Hannah's Courtship

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, EMMMA
HANNAH'S COURTSHIP

Second Chance At Love

Amish widow Hannah Yoder never intended to marry again. Yet when her friendship with veterinarian Albert Hartman begins to bloom into something more, Hannah wonders if perhaps she's finally ready for a new love. Albert waited his whole life to find the right woman, only to realize Hannah was there all along. But there's more than their friendship to consider. Albert is a Mennonite, born-and-bred, and Hannah cannot—will not—leave her Amish faith, not even for him. Does Albert have the courage to give up his modern life for Hannah…and will Hannah have the courage to let him?

Hannah's Daughters: Seeking love, family  and faith in Amish country

My Review:

A celebration of family and faith.

This is such a satisfying read on so many levels. The gentle romance is captivating -- a friendship that unexpectedly grows into something more. But it is Hannah's full, rich family life that really charmed me. A wonderful mix of happy and sad, joy and yearning. And there are many touching moments as Hannah grapples with the realization that her Downs Syndrome daughter is growing up. At twenty-one Susanna is an exasperating mix of child/woman. I ached and worried right along with Hannah over Susanna's antics.

I've only read two other books in the Hannah's Daughters series but plan to catch up on the others this summer. There are eight in total! You don't need to have read any of the others to enjoy Hannah's Courtship though Miller does a wonderful job of giving loyal readers a glimpse into the married lives of all the Yoder Girls. A lovely tribute to a great series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Hannah's Courtship 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 May 25  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

Sincerely Yours : a Novella Collection

GIVEAWAY

KIRKPATRICK, JANE
CABOT, AMANDA
EAKES, LAURIE ALICE
SHOREY, ANN
SINCERELY YOURS : A NOVELLA COLLECTION

Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever.
Spanning a century and a continent, these romantic novellas will lead you on a journey through the landscape of love. Four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver's workshop to a remote hospital, you'll be swept into the lives of women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

Moonlight Promise by Laurie Alice Eakes
Camilla Renfrew is a highborn English lady fleeing false accusations when she runs smack into love on a steamboat bound for the new Erie Canal. But can this unexpected attraction survive the treacherous journey?

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey
Marigold Montgomery Bentley writes marriage advice for Kipler's Home Weekly even though she is single. Everyone assumes from the initials that "M. M." is a man. When the editor asks to meet Mr. Bentley, can Merrie come up with a ruse to keep her writing job?

One Little Word by Amanda Cabot
Lorraine Caldwell will lose her family fortune to a reckless cousin if she doesn't marry quickly. When she learns her long-lost brother is alive, she hopes she's found the answer to her problems. What she finds instead is a mysterious carousel carver who turns her life upside down.

A Saving Grace by Jane KirkpatrickGrace Hathaway must rescue a dear friend from a remote and notorious clinic that promises healing but delivers only heartache. In a place laced with deceit, where lives hang in the balance, whom can she trust to help her?

My Review:

A classic novella collection. Great authors deliver timeless stories brimming with delightful historical details and captivating romance.

While I enjoyed the letter angle that binds these stories together I was struck by another similarity that resonated with me even more. Each story explores the historical expectations placed on women. The heroines chafe against the restrictions of the day in order to make their way in the world. It's mind blogging when contrasted to our modern day viewpoints. As much as I love to read historical fiction, I wouldn't want to live there!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Sincerely Yours : a Novella Collection 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 May 25  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."

---

May Giveaway - Week Three

 

 

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:

Until I Found You

GIVEAWAY

BYLIN, VICTORIA
UNTIL I FOUND YOU

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life: “God, if you’re real, I want to know you.”

It’s Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate’s rescue. Nick is handsome, confident, and seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She’s not planning to fall in love with one of the locals.

Nick Sheridan is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn’t expect to be swept off his feet by the car’s occupant. He’s made a vow: no dating for a year. And it’s a vow he intends to keep in spite of his attraction to Kate Darby . . .

My Review:

Relatable characters in the midst of realistic struggles anchor this incredible story. If you like Real with a capital R in your fiction, this is the book for you. The action packed opening (which is also symbolic of Nick and Kate's relationship) took my breath away.

I love the way their stories unfold -- gritty, raw, but inevitably hope-filled.  By the time we meet him, Nick has made a radical life change and he's making valiant attempts to prevent a repetition of past mistakes. Loved that about him. Absolutely flawed, but knowing he can be better by the grace of God. Kate, on the other hand, is a lost soul, yearning to fill the emptiness inside with all the wrong things. We live her struggle right along with her and get to break out in the Alleluia chorus when she finally 'gets' it...but not without a lot of angst-riddled moments along the way.

Probably the most authentic fictional 'coming to Christ story' I've ever read. These are real people with messy lives and conflicting desires. Kate in particular, wants absolute control in everything. She's scared of letting go, trusting God. I can totally relate to that. The inspirational thread doesn't dominate the story though, rather it lifts it up as it completes diverse lives.

And a side note: Loved Kate's grandma, Leona. Her story is honest and triumphant in the midst of all manners of affliction. She's the epitome of "I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith." And there's more realism there because as faith-filled as Leona is, she hasn't met all her challenges with complete grace and trust.

Simply an awesome read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Until I Found You  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 May 18  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 Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

Treasure Point Secret

GIVEAWAY

VARLAND, SARAH
TREASURE POINT SECRET

Perilous pursuit

It's been five years since Shiloh Evans encountered the murderous gold hunters seeking Blackbeard's hidden stash. After they killed her policewoman cousin, Shiloh left town to regroup, and earn her own police badge. Because she would see this case solved—someday. She just didn't expect the killers to attack her new home in Treasure Point, Georgia…on the same day her ex-fiancé arrived in town. Adam Cole has tried to overcome his love for Shiloh. But he won't just sit by when she's in danger. Working together, they plan a trap. But springing it requires getting to centuries-buried treasure before the killers get to them.

My Review:

Who can resist a story about buried treasure? And pirate treasure at that! Spice it up with a delectable romance and enough danger to keep you looking over your shoulder for the duration of the book and you get a winner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Treasure Point Secret  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 May 18  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.

One Perfect Spring

GIVEAWAY

HANNON, IRENE
ONE PERFECT SUMMER

Independent single mom Claire Summers is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Workaholic Keith Watson is interested only in the bottom line--until a letter from Claire's eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk and changes everything.

As the executive assistant to a philanthropic businessman, Keith is used to fielding requests for donations. But the girl isn't asking for money. She wants help finding the long-lost son of a neighbor. As Keith reluctantly digs into this assignment in his usual results-oriented style, he has no idea how involved he and Claire will become--nor how unusual the results will actually be. Who could have guessed that a child's kindhearted request would bring love and hope to so many lives . . . including his own?

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers this tenderhearted story that demonstrates how life is like lilacs--the biggest blooms come only after the harshest winters.

My Review:

Magical. There's something so appealing about a story that revolves around a child's innocent request. Hannon's ability to develop vivid characters that leap off the page make this the kind of read you want to linger over. Masterful storytelling expertly knit diverse lives together in a powerful way. It's a thrilling plot that left me stunned by an unexpected revelation. I laughed, I cried and I worried over Claire and Keith and David and Maureen and young Haley who started it all.

A charming tale that will linger with you long after you've read the last word.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of One Perfect Summer 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 May 18  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."

May 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: