Lost Rodeo Memories

GIVEAWAY

NIGHT, JENNA
LOST RODEO MEMORIES

With a stalker in the shadows...she needs a protector at her side.

After Melanie Graham awakens in the woods injured and with no memory of what happened, she quickly learns someone wants her dead. Now she must rely on deputy sheriff Luke Baxter to protect her. But while there's a spark between Melanie and the handsome veteran, they can't afford a distraction...because if Luke doesn't stop the mystery assailant soon, it may be too late.

My Review:

Phew -- that opening scene left me as disoriented as Melanie! Love how events came into focus for me at the same time they did for her. I swear I felt just as dizzy and nauseous. And my sore noggin! I adore being mercilessly pummeled right along with the heroine! :-)

This is an amnesia story with a bit of a different twist in that Melanie doesn't lose all her memory, just about two weeks worth. I had a friend who suffered the same kind of amnesia after a traumatic event and the author realistically developed the full gamut of emotions -- frustrations, fear, anxiety, anger. It was like I was living through it all over again as I tried to support Melanie in her struggle to remember.

And then there's the kind and protective deputy sheriff who is working her case but isn't sure that she's completely innocent. He wrestles with his own kind of frustration as he tries to figure out what happened to Melanie...especially when repeated attacks make it clear her life is in danger. And it doesn't help that he's attracted to her. I do so love a reluctant hero.

Luke appreciates Melanie's fighting spirit but I absolutely loved that sometimes she indulged in a well-deserved meltdown. Because, really, under the same circumstances, wouldn't we all kind of lose it on occasion? So relatable! Oh -- and I also love that she actually feels battered when she is and she follows doctor's orders and indulges in recovery time, because, hellloooo, real heroines feel pain too!

A slow burn suspense that sizzles with a creepy stalkerish vibe and the sweet promise of romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

The author is providing 2 copies and I'm adding in 1 gently read copy so that's 3 winners!

If you would like a chance to win copy of Lost Rodeo Memories, 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 August 3 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Number of Love

GIVEAWAY

WHITE, ROSEANNA M.
THE NUMBER OF LOVE

The toughest puzzle she'll have to solve might be the wishes of her own heart.

Three years into the Great War, England's greatest asset is their intelligence network -- field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack German telegrams for hints of the enemy's plans. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, she discovers for the first time in her life that numbers aren't enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won't give up. He's smitten quickly by the quick and brainy Margot, but soon the dangers of the war draw ever closer. Margot and Drake will have to team up to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together.

My Review:

So, I was dreading the end of the Shadows Over England series because I loved those books sooooooo much so you can just imagine how loud my squeals were when I discovered there's lots of carryover from that series into this new Codebreakers series. But that doesn't mean you have to read SOE first. Just that you'll be thrilled down to your toes to meet up with fave characters if you have. I might have done a major swoon dip-and-dive when Barclay made a few cameos. Be still my heart.

Mind you, Drake Elton makes a mighty fine hero as well. There's something about this dashing spy with a conscience that curls my toes. He's all mission-minded until he meets Margot and then his focus shifts to teasing and flirting which doesn't fuss Margot in the least. In fact, she hold's her own much to Drake's utter delight. "She was obviously a subscriber to the virtues of sarcasm, and when one could engage her there, she went from stony silence to smiles." (p 200) He's smitten. She is not. Let the games begin!

I wasn't sure how I would relate to Margot since I have a major math-phobia. I thought it would be hard to connect with her analytical mathematician's mind but I was sooooo wrong! Love the way arithmetic is a prayer language for her and I think eighteen might become my new lucky number. :-)

Espionage, secret codes, ruthless killers -- all the ingredients for a thrilling plot that kept me turning pages. And White has woven in some beautiful inspirational threads into this story as well.

"And faith isn't just a feeling. We have to know He's still there, unchanged, even when we can't feel Him. When the grief's too loud to let us hear His voice." (p 273)

An incredible start to another blockbuster series by this author. Can't wait for On Wings of Devotion to release in January 2020!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Inherited Threat, 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 August 3 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Crossing at Cypress Creek

GIVEAWAY

HILLMAN, PAM
THE CROSSING AT CYPRESS

Sailing and soldiering around the world has taken Caleb O'Shea far from his native Ireland, so he never imagined that a promise to see a fellow crewman safely home would practically land him on his brother's doorstep. After spending years away from his family, Caleb isn't certain what kind of reception he will receive when he steps foot in Natchez, Mississippi. The one thing he knows for sure is that he won't stay long.

Since her sister was kidnapped by river pirates six months ago, Alanah Adams has taken special care to avoid drawing attention to herself. Those living in the rough-and-tumble settlement of Cypress Creek might even think she's addled. But when she stumbles into Caleb and his friends in Natchez, she appears to be the picture-picture lady.

Caleb only catches glimpses of the mysterious and beautiful Alanah before she disappears. But a chance encounter with her at his brother's logging camp near Cypress Creek leaves him uncomfortable at the thought of the young woman traversing the dangerous area alone. At a crossroads in his life, Caleb must decide whether he wants to give up the worldly adventures he's been seeking for one closer to home.

My Review:

I hate to say this but I think it might actually be good that this is the last Natchez Trace novel because a reader's heart can only take so many O'Shea brothers before self-combustion becomes a real threat. Those are some serious Alpha males and Caleb is the bad boy brother with a heart of gold who knows how to stir things up. I'm still feeling the delicious aftershocks.

And the fun thing is Alanah's just about as scrappy and daring as Caleb, which disturbs him no end. She's led a hard life and is an interesting mix of naivety and worldly wise. And ever so wary of the brash Irishman who has spent the last three years traveling the world. Their romance is the slow burn kind since they are besieged from all sides by danger and pure evil (shudder)! This third story is the darkest of the three, I think, with it's river pirates and highwaymen. A town full of debase criminals are determined to wreck havoc for the O'Shea brothers and those they love. Lots of action including some wince-inducing fight scenes.

Loved the way the author includes much loved characters from the first two books in this one. It's a veritable O'Shea family (and friends) reunion as they welcome the prodigal home at last. Fabulous conclusion to an awesome series!

PS: After meeting all the O'Shea brothers I'd like to assure Connor (my first love) that he continues to have an edge over Quinn and Caleb. As swoonworthy as those younger brothers are, Connor will always make me swoon a wee bit deeper....blissful sigh. I think it's time to reread his story one more time. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Crossing at Cypress Creek, 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 August 3 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

July Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY HEIDI

WON BY ELLY

WON BY KAREN HADLEY

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY TERRILL R.

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

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:

The Underground Railroad Brides Collection

GIVEAWAY

BLAKEY, BARBARA TIFFT
CECIL, RAMONA K.
COLEMAN, LYNN A.
DOWDY, CECELIA
HALL, PATTY SMITH 
HAYNES, TERRI J.
LEE, DEBBY
PANZERA, DARLENE
ZELLER, PENNY
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BRIDES COLLECTION

Love guides hearts along the road to freedom

Nine historical couples walk the road to love even as they dare to escape and help others break free from the injustices of slavery between 1849 and 1860. From Southern states Georgia and South Carolina to above the Mason-Dixon Line in Indiana and Pennsylvania, they work within the network known as the Underground Railroad.

There is hope for the future when people come together to fight evil and when men and women find love in the midst of great challenges. And through it all, faith is the key to victory in these stories from nine inspiring Christian authors.

My Review:

An eclectic mix of stories that all share a fascinating theme. I've long been intrigued by the Underground Railroad and the real-life heroes and heroines who sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom so it was especially exciting to discover a whole novella collection dedicated to this subject. And I loved how each author brought unique qualities to their stories as well as different aspects of the Underground Railroad. Such diversity in storytelling!

Sadly though, I will confess to being disappointed over the lack of diversity in the main characters. Out of the nine stories only two had African American heroes and heroines. Given the subject matter and that subtitle -- 9 couples navigate the road to freedom before the Civil War  - I expected more.

Terri J. Haynes and Cecilia Dowdy brought fresh perspective with their African American main characters. In Haynes' Free to Love, Maryland slave Winnie rescues wounded fugitive Hiram and nurses him back to health. In Dowdy's The Bakery Bride, recently manumitted slave, Ruth finds work in a Philadelphia bakery owned by a free black abolitionist. Both stories provide a different viewpoint that I really appreciated -- a multidimensional aspect that enhanced my reading pleasure.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Underground Railroad Brides Collection, 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 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Cowboy's Faith

GIVEAWAY

FAVORITE, DANICA
THE COWBOY'S FAITH

His secret past. His second chance. Three Sisters Ranch could be his way home...

When inexperienced rancher Nicole Bell starts training her troubled mare, Fernando Montoya has just the expertise she needs. But helping Nicole brings Fernando dangerously close to revealing the secret he'd rather keep hidden: he learned the skill in prison. While the horse draws them together, can Fernando find a way to tell her the truth...and keep it from pulling them apart?

My Review:

Cowboy horse whisperer hero, you say? Yes please! I fell hard for Fernando! Like on the very first page! A gentle man of faith. Every word, every action is deliberate...with both frightened horses and raging women. He's quick to see the similarities between Nicole and her troubled mare. They have both been scarred by deep hurts and lashing out is a defensive move intended to protect. From more pain. More hurt. And while the mare is willing to allow Fernando to gentle her, the woman is decidedly not.

Nicole has a temper. it's fueled by an anger that consumes her and she unleashes it all on Fernando. Honestly, I didn't like her in the first few chapters. So many broiling emotions and a venomous dislike for a man who seeks forgiveness and reconciliation. What unfolds, in all it's complicated glory, is a stirring faith-fueled love story. Yes, Nicole's heart softens and she's able to let go of the past and once she does she becomes Fernando's ardent champion. Love that she's an all or nothing kind of woman. And yes, I became a Nicole fan!

Loved all the horse training details and how they can be paralleled with human interactions as well. And Fernando's personal struggles really touched me. But I wanted to shake him sometimes for the way he expects rejection so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. As much as Nicole needs to learn to stand down and pull back, Fernando needs to finally step up. Make a stand and expect the best out of life because that's what he deserves.

An emotionally satisfying, feel-good-now-that-we-made-our-way-to-the-HEA read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of The Cowboy's Faith, 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 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Amish Candymaker

GIVEAWAY

HILTON, LAURA V.
THE AMISH CANDYMAKER

Agnes Zook finds herself on her own in a small Amish community in Mackinac County after a tragedy kills her family. Most of the Amish call her "off in den Kopf" (strange) since she's starting her own business and forging her own way in the community instead of relying on the bishop to take care of her. Since she's viewed as non-submissive and too-forward for as Amish woman, she's not courted by young men in the area.] Isaac Mast is on the verge of leaving the Amish church. He's become a sought-after auctioneer and has a thriving business, but he feels confined by the strict rules. When his brother is severely injured in a wild fire, Isaac receives a letter from his sister-in-law, begging him to come to Mackinac County to help out while his brother is hospitalized. Isaac agrees but is unsure how to manage their young children when he has weekend auctions he's expected to attend.

Agnes may be the answer to a prayer. Sparks fly when she and Isaac meet. But could their differences help them form a deeper connection to their faith...and each other?

My Reveiw:

I've come to really enjoy Laura V. Hilton's Amish novels because she always puts such an interesting spin on them. You might say she writes outside the box and I love the challenges that fresh perspective bring to her characters and her readers.

Agnes wasn't my favourite character in Firestorm (the first book in this series -- The Amish of Mackinac County) so I wasn't sure what to expect within these pages. Might have put off reading it for a bit because of my trepidation but I needn't have worried. Of course Hilton delivers! With depth and compassion and a whole lot of heart. Because Agnes was...well annoying...in the first book. And I loved getting the chance to see beyond the facade into the fragile heart of a woman who just wants to be loved and appreciated.

She's an individualist living in a conforming society and always seems to be just a bit out of step. Talks to plants, has a penchant for pink, is endearingly awkward and..."wears her heart on her sleeve, and she tends to talk without filtering her words." (p 78)  As Isaac says, "I've known a lot of Amish women, Agnes, but none of them has been as know-it-all and bossy as you." (p 101) You might say Agnes is a paradox.

Which is definitely appealing to Isaac. As a traveling auctioneer, he's experienced a vast number of Amish communities and has a tendency to pick and choose the rules he's willing to live by. He's a flirt and has way too much fun flustering Agnes. Always popular with the women, he's had a carefree bachelorhood with plenty of female companionship until Agnes stirs up the longing for something more. Love the banter and playfulness, sharp retorts and teasing. Definitely an unorthodox un-courtship!

And Bishop Miah is back and just as beguiling. One of my all-time favourite secondary characters. Equal parts wisdom, compassion and stealthy spy! Which makes The Amish Candymaker that much more of a delectable read. Ohhhh -- and there are candy recipes in the back! Might have to issue a Sweet-tooth Warning because there's a lot of droolworthy candymaking and eating going on here!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Amish Candymaker, 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 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Deep Undercover

GIVEAWAY

WORTH, LENORA
DEEP UNDERCOVER

A dangerous undercover assignment...
Another exciting True Blue K-9 Unit thriller

To take down a serial bomber, NYPD K-9 officers Brianne hayes and Gavin Sutherland must go undercover -- as a married couple. But now the bomber is targeting them to halt the investigation. As the clock ticks down, can Brianne, Gavin and their K-9 partners find the culprit in time to save the city -- and their own lives?

My Review:

Whew! What a gripping opening scene! Vivid descriptions of a panicking crowd left me hyperventilating! Not one, but two, K-9 officers (and their humans!) to the rescue.

I'm loving this True Blue K-9 Unit continuity series. Deep Undercover is the fourth book but can be read as a standalone. However, I'm really bonding with this team of K-9 Officers and their elite dogs so it's always a thrill to meet up with the gang in each book.

This time it's Tommy and Stella's turn to sniff out clues and bring criminals to justice...well, they do get a little help from Gavin and Brianne. :-) If only the humans got along as well as their dogs though!

Gavin's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Ambition and pride have caused him some trouble in the past. He's trying to live that down but Brianne doesn't always make it easy for him since she's a tad guarded and a whole lot prickly. She also has a tendency to react defensively as she sets out to prove that female officers are just as capable as their male counterparts. Gavin totally gets that, but it doesn't stop him from going into protective mode now and again which drives Brianne crazy because -- hello, she's a cop too! Love the dynamics between this hero and heroine. Almost as gnarly as the suspense!

Another page-turning addition to this stunning series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

Mail-Order Refuge

GIVEAWAY

REGNIER, CINDY
MAIL-ORDER REFUGE

She needs a place to hide -- he needs a woman's touch

Rand Stafford isn't looking for true love. He'd ridden that trail until his fiancee left him with a shattered heart. What he needs now is a wife to help him care for his orphan nieces. Desperate, he sends an advertisement to a Baltimore newspaper and hopes for the best.

Fleeing her former employer who would use her to further his unlawful acts, a newspaper advertisement reads like the perfect refuge to Carly Blair. The idea of escaping the city, the intrigue, and the danger to hide herself on a cattle ranch in Kansas is her best shot at freedom.

But its sanctuary comes with a price -- a husband. While marrying a man she doesn't know or love means sacrificing her dreams, it's better than being caught by the law.

Or is it?

My Review:

Eeeepppp! Mail-Order Refuge has all the elements I love in a romance...and then some! And can we all collectively sigh over the mail-order trope? What is it about this concept that has me swooning before I even open up the book? While in real life I'd be running for the hills? But I find it so romantic and Regnier delivers all that and more.

Toe-curling awkwardness had me blushing and squirming...and hoping...right along with Carly. And poor Rand who feels "as awkward as a bow-legged buffalo in a tulip patch." Gotta love a cowboy hero so totally out of his element and the colourful way Regnier portrays that. "Mercy, the girl needed a few more potatoes in her. She was light as a newborn foal." 

As for Carly -- well, she's a woman of mystery, intent on escaping a foolish mistake from her past. She's looking for refuge not love but is on the verge of finding both. But not before the author puts Carly and Rand (and this reader) through some teeth-clenching, gut-wrenching, tear-drenching paces. And all of that balanced by laughter and heart-melts.  Happy readerly sigh!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mail-Order Bride, 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 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Ladies of Intrigue

GIVEAWAY

GRIEP, MICHELLE
LADIES OF INTRIGUE

Ladies of Intrigue : can truth and love prevail when no one is as they appear?

The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady (c2017) - Cornish Coast, 1815 - When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father -- not fall in love with a smuggler. With Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton's unusual secret?

The Doctor's  Woman (c 2016) - Dakota Territory, 1862 - Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins.

A House of Secrets (c2017) - St. Paul, Minnestoa, 1890 - Ladies' Aide Chairwoman Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul's ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a "haunted" house that's secretly owned by her beau -- a home that's his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city's most infamous madam.

My Review:

An alluring collection of previously published novellas. I hadn't read any of them before so I was in seventh heaven. These heroes and their heroines kept me in fits of swoons and toe-curls. High-spirited women who are the perfect match for their adventuring men. Lots of clashing wills and sparks flying! Sheer delight! And the joy of witty banter made me giddy. Have to confess that The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady is my favourite of the three stories because...well...Regency! Smugglers on the Cornish Coast! Really, do I have to say more? But the American stories are almost as good.

A perfect collection for discerning fans of Historical Romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:  

If you would like to win a copy of Ladies of Intrigue, 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 27 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

July Giveaway - Week Three

Sorry for the late posting! It's so icky sticky hot that I crawled out of bed and took the bus to the mall and walked laps in air conditioned splendour (though horrifically boring!) and then hung out at the library (seated over a cool air vent) for the rest of the day.) This very long, very sticky, very yucky heat wave is supposed to break tomorrow evening -- for a few days at least -- and then I may be able to unscramble my brains because I totally forgot about posting the winners until just now. Oopsie!

WON BY CHANEL M.

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY NICOLE SAGER

WON BY LADY SNOW ANGEL

WON BY KAY GARRETT

WON BY CC

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:

Beneath an Italian Sky

GIVEAWAY

HENRIE, STACY
BENEATH AN ITALIAN SKY

A love match turns into a lonely marriage. Will Clare and Emmett reconcile their differences before it's too late?

-1908-

American heiress Clare Herschel made what she hoped was a love match when she married the handsome, witty Emmett Markham, the Earl of Linwood. A little over a year into her marriage, though, Clare finds herself wintering in Sicily -- alone. She is sure the mild climate is the answer to avoiding another miscarriage and Emmett's apparent indifference, so she's determined to remain in Italy as long as possible. the last person she expects to show up at the villa is her husband, especially when Emmett confesses he's there to convince her to return to England.

As the only surviving son of a marquess, Emmett has done everything his father has asked of him -- even agreeing to run for a seat in the House of Commons. However, this latest task comes with a nearly impossible caveat. He must convince his wife Clare to come back to England with him in order for them to appear to be a happy couple for his political campaigning. Emmett isn't confident Clare will agree to the plan, though, not when she seems to want nothing to do with him or the life they'd begun building before she abruptly left him for Italy.

When a massive earthquake strikes Messina, Sicily, claiming the lives of thousands, Clare and Emmett must set aside their mutual misgivings about their marriage in order to survive and lend a helping hand to others. But in the wake of the destruction, they begin to realize they've been given a chance to decide if their love is stronger than the upheavals of the past.

My Review:

I dove into this read not quite sure what to expect. I was intrigued by the reconciling married couple romance and the Italian setting but didn't quite have a grasp for how this story would play out. I'm the kind of reader who likes to know what I'm fictionally leaping into so I hope y'all appreciate my bravery venturing blindly into Stacy Henrie's latest. :-)

What I found was sheer brilliance! What an emotionally compelling story! Impeccable crafting blends 'present day' (historically speaking -- 1908) with flashbacks of courtship and early wedded bliss. And, oh, the waves of hurt caused by misunderstandings and plain lack of communication skewered this reader's tender heart. Clare and Emmett are barely more than honeymooners! Such a lot of sorrow to pack into their first year as man and wife.

And then the earthquake hits and that brings a whole new dimension to their story. Spellbound and breathless, that's me after devouring Beneath an Italian Sky in one sitting. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Henrie is a storytelling genius!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of Beneath an Italian Sky, 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 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Healing the Cowboy's Heart

GIVEAWAY

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
HEALING THE COWBOY'S HEART

A perfect match...or sworn enemies? Only time will tell at Shepherd's Crossing.

Horse breeder Isiah Woods can't believe his only ally in helping a neglected mare is the descendat of his family's bitter enemy -- veterinarian Charlotte Fitzgerald. Despite the feud, Charlotte risks everything to save the horse. But as she falls for Isaiah -- and the orphaned niece and nephew in his care -- the mare isn't the only one who needs saving.

My Review:

I have a love/hate relationship with Isiah and Char's story. Love because it's so good and hate because it heralds the end of another amazing series by Ruth Logan Herne. Sob! I so hate having to say goodbye to beloved characters and the Fitzgerald girls are among the best. Along with surrogate mom Corrie whose quiet sass and no-nonsense wisdom bring so much to these Shepherd's Crossing stories!

This time it's baby sis Fitzgerald who gets her chance at a happily-ever-after. It's a rocky road, however, so be prepared for some bumps and detours along the way. Charlotte is a woman with the strength and conviction to overcome and forge ahead and she is ready to make a new life out west alongside her sisters. Love that she's a vet and that this book is very horse-centrc.

Which brings me to a very swoonworthy hero (even though he's a major dolt at one point!) I forgive him because Corrie would want me to and because he's...well...swoony. Hard to stay mad at him for long. A rancher who raises appaloosas and takes in rescue horses. Be still my heart. Plus he's wrangling his orphaned niece and nephew. How can you not love that kind of integrity?! 

Ruthy's trademark themes of faith, family and forgiveness continue to stir this reader's heart and leave her longing for more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Healing the Cowboy's Heart, 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 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Noble Guardian

GIVEAWAY

GRIEP, MICHELLE
THE NOBLE GUARDIAN

Samuel Thatcher : Gynical Lawman, Mysterious Protector, Nobel Guardian

Life couldn't be better for Abigail Gilbert -- but it's been a long time coming. Having lived with a family who hated her, love is finally within reach. Abby embarks on a journey across the English countryside to marry of the most prestigious gentlemen bachelors in the land -- until highwayman upset her plans and threaten her life.

Horse patrol captain Samuel Thatcher arrives just in time to save Abby. But to him she's simply another victim in a job he's come to despise. Tired of the dark side of humanity, he intends to buy land and retire.

Abby pleads with him to escort her on the rest of her journey. He refuses until she offers him the thing he desperately needs to achieve his goal: money. Delivering her safely will earn him more than enough to settle into a quiet life.

So begins an impossible trek for the cynical lawman and the proper lady. Each will be indelibly changed by the time they reach her betrothed, if they don't kill one another first -- or fall in love.

My Review:

Sqqqqqueeeeeealllll! Swoonilicious Regency alert! Third and final (sob!) book in Michelle Griep's Bow Street Runners series! And it comes complete with a cynical, brooding, taciturn hero to send readers into a rush of romantical delirium. Heavy sigh and heart palpitations. Samuel Thacker definitely possesses toe-curling qualities. His rigid sense of justice makes it impossible for him to ignore a lady in distress and Abby is definitely that. Naively so. And stubborn to boot. Love his befuddlement when she stands up to him. And then there's baby Emma, a heart stealer in every scene, especially when the stern captain falls under her spell.

Lots of action and adventure and more than a hint of danger, including some knockout fight scenes, make this a page-turner of a reader. With plot twists galore! The kind of escape read made for a lazy summer afternoon.

Sidenote: I had a bit of an issue with what I felt were inappropriate uses of the Lord's name in the beginning of the book. Not quite out right blasphemy -- like " Oh my..." but using God in the context of an exclamation, not in the form of a petition and not quite a curse, but used in a casual way. And it's strange because they all occurred within the first 72 pages and then the remaining 241 pages were perfectly fine. There were only six phrases but they jarred me out of the story each time.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Noble Guardian, 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 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Nanny Witness

GIVEAWAY

WHITE, HOPE
NANNY WITNESS

Running for her life -- and for a child's safety.
A riveting The Baby Protector's novel

When gunshots echo through the baby monitor, nanny Carly Winslow acts fast, fleeing with seven-month-old Mia. Help comes suspiciously soon in the form of Brody "Whit" Whittaker, who says he's Mia's uncle -- and a policeman. If he's lying, he could be one of the attackers. And if he's really a cop...what will he do after he uncovers her troubled past?

My Review:

Clearly I have not read enough of Hope White's books! I intend to remedy that! What a thrill-of-a-ride read from start to finish! That cozy opening scene that quickly turns to chaos and fear as Carly desperately attempts to save her charge from abduction makes for a chilling start to a relentlessly paced suspense. The pursuit never lets up and Carly's wary of trusting anyone -- especially a cop. But Brody's determined to be there for his niece in a way he wasn't for his brother. He's just as relentless as the bad guys but for all the right reasons. Plenty of twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Especially the appearance of an unexpected secondary character (who will hopefully be featured in a future book!) An unputdownable., addictive kind of read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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