The Christmas Bargain

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RANDOM RETRO READ!

HATFIELD, SHANNA

THE CHRISTMAS BARGAIN

Luke Granger is about to get more than he bargained for.

As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. Calling in a long overdue loan. Luke finds himself reluctantly accepting a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter his debt.

Philomena Booth is both mortified and relieved when her father sends her off with the banker as payment of the debt. Held captive on the farm by her father since the death of her mother more than a decade earlier, Philomena is grateful to leave. If only it had been someone other than the handsome and charismatic Luke Granger riding in to rescue her. Ready to uphold her end of the bargain as Luke's cook and housekeeper. Philomena is prepared for the hard work ahead. What she isn't prepared for is being forced to marry Luke as part of this crazy Christmas bargain.

My Review:

published in 2012

A Christmas themed marriage of convenience romance! This one is pure romance. (Fans and chocolate recommended) :-) It's all about Philomena's journey from abused daughter to cherished wife and I enjoyed that journey! 

Luke's gentle wooing, flirtations that gradually grow more heated...cue the fainting couches and keep the smelling salts handy! The banter as Philomena becomes more comfortable is sooooo sweet and funny. And I loved the way they grew into their relationship. 

Be aware this is a kissing book! Romantically romantical to the nth degree. (There's one scene at the very end that I think pushes the boundaries a bit for Christian Fiction, but it's still clean.)

There are some wonderful secondary characters who help (and possibly try to hinder) Luke and Philomena along their way to their happily ever after.

And, happy day, this is the first in the Hardman Holiday series so I predict more Christmas stories in my reading future.

Oh, and I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Michael I. Canaan and I have to say I'm not a fan of the way he portrays the female characters. Almost cartoony high or simpering missish -- at least that's the way they come across to me. 

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 Christmas Bargain, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 30 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Christmas Cowboy

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ 

HATFIELD, SHANNA

THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY

Flying from city to city in her job as a busy corporate trainer for a successful direct sales company, Kenzie Beckett doesn't have time for a man. And most certainly not for the handsome cowboy she keeps running into at the airport. Burned twice, she doesn't trust anyone wearing boots and Wranglers, especially someone as charming and handsome as Tate Morgan.

Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can handle the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle the beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story.

As the holiday season approaches, this Christmas Cowboy is going to need more than a little mistletoe to win her heart.

My Review:

published in 2013

Classic romance with all the familiar tropes. And this is definitely a kissing book, people, so if that isn't your thing, don't give ol' Tate there a second glance. It's funny because GR reviewers either love it or hate it because of all the smooching.  I personally, didn't have a problem with those scenes (waving her fan and blushing furiously.) But they are why I'm calling The Christmas Cowboy a classic. This is traditional, warm-fuzzies, feel good, pure romance. 

Things start sizzling as sparks fly during the meet-cute, and they never cool down, even during the 'dark moment'. Tate and Kenzie meet at the airport, but they've noticed each other on multiple occasions previously since they are both frequent flyers. So, while it's their first actual meet, the reader knows that these two have been circling around each other for months. 

Tate comes off all flirty and charming...but it's important to know that he's only that way with Kenzie. She's wary, not just because of his heart-breaking smile, but because she has some history with cowboys, and not the good kind. What follows is a fabulous little romance that stretches out over half a year or so which means you'll have to wait until about two thirds of the way through to get to the Christmas stuff.

I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Luke E. Andreen He did a great job, but I really do prefer a female narrator -- especially for the heroine 'voice.' Still, I enjoyed the listen and will be continuing with this Rodeo Romance series -- all Christmas based with a rodeo cowboy theme! Yeehaw!

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors (hybrid author), #7 Start new-to-me series

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Christmas Cowboy, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 30 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Scent of Cedar

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

HATFIELD, SHANNA

SCENT OF CEDAR

She needed a change of pace...No one said anything about a friendly camel or a hunky mechanic.

Cedar Haynes has a choice: change her high-pressure lifestyle, or end up dead by the time she's thirty. Not one to do things by half measures, she quits her demanding corporate job, swaps her sports car for an SUV, and moves to the peaceful mountain community of Faraday. She envisions a quiet, peaceful Christmas, surrounded by silence and sparkling snow. When a camel takes up residence on her porch, she realizes small-town life may be more quirky and complicated than she imagined. Thankfully, the local mechanic seems to have all the answers -- plus good looks, bad-boy charm, and a mysterious aura that leaves her wanting to know more.

Rhett Riggs left big city life behind the moment his small-town uncle needed his help. To make ends meet, he takes over Faraday's one and only  garage and gas station. He gets more than he bargained for, though, when Uncle Will passes away, leaving Rhett a run-down farmhouse, a wacky camel named Lolly, and a deep-rooted love for the community he considers his home. 

With the holidays approaching, he watches with interest as a new neighbour moves in next door. He waits for Lolly to send the woman running, like the last handful of residents have. Only this time, if his beautiful neighbour leaves, she'll take his heart with her.

Between spilled secrets, mistaken identities, and a camel determined to spread a little love, it will take more than mistletoe and holiday magic to help Rhett and Cedar find their happy ending.

My Review:

published in 2018

Just when I thought I'd read every Christmas romance trope written, an author throws a matchmaking camel into the mix. :-) In fact, this whole series features the Outdoor Nativity cast (of the critter variety) matchmaking for their humans (and aptly titled The Friendly Beasts of Faraday.)

This first book opens with a hilarious barnyard meeting where the animals commit to finding mates for their humans...four hapless bachelors who need a little shove towards matrimonial bliss ..and Lolly is leading the challenge, which means cue the laughter and mayhem!

Then we switch over to human POV and, honestly, the first time Cedar meets Lolly is laugh-out-loud funny. Things go off kilter from there, turning into a sweet romance with lots of holiday touches and just enough missteps that require Lolly to step in and save the day.

Quirky and fun -- a quick little read that will put a smile on your face and a yen in your heart for your very own camel...maybe.

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 Scent of Cedar, 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 November 20 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck