Secrets of Harmony Grove

CLARK, MINDY STARNS
SECRETS OF HARMONY GROVE

Philadelphia marketing executive, Sienna Collins, learns she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. Suspecting the matter has something to do with one of her investments, the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, she heads there, only to find her ex-boyfriend dead and the manager of the B and B unconscious. As Sienna's life spins wildly out of control, she begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.

As Sienna searches for the truth and tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on the faith of her childhood, the wisdom of the Amish, and the insight of the man she has recently begun dating. She'll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove threaten not just her bed-and-breakfast, but also her credibility, her beliefs, and ultimately, her life.

My Review:

Incredibly suspenseful. There are layers upon layers of mystery that Clark has cleverly hidden within the text. It kept me on my toes and eagerly turning pages while my mind whirled with all the possibilities but I didn't guess the whodunnit part until Sienna did! Of course, once I knew, I could see all the hints that had been scattered throughout the plot. Hints that both Sienna and I ignored until it was nearly too late. LOL.

Even the romance is filled with suspense, since Clark has crafted two stellar heroes to tempt Sienna...and the reader. I soooo wanted to check the last few pages to see who she ended up with! But I'm glad I didn't!

If you aren't a keen Amish fan, no worries. While Secrets of Harmony Grove take place in Amish country, it isn't a typical Amish story. But if you're an Amish fan, you will enjoy the ambiance all the more.

Amish Values for Your Family



GIVEAWAY!!!!!



FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
AMISH VALUES FOR YOUR FAMILY

When it comes to strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much we can learn from the Amish. Just how do they establish such strong family bonds, such deeply held values, and such wonderful family traditions? In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shares the secrets of Amish family life. In this inspiring and practical book, you will meet real Amish families that are a lot like yours. Through their stories you'll discover how to

• slow down
• safeguard family time
• raise children who stand strong in their faith
• prioritize what's truly important

Amish values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy -- without selling your car or changing your wardrobe.

My Review:

What a great idea! I recently participated in a multi-faith women's discussion on the family and interestingly enough every woman present whether married or single, mother or not felt that her home was under attack by the 'world'. I wish I'd had this book to share. We did make some of the same connections it does -- mainly that our lives are too hurried and pressured which causes stress and frustration which leaches into the spirit of the home. The consensus we came to was the need to simplify. But how to do that? The answers are in this book.

Inspiring from the first page of the introduction until the very end, Amish Values for Your Family, is entertaining, uplifting and above all practical. Divided into four sections, Children are Loved But Not Adored (a very thought provoking concept), Great Expectations, Daily Bread and Letting Go. Each section includes nine or ten short stories illustrating one concept. The stories are well written and touching and gently hit home with God's simple truth and then followed by a concise suggestion on how Englisch families can apply the Amish tradition into their own families. All are very doable.

Add to the mix a wealth of Amish proverbs like these:

• The kind of ancestors you have is not as important as the ones your children have.
• The best things in life are not things.
• Keep your words soft and sweet just in case you have to eat them.

And some wonderful snippets from The Budget (a weekly Amish-Mennonite newspaper) and this book is limitless in its wisdom and usage. Great for individuals, or a mother's group, women's group, parent group -- even singles group because I think we all need to simplify our lives. And if you're an aspiring writer of Amish fiction this is a definite must read.

Giveaway Opportunity:


If you would like a chance to win a copy of Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher, please leave a comment below. Or, if Blogger isn't playing nice, email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please put the title in the subject line of your email. Draw will be held on Sunday August 14.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

A Most Unsuitable Match

GIVEAWAY!

WHITSON, STEPHANIE GRACE
A MOST UNSUITABLE MATCH

Miss Fannie Rosseau is a young woman of privilege traveling west to uncover the truth behind a family secret.

Mr. Samuel Beck is on a mission to atone for past failures that still haunt him.

Their meeting aboard a steamboat to Montana sparks an unlikely attraction. They are opposites in every way...except in how neither one can stop thinking about the other.

Will the end of the journey bring the end of their relationship or is it just the beginning?

My Review:

In a word. Rich. In detail, in language, in characterization, in the layers upon layers of plot. All that wealth of richness combine to make A Most Unsuitable Match a decadent read!

Whitson already had a solid plot for a best-selling story, but she went deeper, bringing characters and situations to life in such an amazing manner. I wasn't just reading about Sam and Fannie, I was experiencing every single moment with them. And their story took me on such a surprising journey. I had no idea that the Missouri River was a viable route to the west or that Montana had a gold rush or that steamboats traveled along that river.

And Whitson penned it all with a passion that pulled at my heart and made this a very emotional read. In fact there were way too many times that my anguish fueled a reader's lament. I would shake my fist at the closed book and cry, "As God is my witness, I will not read another word, Stephanie Grace Whitson!" Of course I did. (I'm such a drama queen when it comes to books!)

I don't think I have ever read a more profoundly touching account of one man's developing testimony. It is intrinsically woven into the very fiber of the story but without dominating it. As he grows so does the reader and both come to the same realization at about the same time: resiliency comes from placing your trust in the Savior above all else.

And don't be fooled by the title. You might think this is the story of two people who appear  to have nothing in common and therefore would make A Most Unsuitable Match. But once again, Whitson goes deeper and readers will discover that the unsuitable match also refers to the fact that we often don't see ourselves the way God sees us and because of that, we think we're an unsuitable match for Him. Talk about profound. You could hold a whole book club discussion on just that one topic! But you won't have to limit yourself -- there is so much action and drama and romance along with endearing characters that you'll want to talk about A Most Unsuitable Match long after you've finished the compelling story. A definite must read for every TBR shelf!

Giveaway Opportunity:


If you would like to win a copy of A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you email, please put the title of the book in the subject line. Draw will be held on Sunday August 14. 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".

Out of Control

GIVEAWAY!!!!!

CONNEALY, MARY
OUT OF CONTROL

Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around her. She particularly enjoys her outings to the cavern near her father's homestead, where she explores for fossils and formations, and plans to write a book about her discoveries. The cave seems plenty safe--until the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to find her way out.


Rafe Kincaid has spent years keeping his family's cattle ranch going, all without help from his two younger brothers, who fled the ranch--and Rafe's controlling ways--as soon as they were able. He's haunted by one terrible day at the cave on a far-flung corner of the Kincaid property, a day that changed his life forever. Ready to put the past behind him, he plans to visit the cave one final time. He sure doesn't expect to find a young woman trapped in one of the tunnels--or to be forced to kiss her!

Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman he's ever known, but how can he overlook her fascination with the cave he despises? And when his developing relationship with Julia threatens his chance at reconciliation with his brothers, will he be forced to choose between the family bonds that could restore his trust and the love that could heal his heart?

My Review:

No one can write Western Comedy like Mary Connealy. I think she's cornered the genre and she doesn't disappoint with the first in her latest series, The Kincaid Brides. It's one book I wouldn't recommend reading in public (like on transit) because you'll just embarrass yourself snorting and howling like I did. I think any thread of dignity I had left as far as my fellow commuters go bit the dust when I went out of control reading Out of Control.

Tough heroines and tougher heroes (or so they think) are Connealy's speciality and Julia and Rafe are no exception. I love the fact that Julia is a self-made woman -- that her natural born curiosity impelled her to educate herself. Her dogged determination (aka stubbornness) stands her in good stead in the western wilderness she finds herself in but there's also a wide-eyed wonder that leaves her vulnerable.

Enter Rafe.

The last thing he needs or wants is a hysterical woman on his hands. But what happens when he discovers there's backbone beneath the tears? Sparks fly -- from the very first page as the two try to out-stubborn each other all the way through the book!

I found the setting intriguing and the caves so compelling that I had to check them out on the internet and was amazed to discover that they were exactly as I pictured them thanks to Connealy's amazing descriptions!

Though Out of Control has a fast-paced, action-packed plot, Connealy has wrapped it up with a poignant inspirational message. A winning combination indeed.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of Out of Control by Mary Connealy please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca if Blogger isn't playing nice. Winner will be announced on Sunday August 14. Open internationally.

"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."

August Giveaway Winners - Week One

WE HAVE WINNERS!!!!!!!!



Look to the East by Maureen Lang
won by Amber




The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz
won by Betsy





Amber and Betsy, I have your addresses so I will order your books today. Happy Reading!!!!!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Out of Control by Mary Connealy -- Just finished this one and I LOVED it, but I love all things Mary. If you like stories about stubborn cowboys laced with humour look no further.

A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson -- Just started this one this morning and I'm hooked already.

Amish Values For Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher --  You don't need to be an Amish fan to appreciate the wisdom of this book. I've been skimming it all week and it's amazing!

Look to the East

GIVEAWAY!

LANG, MAUREEN
LOOK TO THE EAST

A village under siege.
A love under fire.

FRANCE 1914

The small village of Briecourt may be isolated from early battles of World War I, but a century-old feud between the de Colvilles and Toussaints rages in the streets. Despite being adopted as a child, Julitte Toussaint endures the scorn of the de Colvilles more than most, given the folklore surrounding her heritage.

Then everything changes the day the German army sweeps in to occupy Briecourt, trapping a handful of outsiders behind enemy lines, including Belgian entrepreneur Charles Lassone. When Julitte discovers Charles hiding in the church basement, an unexpected and dangerous love blossoms between them.

But heroes aren't made in cellars. Eager to join the Allied forces -- and prove himself worthy of Julitte's love -- Charles convinces the de Colvilles and the Toussaints to finally work together to smuggle him out.

Yet with the life of every villager on the line, who can be trusted? And when the line between ally and enemy is blurred, will faith and courage be enough to sustain them all?

My Review:

Breath-taking, heart-wrenching, compelling! What an exciting and emotional read!  I loved the fresh setting and time period. I can't think of many novels set during the first world war and this one takes place in occupied France so that's even more of a twist.

The inspirational thread really takes center-stage in this story, but it doesn't come off stilted or 'preachy' or over the top. It simply 'is' because Julitte is a woman of faith. And it's that faith she clings to survive the horrors of war.

Lang has created an intriguing cast of villagers and the family feud adds even more drama into the mix. And then there's the added mystery that surrounds Julitte herself! Look to the East is packed full of action and intrigue and a healthy dose of tender love story. Definitely a winning read for a lazy summer day!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Look to the East by Maureen Lang, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to book the book title in the subject line. Draw will be held on Sunday August 7. Open internationally.

The Colonel's Lady

GIVEAWAY!

FRANTZ, LAURA
THE COLONEL'S LADY

Can love survive the secrets kept buried within a tormented heart?

Roxanna Rowan may be a genteel Virginia woman, but she is determined to brave the wilds of the untamed frontier to reach a remote Kentucky fort. Eager to reunite with her father, who serves under Colonel Cassius McLinn, Roxanna is devastated to find that her father has been killed on a campaign.

Penniless and out of options, Roxanna is forced to remain at the fort. As she spends more and more time with the fiery Colonel McLinn, the fort is abuzz with intrigue and innuendo. Can Roxanna truly know who the colonel is -- and what he's done?

Immerse yourself in the powerful story of love, faith, and forgiveness set in the tumultuous world of the frontier in 1779.

My Review:

As usual, after reading one of Laura Frantz's books, I find myself struggling to find words to convey the sheer pleasure and joy I feel at being on the receiving end of her brilliance. It will sound trite if I say she just keeps getting better. Or her ability to craft an epic is par to none. Or that she has fit herself solidly into the Christian publishing market...in fact created her own genre. She's a maverick in a way and that's one of the things I love most about her.

First off -- she's a master at historical detail. It's embedded into every page, but she's never lecturing. I love that! And the fact that she doesn't gloss over the unsavory aspects of that unsettled era. I was surprised to find myself riveted by the military scenes and able to follow the politics (of which I am unfamiliar since I'm not American.) Those details added to the depth of the story without weighing it down.  After reading The Colonel's Lady I feel like I have been to Fort Endeavor. I can clearly see McLinn's stone house and the walled fort and I'm sure I could make a passable dinner...well maybe not venison since I'm a vegetarian. But I'd happily help Roxie in her garden! That kind of detail is so important in a historical read.

Frantz has crafted a complicated plot that stopped me in my tracks a time or two! I'm still reeling in shock from two particular revelations that I didn't see coming. I love it when an author keeps me on my toes and does the unexpected. And she's added a solid bit of suspense to this tale which upped not only the characters' anxiety but my own as well!

Of course she played loose and free with my poor reader's emotions throughout the story. In fact I found myself battling the dilemma of skimming ahead or closing the book and taking a deep steadying breath before continuing to read. And I have to confess to actually stooping so low as to read the epilogue for a little reassurance and comfort at a particularly low point in the book. (I know, my bad!)

And the romance! Be still my wildly beating heart! Frantz writes the longing of impossible love with such an undercurrent of passion. And to be privy to both character's feelings -- what a combination of frustrating and thrilling all at the same time!

Cass McLinn is a hard man to love -- at least in the beginning but he becomes a sympathetic hero under Roxanna's influence. Of course he maintains some endearing 'rough around the edges' traits and his military bearing is infinitely swoonworthy. But Roxie speaks to his heart and his soul and that's what makes theirs a powerful love story.

In case you hadn't guessed by now -- The Colonel's Lady comes highly recommended...and not just by me! If you would like a chance to win a copy read on.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

Leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with The Colonel's Lady in the the subject line. Draw will be held on Sunday, August 7. Open internationally.

Many thanks to the author and Revell for gifting me with a copy of this book.