Inventions of the Heart

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CONNEALY, MARY

INVENTIONS OF THE HEART

Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her, even here?

After her sister's marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She's managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father's business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can't risk putting her in harm's way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she's suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they'll reveal her location, but if they do nothing...their troubles have only just begun.

My Review:

Sometimes my reading heart craves something clever and funny and total escapism and when it does I immediately think of two authors: Mary Connealy and Jen Turano. And after reading a few gut wrenching, tear inducing novels recently I knew it was time to lighten the load so I reached for Mary Connealy's latest comedic masterpiece. 

And the Lumber Baron's Daughters might just be my fave series of hers so far. Smart heroines and the men who love them. And the volatile clashing when their alpha male tendencies get the best of them -- priceless! :-) 

While Inventions of the Heart is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone BUT there is an over arching thread that will carry over to each book and won't be fully resolved until the last one. That involves the women's wickedly nefarious step-father plotting agains them and it's worth reading the first book just for the amazing opening scene where they escape from his evil clutches. So. Much. Fun. And a tad hair-raising. 

Packed with action, adventure and danger, this second book is just as thrilling as the first. Love Michelle's scientific mind and her canny inventions. She puts both to good use to meet all kinds of challenges and Zane can't help but fall for her. Add toe-curling romance to all the edge-of-your-seat chaos and you get the best kind of escape read imaginable! I'm still grinning and swooning and eager to see what's up next for the Stiles women and their heroes. Luckily I won't have long to wait since the final book, A Model of Devotion, comes out in October!

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 Intentions of the Heart, 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 

The Element of Love

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CONNEALY, MARY

THE ELEMENT OF LOVE

She mixed danger, desperation, and deception together. Love was not the expected outcome.

With their sharp engineering skills, Laura Stiles and her two sisters have been able to deal with their mother's unfortunate choice in husband until they discovered his plans to marry each of them off to his lecherous friends. Now they must run away -- far and fast -- to find better matches to legally claim their portion of their father's dynasty and seize control from their stepfather.

During their escape, Laura befirends a mission group heading to serve the poor in California. She quickly volunteers herself and her sisters to join their efforts. Despite the settlement being in miserable condition, the sisters are excited by the opportunity to put their skills to good use. Laura also sees potential in Caeb, the mission's parson, to help with gaining with gaining her inheritance. But when secrets buried in Calbe's past and in the land around them come to light, it'll take all the smars the sisters have to keep trouble at bay.

My Review:

Seriously, sometimes a reader gets a craving for the kind of story only Mary Connealy can dream up. And she's in her element (ha -- get the play on words there?) with this new series. From the clever title tie-in to the wild adventuring of her unique heroines...well, I was enthralled. And that was even before the kind and compassionate and oh so swoonworthy parson showed up on the scene. :-)

There is absolutely no end to the creativity this author brings to her action scenes. Just when I thought she couldn't possibly start off a story in a more dynamic way than her last book, or the one before that, or the one waaaay back or...well, you get the idea. Connealy's imagination is a bottomless pit of scary creativity. And the start of the Stiles' sisters' adventuring is ample proof of that!

I love that it's told in multiple points of view -- we get to know each sister and even their mother really well. And the parson, of course. (furiously fanning my blushing cheeks.) It's clear that this is Laura's story as she takes a chance at finding love but the groundwork has been laid for the rest of the series and I get the feeling it's going to be a humdinger of a grand finale come book three. Can't wait for the next Lumber Baron's Daughters book to come out!

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

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Element of Love, 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 May 7 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck 

Braced for Love

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CONNEALY, MARY

BRACED FOR LOVE

Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin -- and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt? 

My Review:

Bwahahaha! Sometimes a reader needs an explosion of choreogoraphed chaos to cleanse her literary palette and Mary Connealy fits the bill. Her droll humour and unconventional characters guarantee a rollicking good time.

This first book of her new series (Brothers in Arms) is going to be as wildly popular as all her others. And I love the quirky twist in that series title 'cause these brothers are literally in arms over their inheritance. 

Cue oodles of laughter and tons of action. Connealy even makes the tense life-or-death moments lighthearted. And, as usual, the bad guys are classic Wild West movie worthy. And despite (or maybe because of) the pandemonium, Kevin and Win manage to connect in a delightfully romantical way. 

Can't wait for July when book two, A Man With a Past releases. I'm really looking forward to Falcon's story.

I listened to the audible edtion of Braced for Love narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She has a kinda raspy voice which is a perfect match for these characters and her dialogue delivery and 'inner thought voices' are spot on. A joy to listen to.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of , 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 1  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Her Secret Song

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CONNEALY, MARY

HER SECRET SONG

After a rough winter spent alone, Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and begins a trek down Hope Mountain. Along the way she finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.

Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. He was hired to drive out the Warden family and knows he was duped. But when he's wounded during the climb, the last person he expects to rescue him is a beautiful blond woman with the voice of an angel.

As both Ursula and Wax weigh the costs of living new lives, the two find an unlikely bond. And they're joined by Ursula's sisters and the Warden family as the final showdown over the family ranch looms with the coming of spring.

My Review:

Woohoo! This is some grand finale to Connealy's Brides of Hope Mountain series!!! 

While there is an over-arcing villainous plot looming from the first two books, the author has written this final episode in such a way that it could be read as a standalone. BUT, having said that, it would read even better if you're up-to-date with the series and that's because you'll get the inside jokes (the second bible -- snort!) and the over all Warden/Nordegren shenanigans much better. Plus, each book is sheer comedic poetry and so much fun to read! It's well worth savoring each unique story. 

So, there's plenty of action -- this author is particularly brutal to her heroes. Poor Wax! Ouch! Luckily he has Ursula to nurse him back to health and then it's pretty much bedlam and chaos to the nail-biting, stand-up-and-cheer-those-Nordegren-sisters-on blockbuster ending! Yeehaw!!!!

I listened to the audible edition of Her Secret Song narrated by Barbara McCulloh. Her voice is particularly suited for these characters and her dialogue delivery and 'inner thought voices' are spot on.

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 Secret Song, 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 26 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Christmas at Star Inn

 

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

BROWNLEY, MARGARET

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN

CONNEALY, MARY

Cozy Christmas Collection

In classic Christmas sytle, bestselling authors Margaret Brownley, Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Herne offer readers three holiday romance treats with these heartwarming novellas.

Set at the base of Mt. Hood, snow-weary travelers find rest, romance, and even reconciliation at the beautiful Star Inn, an iconic B&B in the quaint village of Heywood, Oregon.

Grab your cocoa and fuzzy slippers and lose yourself in the warmth of Christmas at Star Inn.

My Review:

pulbished in 2019

An incredible collection of Christmas stories destined to spark good cheer in every reader.

Do You Hear What I Hear by Margaret Brownley -- A heartwarming reunion romance. Stranded not-so-strangers Sally and Rick are complete opposites. That's the reason they broke up the first time round but there's Christmas magic in the air and an innkeeper named Angel who knows how to wield it. There's tons of rom/com references which were fun to spot, an earnest Nativity play narrator determined to deliver his lines to perfection and tons of melt-your-heart, feel-tinsely-good Christmas moments to warm a reader with Christmas joy.

Silent Night, Star-Lit Night by Ruth Logan Herne -- Well, Ruthy made me cry. Again. What a moving story about coming to grips with the past and having the courage to move forward in hope. Mia and Jed were childhood friends in a small town that treated them very differently. Now Mia's living far away, widowed and pregnant and Jed has come to bring her home for Christmas. Only home means very different things to each of them. Be prepared for some emotional sucker-punches and a sweet Angel innkeeper who provides sanctuary when they need it most. Brimming with holiday goodness.

Room at the Inn for Christmas by Mary Connealy --  Misunderstandings and hurt feelings kept Mandy away from the inn she used to call home. Now she's back with the intention of settling her father's estate and selling the inn -- until a specter from her past gets in the way. Full time rancher and part-time handyman, Cart, had been her best friend once. But distance has definitely not made their hearts grow fonder. Anger and angst abound until a traditional Star Inn Christmas gets in their way. And then peace and goodwill turn into a very satisfying seasonal happily ever after. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of  Christmas at Star Inn, 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 10 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Woman of Sunlight

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
WOMAN OF SUNLIGHT

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to a black-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood.

Warden is intent on helping his family reclaim their land, but doesn't realize the risks his past has brought. Dangerous men have tracked him, and rather than risk innocent lives, he's determined to end the danger. But that means a journey to the city -- and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on a venture they'll never forgot.

My Review:

I chose this book for my next read (well, listen, thanks to audible) because I'd just come off a stretch of heavy issue reads and I felt the desperate need to lighten up my fictional life a bit. Cue the dead-pan humour and quirky style of Mary Connealy and suddenly my whole world seems brighter.

Bwahahahahaha! That about sums up this read. Ilsa is such an unconventional heroine. Mitch is both appalled and intrigued by this strange barbarian Nordegren woman. Wily and stubborn, she's as comfortable swinging from trees and catapulting into danger as his ma is in the kitchen. And what Ilsa can do with a knife! Well, Mitch is just glad she's on his side. :-)

This is an enemy to frenemies to love romance with so many funny quips and comedic moments that I'm still giddy. But danger is lurking on the mountain and beyond and Mitch is determined to put an end to it. There's a price on his head and gunslingers will keep coming for him if he can't figure out who is sending them. And why.

To do that he's got to leave the mountain and Ilsa refuses to be left behind. (Luckily for him, as it turns out.) Some of the best moments in this story happen when Ilsa leaves her cloistered life on the mountain for the first time. Her wide-eyed wonder, the way she takes everything so literally and Mitch's frustration when he tries to explain trains and hotels and banks...even money....to her is soooooooo much fun! And of course, there's tons of action and near death scenes to keep a reader on the edge of her seat right to the end.

This is the second book the Brides of Hope Mountain series and some of the plot has carried over from the first book. Not so that it would be confusing for a new-to-the-series reader though. Connealy does a good job of catching new readers up so they won't feel lost. And while Mitch's issues are satisfactorily resolved by the end of the novel, we're just gearing up for what promises to be a blockbuster ending to the series as the Warden clan prepares to face down the nefarious villain trying to lay claim to their land.

We'll have to wait until October to find out what happens next. That's when the third Nordegren sister's story comes out -- Her Secret Song. Here's a sneak peek at the cover. It's such too gorgeous not to share.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Woman of Sunlight, 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 May 9 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Aiming for Love

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
AIMING FOR LOVE

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world -- a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

My Reivew:

Eeep! New series by Mary Connealy alert! I can't get enough of her unique dead-pan quirkiness -- does that make sense? Probably only if you're read a Connealy extravaganza. This time she's outdone herself by taking her trademark wilderness theme to a whole new level. Seriously fun and clever and laugh-out-loudable!

Imagine living way up in the mountains and never seeing anyone other than family? And the only man you've had any interactions with for most of your life is your grandfather. But now it's just you and your sisters, living off the land having been indoctrinated by your hermit of a grandmother that the world is all evil and death. This is such a brilliant concept and the author does an amazing job with consistency in the way the Nordergren women react to the disparities the Wardens bring to their reclusive existence.

I don't even know where to begin with describing the chaos that ensues. Lots of action, of course, because that's another Connealy trademark. And an over arcing sinister plot that won't be wholly solved until the last book. (That's an educated guess on my part.) Villains worthy of a classic Western movie. All mixed up with lots of laughter and sweet romance.

Dave and Jo are perfect for each other and the man is a paragon of patience when it comes to dealing with his prickly mountain woman. Loved their interactions and the way love caught them by surprise...and brought even more mayhem to the Nordergren's all too predictable lives.

A brilliant start to the Brides of Hope Mountain series. (And isn't that cover gorgeous?! The second book is just as lovely -- Woman of Sunlight which comes out in March.)

Oh -- and I listened to the audible edition. Barbara McCulloh's narration brought so much to the story. The way she drawled out some of those one line zingers made me laugh all the harder. And she really got into character with all the various points of view. Really well done.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Aiming for Love, 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 19 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Unexpected Champion

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CONNEALY, MARY
THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPION

They're different as could be. But they'll need to trust each other to survive the wilderness...and the dangers chasing them.

City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons' supposedly lost grandson. But now that he's out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She's not like any woman he's ever met -- comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.

When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don't have, both realize they've stumbled into something dangerous. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.

When they emerge back the real world, they discover their kidnapper just won't stop. This city man and country woman must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, all while fighting a very inconvenient attraction to each other.

My Review:

Nobody delivers deadpan better than Mary Connealy. Her one liners in the midst of bedlam and danger kept me in snorty guffaws from start to finish. (Not the kind of book you want to read in public! Trust me, this genteel reader got quite a few stares -- even some glares -- when I availed myself of the library's air conditioning  the afternoon I read The Unexpected Champion. The epitome of literary elegance I was not. Oops.)

Another Connealy trademark is her rough and tumble heroines. These ladies don't sit around waiting to be rescued. They're the rescuers! Penny is tough and capable and a match for any man when it comes to survival skills  Even the city slicker Pinkerton Agent dogging her heels in the wilderness can learn a thing or two from her.  Theirs is a case of opposites attract which means crackling tension of the romantical kind!

The action is intense, the danger relentless and the romance (while dodging endless calamities) is toe-curling perfection. A breath-snatching, heart-stomping, adrenaline-rushing conclusion to the Sierra Sweethearts series.

Side note: It's probably best if you've read the first two books in this series -- The Accidental Guardian and The Reluctant Warrior -- before reading this one. There's a continuous thread that's finally resolved in this one and quite a few characters and plot points to be aware of before diving into The Unexpected Champion.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If  you would like a chance to win a copy of The Unexpected Champion, 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 6 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Reluctant Warrior

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CONNEALY, MARY
THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR

He thought his toughest tests were behind him. But nothing could prepare him for trying to win back the love of his daughter.

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children, who are terrified of him, and the stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he fears may be trying to keep the children.

When danger descends on the cabin where they're all huddled, Cam is injured trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and worries that it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection -- and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

My Review:

One of the most romantical book covers ever! And deceptively soothing for the wild ride of action, adventure and the sinister conniving of truly nasty villains you will find within its pages. Nothing like lulling an innocent reader into a false sense of security. :-) Because the opening scene is as tense and dangerous and hair-raising as any Connealy novel. (And disturbingly inventive -- I fear the author must harbor a seriously diabolical mind in order to create so many wonderfully unexpected heart-stopping opening scenes. )

"It flashed through his thoughts that he'd liked her better when she was unconscious." (p 31) Snort. Love this author's wry sense of humour and the way she delivers one liners in the middle of murder and mayhem -- though I'm in danger of choking when a snort of laughter collides with an astonished gasp. Reader beware.

Cam is a bit too used to barking out orders thanks to his army career. Gwen isn't as committed to following through on those orders. Clashing of wills, unexpected attraction, the welfare of two young children to consider and, of course, villains to be thwarted all combine to make their romance a tad on the tricky side. (massive understatement!)

And I love fuming over the vile villains and their nefarious plans as nail-biting as that can be. Reading a Connealy masterpiece is tilt-a-whirl of fury, fun and toe-curls and I enjoy every second.

GIVEAWAY OPPROTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Reluctant Warrior, 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 . 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 9 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Accidental Guardian

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
THE ACCIDENTAL GUARDIAN

She's the only witness to a wagon train attack. Keeping her safe, though, means his world is about to be turned upside down.

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd -- while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling -- yet enticing.

Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter -- but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.

My Review:

Sometimes nothing else will do but a Mary Connealy Western. Her subtle humour crops up in the most unexpected places and I love that! It can be in the midst of dangerous action or a quiet reflective moment or even a tender romantic one and suddenly I find myself laughing out loud. Makes reading a Connealy a real adventure...as if there isn't enough of that in her stories already!

From the heart-in-throat opening scene to the domestic chaos of the last chapter, The Accidental Guardian kept me turning pages faster than  the quick draw of a wild west villain! And there are some bad 'uns in this story. And when they find out Deb is a witness to their dastardly deeds...shudder.

Luckily she has Trace on her side. The self-appointed guardian of the trail suddenly finds himself in charge of women and children -- both foreign entities to him! Love Trace -- a bear of a mountain man who is decent and kind and totally out of his element when it comes to interacting with his unexpected charges. The romance that develops is tender and sweet -- and totally awkward. I'm grinning just thinking about Trace and Deb.

The author has managed to leave some story threads dangling -- not enough to cause severe cliff-hanging reader anxiety but enough to make me anxious for the next book in the series which is coming out in October (and has the most awesome cover!)

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Accidental Guardian, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an 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 July 15 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Too Far Down

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CONNEALY, MARY
TOO FAR DOWN

With danger drawing ever closer, the Boden clan risk losing their ranch forever.

Having returned home to the ranch, Cole Boden finds himself caught between missing his time back east and appreciating all that New Mexico Territory offers. Sure, he fights with his siblings now and then, but he does care for them. He enjoys his new job running the mine and, when he's honest, he admits that Melanie Blake captures his interest in a way no other woman ever has.

Melanie has been a friend to the Bodens forever. A cowgirl who is more comfortable with horses than people, she never expected to find herself falling for someone, particularly for refined Cole Boden, a Harvard graduate who can't seem to make up his mind about about staying in New Mexico.

When a deadly explosion damages the CR Mining Company, the Bodens realize their troubles are not behind them as they thought. Shadowy forces are still working against them. Melanie is determined to help Cole and the family finally put an end to the danger that's threatened all of them. But will putting herself in harm's way be more dangerous than anyone expected?

My Review:

"An explosion brought Cole Boden to his feet." And with that desperate opening line we're off to the races in the action-packed, comedy-laced grand finale to the Cimmarron Legacy series. The Bodens are a larger than life family and conjure up images of vintage TV Westerns like the Cartwright family (Bonanza) and the Barkley clan (Big Valley.) You don't need to read the first two books in order to enjoy this one, though if you enjoy a good classic Western you'll want to read them all!

Connealy knows how to pair danger and mayhem with wise-cracking humour. Mel and Cole are a hoot! Both equally tough and stubborn and noble of heart....and uncomfortably attracted to each other. Something that takes them by surprise and must be sorted out amidst flying bullets and ominous explosions. They are besieged by a host of ornery villains with a wicked sense of justice and a determination to wipe the Bodens off the face of the earth.

Breathlessly intense with a blockbuster style ending that will bring you to your feet as you clap and cheer (and catcall whistle in the appropriate spots.) Awesomesauce all around.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Too Far Down, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 18 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

With This Ring? : a Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry

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WITEMEYER, KAREN
CONNEALY, MARY
JENNINGS, REGINA
JAGEARS, MELISSA
WITH THIS RING? : A NOVELLA COLLECTION OF PROPOSALS GONE AWRY

Love doesn't always go as planned, but sometimes the best stories are the ones that are the most unexpected. In The Husband Maneuver, Marietta Hawkins grabs the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. When a dangerous stranger arrives, friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds in Her Dearly Unintended. A Texas Ranger rescues a Runaway Bride fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage, and a young woman is forced to assist the man she's often sparred with in Engaging the Competition.

My Review:

Published in February 2016 -- and there is a different cover as well. I'll post it at the end of my review. Not sure which cover will be on the winner's book, but all the stories will be the same. :-)

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer

Sweet romance with the intensity of unrequited love (or so both hero and heroine think.) Marietta's dreams of a happily ever after are in dire jeopardy. She no longer has the luxury of waiting for Daniel to make the first move. With her future happiness at stake, she takes matters into her own hands with comedic -- and toe-curling -- results.

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings

Be prepared to be plunged straight into disaster in this fast paced romantic comedy. Love the bickering banter between this incorrigible couple. Once friends and neighbours, Katie Ellen and Josiah hit a rocky patch in their early teens and it's been gloves off ever since. No wonder it takes a natural disaster and some divine intervention to get them back on the straight and narrow. Delightfully funny.

Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy

Texas Ranger John Conroy is the stuff tall tale legends are made of. Just the man to come to the aid of a damsel in distress. I ducked and dived my way through this action-packed love story, dodging every bullet right along with Carrie and John. Connealy's trademark comedic timing creates some side-splitting-laugh-out-loud moments and provides relief from all the tension. Wild West perfection.

Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears

Jagears mixes things up with her sharp-shooting rancher heroine and her bespectacled scholarly hero. Childhood friends and would-be sweethearts, a breakdown in adolescent communications has left 'Charlie' and Harrison at odds right into adulthood. But then the subject of marriage comes up and the games begin! Be prepared for lots of twists and turns before this hero and heroine manage to make their way to the promise of a happily ever after.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of With This Ring? please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 30 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Long Time Gone

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
LONG TIME GONE

Someone will stop at nothing to claim the Boden homestead!

The Boden clan though their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they uncovered the real plot to take their 1880s New Mexico ranch? Justin Boden is a top rancher and a rugged man and yet with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend. Now Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the threats facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they pull together all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the risk of losing the ranch even greater than any of them could imagine?

My Review:

Another trademark action-fueled comedy from Mary Connealy. But beware -- developing reader whiplash is inevitable as you try to keep up with the sharp twists and turns in this fast-paced plot. The Boden clan is under fire again, relentlessly pursued by a mysterious enemy intent on their utter destruction..

Long Time Gone is book two in the Cimarron Legacy series and I would recommend that you read book 1, No Way Up first. And that's because there's a complicated suspense thread that is carried over. The author does a good job of playing catch up in the first few chapters but I think it will all make more sense and flow better if you've read the novels in order.

I just love Connealy's dead-pan humour. She delivers one-liners that have me doing a double-take. I don't know whether to laugh or scream or swoon --  mostly I do all three -- so this was a very interactive read for me. :-)

Justin and Angie are a match made in heaven...once you get passed all the gnarly bits. Like Justin being all cowboy tough and bossy. And Angie being determined to stand on her own two feet after years of playing puppet to domineering family. That makes for clashing of wills galore and tons of rapid-fire give-and-take kept me grinning from beginning to end.

A rollicking fun read with plenty of promise of more to come when the final installment comes out later this year.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Long Time Gone please leave a comment or send me an email 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 to make it easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 9 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Cowboy Christmas

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
COWBOY CHRISTMAS

A secretive singer reawakens a cowboy's wounded heart at Christmastime

Singer Annette Talbot used her voice to spread the gospel with a traveling missionary troupe. When the Latrells take over and want Annie to dress provocatively and give up singing her beloved hymns, Annie flees to Ranger Bluff, Wyoming, dreaming of reuniting with her father for Christmas. But trouble chases her -- right off the edge of a cliff!

Elijah Walker's heart turned as cold and barren as the high plains in December after his ex-fiancée betrayed him and caused his father's death. But when he rescues Annie out of a freezing river, Walker's instincts tell him he must help a stranger in need.

With her hermit father retreating to the high country and the Latrells intent on kidnapping her to make money off her singing, Annie may have no way out.

My Review:

This is the first Mary Connealy book I ever read and I revisit it every Christmas because I love it that much! Annie and Elijah's story has become a holiday tradition in my house.

I love this author's unique style and quick wit. Her deadpan humour cracks me up every single time. And her characters explode off the page and keep me grinning and fuming the whole read through. When it comes to this hero and heroine, stubbornness abounds, complicating the path to a happily ever after. Lots of scope for plenty of reader angst. And the villains are truly dastardly and conniving. Even more reader angst. But I think tough-as-nails-with-a-heart-of-gold Ma might just outshine them all. A rollicking Christmas read!
 

PLEASE NOTE: COWBOY CHRISTMAS IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN EBOOK AT A BARGAIN PRICE SO THE WINNER OF THIS DRAW WILL RECEIVE:

1) EBOOK OF COWBOY CHRISTMAS

2) WINNER'S CHOICE OF ANY MARY CONNEALY TITLE IN PRINT (please state your choice in your comment)
 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Cowboy Christmas ebook + your choice of any Mary Connealy book in print please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Remember to state your choice of one other Mary Connealy book in print. 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

No Way Up

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
NO WAY UP

The fight for the Cimarron Ranch has just begun!

When Cimarron Ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, only the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid can save him. Before leaving by train to receive treatment to save his leg -- and possibly his life -- Chance demands that Heath read the patriarch's will and see its conditions enforced immediately. If Chance's three bickering adult children, Justin, Sadie, and Cole, don't live and work at the ranch for an entire year, ownership of the ranch will pass to a despised relative.

Before long, however, Heath discovers that the avalanche may have been intentionally set -- and that more danger lurks ominously. Finding his own future -- and a desired future with Sadie -- locked up in saving the Cimarron Ranch, Heath and the Boden siblings must work together against outside forces that threaten them all.

My Review:

I adore a good Connealy yarn and this one is a stupendous start to her new Cimarron Legacy series. Full of action and humour and sweet romance -- sometimes all three rolled up in the same paragraph! This author has an impeccable sense of comedic timing. From laugh out loud guffaws to a subtle turn of phrase, I was grinning from beginning to end. And, oh my goodness, I need a good laugh these days. Love a Connealy dose of bibliotherapy.

Heath is an honorable, tough-as-nails hero with a soft spot for a certain Boden female. Sadie is just as tough and enjoys defying the dominant males in her life. I do so love a strong-willed heroine. And there is nothing coy about her. She's refreshingly direct -- enough to give her brothers and Heath a few gray hairs before this story plays out.

There is great interaction between the Boden siblings and Heath. The author has set up the series beautifully, providing intriguing snippets I'm hoping will see fruition in future books.

A gripping suspense thread rounds out this cowboy romance. It's full of fascinating details and compelling twists and turns that will follow through into books two and three. No worries about a cliff hanger ending though. Heath and Sadie find resolution by the conclusion. It's just that the author has left her readers with the promise of more adventures to come. And I for one can't wait!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  No Way Up 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 August 7 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Now & Forever

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
NOW & FOREVER

Matthew Tucker survives a grizzly attack by jumping over a cliff into a rushing river. Unexpectedly, Shannon Wilde takes the plunge with him. Going through a series of waterfalls and rapids turns into a bonding experience.

By the time they battle their way back to civilization, Shannon has been thoroughly compromised, and only a wedding will do. A mountain man who loves to wander in the wilderness far from other people finds himself hitched to a young woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for.

As they learn to live with each other, strange things begin to happen on Shannon’s land. Someone evil clearly wants to drive them off, but whoever it is apparently didn’t count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad–and trying to hurt the woman he’s falling in love with sets off something even Matthew never expected.  And the tongue-in-cheek chapter endings made it impossible to stop reading.

My Review:

Mary Connealy is in a league of her own when it comes to spinning tall tales of epic proportion. The action-packed opening scene in Now & Forever grabbed my attention and sent me careening on a wild and sometimes whacky adventure right along with Shannon and Tucker.

Let's pause a moment and exude a few swoony sighs over this hero. A blustering, tough-as-nails mountain man who has the capacity to utter sweet love words made all the sweeter because it's so uncharacteristic for him. His wonder over discovering what romantic love can bring to his secluded lifestyle is oddly sweet and so very endearing.

Shannon's a little leery of attaching herself to any man -- but this one in particular? Well, you might say their whirlwind 'courtship' is just that -- a whirlwind! Connealy humour at it's finest.

Incredible actions scenes had me alternately cringing and laughing out loud. Makes this the kind of book you just can't bear to put down. And if all that isn't enough, Connealy weaves in some stirring faith talk and tender nuggets of sheer poetry like this:

Tucker seemed to gather her up. That was all she could think of to explain it. She felt like she was falling apart, and he held her together so she wouldn't shatter. (p.260)

An exceptional read from one of my favourite go-to authors.

*This is Book Two of the Wild at Heart series. It reads perfectly fine as a standalone, but does contain carry over characters and overall set-up from the first book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Now & Forever 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

With This Kiss Contemporary Collection : Five Inspirational Stories of Faith, Hope and Love

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
LEESMITH, SANDRA
RADCLIFFE, TINA
TIPPENS, MISSY
WITH THIS KISS CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION : FIVE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

Five heart-stirring Christian romances of faith, hope and love! This new collection by five of the “Seekers” (the multi-published authors from www.seekerville.blogspot.com) will make you smile, sigh and remind you why we love happily ever afters! What happens when a fun mix of best-selling, multi-published, award-winning authors decide they have time on their hands? They write sweet novellas for their beloved readers! Jump into this delightful group of second-chance stories, tales of new beginnings, new starts and second chances for one incredibly low price! Because doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance?

Safe Shelter by Mary Connealy: Janna is a frightened woman hiding from a stalker. She finds a job using a disguise and a new name. Scott, her boss, has burned too many times by lying women. Feelings grow between them until the truth comes out in an explosion of violence that endangers their lives and risks their fragile, new love.

Drama and comedy collide in this captivating story. Connealy's contemporary heroine has all the grit and determination of her historical ones. Loved getting inside Janna's head, discovering the complex layers that make her so intriguing to Scott. The best kind of romance -- where a HEA seems doomed from the start and therefore so much more satisfying by the time you reach the end.

Second Chance Sheriff by Ruth Logan Herne introduces another Karralis cousin. We met Rafe in the Hope for the Holidays collection, now we meet Deputy Dimtrios (Jim) Karralis as he rescues Salena Ramos and her newborn nephew from the jaws of human traffickers who killed her sister and stole the baby. But when danger looms from inside the sheriff’s department, will Dimi and Lena get the second chance they both deserve?

Romantic suspense from Ruth Logan Herne?! What an awesome surprise. The opening scene is an attention-grabber. After that I was tripping over words in my haste to find out what was going to happen next. Herne packs a lot of action, suspense and sweet romance in this novella!

Where the Eagle Flies by Sandra Leesmith: Sid Bradshaw has loved Melissa Anderson since they were children. He stepped back for years while Melissa followed her dreams to travel. He is hoping that he will have a second chance to win her love while on an outing with their families. A summer monsoon leaves the pair stranded in an isolated cove. Will this harsh land where the eagle flies show Melissa she has loved Sid all along?

A riveting survival story. Leesmith has the uncanny ability to take a setting and turn it into a secondary character. I love the way she transports me to different places and makes me feel like I've actually visited them. In this story, Lake Powell, Arizona is the 'secondary character' acting as the catalyst that plunges Sid and Melissa into a journey of self-discovery and a second chance at love.

No Time for Love by Tina Radcliffe: Nicki Baldwin's on the career fast track, until things come to a screeching halt courtesy of the mystery man who bought the property she has slated for a coffee shop out from under her. Steven Smith has met his former lifestyle in Nicki. Can he convince the beautiful hard hat to slow down and taste the pasta?

I'm smitten! Steven is the kind of hero it's easy to fall for. Audacious, introspective, easy-going, killer charm...and most appealing of all -- he's sure of himself. He's figured life out the hard way and he's in a good headspace. Enter Nicki who hasn't and isn't. Until Steven weaves his magic. Readers will be spellbound.

His Heart to Hold By Missy Tippens: Single dad Matt Bassani doesn’t need a watch dog during his daughter’s visit. But his ex-wife’s best friend, Taryn Minton, seems to thinks so. Will she be able to keep her promise to her best friend, or could the hunky dad win her over? 

Wow -- talk about emotional upheaval. I was righteously indignant for Matt a time or two...or three. And Taryn's torn loyalties had me alternately shouting at her and cheering her on. LOL. This is the kind of romance that keeps you on emotional tenterhooks until the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
AVAILABLE IN EBOOK FORMAT ONLY
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of With This Kiss : Contemporary Collection 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 17 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Homestead Brides Collection

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
MILLS, DIANN
VETSCH, ERICA
Y'BARBO, KATHLEEN
FRANKLIN, DARLENE
GADE, CARLA OLSEN
HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
HILLMAN, PAM
WITHAM, BECCA
THE HOMESTEAD BRIDES COLLECTION

Through nine historical romance adventures, readers will journey along with individuals who are ready to stake a claim and plant their dreams on a piece of the great American plains. While fighting land disputes, helping neighbors, and tackling the challenges of nature the homesteaders are placed in the path of other dreamers with whom romance sparks. And God has His hand in orchestrating each unique meeting.

 

My Review:

 

Yes, you counted correctly. Nine authors equal nine stories in this wonderful collection that celebrates the pioneer spirit. I understand that novellas aren't every reader's cup of tea but I love the opportunity to meet new authors in this unique way. So this was definitely a win/win read for me. Not only did I get to bask in the glory of tried and true authors I can always count on to deliver a spellbinding story, but I'm thrilled to have new authors to add to my 'must read' arsenal.  

 

I will confess to finding nine novellas a bit daunting -- I usually prefer novella collections to be four stories or under -- but I wasn't about to miss some of my favourite authors' stories so I braved it out and am glad I did.

 

It wouldn't be practical to review each individual novella so I'll just give my overall impression. Think the Little House books for grownups. Gave me the same kind of thrill and fascination with a lovely dash of romance added in. I'm amazed anew at the backbone and courage of pioneer women and these stories are a lovely tribute to that heritage.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Homestead Brides Collection 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 February 15 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!