The Heart of the Mountains

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER

THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS

To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains...or in the person of Jeb McAdams.

Returning from the devastation of World War I emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It's easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrives. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her. Their mutual understanding of the costs of war leads to an unspoken bond that develops into a hesitant friendship.

As Cora turns her nursing experience and determination on establishing hygiene and education for women in the Appalachian community while also attempting to rescue Jeb from his own ghosts, Cora and Jeb's partnership turns into a project of celebrating the gifts within Appalachia.

But when the past sweeps back into their lives and an outbreak of scarlet fever threatens the future, will Cora and Jeb find a way to work together -- even if it means unplanned matrimony -- or will their different lives and brokenness tear them apart?

My Review:

(Oops...Post Reader's Choice Week Addled Brain Syndrome...forgot to schedule this review to go up at midnight. Ah well, better late than never, right?!)

An enthralling sequel to 'Laurel's Dream'. And, really, that about sums it up. lol Because I always find myself grappling for words when it comes to reviewing Pepper Basham's books. This one is all layers with sharp edges smoothed over by grace. Stunning. Moving. Goosebumping. Laugh-out-louding. Swooning. (Be. Still. My. Heart. Jeb!!!!) Have I said captivating yet? 'Cause 'The Heart of the Mountains' is all that and then some.

Basham has captured the complexities of rural Appalachian relationships with such poignant accuracy (at least it seems accurate to this city-fied Canadian) and she's drawn from some of her family history for inspiration! I listened to the audible edition narrated by Kate Forbes and I wanted to hit pause so many times to write down treasured snippets of mountain folk wisdom but if I did do that it would have taken me a month to finish! I definitely need a print copy too, so I can underline and annotate to my heart's content. 

An incredible, heartwarming story that seamlessly weaves faith and romance and heart-stopping action into a moving read that inspires change...not just for the characters, but for readers too.

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 Heart of the Mountains , 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 8 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Laurel's Dream

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

BASHAM, PEPPER

LAUREL'S DREAM

Journey into the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918 where Laurel McAdams endures the challenges of a hard life while dreaming things can eventually improve. But trouble arrives in the form of an outsider. Having failed his British father again, Jonathan Taylor joins his uncle's missionary endeavours as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse. Laurel feels compelled to protect the tenderhearted teacher from the harsh realities of Appalachian life, even while his stories of life outside the mountains pull at Laurel's imagination. Faced with angry parents over teaching methods, Laurel's father's drunken rages, and bad news from England, will Jonathan have to leave and never return, or will he stay and let love bloom?

My Review:

published in 2019

A reread for me and it's just as good the second time around.

---

"Dream, girl, but trust God to take better care of your dreams than you ever could." (p 139)

Sometimes you come across a book that defies description and this is one of them. I've been grappling with words that won't come because I don't think anything I say can do justice to the depth and breadth and overall bookiliciousness of Laurel's Dream.

I wish I had Laurel's 'lyrical phrasing' to help me. "She's always got the mullygrubs but down deep she's as soft as fresh biscuits." (p 113) But any attempts to wax poetic have fallen embarrassingly short so I'm not sharing them here! Just know that this is the kind of story you live through with all your senses. The kind that carries you away so completely that it's hard to pull out of. And, if someone or something does manage to haul you back to your sorry 21st century reality, you will be utterly discombobulated for awhile...in fact the disorientation will likely last until you can slip back to Basham's mountain setting again.

This is such a sublime read I can't even...head thunking on desk...I have no words!

Laurel charmed me -- she's bewitching and beguiling and exuberant and hopeful. Steadied by her faith and a mountain folk practicality that captivated me. And she loves books!!! "If a book comes by, any book, I'm obliged to give it my attention." (p 72) How can you not love a heroine like that?!

And Jonathan is an intriguing mix of noble and broken and searching. He comes to this Appalachian community with an open heart and the desire to not only teach, but learn as well. And then the story unfolds -- only you forget it's a story -- you feel like you are living their lives right along with them and every day is an adventure so epic and elemental and true that it takes your breath away.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback. (it's been carefully resting in a glass-fronted bookcase but now that it's on audible ...)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Laurel's Dream, 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 January 22 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Jane by the Book

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

BASHAM, PEPPER
JANE BY THE BOOK

A Jane Austen inspired novella

She's level-headed and ordered. He talks to imaginary characters. She keeps to the plan. He never has one.

Will true love find a way to color outside the lines but inside God's love to create a story they can write together?

Four years ago, Jane Warwick escaped the shame of being jilted at the altar by becoming a housekeeper at the secluded Inn at Simeon Ridge. Predictable and quiet, the inn and large Simeon family help Jane find a place to heal but also cultivate her natural strengths for order and planning. But an unexpected visit to Bath, England, upsets Jane's peaceful monotony and sends her out of her comfort zone, directly into the harrowing path of historical detective author, Titus Stewart.

The only plans Titus sticks to are family holidays and the ones that send him careening into his story worlds, but when an uptight innkeeper stumbles into his life -- and his latest novel -- nonfiction begins to take on a much more interesting gleam.

With the help of a mysterious journal, will they both uncover a romance that stands the test of time?

My Review:

published in 2018

This is me, swooning just as much the second time around. I was arranging all my Pepper Basham books on my author highlight shelf (doesn't everyone do that monthly? Or is my librarianishness showing? I just can't resist the urge to showcase books by theme or author even in my own little (or not so) home library.) Anyway, once I got my hands on Titus I couldn't let him go until we got reacquainted. :-)

----

"If God can use a talking donkey and a group of disgruntled fishermen, I think He can inspire an author with the right heart and abilities to create a story that will touch people's lives." (p 86)

Love, love, LOVE!!!!!! In a giddy, tilt-a-whirl, heart-thrumming, cheeks-hurt-from-grinning kind of way. Short (novella length) but oh so sweet!!!! And God bless authors who go to the trouble of making their novellas available in paperback format! This cherished copy is going on my keeper shelf and every time I spy it's pretty cover I'm going to get all nostalgic and swoony. :-) And isn't it adorable?! Love that both the hero and heroine are sporting glasses. You don't see that every day.

If you enjoy a bookish love story -- you know, where there's tons of references to books and reading and the power of story you will be over-the-moon ecstatic with this novel. Hero Titus is an author -- squeeeeallll -- and getting a peek into his slightly crazed writer mind is so much fun! He's probably the most unique hero I've ever met and the banter between Jane and Titus still has me smiling. "He really was fun to spar with, and he didn't seem to mind her sarcasm at all. It bounced off his optimism with the ease of rain off an umbrella." (p 44)

Despite the short word count (123 pages), Basham delivers a riveting plot filled with drama and romance and lots and lots of laughter. And a genealogical mystery to solve! And -- surprise -- there's even a Christmas component to this story! "Milkshakes, mystery and kisses from Jane Cecily? Merry early Christmas to him!" (p 88) And to happy readers everywhere. Seriously good and not to be missed!

"God created romance. It makes sense that people who write from a Christian worldview would incorporate it into their books and show the God-given beauty of the love between a man and a woman." (p 67) 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Jane by the Book, 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 25 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Mistletoe Countess

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER

MISTLETOE COUNTESS

Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens's Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick Percy's past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. 

Gracelyn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister's place as a Christmas bride, but when she's thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick's heart but also solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick's past ruin her fairy tale future.

My Review:

Seriously without words here. I'm so cafuzzlemummied my brain has shut down...circuits fried. Overheating toe curls will do that to a bibliophile's neuro-network. But I'll try to engage some residual cells to make it through some sort of a review.

Seriously...drum roll, please...I have never, ever done this before BUT the time has finally come that I can honestly say BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!! And I never do top ten lists or best lists -- I love so many genres and so many writing styles and I'm pretty much the number one fan of whatever I'm reading at the moment, plus, I've never been able to rate books without feeling horribly guilty, like I'm cheating on my friends... 

Until now.

MISTLETOE COUNTESS IS MY TOP READ FOR 2021 (and I've read 270 books so far this year!) And I'm not sure I can even explain why without giving too much of the plot away so I can't gush the way I really want to in enthusiastic fangirling overdrive.

Love, love, love this heroine. I feel for Grace the way I do for the heroines of my childhood. Anne Shirley, Jo March, Lucy Pevensie, Sara Crewe...characters who shaped my world and became lifelong friends.  Grace has taken her place in this very special sisterhood, forever etched into my heart.

And this book --- I'm as drawn to it as I am to those childhood classics that literally defined me. It's the kind of story you want to hold tight and savor all the exquisite nuances that make up an unforgettable adventure. There's hope and laughter. Insightful wisdom. Deep, abiding faith. Joy -- so much joy -- even in the midst of trials. 

A plot brimming with mystery and romance. Even a bit of a Gothic vibe in places. And delightful bookish references! And as unexpected as it is familiar...hmmmm, what do I mean by that? Wellllllll, I can't tell you or I'd ruin your reading experience but once you've read it, let's talk! And talk. And talk! Because there is so much depth and heart and...

Heat...wheeewwwww....this is a kissing book so you definitely need a fainting couch, smelling salts, a fan and a spare because I swear a certain scene is what fried the motor in my fan (which has been working fine all summer, mind you!)

Which leads me to Frederick. Thud. That's all. Just. Thud. (insert swooning on fainting couch emoji here.)

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Pamela Klein and she did a brilliant job of breathing life into these characters. An excellent pairing of author and narrator. So much so that when I reached the -- gasp -- end and grew somewhat despondent and bereft, I started listening to it all over again. Yep. Back-to-back listening. I've never done that before! And I loved The Mistletoe Countess as much the second time around -- if not more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Mistletoe Countess, 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 Between the Pages

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER

HOPE BETWEEN THE PAGES

Uncover the story behind a one-hundred-year-old bookish love note

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Clara Blackwell can't lose her family's one-hundred-year-old bookshop, but with the deed missing, there's a chance her father's legacy could fall into the hands of her greedy uncle. In an attempt to locate the missing deed, Clara uncovers an unusual love note which leads to the discovery of a long-lost romance. Forced to step outside her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man's identity in her great-grandmother's unknown history. From the beautiful North Carolina Vanderbilt estate to a hamlet in The Lake District, England, can Clara put the pieces of an ill-fated romance together in order to save her bookshop...and maybe even find her own bookish happily-ever-after in the process?

My Review:

I was hooked by the first sentence: "Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale." I let out a sigh of contentment and snuggled onto my fainting couch (this is a Pepper Basham story after all) and lost myself in a mystery that crosses time. Two heroines and their heroes. Lots of laughter and quick-witted banter. And letters! Oh, those letters -- they gutted me! Heartache and triumph and every emotion in between! I'm still reeling in bibliophile aftershock.

And so romantical that reading this book will give you permanent kinks in your toes! Including the best ever declaration of love in all it's bookish glory on page 172. I won't quote it 'cause that would spoil it for you, but, heaving a deep sigh, it's splendiferous. Excuse me while I read it again.

Am I rambling? I feel like I'm rambling. Oh well, there's nothing to be done for it because...Sophie and Oliver and Clara and Max!!!! My heart is still trying to recover from all the loop-de-loops and one near fatal nose-dive. I can't believe the author did that.That one terrible, unexpected thing. But she did. Consider this your tissue alert. My nose is still red. And my eyes are teary.

Hope Between the Pages delivers exactly what the title promises. I'm emotionally wrung out and a little weepy. As well as basking in the warm glow of so much book love. Seriously, I've tagged so many bookish quotes it looks like I'm cramming for an exam! A celebration of love and faith and how books can lead us to both. 

"Books and imagination brought me love. Love inspired my hope, and hope led me to purpose...to serve others through generosity, kindness, and...books." (p 222)

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 Hope Between the Pages, 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 July 24 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Between Stairs and Stardust

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

BASHAM, PEPPER

BETWEEN STAIRS AND STARDUST

An illustrator in hiding, a millionaire with a gardening fascination and the possibility of a perfect fit for a happily-ever-after. Once upon a time...

A young illustrator, forced from her home in Boston, must return to her Blue Ridge Mountains to escape a scandal. Certain that her dreams are on hold, Stella Emory doesn't expect to find a prince charming in the form of James Craven, a young man who works in the gardens of the famed Biltmore Estate. Brought together unexpectedly, the two begin a tender friendship inspired by James's little sister and the story of Cinderella, but James isn't all he seems. 

As their friendship grows into a romance, the truth of James's millionaire status shakes Stella's confidence. When her past follows her to Asheville, Stella thinks her chance at romance with James is over, but will a Christmas masquerade and the remnants of a charm bracelet somehow provide the magic Stella needs to clear her name and claim her own happily-ever-after?

My Review:

published in 2019

"There was something singularly attractive about a man reading a book."

Sqqquuueeeealllll!!!! Pepper Basham turns fairy tale land upside down in this cleverly rendered Cinderella retelling. Love the unexpected twists she brought to this well-loved tale. Clever and witty and just plain swoonalicious! 

It's 1913 in the Blue Ridge Mountains where our plucky heroine dashes to the hero's rescue...see, the author shakes things up right from the very start. It was so much fun to spot the the fairy tale elements in their re-imagined state. And the way the story flows courtesy of Basham's whimsical phrasing is divine. And packed with life wisdom.

Throw in a wee bit o' Christmas along with a Biltmore estate setting, not to mention that alluring cover and ingenious title and 'sweet perfection' about sums it up. 

"Magic is as much your own making as any fairy godmother's."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Between Stairs and Stardust, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Second Impressions

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

BASHAM, PEPPER
SECOND IMPRESSIONS

He likes streamline. She prefers embellishments. His forte is business. Hers is atmosphere. Will they realize they each have what the other needs most to create the perfect romance with a touch of Jane Austen flair? When a country girl travels to Bath, England to visit Jane Austen country, will a serious businessman ruin her regency dream?

My Review:

published in 2017

Sharp and pithy, this sweet novella is packed with Basham's trademark sass and wit. And all the scrumptious descriptions put my senses on high alert -- from Nora's Appalachian hometown setting to Regency England. Be still my heart! I want to live in either fictional world. And then there's the way this author sets up a comedic scene! She doesn't miss a beat. From outrageous to sweetly tender to toe-curling sizzle all in a flash. Sheer brilliance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Second Impressions, 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 12 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
MY HEART BELONGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE : LAUREL'S DREAM

A British missionary meets a chilly welcome in a remote Appalachian community

Laurel McAdams is well acquainted with trouble, but her dreams keep her hopeful that life can improve on her mountain in the Blue Ridge. Still, trouble does come in the form of an outsider.

Having failed his British father again, Jonathan Taylor joins his uncle's missionary endeavors as a teacher in a two-room shcoolhouse. Laurel feels compelled to protect the tenderhearted teacher from the harsh realities of Appalachian life, even while his stories of life outside the mountains pull at Laurel's imagination.

Faced with parents angry over his teaching methods, Laurel's father's drunken rages, and bad news from England, will Jonathan leave and never return, or will he stay and let love bloom?

Journey into North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918 where a young woman's dreams are held captive by rugged landscape and long-held traditions.

My Review:

"Dream, girl, but trust God to take better care of your dreams than you ever could." (p 139)

Sometimes you come across a book that defies description and this is one of them. I've been grappling with words that won't come because I don't think anything I say can do justice to the depth and breadth and overall bookiliciouness of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream.

I wish I had Laurel's 'lyrical phrasing' to help me. "She's always got the mullygrubs but down deep she's as soft as fresh biscuits." (p 113) But any attempts to wax poetic have fallen embarrassingly short so I'm not sharing them here! Just know that this is the kind of story you live through with all your senses. The kind that carries you away so completely that it's hard to pull out of. And, if someone or something does manage to haul you back to your sorry 21st century reality, you will be utterly discombobulated for awhile...in fact the disorientation will likely last until you can slip back to Basham's mountain setting again.

This is such a sublime read I can't even...head thunking on desk...I have no words!

Laurel charmed me -- she's bewitching and beguiling and exuberant and hopeful. Steadied by her faith and a mountain folk practicality that captivated me. And she loves books!!!!  "If a book comes by, any book, I'm obliged to give it my attention." (p 72) How can you not love a heroine like that?!

And Jonathan is an intriguing mix of noble and broken and searching. He comes to this Appalachian community with an open heart and the desire to not only teach, but learn as well. And then the story unfolds -- only you forget it's a story -- you feel like you are living their lives right along with them and every day is an adventure and you're wrapped up in something so epic and elemental and true that it takes your breath away.

True fact: I'm all kinds of giddy after living Laurel's Dream right along with her that I'm all out of words. Just plum happy and basking in the literary afterglow.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge : Laurel's Dream, 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 February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Jane by the Book

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
JANE BY THE BOOK

A Jane Austen inspired novella

She's level-headed and ordered. He talks to imaginary characters. She keeps to the plan. He never has one.

Will true love find a way to color outside the lines but inside God's love to create a story they can write together?

Four years ago, Jane Warwick escaped the shame of being jilted at the altar by becoming a housekeeper at the secluded Inn at Simeon Ridge. Predictable and quiet, the inn and large Simeon family help Jane find a place to heal but also cultivate her natural strengths for order and planning. But an unexpected visit to Bath, England, upsets Jane's peaceful monotony and sends her out of her comfort zone, directly into the harrowing path of historical detective author, Titus Stewart.

The only plans Titus sticks to are family holidays and the ones that send him careening into his story worlds, but when an uptight innkeeper stumbles into his life -- and his latest novel -- nonfiction begins to take on a much more interesting gleam.

With the help of a mysterious journal, will they both uncover a romance that stands the test of time?

My Review:

"If God can use a talking donkey and a group of disgruntled fishermen, I think He can inspire an author with the right heart and abilities to create a story that will touch people's lives." (p 86)

Love, love, LOVE!!!!!! In a giddy, tilt-a-whirl, heart-thrumming, cheeks-hurt-from-grinning kind of way. Short (novella length) but oh so sweet!!!! And God bless authors who go to the trouble of making their novellas available in paperback format! This cherished copy is going on my keeper shelf and every time I spy it's pretty cover I'm going to get all nostalgic and swoony. :-) And isn't it adorable?! Love that both the hero and heroine are sporting glasses. You don't see that every day.

If you enjoy a bookish love story -- you know, where there's tons of references to books and reading and the power of story you will be over-the-moon ecstatic with this novel. Hero Titus is an author -- squeeeeallll -- and getting a peek into his slightly crazed writer mind is so much fun! He's probably the most unique hero I've ever met and the banter between Jane and Titus still has me smiling. "He really was fun to spar with, and he didn't seem to mind her sarcasm at all. It bounced off his optimism with the ease of rain off an umbrella." (p 44)

Despite the short word count (123 pages), Basham delivers a riveting plot filled with drama and romance and lots and lots of laughter. And a genealogical mystery to solve! And -- surprise -- there's even a Christmas component to this story! "Milkshakes, mystery and kisses from Jane Cecily? Merry early Christmas to him!" (p 88) And to happy readers everywhere. Seriously good and not to be missed!

"God created romance. It makes sense that people who write from a Christian worldview would incorporate it into their books and show the God-given beauty of the love between a man and a woman." (p 67)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Jane by the Book, 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 to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 18 2018. Offer to International Readers. Good luck.

A Twist of Faith

RETRO READ

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
A TWIST OF FAITH

Dr. Adelina Roseland has worked ten years in research as an accent reduction specialist to attain her dream job. But a secret wager to transform Appalachian cattle farmer Reese Mitchell into corporate material challenges Adelina in ways she never expected, threatening her new position.

For one, Adelina didn't plan for the faith and friction of Reese, or the unexpected influence of his chaotic family. Now, drawn into a culture she'd tried to forget, Adelina finds the warmth of the family, the hope of faith, and the joy of love melting away the deep wounds of her past.

But when Reese discovers that he's a pawn in her climb up the academic ladder, will forgive Adelina's deceit or will he forgive Adelina's deceit or will their miscommunication end in two broken lives?

My Review:
published in 2016

Whew!!! Even though the weather's getting colder, you might need to bring the fans up from the basement, for this read due to the scrumptious amount of toe-curling kisses peppered throughout (get the pun?) That Reese is one swoonworthy hero! A gentle mountain man filled with faith and unending love for his family. Layered  with intriguing depths that uptight Adelina doesn't recognize at first.

Ewwww --- sometimes I wanted to slap that girl! She was that snooty and aloof and Reese was so charming, no matter what he was really thinking. His mama raised him to have gentlemanly manners and I appreciated it even if Dee didn't. But then the kissing started and that swayed her some and pretty soon these two are on a delightful romantic romp towards....

...well, not a happily ever after because there's complications and secrets and my tummy was tied up in knots as Dee blunders on and I might have reached for a kleenex or two along the way. A slow reveal of the wounds from her childhood explain a lot and had me rooting for her even though that meant I wouldn't get to keep Reese for myself! But that's a sacrifice this avid reader was willing to make for the greater good of the story. :-) Emotional angst nicely balanced with romantic comedy make this the perfect kind of frantic-page-turning- must-finish-it-right-now kind of read.

And there's a profoundly beautiful inspirational thread about the power of Grace and forgiveness -- some of the best conversations on the subject I've ever seen in a novel. Uplifting and toe-curling liberally dosed with humour. Sweet perfection!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITYi

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Twist of Faith, 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 to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 7 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Just the Way You Are

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Mountain girl, British boy, and a culture clash of epic proportions

Single mom, Eisley Barrett, prefers to keep romance safely housed within a centuries-old mystery, but when she travels to England at her uncle's dying request to unearth the truth, she never expects to tumble into her own fairytale.

Leading man and reformed rogue, Christopher Wesley Harrison, is fighting to build a new reputation after tragedy introduced him to the power of redemption. His hardened cynicism and his self-protective avoidance of romance crumbles at Eisley's two left feet, and sends his heart into unscripted territory.

When his past threatens to ruin his second chance at love, can some Appalachian matchmaking, some adorable kids, big-family antics, and letters from the grave salvage their unexpected romance?

It's a Britallachian romance sprinkled with humor, romance, mystery, and a little bitof magic.

My Review:

Warning: reading this book is likely to induce extreme chocolate cravings. Read at your own risk...and make sure to have a chocolate stash on hand! Because hero Wes is "Ghirardelli in human form." (p 12)  Honestly, I don't know which had me swooning more - Wes or all the chocolate references. Either way, a fainting couch is a definite requirement to get a sensitive reader safely through to the end. :-)

And this is the kind of book you don't want to read because if you do it will be over. Yeah, I know that doesn't make much sense but here's the conversation I had with myself the whole read

Me: Slow down! You're reading too fast!
Myself: But it's so good!!!!! I can't help myself.
Me: Keep it up and you're gonna reach the end way too soon.
Myself: Gasp!
Me: I know - see that's what I'm sayin'! This good read is going to be over before it's begun.
Myself: Not if I stop and reread the good bits...that way I can savor it longer.
Me: Brilliant! That will slow you down some without interfering with your reading pleasure.
Myself: Right. So at the end of every chapter, I'll go back and read over the good bits.
Me: Hmmm...in other words, you're gonna read each chapter all the way through twice?
Myself: ((blissful sigh) Pretty much. This is going to be fun!

Brilliant and witty and soooo relatable. Eisley especially. Adorably klutzy (and really, it's time we kltuzes had a heroine to look up to!) and so refreshingly funny. She can't seem to stop turning her inner most thoughts into spoken-out-loud sentences at the most inopportune times with delightful results. I belly laughed so much I'm thinking of adding this book to my fitness regimen -- my obliques got way more of a workout with Eisley then doing sit-ups!

And then there's redeemed rogue Wes...as yummy as all the chocolate comparisons Eisley thinks up to describe him. Their hysterical first meet sets the tone for the whole story - though he doesn't stay that grumpy for long thanks to the whimsical Miss Eisley.

As a fairly new Christian, Wes has sworn off romance. He's still coming to grips with the tragic results of his former hard-hitting lifestyle. Which is totally in sync with Eiseley's determination to avoid real life romance at any cost. Been there, done that and doesn't trust herself to go there again. Ha! These two were made for each other and Basham sets out to prove it with toe-curling perfection. Seriously, plug in the fans, grab some ice packs and be prepared to s-w-o-o-n!!!!

But this romantically euphoric read has even more to offer with a compelling inspirational thread that was pointed directly at me. Seriously - Eisley battles with fear and doubt even though her faith is strong. And yes, that does seem like an oxymoron but since I'm going through the exact same thing, I totally get how it works! I've been so uplifted by this story!

And I haven't even touched on Eisley's zany Appalachian clan or the intriguing centuries old mystery or the obnoxious secondary character that I wanted to throttle or...well, this review is too long as it is. Best way to sum it all up:

Romantic Comedy that sizzles!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Just the Way You Are, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, please 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 Sunday May 13 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!