Murder, Served Simply

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ALAN, ISABELLA
MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY

Amish quilt shop owner Angie Braddock has a lot on her plate this Christmas. But things only get worse after someone develops a taste for murder…

Angie’s parents are visiting Rolling Brook for Christmas—but unfortunately, her ex is joining them. Luckily, Angie has no time to dwell on her romantic troubles as she prepares her store, Running Stitch, for the town’s traditional progressive dinner, featuring a sleigh ride stopping at each shop for a different course of the meal.

The meal ends with an Amish-themed Christmas play at the Swiss Valley Hotel and Barn. But the performance is cut short when an actress falls from the scaffolding to her death. After the sheriff suspects foul play, tensions between the Amish and Englisch heat up, as do rivalries among the acting troupe. Now Angie and her quilting circle must stitch together clues before they’re the ones running for cover…

My Review:

Still loving this series and though the action in Murder, Served Simply takes place at Christmas it's well worth the read any time of the year. As I mentioned in my previous two An Amish Quilt Shop Mystery reviews, Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower who writes Amish mysteries for the Christian market. So, while not technically Christian Fiction, Murder, Served Simply is a clean read with some gentle faith messages courtesy of the Amish characters.

You have to read a cozy mystery tongue-in-cheek, because this quiet community is the setting of yet another murder - that makes three in about six months! Of course Angie can't keep her nose out of all the action. She's beginning to get a reputation as a super sleuth with the townsfolk too. Sheriff Matthews isn't keen on Angie poking her nose in his investigation but since he's sweet on her, he tends to forgive quickly. Their relationship is heating up -- only to be complicated by the unexpected arrival of Angie's ex-fiancé. This cozy mystery has it all -- romance, humour and angst on multiple levels. Not to mention a murder that needs to be solved.

And, as always, the best part of the read for me is Oliver the French bulldog. He is fast becoming my favourite literary canine. He could give Lassie a run for her money. Murder, Served Simply is worth the read just for his scenes.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Murder, Served Simply 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 March 12 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Interrupted Lullaby

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LYNN, DANA R.
INTERRUPTED LULLABY

Safe by the lawman's side

Maggie Slade's been on the run since witnessing her husband's murder, hiding from a killer who wants evidence he believes she has. A killer who was dressed as a LaMar Pond policeman.And she'd better run fast, because it's not just her life on the line -- Maggie now has year-old twin babies. But then she's attacked again, and rescued...by a LaMar Pond cop. Trusting Lieutenant Dan Willis is frightening. Letting him take her back to LaMar Pond to find her husband's killer is terrifying. But to protect her babies, she'll risk anything. Even her life. And as she grows closer to Dan and learns to trust again...she may even risk her heart.

My Review:

Tension and action and enough suspense to drive a sleuth-solving reader to distraction. There's a bit of a carry over from the first book, Presumed Guilty, but the author does a good job of playing catch up. I loved Maggie and her mama bear persona. Can't imagine living on the run with twins -- and she doesn't understand why. As much as she's done a good job of hiding, it's almost a relief when Dan comes on the scene. As reluctant as she is to trust him, there's some comfort in no longer being alone. Intense action scenes, a puzzling mystery and a complicated romance kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Interrupted Lullaby 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 March 13  2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

On a Ring and a Prayer : a Jessie Stanton Novel

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BRICKER, SANDRA D.
ON A RING AND A PRAYER

Twelve years of marriage, 4,000 square feet of dream house, and a handsome husband. Jessie Stanton has it all... until one fateful afternoon when she notices her BMW bouncing by the window behind a tow truck. Her husband has gone, and he's taken it all.

The whirling tornado that cuts down the life she's built drops Jessie onto the sandy beach of Malibu with a thud, penniless and alone. When all she's left with are the designer labels in her closet and the dreamy Neil Lane rock on her finger, Jessie tries to make ends meet by pawning her prized ring to fund a new business venture: a small shop where her designer duds and shimmering accessories are temporarily leased out to Southern California women with champagne tastes but root beer realities.

As Jessie tries to rebuild, she realizes she can't move on, not without answers. Reluctantly, Jessie turns to beach bum/private investigator Danny Callahan for help. But is she staking her future success and happiness...on a ring and a prayer?

My Review:

Intriguing start to a new series but beware, this book is very much the first of three so it's open-ended in many respects. And if you really don't like cliff-hangers do not read the teaser sample of book two, Be My Valentino included at the back of this book! To be fair, the author did warn her readers right before that excerpt, but I didn't listen so serves me right. :-) I'm not a fan of serial type series but as far as they go this one isn't as cliff-hangerish as some...as long as you don't read that tease from book two!

While a departure from Bricker's usual comedic style, she hasn't abandoned that light-hearted manner altogether. There's still humour mixed in with the drama but there's definitely something heart-tugging about Jessie's little girl lost persona. And no wonder, she's been blindsided by her husband's betrayal. I'll be candid -- I liked Jessie a whole lot more by the end of the read. I had her pegged as shallow and self-serving by the first few pages but what's really enthralling about her story is how she finds herself again as she strives to turn 'life lemons' into lemonade. 

Danny is a big reason for her success. A scruffy surfer dude PI, he's also a Christian who lives his faith. His good works go a long way towards bringing some stability into Jessie's life. She's not always appreciative -- adapting to her sudden loss of lifestyle takes some getting used to and not always graciously.

This is by no means a Pollyanna type story though. Jessie is a little too self-depreciating for that. And she's prone to wallow. Luckily she has some amazing friends to help her navigate her new reality. And the author treats us to periodic glimpses into Jessie 's youth through the memories of her Louisiana grandpa. A pretty amazing technique to reveal her background and help explain how she has come to the point she is at in her life now.

The only thing I had an issue with in this novel is the burgeoning romance between Danny and Jessie. Not because I found Danny unlikeable -- far from it. BUT Jessie is married. Yes, she's been dumped in the most horrific way by her husband and she's begun living a single life but she isn't divorced. I found that storyline really surprising -- even shocking -- in a book published by a well known Christian publisher like Abingdon. The romance is just at the beginning stages by the end of On a Ring and a Prayer and things sort themselves out as the story continues but this one aspect still bothered me.

Having said that, I'm still a fan of this series and am committed enough to follow through with these characters to the (hopefully) happily ever after on the horizon by the end of book three, From Bags to Riches, which releases this month.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Ring and a Prayer 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 March 13  2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Hero's Sweetheart

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WYATT, CHERYL
THE HERO'S SWEETHEART

His perfect match...

Military commander Jack Sullenberger is used to saving the day. But when his father has a stroke in his beloved small-town diner, it's waitress and EMT student Olivia Abbott coming to the rescue. Jack rushes home to tend to his father and take over the business -- running right into Olivia's very strong opinions. The steely military man and the waitress can't agree on what's best for the restaurant. When Jack sees something that shakes his growing trust in Olivia, their undeniable connection is put to the test. But if Jack's open to the truth, they'll have a chance at finding a future together.

Eagle Point Emergency: Saving lives -- and losing their hearts -- in a small Illinois town

My Review:

Olivia is such a complex heroine -- she has a big heart and generous spirit and a quirky sense of humour. And she definitely has her own unique sense of style. Her outward appearance (and the book cover doesn't do her justice at all!) is what throws Jack off at their first meet. These two seemed destined to leap to wrong conclusions about each other all the way through the book. Mind you they are their own worst enemy as well since some simple communication and an iota of trust would go a long way to clearing some of their issues up. Gotta love two stubborn people fighting destiny. A wonderful, funny, annoying, emotional carry-me-away-from-reality kind of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Hero's Sweetheart 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 March  13 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Hearts We Mend

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SPRINGER, KATHRYN
THE HEARTS WE MEND

Planning and post-it notes are the epitome of Eric's life. But when she meets Jack, her life gets more than a little complicated.

Thirteen years ago, Evie's firefighter husband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie's heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.

Tattooed, rough-around-the-edges Jack raise quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Bannister Falls. Where Evie's life is stream-lined, Jack's approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack's world -- a world that isn't as safe or predictable as the one she's worked so hard to create -- he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church.

Jack doesn't make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn't felt since Max passed away -- or, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn't anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.

My Review:

This is the second book in The Bannister Falls series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it will be helpful for you to know the key players in order to understand the first few pages.

Evie Bennett -- our heroine
Max - Evie's deceased husband
Gin(Ginevieve) Lightly (heroine of first book, The Dandelion Field)
Raine Lightly - Gin's pregnant teenage daughter
Cody Bennett - Evie's son and Raine's fiancé.
Dan Moretti - Evie's long-time friend and Gin's boyfriend

Real life. Real faith. A winning combination that lured me in and held my hostage right to the delectable last page.

Wounded characters accomplish astonishing things as they stretch their faith and place their trust in God. A blessing of a read because I lived their fears and insecurities and grew right along with them. I so appreciate a solid inspirational thread in a Christian fiction novel!

Evie and Jack are navigating life after living through some difficult circumstances. What's really interesting is their diametrically opposing ways of coping. Evie has boxed herself into a protective bubble. Everything in her world is contained. Planned. Deliberate. No surprises mar her future...until her son announces he's going to be a father and a whirlwind wedding rocks Evie's predictable pattern of complacency. You can read that whole story in The Dandelion Field. This one takes off just days before that wedding. On the day Evie suddenly starts to feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

Free-spirited Jack takes life as it comes, content to allow God to guide his footsteps as he tries to put his splintered family back together. I fell hard and fast. He's rough around the edges but has a heart for service and an easygoing way of accepting opportunities the Lord sends his way. I was as flummoxed as poor Evie when she suddenly finds herself swept into Jack's world. But I was excited too. Jack really opened my eyes to ways we can live the Savior's love in order to bless others. Some of my favourite scenes take place at Jack's ramshackle apartment. They're some of the funniest scenes too.

Love and laughter and plenty of unexpected twists make this an exceptional, faith-filled read.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Zondervan Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/KSpringer

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Hearts We Mend 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 March 13 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Fool & His Monet

GIVEAWAY

ORCHARD, SANDRA
A FOOL & HIS MONET

Sketchy politics and a palette of lies can't stop Serena Jones from exposing the mastermind behind the daring theft of a priceless work of art.

Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art -- one that's surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about who murdered her grandfather. She's joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite the her mother's pleas to do something safer -- like get married -- Serena's determined to catch thieves and black market traders.

When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Serena leaps into action -- and a whole heap of trouble.

My Review:

Campy and fun and chock-full of mystery -- an incredible beginning to a new series. And I just love this retro-style cover. Fits the book's ambiance to a T.

Serena has enough quirks to keep a reader smiling in the midst of an intense art theft investigation. The perfect blend of action, suspense and the hint of romantic entanglement...only, oh dear, there seem to be a number of eligible candidates. Time...and a few more books should set us straight on that score.

And her family likes to stir things up a bit -- especially Aunt Martha who has an interesting past. Orchard hasn't shared it yet, but I'm betting on something knock-your-socks-off surprising. There's another character, Nate, who is much more than he seems -- I'm sure of it. Two subtle clues set my reader spidey senses on edge and I can't wait to see if I'm right. Another reason to anxiously await the next installment which comes out in September.

Like most cozy mysteries, A Fool & His Monet is written in first person point of view. We're in Serena's headspace all the way. I know a lot of people don't like this POV, but I think it worked really well in this case. It's kind of fun to see everything through Serena's eyes only, including some interesting men who just might be thinking of her as more than a friend.

And I could tell the author really did her research when it comes to police and FBI procedure and that results in a fascinating journey into the inner workings of an investigation. Honestly, I don't know how Orchard kept all the intricate nuances straight! Spectacularly done.

I have only one complaint and that is the lack of any kind of faith thread. I know this is becoming more commonplace among Christian publishers but it still makes my heart hurt. Especially from a big name publisher like Revell. It is clear that Serena is a Christian through simple things like blessing the food at a family meal but an actual inspirational thread just isn't there. :-(

Still, this is a splendid start to a promising new series -- witty, upbeat and full of the unexpected. Sweet perfection for the avid cozy mystery fan.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Fool & His Monet 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 March 13 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

March 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 time frame. If I can't reach you within four weeks your win will be forfeited.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS: