Fire Storm

GIVEAWAY

MEHL, NANCY
FIRE STORM

FBI Profiler Kaely Quinn visits Nebraska to care for her ailing mother. She can't help but notice suspicious connections among a series of local fires, so she calls on her partner, Noah Hunter, to help find the arsonist. Together they unwittingly embark on a twisted path to a man man who is determined his last heinous act will be Kaely's death.

My Review:

This is the second book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series but though the author does a great job of making sure Fire Storm can be read as a standalone, I really think you'll get so much more from it if you read Mind Games first. And that's because Kaely is such an unusual heroine with a gobsmackingly astonishing backstory. Sometimes she can come off as abrupt or uncaring and downright strange but to know her is to love her -- quirks and all.

In this story, we get a glimpse into the dysfunction of the Quinn family. Having a serial killer for a husband and father has created diverse coping strategies in Kaely, her brother and her mother and the way they relate to one another. I loved the raw, honest look inside this fractured family and the way the author brings restitution to all that brokenness. And Kaely's continued faith journey leads her to some deep insights into her own behaviours, giving her the courage to take a leap of trust with Noah. Even if it comes as a bit of a cliffhanger. :-)

This is the kind of series where the romance takes a very slow build through the course of all three books. It's agonizing to wait and wonder but the thrill of anticipation brings quite the kick too. Can't wait for Dead End to release in March 2020 so I can see if all my hopes and dreams for Kaely and Noah will be fulfilled! I'm on romantical tenterhooks!

Aptly titled, Fire Storm deals with a serial arsonist who grows more daring with each fire. Kaely just happens to be in the right place at the right time and notices a pattern which hurls her headlong into a complicated case with eerie undertones. Think creepy -- not as over the top as Criminal Minds (which I can't bear to watch) but eerie enough to play havoc with a sensitive reader's overactive imagination. Cue the delicious shivery chills and you might want to indulge in some comfort chocolate and possibly a canine companion for this read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fire Storm, 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 October 5 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The :Last Housekeeper

GIVEAWAY

SHUEY, KARI
THE LAST HOUSEKEEPER

Falling for your employer is band...but falling for a murderer is worse.

Abby is in the top of her field and takes pride in her ability to clean up after the upper class. When her boss offers her a promotion to be a live-in housekeeper, she can't believe the opportunity that has been thrown in front of her. Better pay, no more rent, doing what she loves...what's the catch?

The client is a person of interest in a prominent murder case -- the death of his most recent housekeeper. Mr. Saxe is not only handsome, but the most eligible bachelor in the area. However, he's an incredibly private person with the means to hide the darkest of secrets.

While Abby tries to ignore the growing feelings she has for her new employer, she realizes there's more to Mr. Saxe than meets the eye. As she discovers unnerving information about his past, she must make a choice -- trust her instincts or follow her heart.

My Review:

A debut from a promising new author for fans of billionaire romance novels that have a touch of mystery.

Abby doesn't know what she's getting herself in for when she accepts a new position as housekeeper for a reclusive billionaire. A man whose previous housekeeper was murdered in the very house Abby's going to live in! Cue the creepy music and get ready to put the puzzle pieces together as Abby tries to figure out just who Gavin Saxes is -- friend or foe?

I found the first three quarters light on suspense -- there's a lot of internal musings by both hero and heroine but no active investigation into the murder by either Abby or Gavin. The murder hovers in the background while the romance takes precedence until the last quarter of the book when the action and suspense ratchets up.

Shuey has a fluid writing style but I found the story got bogged down when she approached the same scene from two different perspectives. So it would play out from Gavin's POV and then the next scene would backtrack over the same events only from Abby's POV. Jolted me out of the story every time and left me scrambling to find my bearings.

Overall an encouraging first novel.

Sidenote: While this isn't a Christian Fiction selection, it is a clean read.

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

Giveaway Opporunity:
If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of The Last Housekeeper 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 October 5 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

September Giveaway - Week Four

WON BY HEIDI READS

WON BY SUSAN FUCHIKAMI

WON BY CHANEL M.

WON BY PAULA SHRECKHISE

WON BY MARIA DB

WON BY WENDY NEWCOMB

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:

Shelter from the Storm

GIVEAWAY

DAVIDS, PATRICIA
SHELTER FROM THE STORM

An Amish marriage of convenience. 
A new North Country Amish novel.

Secretly pregnant and unwed, Gemma Lapp has a difficult choice -- face her Amish community or raise her baby alone. But when a storm strands Gemma in the wilderness with her former crush, Jesse Crump, she knows her secret won't be safe for long. Gemma can't imagine trusting a man again...until Jesse proposes a marriage of convenience. Could their arrangement lead to love?

My Review:

There's something about a marriage of convenience story that sends me into a swoony tailspin and this one ticks all the boxes.

Character-driven and emotionally compelling, I was committed from the very first page. Love that Jesse and Gemma have a rather notorious history -- a young woman's crush gone awry, you might say. Harsh words followed by hurt feelings sent Gemma running away to lick her wounds while Jesse stayed put and brooded. :-) A year and a half later and they meet again under impossible circumstances. Love the charged atmosphere that crackles around these two. He's long-suffering and cranky while she's snippy and withdrawn but there's a subtext going on that's at odds with all that grumpiness.

Davids is thoroughly mean to her characters, going to great lengths to torture them (and this reader!) There's angst aplenty and I love the wintry wilderness setting! Nothing like being forced to work together to battle the elements to bring about a truce.

This is the second book in the North Country Amish series and I have to say I love the unique setting. A new Amish settlement in Maine provides lots of scope for the imagination. Can't wait to visit New Covenant again in March 2020 when The Amish Teacher's Dilemma releases.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of Shelter from the Storm, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

On Magnolia Lane

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

HUNTER, DENISE
ON MAGNOLIA LANE

Falling in love with Daisy was easy for Jack. But finding the courage to tell her becomes problematic when his secret feelings lead to even bigger complications.

After two years of counselling sessions with Daisy Pendleton, Pator Jack McReady has earned a permanent spot in her life as a spiritual leader -- and nothing more. Jack would never risk losing her trust by exposing the depths of his heart, but he's hopelessly in love with her.

Daisy loves her southern small-town life and her job at her family-run flower shop, but she doesn't have the thing she longs for most: someone to share it with. Her recent foray into online dating has been a disaster -- until she meets TJ.

Jack could kill his friend Noah for using his initials and some indistinct photos to set up a profile on the dating all Daisy is using. But when he's finally afforded the opportunity to show her a different side of himself, he's sucked into the plan before he has time for second thoughts.

Online, Daisy shares some of her greatest fears with TJ, but in person, Jack and Daisy are spending more time together. When a devastating family secret surfaces, Daisy knows that only her trusted friend and counselor can bring her comfort. Jack wants nothing more than to be both men for Daisy, but revealing his secret will prove to be the ultimate test of Daisy's grace.

My Review:

published in 2018

I found this to be an unexpectedly lighthearted read from Denise Hunter even though she tackles some heavy issues. Still -- it comes across (to me anyway) as a romantic comedy. I listened to the audible version and I was constantly laughing out loud. Would-be-suitor Pastor Jack is just so...awkward....and the pep talks he gives himself! I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time!

And then there's Daisy, so clueless. She has Jack boxed in as 'Pastor' and since she totally isn't pastor wife material the idea of romance doesn't enter her head....at least not consciously. Loved watching these two bungle their way towards a HEA. As much as I laughed, my heart was also touched by their struggles. I could relate to Jack's social awkwardness and Daisy's insecurities. It made me want to root for them even more.

A rollicking fun read with a 'You've Got Mail' kinda vibe.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of On Magnolia Lane, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Trail of Danger

GIVEAWAY

HANSEN, VALERIE
TRAIL OF DANGER

What she forgot could kill her. 
A heart-stopping True Blue K-9 Unit book.

Injured by an attack she can't remember, Abigail Jones knows someone's after her, but, she doesn't know why or who. Now the man who rescued her, Officer Reed Branson, and his K-9 partner will shield her while she regains her memory. But unraveling the mystery surrounding Abigail leads to more questions than answers...and to a ruthless enenmy who's determined to take their lives.

