Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection

GIVEAWAY

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN TEXAS RANGERS ROMANCE COLLECTION
VETSCH, ERICA
BARRATT, AMANDA
DAVIS, SUSAN PAGE
MCDONOUGH, VICKIE
MEYER, GABRIELLE
SEILSTAD, LORNA
Y'BARBO, KATHLEEN

7 Rangers Find Love and Justice on the Texas Frontier
No one is too tough to be loved...

Seven Texas Rangers -- tough, smart, and ready for danger -- are totally unprepared when love sneaks in and makes off with their hearts. Aided by their commanding officer and his matchmaking wife, each one is paired with a seemingly unsuitable bride and in the end, each man may be more than willing to be found guilty of love.

But first, they will need to face the Cass Markham Gang as it makes its way through eastern Texas, stealing and kidnapping as they go. Will romance be a distraction or just the thing to inspire each Ranger to courageous feats?

My Review:

Another stellar novella collection from Barbour. Love the theme of this one because, really, who doesn't swoon just a teensy bit at the mention of a Texas Ranger?! And there's a great prologue and epilogue that anchor these stories in a very satisfying way. These Rangers are under the direction of Captain Sterling who oversees their work routines but it is the captain's wife, Etta, who has the final say on 'her boys' personal lives. And that means these Rangers are about to meet their matrimonial matches! This is just reading goodness all 'round.

The Ranger's Reward by Gabrielle Meyer --  A routine check on an isolated widow turns into anything but for Texas Ranger Griffin Sommer when the Markham gang show up at the ranch. Griff suddenly finds himself undercover. playing the role of husband to Evelyn and pa to young Harrison . Cue toe-curling kisses as tensions rise and danger threatens. Woot! A heart-pounding read-in-one-sitting kind of novella.

More Precious Than Rubies by Lorna Seilstad --  Hearts collide when schoolyard sweethearts Violet Tatienne and Texas Ranger Whit Murray reconnect on the train during a robbery. He's sworn to bring the robbers to justice but Violet has a vested interest in hunting the villains down too -- they stole the gems she was transporting to her father's jewelry store. Cue the fireworks as this exasperated ranger  tries to curtail Violet's inexperienced sleuthing while doing his own. Great blend of humour and danger and sweet romance.

Jesse's Sparrow by Amanda Barratt -- Sara Byrne has escaped a life of prostitution and has finally saved up enough money to rescue the girls she left behind in captivity...until she becomes the victim of a stagecoach robbery. Left stranded and penniless, Sara has no choice but to accept the help of Texas Ranger Jesse Rawlings. Her past has made her wary of men and trust for the ranger doesn't come easily. Luckily Jesse has a compassionate heart and the patience of Job. This story has a more serious nature than the others and the author has included a heartfelt note appealing to readers to take a stand against human trafficking in all its evil forms.

The Countess and the Cowboy by Kathleen Y'barbo -- Classic star-crossed lovers with nefarious villains thrown in. Ava Becker and Texas Ranger Ezra Creed were an item once upon a time. Now they are thrown together again when a horse thief connected to the notorious Markham gang pays a visit to the Becker ranch. Heated emotions unmask a deeper yearning as these two set out to find justice...and lost love.

Simple Interest by Susan Page Davis -- Ranger O'Neal Brewster has a thing for pretty bank teller Augusta Ferris. He flirts and she deflects but O'Neal is sure she's destined to be in his future...until the bank is held up and Augusta is taken hostage. Now it's up to the intrepid Ranger to track the Markham gang and rescue his damsel in distress. Only there's a whole lot of feisty buried beneath the bank teller's prim exterior and O'Neal is in for some surprises. Humour and action make this a super fun read.

Partners in Crime by Vickie McDonough -- Micah McCullough is working undercover as a member of the notorious Markham gang. The Texas Ranger has a plan that runs to ground when the gang kidnaps a young woman who they believe can create counterfeit money plates. But though Laurel Underwood is a prize winning silversmith she knows she will be unable to deliver on the Markham's demands. Suddenly Micah's mission switches from information gathering to rescuing the lady hostage. Tension and fear heighten emotions and Laurel and Micah soon discover that escaping to freedom holds untold promises if they can spend it together.

Guard Your Heart by Erica Vetsch -- Branch Kilborn is the last bachelor Texas Ranger in Hartville and he aims to keep it that way. And then Constance Spanner witnesses a murder and he's tasked with keeping her safe until she can testify. Tough ol' rough-around-the-edges Branch is suddenly intrigued, But he finds that Constance is a guarded woman whose grit and determination are more than enough to keep him at bay. Which, oddly enough irks him to no end. Subtle humour add to this action-packed conclusion to the Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection.

My thanks to author Lorna Seilstad for providing me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like the chance to win a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title and the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 4 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Captive Brides Collection

GIVEAWAY

DAVIS, SUSAN PAGE
HICKEY, CYNTHIA
ALLEE, JENNIFER
BREIDENBACH, ANGELA
FRANKLIN, DARLENE
HALL, PATTY SMITH
PAGELS, CARRIE FANCETT
THOMPSON, LUCY
WELBORN, GINA
THE CAPTIVE BRIDES COLLECTION

Freedom waits in the arms of love

From both coasts and the Great Plains of America, over the high seas, and down under in Australia come nine romantic adventures featuring historical women who long to make their escape from some of life's greatest challenges. Whether bound in prison, slavery, indentured service, or other circumstances, freedom seems elusive to these women who feel trapped and hopeless, but God is providing a way out. Romance is opening doors of opportunity. But will arms of love be waiting to welcome each woman as she takes her leap of faith?

Includes the following stories:

Love's Labours Found by Jennifer AlLee -- Montserrat, West Indies, 1665 -- Temperance Simms only wanted a better life. Instead, she finds herself labeled a criminal and sold as an indentured servant. After a kind man saves her life, can Temperance trust that God will turn her sorrow into something beautiful?

His Indentured Bride by Angela Breidenbach -- Pennsylvania, 1773-1776 -- Leaving Scotland for a short indenture with her betrothed, Maire Greer's contract is sold and extended through cruel circumstances. Can Kirk Lachlan's service in the American Revolution save her, or will she lose love and freedom forever?

The Suspect Bride by Susan Page Davis - Oregon, 1890s -- Verity Ames cooks at the restaurant where shy lawyer Jack Whitwell eats lunch daily. As Jack works up courage to ask her for a date, the sheriff' walks into the restaurant and arrests Verity for murder.

His Golden Treasure by Darlene Franklin -- San Francisco, 1873 -- Goldie Hatfield grows up on the Barbary Coast until her guardian demands she pay the coast of her upbringing -- or work at her brothel. How far will Pastor Joshua Kerr go to set Goldie free?

Through Stormy Waters by Patty Smith Hall -- Atlantic Ocean, 1745 -- Deported to the British colonies for her father's crimes, Charlotte Singleton helps Captain John Randall when an epidemic breaks out on his ship. Can two battered hearts find love in the midst of a storm?

Moira's Quest by Cynthia Hickey -- New York, 1869 -- A quest for revenge ends up in a marriage of convenience and a feisty Irish lass discovers that not everything is as it seems when family secrets are revealed.

Love's Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels -- Virginia, 1850 -- With her life in peril, Lettie seeks escape from slavery. When Nathan offers to "conduct" her North via an unusual segment on the Underground Railroad, will his efforts help or do them both harm?

Waltzing Matilda by Lucy Thompson -- Sydney, Australia, 1821 -- Henry didn't plan on a runaway convict masquerading as a shepherd. Or on the woman's baby. Keeping them safe will cost him his freedom -- or will it?

A Score to Settle by Gina Welburn -- on the Missouri River, 1870 -- A lonely mercantile owner falls for the enchantress who steals his wallet, but the cost to free her from a snake oil salesman may be too high to pay.

My Review:

What a great theme for a novella set! Deported, indentured, imprisoned, sold into slavery -- these captive brides must overcome untold difficulties with the aid of stalwart heroes determined to set them free. The kind of page-turners that held me captive and though I only planned to read one novella a day I ended up devouring the whole book in two days.

Each story is only about 50 pages, but they still pack a punch and my emotions ran high. I'd whoosh a huge sigh of relief over the satisfying conclusion of one story only to have my heart jump back into my throat when I turned the page  and started reading the next one. Intense situations, deplorable conditions and evil injustice rankled something fierce. And yet, despite the circumstances each heroine possesses an indomitable spirit which sees her through her trials and into the happily-ever-after of her dreams.

Diverse stories written in distinctive styles make this a collection to cherish.

My thanks to author Carrie Fancett Pagels for gifting me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Captive Bride Collection, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 3 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Seven Brides for Seven Texans

GIVEAWAY

VETSCH, ERICA
BARRATT, AMANDA
DAVES, SUSAN PAGE
GWYN, KELI
MCDONOUGH, VICKI
MEYER, GABRIELLE
SEILSTAD, LORNA
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN TEXANS

Time is running out to find love...

George Washington Hart is tired of waiting for his seven grown sons to marry, and now he may not live long enough to see grandchildren born. So he sets an ultimatum for each son to marry before the end of 1874 or be written out of his will to inherit a portion of his extensive Texas ranch. But can love form on a deadline?

Each of the Hart brothers -- Austin, Bowie, Travis, Houston, Crockett, Chisholm, and Hays -- attempts to fulfill his father's wishes in his own stubborn way. Adventures await these handsome bachelors, but will each quest lead to true love?

My Review:

One of the most enjoyable novella collections I have ever read. Each story compliments the others and there's a great flow between them all. And I loved the prologue and epilogue which neatly bookends the collection of stories. And the play on the movie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is so much fun. Only here we have cowboys on a matrimonial deadline -- let the games begin!

First Comes Love by Gabrielle Meyer : There's something about a brash, determined cowboy with marriage on his mind. Thud. Hays is smooth, friendly and all too popular with the ladies. But he's sincere and kind and falling hard for Emma. She has marriage on the mind too --- how to avoid it. These two clash from the get-go and this light-hearted romance kept me smiling right to the end.

The Heart of Texas by Lorna Seilstad :  I do so love a lawman with dimples. Swoon. And Chisholm has an easy-going nature and plenty of reasons to flash those dimples -- especially in Caro's direction. But she's too busy plotting against him to notice...much. The more put out Caro acts, the more Chisholm is amused. Love me some laughter with my romance. And a bit of suspense gives this story an extra kick.

The Truest Heart by Amanda Barratt : A moving starry celebrating the joy of second chances. Annie is burdened by a guilt she doesn't need to carry and it's Travis who gently reminds her that God doesn't bestow blessings because we deserve them but rather, because He chooses to bless us through His love. A truly uplifting inspirational romance.

A Love Returned by Keli Gwyn : The importance of commitment to family shines through in this touching historical romance. A miscommunication in their youth pulled Houston and Coralee apart and broke both their hearts. Wounded and wary, Coralee spurns Houston's attempts to rekindle their romance but he's not a man easily deterred.  A sweet romance that's sure to satisfy.

For Love or Money by Susan Page Davis : Crockett is a serious contender for cowboy hero of the month. He's a man of action so it's no surprise that when Jane's family home is burnt to the ground, Crockett is the man who orchestrates the rebuilding effort. And much to this reader's delight he ends up falling for his tenacious cowgirl neighbour in the process.

Mail-Order Mayhem by Vickie McDonough : I do so love a good mail-order bride story and this one definitely fits the bill -- with a unique twist that kept me grinning. And wincing. Poor Austin's clever plans to meet his father's inheritance requirements go awry when two ladies step off the stagecoach in Hartville. One is his intended, the other her chaperoning sister. Doesn't sound complicated, right? Wrong! Things get all twisty turny before they even out and I loved every minute of it.

Love at Last by Erica Vetsch : Bowie caught my attention in the prologue and I couldn't wait to get to his story. Disfigured in the war, Bowie has become somewhat of a recluse, working on the ranch and avoiding town and people in general.  Finding a wife within the year time limit set by his father seems like an impossible task...until he latches onto the idea of contracting a marriage of convenience with his former nurse. What follows is a heart-tugging story of accepting one's worth and the power of love.

My thanks to author Lorna Seilstad for providing me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email addres, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email  please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 1 2017. Offer open to International readers. Good luck!

Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada

DAVIS SUSAN PAGE

LOVE FINDS YOU IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA

In the summer of 1860, Prince Edward Island is astir as its citizens eagerly anticipate their first visit from a member of the British royal family. Molly Orland is too poor to be invited to the ball in honor of the young Prince of Wales, but she and several other local young women are pleased when they're hired as extra staff in the house where he will be a guest. There she meets Peter Stark, understeward for the royal party. Peter is attracted to the beauty of the island -- and to Molly, whom he's determined to shield from the antics of the playboy prince. When they discover a long-buried secret that could bring shame to Peter's royal employer, will he remain a loyal servant -- or help Molly and her family get the justice they deserve?

My Review:

Delicious. There is so much that appealed to me in this book. First, the setting. It's rare to find a Christian fiction book set in Canada so I was intrigued from the start, but throw in Prince Edward Island -- the magical land of Anne -- and I was near to swooning when I picked up my copy. LOL. And what a perfect time for this book to be released -- with the upcoming royal wedding and subsequent royal visit to Canada. Summerside Press couldn't have planned it better if they tried. Hope the royal watching hype goes far towards promoting Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Have to admit that I kept expecting Anne Shirley to pop up somewhere even though Molly and Peter's story takes place several decades before Anne's birth and that added some of the charm to my read.

I loved how Davis captured the behind-the-scenes preparations for the Royal visit and thrust innocent farm girl, Molly into the middle of it all. Her awe and nervousness leapt off the page and made me feel like I was right there and just as terrified as she was over spilling soup on a member of the royal party! Her attraction to Peter is sweet and filled with promise even though most of the events in this book cover only a few days.

Peter cuts a dashing hero for all that he is a commoner. His impeccable manners, integrity and devotion to his employer make him an admirable man but it's his personal history that Davis slowly reveals throughout the course of the story that really fleshes him out.

There is also a surprising thread of 'light' intrigue weaving its way through the pages of this book that culminates in a taut climax. Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island was a pleasurable read that I enjoyed immensely. It definitely should find it's way onto your TBR shelf.

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada by Susan Page Davis, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 24 for all the books I read between April 11 - 23. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.

Frasier Island

Davis, Susan Page

Frasier Island

After specialized underwater training, Ensign Rachel Whitney of the U.S. Navy is posted to a remote island in the North Pacific, a tiny scrap of rock guarding a highly classified secret. She could love her new assignment if her commanding officer, Lt. George Hudson, weren't so difficult to please.

Despite George's first reaction to her presence on the island, Rachel sets out to prove she is perfect for the job. She doesn't dream of being a heroine -- or falling in love -- but when word leaks out about the prize they are guarding, Rachel and George find that they have few resources besides each other and their faith in God to thwart an enemy attack that could endanger all of America.

LOVE THIS BOOK. FAST-PACED AND EXCITING, WITH COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP LAYERS. BELIEVABLE CHARACTERS. KIND OF SCI-FI TWIST AT THE END.