In a Sniper's Crosshairs

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GIUSTI, DEBBY

IN A SNIPER'S CROSSHAIRS

An assassin's loose in Amish country...and she's not the only target.

When a radio broadcast describes taxi driver Lily Hudson's passenger as an armed criminal, she becomes his immediate target. Narrowly escaping, Lily accepts Matthias Overholt's offer to hide at his Amish family farm for Christmas -- until evidence reveals the gunman's plan is tied to Lily's past. Now to prevent an assassination, Lily and Matthias must unravel a years-old conspiracy...and evade a sniper who has them in his sights.

My Review:

Great ambiance. Deliciously descriptive. Both work together to make this a completely immersive read. I could not only picture every second, but I could hear and smell and taste it all too. And feel that first frisson of fear the second Lily realizes that she's taxiing a criminal on a remote country road. Eeeppp! 

Love the way the Amish setting contrasts so sharply with the sheer terror of being hunted. And the realization that there's even more at stake then 'just' Lily's life. Giuisti has created another edge of your seat suspense...along with a wee bit of Christmas and a heroic canine besides! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  In a Sniper's Crosshairs, 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 17 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. 

The Butterfly Box

GIVEAWAY

STEELE, MINDY

THE BUTTERFLY BOX

When the small town of Miller's Creek suffers a great loss, one band of brothers and a pair of town matchmakers help breathe life back into the community.

Penny Lapp thought life was done knocking her down, but when the earth shakes the ground beneath her, she knows life isn't finished toying with her yet. Everyone she has ever cared for is gone. Now suffering from her own accident while being the sole caregiver to her mother, Penny must find a way to survive the storms God has given her. Giving up would be easier, but when a stranger from the north arrives and refuses to leave, she might just discover she has so much to fight for.

Luke Milford came to Kentucky months ago for his cousin's funeral. Helping his family with their mounting losses, Luke finds himself drawn to his cousin's intended. He has never met anyone so fragile, so in need...of him. Penny Lapp needs more than a new roof, and Luke is determined to give her that before he must head back home. What was meant to be simply repaying an old debt for saving his life years ago, has now brought him back to claim what captured his heart.

My Review:

"I love Gott and all his kinner, but some just make me want to smack their heads together." (p 152)

Bwahahaha -- you might say Luke and Penny are a challenge for a certain matchmaker and I'll admit to wanting to do some head smacking too. :-)

This is the second book in the Miller Creek series and starts off right where  'To Catch a Hummingbird' left off. A town catastrophe left readers hanging at the conclusion of that book so the start of 'The Butterfly Box' is quite emotional. The opening scene with Penny standing distraught in the midst of chaos is so gripping! Sucked me right back into this Kentucky community as we follow a different set of characters. 

At times I felt as overwhelmed as Penny who has faced so much adversity in her life. Even though I got impatient with her at times, the author has done such a great job with her backstory that I could understand her hesitancy and wariness. A great lesson in not allowing our past to define our future, but, my oh my, that's hard to live out as Penny demonstrates time and time again.

Luke makes for a very swoonworthy hero, though he sometimes goes about things the wrong way which makes for complications. But he's so patient and tender with Penny. Steadfast in his desire to make her life easier. But then his band of brothers comes to town and oy, things get even more complicated. 

First off, all the brothers have 'L' names which I found really confusing. I saw them as a pack with only Luke and Lewis making enough of an impression on me to distinguish them from the crowd. I'm thinking this series is going to feature each brother which will provide a gradual in-depth introduction and by the end I'll be able to keep them all straight. :-)

Love the Kentucky setting and this Amish / Englisch mix of townsfolk who are facing a unique challenge. There's plenty of drama -- both in Penny and Luke's lives and the greater community -- and that kept me turning pages. There's one little plot point that totally surprised me! I gasped out loud. So unexpected. Makes me giddy when an author does that.

Really excited to continue this series with 'Cicada Season' which features another Milford brother (so, yay, I was right about each brother getting their own story.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

SPECIAL NOTE: If you're new to the series and would rather win a copy of 'To Catch a Hummingbird,' let me know in the comments. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Butterfly Box OR To Catch a Hummingbird, 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 17 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Happily Ever Amish

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Abbie Tyler may be Apple Creek's resident wallflower, but she knows she has a lot to offer -- and much to be grateful for. Raised by her loving grandmother, she lives a life filled with good friends and hard work. Wary of romance, Addie assumes no man will look beyond her glasses and her tendency to talk to her rescue donkey, Snickers -- until the day she finds a note from a secret admirer. A prank, most likely. But then a second note arrives...

It's not that Daniel Miller doesn't like Addie, he just doesn't want to court her. She's too willful, too chatty, too odd. yet when he learns she's been teased because she's never had a beau, he decides to send a little note of encouragement. One note leads to another. And when Addie begins replying with thoughtful messages of her own, he's struck by her sweetness and warmth.

As chilly winter melts into spring, what began as a gesture of sympathy becomes something much deeper. Daniel fears revealing the truth, but with courage, faith -- and a helping hand from their close-knit community -- Apple Creek's most unlikely couple may find their path to happiness.

My Review:

Happy Sigh. A new Amish series from Shelley Shepard Gray is always something to get excited about and The Amish of Apple Creek promises to be another memorable one. 

Love the way the author has set the series up -- I'm guessing that Daniel's bachelor friends are going to get their own stories in the near future. But I also really loved the soul-searching in this first book. And not just with Addie and Daniel, but his friends as well. It makes for a wonderful springboard for future adventures among the set.

Addie is misunderstood, partly due to malicious gossip but also because she's resigned to be overlooked. She suffers in silence as the confirmed outsider and pours her heart into serving her ailing grandmother and the people she works for. Her best friend is a donkey named Snickers! His story is fabulous so I won't give anything away except to say that he's the epitome of true friendship. :-)

Daniel's the kind of guy who goes with the flow. He's never been mean to Addie but he never speaks up against the gossip either...until one day he notices her standing all alone in a crowd and starts to wonder. So he sends her a secret admirer note. What follows is heartwarming and heartbreaking and funny and sweet and everything in between. And so much more! 

So excited for this new series by a much loved author of Amish Romance.

Goal Update: #7 Start new-to-me series

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  Happily Ever After, 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 10 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

The Second Christmas

 

GIVEAWAY

PERRY, MARTA

THE SECOND CHRISTMAS

The warmth of the Christmas season and a woman's return home to the charming Amish community of Promise Glen open the door to a second chance at love.

When Leah Stolz picture returning to Promise Glen, she imagined taking everything she'd learned from her aunt's business and starting up a quaint herbal tea chop of her own. What she didn't expect was for Josiah Burkhalter to insist on helping her. Josiah might have been her childhood sweetheart, but they've both changed a lot since then, and Leah's not sure she can trust the man who once broke her heart.

Josiah is determined to make the most of this unexpected second chance. When he hears of Leah's plans to open her own shop, he resolves to help in any way he can -- beginning his gentle campaign to win her back by renovating the small cottage her on her family's farm.

During her time away, Leah looked forward to once again spending the holiday season with her family, especially Second Christmas, December 26, a time for celebrating with extended family and close neighbours like the Burhalters. But as Christmas nears, her feelings for Josiah are strengthened by their time working together, leaving Leah confused. Now it will take all the magic of the season for Leah to confront her fears and reach for the love she deserves.

My Review:

Marty Perry + Christmas = One Big Happy Sigh!

Such a charming story with so many Christmas elements gently woven in. And I say gently because it's not all tinsel and lights and holiday bustle. Much simpler and thoughtful and yet all those special touches create a very Christmasy feel in this holiday Second Chance Romance.

We're back in Promise Glen -- this is the fourth book in the series but reads 'gut' as a standalone. I love the layers the author brings to the story. Some of it is H/h back story, but some involve secondary characters which adds more depth and kept me engaged right to very last page. 

I love Perry's storytelling style -- so much happens but I never feel rushed. The story unfolds in what seems like a leisurely pace but it is actually chock full of drama and angst and humour and so much heart! 

Goal Update: #7 Stay current with a series

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 Second Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 3 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

The Christmas Visitor : an Amish Dreams on Prince Edward Island Novella

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

GROCHOWSKI, AMY

THE CHRISTMAS VISITOR : AN AMISH DREAMS ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NOVELLA

Every so often, first love lasts a lifetime -- and what seems impossible is made possible with God.

Mattie Beller is confident God's plan for her life does not include marriage. Her poor health has kept her an outsider, even in her close-knit Amish community. But when a visitor comes to the New Hope church district for the Christmas season, Mattie's ideas about her future are turned upside down.

Amid a growing concern over her twin brother's choices, even as her own heart tugs in two very different directions, Mattie learns that love comes in unexpected ways and can be a truly wonderful things.

My Review:

published in 2020

Eeeepp -- I was so excited to get back to PEI and this fledgling Amish community! I read the first book, 'Forever Home', a few weeks ago and about squealed the house down when I discovered there's a follow up Christmas novella. Different main characters, but we get glimpses of Lydia and Joel from the first book. That being said, you could definitely read this novella out of order. It takes place about a year after the first book. And it features another school Christmas performance which was fun.

Despite the shorter word count, Grochowksi has managed to deliver a complex, emotionally charged and captivating read. She captures the stuttering starts of romance with all the insecurities and emotional ups and downs. Loved the way this hero and heroine complement each other...even if they don't see it right from the start. :-) And it leaves the Beller family in quite a conundrum at the end so I'm hoping for more books in the series as we have left some of the characters with dangling story threads! No worries though, Mattie and her beau enjoy a divine happily-ever-after ending.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on a series I'm behind in

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 Christmas Visitor, 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 26 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Forever Home

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ

GROCHOWSKI, AMY

FOREVER HOME

A Canadian Amish farmer, a Lancaster Amish businesswoman, a Prince Edward Island foster child...

Providence brings together a mismatched family, giving all three a second chance for love. Only love may never had had such a tough job.

Lydia Miller is an anomaly among her Amish people -- a single woman in her thirties, running her own store, determined to forge a life on her own. But when Joel Yoder comes into town to sell his property, Lydia suddenly finds all of her hopes and dreams crumbling around her and a new opportunity placed in her lap.

Joel has his own problems. Recently jilted by his fiancee, Joel has seen his own dreams of moving to a newly-established Amish community begin to falter. The new community welcomes married couples only. With his dreams quickly slipping from his fingers, Joel suddenly sees the only option he thinks he has -- a marriage of convenience for both of them.

As the new couple begins life in a new settlement, they are even more surprised when a foster child in need of a home finds her way to them. Yet what will happen when the English world and the Amish world collide?

My Review:

published in 2020

This was an unexpected find at my library! A new-to-me author in the Amish genre and it's set in Prince Edward Island! That right there is enough to send me into a bibliophile swoon. But there's another draw too -- the marriage of convenience trope -- Eeeeeeeeeppppp!

I don't know why I am so drawn to marriage of convenience stories because, on principle, the idea is atrocious, but my romance loving heart also finds it soooo romantical...in fiction, mind you. :-) And this one is written so well. Really beautifully crafted and emotionally engaging.

We start out in Ohio but move on to Prince Edward Island pretty quickly and then the fun really begins! And by fun I mean angst. There's so much for Lydia to come to grips with -- not the least of which is having a husband! They go from wary truce to friendship but stubbornly stop at developing deeper feelings -- or at least acknowledging that deeper feelings are developing. Joel makes some missteps, Lydia harbours old hurts and they are just so achingly vulnerable it stirred me into a page-turning reading frenzy to get them past the rough spots.

And then there's the added drama of throwing a foster child into the mix. Talk about pulling at heart strings -- little Samy adds so much to the story.  And there's a wonderful fledgling Amish community who welcome (mostly) Joel and Lydia into the fold. And, woohoo, this is the first book in the 'Amish Dreams on Prince Edward Island' series. Off to hunt down the next one now.

Goal Update: #3 Read more debut authors, #5 Diversify my reading, #7 Start new-to-me series

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  Forever Home, 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.

A Match Made at Christmas

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DAVIDS, PATRICIA

A MATCH MADE AT CHRISTMAS

Christmas comes to a small Amish community -- and brings new beginnings with it.

Karl Gräber is too busy struggling with his hardware store and two young daughters to indulge local matchmaker Rose Yoder's schemes. After his wife's death, the thought of loving and perhaps losing another woman holds no appeal. So while he's relieved to learn he's not on Rose's list of potential husbands for new schoolteacher Sophie Eicher, he's also surprised. Despite himself, Karl can't help wondering what Rose thinks he lacks -- and why outspoken, attractive Sophie has so little interest in marriage.

After surviving breast cancer, Sophie is hoping to make a fresh start in Harts Haven. Perhaps the handsome widower next door would make a good match for her sister, but Sophie won't burden any man with her uncertain future. But when Karl offers to help her to created a 'living nativity' Christmas program for the schoolchildren, she gratefully agrees.

It'll take a bold plan and help from Karl's children to make this chaotic Christmas play a success. And as friendships deepen, hearts open and hopes are rekindled, two unlikely people may discover the healing gift of love.

My Review:

So, so, sooooooo much fun! I listened to the audible edition narrated by Meghan Kelly and I think she enhanced my enjoyment of this story -- especially in her portrayal of Rose, the eccentric Amish matchmaker. I'm still grinning over Rose's clever ploy to use reverse psychology to get these two together. But I'm getting ahead of myself -- let's see if I can corral my thoughts into some kind of order.

First thing you should know is that this book is the second one in the 'Matchmakers of Harts Haven' series. It centres around a Kansas Amish community inn run by three Amish widows. Rose is my favourite -- quirky, well meaning, but not above all kinds of subterfuge when she thinks her matchmaking 'skills' are needed. She provides comic relief and some sound outspoken advice as well. The first book is a great introduction to these characters and the community, but 'A Match Made at Christmas' can also be read as a standalone.

As in the first book, we have a reluctant hero and heroine who stretch Rose's matchmaking creativity to new levels. :-) Karl and Sophie are relationship shy for good reasons. Understandable, but frustrating too, as they are both so stuck in their pasts it's impossible for them to imagine a shared future. So lots of drama and a wee bit of angst, but also lots of Amish family life and, of course, the school Christmas play which was equal parts funny and moving. A perfect combination for a satisfying holiday read.

Goal Update: #6 Stay current with a series

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  A Match Made at Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 29 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

The Orchard

GIVEAWAY

LEWIS, BEVERLY

THE ORCHARD

"She realized there was peace right here in the midst of this heavenly sort of place, despite the unpredictable storm churning around her family."

For generations, Ellie Hostetler's family has tended their orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. But when Evan is drafted for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their English neighbours threatens too close to home. 

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment to Sol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie's attraction to Men, she finds herself drawn to Sol's steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, if feels as if everything in Ellie's world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Cans she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike the any they could have imagined?

My Review:

There's just something about the way Beverly Lewis tells a story. Unhurried. Gentle. Quiet. Filled with charm and infused with faith. 'The Orchard' isn't a nail-biting pager turner and yet it was compelling all the same. 

Set mainly at the Hostetler family orchard, we follow Ellie through the seasons -- the story spans more than a year. She is happily isolated from the political turmoil of the time (Vietnam War)...but that doesn't last for very long. Not when her twin brother has been drafted and there is a spree of attacks on Amish men with conscientious objector status in the community. 

The historical details were interesting as I didn't know much about this time in American history (I'm Canadian.) A draft lottery? And the juxtaposition between the civil protests over the war (meaning the majority of citizens wanted peace) pitted agains the vicious beatings of pacifists. 

We see it all through Ellie's eyes as she grows into her faith and struggles to come to terms with her wayward brother. Lots of lovely family scenes -- her grandfather is a riot! And wonderful faith discussions full of simple truths. And what would a Beverly Lewis book be without a sweet romance?!

A captivating tale told in traditional storytelling style.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing 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  The Orchard , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 24 2022 . Offer open to 

Her Amish Springtime Miracle

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GRIGGS, WINNIE

HER AMISH SPRINGTIME MIRACLE

An orphaned baby brings together an unlikely couple who learn the true meaning of family.

When Hannah Eicher discovered sweet baby Grace in her barn last spring, the adorable infant seemed like the answer to her prayers. The young Amish baker has always wanted a familye of her own, and now that she's fostered Grace for nearly a year, her adoption application is almost certain to be approved. But an unexpected visitor to Hope's Haven could change everything...

Englischer paramedic Mike Colder is only returning to his childhood hometown to locate and adopt his late sister's baby. But when the trail leads to Hannah and Grace, Mike's determination falters. With Hannah, the simple life he left behind suddenly seems appealing. Despite their wildly different worlds, can Mike and Hannah give each other -- and Grace -- the greatest gift of all: a life together?

My Review:

Sometimes I open a book and start reading and immediately feel a connection to the story. I've barely cleared the first few pages but there's something about the flow of the words that has me settling in for what I know will be a really good read. It's a fictional homecoming of sorts and that's exactly what I felt when I started reading 'Her Amish Springtime Miracle.' It's beautifully written, emotionally engaging and pretty much unputdownable. 

And that's about all I can really tell you because this story holds a plethora of secrets that are gradually revealed one by one -- and oh, the delicious foreshadowing! I felt like I held my breath all the way through. The problem is, I can't talk about any of it without revealing major spoilers. What I can say is the storytelling is exquisite, the pacing is perfection and events unfold in both a predictable and unpredictable way! The stuff frantic page turning stories are made of.

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 Springtime Miracle, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 10 2022 . Offer open to 

Loving Lovina

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JOHNS, PATRICIA

LOVING LOVINA

When the peaceful Amish community of Bountiful, Pennsylvania, is rocked by scandal, the three Yoder siblings must each find their path to love, family, and forgiveness...

Waking in the hospital after a car accident, Lovina Yoder doesn't remember the Amish family who claim her as their own -- or the man who says he's her fiancé. Thoughtful and handsome, Johannes Miller clearly cares fro her, and Lovina longs to recall the walks and buggy rides he describes, and the plans they once made. Life in the Amish community seems full of joy, faith, and warmth. And yet, Lovina sense there is something more in her past, just beyond her grasp...

Gott has answered Johannes' prayer to bring Lovina lack -- but not quite as he oped. A year ago, she ran away to the Englisher world, unable to face the community after her daet's misdeeds. Her family hopes that Lovina can rediscover her Amish heart before those painful recollections return. Johannes loves her as deeply as ever, but if she walked away once, will she leave again, taking his dream of home and family with her? Or will the new memories they are making together, day by day, convince her that this Bountiful future is Gott's plan for them both?

My Review:

I've been taking a hiatus from novels featuring the amnesia trope but, occasionally one intrigues me enough to give it a try and Loving Lovina practically jumped off the library shelf and into my arms screaming, 'Pick me! Pick me!' so I did. :-)

The cover intrigued me. Amish or English? Well...both really and that's where the amnesia twist is so innovative. Because Lovina left her Amish community a year ago and wakes up in the hospital without any memories of her life before then. So, when an Amish family claims her as theirs she dutifully goes home with them to recuperate...and hopefully regain her memories. But they are hoping she can reconnect with her faith and community before that happens because Lovina -- and, in fact, the entire Yoder family's story -- is complicated. Fraught with tragedy and pain and loss. Each sibling is facing their challenges in different ways, but they all agree that together they are stronger.

And then there's the issue of the fiancé Lovina left behind. Is it a reunion romance since they had a relationship before, or is it a new romance since Lovina can't remember anything? Or maybe unrequited love because Johannes has never stopped loving her? Oh, the deliciousness of all the emotional turmoil punctuated with the sweet wonder of falling in love...again.

This is the third book in the Infamous Amish series, and, while there is a lot of back story from previous novels, the author does a great job of keeping new readers updated and not feeling lost. So I can definitely recommend Loving Lovina has a standalone novel.

