Murder in the Mystery Suite

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

ADAMS, ELLERY
MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE

Who would resort to murder?

Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural west Virginia is the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.

But when the winner of the scavenger hunt, Felix Hampden, is found dead in the Mystery Suite, and the valuable book he won as his prize is missing, Jane realizes one of her guests is an actual murderer. Amid a resort full of fake detectives, Jane is bound and determined to find a real-life killer. There's no room for error as Jane tries to unlock this mystery before another vacancy opens up...

My Review:

published in 2014

The whole concept of Storyton Hall tickles my fancy in so many ways! Who wouldn't want to go to a resort that caters to book lovers?! The next best thing is reading about it. But there's so much more to this special inn and I don't want to say too much so as not to post spoilers but I'm so excited about it I'm bursting at the seams to share all my insights and opinions. Gah, how giddily frustrating.

Let me just say that there is much more to Storyton Hall then what the guests see. Like the stellar staff with...unique abilities. Their loyalty to the Steward family, and Jane in particular, knows no bounds. And there are plenty of secrets, both light and dark, and a cast of larger than life characters that I already adore. Jane's mischievous twin boys and her close knit book club friends, the Cover Girls, provide oodles of laugh-out-loud moments. The regal Muffet-Cat keeps everyone in place with a slit-eyed glare and threatened paw-swipe. And there's an intriguing and very mysterious gentleman who is starting to show an interest in Jane. (No romance yet, just the blissful inkling that one might be hovering on the horizon.)

And all the bookish references! It's bibliophile heaven, I tell you! I'm beyond thrilled to have discovered this new-to-me series. I have my library to thank since they recently added the sixth book to their audio collection. I finished it in a day and headed over to audible to buy books one and two! Great narration by Johanna Parker and it's such a fun book to listen to. She gives such distinctive voices to all the characters -- especially the twins -- and the way she delivers the dialogue is brilliant. Makes me feel like I'm part of the conversation. I'm a tad shy of giddy over all the great listening hours ahead of me. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Murder in the Mystery Suite 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 6 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

May Giveaway - Week Five

Ha! Just realized I didn't notify last week's winners. I started to and then got distracted by a good book. Bwahahahaha!  Sorry about that. A couple of you went ahead and sent me your info -- thanks -- I'll send out notifications today along with this week's winners...right after I putter in the garden a bit.

WON BY LINDA MOFFITT

WON BY PAM K

WON BY DIANA & MJSH

WON BY SUSANLULU

WON BY TICKMENOT

WON BY MARIA DB

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:

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey

GIVEAWAY

WILSON, ABIGAIL
MASQUERADE AT MIDDLECREST ABBEY

When the widowed Lord Torrington agreed to spy for the crown, he never planned to impersonate a highwayman, let alone rob the wrong carriage. Stranded on the road with an unconscious young woman, he is forced to propose marriage to protect his identity, as well as his dangerous mission.

Trapped by not only the duty to her country but her limited options, Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her illegitimate son are whisked away to Middlecrest Abbey by none other than the elder brother of her son's absent father. She is met by Torrington's beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murderer, and an urgent hunt for the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Afraid of what Lord Torrington might do if he learns of her son's true identity, Elizabeth must remain one step ahead of her fragile heart, her uncertain future, and the relentless mystery person bent on her new family's ruin.

My Review:

Sqqquuuuuueeeeeeeepppppp Alert.!!!! This is seriously swoonworthy stuff. Regency Spy/Marriage of Convenience/Mystery with a Gothic air...I'm hyperventilating just thinking about it!

Abigail Wilson is a genius at creating ambiance. Her words just flow and fill my head with images and feelings -- such a divine escape from the stress of the day! I listened to the audible version narrated by Laura Kirman which made the whole experience that much more delectable.

The story is captivating -- from the historical details to the family manor shrouded in secrets and the burgeoning romance between Elizabeth and her highwayman. Lots of toe-curls and heart felt sighs.

And the way the mystery plays out!!!! I was on the edge of my seat all the way through. So many clever twists and turns -- some exciting, others agonizing -- the kind of novel you race your way through whit bibliophile glee only to nose dive into a petulant pout of the I-can't-believe-it's-all-over blues once you reach the end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Stolen Secrets

GIVEAWAY

SHACKELFORD, SHERRI
STOLEN SECRETS

From investigating a security breach to becoming the target of an unseen foe.

Someone has been impersonating software engineer Lucy Sutton to steal classified technology secrets, and it's up to her to figure out who. national Security Agency employee Jordan Harris is the only person she trusts to help her set a trap. But with an unknown enemy watching Lucy's every move and threatening her life, capturing the culprit becomes an even deadlier task than they expected.

My Review:

Woohee -- intensity +++! Lots of action and intrigue and dodging danger while falling head over heels in love. Another unique suspense plot from this author with so many rabbit warren trails to follow that my sleuthing armchair got quite a workout! Love this unconventional heroine -- from looks to decor preferences to her pet of choice -- you don't see someone like Lucy in a Love Inspired novel very often. And Jordan is a kinda alpha nerd hybrid. :-) Absolutely love the distinctive flare Sherri Shackelford brings to the Love Inspired Suspense line.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Stolen 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

A Beautiful Arrangement

GIVEAWAY

WISEMAN, BETH
A BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT

Can Lydia and Samuel find love in their marriage of convenience?

Lydia still can't believe that she is Mrs. Samuel Bontrager. Or that she is seventeen with a six-month-old daughter. As Baby Mattie grows fussier by the day, Lydia wonders how she will survive a lifetime of marriage to a man she doesn't love -- at least not in the way she wants.

Samuel knows that he and Lydia did the right thing by marrying when Lydia became pregnant. He has even grown to love Lydia, though he never seems able to say the words our loud. What if she doesn't love him back? After all, she pushes him away whenever he tries to draw closer.

When Lydia and Samuel introduce their mutual friends Beverly and Joseph to each other, they are as envious as they are delighted to  watch their friends fall in love. But just as Samuel thinks Lydia might be softening to him, she gets involved in investigating the mysterious past of a homeless woman -- a curiosity that threatens to drive the couple further apart.

The third and final novel in the Amish Journeys series by bestselling author Beth Wiseman explores how wounds from the past must come to light before they can hope to heat..

My Review:

Hmmmm....I keep selecting books with strong forgiveness themes lately. I wonder if God is trying to tell me something? I certainly appreciated the way both forgiveness and trust wrap their way around these two couples as they grow in love and appreciation for each other. Yes, you read that right -- Wiseman blesses her readers with two romances in one book! Eeeep!! That set my romantical loving heart all a flutter!

First, we have Lydia and Samuel who had to get married due to Lydia's pregnancy. In essence, this is very much an Amish marriage of convenience story and I really enjoyed the way these two matured and discovered that deep, abiding love is so much more than infatuation. Sometimes Samuel was a dunderhead. :-) But then, Lydia was prone to retreating and stewing over things so I guess their awkwardness was equally matched.

Then we have Joseph and Beverly. Oh my, but that man is smitten! What a hoot. He made me positively giddy! He sweeps Beverly off her feet with his bold declarations of ever afters. Such a contrast to Samuel's wary wooing of his estranged wife. That's not to say there aren't challenges in Joseph and Beverly's courtship -- they hit a gigantic bump on the road to happily ever after and wouldn't you know it? Joseph takes a page out of Samuel's dunderhead playbook! Men! Gah!

And in the midst of all the love story drama and angst, comes a mysterious homeless woman who Lydia just can't ignore and that story challenges them all!

This is the third book in the Amish Journeys series but it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first two books but I had no problem diving into this one. I have a feeling that some of Lydia and Samuel's story took place in the other novels, but Wiseman easily catches new readers up to speed with their situation and I never felt lost or confused.

A captivating read brimming with the hope trust brings into any relationship -- whether it be spouse, friend, stranger or your Heavenly Father.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  A Beautiful Arrangement, 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Safe Harbor

GIVEAWAY

BARRITT, CHRISTY
SAFE HARBOR

A job as easy as Sunday morning...

Guilt over past mistakes haunt Navy SEAL Dez Rodriguez. When he's asked to guard a pop star during a music festival on Lantern Beach, he's all set for what he hopes is a breezy assignment.

Until he meets Bree Jordan...

Bree hasn't found fame to be nearly as fulfilling as she dreamed. Instead, she's more like a carefully crafted character living out a pre-scripted story. When a stalker's threats become deadly, her life -- and career -- are turned upside down.

Danger rises up the charts...

From the start, Bree sees her temporary bodyguard as a player, and Dez sees Bree as a spoiled rich girl. But when they're thrown together in a fight for survival, both must learn to trust. Can Dez protect Bree -- and his carefully guarded heart? Or will their safe harbor ultimately become their death trap?

My Review:

First of all -- I just noticed the disconnect with the book title and the actual title on the cover. Had to do an info dive to see which is the right one. It is Safe Harbor and is correct on Amazon but Good Reads (where I got this pic from) has the cover with Deep Harbor on it. Just a funny little book quirk for your Tuesday. :-)

Since I missed all the other Lantern Beach series, I'm determined to keep current with this one (Lantern Beach Blackout.) Love these guys and the way they work together -- friends with a grim history but they still know how to razz each other. Great team dynamics, a stellar romance and a creepy stalker-vibe suspense sold me on this story. Getting to know these characters kept me there.

I'm usually not a fan of stardom story lines. Just can't connect at all, but I could with Bree right from the heart-pounding opening scene. Wooheee, but this author knows how to keep a reader (or listener) in a near coronary state! And there's a great balance between the suspense and romance. Neither overpowers the other which makes for a very smooth read.

Plus, there's this  gripping over-arcing suspense thread that's being carried through each book. It's in the background but I'm guessing it's going to build to an exciting crescendo by the end of the series. So much to look forward to! Like Griff! I'm anxiously waiting for his story (Ripple Effect) to become available on audible.

I listened to the audible version of this book, narrated by Stacey Glemboski. Nothing like listening to an adrenaline rush of a read while counting your steps walking around the neighbourhood. Who needs a coach when you can have this kind of motivation to keep you moving? :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this giveaway is for an ebook. Unfortunately Safe Harbor isn't available on Book Depository right now. :-(

If you would like a chance to win an e-copy of  Safe Harbor, 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Of Literature and Lattes

GIVEAWAY

REAY, KATHERINE
OF LITERATURE AND LATTES

Return to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome, where two people discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change.

After fleeing her hometown three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never planned to return. Then the Silicon Valley start-up she worked for collapsed and turned her world upside down. She is broke, under FBI investigation, and without a place to go. Having exhasuted every option, she comes home to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup and move on as quickly as possible. Yet, as friends and family welcome her back, Alyssa begins to see a place for herself in this small Midwestern community.

Jeremy Mitchell moved from Seattle to Winsome to be near his daughter and to open the coffee shop he's been dreaming of for years. Problem is, the business is bleeding money -- and he's not quite sure why. When he meets Alyssa, he senses an immediate connection, but what he needs most is someone to help him save his floundering business. After asking for her help, he wonders if something might grow between them -- but forces beyond their control soon complicate their already complex lives, and the future they both hoped for is not at all what they anticipated.

With the help of Winsome's small-town charm and quirky residents, Alyssa and Jeremy discover the beauty and romance of second chances.

My Review:

Absolutely love that cover! I am such a shallow reader because I instinctively judge a book by its cover and this one promises so much. Did it deliver? Absolutely! 

