Love Finds You in Lancaster County Pennsylvania

GIVEAWAY!!!!

DAUGHETY, ANNALISA
LOVE FINDS YOU IN LANCASTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA

Two women with nothing in common -- except the need for a friend and a fresh start. When Amish-born Lydia Ann Raber and Southern belle Caroline DeMarco discover a shared history of loss, the unlikely duo decides to open a gift shop in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Lydia Ann is surprised to find herself drawn to handsome woodworker Simon Zook. When God offers her a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Simon harbors cause her even more heartbreak? For Caroline, love comes in the form of journalist Michael Landis. Their love-key romance is a dream come true for Caroline, a fugitive from an infamous past. Is Michael to blame when reporters start hovering once again, or can Caroline find a way to trust him with her heart?

My Review:

There is something so hopeful about second chance love stories and Love Finds You in Lancaster County Pennsylvania is brimming with that quality. Daughety has created two winning romance stories that merge into one heartwarming read. And it's great for Amish toe-dabblers since the plot evenly balances both Amish and contemporary storylines.

Daughety surprised me a time or two when she veered away from predictable plotting, make this a quick and refreshing read. Lovely, pure romance -- though  it's not without angst. I especially liked the way Caroline and Michael's relationship developed -- from wariness, to friendship and then something deeper. It felt so honest and real. Simon and Lydia Ann's journey is much gentler -- sweeter and the contrast between the two really sharpened the story.

Once again the Love Finds You series and Summerside Press has created another winning book in this amazing line. Many thanks to Amber at seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com for introducing me to this great series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win your own copy of Love Finds You in Lancaster County Pennsylvania by AnnaLisa Daugety, leave a comment below (including your email address) or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Makes sure to put the title of the book in the subject line. The winner will be announced on Sunday September 4. Open Internationally, Good luck!

A River to Cross

GIVEAWAY!

HARRIS, YVONNE
A RIVER TO CROSS

The Rio Grande -- Texas, 1886

On the lawless frontier, a Texas Lawman is her only hope.

Elizabeth Evan's brother paid the ultimate price as editor of a newspaper exposing the dangers along the U.S.-Mexican border. Determined to take up his cause, she's targeted and kidnapped by a rogue general -- Manuel Diego.

It's the job of Texas Ranger Jake Nelson to protect the border against rustlers and marauders. With Elizabeth's photograph in hand -- a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes -- Jake and his men ride across the great river to rescue her, to apprehend Diego and bring him to justice.

But Diego and his renegades are not about to give up that easily. Amid the turmoil, Jake finds himself taken by Elizabeth. And she by him. Yet his life as a Ranger doesn't fit with marriage and settling down. Not at all.

My Review:

Harris has crafted another incredible Western. I'd almost call it an edgy romance in that the romance is more...romantical...then you usually find in Christian fiction. It's brilliantly done and compliments the tense action and emotional angst in the story.

Jake makes a swoonworthy hero. As a Texas Ranger he is larger than life and pretty easy to hero-worship. It's lucky that Elizabeth has no intention of falling for a man in such a dangerous profession. And Jake knows he's not the settling down type. Oh how the sparks fly! There are some truly delectable scenes between these two! Add in the explosive politics of the time and heart-palpatating action, you're in for a breathless read from beginning to end.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to put A River to Cross in the subject line. The draw will be held and the winner announced on Sunday Sept 4. Good luck!

August Giveaway Winners - Week Four

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!



Love By the Book by Cara Lynn James
won by Ausjenny



The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall
won by Camille Elise

The Aristocrat's Lady by Mary Moore
won by Shaz



I'll contact the winners by email in order to get their snail mail addresses but if you don't hear from me by Monday evening can you please email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca?

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

A River to Cross

by Yvonne Harris

Texas Rangers and a rescue...need I say more?!

Love Finds You in Lancaster County Pennsylvania

 by AnnaLisa Daughety

An Amish/contemporary mix that is sure to please everyone!

AND A NON-FICTION TITLE:

A Confident Heart : How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live  in the Security of God's Promises

 by Renee Swope

A really powerful medium for change.

Her Rodeo Cowboy

CLOPTON, DEBRA
HER RODEO COWBOY

Finding her way to love.

Everything accountant Montana Brown thought she knew about love and marriage goes topsy-turvy when her parents split up.  Shaken, she heads to Mule Hollow, Texas, to stay with family and take a chance on an old dream; being a cowgirl. With all her might, she tries to resist the charms of a too-handsome cowboy. Luke Holden is going after his own dream of expanding his ranch. A wife isn't on his wish list. But the Mule Hollow matchmakers are fixin' to lasso Luke and Montana together -- with a little faith and love.

My Review:

Romantic Comedy at its best!!! I've read one other Mule Hollow Homecoming book and I'm going to have to hunt down the rest. They are such a fun read! The Matchmaking ladies are hysterical! What a great concept to frame a series around older ladies who are trying to draw young people back to their town...so that they can marry them off and build up the population one baby at a time! LOL.

The romance is a perfect mix of tenderness and uncertainty along with a healthy dose of passion. Her Rodeo Cowboy is chalkful of laughter and love, making it a delightful read.

The Aristocrat's Lady

GIVEAWAY!!!!

MOORE, MARY
THE ARISTOCRAT'S LADY

For a few moments on a moonlit balcony, Nicole Beaumont was just a beautiful woman catching the eye of the handsome Lord Devlin -- but she knew the illusion couldn't last. If the enigmatic aristocrat knew her secret, he'd realize that her disability left her unfit for love. So who could blame her for hiding the truth a little longer?

Devlin had never met a woman like Nicole. Her unique combination of innocence and wisdom left him utterly intrigued. Yet what was she hiding? For a man who did not trust easily, discovering her secret was devastating. Overcoming their pasts and forging a future would take faith, forgiveness and trust. And second chances could lead to new beginnings...

My Review:

Though I don't know the exact time period The Aristocrat's Lady is set in, it has the feel of a classic Regency read so that's how I'm going to describe it. Now Regency isn't always my favourite setting for a historical romance but this one has more than a few twists that kept me riveted.

Nicole has a secret and it isn't revealed until well into the book. I was driving myself mad trying to figure it out. Moore has planted clever little hints that don't make sense -- at least they didn't to me -- until the big reveal. I read this one ravenously! Finished it in an afternoon because I just couldn't put it down.

Devlin plays the role of the jaded aristocrat well -- until he becomes intrigued by Nicole. The dialogue between the two is so refreshing and witty, even outrageous at times. I loved it!

In fact there isn't anything I didn't love about the book. Simply a classic good read.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Aristocrat's Lady please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please make sure to put  The Aristocrat's Lady in the subject line. Winner will be announced on Sunday September 28.

The Harvest of Grace

GIVEAWAY !!!!!

WOODSMALL, CINDY
THE HARVEST OF GRACE

Reeling from an unexpected betrayal, Sylvia makes a painful mistake that forces her to seek work far from her family.  Can she find relief from the echoes of her past...or will they shape her future forever?

Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus -- tending and nurturing the herd on her family's dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she must concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving a debt-ridden farm.

After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed's failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron's parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.

Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger pictures -- one revealing the path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love?

My Review:

I'm still basking in the wonder of this read. Like all of Woodsmall's books, I lost sleep racing through it and then end up lamenting that the reading experience was over too soon! LOL.

Woodsmall knows how to tell a story. Rich characters, complicated plot, soul searching questions all combine to make this an astounding read. And to add to the pleasure of it readers get to reacquaint themselves with Ada, Cara, Ephraim, Lori, Deborah, Jonathan, Lena and Grey....and, of course, Better Days!  Each couple has their own story thread that compliments Sylvia and Aaron's story. Incredibly fulfilling. Woodsmall knows how to please her readers.

I think the real strength in her writing is in the depth of her characters. We become involved in their lives, come to care about them as if they were our friends and families and they stay with us with unerring accuracy so that months later we can pick up a sequel and it feels like we've come home to catch up on all the gossip.

The Harvest of Grace is aptly name, for it highlights the Lord's grace in every storyline -- each one compelling in its own right but pulled together -- wow, what a bountiful blessing of words!

Loved meeting the reformed Aaron, ached over his struggles, admired his tenacity and strength to do what was right -- even if he went about it in a hard-headed way! :-) And Sylvia -- memorable for her commitment to be true to herself despite extreme difficulties. Her joy in who she is, her acceptance of the talent's God has given her even though they go against the Amish ideal of a woman's role -- well, it all made for a riveting read.

If you haven't guessed by now -- this is a definite must read and deserves a place of honour on your keeper shelf...right next to Book 1 and 2 in the  Ada House series.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win your own copy of A Harvest of Grace leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please put A Harvest of Grace in the subject line. Draw will be held on Sunday August 28 and is open internationally. Good luck!

Love By the Book

GIVEAWAY!!!!

JAMES, CARA LYNN
LOVE BY THE BOOK

A sweeping love story set in a lavish seaside mansion in 1901 Rhode Island.

Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover he quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father's steamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance -- until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old daughter.

In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion.

Yet old habits die hard -- and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds.

When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God's true love.

My Review:

This is my favourite of the Ladies of Sumerhill series. I am by turns fascinated and appalled by the Gilded Age -- the opulent wealth, the snobbery, the sheer shallowness of the society --  and James writes that era so well. But she gives it a heart through her cleverly casted characters.

Melinda intrigued me the most. She grows from a product of that society into a young woman of promise. And it's that growth that gives this novel substance. Melinda has enough endearing qualities -- love for the Lord, the ability to acknowledge her weaknesses, a willing heart for change all combined with an exuberance for life -- that helped me identify with her despite her shallow pursuits at the beginning of the book. After all, she has been a product of her upbringing and has known little else. I loved watching her question society's standards, take on a mothering role to her niece and delve into bible discussions with her missionary friend , all of which prompted her to slowly make the changes in her life that lead to maturity. She really does grow from girl to womanhood in these pages. And it's a rewarding read.

By contrast, Nick is staid and steady, dedicated to business and family, though he has trouble juggling the two. He's constantly in a battle of wills with his father and that makes him all the more serious. He definitely needs someone like Melinda to brighten up his life. Of course he doesn't realize it at first! Just as she doesn't realize that some of Nick's 'stuffiness' would be a good counterbalance to her frivolity.

James weaves a heart-warming tale that has some surprisingly suspenseful twists but all ends well in a happily-ever-after.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like to win a copy of Love By the Book  by Cara Lynn James, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Draw will be held on Sunday August 28. Open internationally.