An Amish Christmas Bakeshop

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

CLIPSTON, AMY

WISEMAN, BETH

FULLER, KATHLEEN

IRVIN, KELLY

AN AMISH CHRSTMAS BAKERY

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four delicious stories perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the holiday season.

Cookies and Cheer by Amy Clipston -- As Christmas draws near, Alyssa Byler decides to build a sugar cookie nativity scene for the window display of the bakery where she works. She just needs the right cookie cutters -- and handsome blacksmith Kyle Smoker can help. The striking display brings more tourists to the bakery than she can handle, and when shoppers request handmade cookie cutters of their own, Kyle finds himself overwhelmed by the demand. Together, they must put aside the holiday rush and spend time celebrating the season that has brought them together.

Loaves of Love by Beth Wiseman -- Katie Swartzentruber has been left in charge of her family's bakery, but she soon finds herself overwhelmed with orders during the holiday season. She is tempted to move her Old Order family into the modern world of using a propane oven to help with the world. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Henry Hershberger is trying to find the courage to tell Katie he's harboured a secret crush on her for years. As the demands of the bakery grown more intense, both Katie and Henry have to decide what really matters...and find the courage within themselves to go after it.

Melting Hearts by Kathleen Fuller -- Mattie Shetler is an expert baker, so when her aunt Carolyn begs for help during the busy Christmas rush, Mattie eagerly packs her bags and heads to Birch Creek. What she doesn't know is that her uncle has also asked for help with the bakery's new expansion, and he's asked none other than Peter Kaufman, Mattie's sworn enemy. With Christmas just around the corner, Mattie and Peter must open their hearts to the greatest gifts of the season; forgiveness and maybe even love.

Cakes and Kisses by Kelly Irvin -- Martha Ropp works hard at her family's bakery, making cakes and pies in preparation not only for Christmas but the many community weddings, including her sister's. Before Martha's mother passed away, she hired Ambrose Hershberger to make deliveries during their busy season. Martha remembers Ambrose as a gentle giant from her school days but soon discovers that still waters run deep. The more they work together, the more they want to spend time together outside of the bakery, but both Martha and Ambrose are too timid to make the first move. That's when the town matchmakers step in.

My Review:

published in 2019

There's something about Amish novella collections at Christmas that make me all warm and cozy inside. I actually start craving them in September and by the time the snow flies I'm eager to curl up with the kind of classic, timeless, heartwarming stories that you'll find in this collection. I mean, you can't go wrong with this line-up of all-star Amish Fiction authors, right? And do they ever deliver! 

Love the common thread of the bakery setting (is there anything more Christmas-y than a bakeshop?) And I'm amazed at how each author uses her unique voice to create four distinctive stories. There's humour, angst,  and the simple pleasure of enjoying the true meaning of Christmas...and romance...through the eyes of these delightful characters.

A stellar collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

*please note -- I attempted to take a nasty price sticker off the  front cover of this book and, while I succeeded, it lifted off some of the border garland in the upper right hand corner of the cover. It's not ripped or hole-y or anything though -- phew!!!. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Christmas Bakeshop, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 December 4 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Tacos for Two

GIVEAWAY

ST. AMANT, BETSY

TACOS FOR TWO

Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red -- and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to drive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he's back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.

Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month.

Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

My Review:

So...I was both excited and anxious over this new release. Excited because...Betsy St. Amant and that cute cover!!!! Anxious because I'd been hearing all the buzz about the You've Got Mail influences and I am so not a fan of that movie. Yes, I realize I'm likely a party of one but I can't get behind a romance between a couple already in committed relationships with other people and, more importantly, the bookstore dies. 'Nuf side. :-)

Rest assured this novel contains neither emotional cheating or the demise of a bookstore -- phew!!!! It does, however, contain humour and drama and quirky characters I loved and a few not-so-quirky that I loved to hate. 

The dialogue keeps the story moving, whether it's in the form of pithy text messages or heated arguments or soul-baring candour. Impeccably paced and just when I thought the plot was going in one direction, it veered off in another. So, classic rom/com elements but enough surprising twists to keep a reader on her toes. 

I felt both protagonists' struggles, though I have to admit to being a Jude fan way before I became a Rory fan. She was so quick to leap to wrong conclusions, and even quicker to snap out in anger. She's all prickly and fiery and...confused. I became more drawn to her as bits of her back story were revealed and I began to understand the reasons behind her distrust of Jude. 

He has his own history to overcome as well, and a truly deplorable family, but somehow, Jude managed to be more optimistic and not allow his past experiences to encroach on the new life he's making for himself, especially when it comes to his interactions with Rory. Loved the way the whole identity mix-up plays out and brings a lovely push-pull between comedy and angst to the already emotionally layered story.

The only thing missing was a solid faith thread -- and this surprised me because it is published by Revell which is a Christian Publishing house. Forgiveness , loving your enemies and the importance of family relationships are a major focus of the conflict, just not fleshed out in the inspirational way I was expecting.

All in all a captivating rom/com that's sure to please readers who are fans (or not!) of You've Got Mail.

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 Tacos for Two leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 December 4 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Operation Mistletoe

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

MADDREY, ELIZABETH

OPERATION MISTLETOE

Victoria Spencer hates Christmas.

For the last ten years, disaster has struck on Christmas Eve, leaving Tori dreading the holidays. When she's assigned to cover the light displays for her newspaper, she's determined to spend as little time on the article as possible. Especially once she realizes she's to feature frat boy Gabe "The Babe" Robertson, her former college crush.

Gabe Robertson is a different man than he was in college. Every December, he transforms his average into a winter wonderland designed to celebrate the birth of Christ and share God's love with the community. He also uses the lights to raise money for Operation Mistletoe, an organization that sends Christmas to troops stationed overseas.

Unable to set aside her prejudice, Tori looks for ulterior motives in Gabe's actions and determines to dig deeper. Will her investigations destroy any chance of a Merry Christmas?

My Review:

published in 2015

This novella length story has become a staple in my holiday reading diet. It's short but powerful and never fails to direct my focus onto the reason for the season. My Christmas wouldn't be complete without an Operation Mistletoe reread. 

A Christmas story with a Scroogy twist. Victoria isn't a fan of Christmas. Gabe is an over-the-top, out-of-the-box celebrator. Victoria isn't impressed. She's looking for an angle and Gabe's got one -- Jesus. Love the way the author incorporates the true meaning. of Christmas into this story. Love Gabe's enthusiasm. His servant's heart. They way he lives his beliefs. But Victoria's certain there's something fishy going on and she plans to uncover the truth.

This is a shorter read, but packs an emotional wallop along with a zing of Christmas cheer and holiday romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Operation Mistletoe, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 December 4 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

November Giveaway -- Week Four

 

WON BY  LILLY W.

WON BY NORA

WON BY PATTY

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY CC

WON BY BECKY

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.

REMINDER: If you've been following my blog through email updates, you need to re-subscribe (blogger stopped it's subscription service so I had to switch to another.) Just fill in your email address in the white box in the upper right hand corner of the blog and click on subscribe. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Please read the giveaway options written in red noted under "Giveaway Opportunity" in each blog post as formats will vary.

Paperback or ebook -- winner can choose either format

Paperback -- I have a new physical hard copy on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback -- It's the actual book I read to review

ebook -- that's the only format option available, often because it's an indie book where a paperback copy is either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. Or when a physical edition is out of print.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Their Yuletide Healing

GIVEAWAY

OBENHAUS, MINDY

THEIR YULETIDE HEALING

As her plans unravel, can she give her children what they truly need?

Foster mom Rae Girard's determined to make her children's first Christmas with her the best they've ever had -- and she's shocked when the town scrooge, attorney Cole Heinsohn, offers to pitch in. Rae's young charges have melted Cole's heart and he wants them to experience the special day he never had. But when disaster strikes, an imperfect holiday might bring them something sweeter: a family.

My Review:

I do love a good Scroogish story and this one if fabulous, though Cole isn't as bah humbug as the original curmudgeon. He just keeps his heart well armoured...until Rae's foster kids get a hold of it. :-)

Max and Maggie brought so much emotion to this story. And Cole is surprisingly sensitive to their needs. He makes a special connection with little Max in particular which just melted my heart. Rae's too. But this lawyer is definitely a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas...and happily ever afters, even though Rae and her kids are so easy to love. Sigh, I do so love a conflicted hero. Watching Cole finally work past his demons made for a thrilling read.

Rae is pretty conflicted too what with running her coffee shop, mothering her emotionally needy children and...orgainzing the Mistletoe Ball! How'd that happen? Cole's Aunt Tllly, that's how. Who also conveniently provides her reluctant nephew as co-organizer. Nothing like a little bit of Christmas matchmaking in a small Texan town like Bliss!

Their Yuletide Healing has all the ingredients that make up my favourite holiday read -- romance (of course!), cute kids and plenty of festive vibes all tied up in a happily-ever-after!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Their Yuletide Healing, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 27 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

No Journey Too Far

GIVEAWAY

TURANSKY, CARRIE

NO JOURNEY TOO FAR

A family long divided, a mysterious trunk, and a desperate journey across the ocean -- all in the name of love. The epic saga of the McAllister's continues in this riveting sequel to No Ocean Too Wide

In 1909, Grace McAlister set Saif for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Though she is fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secret of her past are kept hidden for ten years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth?

After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon -- his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart.

My Review:

Oopsies, sorry for the late post, I forget to schedule it. And Happy Thanksgiving to all my American reading buddies! That holiday is a month gone here in Canada and we're into all things Christmas now...except for the weather which insists on raining instead of snowing. 

A stunning sequel to No Ocean Too Wide. That being said, you could definitely read this book without reading the first one BUT you will get so much more out of it if you read them in order. They are both emotional blockbuster reads and this second book brings the McAllister family full circle. Happy, hiccup-y sigh.

I honestly don't know how to review this book. I want to shout out over all the delicious details, the emotional trauma I endured while reading and the sheer magnificence of the storytelling and plot and characterization...but that's better left for a book club chat. So here I am, wrestling with how not to post spoilers while describing what captivated me about this novel. 

The first hook is the whole British Home Children angle. It is appalling what went on under the guise of 'social work' both in Britain and Canada and what many of these children endured -- no more then indentured farm servants. And even the ones lucky enough to be adopted lived under the stigma of being a Home Child. 

Turansky explores all this and more in her riveting story of love lost and found and the kind of faith that helps us endure all things. There's romance (two!) and adventure and even a mystery. All told through a richly layered plot that held me enthralled until the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of No Journey Too Far, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 27 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Yuletide Cold Case Cover-Up

GIVEAWAY

PATCH, JESSICA R.

YULETIDE COLD CASE COVER-UP

They mystery of her sister's death is about to reveal some deadly answers...

When her sister's remains are found just before Christmas, cold case agent Poppy Holliday is determined to solve the years-old murder -- even if it turns the killer's sight on her. But her investigation with her strait-laced partner, Rhett Wallace, is stirring up the town's old memories -- and bitter grudges. And this killer will do anything to keep secrets buried...

A Cold Case Investigators Romance

My Review:

I see Jessica R. Patch's name on a cover and I don't even read the synopsis. The book is in my cart and on it's way as fast as my clicking finger can click. :-) But a Patch cold case suspense is an extra special treat. I'm loving this series (though, rest assured, each book can be read as a standalone.) 

There's such an air of mystery surrounding cold cases, and the bad guys are that much more desperate because they've gotten away with murder for so long which means lots of action. Lots of danger. Patch delivers both with nail-biting finesse. Keep a reader's crash cart close by in case of emergency (I stock mine with chocolate, a comfort bear, anxiety ball and a paper bag in case I go into full-on hyperventilating mode.)

Love the dynamics between Poppy and Rhett. They are polar opposites and annoy each other to the nth degree but are stuck as partners on a cold case that is deeply personal to Poppy -- her sister's murder. Their sniping and comebacks are hysterical and irritating and ironic because their differences actually stem from similar childhood tragedies. In Rhett's case, it has made him a careful, deliberate, by-the-books detective while Poppy has become an impulsive rule-breaker. Fireworks ignite as they draw closer under impossibly tense circumstances.

I love the way the author has woven Christmas themes throughout the story. They provide some breathing-space and hope for both characters and reader. And there's a touching inspirational thread courtesy of a very special secondary character that moved me to tears.

An unputdownable festive romantic suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Yuletide Cold Case Cover-Up, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 27 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

 

Some Bright Someday

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

TAGG, MELISSA

SOME BRIGHT SOMEDAY

Lucas Danby has always regretted the end of his Army career -- and he's never stopped trying to redeem his honor. He's spent the past decade as an elite private soldier, but the high-risk work never cures his shame. Now he's stuck stateside, mentoring a new recruit. Worse, he's sick of lying to the people he cares about -- including the woman he's secretly loved for years.

Jenessa Belville is the last Belville left -- and if she had her way, she'd leave the name and all its painful memories behind. Which is exactly what she hopes to do once she sells Belville Park, the massive estate she inherited from her parents. But on the same day she puts up the 'For Sale' sign, she discovers three children hiding in the caretaker's cottage.

Struggling to mentor a young man with scars nearly as piercing as his own, Lucas offers to help Jenessa restore the Belville grounds. Though drawn together by a trio of kids who tug on their hearts, past secrets and current sorrows threaten to pull them apart. Only the brightest love and hardest sacrifice can turn the house Jenessa never wanted into the home she and Lucas have always longed for.

My Review:

published in 2020

"You can trust God and still wish things were different. Faith doesn't mean you stop dreaming about the future or desiring something you don't yet have. God cares about the things that matter to you." (p 333)

The kind of novel that begs to be savoured -- from the exquisite prose to the captivating friendships and especially for the emotional love story. 

And the trio of kids!!! Oh my heart, they gutted me and made me smile and tugged at every last one of my heart strings. I'm an emotional basket case now that the read is completed and I'm left luxuriating in all the after-read warm fuzzies. And that's a pretty cozy place to be.

Tagg knows how to create characters that come to life and take over mine! And the way she wove myriad plot threads that cocooned Lucas and Jen's unique love story...well, just, wowzers! I hung on every word. Swooned over Lucas in all his stubborn, save-the-people-he-loves-from-himself misguided glory. My, but that man has a heart for service that conflicts with a fear that he will never be worthy. And while Jen draws people to her, she keeps her broken pieces hidden. Their emotionally fraught journey to their happily-ever-after made my heart sing!

A rich and vibrant story with boundless depths. The perfect autumnal read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Some Bright Someday, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 27 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Lights Out

GIVEAWAY

WALTERS, NATALIE

LIGHTS OUT

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of the, Egyptian spy Recon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning -- the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world -- and their hearts  -- hangs in the balance.

My Review:

A high-stakes international terrorist plot. An elite agency created to handle this kind of threat. A CIA analyst so immersed in her career that she's lost track of everything else -- including the man she once loved. Only now they are thrown together in a race-against-time scenario. Talk about sense of urgency and angst and a ricochet of heart-in-throat action moments that kept me on edge right to the last breathless second. Phew!

First off -- our hero, Jack Hudson!!! That takes me back to the good ol' days of Sue Thomas F B Eye. Did anyone else watch that show? I wonder if that was deliberate on the part of the author, or just a coincidence? But this Jack definitely has the same qualities as the TV Jack and the same melt-your-heart-into-goo chocolate brown eyes. :-) 

And his SNAP team -- a diverse and eclectic band of talented professionals who know how to work hard and have formed a deep bond which spills over into teasing banter and pointed heart-to-hearts. They've created a kind of family and I loved every single group scene! Super excited to see what's in store for each team member in future books in the series.

And then we have Brynn. Gulp. I'll admit I wasn't a fan in the beginning. She's driven and so focused on the job that she's seems almost robotic. In fact, she chose the CIA over Jack in the past and their reunion on this mission is fraught with tension. He doesn't trust her and she's all kinds of defensive. The author does a great job of building up the suspense about their past relationship and I found my heart softening towards Brynn bit by bit as more and more of her back story was revealed. 

The complex suspense with all its twists and turns makes for a compelling read. As does the way the author manages to weave a faith thread into Brynn's life. Trust and forgiveness. Finding the strength to let go and hand the control over to God. Tough lessons during an impossible time which makes the learning that much sweeter. 

These are characters I can't wait to meet again so I hope the next SNAP Agency book is due out soon!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lights Out, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 27 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Finding Father Christmas / Engaging Father Christmas

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

GUNN, ROBIN JONES

FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS / 

ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS

Two novels in one book

In Finding Father Christmas, Miranda Carson's search for the father she never knew leads her to England where she's welcomed into his family as a stranger to them. She quickly grows to love them but wonders if revealing the truth about her father will threaten the bonds they've built. One thing is certain, this Christmas will change the future for both her and the family forever.

In Engaging Father Christmas, Miranda Carson spends an English Christmas with her boyfriend, Ian, expecting that she'll soon find herself engaged and the charming village of Carlton Heath will be her forever home. But as word of Miranda's true identity spreads beyond the family, all of her relationships are soon threatened. Will Father Christmas have a redeeming gift in story for them all?

My Review

published in 2016

Psssst...this is where I hang my head in shame and confess this is my first experience with Robin Jones Gunn's novels. Wwwhhhaaatttt?! I know, I don't understand it either but I'm glad I'm newly acquainted and that my introduction comes via two Christmas reads! 

They really read as one, though, in that the first book ends with lots of loose ends and just the hope of romance, which are all picked up again in the second book. I'm just as happy that I got to read them back to back rather than languish with a whole year in-between. :-)

Heartwarming, seasonal stories that pack an emotional wallop. Loved Miranda's journey to finding herself and her Savior through an impulsive jaunt to England in search of her family roots. It isn't anything like she imagined -- sometimes worse -- but eventually better than she could ever hope for. Happy sigh!

The perfect holiday read for fans of classic Christmas tales by the likes of Melanie Carlson, Richard Paul Evans and Debbie Macomber.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Finding Father Christmas / Engaging Father Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 20 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

November Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY SUSAN FUCHIKAMI

WON BY CINDY

WON BY JACKIE SMITH

WON BY WENDY NEWCOMB

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY ROXANNE CRUZ

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.

REMINDER: If you've been following my blog through email updates, you need to re-subscribe (blogger stopped it's subscription service so I had to switch to another.) Just fill in your email address in the white box in the upper right hand corner of the blog and click on subscribe. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Please read the giveaway options written in red noted under "Giveaway Opportunity" in each blog post as formats will vary.

Paperback or ebook -- winner can choose either format

Paperback -- I have a new physical hard copy on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback -- it's the actual book I read to review

ebook -- that's the only format option available, often because it's an indie book where a paperback copy is either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. Or when a physical edition is out of print.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Claiming His Christmas Inheritance

GIVEAWAY

CARROLL, C.J.

CLAIMING HIS CHRISTMAS INHERITANCE

Some inheritances have strings attached. This one requires him to get married...

In her last matchmaking attempt, Zed Evans's late aunt stipulated he must find a wife -- or lose his childhood home. Fortunately, the resolute bachelor needs to be married for only three months. Now he just has to convince Tasha Jenkins to be his holiday wife in exchanged for funds to get her dream business started. It's the perfect plan...until love makes an unexpected appearance.

My Review:

A modern day marriage of convenience romance with fairy tale appeal. 

Marriage of convenience stories are my guilty pleasure (guilty because what 21st century woman would ever contemplate such a backwards approach to matrimony?!) But I still can't resist them, usually diving into historical novels where the whole M of C concept seems more plausible. Occasionally I'm brave enough...and curious enough...to give a contemporary setting a try and when I do, I'm always amazed at the clever ways an author makes it work.

C.J. Carroll has done a brilliant job of making it work! She's taken a classic trope and spun it on its head and delivered such a divinely romantical story with splashes of holiday cheer. It's a luscious read full of imagery and banter with a beautiful balance between comedy and drama.

From the meet-cute to the happily-ever-after I was completely invested in Zed and Tasha's love story. A chance encounter leads to a business arrangement which stands to benefit them both...as long as they can keep their hearts from messing it all up. :-) Cue the angst and throw in some toe-curls and enough laughter to make this one smooth, satisfying read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Claiming His Christmas Inheritance, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 13 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Sheriffs of Savage Wells

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

EDEN, SARAH M.

THE SHERIFFS OF SAVAGE WELLS

He's the most fearsome sheriff in the West. A force to be reckoned with. The stuff of legend.

So is she...May the best sheriff win.

Paisley Bell knows the eccentric people of Savage Wells. From the absentminded shopkeeper who always thinks she's been robbed to the young man who has returned shell-shocked from the war, Paisley has compassion for them all. When the sheriff up and leaves town, Paisley steps up and assumes the responsibility, partly because she loves the work, but also because she needs the income to take care of her sick father. So when the town council decides that the position of sheriff should really go to a man, Paisley finds herself fighting to prove that she's the perfect candidate for the job, even though she wears a skirt.

Cade O'Brien is heartily sick of shooting people. In his many years as a lawman, Cade has seen his share of blood and violence. So when he answers an advertisement for a sheriff job in the sleepy town of Savage Wells, he believes he's found the peace and quiet he's always desired. But when he discovers that his biggest competition for the job is a woman, he begins to question his decision.

Tension between the two begins to sizzle when both Cade and Paisley realize the attraction they have for each other, but when Paisley's former beau shows up in town, along with a band of bank robbers, the blossoming relationship between the two sheriffs is tested. They will have to work together to thwart the bank robbers and keep the town safe.

My Review:

published in 2016

Hysterically witty and romantical and so much fun! Love the Western twang to the banter that volleys between Cade and Paisley. 

He's your typical Western hero, tough and relentless in the pursuit of lawlessness with an innate protector gene that gets him into all kinds of trouble with Paisley. Yet he respects her too, both her gumption and capabilities and reluctantly acknowledges that she can teach him a thing or two -- as long as he manages to guard his heart during their encounters.

Paisley is her own kind of tough mixed with naivety and a heart for the quirky misfits who call Savage Wells home. She might not be the Wild West legend Cade is, but she has a knack for dealing kindly and efficiently with the unique townsfolk.

Let the games begin as Cade and Paisley duke it out for the job of sheriff. It should be straight forward, Cade has all the experience after all. But Paisley has the grit to challenge him and their competition is loads of fun...until bank robbers show up in town and these two adversaries must become allies for the greater good.

I read the second Savage Wells book first (Healing Hearts) and loved it so much I immediately started in on this one. Eden has created such a memorable setting with the kind of quirky characters that keep a reader grinning. And she achieves the perfect balance between humour and drama and swoonalicious romance. 

I'm all kinds of heartbroken that this seems to be the last book in the series. :-( Gutted really. What about Hawk, inquiring readers want to know? Doesn't he get his own story? Sniffle.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Kristen Potter and enjoyed every delectable second!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Sheriffs of Savage Wells, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 November 20 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck