An Unlikely Duchess

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NELSON, JESSICA

AN UNLIKELY DUCHESS

A marriage of convenience is the only way to save her family...

Widow Sophia Seymour never planned to marry again -- let alone become a duchess. But with her father missing and her family impoverished, and old betrothal contract promising her hand to a notorious duke is her only hope. And Edmund DeVane intends to honour the agreement -- in name only. After all, Edmund needs a wife with an impeccable reputation to protect his debuting niece. But as their arrangement starts to feel much more real, can their budding love survive Edmund's deepest secret?

My Review:

Eeeepppp! Eeeeeeppppp!! Eeeeeeeppppp!!! I have stumbled onto a treasure trove of bookish delight -- Love Inspired Historicals are back in production...at least two new releases a month though they make it very hard on readers to source 'em out. Thanks to bookish friends who have guided my way! Of course I had to start with a Regency! :-)

So, we have a forthright widow who isn't afraid to speak her mind or live her life outside the norms of elite society. Sophia did not marry well, but she married for love and now that she's a widow, she pours her attention out upon her family and charitable works. Until the untimely disappearance of her father puts everything in jeopardy and she finds herself in....(insert drumroll here)...A marriage of convenience! One of my favourite tropes -- do not ask me why because I have no sane answer. I just get soooooo over-the-top excited when I come across one (in fiction, not real life of course!)

And dear Edmund does not make anything easy. He definitely lives up to the nickname "Beast"! He holds the ton in great disdain, abhors all the social gatherings and mindless niceties they entail. The man is in a constant fit of temper or contempt and has perfected the art of glowering. But there is one chink in his armour -- the niece he dotes upon. She is all the family he has left and he would do anything for her including dragging his sulky self into a marriage of convenience. Bwahahaha!

The banter! The romantic tension! The way Sophia surprises him -- no, shocks Edmund -- at every turn. She's one of the few people in his life who will stand up to him  and it's clear early on that he's in way over his head. Of course, he doesn't realize that until pretty near the end of the book which makes for one absolutely delightful read.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, London setting

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Unlikely Duchess, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 12 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

A Ready-Made Texas Family

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MOORE, ANGEL
A READY-MADE TEXAS FAMILY

A Partnership of Necessity

For the sake of her orphaned siblings, Charlotte Green will do anything to save her family's Texas hotel -- even hire her childhood nemesis, Nathan Taylor. Sure, he's grown into a charming, handsome man since then, but it won't change the past...or her present situation. Like it or not, Charlotte must work with Nathan, but that doesn't mean she has to enjoy it!

After love burned him, the only commitment Nathan will make is to his career. He won't be distracted...even if Charlotte is as lovely as she is feisty and the hotel is beginning to feel like home. But when a new opportunity pits his ambition against his heart, will Nathan choose Charlotte and her family?

My Review:

Wow -- I don't think I've ever read a book where grief is almost like a secondary character. It's painful and hopeful and faith-stretching and I really appreciate the realistic portrayal of a grieving family. And while that might sound like a heavy read, it really isn't. A Ready-Made Texas Family is the perfect mix of laughter and tears as the Green siblings find their way in a world without their parents.

In the midst of this horrendous loss, Charlotte becomes the proprietor of the family hotel as well as sole guardian of her much younger half-siblings. She's stretched beyond her limits when Nathan Taylor comes on the scene and Charlotte is forced to work with him in order to save her father's legacy.

A moving story about loss and change and the hope of second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win  acopy of A Ready-Made Texas Family, 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 of the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Their Wyoming Courtship Agreement

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HENRIE, STACY
THEIR WYOMING COURTSHIP AGREEMENT

The Sweetheart Arrangement...

After two broken engagements, Isobel Glasen's determined to stay single -- until a runaway horse makes her an accidental entrant in the Ride for a Bride race. And her ex-fiance's brother is the winner. With a successful business and a cozy apartment, Isobel has a life as carefully constructed as the beautiful gowns she designs. But now a fake courtship may be the only way to quell town gossip.

New to town, Alex Russell aims to get his veterinary clinic off the ground. Though he once secretly pined for Isobel, he's determined to escape his brother's shadow and find a woman who chooses him first. But could time spent together provide a second chance -- and turn pretense into the perfect match?

My Review:

I love it when an abstract bit of history captures an author's imagination. In this case it's the Ride for a Bride race which is hysterical and just a little alarming when you think about it! All I can say is never trust a horse named Charger. :-) Love this sort-of-second-chance love story -- He's loved her from afar and is finally getting his chance but she's been devastated in love twice and isn't anxious for a repeat performance. Luckily, Alex is playing for keeps....he just has to convince Isobel of that.

Sweet romance plays out amidst the backdrop of a small western town. And fans of Stacy Henrie's other Love Inspired Historical titles will be delighted to see some familiar faces as Isobel and Alex work towards their very own happily-ever-after. A sublimely satisfying read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Their Wyoming Courtship Agreement, 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 9 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Convenient Amish Proposal

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DREXLER, JAN
CONVENIENT AMISH PROPOSAL

Suddenly a mother...

When Bethany Zook's childhood friend returns to Indiana Amish country a widower, with an adorable little girl in tow, she's willing to aid him in any way. But there's just one thing Andrew Yoder needs -- a mother for little Mari. And he seems convinced Bethany is the answer, just as she's sure any union between them would be one strictly of convenience.

Andrew thought Bethany had married another. Now, determined to keep mari despite his mother-in-law's interference, he offers Bethany marriage in name only. But she's quickly becoming more than a housekeeper and a mamm. Can he leave the past behind to claim a family of the heart?

My Review:

Eeeeep!!!! I love a good marriage of convenience story and this one has me brimming with bookish euphoria. Because....Amish! Historical! And the Depression Era! That right there is a lethal combination for this avid reader. And Jan Drexler is an amazing storyteller. I love how she pulls something from her own family history and gives it a creative writerly twist.

There's so much heart in this story. A unique kind of second chance romance, but my heart ached for both Bethany and Andrew for awhile. And I might have wanted to thwack Andrew upside the head for half the book but that's just me being ornery...and clearly lacking in compassion. :-)

Endearing (and not so endearing) secondary characters add pizzazz to an already sparkling story. From Bethany's large and male-dominated family to Andrew's unbiddable mother-in-law, Drexler has created a multi-faceted story that was hard to put down. And I absolutely loved the glimpse of the Depression years from an Amish perspective!

Awesomesauce from start to finish!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Convenient Amish Proposal, 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 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Romancing the Runaway Bride

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KIRST, KAREN
ROMANCING THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

Second-chance bride

Though she came west in her wedding dress, Deborah Frazier isn't looking for a groom. She fled St. Louis to excape marrying a man she didn't love. In Cowboy Creek, she's found shelter, friends and a job. All that's now in jeopardy, thanks to a handsome newcomer.

Undercover Pinkerton agent Adam Halloway is hunting for his family's greatest enemy. The pretty baker at the boardinghouse is certainly hiding something -- but is she an accomplice to a criminal? As evidence against Deborah piles up, can Adam trust his heart and make Deborah a bride at last?

My Review:

I do so love a mix of mystery in my historical romance and Kirst does a superb job of weaving both together in Romancing the Runaway Bride. And really, what's not to love about a runaway bride paired with a Pinkerton agent -- working undercover no less?! Oh, the delicious thrills that sent me into a reader tailspin as misunderstandings snowball and the romance grows gnarly right when the intrigue heats up! I wanted to bash poor Adam a time or two. That man knows how to hold a grudge and he's messed up his priorities for way too long....and continues the trend with Deborah! Gah! But he's so endearing in his vulnerability that my heart softened and I was rooting for him to get his man and his girl!!!!! Preferably without anyone getting shot, thank you very much. A read-in-one-gulp kind of book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Second-Chance Bride, 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 . 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 December 30, 2019. Open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Rancher Inherits a Family

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ST. JOHN, CHERYL
THE RANCHER INHERITS A FAMILY

Unexpected Father...

The pretty redhead Seth Halloway pulls from a derailed train has surprising news for him. The children she's accompanied to Cowboy Creek aren't heres -- they're his, thanks to the last wishes of a late friend. Busy rancher Seth must suddenly cope with three rambunctious boys...and try to ignore his growing feelings for independent Marigold Brewster.

Marigold hopes to start over as the town's new schoolteacher. She'll choose her own path, and stay aloof from the adorable Radner boys -- and their guardian. But the man who rescued her from a wrecked railcar might ust be the one to save her from loneliness...if she dares to let him in.

My Review:

I can't believe this is my first visit to Cowboy Creek! Clearly I have been missing out on a lot! Love this growing town and the way they draw together to become a community of faith and grace. What a great backdrop for a cowboy romance...speaking of which...Seth Halloway! If you made a list of all the swoonworthy characteristics we all love in a Western wrangler you could put his name in as the definition. Including being endearingly awkward in the wooing department. And intensely stubborn when it comes to sharing his feelings...or even acknowledging them.

Mind you, Marigold isn't much better. Still reeling from a series of losses, she's determined to make a life for herself on her own -- pouring her love into her young scholars instead of seeking romance and a family of her own. But that's before three little rapscallions get under her skin and their quietly steadfast guardian opens his home....and heart.

A heartwarming love story that celebrates the miracle that comes from creating a new family out of unspeakable loss and heartache.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rancher Inherits a Family, 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 April 22 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Unconventional Governess

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NELSON, JESSICA
THE UNCONVENTIONAL GOVERNESS

A mutual arrangement

Henrietta Gordon has one dream: to practice medicine alongside the uncle who raised her. But when he insists she stay in London and find a husband, she must figure out a way to earn money toward her goal. Could handsome earl Dominic, Lord St. Raven, be the answer?

Desperate to find a governess for his niece after his brother's death, Dominic hires Henrietta -- and is soon taken by her smarts and determination. But as Henrietta comes to care deeply for Dominic and his charge, the thought of inevitably leaving them feels impossible, forcing her to decide what's more important -- following her dream or her heart.

My Review:

Screeeech!!!! Regency Euphoria alert! And cue the fainting couches because the romantical scenes made my tummy do back-flips and somersaults and loop-de-loops! My senses are all nonsensical as this story is still fresh in my mind so forgive me if this review doesn't make sense. :-)

So -- Dominic -- excuse me while I languish on my fainting couch while I type this because he is such a swoonworthy hero! A little bit brooding (with good reason) and a whole lot appealing. His heart for his niece made me a fan first because who can resist a grown man turned to putty at the hands of a precocious twelve-year-old? But their relationship is complicated and in danger -- hence the need for a governess.

Henrietta might be considered an unorthodox choice, but there's no disputing the fact that she is highly intelligent...and opinionated. And not shy about speaking her mind. Sparks fly and the air fairly crackles with electricity every time Dom and Henrietta share a scene and thankfully they share many. And the almost kissing scenes are just as charged as the actually kissing scenes so consider yourselves forewarned.

A sublime example of everything that's right with a Regency.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Unconventional Governess, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in 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 April 8 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Frontier Matchmaker Bride

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SCOTT, REGINA
FRONTIER MATCHMAKER BRIDE

The lawman meets his match

Successful Seattle matchmaker Beth Wallin has her most challenging assignment yet -- find Deputy Hart McCormick a bride. Beth's still smarting after the handsome lawman spurned her affections a year ago. But if she finds Hart a wife, Beth will gain favor with the city's most influential women...and perhaps free her own heart, as well.

Marriage is the last thing on the deputy's mind. After tragically losing his sweetheart, he vowed never to love again. But as sweet, spunky Beth introduces him to potential fiancees, Hart finally feels a spark...for her! The stubborn bachelor will be Beth's first matchmaking miss, unless they can both admit that she ust might be his perfect match.

Frontier Bachelors: bold, rugged -- and bound to be grooms

My Review:

Love it when a matchmaker gets caught in a web of her own making! And Beth is a force to be reckoned with but she's so vibrant and sweet and cheerful it's hard for Hart to hold a grudge. Or even dissuade her. He's held a certain regard for the feisty matchmaker since her audacious declaration months ago. His unkind rebuff was meant to spurn...and protect...Beth. And while he still feels confirmed bachelorhood is the decent thing to do, Beth has stirred foreign longings that are proving hard to fight.

In addition to all the fun and sniping this deputy and his matchmaker bring to the story, there's a suspense plot that stirs everything up into an exciting frenzy. And Scott has dedicated some satisfying page time to the heroes and heroines of previous books in the series. Namely Beth's brothers -- all happily married but still trying to run her life anyway. So much fun! Each book reads well as a standalone but this is a great series that you'll want to catch up with if you enjoy historical romance with sass and humour and a hard-won happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Frontier Matchmaker Bride, 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 March 18 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Rancher's Temporary Engagement

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HENRIE, STACY
THE RANCHER'S TEMPORARY ENGAGEMENT

Undercover fiancee

The Pinkerton agent that Edward Kent hired is intelligent, capable -- and unexpectedly female! Though shocked to know that Maggy Worthing we be investigating the threats to his Wyoming horse ranch, Edward needs to find the culprit. And if that means a temporary engagement to give Maggy a cover story, he'll play along with the feisty detective.

Maggy always gets her man -- at least when it comes to solving crimes. The young widow refuses to marry again and land under another husband's thumb. Unmasking Edward's enemies will earn her a longed-for promotion...but the heart has it's own mysteries. Could working together with the handsome English aristocrat spark a real and lasting relationship?

My Review:

Seriously -- what could be better than a cowboy hero? A British aristocrat cowboy hero that's what! I'm just...beyond twitterpated and well into gobsmackingly smitten over Edward.  Even Maggy finds unguarded moments when she feels attracted to him...and that's saying something because she has no intentions of ever being controlled by a man again. This unconventional heroine is content to make her own way in a man's world and I absolutely love that about her. But there is also a heap of vulnerability buried under that professional veneer and Edward is astute enough to notice. Be still my heart -- I so love an emotionally observant hero.

Of course there's a mystery and encroaching danger which contributes to the page-turning compulsion of this read. As does the touching faith thread about the nature of our relationship with God. This one is Awesomesauce with a capital A!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Rancher's Temporary Engagement, 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 March 4 2018. Good luck!

The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart

GIVEAWAY

DREXLER, JAN
THE AMISH NANNY'S SWEETHEART

Love in Plain Sight

As nanny for her nephew, Judith Lapp's finally part of a vibrant, joyful Amish community instead of being on the outskirts looking in. But teaching her neighbors' Englischer farmworker to read Pennsylvania Dutch wasn't part of her plan. And the more time she spends with Guy Hoover, the more he sparks longings for a home and family of Judith's own.

Guy figured he would never be truly accepted by his Amish employer's community -- even though the Mast family treats him like a son. But Judith's steadfast caring shows him that true belonging could be within his reach...if he and Judith can reconcile their very different hopes -- and hearts.

Amish Country Brides: small-town love, plain and simple.

My Review:

I fall more in love with Jan Drexler's writing with each book I read. She has a gift for creating memorable characters (and,if you are familiar with some of her other LIH work, you'll recognize a few of them playing a secondary role in this one.) And the way she steeps her stories with historical tidbits makes me feel like I've time-traveled into the Depression Era. Plus, her stories are deliciously complicated for a tag line claiming "plain and simple." Plain as in Amish, yes, but there's nothing simple about this historical romance. It's rife with angst and inspiration and the yearning we all have to belong.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Amish Nanny's Sweetheart, 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 25 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Suddenly a Frontier Father

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COTE, LYN
SUDDENLY FRONTIER FATHER

His Ready-Made Family

Mason Chandler is home to meet his mail-order bride -- six months too late! Little wonder Emma Jones wants to honor his letter releasing her from their agreement, especially when Mason has returned from his father's deathbed with two adopted girls in tow. And the dark secret he's hiding makes the homesteader feel unworthy to woo anyone.

As the new schoolteacher in Pepin,Wisconsin, Emma can support herself without a husband. Yet she's touched by Mason's kindness to his half-sister and her orphaned companion. Taking the little girls under her wing comes naturally to Emma -- and they dearly want her for their mama. Can Mason break free of his past to fight for their surprise family?

Frontier Brides: Finding love -- and a fresh start -- on the frontier

My Review:

Tough homesteader doting on his little girls. Sigh. Trying to fuss with their hair and press their pinafores for school. Double sigh. Mason had my heart the moment he stepped back into Pepin even though I knew he stood up Emma six months earlier. Because I was there for Emma's sister's story in Frontier Want Ad Bride when they got off the ferry to discover only one groom was waiting on shore. Asa's and Judith's story is wonderful but not necessary to have read in order to enjoy this one.

Emma has found her place -- and a way to make a living-- working as the community's schoolteacher. Consequently, she is no longer in need of a husband -- especially one who has stayed away so long.  But then she meets Mason. And Birdie and Charlotte and feels her heart tugging in a direction she'd vowed she wouldn't go again. Besides, Mason runs alternately hot and cold and she can't figure him out. Except little bits of her heart keep melting every time she sees him with his girls. (And so did mine!) Wary romance, choice tidbits of frontier life and a surprising plot twist make this an incredible read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Suddenly a Frontier Father, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in 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 Feb 4 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Montana Groom of Convenience

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FORD, LINDA
MONTANA GROOM OF CONVENIENCE

Their marriage bargain

Carly Morrison's father issued an ultimatum: get married or lose her ranch. But while she can rope and ride as well as any man, leading one to the altar is another matter -- until newcomer Sawyer Gallagher suggests a marriage of convenience. Their arrangment might be a sensible solution to her predicament, but Carly's growing feelings are a genuine complication.

Desperate to provide a home for his orphaned sister, Sawyer takes a chance on lassoing himself to headstrong cowgirl Carly. He's convinced he's too hardened by life to love anyone...until their union is threatened. Is it too late to turn this practical partnership into a real Big Sky family?

My Review:

A reclusive cowboy and a charming tomboy stubbornly match wits as they studiously ignore their growing feelings. Carly and Sawyer unite for some really good reasons, both thinking that a quick marriage can simplify their immediate problems. And it might seem that way on the surface...but it isn't long before things get deliciously complicated. He holds himself aloof from emotions so he's immune to the feisty lady rancher...isn't he? Not quite. And she just wants to keep living her life the way she always has only, of course, everything's different now. I love a good marriage of convenience story and this one is fabulous!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Montana Groom of Convenience leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooCA. 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 January 7 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Accidental Courtship

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BINGHAM, LISA
ACCIDENTAL COURTSHIP

The bachelor meets his match

No women are allowed at the Batchwell Bottoms mining camp -- yet Dr. Sumner Havisham headed West seeking a job there. When an avalanche strands her and several mail-order-brides, she's up against strict rules -- and stern mine superintendent Jonah Ramsey. But nothing will stop her -- especially from helping Jonah, who needs her healing in more ways than one.

For Jonah, his job is a refuge from his past. He has good reasons to stay far away from the spirited Sumner, especially since he thinks he has nothing to offer. But as tensions rise, her caring and skill ignites a love he'd never thought he'd find. Can they save the dreams they've worked so hard for -- and claim a life together?

The Bachelors of Aspen Valley: Love sweeps into town for these hardworking men

My Review:

Dr. Quinn meets Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in this captivating historical romance. There's something about an avalanche that strands a train full of women (including an abundance of mail-order brides) in an all male town that screams romantic mayhem!

Sumner's got backbone and natural leadership qualities as well as a medical degree if anyone will let her practice. Unfortunately, the mine owners aren't open to a female doctor...or any female for that matter! Makes for some infuriating and frustrating and down right funny situations.

Jonah is the perfect noble hero. He's let pain from his past dictate his solitary life but when Sumner becomes his responsibility he is taunted by dreams of a future he thought long dead. These two crackle and spar at every opportunity until unexpected tenderness begins to break down barriers.

Bingham has set the stage for future books in the series with an intriguing town and some likable secondary characters that definitely need their own happily-ever-after too. A brilliant start to a wonderful new series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If  you would like a chance to win a copy of Accidental Courtship, 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 easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 31 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Mother for His Family

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DIETZE, SUSANNE
A MOTHER FOR HIS FAMILY

A Convenient Arrangement

Lady Helena Stanhope's reputation is in tatters...and she's lost any hope for a "respectable" ton marriage. An arranged union is the only solution. But once Helena weds formidable Scottish widower John Gordon, Lord Ardoch, and encounters his four mischievous children, she's determined to help her new, ever-surprising family. Even if she's sure love is too much to ask for.

All John needs is someone to mother his admittedly unruly brood. He never imagined that beautiful Lady Helena would be a woman of irrrresistible spirit, caring and warmth. Or that facing down their pasts would give them so much in common. Now, as danger threatens, John will do whatever it takes to convince Helena their future together -- and his love -- are for always.

My Review:

Five star Regency-Swoon alert! This book is absolutely delectable if you are a Regency fan -- and even if you aren't! Can't really go wrong with a marriage of convenience involving 4 rambunctious children and...drum roll please (or maybe that should be a bagpipe trill)...a formidable Scottish hero! "He said down like doon and his yous were clipped and soft." (p 10).

That jackhammering beat you hear is my heart palpitations having heart palpitations! Cue the fainting couch swoon. Because John is everything you could want in a hero. He's kind. Deeply, honestly, sweetly kind. But it's tempered with a wee bit of broody which turns out to be a delightfully swoony mix. And he's broody because he's really gone off the rails when it comes to what he feels to be responsible commitment. Gah -- what can you do with a stubborn Scot? Hand him over to Lady Helena, that's what.

I was so distraught over Helena's circumstances that I'm sure there was steam coming out of my ears the whole duration of the read (which is a cost-effective way of humidifying your home during these dry winter months, by the way.) But, honestly, she has been so spiritually misguided that I just wanted to weep for her.There are some truly reprehensible scenes that put me in a spitting fury. Luckily John was close by, ready to soothe away my savage spite. That man could charm the loch ness monster out of the loch! So it's no surprise that Helena eventually succumbs. But there's danger and intrigue to sort out before an honest-to-goodness happily ever after can be achieved for all.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Mother for His Family, 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 easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 17 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Gift of Twins

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MEYER, GABRIELLE
THE GIFT OF TWINS

Unexpected holiday blessings

Finding twin five-year-old boys on his doorstep isn't the first surprise Reverend Lahaye has faced lately. Emery Wilkes, the new schoolteacher the town has hired turns out to be a very pretty woman -- not the man they'd been expecting. And though the twins and Emmy are only boarding with Ben until Christmas, the arrangement feels all too natural.

Emmy has moved to Minnesota to put loss behind her. Marriage would mean forsaking her position and her purpose, and Ben is an honorable man who understands her refusal to wed. But as he gets closer to tracking down the little boys' father, Emmy realizes just how much she wants their sweet temporary family to become permanent.

Little Falls Legacy: Building a thriving community through love and faith.

My Review:

Pastor Ben was a favourite secondary character in Inherited: Unexpected Family so I was thrilled to discover that he gets a turn to play hero in his own story. And yes, this can be read as a standalone just fine. It's the third book in the Little Falls Legacy series and I somehow missed the first one but you can be sure I'll be backtracking to catch up. I believe that Ben played a prime secondary role in that first book as well so followers of this series will be super excited about this one.

It can be tricky to create a heart-throb pastor hero -- at least I think so -- but Meyer does an amazing job of meshing toe-curling scenes with inspirational ones. And I truly adore Ben. He's honest, open, compassionate -- all the good qualities a pastor should have. But he has flaws too -- like being wary of love after repeated discouragements in the past. He figures God wants him to remain single in order to focus on his calling. Of course, he hasn't really confirmed that with the Lord and human assumptions can be a dangerous thing. Especially when it has him second guessing his attraction to the new teacher.

Emmy carries her own heartache and a pact to remain single as she dedicates herself to the children of Little Falls. Gotta love two stubborn people heading in the wrong direction. There are so many delectable moments of heated awareness -- this reader could hear the crackles in the air.  But Ben and Emmy are cagey and I was quick to despair until orphan twins land on the pastor's doorstep. Chaos and mayhem ensue as these two reluctant lovebirds are thrown together in a united cause...which soon morphs into creating a memorable Christmas for these precious little boys.

Funny and sweet and heartwarming -- a great addition to any Christmas collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ecop only

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of The Gift of Twins, leave a comment or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in 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 December 3 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Would Be Mistletoe Wife

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JOHNSON, CHRISTINE
WOULD BE MISTLETOE WIFE

Mistletoe Match

Worried she might lose her teaching job if funding is cut for her boarding school, widow Louise Smythe must consider marriage. But the only perspective groom in town is lighthouse keeper Jesse Hammond, and he wants children -- something she may never be able to provide. While Jesse waits for the ideal woman to make this wife, though, Louise can't help but long for something more than friendship.

If he wants to be promoted to head lighthouse keeper, Jesse needs to find a wife suited to his rustic lifestyle. But as he and Louise partner to give the town's homeless orphans a joyous holiday, he's drawn to the petite woman. Will the light of Christmas finally inspire them to trust in each other's hearts?

Boom Town Brides : taking a leap of faith for love

My Review:

If ever there were two people so aptly suited for one another but think they aren't...well, that would be Louise and Jesse. I might have bald spots on my scalp from tearing my hair out. Jesse so focused on planning for an ideal future that he doesn't recognize the beginning of his future is right in front of him. And Louise has turned inward, nursing the hurts from her previous marriage while striving to make a new life for herself in the shadow of a heartbreaking secret. To say these two clash would be an understatement but they challenge each other too. And there's never a dull moment when they are together. Which seems to happen a lot thanks to some not so subtle matchmaking.

And then Jesse turns into a dunderhead. There's no other way to describe it! I gave him a tongue-lashing that would blister a sailor's ears but Jesse paid me no mind. Argh! It's lucky I wasn't physically there or I would have smacked him up side the head with a cast iron frying pan. Stubborn, foolish man. Gah! No need to despair though. The author manages to wrestle him under control and melted my heart at the same time. If you like a healthy dose of angst with your sweet and tender romance then this is definitely the book for you.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Would Be Mistletoe Wife, 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 November 26 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

A Lawman for Christmas

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KIRST, KAREN
A LAWMAN FOR CHRISTMAS

The Gift of Family

Committed to her spinsterhood, Isabel Flores isn't about to trust a man with her hard-won independence or her heart -- especially not lawman Ben MacGregor. But when a little boy is abandoned on her property, the so-called "Debonair Deputy" of their small Tennessee toen helps her care for the child. And Isabel begins to hope he might be more than just a handsome flirt.

Ben is well aware of Isabel's aversion to love and has his own secret reasons for avoiding relationships. But as he and Isabel do their best to make the holiday special for their young ward, Ben wonders if he could be a family man after all. Will their Christmas be the first of many for Isabel and Ben's little instant family?

My Review:

Take two people who have resigned themselves to living their lives one way but are too stubborn to see something new and wondrous opening up before them and you have the makings for an emotional love story. Cue this reader's gnashing of teeth as she embarks on a reading frenzy.

Honestly, I wanted to knock heads together in the hopes of rattling some brain cells to life. Ben is stuck in the past, firmly believing he has nothing to offer a wife. (Puleeeeze! My curled toes beg to differ.) He's sweet and kind and gentlemanly and determined to do the right thing...even when we all know it's the wrong thing!  LOL And Isabel has allowed her father's scandalous past to define everything about her present which definitely closes off a hopeful future.

All that changes one fateful night when these two lives are entwined in an astonishing way. Danger and mystery and an abandoned child continuously pull them together during the most hopeful season of all. An old-fashioned Christmas romance that embraces the true meaning of the season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Lawman for Christmas, 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 on Sunday November 12 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Their Mistletoe Matchmakers

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GWYN, KELI
THEIR MISTLETOE MATCHMAKERS

A Christmas Match

The best Christmas possible -- that's what Lavinia Crowne intends to provide before taking her orphaned nieces and nephew home to Philadelphia. But carrying out her plan may be harder than she expects, with their handsome, stubborn uncle, Henry Hawthorne, insisting on raising the children in rough-and-tumble Sutter Creek, California. Lavinia can't bear to lose her late sister's children, though, or go against her father's demand to bring them home.

Henry believes his nieces and nephew need affection and security more than a lavish lifestyle. But as the children conspire to bring their aunt and uncle together, a new vision fills his head -- of future Christmases spent with sweet, determined Lavinia and their growing family. Can three little matchmakers, and the spirit of the season, bring the gift of a very happy beginning?

My Review:

Three cute-as-a-button matchmakers don't take any prisoners when it comes to romance in Sutter Creek. They are out to ensure a family-size happily ever after, even if their aunt and uncle aren't on board. 'Tis the season when all things become possible and Lavinia and Henry don't stand a chance. They are both so stubborn -- though I have to admit to siding with Henry right from the start.

Lavinia was just sooooooo...well, wound tight, over-the-top ladylike and seemingly unable to see anything from anyone's perspective but her own. But as I got to know her I began to understand exactly why and this story is about her struggle to find the courage to make a stand. Henry helps...and infuriates...with his devotion to their nieces and nephew. Suddenly matters don't seem as clear as she thought -- especially when three conniving children are determined to orchestrate a very different outcome.

An inspirational holiday romance guaranteed to get readers into the Christmas spirit.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Their Mistletoe Matchmakers, 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 easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 5 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Mail-Order Christmas Baby

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SHACKELFORD, SHERRI
MAIL-ORDER CHRISTMAS BABY

The Rancher's Special Delivery

The 'package' is addressed to him, but rancher Stirling Blackwell certainly didn't order a baby! more scandalous still, he and the town's pretty teacher are named as parents. With gossip running wild, only a marriage of convenience can protect little Gracie and their reputations until her real family is found.

Heather O'Connor is content to be the spinster schoolmarm of Valentine, Montana...until Gracie's arrived stirs her heart. She can't keep the adorable child without Sterling's help, though she promises not to interfere with his life. But staying aloof from her handsome husband isn't easy with a tiny matchmaker in tow. A mistake brought them together, but love might just make them a family by Christmas.

Montana Courtships: Romance unfolds under the Big Sky

My Review:

Absolutely love the clever premise for this Christmas romance. A neat switch on the traditional mail-order bride story. And little Gracie is as adorable and beguiling as she appears on the cover of this book. It isn't long before she has Stirling and Heather wrapped around her baby finger.

Which is my cue to say there is something so...heart-stopping attractive about a big ol' rancher turning into a marshmallow over the feminine wiles of a two-year old. :-) And that's a good thing because he is so gnarly stubborn about being noble he nearly misses the boat when it comes to Heather. And she's just as gnarly stubborn with her determination to not disrupt Stirling's life even though they are living in the same house! There's a lot of frustrated longing in that marriage of convenience and I loved every page-turning second. But then an unexpected mystery draws these two together into a united front as they fight for a future they suddenly both desperately want.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mail-Order Christmas Baby, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email address 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 easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 29 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Child's Christmas Wish

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VETSCH, ERICA
A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS WISH

A baby for Christmas

The only Christmas gift Oscar Rabb's four-year-old daughter prays for is one the widower can't provide: a baby sibling. And when his neighbour's house burns down, he's willing to open his home to pregnant and widowed Kate Amaker and her in-laws -- but not his heart. Even if his little girl's convinced Kate's unborn child is the answer to her wish.

Kate quickly sees the generous but aloof Oscar has little interest in growing closer to his houseguests. Still, she intends to make the coming Christmas a season to remember for his daughter. And as Oscar starts to open up to her, Kate can't help picturing just how wonderful the holiday -- and a future together -- might be.

My Review:

A heartwarming Christmas story destined to become a traditional favourite.

I adore the way Erica Vetsch includes historical details that make me feel like I'm right there smack in the middle of the story. I think I might just be able to make cheese now -- at least the old-fashioned way. The author has created a little bit of Switzerland in the wilds of Minnesota, including some delightful Christmas traditions.

Take one reclusive widower with a heart-stopping adorable four-year-old daughter and thrust him completely out of his comfort zone when he's compelled to provide shelter for  his stranded neighbours. Watching Oscar slowly unbend as Kate and her in-laws transform his solitary life into a buzz of activity was pure reader delight.

A hope-filled story that definitely belongs on the discerning reader's Christmas reading list.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Child's Christmas Wish, 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 easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 22 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.