Mulberry Hollow

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE

MULBERRY HOLLOW

When a handsome handyman faces a medical emergency on the Appalachian trail, his sudden appearance in town challenges an ambitious doctor's plan to remain single for life.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her other lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She's driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery's clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again -- but this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds -- starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

This second book in Denise Hunter's popular Riverbend series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free. 

My Review:

Happy, achy sigh. Denise Hunter has such a wonderful/terrible way of messing with my heart when she writes a romance. I always come away feeling slightly discombobulated and giddy with relief because sometimes her happily ever afters don't seem achievable. :-)

While this is the second book in the Riverbend series it can easily be read as a standalone. I know because I chickened out of reading book one (love triangle involving brothers) but I was able to jump in here without any problem (and so much less angst! lol)

Love the way the romance develops. It feels like we have all the time in the world even though both Avery and Wes are on a tight timeline. From that harrowing first meet to the gradual shift from doctor/patient to friends to...what never can be....I was completely invested and on tenterhooks. And for those of you who know I am love triangle phobic, this one isn't quite that so it's all good. It comes close, but not really -- and that's all I can say without spoilers so you'll just have to read Mulberry Hollow to figure out what I mean.

Both Avery and Wes have personal demons to wrestle with before they can be open to a lasting relationship -- and those demons are monsters! Hunter really captures the emotional turmoil that provides the stumbling blocks to these two following through on their feelings. My heart is still bruised from all the pummelling.

A faith-filled inspirational romance with lots of heart.

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  Mulberry Hollow, 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 13 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Bookshop by the Sea

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE

BOOKSHOP BY THE SEA

Sophie Lawson should be enjoying her sister's wedding day. But nothing could have prepared her to see the best man again.

After her mother became bedridden and her father bailed on the family, Sophie found herself serving as a second mother to her twin brother, Seth and younger sister, Jenna. Sophie supported her siblings through their college years, putting aside her own dream of opening a bookshop in Piper's Cove -- the quaint North Carolina beach town they frequented as children.

Now it's finally time for Sophie to follow her own pursuits. Seth has a new job, and Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper's Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance.

When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper's Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart? 

My Review:

Nobody does emotionally complicated quite like Denise Hunter. :-) Bookshop by the Sea is the kind of romantic read that curls your toes and gives you heart palpitations...along with heartburn from some of the characters' antics! It's a fast, swoony beach read -- hello, bookshop by the sea?! I'd have bought the book just for the title alone.

Sophie and Aiden are buried beneath layers of angst and unresolved hurt. It's been seven years since Aiden walked away. Seven years of harboured hurts and misunderstandings. (Mercy, but Sophie's granny can hold a grudge!) A wedding brings this hero and heroine face to face again and a hurricane keeps them in a holding pattern. Cue the sizzle and sparks from all the crackling energy zipping around these two -- whether they're sparring or...sparking. :-)

Love this small-town setting. Piper Cove is full of good folks who don't hesitate to come together in a time of crisis. Sophie's new to the community, but the inhabitants have her back and some of my favourite scenes are when everyone pitches in when she fears all is lost. Absolutely heartwarming and hopeful. And, sqqqquuuueeeaaallll, surprise cameo and sweet nod to the author's previous Bluebell Inn series. I was fangirling all over the place when that cropped up. 

Bookshop by the Sea delivers a richly layered reunion romance fuelled with the hope of second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Bookshop by the Sea, 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!

Autumn Skies

 

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE

AUTUMN SKIES

Facing the past is easier if you have to face it alone.

The Bluebell Inn is turning a profit, and it's time for the Bennett siblings to sell it and move on. Only Grace has plans to stay in the small lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina, where she hopes her growing outfitters business will save her from the loneliness of her siblings' departure and the persistent sense of unworthiness in her life.

A gunshot wound resurrects the past for Secret Service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell. There he must come to grips with the tragedy that altered his life fourteen years ago.

When Wyatt books a room at the Bluebell Inn, sparks fly between him and Grace. She volunteers to be his mountain guide, and he soon opens up to her, drawn to her strength and sense of humor. But both are reticent to talk about the survivor's guilt they each carry, and when their pasts finally collide, their budding romance might not survive the truth.

My Review:

Sssssooooobbbbb!!!! I'm a sniveling mess because this the last of the Bluebell Inn series and I am not ready to let the Bennetts go about their lives without me looking over their shoulders! Mind, you, as far as last books in a series go, Autumn Skies is a real humdinger! 

I take some solace in the dedicated page time given to all the siblings. With Levi still rocking that meddling older brother vibe and Molly being...well...enthusiastically Mollyish! :-) And there's even a wedding. Eeeep!

Of course, it's really Grace and Wyatt who captured my attention. Mostly opposites, especially when it comes to life experience but the one thing they share is gobsmackingly shattering. And the way Hunter builds up to that revelation is what reading frenzies are made for.

I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more and then hyperventilated my way through some toe-curling kisses. Phew! But Denise Hunter knows how to perfectly pace a love story. There's as much forcing them apart as there is drawing them together and only Grace and Wyatt can ultimately decide whether they can make the pieces of their lives fit together.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by by Jessica Holtan and I loved every blissful listening second!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is available in either paperback or ebook -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Autumn Skies, 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 21 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Honeysuckle Dreams

GIVEAWAY
RAND RETRO READ DAY!

HUNTER, DENISE
HONEYSUCKLE DREAMS

Brady Collins is juggling full-time fatherhood with the booming auto repair business he runs out of his barn. His ex-wife's sudden death has shaken him, but the devastating news that follows leaves him reeling: Sam is not his biological son.

When Sam's wealthy maternal grandparents decide they want custody of the child, Brady knows he's in the fir the fight of his life. Brady's attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: the stability of an impending marriage. And his friend Hipe is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and she's finally been offered her dream job -- in Atlanta. Unfortunately, her arrangement with Brady requires her presence in Copper Creek, and she is faced with missing the chance of a lifetime or standing in the way of a dear friend's dream.

Both Hope and Brady would give their lives for beautiful Sam. But can they give their trust to one aother? As the second novel in the Blue Ridge Romance series, Honeysuckle Dreams shines light on the complicated and beautiful angles of love.

My Review:

published in 2018

Marriage of Convenience in a contemporary romance? Exactly how is that going to work? Well, beautifully, if it's written by Denise Hunter! Plus, this is a friends-to-lovers romance -- one of my favourite  tropes because it brings the depth of shared history into the romance. Phew! Haul out your fans and have a bucket of ice ready because things really heat up for Brady and Hope as they learn to navigate their unique marriage. Especially when Brady decides to 'court' his wife! Hunter knows how to write toe-curling scenes! Happy, happy sigh. :-)

She also knows how to put her characters through the wringer in a rabid, page-turning kind of way. I was a basket-case by the end. The battle for custody of little Sam (cutest baby ever!) about did me in. The court scenes! Gah! I was on tenterhooks the whole way through.

So we've got emotions running rampant in both the romance and the plot which made me a very happy reader since I think the best kind of books are the kind you live through right along with the characters. I've emerged  safely on the other side of 'the end' only slightly gutted but still reeling from the beauty of it all. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Honeysuckle Dreams, 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 22 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carolina Breeze

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
CAROLINA BREEZE

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything.

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina -- the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the financial state of the inn -- a secret he's been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don't expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk -- or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

My Review:

True confession: I don't fancy celebrity story lines. At all. In fact, I'll usually avoid these books at all cost. Not sure why I have such an aversion -- just not into the whole idolizing a star and the superficial lifestyle and the glam...well, just, blech! :-) BUT this is Denise Hunter and I've read the first Bluebell Inn Romance book so I was dithering and then a bunch of Good Reads friends started waxing poetical about it and I decided to quit toe-dabbling and take the plunge.

Honestly, what would I do without GR buddies to shake me out of my readerish rut every once in a while? Because...ta da!!!!... I LOVED this book! I even loved Mia and I thought I'd have trouble connecting with her but, nope, she and I became besties right away and when we arrived at Bluebell Inn and Levi greeted us...woooheeee...one of us fell hard and fast and collapsed on her fainting couch. That would be me. Mia was a bit of a romantical late bloomer but she had some serious life distractions so I gave her a pass. And I did enough swooning for both us until she could catch up. :-)

Because...Levi! He has major big brother syndrome that is both endearing and infuriating. And he has this deeply rooted protective instinct that goes into overdrive when it becomes apparent Mia could use some help. Be still my heart. He's half Neanderthal and half enlightened 21st century man and sometimes they clash with delightful results. This is the kind of soul-searching, deeply layered love story that Denise Hunter does so well. Be prepared for some emotional sucker-punching!

Loved the page time we get with Levi's sisters as well. I am so invested in this family and their quest to fulfill their deceased parents' dream. Love the banter and the angst and the just plain ordinary sibling stuff going on between them. But they always have each other's back -- even know-it-all big brother Levi who thinks that means he gets to dictate his sisters' lives. Yeah, that goes over about as well as you think it would.

Don't worry if you missed the first book in this series (but you really should pick it ups sometime!) Carolina Breeze reads brilliantly as a standalone. Hunter has this knack for pulling her readers in and making them feel a part of things right away.

An emotional contemporary romance  full of faith, family and hard worn happily-ever-afters.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Carolina Breeze   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 4 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Lake Season

Sorry about not posting the giveaway wins on the weekend. There was a fire at a hydro substation in my area the wee hours of Saturday morning and I didn't have power most of the day and then it came back intermittently which seemed to tick off my modem because she refused to start calibrating until Sunday night! Of course it was below zero temps so my house was a tad chilly when I woke up. Being the clever problem solver I am, I had the brilliant idea of heading to the library to spend some quality book bonding time in the warmth plus I figured I could use their computers to post the winners. Ha -- forgot that the library was smack in the middle of the power outage too. So I figure I'll just post last week's winners along with this weeks winners on Saturday March 14. You can live in anticipation. :-) And this week's giveaways will be a surprise since I couldn't post my usual 'Looking Ahead to Next Week's Giveaways'.

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
LAKE SEASON

When their parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents' dream: turning their historic home back into an inn.

Adam Bradford (a.k.a. bestselling author Nathanial Grey) is a reclusive author with a bad case of writer's block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to a North Carolina lake town, the setting of his next novel. There he immediately meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.

When Molly finds an old letter in the walls of her inn she embarks on a mission with Adam to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But the guest she invites along has secrets of his own. Past and present collide as truths are revealed , and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.

My Review:

Faith versus fear is at the heart of this alluring dual timeline story. Love the way the author meshes the two stories together! I experienced a few 'aha' moments that thrilled me to my toes even though the 1960s love story is a bittersweet one.

And Adam and Molly -- heartfelt sigh of deep readerly satisfaction. I could relate to the way both of them are being held back by their fears. There's a great quote that I'm loosely transcribing because I listened to the audible version : "Fear is just a lack of faith." Argh -- but that bites! I don't like to think I'm lacking in faith but I sure am fearful about some things just like this hero and heroine. I could see myself in their faltering missteps which made me empathize with them and want to throttle them by turn. :-)

Can I say just how much I love this unorthodox hero? Glasses wearing book nerd book boyfriend? Yes please! Kind-hearted with a hint of brooding and a deep-rooted feeling of inadequacy The complexities that make up Adam Bradford make for a swoonworthy read.

And Molly who has suffered so many losses! And who loves books just as much as I do!!!! Fangirling all over Nathaniel Grey with starry-eyed wonder. Sqqquuueaaaallll -- there are so many heart-stopping and tummy-flipping moments!

A case of mistaken identity, a mystery hidden in the walls of the old inn and the tight-knit siblings who band together to honor their parent's dream -- happy sigh, it doesn't get better than this.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Lake Season, 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 14 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

On Magnolia Lane

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

HUNTER, DENISE
ON MAGNOLIA LANE

Falling in love with Daisy was easy for Jack. But finding the courage to tell her becomes problematic when his secret feelings lead to even bigger complications.

After two years of counselling sessions with Daisy Pendleton, Pator Jack McReady has earned a permanent spot in her life as a spiritual leader -- and nothing more. Jack would never risk losing her trust by exposing the depths of his heart, but he's hopelessly in love with her.

Daisy loves her southern small-town life and her job at her family-run flower shop, but she doesn't have the thing she longs for most: someone to share it with. Her recent foray into online dating has been a disaster -- until she meets TJ.

Jack could kill his friend Noah for using his initials and some indistinct photos to set up a profile on the dating all Daisy is using. But when he's finally afforded the opportunity to show her a different side of himself, he's sucked into the plan before he has time for second thoughts.

Online, Daisy shares some of her greatest fears with TJ, but in person, Jack and Daisy are spending more time together. When a devastating family secret surfaces, Daisy knows that only her trusted friend and counselor can bring her comfort. Jack wants nothing more than to be both men for Daisy, but revealing his secret will prove to be the ultimate test of Daisy's grace.

My Review:

published in 2018

I found this to be an unexpectedly lighthearted read from Denise Hunter even though she tackles some heavy issues. Still -- it comes across (to me anyway) as a romantic comedy. I listened to the audible version and I was constantly laughing out loud. Would-be-suitor Pastor Jack is just so...awkward....and the pep talks he gives himself! I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time!

And then there's Daisy, so clueless. She has Jack boxed in as 'Pastor' and since she totally isn't pastor wife material the idea of romance doesn't enter her head....at least not consciously. Loved watching these two bungle their way towards a HEA. As much as I laughed, my heart was also touched by their struggles. I could relate to Jack's social awkwardness and Daisy's insecurities. It made me want to root for them even more.

A rollicking fun read with a 'You've Got Mail' kinda vibe.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of On Magnolia Lane, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 28 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Summer by the Tides

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
SUMMER BY THE TIDES

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.

Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe's love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram's maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.

As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all way not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven -- nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.

As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy's heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they've become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

My Review:

"When I can't trust others and I can't trust myself, I can always trust God."

While there is a love story at the heart of this novel, it is surrounded by the complications and strife of family secrets. The romance is toe-curling, though it takes some time to get going....that Maddy is determined to be as ornery and wary and bitter as she can be. And she has a host of good reasons for building that prickly shell she's hiding her heart under. But, there comes a time when a girl has to let go and let God and that's the lesson Maddy has to learn on this summer sojourn.

Good Samaritan Connor is unexpectedly pulled into the Monroe sisters drama when their Gram (his neighbour) goes missing. Love this hero who sports an easy-going beach comber vibe though he's anything but. And love his relationship with his sisters. I was kinda hoping that Lexie might get her own story, but I think Summer by the Tides is a standalone. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know!

Deep wounds have splintered the Monroe family and it isn't until secrets are shared and past wrongs forgiven that they can forge ahead in loving sister solidarity. Poignant and hopeful -- Summer by the Tides explores the many facets of love and the courage it takes to hold on during the tough times.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Summer by the Tides, 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 8 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Trouble with Cowboys

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
THE TROUBLE WITH COWBOYS

Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek's premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to send her kid sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie's column is cancelled., she's given first shot at a new lovelorn column -- and she can't afford to turn it down. Only problem is...Annie's never been in love.

Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with town's smooth-talking ladies' man Dylan Taylor. She'll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he'll help her answer the reader letters.

Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can't risk getting hurt now.

The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister's antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God but surrender has never come easily.

When Dylan relieves his feelings for her, Annie doesn't what to trust -- her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might be exactly what she needs.

My Review:

published in 2012
My thanks to my public library for providing me with a copy of this awesome retro read!

If you have a cowboy hat grab it quick -- you'll need it to fan yourself when the heat starts rising from  these smoldering pages. Be still my heart. The trouble with cowboys indeed! And you know what? You might want to have a fire brigade on standby -- ready to put out any fires that might start courtesy of all the sparks flying between Dylan and Annie. Phew! This is one toe-curling, heart-stomping read.

Hunter showcases God's grace through the messy lives of this hero and heroine. Love the depth in the faith thread -- it's simple and powerful but often hard to remember when we are in the midst of life's trials. And if the romance isn't enough to discombobulate you, the twists and turns in the plot will finish the job. Ah, the sweet stuff rabid readers are made from!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Trouble with Cowboys, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be open and winner announced on Sunday December 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sweetbriar Cottage

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
SWEETBRIAR COTTAGE

Noah and Josephine discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job and settled at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.

Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage -- and botched divorce -- was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.

But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah's endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife -- still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he's ever known.

As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she's never been loved unconditionally by anyone -- including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine's heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

My Review:

5 Tissue Box Alert! This is a powerful love story that's real and raw and emotionally gut-wrenching. My tummy is still doing flip-flops and my heart feels bruised. What a testimony of unconditional love -- both the Grace that was extended to us on the cross and the grace we offer to one another. Not an easy read by any means but so worth the emotional bludgeoning. The kind of story that transforms the reader. Convicts anew.

Artfully told through present day and flashbacks, Hunter painstakingly lays out a story of despair that turns into triumph. A shattered marriage. Two broken people. I was on tenterhooks the entire read. Often left reeling after one disclosure or another. And there are so many unexpected twists in the plot! A romance so deeply intimate that I felt an intruder at times.

This is so much more than a story about two people who discover they aren't actually divorced. That premise is captivating enough for a romance novel. But it's where Hunter takes us that makes this an exceptional read. There's so much more I want to say but I don't want to reveal plot details. Sweetbriar Cottage is definitely a fantastic candidate for a book club selection. In fact, I might just create a club so I can book talk to my heart's content! Definitely on my top ten reads of 2017 (if I was into making up top ten lists.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sweetbriar Cottage, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadAT yahooDOTca. If you add your email address to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 15 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Just a Kiss

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
JUST A KISS

Riley Callahan's  plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he's officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley's tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend's heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he's heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that's left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he's hiding. to make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she's poured her heart into has lost its funding and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on, Paige's feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?

My Review:

Stunning conclusion to the Summer Harbor series. Such a bittersweet read. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the Callahan brothers or this lovely small town in Maine but Hunter blesses her readers with plenty of Beau and Zach and Miss Trudy not to mention Lucy and Eden. Reading Just a Kiss felt like a family reunion in some respects. No worries if you haven't read Falling Like Snowflakes or The Goodbye Bride because this book reads really well as a standalone too.

So I'm a bit of an emotional basket case now that I've said my goodbyes to the Callahans. There are so many highs and lows in Riley and Paige's story. My tummy is still doing back flips and my toes haven't quite uncurled yet. Because when this hero and heroine are on they are really, really on. Thud. Tender. Passionate. Yearning. All the glorious ingredients of a great romance story. Unfortunately, Riley and Paige are most likely to be off -- out of sync, running scared, afraid to 'fess up. In other words -- delightfully infuriating.

The kind of novel you eagerly race through and then lament coming to the end much too soon.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Just a Kiss please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstore read AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and leave your email address use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 2 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Convenient Groom

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
THE CONVENIENT GROOM

Kate wrote the book on fiding the right mate. But she couldn't write the chapter on true love...until now.

Five hours before her Nantucket beach wedding -- and on the eve of her big book launch -- celebrity marriage counselor Kate Lawrence has everything in place.

Everything, that is, but the groom. She might not have a career, either, when her nationwide audience finds out their marriage expert has been left at the altar.

Enter Lucas Wright, who offers to stand in for the missing husband-to-be and marry her, Kate's desperate enough to agree -- although she's sure this Mr. Wright is completely wrong for her. They might just be able to pull this off. But Kate has one crucial question: what's in it for him?

Could it be that God's plans for "Dr. Kate" don't align perfectly with her to-do list? And will Kate realize that the truest love she'll ever receive can only come from God?

An inspiring tale of enduring love set in romantic Nantucket.

My Review:

I'm a late bloomer when it comes to Denise Hunter's novels so I'm slowly tackling her backlist. After all the online discussions about the Hallmark movie based on this book I decided it was time to catch up on this 2008 classic.

If I had to sum up this story in a few words it would be -- tenderness and angst. Usually in equal doses but I'll admit to feeling more trepidation on Lucas's behalf even as I swooned over his unwavering love for Kate. And she is blithely unaware even thought she's celebrated as a relationship counselor extraordinaire! But that's 'cause Kate hardly ever looks up from her to-do lists to take any notice. Their journey to a happily-ever-after is plagued with misunderstandings which kept my heart all aflutter as I urged them on. Sweet, tender, infuriating -- with plenty of toe-curling -- make this a scrumptious romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Convenient Groom please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Secretly Smitten

GIVEAWAY

COBLE, COLLEEN
BILLERBECK, KRISTEN
HUNT, DIANN
HUNTER, DENISE
SECRETLY SMITTEN

Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring -- Smitten, Vermont is the place for love...and mystery!

There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic -- a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose's three granddaughters -- Tess, Clare, and Zoe -- and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

My Review:

I'm smitten with Smitten, Vermont! Sorry, couldn't resist. Loved the small town vibe so ripe for romance.  And those Thomas women are a hoot! Raring to match each other but turning alarmingly stubborn when Mr. Right comes their way. Each novella stars a sister (or mum) and while the reader gets to bask in their happily-ever-afters there is also a really neat mystery thread that winds its way through all the stories from start to finish. I couldn't wait to find out how that ended! And I wasn't disappointed. Tons of romance, quite a few laughs and some tender insightful moments as each woman tackles the obstacle that threatens that coveted happily-ever-after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Secretly Smitten please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 11  2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Goodbye Bride

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
THE GOODBYE BRIDE

She only remembers loving him. But he can't forget the way she left.

Lucy Lovett can't remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn't remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn't remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she's back -- vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?

Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he'll win back the love of his life -- but if Lucy's memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.

My Review:

Help! I've been kidnapped by a book and I don't want to escape! Honestly, I have never wanted to devour a story more. I was so desperate to find out about those missing seven months that I couldn't stop reading. This book consumed me!

Zac, the reluctant hero just about tore my heart out. Lucy's wronged him in the worst way imaginable and yet he can't help but rush to her aid. And all the while he's helping her he's staunchly guarding his heart but then these sweet memories from their past come creeping in and my tummy's all aflutter as I drool over his misplaced (or is it?) devotion. "Falling in love with Lucy had been as easy as drawing a breath. Falling out of love, not so much." (p. 47) What a conundrum for poor Zac!

And I'm equally as torn for Lucy who suddenly finds herself in the throes of a bad breakup which she caused but can't remember. Talk about emotional angst to the nth degree! And she has some pretty sweet memories as well. Oh my, those romantic snippets are toe-curling, let me tell you. And so are some swoonworthy present day scenes as well. Hyperventilating bags recommended before embarking on this reading journey.

As Lucy and Zac's story progressed I found myself stopping periodically to dream up plausible reasons for Lucy leaving Zac so abruptly. And oh goodness, my imagination ran wild! Then I'd take a steadying breath before diving back in to read some more only to stutter to stop wondering if I really wanted to know why Lucy jilted Zac right before their wedding. I mean, what if I couldn't understand her reasoning? How could I forgive her for putting the hero I'd completely fallen for through such a traumatic experience?

Not to mention the reader guilt I still feel over kinda sorta hoping the heroine doesn't get the guy so I might have a chance. Yeah, I know that's a new reader low. Even for me.

And I'm still rejoicing in the powerful testimony of God's constancy that escalates The Goodbye Bride into a classic, timeless love story that belongs on everyone's keeper shelf.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Goodbye Bride please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 24 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Falling Like Snowflakes

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
FALLING LIKE SNOWFLAKES

When the Christmas season finds Eden in Summer Harbor, Maine, she's on the run from trouble. Romance is the last thing on her mind.

Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this--fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?  

My Review:

Book One in an exciting new series about the Callahan brothers. Yay -- I love family series -- especially when they involve intriguing and exasperating heroes like the Callahans.

Falling Like Snowflakes is Beau's turn to shine...though I'll admit that he's a bit of a dunderhead in the beginning of the book. Still very appealing, mind, but he does give a reader a few conniption fits until he figures things out. And when he does...Oh. My. Cue the fans. Haul out the fainting couch. Gotta love a man with a singular purpose, especially when it involves the woman he loves. And, of course, that leads to a scrumptious kissing scene that will not only curl your toes but your hair as well! It's the layers of emotion Hunter conveys in that scene -- a wealth of tenderness that made me want to weep. Truly exquisite.

There's an interesting edge to this contemporary romance with Eden being dogged by a danger the author reveals by slow degrees until we finally have the full story. Definitely induces a page-turning frenzy!

And the emotional angst is just as compelling. Eden hasn't had an easy time of it. I admired her tenacity -- her sheer will to overcome every obstacle strewn in her path. She craves independence and balks at the protective restraints Beau would place on her. They both have a lot to learn about each other and the true path to freedom. A stellar beginning to Denise Hunter's new Summer Harbor series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Falling Like Snowflakes please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 4 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Married 'til Monday

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
MARRIED 'TIL MONDAY

With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Summer Harbor, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college—her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It’s just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

What could possibly go wrong indeed? Just about everything as Ryan and Abby try to navigate being together while not really being together. And in the midst of the subterfuge they are confronted with way too many memories -- both good and bad.

An emotional read that kept me on tenterhooks right to the very end. After reading the other Chapel Springs Romance books I felt a real allegiance to Ryan. He was so earnest and endearing in his desire to reconcile with Abby. It about broke my heart.

Abby, on the other hand, claims to have moved on. She certainly doesn't want to open old wounds and risk even more pain. But Abby's past -- long before Ryan -- was riddled with pain. The kind she's still carrying around with her. It makes her prickly and unresponsive...at first.

Ryan's relentless pursuit makes him a truly swoonworthy hero. Abby's resistance is agonizing. She's too pragmatic -- "Whether he liked it or not, they dragged their failed marriage behind them like a noisy string of cans on a "Just Married" car." (p. 57) The whole story is a riveting 'one step forward, two steps back' kind of read. Hunter does a stunning job of portraying the crushing heartache of divorce and the desperate hope of reconciliation. And the fact that Ryan and Abby were married makes the whole romance edgier. There are so many undercurrents and delicious nuances that constantly simmer below the surface.

A breathtaking love story that rises from the bitter ashes of monumental loss.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Married 'til Monday please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 23  2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Wishing Season

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
THE WISHING SEASON

Living side-by-side, a fledgling chef and a big-hearted contractor find a delicious attraction.
Trouble is, their chemistry could spoil their dreams.

Spirited PJ McKinley has the touch when it comes to food. Her dream of opening her own restaurant is just one building short of reality. So when a Chapel Springs resident offers her beloved ancestral home to the applicant with the best plan for the house, PJ believes it’s a contest she was meant to win.

Contractor Cole Evans is confident, professional, and swoon-worthy—but this former foster kid knows his life could have turned out very differently. When Cole discovers the contest, he believes his home for foster kids in transition has found its saving grace. All he has to do is convince the owner that an out-of-towner with a not-for-profit enterprise is good for the community.

But when the eccentric philanthropist sees PJ and Cole’s proposals, she makes an unexpected decision: the pair will share the house for a year to show what their ideas are made of. Now, with Cole and the foster kids upstairs and PJ and the restaurant below, day-to-day life has turned into out-and-out competition—with some seriously flirtatious hallway encounters on the side. Turns out in this competition, it’s not just the house on the line, it’s their hearts.

My Review:

Please note: A fainting couch is essential for this read due to copious swoonworthy scenes scattered throughout the book. Be. Still. My. Heart. PJ and Cole made a huge impact on me. And their first meet? Hysterical. Especially PJ. Hunter has a brilliant talent for fleshing out the essence of a character in only a few pages. I felt like I knew PJ (and loved her) in a all of a nanosecond.

Talk about opposites attract -- only Cole and PJ don't at first. Or pretend they don't. They come from different worlds, their lives riddled with diverse experiences but at the core they are both struggling with deep issues of self-worth and a determination to prove themselves. Talk about upping the angst because they both need to win this competition. I mean really need to win. My heart was all aflutter the whole read trying to figure out how that was even possible.

This is the kind of book that will make you laugh out loud just as much as it will tug at your heartstrings. A wonderful blending of the stuff real life is made of. The McKinley family has become a fixture in my life much as Henderson's O'Malleys and Warren's Christiansens have. I like to think of them all as extended family and it's such a treat to catch up with the rest of the clan. No worries if you haven't read the other books in A Chapel Springs Romance series, this one reads well as a standalone. Mind you, I predict that after reading The Wishing Season, you'll definitely want to hunt out the other three.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Wishing Season please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 11 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Winter Brides : a Year of Weddings Novella Collection

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
RANEY, DEBORAH
ST. AMANT, BETSY
WINTER BRIDES : A YEAR OF WEDDINGS NOVELLA COLLECTION

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three winter weddings . . .
A December Bride by Denise Hunter
When Layla O'Reilly and Seth Murphy make their engagement public, she knows it's only to convince a major client that she's high-society enough to work for his agency. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, but she’s never given him the time of day. For Layla, this romantic illusion is the chance to save her career. And for Seth, it's the chance to finally win her heart.

A January Bride by Deborah Raney
Novelist Madeleine Houser arranges a temporary office in a local bed and breakfast to escape the distracting renovations on her own house. Although she's never laid eyes on the inn's owner, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them as they leave daily notes for each other, and before long, Maddie finds herself falling for her mysterious host—a man likely many years her senior—and a man she's never even met.

A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant
History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day—wearing the same dress passed down for generations of women in her family, all women with histories of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. When thrown unexpectedly together for a wedding months later, Allie and Marcus discover their own story might be far from over.

My Review:

Sqqqquuuueaaaalllll!  I'm so excited about Zondervan releasing the A Year of Weddings novellas in print format. They were originally published as ebooks -- one novella every month for a year. I don't have an e-reader so I missed out on this incredible collection by some amazing authors. The print versions are arranged by season -- three novellas to a book and I just had to order Winter Brides as soon as I heard about it. I mean, seriously, how could I resist with these extraordinary authors?

A December Bride by Denise Hunter -- What a premise! My heart ached for poor lovelorn Seth. And he's so stoic and kind and romantic. Insert swoon here. Of course Layla is clueless and a tad bitter but inexplicably attracted to the man playing her fiancé. Toe-curling good.

A January Bride by Deborah Raney -- Really fun read. The hero and heroine don't meet right away -- the relationship develops in the form of letters and both make incorrect assumptions about the other. Their first meet is hysterical! Romance soon follows in sigh-worthy splendour.

A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant -- A runaway bride story that pulled at my heartstrings. Allie is so lost and Marcus is so wounded and they're thrown together months later. Raw emotion ensues. I ached for them both as I worked my way to their (thankfully) happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Winter Brides please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 21  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!