The Pelican Bride

GIVEAWAY

WHITE, BETH
THE PELICAN BRIDE

She's come to the New World to escape a perilous past. But has it followed her to these far shores?

It is 1704 when Frenchwoman Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board the frigate Pelican bound for the distant Louisiana colony. Both have promised to marry one of the rough men toiling in this strange new world in order to escape suffering in the old. Genevieve knows life won't be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and a family, without fear of persecution for her outlawed religious beliefs.

When she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer-turned-farmer whose checkered past is shrouded in mystery. Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace. Trouble is brewing outside the fort between French colonists and the native people surrounding them. And an even more sinister enemy may lurk within. Could the secret Genevieve harbors mean the undoing of the colony itself?

My Review:

Utterly fascinating! The rich historical backdrop brings this complex tale a new depth in the historical genre. The details of the time and setting are totally engrossing -- and gut-wrenchingly realistic. It leaves me amazed anew at the courage and tenacity of the women who settled North America.

The complex plot is a definite page-turner. Peril lurks everywhere -- from rampant illness, Indian threats, conniving men, political intrigue not to mention the risks inherent with falling in love. All make for a killer read. You won't want to come up for air until the very last page and then you'll be bereft because it's over.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Pelican Bride 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 . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 20  2014. 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". 

Loving the Lawman

GIVEAWAY

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
LOVING THE LAWMAN

Safe in His Arms

Widowed and pregnant, Gianna Costanza comes to Kirkwood Lake with her world in pieces. She's determined to put her life back together after her cop husband's death, and romance definitely isn't part of the plan. But when she meets her new landlord and neighbor, she knows she doesn't stand a chance. Deputy Sheriff Seth Campbell is strong and kind, and more supportive than she ever imagined a man could be. Soon he's sweeping Gianna off her feet. But she doesn't know if he's ready for an instant family—or if she's brave enough to love another lawman.

My Review:

A heartfelt love story that comes alive amidst a stirring combination of conflict and hope. Herne knows how to create characters readers love -- and not just the hero and heroine, though they are easy to become attached to. But the secondary characters play important roles and provide substance to Seth and Gianna's story. They make for a rich read that made me feel a part of the Kirkwood community. And the plot has a unique twist that I found very thought-provoking. Compelling subplots are intriguing in their own right and are sure to increase reader satisfaction. Another winner from a much loved (and thankfully prolific) author.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Loving the Lawman 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 . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 20  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

April Giveaway - Week Two

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:

Whisper Goodbye

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, MYRA
WHISPER GOODBEYE

Crippled both physically and emotionally by his war injuries, First Lt. Gilbert Ballard struggles to find himself again in civilian life. After breaking his engagement to Annemarie Kendall, he has found solace in the arms of Mary McClarney, a spunky Irish immigrant nurse he met at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Yet Mary’s love for Gilbert goes unreturned.

If it’s not Gilbert’s insane jealousy over his former fiancée’s new marriage, it’s his addiction to pain killers and gambling that thwarts Gil’s own happiness. Worse, Gilbert’s mother, Evelyn, continually reminds him of what he lost when he pushed Annemarie away. Under Evelyn’s critical eye, Mary fights to believe in her worth, wondering if she will ever be enough.

My Review:

Stunning tale of the complexities of post World War I America and the difficulties wounded soldiers had to overcome in order to pick up their civilian lives again. We met Gilbert in the first book of the series, When Clouds Roll By and frankly, he was a difficult character to love. I knew the second book would be his story and I've been anxious to see how Johnson would handle this difficult hero. She did a brilliant job! I felt his struggles, frustrations, temptations and I agonized with him over each hurdle, cheered over his triumphs and was pretty much an emotional wreck by the end of the book!

And God bless Mary McClarney -- the Irish nurse who plays both angel and devil's advocate in their rocky romance. Mary has a wounded past she barely remembers and it colours her reactions to some of Gilbert's struggles but she loves him so completely. My heart just hurt for her.

Whisper Goodbye is an incredible, tumultuous love story that kept me turning pages well into the night. And exquisite read.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Whisper Goodbye 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 . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 12 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

My thanks to the author and publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book.

The Soldier's Secrets

GIVEAWAY

RAWLINGS, NAOMI
THE SOLDIER'S SECRETS

Divided Loyalties

Brigitte Dubois will do anything to keep her family safe. When she is blackmailed by her father-in-law, his quest for revenge leaves her no choice. To protect her children, she must spy on the man who may have killed her husband. But Jean Paul Belanger is nothing like she expected. The dark, imposing farmer offers food to all who need it, and insists on helping Brigitte and her children.

Everything Jean Paul did was in the name of liberty. Even so, he can never forgive himself for his actions during France's revolution. Now a proud auburn-haired woman has come to his home seeking work and has found her way into his reclusive heart. But when she uncovers the truth, his past could drive them apart….

My Review:

What a compelling read! A story fraught with angst and characters that will leap from the pages into your heart. And if there was ever a doomed love story -- this one is it! I felt like a ping pong ball ricocheting back and forth -- from toe-curling to heart-wrenching in a nano-second. Rich historical detail vividly describe the desperate times right after the French Revolution. A great foundation to build a taut, intriguing story around. Rawling is a gifted storyteller and I'm grateful she is willing to share that talent.

 Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Soldier's Secrets 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 . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 12 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

A Captain for Laura Rose

GIVEAWAY

WHITSON, STEPHANIE GRACE
A CAPTAIN FOR LAURA ROSE

Laura Rose White's late father taught her everything he knew about piloting a Missouri River steamboat. He even named their boat after her. Despite that, it seems that Laura will forever be a "cub pilot" to her brother Joe, because in 1867, a female riverboat captain is unheard of. That is, until tragedy strikes and Laura must make the two month journey from St. Louis to Fort Benton and back in order to save her family's legacy, her home, and the only life she's ever known.

The only way for her to overcome the nearly insurmountable odds is with the help of her brother's disreputable friend Finn MacKnight, a skilled pilot with a terrible reputation. Laura loathes having to accept MacKnight as her co-pilot, especially when she learns she must also provide passage for his two sisters. Straight-laced Fiona has a fear of water, and unpredictable Adele seems much too comfortable with the idea of life in the rough and tumble environment of the untamed river and the men who ply it. Though they are thrown together by necessity, this historic journey may lead Laura and the MacKnights to far more than they ever expected.

My Review:

Whitson's characters come alive against a panoramic backdrop that kept me riveted.I love a book rich in historical detail and this one certainly is. And such a great angle for a historical -- the details of steamboat life are fascinating. A Captain for Laura Rose is the kind of book you can't pull yourself away from. In fact, it's the kind of read that makes you miss your bus stop so you ride the loop around so you can read some more and when you arrive late to work you don't even care. You're only concerned about the fact that you can't continue reading until the bus ride home later in the day. :-)

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Captain for Laura Rose 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 . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 12  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

April Giveaway - Week One

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: