The Trustworthy One

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns to the charming and evocative Walnut Creek Series with an unforgettable novel following one broken young woman whose search for peace leads her back to her hometown, where she rediscovers her faith and reconnects with those she loves most.

Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay -- far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.

Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.

Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined; her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistant in setting things right between them.

As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?

My Review:

This has been an exceptional series! Character-driven plots that realistically deal with tough issues bring depth and healing to each enthralling story.

The series centers around friends who vow to stick together after the tragic suicide of one of in their group. Each book gives some quality page time to all the friends, while focusing on one hero and one heroine's love story. And Gray doesn't shy away from hard topics as she explores ways forgiveness and friendship can transform lives.

Kendra has survived an abusive childhood and, before returning to Walnut Creek, she always felt like she was on the outside looking in. But as she's distanced herself from her past and enjoyed some personal successes in the ensuing years, she's on the cusp of actually realizing what it feels like to belong. 

Nate unthinkingly hurt her in the past and he's determined to make amends now that Kendra has returned...if only she'll let him. Learning to trust is at the heart of their story and it's an emotional one.

I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Tavia Gilbert. Her outstanding performance brought these characters to life and held me captive right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Trustworthy One, 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 winners announced on Saturday March 6 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

February Giveaway -- Week Four

WON BY AMADA

WON BY MJSH

WON DIANA FLOWERS

WON BY NANCY M

WON BY ELIZABETH LITTON

WON BY PAM W

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address in the comments, otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. (Please note it's ca as in Canada not com)

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 AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address (or email address for ebooks) and I'll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

 

Two of the books in this line up were hidden treasures discovered at the back of one of my bookshelves. I was spring cleaning - a tad early, but what else is one to do with all the snow and wind and freezing temps outside? Plus, it was sunny and after two very gray months the sun alone felt like spring. But, I digress. 

When my Christian bookstores closed shop years ago :-( I attended a closing out sale and picked up some ( a lot ) of books at marked down prices. I'll admit to being in a randomly hoarding frenzy :-) and picked up a few duplicates along the way. I tucked them away and forgot about them until my spring sprucing up of bookshelves tradition began. So, this week I give you two fantastic retro reads -- Summer's Sun by Becky Melby which is my first every grown up dual timeline novel and way ahead of its time within the Christian Fiction realm, Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado which is cleverly whimsical and uplifting.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Framed in Death Valley

GIVEAWAY

MENTINK, DANA

FRAMED IN DEATH VALLEY

A killer who will stop at nothing...

Framed for a murder he didn't commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything -- including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney's life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves...and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man's second chance comes with a deadly price.

A Desert Justice Story

My Review:

The exotic (for this Canadian) setting ups the edge factor in this thrilling suspense. As does the fact that Beckett and Laney are married. Their newlywed bliss was marred by murder and now, a few months later, their estranged relationship is further complicated by threats of danger which soon escalate to violence. Cue the comfort chocolate and get cozy because this is one unputdownable page-turner.

And, woohoo, this is the first book in Mentink's new Desert Justice series and I'm already rooting for certain characters to get their chance to shine in their own stories. Love the way the author has set the stage for the series while immersing readers in Beckett and Laney's harrowing tale.

There's emotional angst aplenty between the fractured marriage and the hurt it's caused. Beckett's attempts at making a noble sacrifice meets with disastrous results and Laney has every reason in the world to be feeling hurt and angry and confused. My heart ached for them both, but especially for Beckett, who has past demons to conquer as well. I do so love emerging from a read with a heart that feels tender and bruised. :-)

And the suspense! Complicated twists and unexplained mysteries and more than one devious villain to contend with. Absolutely riveting to the very last word.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Framed in Death Valley, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

When Twilight Breaks

GIVEAWAY

SUNDIN, SARAH

WHEN TWILIGHT BREAKS

Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country -- or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed -- and wake up the folks back home.

In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party -- to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

My Review:

"I hate depending on others. It makes me weak..."

"Don't you know God makes us strong? He didn't create us to be completely independent, but interdependent."

Whoa! Another gobsmacker to make my top ten 2021 reading list and it's only February. And, while the content is historical, it is also very pertinent to our times which makes the story all the more fascinating/appalling.

This is Sundin at her best. Flawed characters growing through their faith journey, stunner plot, compelling historical details -- well, it all just took my breath away! And kept me frantically reading right to the end.

The pre-war Germany setting was especially intriguing for me. I've read a ton of WWII novels, but this is the first that solely focuses on the events leading up to the war. A chilling look at the insidious build to the horrors of the holocaust. 

And we get an insiders view from an intrepid reporter and a bemused foreign student. The author's brilliance shines in the unlikely pairing of this hero and heroine making of a heart-in-throat reading atmosphere. There's espionage and danger and Nazi arrogance and brutality...along with betrayal. I told you, page-turning stuff!

Book provided courtesy of Baker's Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When Twilight Breaks, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Hiding in Alaska

GIVEAWAY

CALHOUNE, BELLE

HIDING IN ALASKA

Can this witness risk opening her heart in her new Alaskan home?

Forced to reinvent herself in witness protection, Isabelle Sanchez begins working for an Alaskan chocolate company under the alias Ella Perez. Her new warmhearted town is a peaceful refuge -- as is the company of chocolate empire heir Connor North. She may never be able to tell Connor the truth about her fresh start...but can they find love despite her secrets?

A Home to Owl Creek novel

My Review:

Um...move over cowboy heroes, I may just have to switch you out for a chocolate tycoon because two of my favourite things are books (and their romantic heroes) and chocolate! It's a win/win, right? :-)

Love having the opportunity to come back to Owl Creek and revisit with some fave characters. This is the fourth book in the series, but it reads fine as a standalone, though you'll get a kick out some previous hero/heroine sightings if you're familiar with the series. Calhoune knows how to roll out the welcome mat and make her readers feel right at home whether this is your first visit into her fictional pages or the umpteenth. 

I have to say that what really struck me the most about this contemporary romance is the witness protection angle. I'm used to reading suspense novels featuring WITSEC which is all about fear of discovery and sinister pursuits. However, Hiding in Alaska, takes an in depth look at the stark reality of this kind of life, along with the long-term ramifications. 

Connor's family has been burned by secrets in the past. He's attracted to Ella but his spidey senses are on high alert. The alluring woman is definitely harboring secrets and he wants nothing to do with them.

Isabelle/Ella is shell-shocked (Calhoune does an amazing job of conveying her terrifying reality) and she knows it's going to be hard enough to navigate this new life as an independent loner. She can't risk letting anyone get too close but the folks in Owl Creek never met a stranger and she's soon swept up into their community. And then there's Connor, a man she could happily grow closer to...if only she didn't have so many secrets to protect. 

Absolutely love the way the author has woven scripture throughout this emotionally charged story. It is particularly moving in Ella's struggle to adjust to her new life while grieving all she's left behind. 

A heartwarming and hopeful tale of love and loss and hope for a future.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hiding in Alaska, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Night Hawk

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

NIGHT HAWK

She's determined to find her father's killer...

FBI Agent, Toni Long, lost her father a year ago when he was killed in a joint FBI and ICE investigation led by Clay Bryd, a man Toni had found herself infatuated with. Unfortunately, the killer escaped, and if Toni hadn't been distracted by her attraction to Clay, maybe her father wouldn't have died. When she receives an anonymous tip on the killer's identity, she follows the lead and an attempt is made on her life. Clay, having received the same tip, comes to her rescue. Thinking he can help find her father's killer and keep an eye on her safety too, he quikcly offers Nighthawk Security's help.

But she first has to face down her own dark past.

She fights the idea at first, but she will stop at nothing to find her father's killer, even if it means partnering with a guy she has feelings for. But as the investigation unfolds, they unearth deep, dark family secrets that are more dangerous than anything Toni could imagine. Problem is, Clay is right there by her side, offering her comfort and support, and protecting her from menacing danger. She soon has to fight feelings she's developing for him when her focus should be on the investigation and staying alive.

My Review:

I am insanely obsessed with this series! I'm pretty sure it's these strong Alpha hero type Byrd brothers that are the lure though their big sis and parents are awesome too. As well as the cameos of past heroes and heroines from other Sleeman series. 

Though...back to the Byrd brothers...honestly, I'm a little bit embarrassed over how fickle I've been. Head over heels over Aiden (Book One) then Brendan (Book Two) and now Clay has my heart singing only there's been enough Drake time (soon-to-be hero in Book Four) to have me kinda swoony over him too. If only this author didn't create such compelling heroes...wait, strike that. The bibliophile horror of a Byrdless collection in my library is too horrific to contemplate. Yes, I might be a tad obsessed. :-)

What else keeps me coming back for more from the Nighthawk Security series? Sleeman's ability to impeccably balance suspense, romance and relationships. I'd go from snort laughing to fear-cringing in a whip lashing nano-second! And the snarky brotherly jibes are soooo much fun! There's also a great balance between investigation and danger and the twisty-turny plot delivers one sucker punch after another. Not to mention that super freaky opening scene!!!!! All that and a faith thread besides!

If you love romantic suspense, you definitely need to meet up with the Byrd brothers. Just sayin'.

And I'm beyond thrilled that the author has made this series...well the first three books anyway (hopefully the rest, pretty please Ms Sleeman) available in audible format.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Night Hawk, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!  

The Nature of Fragile Things

 

GIVEAWAY

MEISSNER, SUSAN

THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS

April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door set in motion a transformaing chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.

My Review:

I'm gobsmacked speechless! This is hard to review because there are so many intricate plot twists it's difficult to comment without giving something away which I don't like to do. What I can say is that the story is compelling. Artfully written, the author shows exquisite restraint in the way key elements of the plot unfold. Had me perched on the edge of my seat frantically reading into the night. And there's more than one (aka a dozen or more) gasp-out-loud moments that thrilled me to the very core of my bibliophile being!

I really liked Sophie...and one of her major selling points was the way Alana Kerr Collins' narration brought her to life. (I listened to the audible edition.) I find that, no matter how good the story is, I can't keep listening if I don't like the narrator. Alana Kerr Collins enhanced my 'reader' enjoyment tenfold!

Please note: while not a Christian Fiction selection, this book is a clean read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy

If you would like a chance to win a e-copy of The Nature of Fragile Things, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Her Amish Wedding Quilt

GIVEAWAY

GRIGGS, WINNIE

HER AMISH WEDDING QUILT

A new year offers the promise of hope and new beginnings.

Spirited, forthright, impulsive -- everyone told Greta Eicher she'd have to change her ways if she ever hoped to marry. Then her best friend Calvin, the man she thought she would wed, chooses another woman. Now Greta's wondering if the others were right all along. Her dreams dashed, she pours her energy into crafting beautiful quilts at her shop and helping widower Noah Stoll care for his adorable young children.

Noah knows it's time to think about finding a wife. When Greta Offers to play matchmaker on his behalf, Noah eagerly accepts. After all, no one knows his children better. But none of the women she suggest seems quite right, because, unexpectedly, his feelings of respect and friendship for Greta have grown into something even deeper and richer. But will he have enough faith to overcome the pain of his past and give love another chance?

My Review:

Woohoo -- I have a new fave Amish fiction author! Though a multi-published author, this is the first Amish novel Winnie Griggs has written and I'm excited to continue on with this fresh new series.

First, absolutely love the heroine! Greta's forthright nature is such an original twist in an Amish romance. She's alive with ideas and creativity and she's not afraid to take things into her own hands in order to achieve her goals...sometimes with disastrous results, but she's never down for long. Impulsive in speech and action, but also quick to forgive and move on. 

And Noah doesn't know what to make of her. I do so love a befuddled hero when its the heroine causing the muddling. :-) His desire for an uncomplicated, business-like marriage seems straightforward enough...until Greta starts matchmaking and then, well it's all fun and mayhem. 

Griggs has created a wonderful Amish community that I'm anxious to revisit. Some of these secondary characters need their own stories told so I hope there are plans for many more books to come. 

     

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Her Amish Wedding Quilt, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 27  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

February Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY MELMO2610

WON BY PERRIANNE

WON BY LAURA WALTZ

WON BY LINDA MOFFIT

WON BY NICOLE SAGER

WON BY PATTY

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address in the comments, otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. (Please note it's ca as in Canada not com)

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 AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address (or email address for ebooks) and I'll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Season of Hope

GIVEAWAY

ANDERSON, BRENDA S.

SEASON OF HOPE

When a shocking revelation shatters her family and her faith, will truth prevail and mend what was broken?

Life is good for Ronnie Coborn. She's newly married to a man who loves her and dotes on her daughter. A man handpicked by Ronnie's father, a popular pastor at a megachurch who's been married to her mother for forty years.

Yes, life is good.

Until a shocking revelation exposes the fact that everything in her idyllic life -- her marriage, family, and faith -- is based on a lie.

My Review:

Not your grandmother's traditonal Hallmark Christmas story. :-) Anderson has penned a compelling Christmas tale of hope and grace and second chances. This is life at its messiest and only the promise of a Savior's love can mend and heal and renew. 

True confession: I didn't connect with Ronnie at first. She was already on my naughty list for the way she acted in Song of Mercy (no worries if you haven't read that novel, this book reads well as a standalone too) so it was always going to be an uphill battle but -- oy, that girl...I think I wore my back molars down from clenching my teeth during this read. :-)

Gavin is too good for her...or so I thought...and I just wanted him to stand up for himself and give her what for. Sigh. Clearly I needed a lesson on forgiveness and unconditional love because Anderson worked her usual storytelling wizardry and had me not only rooting for their marriage but coming to love this stubborn, complicated heroine. 

Their story is grounded in faith and filled with so many incredible inspirational insights that you could almost bill it as a devotional.

"The results we desire aren't promised us, but God will hear our prayers, and He will give us peace regardless of the outcome." (p 165)

A thought provoking look inside a fragile marriage only God can make whole.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Season of Hope, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!  

A Cowboy for Keeps

 

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY

A COWBOY FOR KEEPS

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order-bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revelations arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

My Review:

A cowboy for keeps? Yes please, especially if he's the product of Jody Hedlund's imagination! And --- eeeeeeppp -- this is a mail-order bride story! Absolutely love the way Greta and Wyatt haltingly draw closer as they partner together to make a success of the ranch. 

Love Greta's spunk and her dedication to her outrageously funny little sister. Honestly, Astrid stole the show for me with her childlike wonder and enthusiasm. Half angel, half imp, she certainly livened up the story!

And then there's Wyatt. Excuse me while I stare off into space with a goofy grin on my face because...oh, my!!! He's kinda gruff and awkward on the outside but all tender and kind on the inside. And rather flummoxed since he went to town to do some business and came home with a bride! 

I really enjoyed the way the romance develops. Lots of wary missteps and miscommunications peppered with sweet, hopeful moments of what could be...if these two dunderheads just sat down and talked everything through! Their chemistry is fabulous, sizzling and sparking and giving me hope that a happily ever after can become their reality...once they deal with a few pesky problems including some classic Wild West shenanigans that threaten everything they hold dear.

This is the first book in the Colorado Cowboys series and the tantalizing epilogue gives us a glimpse into what's in store next and I can't wait!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Cowboy for Keeps, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Crime Scene Connection

GIVEAWAY

ALEXANDER, DEENA

CRIME SCENE CONNECTION

Her writing was fiction, until a killer made the danger very real...

A serial killer's imitating crime scenes from Addison Keller's bestselling novel, determined to make her the final victim. But with former police officer Jace Montana and his dog at her side, Addison might just be able to unmask the murderer. With time running out as the killer closes in, she must confront her past and unravel long-buried secrets...and hope they can all escape with their lives.

My Review:

What a stunning debut novel! Alexander propels her readers right into the action and I experienced a mega dose of the fight or flight response in that nail-biting opening scene. My nerves were shot by the end of the first chapter! :-)  I was as confused and scared as Addison was. Especially over Jace's abrupt appearance. 

The man is all tight-lipped stealth and in full out commando mode. Be still my heart. And I loved the unexpected snippets of humour in the midst of all that tension. The wary truce these not so trusting kinda-enemies try to keep as they flee from one desperate situation to the next brings a delightful edge to the romance.

And I absolutely love Phoenix -- German Shepherd extraordinaire who is always happy to oblige with a comfort hug whenever the need arises. :-)

The kind of romantic suspense that will hold you captive right to the very end. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author...hopefully soon!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Crime Scene Connection, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

The Orchard House

GIVEAWAY

CHIAVAROLI, HEIDI

THE ORCHARD HOUSE

Concord, Massachusetts

2001

Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott's historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability...until Victoria's betrayal changes everything.

1865

While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa's aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa's words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan's proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband's dark side and she can't hide the bruises that appear.

2019

After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett's cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

My Review:

I was not prepared for what an emotional read this turned out to be. I felt serious melancholic vibes throughout. Sniffle. I'm glad I listened to the audible version because I got to ugly cry right through the sad parts (and there are many!) My heart still feels bruised. Hiccup-y sigh...sometimes a reader just needs a good story to wallow in and The Orchard House fits that bill perfectly. 

Achingly beautiful and heartrending. Exquisitely written -- the historical details had my childish Louisa May Alcott fangirling heart all aflutter. She was my first ever author crush! 

And, oh how I felt for Taylor's struggle to find a place to belong. Fear is the barrier that keeps her at a distance and her agonizing journey of self-discovery completely gutted me. 

I'm literally too stupefied to say more...except The Orchard House is an emotional masterpiece. But I think I definitely need to balance it with a light-hearted rom/com to lift me out of the bibliophile doldrums. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Orchard House, 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 winners announced on Saturday February 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!