April Showers Bring Reading Hours!

AND A CHANCE TO WIN NEW-RELEASE BOOKS IN APRIL!

April is Giveaway Month! That means that every book I read and review here on this blog will be offered in a draw! I'll ship anywhere in the world so non U.S. residents are eligible.

Rules

1. You must be eighteen or older to participate in this giveaway.

2. In order to enter you simply have to post a comment after a review of any of the books you are interested in winning during the month of April 2011. You do not need to post your email address.

Or you can email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please write Giveaway in the subject line and indicate which book you are interested in.

3. Book Reviews will start being posted on April 1, 2011 and will continue until April 30, 2011.

4. Draws will take place on Sunday April 10 for books reviewed between the 1st and 9th, April 24 for books reviewed between the 10th and 23rd, and Saturday April 30 for books reviewed between the 24th and 30th.

5. Winners will be posted on this blog on Sunday April 10, Sunday April 24 and Saturday April 30. Winners must provide a mailing address in an email to me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Do not post your address anywhere on this blog.

6. The number of books given away will depend upon how many I manage to read during the month. I average around 10-15 per month, so that's how many chances there are to win. The books will be new and shipped to you from either christianbooks.com or from me (purchased at my local Christian bookstore). Part of my reason for doing this Giveaway is to support both authors and retailers in the Christian market.

So spread the word and get ready to enter.

Good luck! Happy reading!

P.S. Feel free to ask any question in the comment area below.

A Secret Identity and A Rose Revealed

ROPER, GAYLE

A SECRET IDENTITY

A ROSE REVEALED

A SECRET IDENTITY

Danger, mystery, and an unexpected romance...all await popular romance novelist Cara Bentley when she travels in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, to find her family roots.

The intrigue begins when Cara discovers -- quite by accident -- that her recently deceased grandfather was adopted. If he wasn't a Bentley, who was he? If she isn't a Bentley, who is she?

In pursuit of answers, Cara takes a room at the Zook family farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. When she seeks the help of attorney Todd Reasoner, the search for the truth begins in earnest. But as mysterious incidents begin to happen. Cara suspects her attempt to find out the truth is not welcome -- and neither is she.

A ROSE REVEALED

Rose Martin became a nurse because she wanted to help people... And Rose has come to realize that part of being a nurse means encountering death. But death by natural causes...not by murder.

So when cancer stricken Sophie Hostetter is murdered, Rose begins asking questions. Soon she's drawn into a maze of family secrets that endanger her own life. Her growing attraction to Amish raised Jake Zook further complicates her life. His resentment toward her is puzzling -- after all, she helped save his life. Why will he not allow her to share that life now?

THESE ARE BOOK TWO AND TREE OF THE AMISH FARM TRILOGY. BOTH BOOKS SHARE SOME COMMON CHARACTERS AND THE SETTING. THEY'RE QUICK READS AND I READ THEM BACK TO BACK BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS PARTICULAR CORNER OF THE WORLD. ROPER HAS SPUN MAGIC THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES AND IT MAKES FOR OBSESSIVE READING. SHE EXCELS AT CHARACTERIZATION -- DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE FRAUGHT WITH COMPLICATION AND ANGST BUT SOMEHOW STILL LACED WITH HOPE. AND THERE'S ALWAYS AN EMPHASIS ON SPIRITUAL TRUTHS THAT MAKE ME PAUSE AND TAKE STOCK OF MY OWN LIFE.

Wanted: a Family

DEAN, JEAN

WANTED: A FAMILY

The ramshackle Victorian house is all that widowed mother-to-be Callie Mitchell has left. But she's going to make that house into a true home -- a home where she and her baby will be safe and happy...and where women in need can find refuge. And if that means trusting stranger Jacob Smith to help with the repairs, then so be it.

Jacob came to town with a handful of old postcards and one goal in mind -- to find the mother who'd abandoned him years before. He never planned to stay...and he certainly never planned to care for Callie. Yet as they rebuild the house together, Jacob and Callie also build the family they've always wanted.

DEAN CERTAINLY KNOWS HOW TO DRAW AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE OUT OF HER READERS! I RAN A GAMUT OF THEM AS I READ WANTED: A FAMILY. IN FACT I WAS THE SPITTING-NAILS-KIND-OF-MAD AT SOME POINTS IN THE STORY. SO MUCH SO THAT I HAD TO STAND AND PACE WHILE I READ! LOL. THERE'S A POWERFUL MESSAGE PACKED IN THE PAGES OF THIS BOOK AND IT PROVED TO BE A THOUGHT-PROVOKING READ. ISSUES DEALING WITH JUDGEMENT AND WHAT 'GRACE' MEANS AND WHO IT IS APPLIED TO IS JUST AS TIMELY NOW AS IN THE HISTORICAL PERIOD THIS BOOK WAS SET IN. KUDOS TO DEAN FOR TACKLING SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

I LOVED THE PACING IN THE WANTED: A FAMILY. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL, UNHURRIED SCENES THAT DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND PLOT BUT WHEN TENSION BUILDS, DEAN'S WORDS BUILD INTO A TORRENT AND THE ACTION SPILLS OFF THE PAGE. AND THE AUTHOR ADDS A VERY IMAGINATIVE PLOT TWIST THAT TURNS THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS INTO PAGE-TURNING SUSPENSE.

AS A BOOK CLUB SELECTION THERE'S LOTS OF SCOPE FOR IMAGINATION. SO MANY WAYS FOR A DISCUSSION TO GO -- ESPECIALLY ON VALUING INDIVIDUALS, NOT BEING QUICK TO JUDGE, OPENING OUR HEARTS TO THE TRUE MEAN OF GOD'S GRACE. LOT OF SCOPE FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AS WELL. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK THAT DEFINITELY BELONGS ON KEEPER SHELVES EVERYWHERE!

For a chance to win this book and three other Love Inspired titles PLUS some genuine Canadian goodies (edible and otherwise) all in one lovely package -- leave a comment at inkspirationalmessages.com any time today. We're blogging about Reality TV and I'm talking about the show Say Yes to the Dress. Winner will be announced this Sunday, March 27 on the inkspirationalmessages blog.

A Family for Faith

TIPPENS, MISSY

A FAMILY FOR FAITH

When Faith Hagin sees widower cop Gabe Reynolds every day in her coffee shop, she can't help but feel for the struggling single dad. She's raised a teenager of her own -- and sadly, knows what not to do. But thanks to his matchmaking preteen daughter, Chelsea, the whole town's praying for Gabe to find a wife! Even though Faith thinks she's content being just friends, spending time with him and Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone's prayers.

THIS IS VERY MUCH GABE'S STORY. HE'S THE FIRST CHARACTER WE MEET AND THE EMOTIONAL PULL BETWEEN READER AND HERO IS IMMEDIATE. THERE IS SOMETHING SOOOOOO ATTRACTIVE ABOUT A SINGLE DAD TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE WITH A PRETEEN DAUGHTER.

TIPPENS MAGICALLY COMBINES HUMOUR AND ANGST INTO THE PERFECT BLEND FOR A ROMANTIC COMEDY. I COULD TOTALLY SEE THIS PLAYING OUT ON THE BIG SCREEN -- IT HAS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A RUNAWAY HIT.

GABE IS HAVING A HARD TIME LETTING GO OF HIS WIFE. HE EQUATES MOVING ON WITH HIS LIFE AFTER HIS WIFE'S DEATH WITH BEING UNFAITHFUL TO HER MEMORY. HE'S TRAPPED IN A TIME WARP, DESPERATE TO KEEP ANYTHING FROM CHANGING -- INCLUDING HIS DAUGHTER. OF COURSE, THAT BACKFIRES ON HIM BIG TIME BUT LUCKILY HE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOUR.

FAITH BATTLES HER OWN DEMONS FROM THE PAST BUT RELUCTANTLY AGREES TO HELP GAGE AND CHELSEA. HER STORY GROUNDS THE HUMOUR AND ADDS LAYERS OF DEPTH TO THE TALE.

TIPPENS IS AN EXPERT AT WEAVING WORDS THAT PACK AN EMOTIONAL WALLOP. I WAS IN TEARS BY THE END. SUCH A RICH, HEART-WARMING, HOPEFUL BOOK! AND THERE'S LOTS OF SCOPE FOR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION TOO. THIS IS A DEFINITE KEEPER.

For a chance to win this book along with three other Love Inspired titles -- Reunited Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne, The Rancher's Reunion by Tina Radcliffe and Wanted a Family by Janet Dean PLUS some genuine Canadian goodies (edible and otherwise) all in one lovely package -- leave a comment at www.inkspirationalmessages.com any time this week. We're blogging about Reality TV and it's my turn on Friday. Your name will be entered into the draw as many times as you comment. Good luck!

Reunited Hearts

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN

REUNITED HEARTS

Back in his hometown, military hero Trent Michaels comes face-to-face with a twelve-year old boy who looks just like him. Same dark curly hair. Same blue eyes. And the boy calls Trent's old flame, Alyssa Langley, mom.

Trent was a foster kid from the wrong side of the tracks when he fell in love with Alyssa. But she cast him aside because he wasn't good enough -- or so he thought. Now Trent is determined to connect with his newfound son. And to get the truth from the woman he never stopped loving...

HERNE HAS A PENCHANT FOR INCLUDING GRIT AND SUBSTANCE IN HER ROMANCES AND SHE DIDN'T HOLD ANY PUNCHES WITH THIS ONE!

I FELL IN LOVE WITH TRENT ON THE VERY FIRST PAGE. IDENTIFIED WITH HIM RIGHT AWAY. (THE STORY OPENS WITH TRENT'S PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL FOR A CATEGORY ROMANCE.)

TRUTHFULLY THOUGH, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO WARM UP TO ALYSSA. THE REASON, OF COURSE, IS THE FACT THAT SHE KEPT HER SON A SECRET FROM HIS FATHER. IT TAKES A TALENTED WRITER AND A MORE THAN PLAUSIBLE PLOT TO WIN ME OVER WHEN THIS KIND OF SCENARIO TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN A BOOK. LUCKILY HERNE IS MEGA-TALENTED BOTH IN HER WRITING STYLE AND HER PLOTTING BECAUSE I WAS SOLD!!!!

HERNE LETS US FEEL TRENT'S PAIN, HIS ANGER, ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND HIS PAST ANGST, REALIZE HOW MUCH HE HAS OVERCOME TO GET TO BE THE MAN HE IS TODAY. THAT DREW ME LIKE A MAGNET! EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HIS PAIN HE TOOK MEASURE OF EACH SITUATION, TOOK CARE TO PUT THE NEEDS OF HIS SON FIRST, KEPT PRAYING, SOUGHT COUNSEL. HE'S A GOOD MAN. A SOLID MAN. AND THE READER GETS THAT RIGHT FROM THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER.

LYSSA, ON THE OTHER HAND, HOLDS HERSELF APART. AS I'M READING, I REALLY CAN'T IDENTIFY WITH HER REASON FOR KEEPING TRENT OUT OF THEIR SON'S LIFE. ON THE SURFACE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. JUST LIKE SITUATIONS IN REAL LIFE. HAVEN'T WE ALL WONDERED WHY SOME PEOPLE STAY CAUGHT UP IN A DESTRUCTIVE PATTERN? IT'S EASY TO JUDGE WHEN WE ARE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. BUT WHAT IF WE JUST STOPPED JUDGING AND STARTED ACCEPTING, LOVING, UNDERSTANDING?

THAT'S WHAT REALLY HIT HOME TO ME AS I READ REUNITED HEARTS. MY FEELINGS ABOUT LYSSA CHANGED AS HERNE EXPERTLY REVEALED LAYER AFTER LAYER OF CONFUSION, MISCOMMUNICATION AND HURT. AND OH THE STUBBORNNESS! I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO THAT. SUDDENLY LYSSA WAS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL CHARACTER I COULD EMPATHIZE WITH!!! I 'GOT' HER IN AN AHA MOMENT MIDWAY THROUGH THE BOOK AND BY THE END I WAS BLUBBERING LIKE A BABY BECAUSE IT WAS THAT GOOD!

DEFINITELY MORE THAN AN ESCAPE READ, THIS ONE MAKES YOU THINK. IT WOULD BE A GREAT BOOK CLUB CHOICE AS WELL BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION TOPICS ARE ENDLESS.

For a chance to win a copy of this book plus three other Love Inspired titles -- A Family for Faith by Missy Tippens; The Rancher's Reunion by Tina Radcliffe; Wanted, a Family by Janet Dean PLUS some genuine Canadian goodies (edible and otherwise) all in one lovely package -- leave a comment at inkspirationalmessages.com any time this week. (I blog on Friday there). Your name will be entered into the draw as many times as you comment. Good luck!

An Amish Love

WISEMAN, BETH

LONG, KELLY

FULLER, KATHLEEN

AN AMISH LOVE

HEALING HEARTS by Beth Wiseman

He left to find himself. She found her way without him. Now Levina and Naaman Lapp are together again, feeling miles apart. Although coming home was the right thing to do, Naaman must regain the trust and respect of his wife who, in his absence, has learned to trust God like never before. Could it be that their prior years together have simply been a preface to a greater love than they have ever known?

VERY CLEVERLY DONE. I WAS CAPTURED FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE -- FIRST BECAUSE I WAS FUMING AT NAAMAN AND ACHING FOR LEVINA BUT NAAMAN EVENTUALLY WON ME OVER. THEN I WAS CELEBRATING RIGHT ALONG WITH THE LAPPS AS THEY REDISCOVERED THEIR LOVE.

WISEMAN HAS ADDED AN INTERESTING SECONDARY THREAD TO THE PLOT LINE WHICH IS BY TURNS INTRIGUING AND FUNNY AND CULMINATES INTO A SURPRISE ENDING.

A MARRIAGE OF THE HEART by Kelly Long

Abigail Kauffman is looking for a way out; Joseph Lambert is seeking a way in. Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.

I'VE FOUND A NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR! I LOVE LONG'S WRITING VOICE -- HER ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT IS STELLAR AS IS HER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. ABBY IS AN UNLIKELY AMISH HEROINE. WE MEET HER IN THE MIDDLE OF A DECEITFUL PLOT OF HER OWN MAKING. SHE EMBELLISHES THE TRUTH AND RISKS RUINING ANOTHER'S REPUTATION. WHAT WOULD DRIVE HER TO DO SUCH A THING? AND STICK TO IT WHEN THINGS GET SO OUT OF HAND? I HAD TO KEEP READING TO FIND OUT.

LONG HAS TAKEN AN OVERUSED PLOT DEVICE (MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE/ARRANGED MARRIAGE) AND WORKED IT INTO SOMETHING FRESH, CAPTIVATING AND BELIEVABLE. I ENJOYED WATCHING ABBY'S TRUE CHARACTER SHINE THROUGH ALL THE EMOTIONAL LAYERS IT HAD BEEN HIDDEN BENEATH. I LOVED JOSPEPH'S WIT, HIS STRUGGLE, HIS INNATE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND RELY ON HIS GOD TO SEE HIM THROUGH.

WHAT THE HEART SEES by Kathleen Fuller

When Ellie Chupp loses her sight in an accident -- and then her boyfriend shortly after that -- she believes love will never be in her future. But Christopher Miller has returned home, five years after fleeing from the tragedy that broke his heart. When Ellie and Chris meet again, sparks fly. Could true love be a matter of seeing with new eyes?

THIS IS A POWERFUL TALE OF FORGIVENESS -- ON SO MANY LEVELS. FORGIVENESS BECAUSE IT IS WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US. FORGIVENESS OF THOSE WE PERCEIVE TO HAVE WRONGED US IN SOME WAY. NOT TO MENTION THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVING OURSELVES.

FULLER HAS DUG DEEP TO REVEAL SOME OF THE EMOTIONS THAT KEEP INDIVIDUALS SHACKLED BY UNFORGIVENESS. AND IN THE MIDST OF THIS EMOTIONAL ANGST, SHE MANAGES TO WEAVE A TENDER LOVE STORY.

A Time to Heal

CAMERON, BARBARA

A TIME TO HEAL

He thought he left his enemies behind...and his secrets.

Chris Matlock, a wounded and weary ex-soldier, just wants peace in his life, and he believes he's found it when he visits Matthew and Jenny Bontrager. He envies their happiness and simple life but doesn't believe that that life is meant for him.

When he meets Matthew's sister, Hannah, a small spark of hope flares within him. Despite the clash of cultures between the former military man and the pacifist Amish woman, Chris and Hannah fall in love. Chris settles into life in the community helping Matthew with the farm.

Then the threats begin. At first, Christ plans to leave in order to protect Hannah. Then he discovers who his enemy is and realizes that he must stay and face his adversary, even if it means revealing a secret he hoped would remain buried forever.

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK!!!! I STARTED READING AND JUST COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. LUCKILY I HAD THE DAY OFF WOK BUT NOW I'M BEHIND ON ALL THE THINGS I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET DONE TODAY!

I LOVE CAMERON'S WRITING STYLE -- SO SMOOTH AND EASY TO READ, THERE'S A LOVELY CADENCE TO HER 'VOICE'. IT MAKES READING A PLEASURE AND MAKES ME WANT TO SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR EVERY WORD.

THIS IS THE SECOND IN THE QUILTS OF LANCASTER COUNTY SERIES, BUT IT CAN EASILY STAND ALONE. HOWEVER, SINCE I READ THE FIRST BOOK, I REALLY ENJOYED CATCHING UP WITH MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS -- ESPECIALLY MATTHEW AND JENNY AND THE KINNER.

BUT HANNAH'S FEISTY SPIRIT PAIRED WITH CHRIS'S WORLDLY BROODINESS MADE FOR AN EXCITING ROMANTIC READ. THERE'S SUSPENSE AND DRAMA AND SOME OF THE MOST TENDER LOVE SCENES I'VE EVER READ. AND THE HOPE THAT ONLY GOD CAN BRING IS LACED THROUGH IT ALL. SUBLIME READING!