Freedom's Song

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL

FREEDOM'S SONG

Fanny's voice made her a riverboat's darling -- and it's prisoner. Now can she sing her way to freedom?

Indentured sergeant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven years contract is over. So when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape -- an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty.

Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and sound daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn't arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers?

After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed dead, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat's captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past -- and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free.

Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truths, Freedom's Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional or spiritual delivery.

My Review:

published in 2021

An inspiring story about the kind of freedom only God can bring into our lives told from three points of view. One of them is, interestingly, the antagonist which brought a unique twist to the classic trope of good versus evil. Each character is at a different crossroads on their faith journey and I love the way this novel breathes inspiration and hope.

Excellent pacing, with just enough hint of danger to keep me glued to the page. This isn't an action thriller though. More of a thoughtful reflection on how God intrinsically weaves diverse lives together for a greater good. 

We follow Fanny on an impossible trek across the midwest in a desperate quest to reach the family she has been separated from for seven years. There's peril and triumph and the chance at an unexpected happily ever after...as long as Sloan doesn't find her.

The author showcases the desperate straits so many of our pioneering ancestors faced. It's especially evident in Walter's heartbreaking story. Love the air of expectancy and promise Fanny brings into his life! 

And Sloan...well he's still a work in progress...but then, aren't we all?

An inspirational romance filled with hope and 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 Freedom's Song, 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 June 4 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow

 

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL

THE LIBRARIAN OF BOONE'S HOLLOW

A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback and rediscover her passions in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.

During the Great Depression, Addie Cowherd dreams of being a novelist and offering readers the escape that books gave her during her tragic childhood. When her adoptive father loses his job, she is forced to leave college and take the only employment she can find -- delivering books on horseback to poor coal mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

The small community of Boone's Hollow is suspicious of outsiders and steeped in superstitions that leave Addie feeling rejected and indignant. Although she finds an unexpected friend in an elderly outcast, the other horseback librarians scorn her determination to befriend Nanny Fay.

Emmett Tharp grew up in the tiny mountain hamlet where most men either work in the coal mine or run moonshine. He's the first in the community to earn a college degree, and he has big dreams, but witnesses the Depression robbing many young men of their future.

Then someone sets out to sabotage the library program, going so far as to destroy Addie's novel in progress. Will the saboteur chase Addie and the other librarians away, or will knowledge emerge victorious over prejudice? Is Emmett the local ally that Addie needs -- and might their friendship lead to something more?

Inspired by the real WPA program that sent librarians on horseback to deliver books to hill families in Kentucky, Kim Vogel Sawyer immersed herself in Appalachian history to tell this captivating story.

My Review:

Kim Vogel Sawyer always casts her storytelling spell on me by the end of the first page. I feel all the tension in me unravel as I sink deeper into my chair and breathe in the essence of story in it's purist form. I become totally oblivious to my world as I immerse myself in a fictional one. And, oh my, but The Librarian of Boone's Hollow held me in swoony delight right to the end.

First off, love the Depression Era time period. I'm not sure why I am so drawn to this type of story -- maybe because the desperation of the times sharpens both the good and bad in humanity. Maybe because the simplicity of the era tugs at a yearning deep inside of me. Or maybe because the warmth of hearth and home portrayed in the TV series The Waltons has forever skewed my perception of the 1930s. :-) 

And -- hellllloooo -- a book about librarians on horseback?! Full of quotes about the wonders books can bring. The hope. The encouragement. The possibilities. Truly a bibliophile's dream!

Then there's the richly layered plot full of complex characters to love (and hate!) I felt everything right along with them thanks to Sawyer's wordsmithing magic.

And, yes, there is a faith thread, though I'd call it more of an inspirational immersion which brings so much depth to an already moving read. Redemption and grace come alive through these characters' stories.

The kind of novel you want to take your time with so you can savor the experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the The Librarian of Boone's 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 Sunday October 31 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Silken Thread

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
A SILKEN THREAD

She had come along late in Mama's life. Her siblings always accused her of being the favorite. But must Laurel forfeit her own chance at love and a future?

Laurel Millard is eighteen years old when her siblings issue an ultimatum: she must waive the rifht to a husband and family of her own in order to care for their mother. Not wanting to leave her beloved mama alone, Laurel agrees, but she secretly harbors the hope that she will find someone who is willing to accept them both.

As the Atlanta Cotton Exposition of 1895 prepares for its grand opening, Laurel eagerly applies to be a silk weaver, believing the position will be her chance to capture the hear of a wealthy suitor who can afford care for Mama and allow Laurel the life she dreams of. She catches the eye of the dashing Langdon Rochester, the heir to his father's steam-powered-engine empire. But when disaster strikes the Silk Room, Laurel makes the acquaintance of Willie Sharp, the security guard posted to protect the exhibit.

Laurel gets to know Willie and his good friend Quincy Tate -- a black groundskeeper -- and witness first hand the destructive divisions based on race, education, and social class. Despite pervasive prejudices and further trouble at the exposition, will Laurel discover the courage to pursue the kind of love that will make her heart sing?

My Review:

An enthralling story featuring four protagonists who each get page time with their own personal point of view. Love the backdrop of the Atlanta Cotton Exposition -- the perfect place for lives and values to collide. Sawyer really brings this setting to life with vivid descriptions that stole my breath (and heart) away. Because....tumultuous doesn't begin to describe my state of mind during this read. I hate injustice of any kind and there's plenty of that here. Race, education, social class...even women's rights. My tummy was flip-flopping and my heart was hammering and it got to the point where I nearly ripped pages I was turning them so fast!(Metaphorically speaking, you understand.  I would never really rip pages from a book!)

Love Laurel's gentle strength and the way her faith grows as a result of her experiences working at the exposition. A Silken Thread is a coming-of-age story in that respect. And there's romance...two possible beaus (not really a love triangle because it's pretty clear who the 'good' guy is...well, at least, she ended up with who I wanted her to be with!) But there are so many layers to this story as Laurel, Langdon, Willie and Quincy become entangled in the division and strife of a city still trying to find its footing thirty years after the Civil War.

A moving story full of grit and heart that's sure to captivate the most discerning of historical fiction connoisseurs.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Silken Thread, 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 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Beneath a Prairie Moon

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
BENEATH A PRAIRIE MOON

Out on the Kansas plains, a group of menfolk eagerly await their mail-order brides, but how long will they endure the highfalutin former society gal tasked with making these ruffians more marriage friendly?

Mack Cleveland is the only man in Spiveyville not interested in ordering himself a wife. His neighbors think he's a fool, but Mack believes the Good Lord will be the author of his love story, should He choose to pen it.

When the train from Massachusetts arrives in Kansas with the owner of Bingham's Bevy of Brides and her uptight assistant instead of the Spiveyville brides, Mack knows the men of the town won't be very happy about their new guests. So he determines to assist Mrs. Bingham and Miss Grant with acclimating to prairie life.

Abigail Grant is a young woman out of options. Although she was raised in wealth and educated at the finest schools, her father's illegal dealings left her penniless. Cast out from elite society, she takes a place with Mrs. Helena Bingham as a potential bride but finds herself rejected again and again. Now, as she accompanies Mrs. Bingham to the wild and wooly West, Abigail doesn't know what to expect next. Can she look beyond the tough exteriors to help the unruly ranchers prepare for their brides? Or examine her own heart to discover the plan God has for her?

My Review:

What a great mix of humor and drama. The whole premise of this story is awesome! Trying to refine a town of bachelors in preparation for their brides. And poor Abigail -- a chronically unsuccessful mail-order bride who challenges the matchmaker into thinking outside the box when it comes to her most taxing 'bride.' So Helena and Abigail set out to a town with 16 uncouth grooms who need...well...grooming!

Laugh-out-loud funny and achingly tender and royally exasperating. Beneath a Prairie Moon is such a fun read but it tugs at your heartstrings too. Especially when it comes to Abigail. She's a bit standoffish at first. She wears her proper manners like a shield -- a way to protect herself from her painful past. Unfortunately, it keeps her at a distance until the folks in Spiveyville work their magic.

Cue our hero, Mack. How can you not fall instantly in love with a man who won't leave something as sacred as marriage to chance? A man who is willing to let God be the author of his love story? Swoonworthy or what? And he's so kind and patient with Abigail -- even when she's snippy. His diligence pays off as Abigail slowly begins to blossom into the woman she was meant to be. Blissful sigh.

If you mooshed Tracie Peterson and Mary Connealy together and got 'Macie Petnealy' to write a novel you'd end up with a story just like this one. Lots of heart and faith and some hair raising plot twists!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beneath a Prairie Moon, 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. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 5 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Bringing Maggie Home

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
BRINGING MAGGIE HOME

Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery, and a Rift Spanning Three Generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year-old Hazel momentarily turned her back on her three-year-old sister, Maggie, and the young girl disappeared

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved, and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter, Diane, who can't understand her mother's overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother's inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan -- a cold case agent -- cherishes her grandmother's lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-weak leave of absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel's painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative powers to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that's been lost?

My Review:

A timeless story that explores the ripple effect a tragedy causes across generations. It's a rich, multi-layered tapestry of emotion that really made an impact on me. Told from the multiple view points of Hazel (grandmother), Diane (daughter) and Meghan (granddaughter) with the occasional flashback, it really illustrates the power a parent's words and actions hold. And how they shape the future generations beyond the moment they are said or done. This was an eyeopening read for me.

I adored Hazel. Closing in on eighty, we get the benefit of her memories first so it's easy to see how the disappearance of her sister shaped the rest of her life. But since she's buried that secret for decades, her daughter and granddaughter don't have the same insight the reader does and that makes family dynamics complicated. Especially between Hazel and her daughter.

True confession: Diane irked me from the very start. My least favourite character, I was bordering on hostile for most of the read. But Sawyer does an exceptional job of weaving a tale of grace and forgiveness and  the patience it takes to live both truthfully so that was a huge takeaway lesson for me. :-)

Meghan is easy to love. She's has a unique relationship with her grandmother and it's that bond that catapults these three women onto a journey of discovery and healing.

One of my favourite quotes from the book is courtesy of Hazel -- a woman of faith paired with a wry sense of humour. "God, not to be irreverent, but sometimes I wonder if You listen to me at all." (p. 52) I can totally relate to that sentiment and might be guilty of saying the same thing from time to time. :-) Unfortunately, Diane has had a very different experience with religion which has left her contemptuous of anything to do with faith while Meghan is quietly questioning thanks to the gentle but direct encouragement of a friend. Loved the insights that come from the realistic mix of characters at different stages of their faith journey.

A page-turning family drama with the hint of romance and plenty of mystery.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Bringing Maggie Home, 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 . 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 21 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

What Once Was Lost

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHAT ONCE WAS LOST

On a small Kansas farm, Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out leaving the house uninhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear 'family'.

With no other options, Christina is forced to approach Levi Johnson, a reclusive mill owner, to take in a young blind boy named Tommy Kilgore. Levi agrees, with reluctance, but finds himself surprised by the bond that quickly growns between him and Tommy. As obstacles to repairing the farm pile up, Christina begins to wonder if she can fulfill the mission to which she's dedicated her life. And when an old adversary challenges Christina, will she find an unlikely ally -- or more --in the aloof Levi? Can Levi reconcile with the rejection that led to his hermit-like existence and open his heart to something more, especially a relationship with a loving God?

My Review:

Published in 2013

Faith and hope have the potential to help desperate characters overcome overwhelming odds -- they just have to believe in themselves enough to make things happen. Sawyer has chosen to tell the story from multiple points of view and that made for more of a fulfilling read for me, though it did lessen the emphasis on the romance between Christina and Levi.

Christina has been managing the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor on her own after her father's death. I love the way the novel begins -- giving the reader a clear vision of how she has created a family out of a rag tag group of souls down on their luck. From orphans to the cast out to impoverished widows -- everyone has a place at the table and a purpose to fulfill in their simple home. But when disaster strikes, Christina is challenged on so many fronts it's overwhelming.

Levi's one of those challenges, though he turns into a blessing. A taciturn recluse, he doesn't want anything to do with Christina or the blind orphan boy she implores him to take in until she can find the means to restore their home.  There's an ingrained kindness buried under all his crusty layers and a bond builds between boy and man, It isn't long before Christina becomes part of the equation and Levi is drawn back into the land of the living.

But there's treachery afoot, naysayers to prove wrong and a despicable villain to overcome before these two can ever hope to contemplate a happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of What Once Was Lost, 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 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 1 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Grace and the Preacher

GIVEAWAY

 

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
GRACE AND THE PREACHER

Can the faith of one small prairie town and a kind woman's generous heart survive such a great deception?

At the age of twenty-three, postmistress Grace Cristler has all but given up of finding a husband among the narrowing group of eligible men in her town of Fairland, Kansas. But when her uncle decides to retire from the pulpit, Grace is responsible for corresponding with the new preacher set to take his place. She can't deny the affection growing in her heart for Reverend Rufus Dille -- a man she deeply admires but has only met through his letters.

Theophil Garrison is on the run from his past. Ten years ago his outlaw cousins convinced him to take part in a train robbery, but Theo fled the scene, leaving his cousins to face imprisonment. Now they've finished their sentences, but their plan for vengeance has just begun. Branded a coward and running for his life, Theo has a chance encounter that could provide him with the escape he needs.

But the young man's desperate con might come at an enormous price for the tenderhearted Grace -- and the entire town. Will Grace's undeserved affection and God's mercy make something beautiful from the ashes of Theo's past?

My Review:

A sweet and touching romance develops in the midst of deceit. My tummy was in knots trying to figure a way for things to work out. I thought it might be hard to connect with the hero given his desperate con, but that's just what it is -- desperation and Sawyer does a wonderful job of appealing to a reader's tender heart where Theo is concerned. I totally got the way he fell into the con and what made it so hard for him to get out. And since he's totally not what the town expects in a new preacher there's some pretty funny moments that brings levity to all that desperation.

Grace is dealing with her own kind of desperation. On the shelf at twenty-three with no prospects in sight, she's fallen for  the soon-to-be-new preacher through the letters she's been exchanging on behalf of her uncle who happens to be the retiring reverend. But Rufus Dille isn't anything like she expected he'd be when they actually meet. He keeps her discombobulated even as she is drawn to his shy sincerity.

I love how this author expertly weaves faith into the very fibre of her stories and it is front and center here. And I love the title tie-in as it can be taken in different ways. Very clever. And impactful. All in all a captivating inspirational historical romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Grace and the Preacher, 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 so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 2 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Guide Me Home

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
GUIDE ME HOME

Working in the massive cave might allow
Rebekah the chance to bring joy back to her family.
But will it claim more than it gives?

After tragedy leaves its mark on Rebekah Hardin's family, she plans to help her parents and six siblings honor her beloved brother's memory and alleviate their poverty by working as a guide in the dangerous cave system. Kentucky's renowned Mammoth Cave presents profitable opportunities for hardworking, capable men. But Rebekah is determined, and if it means presenting herself as a himself, then she's up to the job.

Under the wing of experienced guide Tolly Sanford. "Reb" begins to learn the complexities of the cave. The two are joined by an aspiring young Cartographer, Devlin Bale. The university student has traveled to the hill country to map tunnels -- not to fall for a girl in disguise.

Can the God who designed miles of underground astonishment shape Devlin's ambitious plans and free Reb from the weight of her past?

My Review:

I've had a secret fascination for the Appalachian culture since reading Where the Lilies Bloom when I was a kid so it thrilled me to my toes when I started reading Guide Me Home and immersed myself in the lives of the people of the hill country.

And, goodness, but isn't that a stunning cover? Captures Rebekah perfectly. Definitely eye-catching and promises what the text delivers. Told from four points of view -- Reb, Devlin, Tolly and Cissy (Rebekah's younger sister), Sawyer gives each character a unique voice and it was easy to lose myself in their simple but oh-so-complicated lives. Tolly in particular has a special place in my heart. An older African American gentleman with the wisdom only true faith can bring. He knows what's right and he isn't afraid to say so. Everyone needs a Tolly in their life.

Rebekah and Devlin's friendship seems doomed to stall right there. Class distinction, educational differences and family backgrounds all seem insurmountable stumbling blocks to their budding romance. Plenty of fodder for angst!

And I so appreciated the guileless way the author wove faith throughout the story...and the lives of these endearing characters.

This is the kind book you willingly lose yourself in only to emerge hours later all discombobulated over finding yourself in the 21st century. Love losing a piece of myself in a good book!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Guide Me Home 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 November 27 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Room for Hope

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
ROOM FOR HOPE

In a desperate time, can Neva find forgiveness for a grievous wrong—and make room for hope?

Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.

When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”

Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?

My Review:

One of the most stirring redemption stories I have ever read. The power and majesty of forgiveness is portrayed through the lives of these characters. Life-like battles for release from bitterness and despair brought me to tears.

First off -- can you imagine being in Neva's shoes? Talk about the ground dropping out from under you! I felt faint at the knees right along with Neva when she finds out about her husband's unfaithfulness. And then to be expected to care for the children from that duplicitous relationship! Oy! My sensitive reader's heart took a major nose-dive.

Told from four different viewpoints, Sawyer does an incredible job of capturing individual personalities and struggles. Each character is at a crossroads in their life and the subsequent decisions and ensuing actions will determine more than just their own future. Compelling stuff.

A faith-based, hope-filled story that had me cheering for the resounding testimony that proclaims there is always room for hope.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Room for Hope 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 March 20  2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

When Love Returns

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHEN LOVE RETURNS

Riddled with doubt and lingering regrets, will Suzanne and Paul find strength in God to explore a second chance at love?

It wasn’t easy to move back to the Old Order Mennonite community from which quiet, responsible Suzanne Zimmerman was shamefully sent away as a pregnant teen. Returning twenty years later to take care of her mother, Suzanne and Alexa—the daughter she raised as her own—have spent months rebuilding relationships with her family.

Now with the upcoming wedding of their biological daughter, Suzanne and Paul find themselves drawn to one another once again—but with new challenges to face. They have been single parents with painful pasts. Can Paul and Suzanne find the strength to rebuild the loving relationship that was torn apart by their teen pregnancy so long ago?

Suzanne must also let go of Alexa as she heads back to Indianapolis to visit friends--and as her chance to find her birth parents. Leaving the bed-and-breakfast in Suzanne’s apprehensive hands, Alexa embarks on a journey that will certainly change her life completely. Can mother and daughter trust God to restore all things in His timing?

My Review:

Stunning conclusion to The Zimmerman Restoration trilogy but, unlike the first two books, I really think When Love Returns will make more of an impact if you've read When Mercy Rains and When Grace Sings first.

This is a beautiful second chance love story with plenty of grit and emotional angst to leave a reader breathless. Suzanne and Paul have waited two decades to be reunited and there is all the delicious uncertainty, not to mention mistakes from their past, to over come. A lot for a romance lover to sink her teeth into.

But love returns in other unexpected ways as well -- like Alexa's quest to discover the mother who abandoned her at birth. It's an exceptional story thread -- real and raw and gutsy. Sawyer explores both sides of the volatile issue with compassion and grace and it made a powerful impact on me.

A host of beautifully flawed secondary characters bring a rich depth to this compelling novel. Somehow, they all come together for the good of the overall theme. In a way, this book is about choices -- whether to judge and condemn or forgive and accept. It's as simple...and complicated...as that.

A truly incredible read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  When Love Returns 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 10 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

When Mercy Rains

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHEN MERCY RAINS

Suzanne Zimmerman was only seventeen and pregnant when her shamed mother quietly sent her away from their Old Order Mennonite community in Kansas. With her old home, family, and first love firmly behind her, Suzanne moved to Indiana, became a nurse, and raised a daughter, Alexa, on her own.

Now, nearly twenty years later, an unexpected letter arrives from Kansas. Her brother asks her to bring her nursing abilities home and care for their ailing mother. His request requires that Suzanne face a family that may not have forgiven her and a strict faith community. It also means seeing Paul Aldrich, her first love.

Paul, widowed with an eight-year-old son, is relieved to see Suzanne again, giving him the chance to beg her forgiveness for his past indiscretion. But when he meets Alexa, his guilt flickers in the glare of Suzanne's prolonged secret-one that changes everything.

Suzanne had let go of any expectation for forgiveness long ago. Does she dare hope in mercy-and how will her uncovered past affect the people she loves the most?

My Review:

After I read book two in this series, a few weeks ago, I couldn't wait to backtrack and read When Mercy Rains. And even though I read them out of order so I knew a few spoilers when I started this one, I still loved it. In fact, knowing the outcome of a few threads made the read even edgier.

Love the family dynamics -- The Zimmermans are a complicated bunch and Sawyer magnificently illustrates how one action can snowball into a multitude of reactions that have long reaching effects. Sawyer has created a riveting tale of loss and love and what mercy can mean for second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When Mercy Rains 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 May 10 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

When Grace Sings

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SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHEN GRACE SINGS

When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion? 
Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.

But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths.

Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.

My Review:

Probably my favourite book by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- and that's saying something since I missed Book 1 in the Zimmeran Restoration Trilogy! Sawyer does an excellent job of infusing the pertinent bits from the first book into this one so there's no confusion. Mind you, my curiosity is piqued and I can't go without reading When Mercy Rains so look for it in a retro Saturday sometime soon.

This is the kind of emotional roller coaster ride I love to read. The author tells the story through multiple viewpoints and that creates a sense of urgency to the read. I could see how everyone interconnects and anticipating the fallout when that happens is pure torturous delight! And fallout did happen, but the author wisely left some for Book 3. So while there is a satisfying resolution to a few threads, she's left her readers eagerly anticipating the grand finale for the rest. And she's done that in such a way that the reader doesn't feel robbed. I hate abrupt cliffhanger endings and this isn't one. She leaves each character solidly planted on the right path so I feel I can leave them untended until September! (When Love Returns release date.)

I think Briley's story made the most impact on me. I really did not like him at first (and he opens the book!) The kind of guy who is too good looking for his own good -- and worse -- knows it! And he's out to prove himself regardless of who he has to step on to do that. Sawyer slowly unravels layers of Briley's past and allows readers a peek at festering hurts that have never healed. My heart couldn't help but soften towards the guy. And I loved how his heart softened after getting to know the Old Order Mennonites community in Arborville.

So many twists and turns. Emotional conflict that left me on tenterhooks for the entire read. Captivating. Exciting. Riveting. But most of all -- hopeful.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When Grace Sings 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 May 3 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Sweet Sanctuary

GIVEAWAY

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
SWEET SANCTUARY

A Story of Hope and Love from Bestselling Author Kim Vogel Sawyer

Lydia Eldredge longs to provide a sanctuary for her son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher serves the immigrant population in Queens, but under cover of darkness he provides another service that must not be discovered lest his and his brother's lives be in danger.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Through unforeseen twists and turns, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God unexpectedly puts in their lives.

My Review:

This sweet romance comes with a multitude of complications that Sawyer expertly weaves amidst the backdrop of World War II. Sweet Sanctuary is a stirring story with many unexpected turns that piqued my interest and held my attention. The inspirational thread is prominent, present in nearly every scene and affects the lives of both the hero and heroine as well as numerous secondary characters. A powerful witness to Christ's redeeming love.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Sweet Sanctuary, 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 21 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".

When Hope Blossoms

GIVEAWAY!!!

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
WHEN HOPE BLOSSOMS

Amy Knackstedt hopes a new start in Weaverly, Kansas, will help heal the pain of losing her husband and provide a better future for her three children. But her new neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have an Old Order Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn't want any reminders of his former life.


Yet when circumstances throw Amy and Tim together, they form a friendship that surprises them both. Will past hurts always be a barrier between them, or will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

My Review:

Sweet, sweet, SWEET! Brilliantly crafted, Sawyer delivers a story that brings hope from despair -- a theme that aptly matches the title. Amazingly tight plotting blends three life experiences into one incredibly moving conclusion. Sawyer is a gifted storyteller.

Told from three POVs -- Amy's, Tim's and Beckah's (Amy's 13-year-old daughter) -- their diverse take on life and circumstances propel the story along at the perfect pace. I'm still marveling at how various story strands meshed together, building to one of the best feel-good endings I've ever read. Just LOVED this book so much.

And yes it is a Mennonite story -- but it's so much more as well with themes that will attract and satisfy even non-Amish/non-Mennonite fans. Themes like searching for a fresh start, finding ones faith, staying true to that faith no matter what, coping with grief, and learning to accept help from others in times of need. When Hope Blossoms is a wonderful celebration of the hope Christ can bring into every life.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When Hope Blossoms, 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 22 2012. 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".

Courting Miss Amsel

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL
COURTING MISS AMSEL

Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a firm believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her?

Having raised his nephews since their parents’ untimely deaths, Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council has hired a female teacher. His sons could use a woman’s influence. But he sure didn’t bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel. Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods. Of course, Joel can’t help but notice that she’s also mighty pretty – and just might make a good mother for his boys.

When Edythe decides to take her pupils to hear Miss Susan Anthony speak on the women’s suffrage amendment, the town’s outcry reaches new heights. Even Joel isn’t sure he can support her newfangled ideas any longer. And if he can’t trust her to teach the boys, how can he trust her with his heart?

I LOVE SETTLING INTO A BOOK WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL DELIVER AN ALLURING GETAWAY FROM REALITY. SAWYER HAS A KNACK FOR CAPTURING A READER’S ATTENTION AND NOT LETTING GO UNTIL THE VERY LAST PAGE. THE BOOK’S PREMISE ISN’T A UNIQUE ONE, BUT THE AUTHOR’S DELIVERY IS SO CHARMING AND FRESH THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS.

SAWYER’S STRENGTH IS IN HER CHARACTERS AND SHE DOESN’T SKIMP IN HER SECONDARY ONES. MIZ KINSLEY IS THE PERFECT FOIL FOR EDYTHE. SHE’S A SOUNDING BOARD, CONFIDANT, DELIVERER OF WISDOM AND AN EXAMPLE OF ROCK-HARD FAITH. AND JOEL’S NEPHEWS – ADORABLE. THEY SAY SO MUCH ABOUT JOEL’S CHARACTER. IT’S LAYERS LIKE THESE THAT FLESH A STORY INTO SOMETHING MEMORABLE AND HEARTWARMING – WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT COURTING MISS AMSEL IS.

REMINDER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF COURTING MISS AMSEL LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW OR EMAIL ME AT kavluvstoread(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca. MAKE SURE TO WRITE 'GIVEAWAY' IN THE SUBJECT LINE. FOR COMPLETE DETAILS SEE THE JANUARY IS GIVEAWAY MONTH BLOG POSTED ON JANUARY 5TH OR CLICK ON 'GIVEAWAY' IN THE LABELS COLUMN.

THE DRAWS FOR THE BOOKS REVIEWED BETWEEN JANUARY 17 AND 29 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 30.

Blessings

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL

BLESSINGS

For as long as she can remember, Trina Muller has had a special affinity with animals. When the local vet, Dr. Groening, recognizes Trina’s passion and abilities, he assures her that she can take over his practice when she becomes a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. But that’s a career of which her parents heartily disapprove. Can God be so cruel as to give Trina the gift of healing without also giving her the avenue to use it?Graham Ortmann loves Trina, but when he finds out about her plans to attend college, he’s outraged. How can he marry someone who is determined to step outside the dictates of the Old Order Mennonite fellowship?

When a young man with a D.M.V. in hand approaches Dr. Groening about purchasing his practice, Trina’s dreams seem to be crumbling right in front of her. Is this a sign from God that she isn’t meant to be a vet after all?

SAWYER HAS A GIFT FOR CREATING CHARACTERS THAT MATTER. I WAS INVESTED IN TRINA FROM THE FIRST TIME I MET HER. BRIGHT, VIVACIOUS, FULL OF LIFE AND HAPPINESS. SHE IS LEADING THE PERFECT LIFE FOR AN OLD ORDER MENNONITE YOUNG WOMAN...OR SO IT SEEMS. BUT SAWYER CAREFULLY DIGS BENEATH THE LAYERS OF TRINA'S LIFE UNTIL WE CAN FEEL HER HEARTACHE AND CONFUSION. CAUGHT BETWEEN A GOD-GIVEN TALENT AND THE STRICT DICTATES OF HER GOD-FEARING RELIGION SHE IS AT ODDS WITH EVERYONE SHE LOVES...INCLUDING GRAHAM.

THOUGH THIS BOOK DEALS WITH THE OLD ORDER MENNONITE FAITH, IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TRINA'S STRUGGLE TO LIVE TRUE TO HERSELF AND HER FAITH.

I FOUND GRAHAM A PARTICULARLY COMPELLING HERO. I ENJOYED THE GROWTH IN HIS CHARACTER, HIS WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES, TO NOT ONLY PRAY ABOUT PERSONAL PROBLEMS BUT TO LISTEN FOR ANSWERS -- AND RECOGNIZE THEM WHEN THEY COME.

SAWYER THROWS SOME CURVE BALLS INTO THE PLOT TO KEEP HER READERS TURNING PAGES. IN FACT, BY MID-BOOK I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW SHE WAS GOING TO BRING IT TO A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION. AND ONE MAJOR HAIRPIN TURN TOOK ME COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE!

THIS WAS A VERY ENJOYABLE AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING READ.

A Hopeful Heart

A HOPEFUL HEART

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL

Can she turn her second-best chance into a golden opportunity?

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher -- or the wife of one. But will Tressa have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on-instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the passel of potential brides his neighbour brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once -- and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When trouble strikes, will Abel risk his life -- and his heart -- to help this eastern girl?

THIS IS SUCH A FRESH LOOK AT THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDE STORY LINE. I LOVE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF A HERDSMAN SCHOOL. HOW BRILLIANT IS THAT?! AND 'AUNT' HETTY NEARLY OUTSHINES THE HERO AND HEROINE. SHE'S JUST SUCH A SOLID, COMFORTING, NO-NONSENSE BUT COMPASSIONATE WOMAN. AND HER FAITH IS UNSHAKABLE. SHE'S THE ANCHOR IN THIS BOOK.

TRESSA NEILL IS A HEROINE AFTER MY OWN HEART. SHE STARTS OUT SO TIMID, COWED BY EMOTIONAL EVENTS FROM HER PAST WHICH HAVE MADE HER LOSE SIGHT OF GOD. HER LACK OF CONFIDENCE MAKES HER A SCAPEGOAT FOR SOME OF THE OTHER GIRLS AT THE SCHOOL. THE GROWTH IN HER CHARACTER IS SOME OF THE BEST I'VE EVER READ. IT WAS SO NATURAL AND PLAUSIBLE AND REALLY PULLED ME IN.

ABEL SAMM'S PREJUDICES AGAINST THE EASTERN WOMEN AND HIS BATTLE WITH HIS ATTRACTION TO TRESSA IS INFURIATING, FUNNY AND ENDEARING. HE HAS SOLID REASONS FOR NOT BEING INTERESTED IN AN EASTERN BRIDE -- OR ANY WOMAN FOR THAT MATTER AS HE STRUGGLES TO HOLD ONTO HIS RANCH. AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE'S A CATTLE RUSTLING MYSTERY THAT NEARLY COSTS ABEL HIS LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD AND PUTS TRESSA IN DANGER.

THE INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE OF PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN GOD IS INTRICATELY WOVEN THROUGHOUT THE PLOT. IT FLOWS NATURALLY AND BEAUTIFULLY AND MAKES THIS AN ENJOYABLE, UPLIFTING READ.