January Giveaway - Week One

 

 

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 frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

Dare to Love Again

GIVEAWAY

LESSMAN, JULIE
DARE TO LOVE AGAIN

Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman, resorting to a mammoth hat pin for protection on her way to and from the school where she teaches. But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast she quickly discovers she is no match for rum-soaked brute strength.

Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this petite socialite jiu-jitsu, but it seems he has little choice in the matter. Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper. But when Nick suddenly leaves town, Allison realizes he's a fraud just like all the rest of the men she's cared for. Does she dare love again?

The lushness of the glorious Gilded Age beautifully showcases Lessman's passion as a writer in this engaging love story written with humor and heart. From the glamour of San Francisco's Nob Hill to the seedy gambling dens of the Barbary Coast, Dare to Love Again is a journey to find a love that never fails. Fans will love revisiting the world of the cousins McClare, and new readers will seek more of Julie's passion-filled novels.

My Review:

Another blissful read from a favourite author. Lessman knows how to wrap her readers around her little finger and then makes them squirm! Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride from the volatile opening scene to the toe-curling conclusion. This author knows how to develop a romantic plot line with delicious detail but she is also adept at wrenching the rug out from under the young lovers just when the innocent reader thinks the happily ever after ending is imminent. I'm always a bit discombobulated after reaching the end of a Lessman novel. :-)

Loved the vibrant characters -- the McClare family is firmly planted in my heart and I'm anxious to read a multitude of happily ever afters in future novels. I'm hoping this is a long series! Allison is as infuriating as she is endearing. A hot-head tempered by a compassionate heart makes her an interesting mix of sweet and sassy. And Nick is such a complex hero, layers deep and mired by a turbulent past. Their attraction is palpable from their first meeting but riddled with complications. Lessman knows how to draw out her reader's anticipation to a near frenzy point but she always delivers an immensely satisfying romantic conclusion. Put this one on the very top of your TBR pile!

Giveaway Opportunity

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Dare to Love Again 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 5 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

A Match Made in Texas

GIVEAWAY

WITEMEYER, KAREN
CONNEALY, MARY
JENNINGS, REGINA
COX, CAROL
A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS

There's a secret matchmaker at work in frontier Texas!In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can't keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she's also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?

A Cowboy Unmatched
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

An Unforeseen Match
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace's doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though--and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on.

No Match for Love
Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

Meeting Her Match
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker's son how much she cares for him?

My Review:

Four wonderful stories told in four distinct voices. Kudos to Bethany House for pooling together such a rich resource of talent! I am a fan of each of these authors so I knew I was in for a powerhouse read. Loved the common thread that sifted through all four stories...just a barely there wisp in A Cowboy Unmatched that grew more substantial and increased my anticipation by the time I reached the last story, Meeting Her Match.  One of the best novella collections I have read.

Giveaway Opportunity

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Match Made in Texas 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 5 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

Peace

GRAY, SHELLEY SHEPARD
PEACE

After a year of secrets and scandal, will this Amish community finally find peace under the bright promise of Christmas?

Beth Byler has a secret. Ever since she met Englischer Chris Ellis while helping out at the Yellow Bird Inn, she can't stop thinking about him. She knows a relationship could never go anywhere—Chris was working undercover in Crittenden County as a DEA agent. That meant he faced danger daily and carried a gun, making him completely unsuitable for an Amish woman like herself. But she knew he felt the attraction, too. It was the reason he left so suddenly, promising never to see her again.

Then, three days before Christmas, while Beth is taking care of the inn, Chris returns. This time, he is bleeding and in need of a place to hide. Against her better judgment, Beth takes him in and tends to his wounds. She also promises to keep his presence a secret. Before long, it becomes clear that nothing between them has changed—a relationship is inevitable. But are they ready to sacrifice everything for this chance at love?

My Review:

Blissful sigh! We're back in Crittenden County, Kentucky with familiar characters from The Secrets of Crittenden County series that will forever hold a place in my heart. You don't need to have read the series in order to enjoy this book, but I think you'll appreciate it all the more if you have.

Gray is a master storyteller who knows how to wield a complex plot with incredible pacing and a depth of emotion. Told from multiple viewpoints, Peace brings closure to these beloved characters. And I love that each journey doesn't result in a 'perfect' peace. Gray keeps it realistic...and inspiring...by allowing her characters to find peace where they are amidst their trials. A stunning read!

December 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 frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited and I will add an extra win to a future draw to even things up.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2014 GIVEAWAYS!

I'm taking next week off from blogging...well there's one Christmas book I want to review but it won't be offered as a giveaway since the winner wouldn't receive it in time. I'll start posting giveaway reviews again on January 1 and 2 for the following books:

LOOKING AHEAD TO JANUARY 2014 REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS:

Safe by the Marshal's Side

GIVEAWAY

MCCOY, SHIRLEE
SAFE BY THE MARSHAL'S SIDE

Her life is on the line

For a year, U.S. marshal Hunter Davis has protected witness Annie Delacorte and her toddler daughter. But now, someone is determined to stop Annie from testifying against the men who killed her husband. To guard Annie, by-the-book Hunter will have to break a promise to himself: to not get emotionally involved. After all, he already cares more deeply than he ever imagined for the sweet family of two…a family he'll do anything to keep safe and sound by his side.

Witness Protection: Hiding in plain sight

My Review:

This is the first in a promising new, multi-authored series and what a great introduction! While the suspense is solid, I really enjoyed the emphasis the author placed on the inner turmoil and emotional cost of being in the witness protection program. McCoy has created a relatable heroine who is struggling to hold it all together under impossible odds. Her gradual awareness of Hunter has more than a marshal doing his job just complicates her life all the more. And his struggle to remain impartial adds an additional edge to the developing romance. Cloud that burgeoning love in sinister intrigue and the result is another stellar romantic suspense from the Love Inspired line.

Giveaway Opportunity

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Safe by the Marshal's Side 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 December 22 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

Force of Nature

GIVEAWAY

MENTINK, DANA
FORCE OF NATURE

Stormy reunion

Pulled from the waves and gasping for air, the last person Antonia Verde expects to be her rescuer is Reuben Sandoval. He may once have been the love of her life, but his drug-smuggling brother ruined their chance of happiness. Now with a storm blowing in, Rueben's island hotel is her only refuge. Soon they find themselves trapped on the island with a killer in the midst of a dangerous hurricane. Antonia's life is in Rueben's hands—can she trust him with her heart, as well?

Stormswept: Finding true love in the midst of nature's fury

My Review:

Mentink has an awesome imagination and I'm glad she runs with it! Here's another unique suspense in the Love Inspired line and it is such a riveting read. Not only do Rueben and Antonia have a hurricane to deal with, there's also their fractured past and a determined killer to cope with as well. Gripping doesn't begin to describe the plot adequately enough. There's plenty of twists and turns even as the hero and heroine wrestle with romantic feelings they thought were long lost. Great balance of love and suspense...both plot threads made this a devour-in-one-sitting read!

Giveaway Opportunity

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Force of Nature 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 December 22 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!