Secrets She Kept

GIVEAWAY

GOHLKE, CATHY
SECRETS SHE KEPT

The secret a mother was forbidden to share . . . the consequences a daughter could not redeem—but will risk everything in her attempt.

All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte’s death, Hannah unlocks secrets of her mother’s mysterious past, including the discovery of a grandfather living in Germany.

Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte’s father, ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, demands a marriage for his daughter to help advance his career. But Lieselotte is in love—and her beloved Lukas secretly works against the Reich. How far will her father go to achieve his goal?

Both Hannah’s and Lieselotte’s stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who hides wartime secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family’s tragic past, and how their legacy will shape her future.  

My Review:

Magnificent. Shocking. Mesmerizing. I'm stunned, grappling for words to describe the breadth and depth of this story. The emotional impact it has made on me. The spiritual awakening that has stirred my soul. I blink back tears and swallow against the lump in my throat as my heart burns with equal measures of untold sorrow and joy-filled hope.

Hannah and Lieselotte's stories are told in a canny two part harmony until the moment the past and present collide in a crescendo of a climax.  Impeccably paced, the author slips back and forth in time, leaving me hanging on every word. And I think I felt every emotion imaginable during my reading journey. I feel rather shell-shocked at the conclusion. The kind of worn-out peace that comes after a good long crying-jag.

This is not a book to read lightly. It is the kind that makes a powerful impact. Leaves a lasting impression. Compels you to examine the state of your heart and your faith. Simply stunning.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Secrets She Kept 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 . 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 November 1 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

October Giveaway - Week Four

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 time frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Surviving the Storm

GIVEAWAY

WOODHAVEN, HEATHER
SURVIVING THE STORM

High-stakes reunion

After witnessing her boss's murder, Aria Zimmerman isn't sure she'll make it to safety. She would already be dead if it weren't for her ex-boyfriend David McGuire. Now she and David are in a race for their lives on the rugged Oregon coast. If their enemies don't get them, the elements will. With a lethal tsunami bearing down on them, Aria has no time for regrets and little hope of reconciliation with her former love. Her only wish is that they live long enough to avenge an innocent man's death…  

My Review:

A *MacGyverish flare brings an extra zest to this page-turning romantic suspense. Fraught with danger, each page brings a new surprise. There's action aplenty, a rekindled romance and subtle hints of humour. All conspire to make this gripping story an unforgettable read.

*For those of you who aren't familiar with the MacGyver reference -- it's from a series by the same name which aired in the late eighties, early nineties about a special agent who had an uncanny knowledge of the physical sciences which he used to create devices out of ordinary items to help him get out of dangerous situations.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Surviving the Storm 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 . 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Two Roads Home

GIVEAWAY

RANEY, DEBORAH
TWO ROADS HOME

Minor-but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman’s initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans’ son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington’s friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless—and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk. With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

My Review:

Book Two in the Chicory Inn series continues the Whitman family saga with the emphasis on oldest daughter Corinne and her husband Jesse. You don't need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one but it sure was fun to renew acquaintances with the whole extended family.

When I saw this title I immediately thought of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. You know the part where it says two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference? Well, that so aptly applies to Corinne and Jesse's journey in Two Roads Home.

This is the incredibly complex love story of a married couple. Raney portrays the harried stress of day-to-day family life with exacting precision. But these two have to face much more than the typical stressors of our fast-paced world and that makes this an utterly compelling read. Their trust in each other is sorely tested.  Emotional, funny, exasperating by turn, I didn't want to put this book down.

A rollercoaster of a read with plenty of emotional turmoil but Raney manages to wrap it all up with love and laughter and the renewing hope that comes from an abiding faith.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Two Roads Home 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 . 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Now & Forever

GIVEAWAY

CONNEALY, MARY
NOW & FOREVER

Matthew Tucker survives a grizzly attack by jumping over a cliff into a rushing river. Unexpectedly, Shannon Wilde takes the plunge with him. Going through a series of waterfalls and rapids turns into a bonding experience.

By the time they battle their way back to civilization, Shannon has been thoroughly compromised, and only a wedding will do. A mountain man who loves to wander in the wilderness far from other people finds himself hitched to a young woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for.

As they learn to live with each other, strange things begin to happen on Shannon’s land. Someone evil clearly wants to drive them off, but whoever it is apparently didn’t count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad–and trying to hurt the woman he’s falling in love with sets off something even Matthew never expected.  And the tongue-in-cheek chapter endings made it impossible to stop reading.

My Review:

Mary Connealy is in a league of her own when it comes to spinning tall tales of epic proportion. The action-packed opening scene in Now & Forever grabbed my attention and sent me careening on a wild and sometimes whacky adventure right along with Shannon and Tucker.

Let's pause a moment and exude a few swoony sighs over this hero. A blustering, tough-as-nails mountain man who has the capacity to utter sweet love words made all the sweeter because it's so uncharacteristic for him. His wonder over discovering what romantic love can bring to his secluded lifestyle is oddly sweet and so very endearing.

Shannon's a little leery of attaching herself to any man -- but this one in particular? Well, you might say their whirlwind 'courtship' is just that -- a whirlwind! Connealy humour at it's finest.

Incredible actions scenes had me alternately cringing and laughing out loud. Makes this the kind of book you just can't bear to put down. And if all that isn't enough, Connealy weaves in some stirring faith talk and tender nuggets of sheer poetry like this:

Tucker seemed to gather her up. That was all she could think of to explain it. She felt like she was falling apart, and he held her together so she wouldn't shatter. (p.260)

An exceptional read from one of my favourite go-to authors.

*This is Book Two of the Wild at Heart series. It reads perfectly fine as a standalone, but does contain carry over characters and overall set-up from the first book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Now & Forever 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 . 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Intertwined

GIVEAWAY

SLATTERY, JENNIFER
INTERTWINED

Abandoned by her husband for another woman, Tammy Kuhn, an organ procurement coordinator finds herself in an altercation with a doctor. Now she is fighting to keep her job and her sanity when one late night she encounters an old flame facing an unthinkable tragedy. Because they both find eternal purposes in every event and encounter, they soon discover their lives are intertwined but the ICU is no place for romance....or is it? This could this be where life begins again.

My Review:

Slattery sure knows how to put the real into realistic fiction. This book packs more than one emotional wallop that left me gasping for breath a time or two. And spitting-nails mad. My tummy was tied in knots the whole read. A gritty novel that explores some pretty harsh realities. But the story isn't without hope and the author does an exceptional job of sharing the power of Christ's redeeming love. Never preachy, there is still a relentless witness woven into every scene. And what I really love about this book is that while Tammy and Nick are Christian they are by no means perfect. They struggle with their own brokenness and sometimes it's messy. Watching them stretch and grow helped me assess and even re-evaluate some issues in my own life. An intense read that has the potential to spark great discussions in a book club.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Intertwined 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 . 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Heart Full of Christmas

GIVEAWAY

GIUSTI, DEBBY
HERNE, RUTH LOGAN
RADCLIFFE, TINA
LEESMITH, SANDRA
TIPPENS, MISSY
A HEART FULL OF CHRISTMAS

There's no time like the holidays to fall into romance with some of the best-known inspirational romance authors around! No matter what part of the country (or world!) you're from, these tender, holiday themed romances make you feel the joy of a faith-filled Christmas and the tender spirit of angels with every page you turn! Join these authors as they transport you to a "Joy-to-the-World" type happy-ever-after, the kind of joy every couple deserves!

A Miracle For Christmas by Debby Giusti -- Nurse Brigid O'Grady refuses to open her heart to NYPD Detective Tony Calabrese, knowing she could lose him to the gang violence that killed her dad. But, while working to save a patient on Christmas Eve night, Brigid is confronted by the very danger she most fears. Can Tony save Brigid -- or do they both need a miracle to make the darkness turn merry and bright.

Home to His Heart by Ruth Logan Herne -- Being in Ashton, Pennsylvania at Christmas time holds nothing but bad memories for Dr. Tess Cosgrove. Jake Karralis is at a tough professional crossroads. When Tess meets her high school nemesis living across the street with his twin sons, the stakes suddenly change. Can the timing of a young angel and the glory of a newborn king bring peace and happiness to two troubled souls? It can, with a little help from baklava and hand-rolled cannolis!

Under the Mistletoe by Tina Radcliffe -- Wrap your heart around a cozy little romanced that starts with a red wool scarf, an angel or two, and ends with Ben Logan and Lucy Fielding under the mistletoe.

Holiday Homecoming by Sandra Leesmith -- Debbie fell in love with surfer, David Martin. Against her parent’s wishes, she married her first love. Would the help of an angel and the influence of the Christmas season bring forgiveness and redemption?

Snowflake Kisses by Missy Tippens -- Unlucky in love, police deputy Hardy Greenway has spent his life in the friend zone. But now he’s fallen hard for the girlfriend of his nemesis. Dori Blanchette has been waiting for a proposal. But how can she say yes when she has feelings for Hardy? With Christmas tree ornaments playing spontaneously and secrets being revealed, there’s no telling who will end up together at Christmas!

My Review:

These diverse stories share an angel theme that evokes the special wonder of Christmas. It was fun becoming acquainted with angels in different guises. Uplifting tales of heart and faith.

A Miracle For Christmas by Debby Giusti -- Filled with tension, fraught with danger and cloaked in the magic of Christmas. This one gave me goosebumps. A classic Christmas tale laced with the kind of hope only an angelic messenger can bring.

Home to His Heart by Ruth Logan Herne -- The pain of emotional childhood scars play a pivotal role in this heart-tugging Christmas tale of loss and hope. Realistic in its naked honesty, this novella has the power to heal even as it entertains and includes a five star toe-curling kiss. Melted in a puddle on the floor. Tender. Passionate. Soothes away a world of hurts. Thud.

Under the Mistletoe by Tina Radcliffe -- Sharp and snappy with more than a touch of Christmas magic. Ben and Lucy have been friends since childhood and it doesn't look like anything will come of Ben's unrequited love until an angel (or two) get involved.  Heartwarming and smile-inducing.

Holiday Homecoming by Sandra Leesmith -- A beautiful story of family and forgiveness. It's told from the perspective of an older woman telling her friends about her first love. A unique angle for a romance and I loved the snippets of old friends gathered together as much as the romantic memories. Made it more poignant somehow.

Snowflake Kisses by Missy Tippens -- A touching love story that's not without its share of complications. Hardy hasn't chosen an easy path to romance. I was fuming on his behalf more than a time or two and cheering Dori on once she begins to see the light. The angelic presence is more subtle in this novella, but makes a huge impact nonetheless.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note -- available in ebook format only

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Heart Full of Christmas 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 . 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 October 25 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!