The Convenient Groom

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
THE CONVENIENT GROOM

Kate wrote the book on fiding the right mate. But she couldn't write the chapter on true love...until now.

Five hours before her Nantucket beach wedding -- and on the eve of her big book launch -- celebrity marriage counselor Kate Lawrence has everything in place.

Everything, that is, but the groom. She might not have a career, either, when her nationwide audience finds out their marriage expert has been left at the altar.

Enter Lucas Wright, who offers to stand in for the missing husband-to-be and marry her, Kate's desperate enough to agree -- although she's sure this Mr. Wright is completely wrong for her. They might just be able to pull this off. But Kate has one crucial question: what's in it for him?

Could it be that God's plans for "Dr. Kate" don't align perfectly with her to-do list? And will Kate realize that the truest love she'll ever receive can only come from God?

An inspiring tale of enduring love set in romantic Nantucket.

My Review:

I'm a late bloomer when it comes to Denise Hunter's novels so I'm slowly tackling her backlist. After all the online discussions about the Hallmark movie based on this book I decided it was time to catch up on this 2008 classic.

If I had to sum up this story in a few words it would be -- tenderness and angst. Usually in equal doses but I'll admit to feeling more trepidation on Lucas's behalf even as I swooned over his unwavering love for Kate. And she is blithely unaware even thought she's celebrated as a relationship counselor extraordinaire! But that's 'cause Kate hardly ever looks up from her to-do lists to take any notice. Their journey to a happily-ever-after is plagued with misunderstandings which kept my heart all aflutter as I urged them on. Sweet, tender, infuriating -- with plenty of toe-curling -- make this a scrumptious romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Convenient Groom 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Risking Love

GIVEAWAY

ANDERSON, BRENDA S.
RISKING LOVE

She holds the key to his heart, and his home. Can she risk falling in love with a man whose house she may have to take away?

Bank employee Lissa Morgan likes all the columns of her life to add up. From her job to romance, every major decision is planned out. But before she can go out on a date with Mr. Perfect, she attends a charity auction with her meddling mom who wins Lissa a date with thrill-seeker Caleb Johnson.

Caleb lived for adventure until heart disease stole his wife's life. Then debt closed his business and now threatens to take his home. With a toddler to raise, he vows that his risk-taking days are over. But then he meets the cautious yet curious Lissa Morgan and decides it's time to take one more risk -- this time on love.

When Lissa Learns the extent of Caleb's debt, she wonders if she can collect on his heart if she forecloses on his home. And why is she falling for the wrong man -- one who challenges her to leap from her orderly life and into his waiting arms?

My Review:

When opposites attract, angst rules...at least in a Brenda Anderson novel! And angst is definitely what she serves up in this compelling contemporary romance. Along with a whole lot of heart. But goodness, she kept me on tenterhooks because there is a love triangle and we all know how I am adverse to love triangles but I totally got Lissa's dilemma with this one. It's a heart/head matter -- which will she let lead her? And let's not forget to add God to the mix.

Lissa is a woman with a desperate need to be in control. She yearns for a predictable, safe life with an equally predictable and safe man. Ho hum. And she thinks she might just be on the verge of having that when daredevil Caleb crosses her path. Attraction battles with outright fear. Let the fireworks begin. Along with sweet  and tender moments. Not to mention the incredibly shivery toe-curling ones. Blissful sigh. I need a moment to collect myself because Caleb is droolworthy hero material. And I absolutely love that he doesn't have it all together. He's a real guy facing real issues with all the frustrations and difficulties that entails. But his financial struggles don't make him any less of a hero in my eyes.

Naturally the course of true love never runs smooth and I might have had a few meltdowns and more than one venting session during the course of this read. And I won't mention that scenes that drove me to smother my blood-curdling screams of frustration with my pillow.

An exciting start to Anderson's Where The Heart Is contemporary romance series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Risking Love 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

 

A Lady Unrivaled

GIVEAWAY

WHITE, ROSEANNA M.
A LADY UNRIVALED

Amid the unforgettable Cotswolds, the final grasp for the fire eyes diamonds could threaten them all

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile -- even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Allher life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well how the dangerous Fire Eyes diamonds have haunted her brother and their friends, and she won't wait for peril to strike again. She intends to take action...and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better.

Lord James Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he's determined to live a better life...but that proves complicated when old acquaintances pull Cayton into their desperate attempt to seize the jewels. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but by saving her -- and his daughter -- from those intent on destroying them all?

My Review:

The atmosphere of Downton Abbey with the sinister of a Gothic thriller. A cursed treasure and nefarious villains bent on destruction have finally met their match in the intrepid Lady Ella. This is the conclusion fans of the Ladies of the Manor series have been waiting for. No worries if you haven't read The Lost Heiress and The Reluctant Duchess because A Lady Unrivaled can be read as a standalone. However, having said that, you'll appreciate this one all the more if you have read the other books in the series -- especially where the fire eyes diamonds are concerned. And this book includes the heroes and heroines of the other stories so that's a fun bonus to enjoy as well.

There is nothing quite like a 'reformed rake' to set my toes curling! James is about as swoonworthy as a hero can get and the thing that really attracts me to him is how besotted he is over his daughter. The man's a marshmallow when it comes to little Addie. It's a characteristic that attracts Ella as well and they develop an intriguing friendship. And, oh my goodness, the banter between these two is sweet perfection! So clever and biting and funny. It's almost like they've developed a code of sorts where they say one thing but mean the opposite and they are the only ones privy to the joke. So much fun to read. and great comic relief to balance the sinister lurking around every corner.

The plot is full of the unexpected. Intricate layers of intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat. Danger abounds and just when you think it can't get any worse...it does. Of course, Ella is in the middle of it all with James desperately striving to be her knight in shining armor. But Ella is one determined lady and sometimes it isn't clear as to who is protecting whom.

I love that the inspirational thread takes as much prominence as the intrigue and romance. Explorations of what faith means, the sweet hope of redemption and striving to trust God in all things bring an added depth to an already compelling story.

A stunning conclusion to a fantastic series.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Lad Unrivaled 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Deadly Setup

GIVEAWAY

URBAN, ANNSLEE
DEADLY SETUP

Hazardous Homecoming

Back in her hometown, Paige Becker has one goal: to prove her brother didn't murder his wife. But as she begins her hunt for the real killer, a truck runs her off the road, and Paige is convinced it was no accident. Now her old flames, Seth Garrison -- the detective who put her brother in jail -- is in charge of the investigation into the wreck. Seth doesn't believe Paige was intentionally targeted...until someone begins stalking her, and a woman who might have information is murdered. In order to unmask the murderer, they must dig into a shadowy and painful past -- a past that once drove them apart. But is the killer out for revenge against Paige's brother, or did Seth put the wrong man behind bars?

My Review:

Wow -- another impossible-to-put-down book from Love Inspired Suspense. My mind is still buzzing and my nerves are all jittery from this explosive read. Nail-biting suspense doesn't begin to cover it. And the layers of mystery kept me desperately hunting for clues right along with Paige and Seth. Impeccable pacing made this the kind of book you have to read in one sitting. And I loved the romance! These two were in a relationship ten months ago until their closeness was shattered by the murder of Paige's sister-in-law and the subsequent arrest of her brother. The arresting officer? Seth. And he's still convinced he arrested the right man but Paige is out to prove him wrong. Talk about romantic tension. Each tries to bury the past in order to deal with the present but those wayward, rampant emotions won't stay repressed. Phew! Romantical angst on top of suspenseful angst equals a riveting read!!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Deadly Setup 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The Wish

GIVEAWAY

LEWIS, BEVERLY
THE WISH

"You really think this is a gut idea, goin' clear out there, spendin' time with folk who've left the People?"

Leona wondered if she was getting the carriage before the horse. Even so, she was willing to do whatever she could to bring Gloria back home -- where she belonged.

Leona Speicher got the "sister" she always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be the answer to Leona's prayers -- until Gloria's father is expelled from their Old Order Amish church for reasons no one will discuss. Much to Leona's dismay, the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear. Then, after a silence of several years, Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona, who makes up her mind to go after her friend. Yet Leona's fiancé -- the deacon's son -- is alarmed. Will Leona's dearest wish lead to her own undoing?

My Review:

Every time I open a book by Beverly Lewis I feel like I'm coming home. I don't know if it's because she is the first Amish fiction author I ever read or if her distinctive style just lulls me into another world -- maybe a bit of both. But I love it. Love feeling settled in a read, deriving comfort from a story well-told that leaves me with lots to ponder by the end. And The Wish fits that criteria perfectly.

While this is an Amish story, the issues at the heart of this tale are completely relatable to all of us. Leona is intent on helping a friend. She's pure of heart and earnest in her desire to help Gloria come back to the church. And while that journey is fraught with complications and difficulties for her friend, Leona learns an important lesson about being in relationship within her own family.

Gloria has been living a conflicted life -- ripped away from the Amish community she loved by her father's decree, she has been living Englisch for years. Suddenly faced with a pivotal decision she finds herself at a crossroads. Both Gloria and Leona are on a journey of self-discovery and that makes The Wish a compelling and thought-provoking read.

A sweet story sure to lift your spirit and fill your heart with the certainty of God's all encompassing  love.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Wish 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Targeted for Murder

GIVEAWAY

GODDARD, ELIZABETH
TARGETED FOR MURDER

Mountain pursuit...

With his dying breath, Hadley Mason's fatally shot father reveals he's a CIA agent...and a bounty has been placed on both their heads. Heeding his urgent warning to disappear and trust no one, Hadley flees into the Oregon wilderness, but she can't shake the string of hired killers on her trail. So when a fearless and too handsome wilderness guide comes to her rescue, Hadley has no choice but to put her life in Cooper Wilde's hands. The former Green Beret vows to protect her, but beyond steep gorges and treacherous terrain, a ruthless man will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Wilderness, Inc. : surviving the wilderness of Oregon takes training...and trust

My Review:

Beware -- opening this book could induce a rabid reading frenzy of rapturous proportions. Your eyeballs will get a workout as they race over the pages in a desperate bid to catch the killer. Taut and tense and chock-full of action, this is one breathless read. And not only because of the suspense. The romance is pretty exciting too. The kind of fascinating combination that makes for a real page-turner.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Targeted for Murder 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 October 16 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Hillsong : Let Hope Rise

HILLSONG UNITED
HILLSONG : LET HOPE RISE

Capturing the on-stage energy and the off-stage hearts of the Australia based band Hill Song United, Hillsong : Let Hope Rise is a new motion-picture genre -- the theatrical worship experience. The film explores Hillsong's humble beginnings and astonishing rise to prominence as an international church whose songs are sung every Sunday by more than 50 million people world-wide.

My Review:

What an exhilarating movie! I wasn't sure what to expect but the format was perfect -- a blend of performances punctuated by heart-felt conversation. And testimonies. Oh, my goodness, the testimonies! Amazing stuff. And I learned a lot.

Of course, I knew that Hillong United was a Christian group. I knew their songs. But that's it. I didn't know that their roots are in a small suburban Australian church that began 25 years ago. Or that from those humble beginnings the church has grown to a congregation of 30,000! Talk about pioneering spirit! I can't even imagine! And I find those facts really exciting since I am attending a small church plant in my city.

Hillsong Church became known for the energy, excitement and zeal of it's worship service and the band was a natural off-shoot of that. They like to joke that they are "the biggest band you never heard of." But they are changing the face of Christian music. "We draw attention to ourselves to draw attention away from ourselves" (and onto God.) And that pretty much sums up their humility. It's evident in the diverse testimonies. A real passion for Jesus shines through and touched me, the viewer. They talk about the responsibility that comes with writing lyrics because these songs are "words written to sing, not just listen to." And it's true that their words orchestrate the way many of us throughout the world worship in our own churches.

A fascinating insight into the struggles and triumphs of Hillside United and includes some praiseworthy performances. A movie I highly recommend. Keep an eye out for release dates in your area.

My thanks to Graf-Martin Communications for providing me with an opportunity to view this movie online.