The Irish Healer

GIVEAWAY
RETRO RE-READ SUNDAY!

HERRIMAN, NANCY

THE IRISH HEALER

1830's London is rich with promise. And fraught with peril. Rachel Dunne and James Edmunds are about to discover that love is too.

Rachel Dunne has always been a healer...until she's accused of causing the death of a child under her care. Acquitted but shunned, she flees Ireland in search of a new life, convinced that she'll be fine so long as no one in London learns of her disgrace -- or forces her to sit at another sickbed.

Physician James Edmunds has endured the loss of too many patients -- the death of his wife the greatest blow of all. Deep in his grief, and no longer certain that God can be trusted, he decides the time has come to abandon his practice and run his family's small farm. Alone.  Though when he's drawn to the intriguing Irish woman who has recently joined his household, he begins to reconsider his well-paid plans.

Then cholera sweeps through London, and the life of James' young daughter hangs in the balance. Can Rachel and James overcome their innermost fears and regain their faith? Or is it too late for trust and love to heal their hearts?

My Review:

published in 2012

I can't believe it's been a decade since I've read anything by this author! And I see that she has two historical mystery series out now which is totally my jam. And my library has them. Yay me! 

---

If you love books by Laurie Alice Eakes and Julie Klassen, you are going to love The Irish Healer! This  stunning debut novel is seeped in that kind of Austenish style. It was such a thrill to read that I raced right through but then tried to put the brakes on towards the end because I wasn't ready for it to be over! Does anyone else do that when they are reading a good book?

Herriman immersed me in the gritty reality of 19th century London and she didn't gloss over the seamier aspects. The contempt in which the Irish were treated really got my ire up, seeing as I hale from that fair isle. And the inequality between men and women -- oy, don't get me started. While I love to romanticize that era just like everyone else, I was grateful that Herriman didn't. It brought such depth to her story and upped my blood pressure a good bit as well! :-)

Both Rachel and James have so much more in common then they realize, but neither is bent on sharing their past which adds an air of mystery to their romance. The attraction is there, never mind that they are from different classes, but as the reader, I could see why they would be good for each other and it about drove me crazy waiting for one of them to reveal the reason for the their mixed emotions regarding healing. But when one finally did, I wanted to throttle the other! LOL. Herriman kept me on my toes right to the very last page.

James is an admirable tortured hero with so many rough edges that it was impossible to smooth them all out. In fact, he possessed one significantly un-hero-like quality that should have repelled me but the author created such depth to his character that she managed to engage my sympathy instead. Not an easy task, given his failing. Now doesn't that intrigue you? I hope so because this is one book you do not want to miss! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Irish Healer, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 27 2022 . Offer open to 

August Giveaway -- Week Three

WON BY MELISSA ANDRES

WON BY LUCY REYNOLDS

WON BY TRACEY HAGWOOD

WON BY BECKY

WON BY ELLY

WON BY CINDY

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address in a comment, otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca (please note it's ca as in Canada not com)

From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address (or email address for ebooks) and I'll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

SUNDAY

MONDAY

'tis the season of the

Carol Awards Finalists Countdown

This week we will look at the

Speculative Fiction Category

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

The Sweetest Spark

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ!

HO, LIWEN Y.

THE SWEETEST SPARK

He's a fun-loving ice cream shop owner looking for more than a fling. She's a straight-laced food critic too scared for love. Little do they know how one foolish kiss would change the course of their entire friendship.

Colin Spark may not have the best track record when it comes to his career choices, but he's loved the same woman since he was thirteen. His only obstacle to winning her heart is proving he's ready to settle down -- an impossible task now that his store is going out of business.

Since her sister's passing, Candy Connelly has survived by being in control and protecting her heart. There's only one man she's let her guard down with, but his unreliable past shakes her confidence in his future.

Colin won't give up pursuing his passion: Candy won't give in to her attraction. That is until an accident brings all their unspoken issues to the surface and forces them to listen to their hearts. Will this incident be the spark that drives them apart for good or gives them their sweetest taste of  romance yet?

My Review:

published in 2018

The perfect sweet, heartwarming romance with an emphasis on sweet because I just can't resist with an ice cream shop owner hero who has a major sweet tooth for a special kind of Candy (heroine's name.) Eeeeppp, just too cute and I appreciate the little details like this that the author has put into this whole series. Makes it so much fun.

The Sweetest Spark is the third book in Liwen Y. Ho's Spark Brothers series though it can easily be read as a standalone. Each book features one of the five brothers and there's enough brotherly love and shenanigans to add even more depth to an already captivating read. Love the way these brothers come together and support each other. And each one is uniquely talented in his own way which makes this series so engaging.

This is a bit of an opposites attract / friends to more / reunion romance mashup with some unrequited love thrown in. The perfect recipe for frenzied page turning. Colin knows his own mind...and heart...and Candy is the woman for him, even if she is four years older. He's a free spirit, fun and attentive and determined to woo Candy. She's a driven career woman with a guarded heart. 

Truthfully, Candy irked me in the beginning because she comes across as judgemental towards Colin at times. But, as I got to know her, I began to understand the motivation behind her thoughts which are really rooted in her own fears. That made her more relatable and I could give her the benefit of the doubt...when I wasn't swooning into a puddle over Colin every second page. :-) 

And this is definitely an inspirational romance with faith content -- something this author does so well. Seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story supporting character and plot which makes the read all the richer.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Sweetest Spark, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

All That Really Matters

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ!

DEESE, NICOLE

ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS

Molly McKenzie's bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a big pay check each month. When her manager-turned-boyfriend says she has an audition to appear as a host on a makeover show that nominates underprivileged youth, her dream of further fame seems to be coming true. There's just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.

When her manager-boyfriend convinces her to partner with a local organization, she begins volunteering with a summer youth program. The program's director, Silas Whittaker, challenges her at every turn, but she swiftly grows more attached to the kids -- and him --ever day.

As Molly experiences an acceptance unlike anything she's known, she wrestles with the lies she's been believing about herself for years. She thought she knew what mattered most in life, but maybe she's had it wrong this whole time, and there's more to being truly seen than what she's built her entire life on.

My Review:

published in 2021

Did I deliberately snub this poor book last year when it released? Well, snub might be a little harsh...more like pointedly ignored. :-) Why, you ask? Because I have absolutely zero interest in the social media influencer hype and the value placed on superficial things, the...yes, I'm going to say it...idolatry that takes place online. So, did I want to read about influencer Molly? Not so much. 

BUT... 

then I read 'All That It Takes' (sequel) recently and was blown away so I did a bit of backtracking and read some reviews for 'All That Really Matters' and lots of them started with "I didn't think I'd like this heroine but...." And then, this title shows up as a 2022 Carol Award finalists and I'm like, "All right, already. I get the message. I need to read the book!!" So I did. And...

Gobsmacked.

Not so much a redemption story as an awakening story and watching Molly come alive through the light of Christ and service, finally realizing what really matters...gobsmackingly wonderful! Phenomenal character growth saturated in faith.

And Silas. Gobsmacked again. Swoony book boyfriend material.

And there's even more to love about this book: Diverse characters. Authenticity in setting and plot. Flashes of humour. Intricate layers in both story and characterization. It's all just...well...I'm really...wait for it...

Gobsmacked!

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  All That Really Matters, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

 

Shielding the Tiny Target

GIVEAWAY

ALEXANDER, DEENA

SHIELDING THE TINY TARGET

A little girl in peril...and a killer in pursuit.

Accepting help from Jack Moretta is widow Ava Colburn's last chance after her late husband's killers track her down and target her little girl. But after years on the run, it's hard to trust anyone else with her secrets. Could he be just what this little family needs to put the deadly past behind them?

My Review:

Doesn't that cover just pull you in? That's an auto-buy right there. And little Missy, aka Mischief, steals every scene she's in! And the contrast between her sweet innocence and the danger stalking them really amps up the edginess in the suspense. 

Alexander knows how to fill a scene with palpable tension and my heart was in my throat...especially in that opening scene. Wowzers! Great pacing throughout the story, where the danger is always a threat but doesn't overwhelm other elements like the romance and 'down times'. Love how it all pulls together to make for a riveting, unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Shielding the Tiny Target, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Heirlooms

GIVEAWAY

BYRD, SANDRA

HEIRLOOMS

Answering a woman's desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bong over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother's love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother's final breaths: ask Grace Kim -- Eunhee's granddaughter -- to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers' long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to their own lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women -- grandmothers and granddaughters -- intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life

My Review:

Some people cry at movies, I cry in books. My tender bibliophile heart gets all entangled in the lives of the characters and I'm a goner. I don't cry non-stop or with every book, but there are times when my eyes well up because I'm happy, sad, mad, relieved...but, I can honestly say I've never teared up from the sheer beauty and wisdom of a story until 'Heirlooms'.

And can I tell you why? Nope -- because that would involve spilling major spoilers. I'm not quite sure how to write this review, so here I are some random musings:

Two timelines brilliantly woven together -- and I love that we get chunks of one time period at a time, rather than bouncing back and forth between snippets of past and present. It helped me feel anchored in these stories and invested in the characters' lives.

And, oh, these characters! Helen in the 1950s and her granddaughter in present day -- the challenges they face, the legacy of love and faith...and the secrets borne out of social injustice in the past that finally get to see the light of day in the present and make a tremendous difference in the lives of the next generation.

The way both stories interweave, plot threads pulling tighter as the page count diminishes and then -- whoosh -- the expelling of anxious pent-up breath over the stupendous conclusion that rocked my bookish world and left me aching with so many emotions...and a copious amount of tears. Honestly, the crying took me by surprise but it was just the extraordinary way Byrd brings resolution and hope and so much promise for the future.

Of course, the gardening aspect was a huge draw for me -- so many parallels to life and faith in the growing of new things. The passion Helen develops and Cassidy inherits -- and the unification it brings to both their stories and their friends' stories. Because though told from Helen's and Cassidy's points of view, this is definitely Eunee's and Grace's story as well.

There's even a light romance in the present day timeline which made me all kinds of giddy (despite the angst at times.)

Utterly stunning and memorable. Definitely a book for the keeper shelf...or in my case the audible library shelf because I thoroughly enjoyed Melie William's narration. 

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  Heirlooms, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Carol Awards Finalists 2022 -- Short Novel

GIVEAWAY

First off -- what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2022 finalists are books published in 2021. You might have read them already, you might not. I'll include links to reviews of the books I've read, but I have a lot of catching up to do so there will be gaps.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2022 -- Short Novel Category you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you're entering that way) and if you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the three finalists:

Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn

Three reasons to ask her to stay...

Will offering a helping hand open the door to forever?

Rescuing a single mom and her triplets during a snowstorm lands rancher Finn Brightwood with temporary tenants in his vacation rental. But because of his past, Finn's reluctant to get too involved in Ivy Darling's chaotic life When he starts falling for the three rambunctious little girls -- and Ivy -- he can't help but wish this family would stick around for good.

(Colorado Grooms; 6)

A Mother's Strength by Allie Pleiter

Will find her son a friend lead to forever love?

Single mom Molly Kane will do anything to help her son overcome his anxieties -- including enlisting former police officer Sawyer Bradshaw to give him golf lessons. Sawyer's a loner, yet he quickly forms a bond with little Zack. And with Molly. But protecting Zack means Molly must keep her heart off-limits from Sawyer, even as her little boy draws them together...

(Wander Canyon; 4)

Texas Baby Coverup by Virginia Vaughn

A mother's secret got her killed.

Now they must protect her baby...

After the shock of finding her best friend murdered, Kellyanne Avery's focused on caring for her friend's sweet baby -- until the killer returns, determined to kidnap the child. Now Kellyanne needs the one man she trusts with her life: her ex-flame, Deputy Sheriff Zeke Tyler. But as they hid on her family's ranch, can Zeke unravel deadly secrets and shield them from harm?

(Cowboy Lawmen; 4)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Not all of these books are still available in paperback format so please note the giveaway options below:

Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn -- ebook only

A Mother's Strength by Allie Pleiter -- paperback or ebook

Texas Baby Cover-up by Virginia Vaughn -- paperback or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  one of the Short Novel finalists, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 20 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck