The Wonder of You

GIVEAWAY

WARREN, SUSAN MAY
THE WONDER OF YOU

Mortified after her year abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn't brave enough to embrace the adventures she's dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He'll do anything for a second chance -- even contend with Amelia's old fame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark's continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her place mean leaving home behind?

My Review:

Double the romance and double the angst makes for a tummy churning read packed with lots of emotion. Not only do we get Amelia and Roark's  tumultuous romance but a continuation of Max and Grace's love story carried over from When I Fall in Love. And once again I came away from the read with a bruised heart that still feels tender. And I might currently be hiccupping shuddering sighs after a biblio-induced crying jag. There was one sub-plot that just pushed all my buttons. Sniffle.

Oddly enough, that leaves me feeling replete. Saturated in the euphoria of true love that comes in many forms -- including from on high. Because one of the things I enjoy the most about Susan May Warren's books is the way she embeds faith into every nuance of the story. It's never overdone, but she doesn't mince words either. Early on in the story, Amelia's mother gives her some sage advice: to center her heart on Jesus and once she does that everything else will come into focus. Ingrid (mom) rocks! I love how she handles her brood of unruly adult children and is quick to provide council when necessary (even when it's unwanted.) And she doesn't pull any punches.

Roark is...fainting couch worthy. Tall, dark and handsome with the extra thrill of a James Bond accent. Is it any wonder I fell for him? Or that Amelia did? Twice actually -- once abroad and then all over again when he high tails it to her small town in hot pursuit of the love that got away. Be. Still. My. Heart. Purposeful. Deliberate...Desperate! And wounded. Can we all utter a collective sigh over the deep attraction we feel for a wounded hero? I was cheering from the sidelines the whole read.

Amelia is perfectly portrayed as the baby of the family. With all those protective older siblings barely giving her room to breathe, she's had a hard time striking out on her own and lacks in confidence. Except when she's with Roark. But she's conflicted and I'll warn you right now, there's a love triangle that about drove me crazy! Can you say triple angst pile up? I don't think my heart or my pulse will ever be the same.

This is as much a family saga as it is a love story. Rich in drama and laughter and wickedly good dialogue. And once you reach the end you'll be wondering how to survive until the next Christiansen Family novel makes it way onto your TBR pile.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Wonder of 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 . 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Silent Songbird

GIVEAWAY

DICKERSON, MELANIE
THE SILENT SONGBIRD

Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II's closest advisor, Lord Shiveley -- a man twice her age with shadowy motives -- Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grown between them.

More than Evangeline's future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England's monarchy. Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares for her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?

My Review:

I adore Melanie Dickerson's fairy tale inspired stories and this time it's The Little Mermaid -- though I see shades of The Nightingale as well. There's political intrigue, forbidden romance between a spunky heroine and a dashing hero and plenty of twists and turns to keep the most avid of readers frantically turning pages.

Evangeline is a born dreamer and she longs to experience life outside the sheltered confines of the castle walls. Definitely not the type of girl to be content with an arranged political marriage -- no matter who orders it -- so she gives her dreams flight when she flees the castle and attempts to hide herself among the peasants of Glynval. There's some really funny scenes as she tries to live the life of a working lass. I have to admire her gumption though and she never quits, even when she becomes the target of a malicious bully.

Westley is the proverbial fairy tale hero. Noble and kind and fair to a fault. It isn't long before he is captivated by the stranger in their midst. But this isn't a straightforward love story. Not when deception severs trust. The angst kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to find out if these two would ever find their way to a happily ever after.

Lots of action and laughter and sweet romance make this another winning historical novel from a beloved author.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Silent Songbird 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Cautious Maiden

GIVEAWAY

CRANDALL, DAWN
THE CAUTIOUS MAIDEN

Everstone, 1892

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their parents' beautiful New England inn into a brothel. But that becomes the least of her worries when her own reputation is mysteriously sabotaged.

In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced to accept a hasty proposal from a dark-eyed acquaintance with a tarnished past: Vance Everstone. He is infamous for being a rake -- and yet, against his will, Violet finds herself falling for this man she knows she cannot trust.

As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet gradually learns that her brother isn't done with trouble. He had staked her hand in marriage  in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowan Steele, and lost. Now Rowen is intent on cashing in on his IOU.

With danger stalking her, a fiancé who hides both his emotions and his past, and an old lover eager to save the day, Violet must decide who to believe -- and who to leave behind.

My Review:

Mercy! Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly while frantically waving a fan. Someone hand me the smelling salts...wait...scrap that, if you intend to read The Cautious Maiden you'll need all the smelling salts you can get your hands on. And that's because this is one toe-curling, swoon-inducing, heart-palpitating romantical read.

And that kind of surprises me because if you are familiar with the series (no worries if you aren't you still NEED to read this one) you will know that Vance has not always been an upstanding character. In fact, he's been downright...yucky. But here we see him in a whole new way. Crandall uses some powerful symbolism to illustrate his transition as he becomes a new man in Christ. Really powerful stuff. And got me thinking about sin and sinners and judgement and the way we humans tend to measure sin -- you know some are way worse than others? And yet God sees sin as sin and He sent His son to free us from their consequences so, really, who am I to hold up someone in condemnation for something that has already been forgiven? There are real life lessons in the pages of this book.

And that made me fall in love with Vance all the more. Because he is so committed to living a new life but, like all of us, he struggles with feeling worthy of the kind of love God is offering him. His mind can grasp it, but in  his heart he feels undeserving. The contrast Violet presents to him -- innocent, honorable, faithful -- draws him to her even though he feels she could do so much better than him. And then circumstances become desperate and Vance finds himself engaged to Violet and, believe me, your toe-curls are going to curl!

Intense romance, sinister treachery and an uplifting inspirational thread combine to make this an incredible, not-to-be-missed novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Cautious Maiden 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Family Under the Christmas Tree

GIVEAWAY

REED, TERRI
A FAMILY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

This Christmas, will their shared puppy love lead to a forever family?

Sophie Griffith travels around the world as a photographer. Her new assignment -- helping her grandmother for a few weeks -- is just temporary. Once Christmas Day comes, Sophie will be on her next adventure.

Caring for Grandma is a piece of cake. Caring for her new Bernese mountain dog, Riggs, is a different story. Then Riggs strikes up a friendship with a lost little boy at the park, who leads her to David.

David Murphy never knew much about kids. But when his brother dies unexpectedly, David is granted custody of his five-year-old nephew, Troy. He already has his hands full running his business, and he has no idea how to help the grieving boy. When Troy runs off one day, David finds him at a park playing with an adorable and rambunctious Bernese mountain dog -- who leads him to Sophie.

Sophie will be gone after Christmas, and the last thing David needs is another distraction. Still, their faith and growing love for the little boy -- and the mischievous dog -- soon have them falling for each other. Could this be more than a holiday romance? Will Troy finally get his Christmas wish for a family?

My Review:

So, yes, Christmas has come and gone but 'tis always the season for a heartwarming Christmas romance. I've only read Terri Reed's romantic suspense so I was eager to get my hands on a copy of this sweet love story.

It's official -- it's puppy love! As in Riggs the Bernese Mountain dog pup. Squealll! His antics are hysterical and endearing and kept me grinning and 'ahhhing' all the way through the read. He might just be my fave hero of 2016. Okay, yes, there is a two-legger hero in this novel as well and he's pretty fetching too. I expect you want to hear about him. :-)

David is in over his head when it comes to his five-year-old nephew. His workaholic bachelor days are over and if that isn't enough of an adjustment, dealing with the intricacies of a grieving little boy might prove to be his breaking point. Until his elderly neighbour's granddaughter visits for the holidays. His conniving, matchmaker-minded neighbour, that is.

David and Sophie are thrown together as they strive to make a memorable Christmas for Troy. Emotions become entangled despite their best efforts because no matter how much they seem right for each other, common sense tells them they're all wrong. Sophie lives a nomadic lifestyle as a photographer. David is anchored by a growing business and an orphaned nephew. A future together seems impossible. That makes for some truly tender love scenes that kept me on edge because it all seemed so futile.

The Christmas backdrop brings a stirring element to the story and includes a children's pageant complete with Riggs in reindeer antlers!!!!! (one of my favourite scenes, by the way!) Destined to be a Christmas classic read in my household. One for the keeper shelf for sure.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Family Under the Christmas Tree 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

True Courage / Kidnapped

GIVEAWAY

HENDERSON, DEE
TRUE COURAGE / KIDNAPPED

A killer returns.

FBI Agent Luke Falcon has a dead woman on his hands, a fresh victim from his old adversary, Frank Hardin. This time, Frank won't walk away. But even that case will have to wait when Luke's extended family disappears over Labor Day weekend. Is there a harmless explanation? Or could they have been victims of a sordid crime?

A fragile love falters.

Fifth-grade teacher Caroline Lane cares deeply for Luke, but she's not certain she can handle the pressure of dating someone in his line of work. When foul play strikes his family, she gets a far closer of those pressures than she ever wanted. She's grateful that God brought Luke into her life. But will they share anything more than tragedy by the time the storm passes?

A kidnapping goes awry.

Luke has never worked a case involving family. It's tempting to let his hardened exterior weaken, given the circumstances. But he has to be strong if he's going to bring them all home. When the ransom delivery doesn't go down as planned and the bodies start piling up, so does Luke's frustration. He fears that innocent people may not survive this crisis...and neither will he relationship with Caroline.

My Review:

*First published as True Courage in 2004 and then reissued in 2009 as Kidnapped. The only copy in print at this time is Kidnapped so that is the edition the winner will receive.

This is vintage Henderson. A tense page-turner that still offers sweet breathing spaces of tender romance. Honestly, I absolutely adore the way this author develops a romance in her earlier works. So unhurried but with real intent. Luke and Caroline live in different worlds -- you really can't get farther apart than a school teacher and an FBI agent. She spends her days nurturing the children in her charge while he spends way too many hours wrestling with the dark depravity of the dregs of society. The innocent and the cynic. And yet they work...when they can get their schedules to mesh.

And then their world turns upside down and the suspense takes off with so many twists and turns that it's impossible to catch your breath. And Henderson is so clever in her delivery -- some things we know ahead of the characters, others we're left to struggle right along side them. There's a real sense of urgency -- emotionally delivered from various points of view. Made my heart race as I sped my way to the end -- which brought sublime reader satisfaction!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of True Courage / Kidnapped 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 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 January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

January Giveaway - Week One

WON BY WENDY NEWCOMB

WON BY ANNE PAYNE

WON BY MARIA

WON BY JANKA

WON BY KIM

WON BY CONNIE

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:

I'm still working on my TBR pile so you get three retro reads this week thanks to my public library -- from Dee Henderson, Susan May Warren and Sarah Sundin -- along with three new releases. :-)

The Choice

GIVEAWAY

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
THE CHOICE

One moment Carrie Weaver was looking forward to running away with Lancaster Barnstormers pitcher Solomon Riehl -- plans that included leaving the Amish community where they grew up. The next moment she was staring into a future as broken as her heart. Now, Carrie is faced with a choice. But will this opportunity be all she hoped? Or will the decision, this moment in time, change her life forever?

A tender story of love, forgiveness, and looking below the surface, The Choice uncovers the sweet simplicity of the Amish world -- and shows that it's never too late to find your way back to God.

My Review:

I missed the Lancaster County Secrets series first time round so I'm catching up now. This one is so full of the unexpected that I don't quite no where to begin. Aptly entitled, The Choice, this story carries through all the ramifications a single choice can make. And I was completely captivated by the chain reaction of events that followed. I can't say too much because there are so many surprising twists and turns in the plot and I don't want to post any spoilers. As always though, I love this author's characters and the Amish communities she creates. And this one is chockfull of secrets --  and not just Carrie's -- that will take readers on a fascinating journey of discovery.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Choice 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 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 January 1 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!