My Review;

There aren't enough words to express how much I love this series! The K-9 officers are a real draw and I love how each book has it's own standalone suspense plot -- they can all be read independently though there is a subtle over-arcing series suspense as well. And I love how the books are able to explore different factors of K-9 policing.

I have to admit to being drawn to the big city setting as well. It brings unique issues and challenges such as youth homelessness which is featured in Trail of Danger. A refreshing change from the small-town suspense we usually see in the Love Inspired Suspense line -- not that I don't love my small-town suspense novels. They will always be the staple of my avid reader appetite -- but sometimes it's just fun to switch things up a bit. :-)

Doesn't Jessie cut a fine figure on that cover? A dedicated scent hound who could clear a city block with her madly wagging tail! Her loving disposition makes a little drool manageable. And her human partner -- minus the drool -- is just as captivating!

Reed's breaking the rules by becoming emotionally involved in a case but there's something about Abigail that pulls him in. Jessie too. You gotta know it's a good thing when your dog gives her seal of approval. I really enjoyed the way their relationship developed. There's enough 'down' time for Reed and Abigail to get to know each other and enough heart-stopping intrigue to keep everything on edge. Sweet combination.

Gah! Just two more books to go before we finally collar a murderer and find a missing K-9 officer! And I have Courage Under Fire by Sharon Dunn sitting on my TBR pile right now so guess what I'm diving into next?!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of Trail of Courage, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Rosemary Cottage

GIVEAWAY
Random Retro Read Day

COBLE, COLLEEN
ROSEMARY COTTAGE

The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother's death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben's death was no accident?

Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang's family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.

She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious email she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.

Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear aparat the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?

My Review:

published in 2013
My thanks to my public library for providing me with a copy of this retro read

Classic Coble! And that means an intricately woven suspense plot plus an emotionally complicated romance and a bevy of secondary characters who will charm or repulse or just plain confound. Love that I couldn't quite get a handle on some of the players. It seems like I always dive into a Coble suspense ready to suspect everyone! This author is great at placing strategic red herrings. I thought I had it all figured out...until I didn't!

And the secrets! Oy! Burdens when they are kept and sometimes even when they are shared. Amy and Curtis have a volatile relationship -- partly because of the things they aren't saying but also for what they are. Combustible describes the push/pull of their relationship. Such a tangled web of wariness and mistrust. Lots for a reader to lose herself in.

A great pairing of suspense and romance liberally dosed with faith. The perfect recipe for a happy reader.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Rosemary Cottage, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Deadly Intentions

GIVEAWAY

HARRIS, LISA
DEADLY INTENTIONS

Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First,  a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team -- and what their end game is -- before it's too late.

In this nail-biting thriller, award-winning author Lisa Harris will have you believing that there's no such thing as random.

My Review:

Whoa...whoa...WHOA! Deadly Intentions is a thrill-of-a-lifetime read that makes breathing hard and not skimming ahead even harder. There's tension galore and an impossible mystery to solve...while trying to stay alive! And I love that the slow build romance is anchored in some solid groundwork. Add in the touches of humour in the midst of the chaos and we have all the elements I absolutely adore in a romantic suspense.

And the combination of this hero and heroine? Wow! Caitlyn -- totally out of her element but determined to uncover the truth. She's scared out of her wits half the time but she has a plucky streak that sees her through and impresses Josh no end. He's the honourable grieving widower. A dedicated detective who has buried himself in work after his wife's violent death. Even after a year, he hasn't been able to let go of the nagging doubts about the supposedly solved case. Things turn explosive when these two team up! Nail-biting and toe-curling along with a healthy dose of yearning on my part. My heart about hammered out of my chest for the duration of the read.

I listened to the audible version, narrated by Kate Forbes and it was excruciatingly good. It's such sweet agony to  be at the mercy of a narrator's pacing. There were so many times I wanted to gallop ahead because I just had to know what happened. Could we really trust that person? How could this be happening at the halfway point? How on earth will I be able to survive another three hours of not knowing? This book held me hostage until the very last word!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deadly Intentions, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Holiday By Gaslight

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

MATTHEWS, MIMI
A HOLIDAY BY GASLIGHT

A Courtship of Convenience

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He's grim and silent. A man of little emotion -- or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she's ready to put an end to things.

A Last Chance for Love

But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn't as straightforward as Sophie envisioned. Her parents are outraged. And then there's Charles Darwin, Prince Albert, and that dratted gaslight. What's a girl to do except invite Mr. Sharpe to Appersett House for Christmas and give him one last chance too win her? Only this time there'll be no false formality. This time they'll get to know each other for who they really are.

My Review:

published in 2018

If you're in the mood for a toe-curling Victorian-with-a-Regency-flair holiday escape read look no further. A Holiday by Gaslight has everything I love in a historical romance. A reserved hero who isn't so much brooding as unsure of all the aristocratic social graces. An opinionated heroine who isn't afraid to speak her mind. A delightful mix-up in the communications department -- please, won't one of you just say what you're thinking? Out loud! In the presence of the other? But no, they'd rather banter back and forth with witty dialogue! I have such a weakness for time period banter and this is divine! Happy sigh. The lovely Victorian Christmas traditions add a wonderful holiday flare. Hello -- mistletoe scenes require the presence of a fainting couch! Definitely a scrumptious way to read in the season!

Side note: While A Holiday by Gas Light is not a Christian Fiction selection, it is a clean read, however there were a few instances of using the Lord's name as an exclamation -- not quite a curse, but not a prayer either.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Holiday by Gaslight, 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 September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

September Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY LIZ R

WON BY ROXANNE

WON BY CONNIE LEE

WON BY PAM W

WON BY JACKIE SMITH

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:

Rancher to the Rescue

GIVEAWAY

JAMES, ARLENE
RANCHER TO THE RESCUE

First comes rescue...then comes love at the Three Brothers Ranch.

Coming to the aid of a woman in her broken-down car, Jake Smith finds the answer to his childcare problems. Kathryn Stepp needs a job, and the widower needs a nanny for his son. As they help each other, Jake is caught between attraction and his refusal to marry again. But sometimes a woman doesn't just fall for a hero -- she rescue him right back.

My Review:

First of all -- love that cover. It looks so candid and really fits the story. Second -- I adore a good rescue story and this is definitely in that category. Kathryn's distress is palpable when she meets Jake for the first time. Jittery, anxious, overwhelmed...I was nearly hyperventilating on her behalf! And there's Jake, all macho and clueless in an endearingly impatient way. It takes Kathryn a while to realize that Jake doesn't mean her any harm. Even longer to figure out that he really might be too good to be true. Love her shell-shocked wonder at the neighbourliness of the Smith clan and the way they take over her life! And little Frankie's boisterous exuberance for his 'KKay' adds an extra zest to the story. This is a second chance romance that's worth wading through the gnarly bits in order to reach the HEA. Page-turning romantical perfection.

GIVEVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of Rancher to the Rescue, 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 September 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Forgiven

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

PERRY, MARTA
THE FORGIVEN

In the first novel in the Keepers of the Promise trilogy, three cousins sort through the treasures of their Amish family and discover stories from the past that provide inspiration for their own lives.

Central Pennsylvania, current day. Rebecca Fisher gladly accepted her husband Paul's dreams as her own, but now that he has passed away, she's struggling to raise tow children and keep her home. Renting her stable to carpenter Matthew Byler offers a partial solution -- even though Matthew has a troubled history, having sometimes failed to embrace Amish beliefs. As Matthew seeks to prove himself, Rebecca realizes how dependent she has become on others. Where can she find the courage to grown and change?

Lancaster County, 1941. As war threatens, Anna Esch pours her experiences into her diary. Her world seems to crumble as neighbors turn against the Amish and her love, Jacob, is sent to a camp far away for refusing to fight. She can't know, as she grows from a girl into a woman, during a time of trouble and grief, that one day another Amish woman will gain strength from the words she writes and will learn that she, too, can become a keeper of the promise.

My Review:

published in 2014
My thanks to my public library for providing me with this retro read

I have absolutely no idea how I missed the entire Keepers of the Promise series but I plan to make up the slack starting with this first book. And my heart did loop-de-loops when I discovered this is a dual timeline story!

Marta Perry has created an emotionally charged present day love story centered around change and second chances. Both are hard to accomplish -- and next to impossible without forgiveness.

I could feel the panic welling up in me as Rebecca faces the challenges of widowhood and the changes it brings. She does a lot of growing on this journey -- discovering not only her strengths, but that it's okay to have weaknesses too. Love that she isn't perfect -- she can be prickly and snappish, especially when Matthew's in the picture. :-) He's endearingly patient with Rebecca and her children. But he comes home with his own set of issues that make him feel less worthy. Love the clashing of wills and sweet pull of romance!

The historical timeline romance is just as compelling but in a very different way. World War II is the ominous backdrop for Anna and Jacob's love story. The details of how the war affected the Amish made for a riveting -- and emotional -- read. And I love how Anna's faith not only carries her through wartime hardships but provides insight and inspiration to Rebecca generations later.

Complex and poignant -- Perry captures real life with heart and faith. Can't wait to continue with this series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Forgiven, 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 September 21 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Recovered Secrets

GIVEAWAY

PATCH, JESSICA
RECOVERED SECRETS

A blank memory. A new life. But her borrowed time just ran out.

Two years after Grace Thackery washed up on a small-town Mississippi riverbank, she has the first clue about the life she doesn't remember, someone wants her dead. And while search-and-rescue director Hollis Montgomery's determined to protect her, the secrets of her past are darker than they expected.  Can the bond between Grace and Hollis survive her true identity...and an assasin?

My Review:

Well this one sent me into a bibliophile tailspin of woozy delight. My brain is all in a muddled daze so finding words for a review is going to be tricky.

First, Recovered Secrets is full of the unexpected. That includes cagey plot twists that are directly linked to my befuzzled state. And I so love the way Patch brings humour into even the most desperate scenes. The word 'ninja' will forever bring a smile to my lips. :-)

I also love Grace's backstory -- or lack thereof. That kind of long term amnesia makes for some fascinating tension -- especially when it comes to the romance. Because Hollis has feelings for Grace -- the kind that goes beyond the special friendship they've developed over the past year and a half. Only how can Grace reciprocate when she doesn't know who she really is? And there's so much I want to say about that but I can't without posting spoilers which is uber frustrating Gah! Because Grace's story begs to be talked over.

And then there's the suspense -- wow -- just wow. Intricate and clever. It was so much fun trying to put the pieces together and when I had the light bulb moment before Grace and Hollis did I was beyond proud...only to discover that I was only half right and maybe a whole lot wrong too and then things happened followed by more things until my brain felt fried. Synapses are still sizzling as a matter of fact.

An action-packed thrill of a page-turner.

GIVEVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of Recovered Secrets, 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 September 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Once Upon a Dickens Christmas : 3 Charming Christmas Tales Set in Victorian England

GIVEAWAY

GRIEP, MICHELLE
ONCE UPON A DICKENS CHRISTMAS

Three delightful Christmas tales from beloved storyteller Michelle Griep.

Pour yourself a cuppa, get lost in the merriment of the season, and enjoy a Dickensian Christmas in three stories from fan favorite Michelle Griep.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor: Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about...love.

A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle's inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable -- too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance?

The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

My Review:

A spectacular collection of Christmas tales that do Charles Dickens proud. Each novella is infused with holiday warmth and delicious feel-goods. Perfect stories that celebrate the season in traditional style. There's angst aplenty and plot twists galore on the way to three breath-snatching happily ever afters that will make your toes curl. Love the Christmasy familiar Victorian setting and Elizabeth Gaskell flair to these stories. They honestly read as 100 + year old classics! Definitely a collection I'll be revisiting each year. And I especially enjoyed the audible version. There's something so delectable about having a Christmas story read to you. Perfect accompaniment to holiday baking and gift wrapping!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas, 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 September 21 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!