As usual, Reay scraped my emotions raw and then poured salt over my wounds and I loved every agonizing minute of it! Be prepared for a angst and drama and the tumultuous relationships of broken people trying to find their way to a better future. There's a strong message about forgiveness that plays to varying degrees in the lives of multiple characters.

In fact, this novel is told from many points of view. I don't think I've read a book with so many viewpoints! Some are fleeting -- only a scene or two --  while others, like Jeremy and Alyssa, have more page time. So, if you're not a fan of multiple POV, this might not be the book for you. I found it really drew on the sense of community and I was quite captivated by all the voices clamoring in my head. :-)

Readers were introduced to Winsome in The Printed Letter Bookshop and you'll definitely get more out of this novel if you've read that one first. Especially when it comes to Alyssa's relationship with her mother.

Linda was one of the main characters in the first book so readers of TPLB have the benefit of experiencing her miraculous transformation. Because of that, I understood how difficult growing up as Linda's daughter would have been so I was more sympathetic to Alyssa's volatile reactions to her mother. But other readers were turned off by her. The author does a great job of bringing insight into this challenging mother/daughter relationship throughout the course of the story so if this is your first visit to Winsome, give  Alyssa the benefit of the doubt and I guarantee you'll find compassion and understanding by the end.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Laura Kirman. She did an excellent job but I have to admit that it took me about an hour of listening before I became accustomed to hearing her British accent in an American setting. Only the dialogue was spoken with a mid-western twang while the rest of the narration was all Brit.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Of Literature and Lattes, 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

And Then There Were Crumbs

GIVEAWAY

CALDER, EVE
AND THEN THERE WERE CRUMBS

She's a talented pastry chef -- with a secret recipe for solving crimes...

Welcome to the Cookie House.

Kate McGuire's life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiance both. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she's looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop's crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire, her, Kate can't tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise...

Where criminals get their just desserts.

Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam -- then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam's cinnamon rolls -- all eyes focus on the town's beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar...before someone else gets burned.

My Review:

Eeeep!!!!! New cozy msytery series alert!!!! And from what I can tell, this is Eve Calder's debut. She's definitely an author I will be keeping on my cozy high alert list.

This novel is packed with all the things cozy mystery fans adore -- small town charm, hard done by heroine looking for a fresh start, a cast of secondary characters willing to lend their support and cheer her on (well, except for the dastardly villain, of course) and the prerequisite  furry sleuthing buddy -- in this case an amicable pup. And while all these elements provide a comforting sense of familiarity, Calder has added her own charming brand of zaniness that makes it all snappy and fresh.

Like Kate's not only a baker, she's a cookie whisperer. It's positively magical! And her free-spirited canine sidekick belongs to the whole town. He has a bowl and a bed in multiple homes and businesses and enjoys a nomadic life...though I'm kinda hoping Oliver settles on Kate for his canine happily ever after. :-) Which would be fitting since he's her "knight in fuzzy armor."

There isn't a romantic element in this story. Instead, the author spends some quality time developing friendships -- including a mystery book club more than willing to put all those reading hours into practice! So much fun! But, if you enjoy romance in your stories, do not despair -- Calder introduces a new character at the end of the book...like the v-e-r-y end but he makes an impression on Kate (and, obviously me) so I'm excited to see how that will play out. (Please, not a love triangle. Pretty Please!!!)

I listened to the audible edition of this book. Christa Lewis's narration fit the story perfectly. I'll definitely be listening to the whole series. The second book, Sugar and Vice (love the clever play on words in both titles) just came out in April. I'm impatiently waiting for it to become available on audible so I can get my next Cookie House Mystery fix

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  And Then There Crumbs, 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 May 30 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

May Giveaway -- Week Four

WON BY NANCY

WON BY SUSAN P.

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY ELIZABETH LITTON

WON BY KAY GARRETT

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address. Otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your mailing address. From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU. Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address and I'll email you to confirm your win is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping time. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

A Mother's Secret

GIVEAWAY

MEYER, GABRIELLE
A MOTHER'S SECRET

Her home is at stake...and her first love holds the key.

Joy Gordon's life is far from perfect. The lavish house she lives in with her children was loaned to her by a wealthy philanthropist -- and his death means she has to give up her home. To satisfy his controlling father, Chase Asher must take his great uncle's property from the woman he once loved...but what will he do when her learns he fathered Joy's twins?

My Review:

A Reunion Romance that has all the feels. From Chase's makes-me-spitting-nails-mad father (gah!!!!!) to the delightful warm fuzzies offered up by elderly housekeeper Mrs. Thompson to Joy and Chases' toe-curling reacquaintance -- well count me one romantically happy reader. :-) I might have teared up over that last scene. Sniffle.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of  A Mother's Secret, 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 May 23 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

On a Coastal Breeze

GIVEAWAY

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
ON A COASTAL BREEZE

For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can't wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of bachelors on the island -- they're all too young, too old, or too weird -- they're all too young, too old, or too weird -- Maddie feels like she's finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.

And then Ricky O'Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again -- the one who'd been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance -- parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O'Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.

Time to panic.

With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.

My Review:

Back on Three Sisters Island and I'm in a giddy tizzified state because -- this family! These islanders! That hunky new pastor!!!! He would be Maddie's childhood archnemesis -- the guy who was suspended from high school so many times that the principal kept his file on his desk so it was handy. And now he's a pastor with such a down-to-earth, easy-going approach to preaching that Maddie doesn't know what to think! Except she knows she's going to continue hoarding multiple grudges from their youth despite the fact that she's a certified counselor and she should know better. The romance is so appealing -- awkward and funny and heart-tugging -- and packed with surprises.

I love the way Fisher builds a community, bringing so much depth and realistic drama to the story. And humour. Both wry wit and hearty guffaw funny. And I love the way these sisters' relationships are growing and changing from when we first met them in On a Summer Tide. Now that we have Camden and Maddie sorted, it's time turn our attention to younger sis, Blaine and I predict that her story will be a doozy!

While On a Coastal Breeze could be read as a standalone, I think a reader would get so much more out of the story by reading the first book before starting in on this one. There are some ongoing secondary plot threads that carry over from book to book. Plus Cam and Seth's storyline continues to develop in this one and Fisher favors us with multiple points of view -- the three sisters as well as their father -- so while this is primarily Maddie and Rick's tale, there's lot of other fun (and not so fun) stuff happening on the side and it will all likely spill over into the final Three Sisters Island novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  On a Coastal Breeze, 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 May 23 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Witness Protection Unraveled

GIVEAWAY

BLACK, MAGGIE K.
WITNESS PROTECTION UNRAVELED

Witness Protection gave him a new start -- and a family. But now his past is calling him back...

Living in witness protection won't stop Travis Stone from shielding two orphaned children whose grandmother was just attacked. But when his former partner, Detective Jessica Eddington, asks him to help bring down the group that sent him into hiding, agreeing could put them all at risk. Can he watch Jessica's back and protect the children?

A Protected Identities Novel

My Review:

Maggie K. Black delivers another edge-of-your-seat thrill of a read. Lots of drama, tons of danger and even a bit of the fantastical in true action thriller form. Reunion romance, cute kids (little Willow steals the show!) and a kick butt RCMP detective heroine who always gets her man...in this case both personally and professionally. :-) It doesn't get much better than this.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Witness Protection Unraveled, 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 May 23, 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Dangerous Alliance : an Austentacious Romance

GIVEAWAY

COHEN, JENNIEKE
DANGEROUS ALLIANCE : AN AUSTENTACIOUS ROMANCE

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!

Lady Victoria Aston has everything she could want: an older sister happily wed, the future of her family estate secure, and ample opportunity to while her time away in the fields around her home.

But now Vicky must marry -- or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only with the wisdom she has gained from her beloved novels by Jane Austen, she enters society's treacherous season.

Sadly, Miss Austen has little to say about Vicky's exact circumstances: whether the roguish Mr. Carmichael is indeed a scoundrel, if her former best friend, Tom Sherborne, is out for her dowry or for her heart, or even how to fend off the attentions of the foppish Mr. Silby, he of the unfortunately fashion sensibility.

Most unfortunately of all, Vicky's books are silent on the topic of the mysterious accidents cropping up around her...ones that could prevent her from surviving unto her wedding day.

My Review:

Okay -- first off -- love that campy cover! Definitely screams 'read me' (or listen to me which is what I did.)

Vicky is such a fun heroine -- fangirling over Austen before that became a thing. Such a great twist to all the Austen-centric novels out there. Vicky takes Miss Austen's novels very seriously -- like guidebooks to a gentlewoman's happily-ever-after. Only fact can really be stranger than fiction and she finds herself starring in her very own worthy-of-fiction drama.

This novel has all the Regency elements I like to swoon over:

Witty banter in spades! I was grinning like a fool on my walks around the neighbourhood as I listened to Morag Sims' narration.

A strong, opinionated heroine with an adventurous spirit.

A tortured hero who has a knack for making bad situations worse. :-) Vicky has her very own Mr. Darcy in that one.

Secondary characters I care enough about to hope they get their own books in the very near future.

And a cunning mystery with lots of daring action adds an extra zest to an already charming plot.

The perfect escape read for the discerning Austen fan OR a great introduction to all things 'Austentacious."

A couple of post notes:

While billed as a Young Adult novel, I am confident that any reader who enjoys Regencies will adore this story.

For those of you who know I usually read Christian Fiction, I'm happy to report this is definitely a clean read though there are a few instances of  mild oaths, including taking the Lord's name in vain.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Dangerous Alliance, 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 May 23 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Where Dandelions Bloom

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, TARA
WHERE DANDELIONS BLOOM

Cassie Kendrick is on the run. Her abusive father arranged her marriage to a despicable man, but she's discovered an escape. Disguised as a man, Cassie enlists in the Union Army, taking the name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young photographer.

Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase the darkness and guilt lurking from his past, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Mathew Brady to capture images from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships with many of the men he encounters, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding.

Battling betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel learn to forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the darkest places?

My Review:

Definition of a good writer: an author who entices a reader into opening a book she doesn't want to read and then beguiles her to stay in the story until the very end. That's Tara Johnson because I'm so not a fan of Civil War novels and I actually checked out Where Dandelions Bloom from my library twice before I cracked it open.

The first time, I didn't read it and the second time, I picked it up again just before the library closed because of COVID-19. Fast forward two months later and the library is still closed and my TBR pile is dwindling and WDB was suddenly top of the 'pile' (more like a modest mound now) so I took a deep, bracing breath and dived in.

And then I was all "Wwwwhhhaaat?! Why didn't I read this book sooner? This is so gooooooood!!!!!" I'm such a doofus. Sometimes it takes something like a pandemic to nudge a reader like me out of her comfort zone. :-) So now that you know I'm not fond of Civil War stories, rest assured that I am definitely fond of Tara Johnson's magical storytelling abilities!

So many lush layers to dive into! In characterization and plot -- and the historical details are alarmingly realistic (sometimes I had to read with my eyes closed.) It's heart-wrenching and nerve-racking but also faith-infusing. Kudos to the author for incorporating such a significant faith thread into this story. Johnson never preaches but she does testify and I'm the better for having read her words.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Where Dandelions Bloom, 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 May 23  2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

May Giveaway -- Week Three

Woohoo -- there's talk of my library opening up for curbside holds pick ups. I'm beyond giddy because there are some books on my holds shelf that have been taunting me for two months now.

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

WON BYTERRILL

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

WON BY LIZ R.

WON BY BEAUTY IN THE BINDING

WON BY JANA LEAH

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: