Giveaway Winners!

'JANUARY IS GIVEAWAY MONTH' WINNERS!!!!!

Using the high tech system of name tags and a bowl, my handsome assistant Simba pulled the winners' names. Since he can't read and doesn't know any of you, we can only assume the draw was random and unbiased.

Drum roll, please...

The winners are:

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio -- Ann Lee

Simple Secrets and Simple Deceit -- Pegg Thomas

Missing -- Hannah





Sharpshooter in Petticoats -- Charity

The Girl in the Gatehouse -- Betsy

Congratulations ladies, I'm so excited to be able to share these wonderful books with you!!!! I think I have all your emails so I'll contact each of you for addresses.


REMEMBER!!!

The Giveway goes on all month long. So stop back and place a comment (or email me at kavluvstoread at yahoo dot ca) for a chance to win more Christian Fiction books. I just finished Kim Vogel Sawyer's latest and am immersed in another Love Finds You at present.

The Girl in the Gatehouse

KLASSEN, JULIE

THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE

Mariah Aubrey lives in seclusion with her secrets. Will an ambitious captain uncover her identity...and her hidden past?

Banished from the only home she's ever known, Mariah Aubrey hides herself away in an abandoned gatehouse on a distant relative's estate. There she supports herself and her loyal servant the only way she knows how -- by writing novels in secret.

When Captain Matthew Bryant leases the estate, he is intrigued by the beautiful girl in the gatehouse. But there are many things he doesn't know about the beguiling outcast. Will he risk his plans -- and his heart -- for a woman shadowed by scandal?

Intriguing, mysterious, and romantic, The Girl in the Gatehouse takes readers inside the life of a secret authoress at a time when novel-writing was considered improper for ladies and the smallest hint of impropriety could change a woman's life forever.

EXQUISITELY WRITTEN, KLASSEN'S WORDS SEEP INTO YOUR SOUL. I WAS SO IMMERSED IN THE STORY THAT I FELT LIKE I HAD TRAVELED BACK IN TIME. HER FLAWLESS DESCRIPTIONS, BREATHTAKING SETTING AND MEMORABLE CHARACTERS ALL HAVE THE FEEL OF REGENCY ENGLAND. IN FACT IT WAS JARRING TO RE-ENTER THE REAL WORLD WHEN NECESSITY DICTATED THAT I DO SOMETHING OTHER THEN READ!

THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE IS THE KIND OF BOOK YOU SETTLE INTO SO YOU CAN SAVOR EVERY WORD. NO SKIMMING ALLOWED. NO SKIPPING TO THE LAST PAGE FOR A QUICK PEEK. THIS BOOK HAS TO BE READ FROM COVER TO COVER, WORD FOR WORD EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN.

IT WAS A COMPULSIVE READ. I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT IT DOWN...EVEN WHEN THE GNARLY BITS CAME UP AND I WASN'T SURE I REALLY WANTED TO READ THE ANGST. BUT I COULDN'T STOP. I COULDN'T COME UP FOR BREATH. I JUST HAD TO KEEP READING, SAVORING, LIVING EVERY PAGE!

AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS! READ THE FIRST SENTENCE...THEN READ THE LAST. MARVEL AT THE WAY KLASSEN WEAVES A MYRIAD OF PLOTS INTO ONE COHESIVE INCREDIBLY SATISFYING CONCLUSION. THIS IS A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN BOOK! AN INCREDIBLE READ! DEFINITELY BELONGS ON EVERYONE'S KEEPER SHELF!!!!

REMINDER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE 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 JAN. 6 AND JANUARY 15 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 16. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THE SAME DAY. THE DRAWS FOR THE BOOKS REVIEWED BETWEEN JANUARY 17 AND 29 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 30.

Sharpshooter in Petticoats

CONNEALY, MARY

SHARPSHOOTER IN PETTICOATS

Will a sharpshooting widow, aiming for independence, find love in her sights?

After a disastrous marriage, widow Mandy McClellan Gray is doing just fine in her remote mountain home. She's got her three children to keep her company and gold in the bank to keep her solvent. The last thing she needs right now is a cantankerous cowboy encroaching on her life.

Tom Linscott is as tough and cranky as his unruly stallion. When he finds outlaws have trapped Mandy on her mountain, he's determined to rescue her, whether she wants to be saved or not. Only problem is, Mandy's trouble follows her. When he brings her to his home -- against her will -- outlaws trail them right to the door.

When the feuding family expands their vengeful plans to include Tom, his need to protect his woman puts him right in the line of fire.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS LAST BOOK IN THE SOPHIE'S DAUGHTERS SERIES WITH MIXED EMOTIONS. OF COURSE, I WANTED TO READ IT BUT I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS READY TO LET GO OF ALL THESE WONDERFUL CHARACTERS THAT SPANNED THREE SERIES AND NINE BOOKS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE READ ALL THE OTHER BOOKS THOUGH - CONNEALY HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF MAKING SHARPSHOOTER IN PETTICOATS READ AS A STANDALONE EVEN THOUGH IT INVOLVES A MULTITUDE OF CHARACTERS FROM PAST BOOKS.

CONNEALY HAS A UNIQUE VOICE THAT MAKES HER STYLE DISTINCTIVE. IT IS LACED WITH DEAD-PAN HUMOUR, FULL OF ACTION AND PEPPERED WITH ROMANCE THAT WILL CURL YOUR TOES. IN FACT, I THINK SHE'S OUTDONE HERSELF WITH TOM AND MANDY'S LOVE STORY. I MIGHT HAVE TO ADD SPINE TINGLING TO THAT TOE CURLING CHECKLIST.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MANDY TO GET HER REDEMPTION FOR THREE BOOKS NOW AND CONNEALY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. THIS EPIC WAS WORTHY OF THE LIKES OF THAT SHARPSHOOTING WIDOW AND HER CRANKY SUITOR. I LOVED THE CAMEOS BY CHARACTERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS AND THE LARGER THAN LIFE ENDING.

REMINDER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF SHARPSHOOTER IN PETTICOATS 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 JAN. 6 AND JAN 15 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY JAN. 16. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THE SAME DAY. THE DRAWS FOR THE BOOKS REVIEWED FROM JAN. 17 - JAN. 29 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY JAN. 30TH.

Missing

EASON, LYNETTE

MISSING

A mother's worst nightmare.

Her daughter is the most important person in Lacey Gibson's world. So when the girl disappears, Lacey will do anything to find her. Even track down a man she hasn't seen in sixteen years -- U.S. Marshall Mason stone, the father of her child.

Mason was perfectly content with his life until Lacey arrived. Her confession that their daughter -- the daughter he didn't know they had -- is missing shakes his carefully controlled world. But there's no time to adjust as they race to find their child, catch the kidnappers...and learn they whether they can have a second chance at happily-ever-after.

THIS COMPACT STORY IS FULL OF TENSE, NAIL-BITING SCENES THAT BUILD TO A POWERFUL CLIMAX. I FELT LIKE I WAS 'READING' AN EPISODE OF A TELEVISION CRIME DRAMA. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LACEY AND MASON IS EVIDENT FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE AND EASON WEAVES A BELIEVABLE ROMANCE THROUGH OUT THE PLOT. SHE HAS CREATED A PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN SUSPENSE AND LOVE STORY WHICH MAKES FOR A TRULY GRIPPING READ. ANOTHER SPECTACULAR ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FROM LYNETTE EASON AND WELL WORTH THE READ.

REMINDER : IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE AT WINNING YOUR OWN COPY OF MISSING 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 5.

Simple Deceit

MEHL, NANCY

SIMPLE DECEIT

Gracie Temple has grown to love the Mennonite town of Harmony, Kansas, and the house bequeathed to her by her late uncle. New friendships among the residents, including the handsome farmer Sam Goodrich, seal her decision to leave Wichita and do freelance graphic design work from her new home.

But when Gracie is assigned a new client who is a developer intent on building an upscale retirement community in Harmony, the town is split. Some welcome the business opportunities while others fear the exploitation of the Mennonite lifestyle and the loss of their simple ways.

As the citizens of Harmony begin to turn on each other, an anonymous note accusing Gracie of being the mother of an abandoned baby causes Sam to seemingly turn his back on her. Soon Gracie is reconsidering her choice to stay in town.

But before she can make a final decision, a major winter storm move in that will put a friend in danger and take the life of another Harmony resident. The blizzard also forces Gracie to make a choice that just might lead to the final straw between her and Sam.

Note: Since this is the second in The Harmony Series, and since I feel readers would appreciate Simple Deceit more if they read Simple Secrets first, I am offering BOTH Simple Deceit and Simple Secrets to the winner of this Giveaway.

THIS IS THE PERFECT COMPLIMENT TO THE FIRST BOOK IN THE HARMONY SERIES. MEHL IS BACK DOING HER BEST TO CONFOUND HER READERS WITH CLEVERLY HIDDEN CLUES TO AN AMAZINGLY SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERY. IT WAS JUST AS AN ADDICTIVE READ AS THE FIRST BOOK.

MEHL HAS A REAL KNACK FOR CREATING A COMMUNITY OF MEMORABLE SECONDARY CHARACTERS THAT ENHANCE THE DRAMA, SUSPENSE AND HUMOUR. I ESPECIALLY LOVED SWEETIE, SAM'S AUNT. AND HER VILLAINS ARE PURE VILLAINOUS...ONCE YOU RECOGNIZE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE!

THERE WERE SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS IN THIS STORY, THE ANGST STEADILY BUILDING AS MORE AND MORE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED MISHAPS OCCUR -- WITH GRACIE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS AND SAM NOT FAR BEHIND.

THE ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT WAS CAPTIVATING -- BUT NOT WITHOUT PITFALLS. I COULD SEE A CLEAR GROWTH IN BOTH SAM AND GRACIE BY THE END OF THE BOOK AND I FELT THEIR RELATIONSHIP REALISTICALLY PARALLELED THEIR NON-BOOK COUNTERPARTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. BOTTOM LINE : LOVE ISN'T ENOUGH WITHOUT TRUST.

MEHL HAS NICELY SET UP THE NEXT IN THE SERIES AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON IT. SIMPLE CHOICES WILL BE OUT IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

REMINDER : IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHANCE AT WINNING YOUR OWN COPIES OF SIMPLE SECRET AND SIMPLE DECEIT 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 5.

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio

MILLER, SERENA B.

LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUGARCREEK OHIO

Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel -- Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts' doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son. Rachel is suspicious. Will she be able to uncover Joe's secrets despite her aunts' -- and her own -- growing affection for him?

THIS BOOK HAS THE PERFECT BLEND OF MYSTERY, DRAMA, HUMOUR AND ROMANCE AND MILLER HAS HER PACING DOWN PAT. SHE WEAVES A TIGHT PLOT OUT OF A MULTITUDE OF RANDOM STORY THREADS THAT ALL KNOT TOGETHER FOR A SURPRISING, NAIL BITING AND OFT TIMES HILARIOUS CONCLUSION.

I LOVED THE AUNTS!!!! SUCH A WONDERFUL VENUE FOR COMEDY AND WISDOM! AND A GREAT FOIL FOR THEIR EARNEST YOUNG NIECE WHO THINKS SHE HAS TO CONTROL THEM FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. THE GENERATION GAP -- AND IN SOME WAYS CULTURAL GAP -- IS ALIVE AND WELL IN SUGARCREEK, OHIO.

RACHEL IS SUCH A CONTRADICTION AT TIMES -- STRUGGLING TO DISCOVER WHO SHE REALLY IS AND WHAT SHE WANTS OUT OF LIFE. HER SENSE OF FAMILY, HER ETHICS AND HONOUR ARE BOTH ADMIRABLE AND FRUSTRATING...AND TOTALLY CLASH WITH POOR JOE AND THE SECRET HE IS TRYING TO KEEP HIDDEN. WHAT A WONDERFUL COMPLICATED STARTING POINT FOR THEIR ROMANCE. THERE IS SO MUCH TO KEEP THEM APART AND YET THEY CAN'T HELP BUT BE DRAWN TO EACH OTHER.

AND SPEAKING OF JOE...SIGH FOLLOWED BY A SWOON...HE MAKES A VERY ATTRACTIVE...AND VULNERABLE...HERO. CAUGHT IN MID-FLIGHT, HIS ONLY DESIRE IS TO PROTECT HIS YOUNG SON BUT HE FINDS HIMSELF WRAPPED UP IN A MYSTERY AND FORCED TO FACE A PAINFUL PAST. AND HE'S OFTEN AT ODDS WITH RACHEL...BUT THEN THERE ARE THE TIMES WHEN THEY MESH AND SPARKS FLY!

LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUGARCREEK, OHIO IS A FANTASTIC 'LOSE YOURSELF IN ANOTHER WORLD' KIND OF READ. DEFINITELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A BRILLIANT DEBUT NOVEL.

REMINDER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE AT WINNING YOUR OWN COPY OF LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUGARCREEK, OHIO 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 BELOW THIS ONE.

January is Giveaway Month!

A CHANCE TO WIN NEW-RELEASE BOOKS IN JANUARY!

To celebrate the beginning of my second year of reading Christian Fiction, I have decided to make January 2011 a Giveaway Month. That means that every book I read and review here on this blog will be offered in a draw! I'll ship anywhere in the world so non U.S. residents are eligible.

Rules

1. You must be eighteen or older to participate in this giveaway.

2. In order to enter you simply have to post a comment after a review of any of the books you are interested in winning during the month of January 2011. You do not need to post your email address. Or you can email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please write Giveaway in the subject line and indicate which book you are interested in.

3. Book Reviews will start being posted on January 6, 2011 and will continue until January 29 2011.

4. The first draw will take place on Sunday January 16. The draw will cover all books reviewed between January 6 and January 15.

5. Winners will be posted on this blog on Sunday January 16. Winners must provide a mailing address in an email to me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Do not post your address anywhere on this blog.

6. The second draw will take place on Sunday January 30. The draw will cover all books reviewed between January 17 and January 29.

7. The number of books given away will depend upon how many I manage to read during the month. I average around 10-15 per month, so that's how many chances there are to win. The books will be new and shipped to you from either christianbooks.com or from me (purchased at my local Christian bookstore). Part of my reason for doing this Giveaway is to support both authors and retailers in the Christian market.

So spread the word and get ready to enter. Good luck!

Happy reading!

Kav

P.S. Feel free to ask any question in the comment area below.