Premonition at Withers Farm

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WRIGHT, JAIME JO

THE PREMONITION AT WITHERS FARM

The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.

In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn't help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing newcomer for assistance.

In the present day, Molly Wasziak's life has not gone the way she dreamed. Facing depression after several miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband's purchase of a peculiar old farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a century-old murder case and a web of desception, all made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds inside the farmhouse.

Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time forever silence their truths?

My Review:

Gobsmacked. That's me. Senses reeling. Goosebumps still chilling. Heart may return to a normal rhythm eventually. Wright has fine-tuned her atmospheric, eerie, and yes, even menacing, storytelling to create another mesmerizing read.

Phew! I have no idea what else to say because there are so many intertwining elements in both timelines, so many intricate nuances in each story and the way they build and wrap together by the end is truly magnificent...but really hard to talk about without including spoilers.

Let's just say the journey was hair-raising and exhilarating and well worth the read.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Premonition at Withers Farm, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 17 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Now That I Know You

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RANDOM RETRO READ!

NEWPORT, OLIVIA

NOW THAT I KNOW YOU

Cate Butler is the distant cousin genealogist Jillian was so certain she wanted to find -- and the only connection she has to her deceased mother's Parisi family tree. So why does she wish Cate would stop pestering her? And why can't Jillian find a paper trail proving Cate is who she says she is?

Cate want something for her own career that Jillian can't give, but she also holds the key to family history Jillian can't bring herself to walk away from. Nolan, Jillian's father, steps in when Cate's chronic career chaos requires legal rescue. Drew, the man who holds Jillian's heart, has a surprising past with Cate. The truths Jillian, Cate, and Drew find while untangling knotted threads tie them back together in remarkable ways none of them ever would have imagined.

My Review:

published in 2021

I have been a fan of this Tree of Life series since I'm intrigued by family history and genealogical mysteries. I have found Jillian to be a complex and fascinating character and I love the close relationship she has with her widowed father. Their teasing and bickering always makes me smile, but it's there steadfast devotion to each other that is especially touching. 

'Now That I Know You' is the fifth and final book in this series and I do think you should have read at least one of the previous books before diving into this one. That's because of the cemented relationships, not just between father and daughter but with their bevy of friends. I have a feeling a new-to-the-series reader would feel a bit overwhelmed. And then there's the romance between Jillian and Drew that has been developing over the last few books.

Newport expertly weaves together two timelines and this time, the past features Jillian's own ancestors. The author delves into some fascinating (and tragic) Colorado mining history and it's up to Jillian to sort out all the players and how they are connected to her present. 

A captivating series conclusion that had me wanting to stand up and cheer by the end. So much to smile about. So much to think about -- how families can be victimized or blessed by previous generations -- why it's important to look at historical details with accuracy in order to really understand the past and prevent repeating mistakes in the present. And the courage it takes to do so.

Goal Update: #1 Read more Indies, #2 Catch up on series I'm behind in

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Now That I Know You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 10 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

By Way of the Moonlight

GIVEAWAY

MUSSER, ELIZABETH

BY WAY OF THE MOONLIGHT

Two courageous young women, tied together by blood and shared passion, will risk everything to save what they love most.

For as long as she can remember, Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents' ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy -- a dream her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother's will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer.

Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler's driving passion is to bring the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming she's called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever.

As Nana Dale's past comes to light in Allie's search for answers, Dale's courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother's legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

My Review:

So, I'd heard so many good things about this book in online chatter that I had to buy the audible edition even though I was waiting on a paperback copy...it was just taking way too long to arrive and I was in the mood for a richly layered emotional read right now! lol I can get kinda cranky impatient when my reading life is thwarted. 'Course, Murphy's law had my book arrive the day after I downloaded it from audible. :-) But I really enjoyed Susan Bennett's narration so I'm a happy customer and now I can do a giveaway of the paperback so it's all good.

I'd categorize 'By Way of the Moonlight' as Women's Fiction with strong romantic undertones. And honestly, I was a blubbering mess by the end. I'm not sure I can do justice to this book in a review. 

The way the author builds both timeline stories to a crescendo of gobsmacking revelations is so amazing that it defies description so I'm not even going to try! Just know that the impeccable pacing picks up speed as the novel progresses and you'll reach a point where you won't be able to put the book down so consider this your FYI -- clear your calendar and prepare to become so immersed in Dale's and Allie's lives that you won't care you even have a 'real' world to get back to. 

(True Confession: I got to a point near the end that I actually sped up my listening speed to 3x because I was so greedy to know everything right away! Then, once I'd settled down a bit I went back and listened to it all over again at proper speed while I sniffled into my hankie.)

Other random thoughts about 'By Way of the Moonlight':

All kinds of cover love!!! The stark simplicity of the silhouette is so eye-catching and I love that smoky blue background. 

Love the all consuming 'horsiness' of this novel -- it channels my junior equestrian reading obsession from back in the day -- Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteauge, The Little White Horse etc. And the Equine therapy is an extra draw. The author really captures the miraculous wonder of the program.

I'm also enamoured with the incredible, salt-of-the earth secondary characters who provide guidance and wisdom that are passed down through generations. Like this:

"It will never be enough, Dale, until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl." (p 120)

This is a resounding theme throughout both timelines as both Dale and Allie come to terms with dreams vs reality. 

'By Way of the Moonlight' is an enthralling, uplifting, emotional adventure -- a novel I will cherish and reread many times over the years. A new 'Classic' for my listening library.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  By Way of the Moonlight, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 27 2022 . Offer open to 

Heirlooms

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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

The Master Craftsman

GIVEAWAY

STUART, KELLI

THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Faberge, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history -- an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honour his divided allegiance to both the people of Russian and the Imperial tsar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance -- and the consequences are greater that she could have imagined.

My Review:

A complex dual timeline story full of adventure and danger...and a chance to armchair travel! 

So, we have treasure hunting in present day and political unrest in the historical era and a host of complicated characters -- both real and fictional to follow. Talk about mind boggling, especially in early 1900s Russia. I have very limited (think practically non-existent) knowledge of Russian history so I'll admit to finding that part of the story a bit overwhelming. Some of it read like a fictional biography and I did get bogged down a time or two. I found it helpful to get key recaps in present day as Ava becomes invested in a treasure hunt with her estranged father and begins her own research.

I'm usually pretty good about finding a balance between both eras when I'm reading a dual timeline novel but this time round I connected with the present day story more. Ava isn't always a likeable character, but she does grow over the course of the novel. At times she seems much younger than her mid-twenties age, especially when it comes to her relationship with her parents. She definitely has a chip on her shoulder over her father's desertion when she was a young child. His terminal illness provides the catalyst that brings them back together but it starts off as an uneasy truce and there's all kinds of emotional undercurrents.

Since her dad is so ill, it's Ava who sets out on his last hunt -- in search of an unknown Fabrege Egg. She's accompanied by a motley crew of specialists -- 'muscle', tech nerd, Russian translator and, of course, her mother. 

Stuart weaves in and out of past and present as she draws the tension tighter and danger increases in both timer periods. And then we reach the end and I'm...wait, what??????? :-)

Please note: While published by Revell, a well known Christian Publisher, there is no faith content in this book. I found this really disappointing as I associate this publishing house with faith filled fiction so that is what I was expecting. It is a clean read...well that brings me to...

Second note: contains some mild cussing -- again, not what I expect from a Christian publisher

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

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Master Craftsman 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 28 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

The Gold in These Hills

GIVEAWAY

BISCHOF, JOANNE

THE GOLD IN THESE HILLS

One wild and mysterious ghost town. Two second-chance love stories. And the century-old legacy that binds them together.

Upon arriving in Kenworthy, California, mail-order bride Juniper Cohen is met by the pounding of the gold mind, an unnamable landscape, and her greatest surprise of all: the kind of loving man who awaits her. But when the mine proves empty of profit, and when Juniper's husband, John, vanishes, Juniper is left to fend for herself and her young daughter in the dwindling boomtown that is now her home.

Juniper pens letters to her husband but fears she is waiting on a ghost. Perhaps worse, rumours abound claiming the man she loves could be an outlaw. Surviving in a ghost town requires trusting the kindness of a few remaining souls, including the one who can unlock the mystery of her husband's disappearance -- and Juniper's survival depends not only upon these friends but also the strength of heart she must fight to maintain.

Present day. Trying to escape the heartache of his failed marriage, Johnny Sutherland throws himself into raising his children and restoring a hundred-year-old abandoned farmhouse in what was once known as Kenworthy, California, in the San Jacinto Mountains. While exploring its secrets he uncovers Juniper's letters and is moved by the handwritten accounts that bear his name -- and as a love story from the past touches his own world, Johnny might discover yet that hope and resilience go hand in hand.

With The Gold in These Hills, acclaimed and beloved author Joanne Bischof returns with an absorbing masterpiece of faith, perseverance, and love that changes the course of history.

My Review:

Not what I was expecting but oh, so good! Love the dual timeline aspect centered around a mining ghost town. I was expecting more romance in both timelines, but they are on the lighter side while the main characters' stories focus on their personal struggles and faith journeys.

So in present day we have Johnny who is grappling with the reality of an impending divorce. Bischof does an incredible job of capturing the depth of his pain and inner conflict. I was gutted! And really interesting to see this situation from a man's perspective Usually I'm reading about a heroine who's been dumped by the love of her life and trying to put her life back together so the role reversal was a refreshing twist.

And in the historical timeline, Juniper is in limbo, waiting for word of her husband who has mysteriously disappeared. The mine the town was built around has failed and only a handful of people remain, making Juniper and her young daughter's lives all the more precarious.

Wowzers, but does this author know how to set a scene! Her writing is descriptive without being overly flowery and it's so easy to lose yourself in her world building. I could picture everything so vividly! And the way the past and present come together is brilliantly done...though the author deliberately leaves some things open-ended which gave me the poetic license to imagine my own continuing storylines. I do so love it when characters linger in my mind long after the book officially ends!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Gold in These Hills 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 21 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

When I Meet You

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

NEWPORT, OLIVIA

WHEN I MEET YOU

A father-daughter genealogy team link present to past on family trees.

A trunk abandoned at Denver's Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents -- including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton's National Detectives Agency, Denver Office. 

While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed -- twice -- Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn't want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You'll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

My Review:

published in 2020

I am so excited to finally be catching up with this series! This is the third Tree of Life book and I only have to read the fifth one to be all caught up -- which will be bittersweet because I love Jillian and her dad and their funny/tender relationship and the way they become embroiled in family history mysteries! 

I'm especially excited about When I Meet You because there's a wee bit of romance  -- as in Jillian finally meets her match (hopefully!) And their meet-cute is the stuff romance readers' dreams are made of...and I won't say more than that lest I spoil it for you. :-)

Following the formula in all the books, this is a dual timeline novel. Genealogist Jillian and lawyer/mediator Nolan can't resist the lure of a recently discovered traveling trunk dating back to the early 1900s. Trying to make sense of the intriguing contents inside leads Jillian on a genealogical hunt that includes the Pinkerton Agency. Eep! love the way  Newport draws out the suspense in the historical timeline, introducing readers to a number of interesting characters and then leaving us scrambling to figure out who is friend and who is foe.

Meanwhile Jillian hunts down clues and follows up leads with some unexpected results -- including wandering into the path of the aforementioned potential love interest. Double eeep!! All while she faces some long buried secrets in her own past. 

When I Meet You might be my favourite book of the series so far. And I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Madeleine Duaer who does a fantastic job bringing this setting and these characters to life.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up with series I'm behind in.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of When I Meet You, 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 April 9 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck 

Love's Fortress

GIVEAWAY

UHLARIK, JENNIFER

LOVE'S FORTRESS 

An epic love story from the past brings closure to Dani's fractured family roots.

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

Upon receiving word that her long-estranged father has passed away, Dani Sango inherits the former art forger's entire estate. Among his many pieces of artwork are a series of obviously Native American drawings and paintings, which lead her to research St. Augustine of 1875.

White Elk is transported to Florida to join other Cheyenne braves already being held in Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris is at the fort teaching the Indians. When a friendship develops between them and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives. 

Can Dani discover how their story ends and how it shaped her own father's life?

My Review:

Whoa! This story blindsided me in so many ways (and that's a good thing!) I went in expecting something very different and, truthfully, I didn't like Dani at the very beginning. She's a little rough around the edges and emits this stand offish vibe that made it hard for me to connect with her...for like a nanosecond. :-) And then Uhlarik works her storytelling magic as she slowly reveals Dani's heartbreaking past and begins to smooth out her rough edges courtesy of some atypical secondary characters who start speaking God's truth into her life.

Parts of the contemporary timeline are raw and gritty and took my breath away and that includes Brad's emotional story. Love the way that Dani and Brad connect over a historical art puzzle and draw closer as they dig deeper to discover the artist's story.

And that brings us to the historical timeline which is compelling and gut-wrenching and hackles-raising! Because me, reading this in the 21st century can clearly see the flaws (well meaning or not) in the treatment of  indigenous people at the time. In particular, a mix of Plains tribes men who were trekked across the country, away from wives and children (the ones who weren't slaughtered) and held 'humanely' at a fort in Florida where they were taught to be -- well, white. 

What I love about Sally Jo is that she appreciates the culture and traditions of the men she's tasked with teaching. And I don't want to say much more than that because I'd slip into spoilers but, mercy, my heart hurt over so many aspects of this timeline. I'm still gutted actually. 

And the way the past and present tie together and bring hope to Dani's future...well, just, wow! Stellar storytelling!

Goal Update: #4 Read more new-to-me-authors, #5 Diversify my reading

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 Love's Fortress, 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 April 9 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck 

A Patchwork Past

GIVEAWAY

GOULD, LESLIE

A PATCHWORK PAST

Could the past be a patchwork for mending the present?

When wild child Sophie Deiner -- the daughter of an Amish bishop -- is forced to return to Nappanee, Indiana, quilt-shop owner Jane Berger is one of only a few who welcome her back. It's the last place she wants to be, but Sophie's recent illness requires that she lay low for a while.

As Sophie recovers, she befriends a group of migrant workers and is appalled when one of them is detained and threatened with deportation. Sophie begins advocating on their behalf but soon finds herself opposed by an ex-boyfriend, who is the farm foreman.

As Sophie finds respite from the world in the quilt shop, Jane begins to tell her the story of her Amish ancestors who rescued survivors of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, many of whom were Irish immigrants. And Sophie is more convinced than ever that she needs to fight for the powerless. But when digging deeper makes conditions even worse, has she chosen a fight she can't win?

My Review:

I love the way this author tackles tough topics while keeping her Amish characters believable and relatable. In the case of A Patchwork Past, the complexities of immigration and prejudice propel both the contemporary and historical plots.

Sophie is our present day heroine, who has been living Englisch for three years when chronic illness forces her home. Her transition with her family  and the community isn't an easy one. Love the way the author feeds us bits of her past leading up to the catalyst that caused her to flee in the first place. 

And I so appreciated reading about a heroine with an autoimmune disease. There are so many layers to Sophie's story and so many challenges she faces as she comes to grips with where God is leading her. And in the midst of all her own struggles she becomes involved with a migrant family's legal issues which bring more conflict...and new possibilities. What a gripping, emotional roller-coaster of a ride!

The historical timeline is told through stories quiltmaker and local historian, Jane, tells Sophie by way of encouragement. Mary Landis is a young Amish woman who becomes caught up in the Great Chicago Fire and becomes the impetus for her entire community to help those devastated by the fire.

This is the second book in the Plain Patterns series but can be read as a standalone. Amish Historian, Jane, is the carryover between books and it's her storytelling that brings clarity and truth to modern day heroines who need a boost.

Goal Updates: #2 Catch up in a series I'm behind in, #5 Diversify my reading (heroine with a chronic illness)

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 A Patchwork Past, 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 dra

w 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 April 9 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck 

Where the Last Rose Blooms

 GIVEAWAY   

CLARK, ASHLEY

WHERE THE LAST ROSE BLOOMS

Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot who a man who comes to the shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap -- and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.

In 1861 Charleston, Clara is an abolitionist, unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy. She attempts to assist an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter, and a dashing Union spy is just the person to help them. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying information about her father's associates -- and her own fiancé.

Faced with the unknown, both women across the years will have to dig deep to let the their courage bloom.

My Review:

"If God has truly redeemed me, why on some days do I still feel broken?"

The final book in Ashley Clark's Heirloom series is just as stunning as the first two. She has a magical way with words that weave a story together and keep a reader spellbound until the very last page.

Two heroines (and their heroes). Two time periods. Alice and Clara are separated by more than a century but they both struggle to make a place for themselves in a world that isn't always kind or predictable. 

This time I was particularly drawn to Alice's story (present day timeline.) I was moved by her faith journey and the depth the author brings to the complicated layers of her life. There were a few instances of leaping back in time to the early 2000s which threw me off a bit. Not a huge deterrent to my enjoyment of the story but I think I've come to the conclusion that I much prefer dual timeline stories rather than multi timeline stories. Just a personal preference.

The historical timeline with Clara and Rose was interesting, but it felt rushed to me. I wanted more details. More emotion. And there isn't an ending as much as a tapering off. It left me feeling a little bereft because not everything is tied up in a neat little bow. Much like real life, I guess. 

I think it would be best to read this series in order...or at least read the first book...before reading Where the Last Rose Blooms. Clark brings the series around full circle and we get a host of familiar faces to meet up with again. And I think there are aspects of the ending in the present day timeline that won't hold as much significance if you aren't familiar with the other stories.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Pilar Witherspoon and Lynette R. Freeman who did a fabulous job of breathing life into these characters and doing justice to Ashley Clark's incredible storytelling skills.

"Brokenness abounds -- it is the state of this world." She patted the stitches once more with her wrinkled hand. "But if we look hard enough, we can find spaces, pierced by a needle. When threaded together, they create something beautiful -- a story, our story, and through the threads and the holes, we grow."

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 , 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 February 26 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

What You Said to Me

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

NEWPORT, OLIVIA

WHAT YOU SAID TO ME

When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. His daughter, Jillian, feels like she's the one being punished instead -- by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn't seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian's patience wears thin. Besides, everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family have experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha's family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place -- and save her from the past.

My Review:

published in 2020

This is a series that somehow got away from me but I'm rectifying that asap even though I'm reading them out of order. :-) Now I've read book one and four and have to fill in with the middle books. There does seem to be some carry over elements among the stories, but I didn't feel lost at any point, though I am eager to backtrack because Jillian has picked up a beau somewhere along the way. :-) The whole series explores the legacy of family history and how it continues -- for good or bad -- into each generation.

So, basically what you need to know in order to jump right in with book four is that Jillian and her father are very close and they live together. I  love the relationship between this duo. It's funny and touching and rooted in love and a shared loss. 

She's a genealogist (which sounds like all kinds of fun!!!) and her dad is a lawyer with ninja mediation skills. She's pretty careful and exacting and...well, predictable. He's a more carefree, go-with-the-flow kinda guy. And that means sometimes they clash. Like when Nolan comes home with a fait accompli involving Jillian supervising a juvenile delinquent's community service time. Aka, find ways for the sullen teen to help out with  the huge genealogy project Jillian's working on. That goes about as well as you'd expect. :-)

Did I mention this is a dual timeline? The story flips between present day with Jillian and Nolan trying to help the recalcitrant Tisha and the intriguing past of a family in turmoil in the late 1890s. Both are fascinating and emotional and I was near crazy trying to figure out the connection between past and present, because I knew there had to be one. Wonderfully written in an engaging style that kept me flipping pages until the very end. Yep, read it in one sitting. Already have books two and three on hold at my library. :-)

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on 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 What You said to Me, 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 February 26 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Story Keeper

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

WINGATE, LISA

THE STORY KEEPER

When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever. Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen's suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains...and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

My Review:

published in 2014

Spellbinding! The kind of novel that hits hard (literary sucker punches to the nth degree!) and engages a reader's heart and mind with emotions on full throttle.

I haven't met a Lisa Wingate book I haven't loved but the emphasis on stories in this one touched me in so many ways. The author celebrates the power of words and the importance of remembering and celebrating everyone's story no matter how broken or unpolished. This book really made an impact on me.

Dual timelines set in the Blue Ridge Mountains -- both depicting the struggles of women born a century a part with some eerie similarities to their stories. The complex layers of both timelines and the way they come together by the end is sheer perfection. Gorgeous character growth and compelling faith threads added to my readerly delight.

The author starts us off in present day with career driven editor, Jen, who is determined to keep her painful childhood buried in the past. Until she stumbles upon a slush pile partial manuscript that sends her back to the place and the people she's tried so hard to forget. Wingate expertly weaves in the historical timeline through the words of the manuscript but when it abruptly stops mid-story, Jen is compelled to go off on a desperate quest to search for the rest.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Abby Craden and Bahni Turpin and they did an amazing job giving all the characters their own distinctive personalities. The Mountain dialects were really well done. A perfect match for the author's rich storytelling style. (Available on Audible Plus right now, for anyone who enjoys audio books.)

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #8 Play author catch up

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Story Keeper, 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 February 19 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck