Just the Way You Are

GIVEAWAY

BASHAM, PEPPER
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Mountain girl, British boy, and a culture clash of epic proportions

Single mom, Eisley Barrett, prefers to keep romance safely housed within a centuries-old mystery, but when she travels to England at her uncle's dying request to unearth the truth, she never expects to tumble into her own fairytale.

Leading man and reformed rogue, Christopher Wesley Harrison, is fighting to build a new reputation after tragedy introduced him to the power of redemption. His hardened cynicism and his self-protective avoidance of romance crumbles at Eisley's two left feet, and sends his heart into unscripted territory.

When his past threatens to ruin his second chance at love, can some Appalachian matchmaking, some adorable kids, big-family antics, and letters from the grave salvage their unexpected romance?

It's a Britallachian romance sprinkled with humor, romance, mystery, and a little bitof magic.

My Review:

Warning: reading this book is likely to induce extreme chocolate cravings. Read at your own risk...and make sure to have a chocolate stash on hand! Because hero Wes is "Ghirardelli in human form." (p 12)  Honestly, I don't know which had me swooning more - Wes or all the chocolate references. Either way, a fainting couch is a definite requirement to get a sensitive reader safely through to the end. :-)

And this is the kind of book you don't want to read because if you do it will be over. Yeah, I know that doesn't make much sense but here's the conversation I had with myself the whole read

Me: Slow down! You're reading too fast!
Myself: But it's so good!!!!! I can't help myself.
Me: Keep it up and you're gonna reach the end way too soon.
Myself: Gasp!
Me: I know - see that's what I'm sayin'! This good read is going to be over before it's begun.
Myself: Not if I stop and reread the good bits...that way I can savor it longer.
Me: Brilliant! That will slow you down some without interfering with your reading pleasure.
Myself: Right. So at the end of every chapter, I'll go back and read over the good bits.
Me: Hmmm...in other words, you're gonna read each chapter all the way through twice?
Myself: ((blissful sigh) Pretty much. This is going to be fun!

Brilliant and witty and soooo relatable. Eisley especially. Adorably klutzy (and really, it's time we kltuzes had a heroine to look up to!) and so refreshingly funny. She can't seem to stop turning her inner most thoughts into spoken-out-loud sentences at the most inopportune times with delightful results. I belly laughed so much I'm thinking of adding this book to my fitness regimen -- my obliques got way more of a workout with Eisley then doing sit-ups!

And then there's redeemed rogue Wes...as yummy as all the chocolate comparisons Eisley thinks up to describe him. Their hysterical first meet sets the tone for the whole story - though he doesn't stay that grumpy for long thanks to the whimsical Miss Eisley.

As a fairly new Christian, Wes has sworn off romance. He's still coming to grips with the tragic results of his former hard-hitting lifestyle. Which is totally in sync with Eiseley's determination to avoid real life romance at any cost. Been there, done that and doesn't trust herself to go there again. Ha! These two were made for each other and Basham sets out to prove it with toe-curling perfection. Seriously, plug in the fans, grab some ice packs and be prepared to s-w-o-o-n!!!!

But this romantically euphoric read has even more to offer with a compelling inspirational thread that was pointed directly at me. Seriously - Eisley battles with fear and doubt even though her faith is strong. And yes, that does seem like an oxymoron but since I'm going through the exact same thing, I totally get how it works! I've been so uplifted by this story!

And I haven't even touched on Eisley's zany Appalachian clan or the intriguing centuries old mystery or the obnoxious secondary character that I wanted to throttle or...well, this review is too long as it is. Best way to sum it all up:

Romantic Comedy that sizzles!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Just the Way You Are, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, please remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 13 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

May Giveaway -- Week Two

WON BY SUSAN P.

WON BY SUSAN FUCHIKAMI.

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY SUSAN FLETCHER

WON BY LAURA WALTZ

WON BY TRIXI

You know the drill -- I will notify the winners if they included their email - otherwise it's up to the winners to notify me with their mailing address at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If I can't connect with a winner within a month , the win will be forfeited. Books are usually sent out within a week of receiving a winner's address but give it a month before making inquires about delivery to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAY:

Light of Dawn

GIVEAWAY

CHAPMAN, VANNETTA
LIGHT OF DAWN

Before Dawn, what dangers lurk in the darkness?

For nine months, since a devastating solar flare caused a complete failure of the electrical grid, Shelby Sparks and her diabetic son, Carter, have been living at the ranch of Shelby's high school sweetheart, Max Barkman.

Mostly insulated from the chaos surrounding them, Shelby and Max discover that the Texas government has fled the capitol and is barely maintaining control of the state. The governor needs volunteers to search for the new federal government, but no one knows exactly where it might be located -- if it even still exists -- or what perils await those brave enough to take on the mission.

Compelled by Carter's desperate need for insulin and their God-given sense of duty, Shelby and Max answers the governor's call and set out on a treacherous 600 mile journey, where they will experience the terrifying effects of unrestrained anarchy. If they have the faith and fortitude necessary to reach their destination, what will they find when they get there?

In this thrilling conclusion to the Remnant trilogy, America is left teetering between total collapse and the dawn of a new and vastly different reality.

My Review:

published in July 2017 - and yes, that means we are far enough into 2018 that some of my wishlist 2017 books are officially retro reads! So many books, so little time!

This third book in the Remnant series is a thriller and a chiller! And definitely not a standalone read. We've collected too many characters and plot twists along the way to make it possible to jump in and start reading in this final installment. But if you have been following Max and Shelby's hair-raising adventures you will be excited to dive into Light of Dawn.  An apt title, by the way, as that is what Chapman offers us -- the glimmer of light in a darkly terrifying new world. And she has a scary-vivid imagination as she describes all the trauma and violence that is a given in this post-apocalyptic world.

Definitely a grim read in places but Chapman also weaves a message of faith and hope throughout. There's satisfying romantical conclusions to two long-time-in-the-making love stories. And Shelby's teen son Carter really comes into his own. We are reunited with characters left behind as everyone bands together to take one more impossible journey through a lawless land in search of the new federal government.

The bittersweet ending leaves readers with enough closure in the hope for a very different future for Max and Shelby and all they hold dear. This series has really challenged me ---- I think because it feels so plausible and has me thinking through scenarios and realizing how dependent our society is on technology. Lots of food for thought.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Light of Dawn, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 6 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Until We Find Home

GIVEAWAY

GOHLKE, CATHY
UNTIL WE FIND HOME

For American Claire Stewart, joining the French resistance sounded as romantic as the storylines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write.  But when she finds herself stranded on English shores with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality seems more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throw herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees if Claire will stay to help. Though desperate to return to France and the man she loves, Claire has few options. But her tumultuous upbringing -- spent in the refuge of novels with fictional friends -- has ill prepared her for the daily dramas of raising children or for the way David Campbell, a fellow American boarder, challenges her notions of love. Nor could she foresee how the threat of war will invade their quiet haven, threatening all who have come to call Bluebell Wood home, the people who have become her family.

My Review:

A sumptuous feast of words. This complex story challenges and convicts through a host of characters who have become dear friends. All are on unique journeys but have been brought together by the grace of God.

Heartache and hope set against the stirring backdrop of an England at war. There's a Home Fires vibe about Until We Find Home so if you're familiar with that BBC drama, you'll have a feel for the kind of compelling plots and engaging characters this book offers. I could totally see this as the next TV drama sensation! And there's enough adventure and angst, drama and comedy to fill a whole season! Riveting stuff.

Told from multiple points of view, the reader is given a real glimpse into the lives and hearts of different characters. I laughed and cried and fumed and tossed the book across the room at one point (figuratively, of course. We do not throw books no matter how onerous a character might be.) Individual story threads merge into a richly woven tapestry that brightens some of the darkest days in world history.

This is also a novel worthy of more than a few bibliophile swoons as some of my favourite authors and books make their way onto the pages of Claire's story. It was like getting to meet old friends while becoming acquainted with a new friend - finding books within a book like that.  I'm still grinning and, frankly, a little jealous of Claire.

This is the kind of story you want to linger over even though you've reached the last page. I'm not ready to let the magic go. Though, I suppose it isn't really magic I'm feeling but the Spirit convicting me to live my faith with abandon. To appreciate every blessed minute I've been given and make them all count.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:'

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Until We Find Home, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 6 2018, Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Wedding Quilt Bride

GIVEAWAY

PERRY, MARTA
THE WEDDING QUILT BRIDE

The single mom's second chance...to become one of the Brides of Lost Creek!

Widow Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community with her son and a dream -- to own a quilt shop. Carpenter Daniel King is determined to help Rebecca and revive their childhood friendship. But as he bonds with her son, Rebecca's afraid the secret she's been keeping will be revealed. Can Daniel convince Rebecca he's a man she can trust - and love?

My Review:

Astonishingly good! Maybe my favourite by Marta Perry. I think it's the way this story revolves around community that tugged at my heart. Extending a hand and, more importantly, being willing to accept the help of others, plays over and over again in this story in so many beautiful, moving ways.

Daniel and Rebecca were never sweethearts but they were good friends until Rebecca moved away to marry. During their time apart, they've both lived through personal tragedies, both harboring secrets that hold them back from courting.

Rebecca isn't the carefree, high-spirited girl Daniel remembers from his childhood. She's inexplicably guarded and tense but Daniel catches unexpected glimpses of the easygoing girl he used to know. I love how this romance grows from sweet childhood memories. There's a wariness in both hero and heroine but so much tenderness as well. These two are challenged in ways that draw them together and it's their faith that ultimately allows them to create something enduring and beautiful -- just like the quilts Rebecca makes.

Book provided courtesy of Love Inspired.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Wedding Quilt Bride, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 6 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Love Inspired is also doing a giveaway for a $100 Visa card!

Click on the link below

https://gleam.io/gLe4I/love-inspired-blog-tour-sweepstakes

Phoebe's Light

GIVEAWAY

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
PHOEBE'S LIGHT

Phoebe Starbuck has always taken care of her father as he chases one whim after another. Finally, she's doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves she takes two gifts from her father, but desires only one: her great-grandmother's journal. The second gift? A "murder" in the form of cooper Matthew Macy, a man she loathes. Phoebe soon discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Disillusioned, she turns to Great Mary's journal and finds a secret that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially the captain and the cooper.

My Review:

I love it when a book sneaks past my expectations and shouts, "Surprise!" right in my face as soon as I open it. And this one sure did! Because Phoebe's Light wasn't anything like I thought it would be  -- it's so much more!

Rich Nantucket history from two different centuries which includes whaling - a fascinating topic when you consider the world's view on whaling in the 21st century. There's an eyeopening look at conflicting religions - Puritan vs Quaker which totally caught me off guard. I did not know that!. So I came away with a new understanding of a number of topics - and be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book where Suzanne Woods Fisher separates fact from fiction.

And the biggest surprise of all -- this is a seafaring tale with treachery and mystery afoot -- all told in the brilliant storytelling style of one of my favourite authors. Yes, it's a departure from her usual Amish fiction but her trademark writer's voice is comfortingly familiar. And that includes laughter in unexpected places. Especially when it comes to Great Mary's journal entries. I mistakenly read this on the bus where my snorting and laughing guaranteed a seat all to myself for the entire journey.

Phoebe is exasperating and engaging and occasionally needs a good purse whomping. Sigh. But she's young and stubborn and there's no telling her anything. Sometimes a heroine just need to learn from her mistakes and she makes some doozies. But learn she does and matures in the process.

This is the first book in Fisher's Nantucket Legacy series and I'm thinking that Great Mary's journal entries will continue to provide inspiration to future generations as the series progresses. I feel an anticipatory swoon coming on as I contemplate all that reading goodness ahead of us..

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Phoebe's Light, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 6 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Bound by Duty

GIVEAWAY

HANSEN, VALERIE
BOUND BY DUTY

Assignment: single mom surveillance

The Military K-9 Unit series continues

Her serial killer brother's escaped -- and it's single mom Zoe Sullivan who's under suspicion. Sgt. Linc Colson trusts two things: his instincts and his Rottweiler K-9 partner, Star -- and certainly not the pretty face he's assigned to monitor. He's done everything to keep her from getting under his skin -- now he must stop those who want to put her six feet under.

My Review:

Woohoo -- the second book in the Military K-9 Unit series continues the desperate hunt for a serial killer and includes a mystery unique to this story. These books can be read as standalones despite the over-arcing suspense thread that will play out over the course of the series. Hansen did a great job of picking things up where events in Mission to Protect left off but in such a way that it would be easy for someone who hasn't read that first book to comfortably read this one. No small feat when you consider the number of characters (including K-9s) we need to keep track of. Not to mention the serial killer on the loose!

Can you imagine having a brother capable of murder? And if that isn't awful enough -- to have people think you could actually be aiding and abetting him? That's the impossible predicament Zoe finds herself in. She's hurt and angry -- a fiery dynamo who isn't afraid to stand up for herself...and she's had to do that a lot lately. Especially where her unwanted 'shadow' is concerned. Linc may only be following orders but she's had enough of his not-so-covert surveillance and we get to enjoy the fireworks!

As far as Linc's concerned, Zoe's guilty until proven innocent - he's suspicious like that. And he's a bit of a grump. He might have his reasons but there were still times I wanted to slap him upside the head. :) Especially since his K-9 partner, Star, is a Zoe fan from the get go and we all know that dogs are the best judges of character. But while Linc trusts his four-footed partner in everything else, he seems oddly reluctant to give Zoe the benefit of the doubt.

But she makes it hard to stay aloof especially when it appears that someone has drawn a target on her back. Strange turns to creepy and then downright dangerous as Linc and Zoe (and Star the K-9 Rock Star) race to find answers before Zoe ends up dead!

An intriguing, fast-paced romantic suspense that delivers an edge-of-your-seat read.

Book provided courtesy of Love Inspired.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Bound by Duty, leave a comment below ore email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 6 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

LOVE INSPIRED IS ALSO DOING A GIVEAWAY FOR A $100 VISA GIFT CARD!

 CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER:

https://gleam.io/gLe4I/love-inspired-blog-tour-sweepstakes