But there are so many layers to this story as Laurel, Langdon, Willie and Quincy become entangled in the division and strife of a city still trying to find its footing thirty years after the Civil War.

A moving story full of grit and heart that's sure to captivate the most discerning of historical fiction connoisseurs.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Silken Thread, 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 June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

How the Light Gets In

GIVEAWAY

PETERSHEIM, JOLINA
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

From the highly acclaimed author of The Outcast and The Alliance comes an engrossing novel about marriage and motherhood, loss and moving on.

When Ruth Neufeld's husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece together next steps.

Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband's cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest. Sifting through fields of berries and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace in the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and budding friendship. She also encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes and dreams she thought she'd lost forever.

But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage, Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn't dead after all. 

My Review:

Well, I'm gobsmacked! Seriously speechless. This book was everything I didn't expect it to be and that ending!!!! I'm still coasting on the shock waves and it's been a week since I reached the end. A week of mulling over plot points and characters, wondering if I'd actually read what I...well, read! lol And how do I possibly compose a review without revealing spoilers? I'm stymied. 

How the Light Gets In is profound and moving. A raw and honest exploration of grief. And Ruth's grieving is all the more difficult because of her broken marriage. The agony of not being able to go back and change things or have the opportunity to go forward and fix things makes for a heart-wrenching read. But it's also a story that embraces the wonder and hope of new beginnings; of learning from the past in order to build a better future. 

But be forewarned -- there are plot twists galore and Petersheim delivers them with  the kind of impeccable pacing that left me reeling. Left hook after left hook until my head was spinning! So many rich layers -- from setting to characters to that wicked pummel-me-senseless storyline. Phew! Prepare to be caffuzled and addlepated by the time you finish!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of How the Light Gets In, 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 June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Unnatural Causes

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

EASTMAN, DAWN
UNNATURAL CAUSES

Katie LeClair has finally settled down as the new doctor in Baxter, Michigan. After years of moving, schooling, and training, she wants nothing more than to find a place she can call home, and a small town outside of Ann Arbor seems perfect.

Katie quickly gets to work on building a life for herself in Baxter, and beyond reviving her love life, she also finds a pair of business partners in a team of father and son family practitioners. But that idyllic dream is immediately shattered when one of her patients is found dead. That wouldn't be the worst thing, except the death is ruled a suicide, and as evidence has it, the suicide was a result of the medication Katie had prescribed. But she doesn't remember writing it.

When a closer investigation reveals it was murder, Katie is catapulted into an off-the-books investigation that leads her down a dark path of past secrets. But someone is willing to kill to keep part of the town's history in the shadows, and Katie must race to find out who before it's too late.

My Review;

published in 2017
Thanks to my public library for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Eeep -- I'm super excited about this new-to-me mystery series. This is the first book in the Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery series and I love the fresh angle. No bookstore in sight -- instead we have a hospital and clinic setting and a physician heroine. Katie is new to small town life but she's in the perfect position to gain the trust and confidences of the town folk...so, of course, when a suspicious death raises questions, Katie can't help but investigate on her own. Love her relationship with Baxter's seasoned police chief who isn't her love interest. But there is one and he is mighty fine! Engaging secondary characters, awesome setting and an intriguing plot make this an exceptional mystery...not quite a cozy since it's missing a quirky pet...but sublime in every other way. :-)

*Please note: this is not a Christian Fiction selection but it is squeaky clean and a great read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like the chance to win a copy of Unnatural Causes, 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 June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

June Giveaway - Week Three

Wooohhhheeeee -- that was a fun week, wasn't it? So many great new releases to make our summer reading a joy! Blissful sigh! Thanks for participating and helping my wish list to grow...and grow...and grow!!!!!

SIDE NOTE: last week winners -- it was so crazy this week keeping up with the blog that I haven't ordered your books yet. Will play catch up this week so look for your books in about three weeks from now!

WON BY SYLVIA

WON BY RACHAEL K

WON BY AGBOSS

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS

WON BY KAY GARRETT

WON BY TRIXI

WON BY LIZ R.

WON BY LORI SMANSKI

WON BY PAULA S.

WON BY LANE HILL HOUSE

I'll contact winners who left their email, otherwise it's up to you to email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your mailing address. Books will be ordered once they become available and I'll email you to let you know when your book is on the way. I have a nifty flag system to keep me on track but if you don't hear from me within a week of your book's release feel free to give me a nudge via email. :-)

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAY: