Summer on Sunset Ridge

GIVEAWAY

MACLAREN, SHARLENE
SUMMER ON SUNSET RIDGE

Brought up on a Quaker farm near Philedelphia at the brink of the Civil War, plainspoken Rebecca Albright is expected to be charitable, peace-loving and submissive. However, those traits don't always come naturally to the feisty abolitionists. Spirit and spunky, Rebecca's chief ambition is to aid the Underground Railroad no matter the cost -- until her path collides with Sheriff Clay Dalton who is grimly fighting battles of his own. When tensions between the North and South escalate, the two find themselves propelled on a journey to discover just who God has called them to be -- and to determine whether their newfound friendship can stand up to a myriad of conflicts.

My Review:

published in 2017

I do so love a spirited and spunky heroine and Rebecca is all that and more! But she's also a devout Quaker and I love the contradictions...which aren't really contradictions if she's following God's leading in her life. MacLaren has included lots of fascinating details about the Quakers that has left me with a greater understanding and respect for the faith.

Great family dynamics within the Albright clan provide the perfect backdrop for Rebecca and Clay's unlikely friendship. Neither are free to act on the attraction that threaten to draw them into a forbidden relationship. Angst and yearning, laughter and hope -- it's all such a tangled mess of delectable page-turning.

"God is designing us, piece by piece like so many quilts. In the moment, it's difficult to envision what we'll look like in the end, but He sees the finished product, and it is our place to trust Him to put us together as He sees fit."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Summer on Sunset Ridge, 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 August 12 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sofia's Secret

GIVEAWAY

MACLAREN, SHARLENE
SOFIA'S SECRET

Scandal surrounds Sofia Rogers, a woman in her early twenties, when it becomes obvious she is pregnant and unmarried. Yet nobody knows the real story. And Sofia isn’t about to share it; she would rather bear the shame than face the threat of consequences. When Eli Trent, the new doctor in town, gets involved, the trouble escalates in the form of thievery, arson, and death threats. Nevertheless, Eli is determined to break down the wall of silence behind which Sofia hides her deep, dark secret. He is out to convince her she is not alone and to make her realize that trusting him—and her heavenly Father is the only thing that makes sense.

My Review:

The third in The River of Hope series, Sofia's Secret easily reads as a standalone. MacLaren has created a memorable character in feisty (and stubborn) Sofie Rogers. A young woman faced with insurmountable challenges determined to overcome them all...on her own. Luckily for her Dr. Trent is equally as stubborn and just as determined that Sofia doesn't carry her burdens alone. .

Eli is the stuff classic heroes are made of. Astute, compassionate with a knight-in-shining-armor complex that made this reader's heart swoon more then once. Sofia, unfortunately is made of sterner stuff and she really put the poor doctor through his paces. That made for some frustrating, amusing and eventually tender scenes. MacLaren knows how to pace a romance, leaving her readers frantically turning pages for more.

A solid inspirational thread anchors the romance and uplifts the reader even as it stretches the concept of forgiveness. In all, Sofia's Secret is a definite must-read for the discerning bookworm.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Sofia;s Secret, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, 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 March 3 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Ellie's Haven

GIVEAWAY!

MACLAREN, SHARLENE
ELLIE'S HAVEN



A courageous young woman seeking refuge...
Ellie Booth was never the type to run away. But she'd witnessed her stepfather commit a heartless crime, and, knowing he'll stop at nothing to keep her quiet, she has no choice but to flee. Soon, she finds herself in Wabash, Indiana, scrambling for a cover identity to evade her stepfather. For lack of a better option, she answers an ad for a wife/housekeeper/nanny, praying that her lack of experience won't be obvious.




A widowed father with no domestic skills to speak of...
Gage Cooper is reaching the end of his rope. With four children between the ages of three and ten, he needs a reliable nanny, yet each one he's hired has thrown up her hands and deserted her post. When an attractive, spirited young woman applies for the "job," he knows he should pray about the matter, but his desperation for help propels him headlong into a marriage of convenience.




A trial by fire of their wedding vows...
Ellie immediately falls in love with the Cooper children, and, not long after, with their father. Soon, the "marriage of convenience" becomes less of a business arrangement as husband and wife yield to an attraction neither one had expected. When secrets of the past and dangers of the present arise in their lives, their marriage is put to the test, and God alone knows what will become of their union.

My Review:

 I really enjoyed the first book in this series (Livvie's Song) and was thrilled with the chance to reacquaint myself with Livvie and Will and the rest of the gang that hangs out at the diner. When Ellie arrives clearly in need of help, Livvie is right there to offer a helping hand. Loved the two women's interactions and developing friendship even though I was shocked at what happened next. :-)

I'm not a fan of May-September romances as a rule...but MacLaren doesn't play by the rules so I tossed the handbook out and thoroughly enjoyed Ellie's Haven! And, honestly, if I'd known how young Ellie was and how much older Gage was, I likely wouldn't have picked up the book so that shows me, doesn't it? You can't judge a book by it's cover or your personal preferences. Sometimes you just have to take a chance and I'm glad I did.

Ellie is a unique combination of wise soul and wide-eyed ingenue. Poor Gage doesn't know what hit him or his home or his family. It certainly wasn't anything he could ever have conjured up in his imagination. No, thankfully he left that to the author and MacLaren knew what she was doing when she paired those two together. Of course, neither realize it right at the start. Their story is full of laughter, tenderness, heart-ache and a rather large dose of  suspenseful drama which comes to a totally unexpected climax that was the highlight of the read for me.

MacLaren has crafted another memorable journey back to the pre-Depression era and  I'm richer for the experience. Definitely add this to your TBR list.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Ellie's Haven please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please remember to put the title in the subject line so your entry is easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 20 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Livvie's Song

Giveaway!

MACLAREN, SHARLENE
LIVVIE'S SONG

A young widow trying to keep her business and hopes afloat...

Life is far from a breeze for Olivia Beckman, owner of Livvie's Kitchen, a favourite of locals in Wabash, Indiana. The widowed mother of two is struggling to make ends meet -- no simple feat, especially when her cook resigns. Yet she's determined to pull through on her own, just as she did when God failed to save her beloved Frank.

An ex-convict ready to make a fresh start...

Newly released from a ten-year prison sentence, Will Taylor is ready for a fresh start. With harmonica in hand -- the only possession he values, aside from his bible -- he makes his way to Wabash, where a late-night meal at Livvie's Kitchen turns into a job opportunity when the outgoing cook learns about his restaurant experience. What he doesn't know is that the his restaurant experience. What he doesn't know is that the "restaurant" was a prison cafeteria.

An unlikely recipe for romance...

But Will became a new man behind bars, thanks to a Christian friend, and he credits God's providence with landing him a job he loves. Soon, he cooks and bakes his way into the stomachs of his customers -- and the heart of his employer. Both are hesitant, though, still healing from past hurts. A recipe for love between them will require sharing secrets, braving dangers, and believing God for a bright future.

My Review:

There is an air of unhurried charm about this book. The story unfolds with gentle, deliberate care and it captivated me from the very first page. There's definitely drama and a plot rife with unexpected twists but I delighted in the unpredictability of what otherwise might have been a predictable story.

The inspirational message is embedded so deeply that it feels natural even as it testifies. MacLaren doesn't preach but she makes an impact nonetheless. And the scriptures that head each chapter are worth the price of the book. I've never seen such convicting passages laid out in sequential order like that. They made me pause and ponder and then eager to read on so that I could see how they applied in the character's lives.

And oh, what characters! Will Taylor, bent on change and a future of promise, delighting in the simplest things after being incarcerated for ten years. Everything is a wonder to him, including the faith he has embraced. He's the perfect foil for Livvie, who has buried herself away beneath the cloak of her mourning. Reading their love story was like watching an old black and white movie gradually changing into colour until it becomes a vibrant kaleidoscope by the end.

This is the kind of book that not only entertains, but it makes you think. A definite keeper shelf edition.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Livvie's Song, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to put the title in the subject line so your entry is easy for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 18. Good luck!