The Cryptographer's Dilemma

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RANDOM RETRO READ

ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE

THE CRYPTOGRAPHER'S DILEMMA

A code breaker uncovers a Japanese spy ring

FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent series of letters about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head overseas when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of traitorous messages disguised as correspondence about dolls should be easy, but not so when the clues take Eloise and Phillip on a cross-country trek that has them both confronting past demons and an unmistakable attraction.

Eloise believes the letter refer to classified intel about U.S. warships, but can she prove it in time to catch the spy? Or, before she and Phillip are permanently separated?

Heroines of WWII : Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates unsung heroes -- the women of WWII

My Review:

published in 2021

This is my introduction to the 'Heroines of WWII' series and I have to say I'm impressed! It's a favourite fictional era of mine and I'm always amazed at all the interesting angles authors find to delve deeper into this time in history.

My typical WWII reads are set in Europe or England so I'm always excited to discover a novel that features a 'Homefront' angle and this homegrown spy story based on actual events (!!!!) blew me away! Really, I had no idea! And the way the author has woven together fact and fiction to make a compelling read fills me with all kinds of bookish glee.

So we have our heroine, Eloise -- an intriguing mix of brilliant mind and outward bravado that conceals a few insecurities. And she's also a woman of mystery which upped the intrigue all the more!

Then there's Phillip -- disgruntled and grumpy over a personal 'failure' that keeps him from serving his country the way he would like. He still wants to enlist, though, except he has to complete one last mission for the FBI first. One where he's paired up with a civilian! A female one at that! Oh the horrors. lol 

But Phillip's impatience turns to admiration when he realizes that Eloise's codebreaking skills are the key to opening up their investigation. Loved the journey Alexander takes her characters on -- both physically and emotionally. The historical details are really well done -- especially the codebreaking which is so fascinating. I haven't read anything like this before so I really enjoyed the fresh approach to the genre.

And then there's the forbidden (for so many reasons) romance that slowly draws Phillip and Eloise closer...and complicates everything just a bit. :-)

Seriously, need I say more...other than, "read 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 one of the  The Cryptographer's Dilemma, 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 November 5 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Homefront Heroines

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ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE

BARRATT, AMANDA

BLISS, LAURALEE

GERLACH, RITA

Homefront Heroines

Patriotic service leads to victories in romance

Relive life on the American Homefront as four women of the WWII era join the workforce and discover romance in surprising ways.

Moonlight Serenade by Rita Gerlach -- 1941, Washington DC -- When Kate St. Clare takes a job at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. to help with the war effort, she is thrown into a romance she never expected.

Only Forver by Lauralee Bliss -- 1943, Springville New York -- When a new enemy threatens their town, Marilyn and Arthur team together to overcome evil with good and learn it's not the outside that counts but the inward working of the heart.

Blue Moon by Johnnie Alexander -- 1943, Oak Ridge, Tennessee -- After humiliating each other, a WOOPs officer and an Army Intelligence agent team up to protect a top secret atomic-bomb facility from sabotage. 

Dream a Little Dream by Amanda Barratt -- 1945, Palm Springs, California -- When a widowed nurse and a former film star are reunited at a wartime hospital, can they move beyond their past and into a future together?

My Review:

What a great collection of World War II Homefront stories! Love how each author approached the theme from a different angle. There's definitely something for every reading preference here. From insta-love to friends to more; reunion romance to second chances. 

And the settings are just as varied. Different locations and circumstances find each of these heroines contributing to the war effort in unique ways. I really loved the glimpse of the war years from the perspective of those left behind. The sacrifices women made while living with so much uncertainty exemplifies the meaning behind the expression 'grace under fire.' A lesson we could learn from in today's troubled times!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Homefront Heroines, 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 September 11 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hope is Born : a Mosaic Christmas Anthology

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I know I was supposed to review a Love Inspired book today, but this book showed up unexpectedly on my doorstep and, since it's a Christmas anthology, it's time sensitive. I knew I had to read it fast and post the review and giveaway right away so the winner could get their copy before Christmas!

MONSON, STACY
BERTIN, ELEANOR
ELKINK, DEB
ANDERSON, BRENDA S.
DICK, JANICE L.
DAVISON, SARA
MEYER, ANGELA D.
ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE
MERRICK, REGINA RUDD
HOPE IS BORN: A MOSAIC CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY

Nine stores. Nine pasts to overcome. Nine futures hang on the balance.

Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but what happens when the past threatens to destroy the peace and joy of the season? When the men and women in these stories face overwhelming challenges in their lives, can hope be restored this Christmas?

My Review:

A lovely collection of hope-filled stories set during the Christmas season. There's lots of variety in this collection -- from word length to writing style and content -- but all deliver an uplifting message that joy and peace can be found no matter the circumstances.

Mountaintop Christmas by Stacy Monson -- Reads like a super charged epilogue to the author's When Mountains Sing featuring Dawson and Mikayla. Though I haven't read that novel, I loved this story anyway. Mind you -- if you are already familiar with this couple and the story of how they came to reach their happily-ever-after, you will be thrilled with this bumps-in-the-road journey to their mountain top wedding.

I could totally relate to Mikayla's tendency to angst over worst-case-scenario-ing. There's a reason this girl is feeling overwhelmed...actually, a number of them! And what bride doesn't get panicky days before the nuptials? Love how Dawson is her rock. Steady, calm, earnestly in love and willing to let go and let God while he concentrates on the here and now. His patience and understanding might have addlepated me a bit. :-)

Like Wool by Eleanor Bertin -- A modern day prodigal son story -- very short -- that celebrates the hope grace brings to broken lives.

Ever Greening by Deb Elkink -- Beautifully descriptive prose bring aching imagery to the raw emotions single mom Holly is feeling this holiday season. She's haunted by Christmases past and it takes the persistent ministering of her aunt and uncle to help her find hope through forgiveness and grace.

A Beautiful Christ-mess by Brenda S. Anderson -- Once again Anderson deals out her own special brand of angsty hope in this novella spin-off of her Mosaic Collection book, A Beautiful Mess. No worries if you haven't read the novel, this story reads well as a standalone but if you've already become acquainted with the Belden family you'll be extra thrilled with this sweet story -- especially the epilogue!

Zax intrigued me when I was reading A Beautiful Mess and I knew he had a story worth telling so I'm thrilled that the author thought so too. Of course, despite Zax's good intentions, things turn out messy before they get better. Anderson excels at putting her characters through the paces and she doesn't let something as insignificant as a shorter word count interfere with her wickedly evil plans. :-) Another emotional roller-coaster literary ride from the Queen of Angst.

The Christmas Sweater by Janice L. Dick -- High school friends reunite after thirty years apart. Jeanne's developed an Eeyore outlook on life while Debbie is as enthusiastic and animated as Tigger. Debbie annoys Jeanne -- disrupting the quiet solitude of her grieving, daring her to start living again. A bittersweet short story that celebrates the bonds of friendship.

Taste of Heaven by Sara Davison -- Sorrow masks the joy of the holiday season as Daphne and Shawn struggle with loss. It takes a special Nativity service and a Christmas miracle to help them realize that the Saviour brings peace and hope to even the darkest places.

The Jukebox Cafe by Andgela D. Meyer -- This one has a kind of It's a Wonderful Life vibe to it - a very classic feel-good Christmas novella. Ex-Marine and new pastor Mike is harboring a few self-doubts and wondering about God's leading as he settles into his new position in a small town.

All that changes when he has the opportunity to help a stranded family in need on Christmas Eve. Pairing up with his worst critic he sets out in a blizzard to find presents for the children, and, helps a few of his parishioners along the way. Love the potential of sweet romance with cafe owner Ginger and the curmudgeonly Walter really spices up the story. And the Nativity program's controlled chaos was perfection. Could definitely see this story in Hallmark holiday lineup some day.

The Caretaker's Christmas by Johnnie Alexander -- "It's like the good Lord Hisself is telling me He needs my hands and He needs my feet to do His work for Him." (p 371) In this short but oh-so-satisfying story, Johnnie Alexander embraces the essence of Christmas with stark simplicity and quiet candor. Mac and Vince are the caretakers of other people's stories and they unite to bring Christmas cheer and a sense of belonging to a few lonely souls on Christmas Eve. Alexander has created a timeless classic with her signature flare for storytelling.

Reno-Vating Christmas by Regina Rudd Merrick --  "The perfect Christmas. What does that mean?...I think it means giving the glory of the day to God and not to ourselves." (p 440) Heartwarming and soul-satisfying. Roxy and Steve have both lost spouses and are fighting loneliness as the holidays approach. Their adult children are present in their lives, but the ache of missing that special someone is hard to bear at such a family focused time. Though long time friends, it's a health crisis that stirs up the whisperings of a second chance romance.

A lovely inspirational novella that's full of the warmth and hope of the season. I especially appreciated the gentle touches of humour. And this is a prequel to Merrick's Mosiac Collections novel which releases in June 2020. Looking forward to getting to know more about the Reno and Emerson clans -- I'm especially hopeful about a potential romance with secondary characters I've met here. (Crossing my fingers and saying puleeze nicely!)

My thanks to author Brenda S. Anderson for a copy of this anthology.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Hope is Born, 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 December 14 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

What Hope Remembers

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ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE
WHAT HOPE REMEMBERS

When you need a new beginning, sometimes the best place to start is home.

When Amy Somers leaves her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she's crossing bridges she'd burned years before. With all the mistakes she's made and the things she's done, she can hardly believe that happiness will find her -- especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy's hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, it's difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

My Review:

Well, my heart is in a hundred knots tied so tight it hurts! I really didn't want to read Amy's story. Really, I didn't. But I love this series and the way Johnnie Alexander spins a tale so I took the plunge and got emotionally pummeled for my trouble. But it's all good -- pain means growth, both for heroines and readers.

So, this is the third book in the Misty Willow series, but each book reads as a standalone. Though fans of the series will be thrilled to meet up with AJ and Shelby and Brett and Dani (heroes and heroines from books one and two) in this final story.

I love homecoming stories -- the power to change that comes from embracing what you ran away from int he first place. Lots of scope for angsty plotlines which follow both Amy and Gabe to Misty Willow. She plays self-defeating mind games that keep her frozen in a dark place. He is burdened by a guilt that isn't his to bear. Two hurting souls, once young and innocent and on the verge of fledgling love. But a whole lot of living has happened in the past decade or so and it seems like they will never capture their lost love.

Sometimes I had to put this book down and practice deep breathing exercises to calm myself down before I could bring myself to face more of the harrowing journey that leads to Amy and Gabe's happily-ever-after. In fact, I will confess to sneaking a peek at the last page -- a very short but hope-filled epilogue -- just to convince myself to keep reading. Yes, I get that involved with my characters.

And if the romantical journey isn't enough to leave a reader gnashing her teeth and pulling out her hair, a villainous subplot nearly tipped me over the edge. I do so enjoy seething over a truly conniving bad guy...as long as he gets his comeuppance by the end.

An excruciatingly thrilling read that broke my heart in places.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of What Hope Remembers, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 3 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

When Love Arrives

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ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE
WHEN LOVE ARRIVES

Dani had planned to spy on Brett -- so how did she end up on a date with him?

Dani Prescott can't believe the lie Brett Somers is trying to sell to the media. During an interview about the plane crash that killed his parents, he blamed Dani's mother. But the crash killer as as well. Vowing to restore her mother's reputation, Dani has been following Brett and taking photos, hoping to find something she can use to discredit him. But when she catches his eye instead, she quickly finds herself agreeing to a date. Brett knows this mystery girl is hiding something -- but he's got his own secrets to keep. What will happen when he discovers who she really is?

My Review:

Be prepared for a tummy-flipping, heart-dropping emotional roller coaster of a read. Honestly, I was so anxious about Dani's deception that I squirmed my way through this story. Oy. I kept ranting at her, begging her, cajoling her -- 'Just talk to him!' I pleaded but did she? Nope. Sigh. I made need counseling after this one.

But for all the angst this is a stunning redemption story.  If you read Where She Belongs (the first book in the Misty Willow series) you will be familiar with Brett. Shudder. I was not a fan in book one. He was.a self-serving slimeball. I'm just telling it like it is. But God gets a hold of his heart and he starts on a transformation that is truly miraculous. It's this Brett we meet in When Love Arrives. The guy who is struggling to put his past behind him and face the future with honor and hope. And there is nothing so romantical as a 'reformed rake.'

The funny thing about Dani is that I would almost be cheering her on if she'd started her smear Brett Somers campaign a year ago. (I know that's awful of me to admit!) But not this new and improved Brett. Dani has her reasons -- though that's not an excuse. But hurting, damaged people don't always act rationally and she's suddenly caught up in a personal dilemma of her own. Gah! I was tied up in knots right to the end! If you enjoy an emotional read, then When Love Arrives is definitely the book for you.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When Love Arrives, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please remember to add the title in the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Where She Belongs

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ALEXANDER, JOHNNIE
WHERE SHE BELONGS

Shelby Kincaid is ready to move on from her grief. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family's ancestral homestead so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she'll have her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted the homestead. Inherited as a punishment from his grandfather, it has sat empty for fifteen years and fallen into ruin. He's glad to finally unload it. But a clean break isn't possible when he can't get the young widow Shelby off his mind.

Welcome to Misty Willow, a place that will have as great a hold over the reader as it does over its inhabitants. With writing that evokes a strong sense of place and personal history, Johnnie Alexander deftly explores the ties that bind us to home--and the irresistible forces that draw us to each other.  

My Review:

That moment when you are happily reading a wonderful story and suddenly what you think is going to happen doesn't and then other things you never even dreamed of start happening instead. You're like -- whoa, wait. Noooooo! And you start waving your arms around like a rabid music conductor as you try get Character A to cool his jets so you can coach Character B to stick with it a bit longer while praying for Character C to just shove off to another book all while trying to hip check secondary characters into an appropriate holding pattern while...Yeah. There were a lot of those moments in this book.  All that arm waving and not one single character listened to me. Not even the dog.

Enthralling because I wasn't sure what would happen next. Gut-wrenching because it didn't always go the way I hoped. Dipsy-swoony because when the romance is on it's really, really on! Thud! Heart-stirring because the author explores the power in relationships -- both the past and the present -- and how they shape us. Soul-nourishing because of a solid inspirational thread that anchors it all.

Read this one in a day because... I. Just. Couldn't. Stop.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Where She Belongs please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 24 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!