The Icecutter's Daughter

GIVEAWAY

PETERSON, TRACIE
THE ICECUTTER'S DAUGHTER

As the lone female in a houseful of men, Merrill Krause dedicates her life to caring for her family and their business, as her dying mother asked. Besides, it suits her; she's never felt like she fits what most people expect in a girl--she'd rather work with her father’s horses and assist with the ice harvest. And though she’s been mostly content up to this point, a part of her wonders if there will ever be anyone who will notice her amid the bevy of brothers determined to protect her from any possible suitors.

When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small Minnesota town to join his uncle's carpentry business, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, who are often frightened away by her older brothers, Rurik isn't intimidated by them or by Merrill's strength and lack of femininity. The attraction between them begins to build...until Rurik's former fiance shows up with wild claims that bring serious consequences to Rurik.

Can Rurik and Merrill learn to trust God--and each other--when scandal threatens their newfound love?

My Review:

Peterson begins another promising series with The Icecutter's Daughter. As in all her books, I became completely absorbed in the story the second I started reading. This author knows how to write with such depth that her readers are immediately engaged emotionally and invested in the story's outcome.

I loved and hated characters in this book. Merrill is strong and loving, dedicated to her family and her friends; looking beyond herself in order support others. She still has a longing inside of her though -- for a life of her own and that includes a family.

That's the hero's cue to enter and Rurik makes an impact. Unfortunately  he brings with him a host of complications that gnarl up the romantic thread and twisted my insides out! Honestly, there's a secondary character that I completely and totally abhorred. I wanted to slap her silly and send her into another story -- preferably a fairy tale where the villain gets her just rewards.  I don't think I've ranted my way through a book with as much passion as I did The Icecutter's Daughter. :-)

A stunning historical romance filled with fascinating facts and a moving plot. Not to be missed.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Icecutter's Daughter, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 17 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".

A Plain Scandal

GIVEAWAY

FLOWER, AMANDA
A PLAIN SCANDAL

 The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.

In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else's.

My Review:

The second in An Appleseed Creek Mystery series, you don't need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. While characters and some backstory carry over into A Plain Scandal, the author does a fantastic job of bridging the facts and making this story an easy standalone to read.

The Troyer family is back, including the irrepressible Grandfather Zook. Chief Rose is still trying to get the knack of policing a combined Amish/Englisch community and Chloe and Timothy's romance is percolating into something a little more substantial.

I love Chloe's snappy first person point of view. She really moves the story along and provides laughter at the most unexpected places. And the mystery is unique and twisty and will keep you guessing. All perfect reasons to dive into this unique combination of humourous and suspenseful mystery.


Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Plain Scandal, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 17 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

March Giveaway - Week Two

Congratulations to this week's winners!

won by Library Lady

won by Melody

won by Na

As always, I will contact the winners by email however thanks to the nefarious ways of the internet my email might land in your spam folder so keep your eyes peeled! :-) If you haven't heard from me by Monday evening please email me your snail mail address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. From time to time winners and I don't seem to connect, so I have a month frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Delightful Regency!

Gripping, infuriating read :-)

Nothing like an Amish mystery to
keep this reader happy!

Moonlight Masquerade

GIVEAWAY

AXTELL, RUTH
MOONLIGHT MASQUERADE

Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing?

Ruth Axtell deftly creates a world where black and white burst into a confusion of colors and no one is who they seem. Readers will be hooked from the very first scene to the final page.

My Review:

Regency meets political intrigue. Loved this fresh twist on a Regency romance.  Moonlight Masquerade has all the historical detail that I love to read but it is the dash of suspense that ups the ante and turned me into a devouring reader.

Axtell's characters have depth and a history that clearly defines them in their present circumstances. Rees is a dashing hero -- a Godly man filled with loyalty for his country but conflicted by an impossible love. Celine is a paradox that Axtell deftly reveals to her readers one piece at a time. And, oh la la, you won't want to miss the toe-curling clandestine kiss that catapults their story into a whole new direction.

A thrilling read not to be missed.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Moonlight Masquerade, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 10 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 Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

A Place for Family

GIVEAWAY

ROSS, MIA
A PLACE FOR FAMILY

Hometown Girl Returns…With A Secret

One suitcase is all Amanda Gardner has to her name when she ends up back in Harland, North Carolina. No one knows how the high-powered ad exec, the girl who couldn't leave town fast enough after high school, lost her glamorous life in California. Everyone's curious—except John Sawyer. He's done enough wondering about his childhood best friend over the years. Why she never called…or wrote…or visited. But John's instinct is to protect Amanda, and something tells him she's in deep trouble. Will she feel safe enough to trust him—and lean on his strength?

MY REVIEW:

A heartwarming story about one of my favourite fictional families. While this is the fourth book about the Sawyer clan you can easily read it as a standalone though fans will be thrilled to get reacquainted with Lisa, Matt, Marianne and their spouses. And Ruthy -- we can't forget about her!

Ross writes a tangible tale about love and forgiveness and what being a family is all about. Her writing warms me to my toes. And she managed to gobsmack me! Blindsided doesn't begin to describe my surprise at a shocking plot twist! My intrepid reader's radar must be askew because I didn't see it coming. At all!

John Sawyer is an exceptional hero. Salt of the earth and close to God, his strength and unconditional love are exactly what Amanda needs at this time in her life. Love the way Ross developed their romance, from lifelong friends to something much more.

This is a stellar romance guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Place for Family, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 10 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Poison

GIVEAWAY

REDWOOD, JORDYN
POISON

Five years ago, Keelyn Blake's armed, mentally ill stepfather took her family hostage in their house in rural Colorado. She and her half-sister Raven made it out alive, but others did not. Authorities blamed the father's frequent hallucinations about a being named Lucent, but in the end, even the best of the FBI's hostage negotiators failed to overcome the man's delusions and end the standoff peacefully.

Now, Lucent is back, and he's no hallucination. In fact, he is a very real person with dangerous motives. He has kidnapped Raven's daughter, and--Keelyn worries--maybe has hurt Raven as well. Though she is estranged from her sister, Keelyn feels the immediate need to find Raven and save what family she has left. But when others who were involved in that fateful day start dying, some by mysterious circumstances, Keelyn wonders if she can emerge unscathed a second time.

My Review:

Tense, descriptive prose will grip you from the very first page -- and it is graphic at times. Disturbing. So disturbing in fact that I could only take reading Poison in small doses. Please keep in mind that I'm not a Criminal Minds kind of girl. I get spooked easily. And evil mind games send my imagination into overdrive. I had some sleepless nights angsting over Redwood's psychological thriller style plot.

The other thing that really grabbed me was an overwhelming sense of despair that permeated through the pages. I didn't really see a light at the end of the tunnel for any of the characters until very close to the last page. That includes the hero and heroine. Their love is strong, but circumstances and past secrets threaten to overwhelm them as evil dogs them every page. Redwood excels at creating mood with her words.

If you enjoy a chilling read that might just keep you up at night, Poison is the book for you.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Poison, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday March 10 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

March Giveaway - Week One

CONGRATUALTIONS!
(and sorry for the late posting!)

won by Marianne Barkman

won by Teddy

won by Karen K

As always, I will contact the winners by email however thanks to the nefarious ways of the internet my email might land in your spam folder so keep your eyes peeled! :-) If you haven't heard from me by Monday evening please email me your snail mail address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. From time to time winners and I don't seem to connect, so I have a month frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Regency + Intrigue = Great Read

Delightful!

Eerie Thriller