Depending on You

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

JAGEARS, MELISSA

DEPENDING ON YOU

Can the joy and hope of Christmas restore their love before it's too late?

Leah Whitsett's life was ideal until the disastrous day she nearly died because of her husband's deceit. When he returns home weeks before Christmas, she knows the best gift she can give him is forgiveness, but how can she relinquish her hard-won independence knowing he plans to turn their family's life upside down again?

Bryant has always known his wife was a gift he'd never deserved, but how can he provide for her in a town that no longer wants anything to do with him? He longs to atone for the misery he's put his loved ones through, but when he brings a family member home for the holidays, he and Leah may end up even further apart.

With emotions high and their marriage at stake, will the season bring the hope they need...or are their rifts too large to mend?

Depending on You is the third book in the Frontier Vows series by award-winning Christian romance author Melissa Jagears. If you like authentic characters who deal with real-life struggles, you'll enjoy this heartwarming holiday romance.

My Review:

published in 2020

A heartwarming second chance love story built upon the themes of forgiveness and hope.

I haven't read the first two books in this series and I think it would have helped if I had since I felt like I'd leapt into the middle of a story. The author does a good job of relaying the pertinent facts -- a kind of quick catch-up backstory for both Leah and Bryant -- but I think their love story would have made more of an impact if I'd read the other books.

Readers are introduced to a lot of characters -- a town's worth -- who have all played secondary roles or were H/hs in previous books -- so if you're current with the series, you'll be pleased to get reacquainted. Newbies like me might flounder a bit but it won't take long to shuck that new-girl-in-town feeling and become lost in the story.

The town gave me a Little House on the Prairie or Dr. Quinn vibe -- with all kinds of personalities and I love the way they all came together to celebrate Christmas with a special church presentation that was both touching and laugh-out-loud funny.

There's a poignancy to Bryant's humble pursuit of his wife. But Leah harbors bitterness and distrust and her struggle with the principle of forgiveness makes for an achingly beautiful story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Depending on You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 16  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

 

A Chance at Forever

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JAGEARS, MELISSA
A CHANCE AT FOREVER

Determined to protect the children of Teaville, Kansas, from the bullying she experienced as a child, Mercy McClain finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage and serving on the school board. When Aaron Firebrook, the worst of her childhood bullies, petitions the board for a teaching position, she's dead set against his getting the job.

Aaron knows he deserves every bit of Mercy's mistrust, but he's returned to his hometown a changed man and is seeking the forgiveness of those he wronged. He doesn't expect Mercy to like him, but surely he can prove he now has the children's best interests. at heart.

Will resentment and old wounds hold them back, or can Mercy and Aaron overcome the past in time to battle the threats against the future of the town's orphans?

My Review:

A blockbuster ending to a spectacular series! Each book has made me think and evaluate and even squirm a wee bit as Jagears examines all aspects of charity. A Chance at Forever reads beautifully as a standalone novel but I highly recommend the entire series.

I've been waiting for Mercy's story. Love her name and how she tries to live up to it, though sometimes it's annoying to have that constant reminder -- especially when she is confronted by her childhood nemesis. Aaron was an uncaring bully back then and she can't forget his cruel taunts. Worse, she can't find it in her to forgive him now that he's returned to Teaville.

Aaron has come back to make amends to the community he terrorized as a troubled youth. He is the stuff swoonworthy heroes are made of. Penitent, strong in a new found faith, he doesn't flinch from facing his past and trying to make it right. And Jagears does an exceptional job of slowly peeling back the layers that make up this complicated man. I was cheering him on from the very first page where he's nervously waiting to be interviewed for a teaching position and I fell a little more in love with him with every page turn.

Which means I was some put out with Mercy for a lot of the book because she is stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the kind and decent man Aaron has become. She's always looking for an angle, waiting for him to morph back into a bully. She's quick to judge and her suspicions about drove me crazy but Aaron patiently bears it all. See what I mean about hero material?

So there's this central theme of forgiveness --- the power we hold over someone by refusing to extend it and the peace that's possible when it's offered freely and completely. It plays over and over again in the lives of different characters -- not just our hero and heroine. Love that continuity -- the way their combined stories brought me deeper into this aspect of my faith.

And then it was over all too soon. And even though the author provides a delightful epilogue that gives us a glimpse into the futures of all the heroes and heroines in this series, I'm still left aching for more! Which is a sign of great storytelling I suppose, though a little frustrating for an avid reader like me. :-) Can't wait to see what Melissa Jagears comes up with next!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publications and Graf-Martin Communications.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Chance at Forever, 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 May 12 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Love So True

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JAGEARS, MELISSA
A LOVE SO TRUE

Evelyn Wisely loves working at the local orphanage, but her heart can't ignore the women of Teaville who are also in need. Her boss is willing to help build a shelter for them, but only if she gains the cooperation and financial support of other local businessmen.

While David Kingsman plans to stay in Teaville just long enough to get his father's business back on solid ground, he's intrigued by Evelyn's cause and finds himself more invested with each passing day.

Will their plans and partnership fall apart when confronted with all that is stacked against them, or can they trust in God's plan despite it all?

My Review:

"Was a pair of beautiful eyes and a cheeky smile all that was needed to keep her discombobulated?" (p 39) Definitely all that's needed to keep this reader in a discombobulated state, that's for sure! David is serious swoonworthy hero material and he has the power of reducing me into a "pile of ridiculousness" (p 40) right along with Evelyn. And it's so much fun because Evelyn is absolutely not the fainting couch kind of heroine. The whole town knows she spurns any suitor's advances for her own mysterious reasons which about drove me crazy, by the way -- trying to piece together why Evelyn is so determined to avoid romance. Lots of tension and angst as David tries to figure that out too.

And while the romance is sublime,  A Love So True addresses some serious issues as well. Not everyone in town supports Evelyn's charitable works with the less fortunate in town. Prejudice fuels judgment as she struggles to find a way to help women in desperate need. I love the way the author addresses the complexities of charity. It's infuriating and invigorating and not everything ends up all wrapped up in a bow because that kind of fairy tale ending just wouldn't be realistic. Lots to stew over long after the you read 'the end.'

A faith-fueled romance full of heart and spirit and enough toe-curling to send me into a giddy reading frenzy.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

With All My Heart

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WITEMEYER, KATE
HEDLUND, JODY
JAGEARS, MELISSA
TURANO, JEN
THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
WITH ALL MY HEART

Take a Journey Across America and through time in this heart-warming collection of novellas from your favourite historical romance writers.

Originally released only as ebooks novellas -- moving, fun, faith-filled, and always deeply romantic -- now find print for the first time.

My Review:

While this collection was published in 2016, the actual copyright dates of each novella range from 2012-2015. From what I can figure out, each novella was an ebook introduction to a new series by each author. So though you might recognize some of these stories, this is a chance to have these wonderful novellas all in one print collection.

Karen Witemeyer's Love on the Mend -- The central theme of forgiveness gives this novella a deeply thought-provoking quality. Of course, it's also laced with humour, we're talking Karen Witemyer, after all. And action. And a toe-curling romance between a broody hero and a plucky heroine who isn't afraid to speak her mind. The perfect blend for reader satisfaction.

Jody Hedlund's Out of the Storm --  The first lighthouse story in the Beacons of Hope series! Henry is a worldly irrepressible rogue and Isabelle is a very sheltered young woman who lives in her over protective father's shadow. Secrets threaten to keep these star-crossed lovers apart unless they can find the faith to face an uncertain future together.

Melissa Jagear's Love by the Letter -- There's definitely a BIG twist to this mail-order bride story! Perfect blend of comedy and drama. Dex is a wee bit bumbling in the romance department. Rachael is worn out from pining over an impossible love. Cue the fireworks when these two are thrown together in an unexpected way. A tender and funny love story guaranteed to make your smile.

Jen Turano's Gentleman of her Dreams -- Charlotte and Henry have been best friends since they were in the schoolroom -- only when feelings blossom into love for both of them neither is willing to make the first move. Talk about wanting to knock some heads together! :-) She's a force to be reckoned with even though she doesn't always think things through which leads to disastrous -- and hilarious -- results. Stalwart Henry is her longsuffering wingman. Love + Laughter = Happily Ever After...eventually!

Sarah Loudin Thomas's Appalachian Serenade -- Robert and Delilah have both nearly given up on love when circumstances throw them together. A gentle story that explores the concept of placing trust in God's hands and thereby learning to 'think outside the box' when it comes to what family means. Love matters. Sharing matters. Trusting God matters most of all.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of With All My Heart, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your 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 in order to make it easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 27 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

With This Ring? : a Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry

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WITEMEYER, KAREN
CONNEALY, MARY
JENNINGS, REGINA
JAGEARS, MELISSA
WITH THIS RING? : A NOVELLA COLLECTION OF PROPOSALS GONE AWRY

Love doesn't always go as planned, but sometimes the best stories are the ones that are the most unexpected. In The Husband Maneuver, Marietta Hawkins grabs the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. When a dangerous stranger arrives, friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds in Her Dearly Unintended. A Texas Ranger rescues a Runaway Bride fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage, and a young woman is forced to assist the man she's often sparred with in Engaging the Competition.

My Review:

Published in February 2016 -- and there is a different cover as well. I'll post it at the end of my review. Not sure which cover will be on the winner's book, but all the stories will be the same. :-)

The Husband Maneuver by Karen Witemeyer

Sweet romance with the intensity of unrequited love (or so both hero and heroine think.) Marietta's dreams of a happily ever after are in dire jeopardy. She no longer has the luxury of waiting for Daniel to make the first move. With her future happiness at stake, she takes matters into her own hands with comedic -- and toe-curling -- results.

Her Dearly Unintended by Regina Jennings

Be prepared to be plunged straight into disaster in this fast paced romantic comedy. Love the bickering banter between this incorrigible couple. Once friends and neighbours, Katie Ellen and Josiah hit a rocky patch in their early teens and it's been gloves off ever since. No wonder it takes a natural disaster and some divine intervention to get them back on the straight and narrow. Delightfully funny.

Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy

Texas Ranger John Conroy is the stuff tall tale legends are made of. Just the man to come to the aid of a damsel in distress. I ducked and dived my way through this action-packed love story, dodging every bullet right along with Carrie and John. Connealy's trademark comedic timing creates some side-splitting-laugh-out-loud moments and provides relief from all the tension. Wild West perfection.

Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears

Jagears mixes things up with her sharp-shooting rancher heroine and her bespectacled scholarly hero. Childhood friends and would-be sweethearts, a breakdown in adolescent communications has left 'Charlie' and Harrison at odds right into adulthood. But then the subject of marriage comes up and the games begin! Be prepared for lots of twists and turns before this hero and heroine manage to make their way to the promise of a happily ever after.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of With This Ring? please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please 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 30 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Heart Most Certain

GIVEAWAY

JAGEARS, MELISSA
A HEART MOST CERTAIN

Lydia King knows what it's like to be in need, so she joins the Teaville Moral Society hoping to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poorhouse herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that his mother is the moral society's president. Lydia's first task as a moral society member -- to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town -- seems easy...until the man flat-out refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresees the harrowing complications that will arise from working together, and when town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs -- and hearts -- truly align.

My Review:

If you don't come away from reading this novel with a deeper understanding of the true meaning of charity...well...you must have been reading with your eyes closed!

A Pygmalion story with an inspirational twist. Nicholas is intent on recreating Lydia -- as far as charitable works goes anyway. He is brooding and dashing and opinionated. But he does have a heart for service. And also, unfortunately, a healthy dose of arrogance.

But Lydia is up for the challenge. She is a woman on a mission, determined to sweet-talk (or brow-beat) Nicholas into submission. After all, her future happiness is on the line. She is downright judgemental when it comes to Nicholas and what she considers to be his blatant lack of charity and she has every intention of making him see the error of his ways. These two butt heads from the get go  and they deserve every single headache that ensues! 

A Heart Most Certain is the kind of story that sticks with you so much that you continue to have stirring debates with the characters as if they are living, breathing people -- even after you`ve left off reading. And that's because Jagears has brought a richness and depth to this historical romance. Yes, it is mesmerizing, infuriating and sublimely romantical. But it also speaks to the fact that charity is the pure love of Christ in such a compelling way. It touched both my heart and my soul and got me thinking and evaluating. In other words -- it changed me -- and you can't ask more from a book than that.

 Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Heart Most Certain 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!

A Bride at Last

GIVEAWAY

JAGEARS, MELISSA
A BRIDE AT LAST

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony--until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

My Review:

How do you trust your heart to the one person who, by their very nature, has the power to break it? That is the dilemma both Silas and Kate grapple with throughout this story.  An interesting dilemma which the author carries out to nail-biting perfection.

A Bride at Last is the kind of book with multiple layers and storylines that make it hard to tear yourself away. Ferreting out both Silas and Kate's backstories kept me on tenterhooks the entire read. There's such depth to their hurt and it's easy to understand why trust is an issue for both of them. Understandable perhaps, but also deliciously infuriating. And while they both have reason to be wary of the other, it doesn't stop the sparks from flying!  Beware, potential readers, you might just get your fingers singed while turning these pages!

Fans of the Unexpected Brides series will be thrilled to meet up with quite a few familiar faces from earlier books. In fact, Silas is a secondary character from A Bride in Store and definitely not hero material, or so I thought. But Jagears proved me wrong when she wove the strength of testimony into his wounded heart.

 A mesmerizing read that will hold you captive right to the very end.

My thanks to Bethany House and the author for gifting me with a complimentary copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Bride at Last 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 July 5 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Bride in Store

GIVEAWAY

JAGEARS, MELISSA
A BRIDE IN STORE

Mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell is on her way to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store business when her train is held up by robbers and she loses her dowry. She's further thwarted upon arriving in Salt Flatts only to find Axel, her groom, away on business.

Hoping a wife would push Axel to become a better business partner, William Stanton had encouraged him to seek a mail-order bride. With Axel gone, Will feels responsible for Eliza, so he finds her a place to stay and lets her help in the store.

Working together isn't what they'd expected, and when Axel is further delayed, neither can ignore the sparks that fly. But Eliza is meant for Axel and is set on a future with the store, while Will is biding time until he can afford medical school.

Their troubles are far from over when Axel returns to town, however, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

My Review:

Melissa Jagears won the Carol award in the novella category this past weekend and it's clear to see why. She knows how to deliver a well-crafted story that engages both the mind and the emotions. She's become a 'must read' author for me.

And we all know I have a soft spot for mail-order bride stories and Jagears delivers a doozey with this one. It has it all, action, romance, thwarted purposes, even a bit of a mystery and it starts out with a bang. A very interesting first meet for a hero and heroine.

Love bungling Will. Heart of gold, unwavering determination...except when it's wavering :-) and an unhealthy (in his opinion) attraction to his missing friend's mail-order bride. Eliza shares that determined character trait, to the point of stubbornness. She has her future all mapped out for her and doesn't quite know what to do when her plans go drastically awry. Watching sparks fly as they both work towards a future that might or might not include each other made for an exhilarating read. Jagears kept me on my toes and surprised me a time or two with great plot twists.

Awesomely awesome read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Bride in Store 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 5 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Bride for Keeps

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JAGEARS, MELISSA
A BRIDE FOR KEEPS


Everett Cline will never humiliate himself by seeking a mail-order bride. Not again. He's already been jilted by three mail-order brides and figures a wife just isn't in his future. However, a well-meaning neighbor hasn't given up on seeing him settled, so she goes behind his back to bring yet another woman to town for him.

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. A mail-order marriage in faraway Kansas is a last resort, but she'll do anything to leave her life in Massachusetts and the heartbreak she's experienced there.

Although Everett doesn't see how a beautiful, cultured woman like Julia could be happy sharing his simple life, he could really use a helpmate on his homestead. Determined to prove she's more than just a pretty face, Julia agrees to a marriage in name only. Faced with the harsh realities of life on the prairie and hesitant to explore the tentative feelings growing between them, can Everett and Julia ever let each other in long enough to fall in love?

My Review:

Fantastic debut novel! Rich text and measured words are just two of the clever writing techniques that kept me hooked and devouring this historical romance. I love the way the story unfolds -- Jagears is careful to reveal Julia's back story in small doses that kept me in an agonizing reading frenzy! Lovely contrast to Everett, whose past is more of an 'open book' (excuse the pun.)

But oh my goodness, those two are stubborn! I wanted to thwack them each upside the head on more than one occasion. Neither is willing to trust the other and I was one frustrated reader! Of course, I had the benefit of being inside both hero and heroine's head so I knew they were perfect for each other -- it just took them the whole book to figure that out. :-)

A Bride For Keeps is the perfect mix of drama and humour and has one of the most touching conversion stories I have ever read. It flows naturally and sweetly and very convincingly and provides an uplifting conclusion to this great debut novel.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Bride for Keeps 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 13 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group