Happily Ever Amish

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Abbie Tyler may be Apple Creek's resident wallflower, but she knows she has a lot to offer -- and much to be grateful for. Raised by her loving grandmother, she lives a life filled with good friends and hard work. Wary of romance, Addie assumes no man will look beyond her glasses and her tendency to talk to her rescue donkey, Snickers -- until the day she finds a note from a secret admirer. A prank, most likely. But then a second note arrives...

It's not that Daniel Miller doesn't like Addie, he just doesn't want to court her. She's too willful, too chatty, too odd. yet when he learns she's been teased because she's never had a beau, he decides to send a little note of encouragement. One note leads to another. And when Addie begins replying with thoughtful messages of her own, he's struck by her sweetness and warmth.

As chilly winter melts into spring, what began as a gesture of sympathy becomes something much deeper. Daniel fears revealing the truth, but with courage, faith -- and a helping hand from their close-knit community -- Apple Creek's most unlikely couple may find their path to happiness.

My Review:

Happy Sigh. A new Amish series from Shelley Shepard Gray is always something to get excited about and The Amish of Apple Creek promises to be another memorable one. 

Love the way the author has set the series up -- I'm guessing that Daniel's bachelor friends are going to get their own stories in the near future. But I also really loved the soul-searching in this first book. And not just with Addie and Daniel, but his friends as well. It makes for a wonderful springboard for future adventures among the set.

Addie is misunderstood, partly due to malicious gossip but also because she's resigned to be overlooked. She suffers in silence as the confirmed outsider and pours her heart into serving her ailing grandmother and the people she works for. Her best friend is a donkey named Snickers! His story is fabulous so I won't give anything away except to say that he's the epitome of true friendship. :-)

Daniel's the kind of guy who goes with the flow. He's never been mean to Addie but he never speaks up against the gossip either...until one day he notices her standing all alone in a crowd and starts to wonder. So he sends her a secret admirer note. What follows is heartwarming and heartbreaking and funny and sweet and everything in between. And so much more! 

So excited for this new series by a much loved author of Amish Romance.

Goal Update: #7 Start new-to-me 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  Happily Ever After, 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.

The Sergeant's Christmas Gift

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

THE SERGEANT'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

A lonely boy...gets a Christmas miracle!

Christmas in Colorado would be magical...if Canadian Air Force sergeant Graham Hopkins wasn't missing home. Volunteering as a Santa Tracker with NORAD, he's able to comfort six-year-old Will Parnell and his widowed mother, Vivian. When Graham receives a gift certificate for a stay at Vivian's B and B, the warmth between them brightens the holiday season. Suddenly, returning to Canada isn't as appealing. But will being together take a Christmas miracle?

My Review:

A love story bookended by Christmas scenes. It starts on Christmas Eve when a certain NORAD Santa Tracker mans the phones in Colorado Springs, Colorado. First, I knew that Santa's journey was tracked by NORAD but I had no idea that children could actually call in and get an update! That is so cool!!! So there's Graham, feeling homesick and missing his family back home in Canada who just happens to connect to a certain little boy who needs something more than a Santa update. Such a fun start to this contemporary romance!

We get a lovely Christmas week of festive activities which continue on into the New Year as Graham and Vivian quickly move from friendship to romance. Only it's all kinds of impossible with Graham in line for a new assignment in Canada and Vivian's B & B firmly established in Colorado Springs. Juggling a long distance relationship is hard enough without having to take the emotional needs of a child into consideration as well. Cue the angst and a wee bit of drama -- but, wheeeee, we do get to travel to Ontario for a visit so that was fun. I also enjoyed the Canadian references to festive food and traditions.

Plus, there's also a secondary romance -- a bit of a second chance one at that -- between Vivian's older friend and a special somebody from her past. An all round heartwarming holiday read.

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 one of the  The Sergeant's Christmas Gift, 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 November 5  2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Edgewater Road

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

EDGEWATER ROAD

When Jennifer Smiley's grandmother, Ginny, leaves her an old farmhouse on Edgewater Road in seemingly quiet Ross County, Ohio, Jennifer can't pass up the opportunity for a new beginning. Almost immediately she meets a group of men who generously help her move in. When she realizes that they work for Lincoln Bennett, her next-door neighbour, she's intrigued. Lincoln is gorgeous and has dark, lapis-blue eyes she could get lost in...but he doesn't seem all that friendly. She's torn between getting to know him and sticking with the solitude she knows so well. Maybe she could let down some of those walls she's built around her emotions?

Lincoln Bennett likes to keep his head down and get his work done. He's been to prison and he knows that a lot of folks don't take kindly to a man with that kind of history. Plus, he's busy helping other ex-cons get back on their feet. But when he meets Jennifer, he can't help but feel an instant attraction. Will she be able to accept the men he's working so hard to help?

While Jennifer gets to know Lincoln and his friends, she also begins to unravel her grandmother's story, putting together the pieces from scraps of memories and things she finds in her new home. She soon discovers that Ginny Smiley harboured some dark secretion Edgewater Road -- and that those secrets include both Lincoln and her own absent father. Is learning the truth worth the heartache it could bring?

As the weeks pass and she and Lincoln become closer, Jennifer learns there is a lot to uncover in Ross County -- wonderful friendships, darling towns...and more than one secret that might be better left buried.

My Review:

Definitely not your usual Shelley Shepard Gray sweet romance! In fact, I wouldn't recognize Edgewater Road as her writing if I had gone in blind. This book has a very different style and not just in content but the pacing and word choice as well. It's brilliantly done, but very edgy if you're used to her former storytelling style. There's a darker ambiance that hangs over the story and the characters are a whole lot of rough around the edges! Think raw and gritty with touches of sardonic humour.

I'll mention here that there are a couple of instances of some mild cussing and a few scenes I found disturbing (because they were unexpected.) The publisher has tagged this book as Religious Romance on Amazon and some Good Reads users have tagged it as Christian Fiction. That's why I was taken aback by some of the content. 

Lincoln is a Christian (converted in prison) and he runs a business rehabilitating ex-cons, but his life style and some of the things he allows to go on in his home don't always reflect that. He's definitely a work in progress (aren't we all?) and I can understand that portrayal but Edgewater Road reads more like a milder secular novel than an edgier Christian novel, if that makes any sense.

Lincoln is a gruff, macho, over protective, bossy hero! And oddly appealing despite that. I found parts of his story disturbing -- and parts of his personality irritating but the man does have a heart of gold and good intentions. You just have to look past the hardened exterior to see it. There were times his over bearing got to be too much. Continually calling Jennifer "Babe" in a proprietary way from the first time they meet and staking his claim in front of his crew of men without planning on acting on it. A kind of "hands off, she's mine but I'm not good enough for her but no one else can have her either," which raised a bit of a creep factor for me.

Jennifer is the classic introvert who works at home and only sees people virtually in the occasional office meeting. Can't we all relate to that after COVID?! So she's pretty overwhelmed by the guys next door while Lincoln both infuriates and fascinates her. She's unusually naive and struggles with finding confidence in herself. There's some great character growth as she gradually comes to grips with her family's past and Lincoln's connection them. 

Oh -- and there's this really weird thing with his name which bugged me through the whole read but had me particularly confused in the beginning few chapters -- maybe because I was listening to the audio edition. His full name is John Lincoln Bennett but he goes by Lincoln. For some unknown reason, Jennifer insists on referring to him as John. I was so lost  when she kept thinking about John and seeing John and greeting John. I literally rewound my audio book several times to try to figure out who this mystery man was until I clued in that John and Lincoln were the same man! Gah! So keep that in mind when you start reading.

Two secondary characters have captured my interest -- Bo and Seth -- and I'm hoping they both get their own stories in the Rumors in Ross County series. Both seem much more grounded than Lincoln so I'm thinking (hoping) their stories won't be as unsettling as I found this one. I'm intrigued enough to give the second book a try, now that I know what to expect.

This review is all over the place and I honestly don't think I can give it a star rating. It did hold my attention, kept me listening (the narrator was fabulous!) but I was discombobulated enough by some of the content to be uncertain as to whether I'd be rating a secular novel or a Christian one.

Special Note: Edgewater Road is currently available for free on Audible Plus.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Edgewater Road, 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 March 19 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Amish Midwives : Three Stories

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CLIPSTON, AMY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

LONG, KELLY

AMISH MIDWIVES : THREE STORIES

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance.

Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston

Lost in grief after the death of her husband, Kristina Byler gave up remarrying and found comfort and purpose in becoming a midwife. She is surprised when Aidan Smoker -- her ex-boyfriend and the man she was sure she'd one day marry -- moves back to the community after living in Ohio for the past eight years. They're both certain there's too much pain in their shared past for them to have a future, but they keep finding themselves drawn together. As Kristina helps other women bring children into the world, she starts to wonder if a family of her own might be possible after all.

A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray

Haunted by secret guilt after a tragic accident, Joanna Zimmerman is sure she's left midwifery behind her. She keeps to herself, certain this is for the best. Her childhood friend Dwight Eicher knows that Joanna hasn't been herself lately, but every time he's tried to talk to her about what's wrong, she's avoided his questions. When his sister, Susie, becomes pregnant, Joanna must decide if she can find the courage to return to the job she once felt so called to. Meanwhile, both Dwight and Joanna face romantic feelings that have the potential to change their friendship forever.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long

(also published in An Amish Christmas)

When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome and brooding Asa Mast.

My Review:

There's something for every reader who loves Amish romances in this collection. From reunion romance to insta-love to friends-to-more. I happen to like all of the above so I was a happy reader three times over. :-) And I loved the midwifery thread that's common to them all.

These well-known authors deliver what they do best -- riveting stories with heart and hope and the occasional toe-curl. Each story is a quick, satisfying read and -- hooray! -- this collection comes in trade paperback format (as opposed to the teensy-weensy mass market paperback) so the print's big enough to read! 

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 Amish Midwives, 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 August 14 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Amish Surprise

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

AN AMISH SURPRISE

In the second installment of the "enjoyable and charming" (USA TODAY) Shelley Shepard Gray's delightful Berlin Bookmobile series, librarian Sarah Anne Miller returns to Berlin to help a childless Amish couple form the family they've always prayed for.

Miriam and Calving Gingerich have been trying for a baby for several years, but the Lord hasn't seen fit to bless them. Though Calvin claims he's content with their childless state, Miriam knows he's not, and when he starts spending more time off their farm, she worries he's found someone else. But just as she finds herself at her lowest point, she discovers the ultimate surprise. Unable to confide in anyone who might tell Calvin -- out of fear she'll disappoint him with another miscarriage -- Miriam turns to bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller -- and any books she may have on pregnancy and childbirth.

Calvin has been keeping a secret from his wife, but it's not another woman. It's a little boy. One afternoon when visiting Sarah Anne's bookmobile, he meets Miles, a ten-year-old living with a foster family down the road. But after spending more time with the boy, Calvin learns that his foster family has no plans to adopt him. Calvin feels a connection with Miles and yearns to give the boy a home, but he's afraid to tell Miriam, knowing she's devastated they can't have children of their own.

As weeks pass and Sarah Anne learns that Miles has nearly given up hope of ever finding a real home, she knows it's time to intervene. It's going to take some fancy footwork and a whole lot of prayer, but she knows she can help make this struggling couple into a happy family of four.

My Review:

Absolutely ADORE the way each story in this series revolves around the bookmobile and Sarah Anne's librarian wiles! Such a fun backdrop for a bibliophile like me. And I have a thing about bookmobiles -- kinda like some people have for lighthouses.  So this book tickled my fancy before I even started reading!

An Amish Surprise is the second book in the Berlin Bookmobile series, but it can be read as a standalone. However, if you have read A Perfect Amish Romance, you'll be happy to discover that Sarah Anne's romance gets off the ground in this one. She's endearingly awkward and unsure of herself and I was on pins and needles waiting to see how it would all play out.

Meanwhile, Sarah Anne is anything but hesitant when it comes to her bookmobile and she works her magic in the lives of some of her most loyal patrons. She's all about finding the perfect book match, asking the right questions and keeping confidences no matter what. What happens in the bookmobile, stays in the bookmobile. :-)

Once again, Gray draws from the community to provide a multi-layered story that reflects real people wrestling with real issues. In this novel, multiple characters struggle with trusting in love. Communication, or more accurately, not communicating effectively, provides the catalyst for plenty of drama. And the result is a story brimming with faith and hope and all kinds of second chances.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Tavia Gilbert who did a great job of bringing these captivating characters to life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Surprise, 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 29  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Trustworthy One

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns to the charming and evocative Walnut Creek Series with an unforgettable novel following one broken young woman whose search for peace leads her back to her hometown, where she rediscovers her faith and reconnects with those she loves most.

Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay -- far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.

Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.

Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined; her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistant in setting things right between them.

As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?

My Review:

This has been an exceptional series! Character-driven plots that realistically deal with tough issues bring depth and healing to each enthralling story.

The series centers around friends who vow to stick together after the tragic suicide of one of in their group. Each book gives some quality page time to all the friends, while focusing on one hero and one heroine's love story. And Gray doesn't shy away from hard topics as she explores ways forgiveness and friendship can transform lives.

Kendra has survived an abusive childhood and, before returning to Walnut Creek, she always felt like she was on the outside looking in. But as she's distanced herself from her past and enjoyed some personal successes in the ensuing years, she's on the cusp of actually realizing what it feels like to belong. 

Nate unthinkingly hurt her in the past and he's determined to make amends now that Kendra has returned...if only she'll let him. Learning to trust is at the heart of their story and it's an emotional one.

I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Tavia Gilbert. Her outstanding performance brought these characters to life and held me captive right to the very end.

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 Trustworthy One, 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 March 6 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

A Perfect Amish Romance

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

A PERFECT AMISH ROMANCE

From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray comes a new series that follows a bookmobile driver-turned-matchmaker who learns that her Amish patrons need a whole lot more than just new books to read.

Aaron Coblentz has a secret: he's been studying to take the GED to get promoted at work. But he can't let his Amish family know, not when his older brother already left the faith just a year after getting baptized, practically crippling the family. When Aaron asks bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller for some additional study guides, she does one better. She arranges for Kayla Kaufman to be his tutor.

Kayla has a secret too. Her life has been turned upside down in a matter of months -- her mother's death propelled her father into a constant state of depression, and unable to deal with his erratic behavior, her longtime boyfriend has broken things off. But despite losing those she holds most dear, she hasn't completely given up on love. Only now she seeks to find it in the sweet romance novels she secretly checks out from Sarah Anne's bookmobile.

As Aaron and Kayla's study sessions start to feel less like work and more like pleasure, they soon realize that happily ever afters don't only happen in fiction; sometimes they happen when you least expect it.

From a "skilled storyteller who reminds the reader that faith can help us survive the ups and downs in life" (RT Book Reviews), A Perfect Amish Romance is a moving and deftly told story that paints a heartwarming picture of the magic of true love.

My Review:

Sqqquuueaaall! A new series by Shelley Shepard Gray is always something to shout (or squeal) about! And this one features a bookmobile which is all kinds of library magic right there. Sigh. I've worked in school libraries and college libraries and genealogy libraries and church libraries but I always longed to be a bookmobile librarian. Alas, it was not meant to be but at least now I can enjoy the experience vicariously through Sarah Anne. :-)

In true SSG fashion, this novel is as much about community as it is the characters. I love the way this author follows a theme through the lives of various folks...in this case it's the perils of secrets that build tension and drama throughout the story. And...eeeepppp!!!...we get two romances and five points of view (including Sarah Anne's) as these characters discover that the perfect Amish romance is actually an imperfect one.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Tavia Gilbert who did a great job of bringing these captivating characters to life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Perfect Amish Romance, 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 February 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

The Protective One

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD

THE PROTECTIVE ONE

From a "skilled storyteller who reminds the reader that faith can help us survive the ups and downs in life" (RT Book Reviews), Shelley Shepard Gray weaves a moving and unforgettable exploration of love and friendship.

The tragic and untimely death of an old friend has made Elizabeth Anne rethink not only her priorities but her courtship with David, her longtime neighbor and suitor. Though he is Mennonite like herself and has her parents' approval, she feels that a spark is missing. Desperate for a change, she breaks things off -- wondering if, perhaps, she's the one who's missing a spark.

When her family becomes upset with her decision, E.A. turns to her friends for support. One of them is Will, a man with a good heart who has always been there for her. As the two bond over their shared struggle to navigate a future that everyone else seems to have figured out, they are surprised to realize that they have feelings for each other.

But E.A.'s world takes a sudden turn when she realizes that she's not the only one struggling -- Marta, one of her sewing students, is in desperate need of protection. With the aid of Will and several other friends, Elizabeth Anne begins a journey that is more difficult and rewarding than she could have ever imagined...one that ultimately enables her to find everything she's been searching for.

My Review:

There's an understated power in this poignant story about friendship and love and the courage to embrace change. I'm finding it hard to find words to explain the impact it had on me. That's because this author knows how to bring heart and depth into what, on the surface, might appear to simply be a sweet Amish romance. Well, it is that -- but so much more!

The Protective One is the third book in Gray's Walnut Creek series which centers around seven friends who vow to stick together after the tragic suicide of a dear friend. Each book manages to give some quality page time to all the friends as a group, even while focusing on one hero and heroine's love story. And things are always complicated because that's life. Love the realism the author brings into the plot through sensitive issues and struggles. 

In this story, it's the various forms of domestic abuse. And while that topic is heavy, Gray approaches it with compassion and hope. The big takeaway for me was how our personal faith journey can prepare us to act with discernment when offering friendship and support to someone dealing with abuse...and even enable us to recognize more subtle forms in our own lives.  

Having said all that, this isn't in any way an oppressive downer of a book! There's plenty of humour, and friendly shenanigans as E.A and Will navigate their way to a happily ever after future of their own.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Protective One, 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 November 28 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

The Loyal One

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
THE LOYAL ONE

The New York Times bestselling author the Walnut Creek series crafts a moving and evocative novel of secrets, friendship, and second chances -- perfect for fans of Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman.

When Katie Steury hires Harley Lambright to remodel her run-down house into a bed-and-breakfast, she does so with trepidation. Though they are longtime friends, they've recently had a rocky relationship, thanks to her being partly responsible for his latest breakup. But while they may not always get along, she needs someone to trust with her secrets, and Harley is nothing if not trustworthy.

Katie has always reminded Harley of a bright hummingbird -- she moves a mile a minute, and she possesses a very sharp beak. He's hesitant to accept the job because of his history with Katie. But when he realizes that Katie's been hiding her mother's hoarding, he agrees to help because it's clear she needs someone on her side.

Both soon discover that clearing the debris in an old house can lead to some cleanup in their lives, too. As the house gets a second chance so does their relationship.. Now all they have to do is open their hearts -- and pray that their new bond will stand the test of time.

My Review:

"The older I get, the more I realize that relationships and friendships are hard. There isn't only one right way to do things." (p 138)

This is the second book in The Walnut Creek series. You don't have have read The Patient One in order to enjoy this novel though I think it would help to understand the overall series theme so here's the scoop:

Seven friends -- a mix of Amish, Mennonite and Englisch -- reconnect at another friend's funeral.  They were known as 'the Eight' and did everything together from childhood into their adolescence but when they reached their late teens, they drifted apart as jobs and college and diverse lifestyles claimed their attention...

Until Andy committed suicide and they are drawn together in their grief, suddenly examining their lives and choices, reviving their friendship...and finding love along the way. It's a large cast of characters but we don't get all their points of view. The Loyal One is mainly Harley and Katie's story but there's a tenuous start to a secondary romance as well.

I love the way Shelley Shepard Gray challenges her characters and, as a result, her readers. She addresses family dysfunction with compassion and heart. And the way she digs deep into her characters' psyche makes for a fascinating read. I felt all raw and exposed and ultimately healed right along with Katie by the end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Loyal One, 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 March 20 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Secrets of Sloane House

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RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY 

GRAY, SHELLEY
SECRETS OF SLOANE HOUSE

Against the backdrop of the 1893 World’s Fair, a young woman finds employment with an illustrious Chicago family—a family who may guard the secret of her sister’s disappearance.

Sloane House is among the most gilded mansions of Gilded Age Chicago. Rosalind Perry, the new housemaid, pours the morning coffee before the hard gaze of her mistress. “It’s simple, Rosalind,” she says. “I am Veronica Sloane, heiress to one of the country’s greatest fortunes. You are simply one in a long line of unsuitable maids.”

Back on the farm in Wisconsin, Rosalind’s plan had seemed logical: Move to Chicago. Get hired on at Sloane House. Discover what transpired while her sister worked as a maid there—and follow the clues to why she disappeared.

Now, as a live-in housemaid to the Sloanes, Rosalind realizes her plan had been woefully simple-minded.

She was ignorant of the hard, hidden life of a servant in a big, prominent house; of the divide between the Sloane family and the people who served them; and most of all, she had never imagined so many people could live in such proximity and keep such dark secrets.

Yet, while Sloane House is daunting, the streets of Chicago are downright dangerous. The World’s Fair has brought a new kind of crime to the city . . . and a lonely young woman is always at risk. But when Rosalind accepts the friendship of Reid Armstrong, the handsome young heir to a Chicago silver fortune, she becomes an accidental rival to Veronica Sloane.

As Rosalind continues to disguise her kinship to the missing maid—and struggles to appease her jealous mistress—she probes the dark secrets of Sloane House and comes ever closer to uncovering her sister’s mysterious fate. A fate that everyone in the house seems to know . . . but which no one dares to name.

My Review:

Eeep -- my library has suddenly started carrying more Christan Fiction audio books and I couldn't resist giving this one a listen to even though I've already read it in paperback form. Excellent narration made the second time around all the more captivating.

Downton Abbey with a sinister twist. Honestly, I was so engrossed in the story I could barely put it down. The division between classes always sets my teeth on edge and the Sloane's blatant disregard for the welfare of their servants had my blood boiling.  Not to mention the perverse loyalty those serving the Sloanes have to the family. Poor Rosalind is like a lamb being led to the slaughter as she tries to navigate all the menacing nuances of this prestigious house in her quest to discover what happened to her sister.

Reid is her only ally but he costs her more grief than help most of the time. He's a fascinating character -- the product of new wealth trying to gain entrance into the upper echelons of society. He needs to find a wife from an established family to gain full acceptance but his heart just isn't in it. His inner battle over societal expectations and his own personal values makes for a fascinating read.

Gray weaves a compelling plot charged with suspense and heartache and an impossible romance and I found it utterly captivating.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Secrets of Sloane House, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Amish Summer

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
CLIPSTON, AMY
FULLER, KATHLEEN
IRVIN, KELLY
AN AMISH SUMMER

Four Amish stories about summer romance.

A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray

When sisters Sharon and Sherrilyn Kramer attend a wedding in Shipshewana, one of them returns with a new penpal while the other returns to her job at the bakery. After sending weekly letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham Holland arrange a reunion in Pinecraft. Upon Graham's arrival, however, he realizes he's been writing to the wrong sister. Can he sort through the confusion in time to turn the worst vacation ever into something truly wonderful?

Summer Storms by Amy Clipston

Ariana is counting down the days until her wedding to Jesse. They had been friends longer than Ariana could remember, and that friendship had turned into love over the past couple of years. But when Ariana's brother, Tobias, who happens to be Jesse's best friend, gets them both in trouble, Ariana's puts an end to her engagement to Jesse. Some summer storms pass quickly, but Ariana is afraid the damage from this one may be too much to repair.

Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller

Esther has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sister Sarah. Even the boy she has known -- and loved -- her entire life, Judah, only has eyes for Sarah. But when a handsome young Englischer cmes to live with the family for a summer, everything begins to change.

One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin

Everybody in Little Bee county, Texas, can see the obvious: Jacob King and Martha Byler are meant to be together. Everyone, that is, except Martha. Ever since her mother died when Martha was a young girl, she has taken over the role of caregiver to her large family. And restless Jacob, who has had a little too much fun on his rumspringa, only seems to add to the list of people to manage. But one summer changes everything, and these two may just find a way to meet in the middle and share one sweet kiss.

My Review:

Love me a summertime read chock-full of summer romance. Add in the fact that they are all Amish novellas by some of the best authors in the biz and my bibliophile euphoria is complete. These compact stories deliver a satisfying punch of angst along with the sweet bliss of romance. There's a great mix in this collection -- humour, drama, emotional highs and lows and, of course, the sublime hope of not one but four happily-ever-afters! Absolutely perfect for some lazy, hazy summer days of reading.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Amish Summer, 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 June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Patient One

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
THE PATIENT ONE

When news spreads that Andy Warner committed suicide, everyone in Walnut Creek, Ohio, is shocked. For the seven men and women who had been Andy's best friends, it is extremely painful -- and, maybe, a source of guilt. Although years had passed since they'd last been together, there was a strong bond and a steadfast certainty that they'd always have each other's backs. Now the seven remaining friends, still reeling from Andy's death, have vowed to look after each other again. As far as they're concerned, it doesn't matter that they're now in their twenties and have drifted far apart. They need to connect again...for Andy.

My Review:

Wow -- what an amazing start to a new series! It's a little different in that it follows multiple points of view and there are a lot of characters to meet right from the very first chapter. Seven  friends -- a mix of Amish, Mennonite and Englisch -- who reconnect at another friend's funeral. They were known as 'the Eight' and did everything together from childhood into their teenage years but when they reached their late teens they started to drift apart as jobs and college and diverse lifestyles claimed their attention.

Until Andy commits suicide and suddenly they are all examining their lives, their choices and wondering how they drifted apart. There's a lot of soul searching as they wrestle with feelings of guilt and remorse and sorrow.  But there's healing in this story too -- renewed resolves and fresh perspectives as the seven surviving friends try to make sense of a senseless death.

Don't panic -- you don't get all seven points of view in this novel! The Patient One features Marie (Englisch) and John (Amish) as well as John's sister and her friend, Danny. I love the diversity in this novel and the way friendships develop despite differences. A blending of hearts and minds that celebrate the truth and joy that comes from being accepted for ourselves. And I absolutely love John's chaotic family!

This book is kind of indescribable and I feel like I've made a jumbled mess of this review. Hard to comment on specifics without posting spoilers. It's the kind of story you just need to experience for yourself.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Patient One, 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 18 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

His Promise

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GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
HIS PROMISE

Shelley Shepard Gray's latest Christmas novel in her Amish of Hart County series...

It's set to be a white Christmas in Hart County, and Grace King is pet-sitting with only a difficult dachshund for company. Just as she starts to miss the bustle of her large Amish family, Grace runs into a familiar face. Living right next door is John Michael Miller. He's a fireman now, but five years ago he had courted her older sister, then broke her heart. Seeing him again stirs Grace's anger, but also reminds her of deeper feelings she's tried to deny.

John Michael's complicated attraction to Grace still remains. He had walked away all those years ago when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister. Now, as suspicious fires are set in their community, Grace dismisses his warnings, and John Michael vows to keep an eye on her. But he can't help wondering if he's reconnected with Grace, only to risk losing her again.

Now all John Michael wants for Christmas is to keep Grace safe, in the hopes that they can have a future together.

My Review:

Hands down one of the most persnickety canine heroes comes in the shape of a dachshund  aptly named Snooze...only when he isn't snoozing he's causing trouble. Grace has never had such a difficult charge. She's pet-sitted just about every type of critter you can imagine -- feathered, furred -- even scaled -- and she's always found a way to bond with every one of them. Until Snooze. He leads her on a merry chase...and right into the arms of a man she had a secret crush on in her teens. The same man her sister was practically engaged to! 

It's been five years since John Michael broke things off with Grace's sister. Five years for the King family to nurse their bitterness and pull Grace into their unhealthy resentment. Now, here she is living right next door to John Michael who seems intent on not only seeking forgiveness but renewing their friendship. And doesn't her heart just flutter at that thought? While her stomach gnarls in knots over what her parents will say! I so love a twisted mess of a romance that seems doomed from the start!

Thankfully Snooze brings some great comic relief to the more serious aspects of this story. Along with the angsty romance, there's an arson mystery to solve and a case of elder neglect and Grace is in the middle of it all! I was in a page-turning frenzy right to the end!

What a spectacular send off for the last book in the Amish of Hart County series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of His Promise, 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 Sunday November 25 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Her Fear

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
HER FEAR

In New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's latest novel of suspense in her Amish of Hart County series, an EMT falls for a woman with ties to an Amish community where people are dying similar, suspicious deaths.

Sadie Detweiler never imagined she'd move to Kentucky, ye here she is: a pregnant, unmarried Amish girl banished by unforgiving parents to live with kin she barely knows. The men are gruff and her cousins are secretive. Worst of all, elderly matriarch Verba becomes mysteriously ill shortly after Sadie moves in. When EMT Noah Freeman arrives, Sadie immediately notices he's unlike any other Amish man she's met. Noah is warm, confident, and has an easy way with practically everyone in the community both Amish and English. Though Sadie is drawn to him, she has little hope he will reciprocate her feelings once he learns she is with child.

Noah can't understand how a girl as sweet and lovely as Sadie ended up sleeping on a cot in Verba Stauffer's kitchen. He also senses Sadie is terrified of something. Concerned, he checks up on her. Eventually they strike up a friendship and soon their attraction is undeniable. When Verba later dies at the hospital and her death is followed by two others, Noah's boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He agrees -- for Sadie's sake -- because only the truth will keep her safe and by his side.

My Review:

"Fear was being alone. Fear was feeling abandoned. Fear was realizing that anyone could lie, hurt, and betray her. Anyone at all." 

Phew! That whoosh you hear is hours worth of pent-up breath being released at last. What an emotional, mysterious, compelling read! Amish with a bit of a Gothic vibe is how I'd describe Her Fear.

Burdened by crippling fear is no way to face a fresh start -- especially when there seems to be more to fear in Sadie's new situation than her last. Gray draws out the intrigue and the drama in the midst of family dysfunction shadowed by something sinister.

And there's Noah, a bright light shining in the darkness. Too good to be true -- especially for a woman who wears fear like a second skin. He's drawn to her and she's more than a little wary. Their life stories are completely opposite. He's from a nurturing family whose love and support has allowed him to make his own way in a non-traditional Amish occupation. She's browbeaten and abandoned by a harsh father after a lifetime of condemnation and ridicule. Love blossoms beneath a cloak of mystery and I gobbled up their story in one sitting because I couldn't stand not knowing what would happen next.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Her Fear, 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 Sunday November 4 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!b

Love Held Captive

GIVEAWAY

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
LOVE HELD CAPTIVE

After the War Between the States, a Confederate officer longs to heal the heart of a beautiful woman -- but first he'll have to right the wrongs that were done to her.

Major Ethan Kelly has never been able to absolve himself of the guilt he feels for raiding a woman's home shortly before he was taken prisoner during the Civil War. He is struggling to get through each day until he once again crosses paths with Lizbeth Barclay -- the very woman he is trying to forget.

Life after the war is not much different for former Captain Devin Monroe until he meets Julianne VanFleet. He knows she is the woman he's been waiting for, but he struggles to come to terms with the sacrifices she made to survive the war.

When Ethan and Devin discover that their former colonel, Adam Bushnell, is responsible for both Lizbeth's and Julianne's pain, they call on their former fellow soldiers to hunt him down. As the men band together to earn the trust of the women they love, Lizbeth and Julianne seek the justice they deserve in a country longing to heal.

My Review:

Believe me, no dust gathered on this book's pretty cover once it arrived at my house. In fact, I didn't even introduce it to the other books on the TBR pile. I'm such a rude hostess! Instead, I gathered all my avid reader essentials -- you know, tissues, chocolate, smelling salts -- and actually dove into the story mere seconds after rescuing it from the mailer. Scandalous, I know, but this series -- A Lonestar Hero's Legacy -- is so amazingly good that niceties go to the wayside whenever I get one in my clutches.  And sadly, Love Held Captive is the last in the series which is heart-wrenching though I am somewhat consoled with the fact that there are two heroes and two heroines in this book which means...wait for it...double the romance!

You don't need to have read the first two books in the series to enjoy this one, but, honestly, I highly recommend reading them all! There's something about these heroes -- loyal, brave, broken by war and struggling to find their place in a new society -- but honorable to the very core. And I love the foundation of this series -- a brotherhood of soldiers who survived being prisoners of war  and continue to support one another in civilian life.

In this final book it is Ethan and Devin who are confronted by a vicious colonel from their past and the terror he has reigned on two women. Gray isn't reticent about highlighting the effects the war had on the women of the south. It's gutsy and raw and all too painfully real. Lizbeth and Julianne are true women of courage even if they don't feel that way. They are survivors, determined to make a way for themselves in an often hostile world. And everything these heroes think they know is challenged as they draw closer to the women who have captured their hearts.

There comes a point where Ethan and Devin must make an appeal for help and the band of brothers rides again in one final mission of justice. Cue an Old West theme song as you lose yourself in the exciting visual of them riding out together in their old army formation. I might have let a fangirling squeal or two slip at that exact moment. :-)

Action, adventure, romance all wrapped up with a thread of faith. My heart hurts that it's over, but what a glorious ending!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love Held Captive, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of  @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 22 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!