Heirlooms

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA

HEIRLOOMS

Answering a woman's desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bong over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother's love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother's final breaths: ask Grace Kim -- Eunhee's granddaughter -- to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers' long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to their own lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women -- grandmothers and granddaughters -- intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life

My Review:

Some people cry at movies, I cry in books. My tender bibliophile heart gets all entangled in the lives of the characters and I'm a goner. I don't cry non-stop or with every book, but there are times when my eyes well up because I'm happy, sad, mad, relieved...but, I can honestly say I've never teared up from the sheer beauty and wisdom of a story until 'Heirlooms'.

And can I tell you why? Nope -- because that would involve spilling major spoilers. I'm not quite sure how to write this review, so here I are some random musings:

Two timelines brilliantly woven together -- and I love that we get chunks of one time period at a time, rather than bouncing back and forth between snippets of past and present. It helped me feel anchored in these stories and invested in the characters' lives.

And, oh, these characters! Helen in the 1950s and her granddaughter in present day -- the challenges they face, the legacy of love and faith...and the secrets borne out of social injustice in the past that finally get to see the light of day in the present and make a tremendous difference in the lives of the next generation.

The way both stories interweave, plot threads pulling tighter as the page count diminishes and then -- whoosh -- the expelling of anxious pent-up breath over the stupendous conclusion that rocked my bookish world and left me aching with so many emotions...and a copious amount of tears. Honestly, the crying took me by surprise but it was just the extraordinary way Byrd brings resolution and hope and so much promise for the future.

Of course, the gardening aspect was a huge draw for me -- so many parallels to life and faith in the growing of new things. The passion Helen develops and Cassidy inherits -- and the unification it brings to both their stories and their friends' stories. Because though told from Helen's and Cassidy's points of view, this is definitely Eunee's and Grace's story as well.

There's even a light romance in the present day timeline which made me all kinds of giddy (despite the angst at times.)

Utterly stunning and memorable. Definitely a book for the keeper shelf...or in my case the audible library shelf because I thoroughly enjoyed Melie William's narration. 

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  Heirlooms, 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 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Lady of a Thousand Treasures

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father's passing and her uncle's decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of longtime client Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron's legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron's only living son, Harry -- the man who broke Eleanor's heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron's motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry's future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope of a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor's prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron's collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressure mounts and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust -- who in her life is false or true, brass or gold -- and what is meant to be treasured.

My Review:

"Sometimes starting anew is the best way to move forward. Even if it seems like you've lost."

Wow -- I'm gobsmacked! Don't even know where to begin. There's just so many layers to this story and it's so cleverly laid out. Subtle subtext that say one thing but mask a deeper meaning if one has a care to listen carefully. And Miss Eleanor Sheffield is an expert at delivering such charming conversation. There's this incredible scene at a house party over board games (yes -- board games -- who knew the Victorians even had those?! Oh, but they did -- and very moral and upright they were too!) Anyway, that whole scene is so cunning -- I read it twice to make sure I got every delicious nuance.

I love Sandra Byrd's writing style -- the way her words flow around in my head and lure me deeper into the story. So beautiful that I was tempted to read out loud but I couldn't bear to slow the pace despite wanting to savor it all. A lovely reader conundrum for sure!

Lady of a Thousand Treasures reads like a period classic -- a bit Gothic (which I love) along with a web of treachery and deceit set the stage for an engrossing read. And the historical details! Fascinating and enlightening and some aspects are so unusual. Like the popularity of collecting antiquities and the thrill of treasure seeking.

Eleanor is at the center of it all -- a woman trained in a man's profession facing prejudice because of her gender. Not to mention the moral dilemma she faces -- in essence having to determine whether her former suitor is worthy of keeping his father's legendary collection. And then there's her uncle's failing health and the perilous state of the family business. Not to mention a broken heart and the foolish hope that her love isn't completely lost after all. Shivers of delightful torment shoot up my spine at all the sweet memories. I'll definitely require a mourning period before I move on to my next read.

Sandra Byrd is a master wordsmith and she's outdone herself in the first book of her Victorian Ladies series.

"I had learned that every circumstance in life doesn't have to end happily for the Lord to provide a happy ending."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures, 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!

A Lady in Disguise

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
A LADY IN DISGUISE

After her father's mysterious death, Miss Gillian Young takes a job as the new principal costume designer at the renowned Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Gillian remembers her father as well-respected officer of the Metropolitan Police, but she uncovers clues that suggest he led a double life.

Then Gillian meets the dashing Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Although the attraction between them is instant, a friend suggests that he was involved in her father's murder. Is Lockwood's interest in Gillian just a front for his pursuit of her newly inherited property?

Gillian is convinced her father has left behind evidence that will prove his innocence. But as her opposition becomes increasingly dangerous, it is obvious that someone wants to stop her from discovering it. With her life on the line, Gillian takes on an ingenious disguise in the role of a lifetime to reveal her father's true killer.

My Review:

Sqqqquuuueeeealllllll!!!!!!!

Just...

Sqqqquuuueallllll!!!!!!

I am still light-headed with residual Gothic Romance Glee. The first 'grown up' books that I read as a teen were classics in this genre -- Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Phyllis A. Whitney -- so I can't help but get a tad shy of giddy when I discover a new one and A Lady in Disguise is exquisitely perfect in absolutely every way.

Deliciously sinister evil threatens Gillian at every turn as she sifts through layers of intrigue. Danger draws ever closer as she persists in searching for the truth about her father's death. Thrilling plot twists and a host of interesting characters kept me glued to the page as I tried to discern friend from foe right along with this intrepid heroine.

And then there's Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Be. Still. My. Heart. My toes are still curled and my fainting couch has lost most of it's pouffe from all my swooning. Dashing hero with a commanding presence and an air of mystery. Need I say more? I could wax poetic all day. Especially over some of the exhilarating dialogue between Thomas and Gillian. The art of saying one thing while meaning something entirely different. The romantic tension between these two is palpable and mesmerizing to read.

But then the danger turns even more ominous as menacing evil preys upon Gillian and there comes a point when you won't be able to put this book down. In fact, A Lady in Disguise should really come with a warning:

Do not attempt to read this book on public transit. You will miss your bus and forget to get off  at the right stop which will cause you to arrive late for appointments (though you won't even care because it will give you more reading time.)

And woe be the reader who reaches a certain point in the story while riding on the bus. That happened to me so I speak with authority. My eyes welled up, I got a lump in my throat and I struggled for breath as outrage and despair consumed me.  I tried to explain away the red eyes and sniffles as allergies but my fellow passengers weren't fooled. :-)

This is the third book in the Daughters of Hampshire series. Each book reads as a standalone, so no worries if you haven't read Mist of Midnight and Bride of a Distant Isle -- but really, you want to read both of the books as well.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Lady in Disguise, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your 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 is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 13 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

A Bride of a Distant Isle

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
BRIDE OF A DISTANT ISLE

Miss Annabel Ashton is a teacher at the Rogers Day School for Young Ladies in Winchester when she makes a brief visit to her family home, Highcliffe Hall, at Milford on Sea. She believes her stay will be short but soon learns that she will not be returning to the safety of the school. Instead, she remains at Highcliffe, at the mercy of her cousin, Edward Everedge.

Annabel protests, but as the illegitimate daughter of a woman who died in an insane asylum she has little say. Edward is running out of money and puts the house up for sale to avoid financial ruin. He insists that Annabel marry, promising her to a sinister, frightening man. But as the house is readied for sale, disquieting secrets are revealed. Jewelry, artifacts, and portraits mysteriously appear, suggesting that Annabel may be the true heir of Highcliffe.

She has only a few months to prove her legitimacy, perhaps with assistance from the handsome but troubled Maltese Captain Dell'Acqua. But does he have Annabel's best interests at heart?

Will Annabel regain her life and property -- and trust her heart -- before it's too late?

My Review:

I'm basking in the warm glow of Gothic Romance Reader Bliss right now. I've mentioned before how much I adore this genre, right? Ever since junior high when I discovered Victoria Holt. And good Gothics are few and far between in the Christian market. So you can just imagine the sweet ecstasy I've been in since I first opened this book.

Each page is steeped in mystery. Deliciously thrilling plot twists, sinister foreshadowing, and a bevy of intriguing characters who run the gamut from bad to good. And it's up to Annabel to figure out where their loyalties lie.

I adore Annabel. She refuses to allow herself to be defined by her circumstances. As a woman, she has little say in her future but that doesn't stop her from digging in her heels and engaging in her own game of subterfuge. Her faith is the beacon of hope that sees her through the most trying of times. I loved her dedication, her desire to seek divine counsel and her strength to stand for what she believes to be true. Very inspiring.

 And now it's time for me to wax poetic over the Maltese captain. A swoonworthy hero with his own agenda. Even though Annabel can't be certain whether he is friend or foe, she can't resist his charm...and either could I. Oh goodness, but you'll need a fan for this read. Or maybe just stick your feet in the freezer periodically. This captain exudes toe-curling masculinity at every turn of the page. Be. Still. My. Heart.

 Sinister tension builds as the story progresses. Who is for Annabel? Who is against her? And who will emerge triumphant at the end? With all that page-turning intrigue, Byrd held me captive right up to the very last page. .

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Bride of a Distant Isle 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 May 22 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Mist of Midnight

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA
MIST OF MIDNIGHT

In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

My Review:

Okay -- seriously -- if you read only one book this year make sure it is this one. Yes, I think I really mean that! Because this is beyond incredible. Hello -- Gothic romance at it's absolute best. Be still my Victoria Holt loving heart! Just thinking about this story sends me into a near swoon of spine-tingling, toe-curling ecstasy!

Exquisite details create the classic dark ambiance of this genre. Just the name, Rebecca Ravenshaw screams Gothic heroine, doesn't it? And an enigmatic Captain, usurper of all that is hers. Hero or villain or something in between? Then there's the mystery -- questions Rebecca asks that no one will answer. Meddling servants. Two-faced friends. Distrustful locals. A bleak shroud of danger that hangs over Rebecca page after page.

The characterization and historical aspects are sublime. Such incredible details, from mannerisms to the whole upstairs downstairs vibe and, of course, the social proprieties of the day. It all just thrilled me right down to my toes. Still does. And, someone hand me a paper bag to hyperventilate in, Mist of Midnight is the first of a new series entitled Daughters of Hampshire but -- sob -- they are being released one a year so we have to wait until 2016 when Bride of Poseidon comes out. I might just have to read this one a couple of times over to get me through until then.

In case you missed it -- I loved this book!!!! And highly recommend it!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mist of Midnight 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 April  26 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!