Monday, July 22, 2019

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!

28 comments:

  1. Ohhhh, this sounds good. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy, and a new author for me too!

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. It's really, really good. This was my first Cindy Regnier read as well -- wait -- I just did some nosying around at it looks like this her debut! How cool is that? Good luck, Wendy!

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  2. Thank you Kav! I am so honored to have Mail-Order Refuge featured on my favorite book review blog!

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    1. Ah, thanks, Cindy. And thanks for the awesome storytime!

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  3. I feel the same as you about mail order brides. LOl Thank you for your review. Ohh but this sounds wonderful. I would love to read this new to me author.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. A lot of us have the mail-order-bride bug! Good luck, Lori!

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  4. Sounds like a good one! Nothing like a romance!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. This is a sublime romance! Good luck, Melanie!

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  5. I was not familiar with her, and I see in comments that this was her first book. A mail order bride story line adds an additional layer of interest, sometimes humorous, to a historical romance. I always enjoy those type stories. Thanks!

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  6. Kav, love your review of Mail-Order Refuge...as I always appreciate your thoughts! ;)

    Mail-order bride stories are such a fun trope, and author Cindy Regnier had some twists I didn't expect. A great sigh-worthy read!

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    1. Thanks, Sherida. Didn't Cindy do a spectacular job with this story? Insert Contented Reader Smile here. :-)

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  7. OH!MY! Sounds like a fun read! KAV, thank you for the great review and the opportunity to win a copy.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  8. AHH!! This sounds amaaazing! Awkwardness is wonderful (when in a character's life...)
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Yes -- totally love reading about awkward situations among characters but it's not nearly as much fun in real iife! Especially when it's happening to me! lol Good luck, Nicole.

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  9. Great review, Kav! This book sounds really good and I do love a mail order bride story line. Thanks again for the review. Will be adding this one to the “list.”

    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Pam. Another mail-order bride fan! I can never get enough! Good luck!

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  10. Enjoyed your review. Thank you for sharing.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  11. Wow - another new to me author! I need to check this rock that I've been under.

    Love your review which had me placing "MAIL-ORDER REFUGE" on my gotta read list.

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy and to make my list one book shorter.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. We're in on her debut, Kay. And it's awwesome! Good luck!

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  12. I'd not heard of this one! 😱 It sounds SOOO good! Eeee! A new book for my TBR pile! YAY!!!

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    1. Yes, it caught me by surprise too. It's a great read. Good luck, Elly!

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  13. It is a mystery why most of us love mail order bride stories so much!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I know, right? But not so much in real life. Good luck, Patty!

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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