Goal Update: #10, Give unloved tropes a second chance

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  Loving Lovina, 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 August 27 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Their Make-Believe Match

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STEF, JACKIE

THEIR MAKE-BELIEVE MATCH

Their pretend relationship...is becoming all too real.

Irrepressible Sadie Stotzfus refuses to wed someone who doesn't understand her. To avoid an arranged marriage, she finds the perfect pretend beau in handsome but heartbroken Isaac Hostettler. Spending time with the uncoventional Sadie is helping Isaac avoid matchmaking pressure -- and helping him handle a difficult loss. But can they really be sure their convenient courtship isn't the real thing?

My Review:

The young men in Sadie's district don't seem to appreciate her "unusually enthusiastic nature" and she's fine with that...mostly...but her parents aren't and they issue an alarming matchmaking ultimatum that strikes fear in Sadie's heart. 

Meanwhile, newcomer Isaac is still reeling from a tragic romance and isn't looking for a wife but that doesn't stop the pursuit of marriage minded maidels from making his stay a tad uncomfortable. What's the solution? Fake relationship, that's what, one of my favourite tropes!

A pretend courtship with a 'friends only' agreement is the perfect solution for everyone! And yet irrepressible Sadie works her charm on not only Isaac but his ailing mother as well and pretty soon the line between pretend and real starts to blur. 

Such a fun story! And I think this is Jackie Stef's debut. Love the unorthodox heroine -- still Amish but very much an individual. She has a giving heart and sunny disposition (think Amish Pollyanna) and enough enthusiasm to embrace everything Gott has to offer her.

"I know there is hope because Gott allowed the sun to rise today. There's still fresh air to breathe, and the birds haven't stopped singing. Gott is still providing, even when it's difficult to see. Where he provides, there is hope." (p. 61)

In other words, Isaac doesn't stand a chance and watching him heal and learn to love again made for a tremendously entertaining and inspiring read.

Goal Update: #3 Read more debut authors

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy. (there's a bit of a crease in her upper right hand corner, but she arrived that way. :-( )

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Their Make-Believe Match, 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 August 13 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

To Catch a Hummingbird

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ

STEELE, MINDY

TO CATCH A HUMMINGBIRD

Since her father's death, twenty-three-year-old Lydia Miller stays busy, trying to keep the family farm afloat. It leaves little time to think and to regret what she did. Her mother runs the local bakery and unexpectedly sells their home without Lydia's thoughts on the mater. Worse, they now must live with the local widower, and Lydia is expected to care for his children. Nothing in life has prepared her for the resistance she will face or the quick attachments she makes.

Widower Silas Graber fell right into the Bishop's pain. He did need help, but he though he was getting Hazel Miller not her daughter with a chip on her shoulder. Her ways are nothing like his late wife's, and it's clear she knows nothing about raising children.

However, he can't help but notice how she quickly breathes life back into his world. And his children notice it too. Before long, she has become a part of their lives, and she starts learning to leave the past behind her. And falls in love. But she's not so certain Silas is ready to give his heart away again.

My Review:

published in 2021

Mindy Steele is one of the authors I hope to catch up with this year. I can't believe I've been missing out on this 'new' voice in Amish fiction! 

Love the Kentucky setting which is fairly unique to the genre. And Steele has created an alluring little community full of small town charm including the complex relationships that go along with it. A nice mix of Amish and Englischers including one specific character that I just wanted to purse-whomp in the worst way! Gah, but she was so meeeaaaannn. lol I love getting my dander up on behalf of a heroine. :-)

Lydia isn't your typical Amish maidel. She's passionate and impulsive and opinionated. Definitely not shy about speaking her mind, but she's not over-the-top argumentative either. Just feisty in an intriguing way and Silas is trying not to notice. :-)

He's a widower stuck in the past with three adorable and somewhat mischievous children who are soon won over by Lydia's unorthodox caregiving. And their dat isn't far behind.

A really sweet romance with deep emotional layers as both Silas and Lydia have personal issues they have to deal with before they can see their way clear to a future. There's also a nice cast of secondary characters to love (or hate) and some exciting town happenings that leave me waiting with bated breath for the second Miller Creek book which I just discovered is already out! Eeeep!!! I'll be reading The Butterfly Box very soon.

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  To Catch a Hummingbird, 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 August 6 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Naomi's Gift

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

CLIPSTON, AMY

NAOMI'S GIFT

Naomi King has been unlucky in love. Longing for marriage and children, she pursued love full tilt, disregarding traditional courtship. Now, at the ripe old age of twenty-four, Naomi has been burned twice, certain she'll spend her life helping with her mother's quilt business and caring for her eight siblings.

As Christmas approaches -- at time of family, faith, and hope for many others -- Naomi is resigned to what she believes is God's will for her, and she throws herself into tending the quilt booth at the farmers market. Even so, she longs for love.

Enter Caleb Schmucker, a young widower with an eight-year-old daughter. Visiting family for the holidays, Caleb is dealing with his own guilt, uncertainties, and longings.  As he and Naomi find themselves together at social gatherings and holiday events, both treasure their budding, relationship.

Caleb finds the friendship awakening feelings he's suppressed since his wife's death. Naomi begins to experience emotions deeper than any she's ever felt. Slowly, cautiously, Naomi finds the courage to open her heart to this thoughtful, faith-filled man.

With her belief in love already shaken, Naomi must once again reconsider her hopes and dreams and reexamine her faith.

My Review:

published in 2016

Sniffle...reading this review from 11 years ago was bittersweet because my old man sheltie was still alive and clamouring for walks. :-( Luckily, the story distracted me. :-)

---

I was transfixed by this novella. Read it in one sitting as a matter of fact. Poor Simba missed another walk on account of a good book. I have to stop doing that or both our waistlines will suffer! Clipston weaves a tight plot line with surprising depth and characterization that makes this a rewarding read. Her pacing is impeccable, nothing drags, rather each scene builds seamlessly to the climax. I think it's more difficult to write a really good short novel but Clipston has certainly mastered the art. I felt as satisfied as if I'd just finished an epic Amish trilogy. Speaking of which -- readers who have read The Kauffmann Bakery Series will be excited to catch glimpses of old friends. I haven't read the series (but certainly will now!) but didn't feel anything lacked in Naomi's Gift because of that. A lovely Christmas read that captures the essence of the season.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover copy. (I discovered I have the same title in a two book bind up so this one is up for grabs.) 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Naomi's Gift, 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 July 30 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Among the Innocent

GIVEAWAY

ALFORD, MARY

AMONG THE INNOCENT

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since the, Leah has left the community and joined the police force. Now, after an Amish woman is murdered with the sam MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's death.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning.

What will it mean for Leah -- and Dalton -- when the full truth comes to light?

My Review:

If I wanted to frame this book in a bookish way I'd say 'Among the Innocent' falls somewhere between Marta Perry's 'Brotherhood of the Raven' series and Linda Castillo's 'Kate Burkholder' series. It has elements of both but is also its own unique story. Definitely amped up from Marta Perry's Amish suspense but very much toned down from Linda Castillo's popular series. If that helps you get a feel for the 'ick' level in this serial killer mystery.

There are some gruesome scenes, but not overly described and the whole serial killer aspect gives me the heebie-jeebies, though we don't get too many villain POV scenes --- just enough to make a reader shudder, not completely creep her out! :-)

Excellently paced, this is a nice mix of police procedural and action scenes. The killer taunts Leah and that draws out the tension in the suspense as Leah and Dalton try to track him down. Love the way the author pulled it all together in the end. This is the kind of suspense that you can look back on and spot the clues you missed in the heat of the moment. Proud to say I figured out one key part of the mystery but couldn't figure out why. 

Alford wraps most everything up, but there is this one dangling thread that has me wondering if 'Among the Innocent' is the first in a series? Or at least there might be a sequel? I sure hope so.

Even though I got a paperback copy of this book from the publisher, I couldn't resist the lure of the audible edition narrated by Libby McKnight -- she kept me spellbound right to the very last word.

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 Among the Innocent, 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 July 9 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck