Cold Terror

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN
COLD TERROR

Forensic artist, Hannah Perry's skills made her a valuable asset to the police...

A young woman has been murdered. Her body unidentified. Her skull recently discovered by the police, and Hannah feels compelled to help find the killer. Even if she's on a much-needed vacation on a secluded island with her young son. She could work on the reconstruction in the evenings while her son slept. But as the woman's face takes shape, an assailant invades Hannah's cabin and tries to end her life. Before he can permanently silence her, she and her son flee the island in a small boat. Trouble is, as they approach Cold Harbor, ocean waves capsize the boat, enveloping them both in cold terror.

But it also makes her the next target. Former SEAL Gage Blackwell can't believe his eyes as he plunges into the raging waters to rescue the pair. Owner of Blackwell Tactical -- a law enforcement training facility and protection agency -- Gage pulls the woman he once loved from the angry ocean. When he learns of her attack, he vows to protect her while hunting down the killer. Alone and vulnerable, Hannah has to accept Gage's protection -- even if it means staying close to the man who'd once walked out on her without a backward glance.

My Review:

published in 2017
Book One in the Cold Harbor series

A classic Sleeman romantic suspense. I love the way this author creates a cohesive team of captivating characters we get to follow through a whole series. The camaraderie, the banter, the friendships -- all serve to anchor each story as the team supports the current hero and heroine. And you can always count on a buddy for some comic relief when things get tough!

After reading this first Cold Harbor book, I am officially a Blackwell Tactical groupie and I can't wait to hear everyone's stories! And since I'm late to the reading gate I get to read (or listen) to each book one after the other. Hooray for no delay times!

Hannah and Gage's story starts off with nail-biting intensity and the tension doesn't let up until the very end. Their second chance romance if filled with all kinds of angst as they dodge the bad guys and try to figure out who wants Hannah dead -- and why! I listened to the audio version which upped the angst-factor since I couldn't race ahead -- an especially sweet kind of torture. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this giveaway is for a paperback copy in US only -- ebook for International Readers (unless a US winner prefers an ebook)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Terror leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

April Giveaway - Week Two

WON BY MELISSA ANDRES

WON BY MELISSA M.

WON BY CC

WON BY TAMMIE EDINGTON SHAW

WON BY RUBYNREBA

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address. Otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca with your mailing address. From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven't been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now so, please, DON'T BE SHY -- CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU. Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address and I'll email you to confirm your win is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring about the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping time. Thank you!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

My apologies for the suspense-centric week ahead but....I just couldn't resist. :-)

Mending Fences

GIVEAWAY

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS
MENDING FENCES

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.

Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him. He has been allowed to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, he must make a sincere apology to each person he's hurt. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused.

Simple, Luke things. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lastin effects his careless actions have caused isn't so simple. It's gut-wrenching.

And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm, and Luke's clumsy efforts to befriend her only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge.

My Review:

Any day I can travel 'home' to Stoney Ridge is a good reading day! Absolutely love that this new series -- The Deacon's Family -- is set in this much-loved fictional town with lots of carryover characters from previous series to catch up with. I'm still giddy over my Stoney Ridge bookcation!

While Mending Fences can be read as a standalone, I think you'll appreciate all the delicious nuances even more if you've familiar with some of these characters already. Like David and Amos and Fern...and especially Luke. He's earned his bad boy reputation and coming home after a stint in rehab isn't easy -- but it sure makes for an entertaining read. Funny and poignant and uplifting -- one of the best redemption stories I've ever read!

Luke's so raw and wounded and too quick to want to admit defeat. His struggles are real and I love how Bishop David Stoltzfus patiently walks along side him -- a constant strength even as he allows Luke to figure things out for himself. And a source of the kind of wisdom we all need in our lives. Like:

"At any given moment, your life is going to be determined by your view of you or God's view of you." (p 287)

I literally had to stop and think about that for a minute and when I got it -- whoa -- I had to think about it some more! A plain and simple truth that packs a punch and this book is full of them -- all cunningly woven into the very fiber of the story.

Fisher's ability to create characters I care about kept me emotionally engaged for the duration of the read. I ached, I laughed, I cringed and I cried bucket loads (because I know these characters intimately now and there are just some things that pierced my heart! Sniffle) I can't even put it into words. Just -- tissue box alert!

And the fun is just getting started because this is the first book in the series and the author has set us up for more comedy and drama when Stitches in Time releases in October.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mending Fences, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Lethal Ransom

GIVEAWAY

EAKES, LAURIE ALICE
LETHAL RANSOM

A kidnapper with deadly intentions...and a US marshal who must come to the rescue

The carjacking that ended with Kristen Lang running for her life -- and her federal judge mother kidnapped -- was a nightmare. The ransom, however, is worse: Kristen in exchange for her mother. Deputy US Marshal Nick Sandoval will do almost anything to safely recover the judge -- except trade Kristen. But can he shield the woman he's falling for and bring her mother home?

My Review:

A consume-in-one-gulp kind of suspense so stock up on chocolate and get comfy for a marathon read. The pursuit is relentless, constantly putting Kristen in danger and we can't figure out why! Love the intrigue and the desperation leaching from every page. I was afraid to blink for fear of missing something! Kristen is so overwhelmed but also determined to do right by her mom despite what the US Marshals think! Love the clashing wills and gentle fireworks (that must be resisted at all cost) between this heroine and her hero! The best kind of read for romantic suspense lovers!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win  acopy of Lethal Ransom, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title of the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Sky Above Us

GIVEAWAY

SUNDIN, SARAH
THE SKY ABOVE US

Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-Day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, arranging entertainment for the men of the 357th and setting up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near and secrets can't stay buried forever.

My Review:

No matter what I say in this review, I can't begin to do justice to the magic of Sarah Sundin's storytelling. And this time, I listened to the audio version which enhanced my enjoyment even more. It kinda felt like I had traveled back in time to the 1940s and was huddled next to my radio absorbing every precious word of a serial installment broadcasting over the BBC. The historical ambience is over-the-moon delectable! Being forced back into my 21st century reality got just plain annoying when I had to do real life stuff. Much preferred hanging out with Violet and Adler.

Sundin creates images with her words -- from the every day details of life on an Air Force base to the nail-biting, action-packed aerial fight scenes to the emotionally charged romantic entanglements of a hero and heroine trying to make sense out of the challenges they face.

And what a story! The way it unfolds and builds is sheer perfection. Sarah Sundin is one of my favourite authors because she doesn't shy away from including realistic, transforming faith threads and the inspiration in this book is heart-stopping! It gave me pause, had me grappling and reassessing situations in my own life and I so love being challenged by my fiction!

So, in case you haven't clued in by now -- I rather liked (scratch that -- LOVED) The Sky Above Us. Highly recommended. Really, I'd kind of like to bully everyone into reading it but that would be wrong...even if y'all thanked me for it later. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win  acopy of The Sky Above Us, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title of the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Ready-Made Texas Family

GIVEAWAY

MOORE, ANGEL
A READY-MADE TEXAS FAMILY

A Partnership of Necessity

For the sake of her orphaned siblings, Charlotte Green will do anything to save her family's Texas hotel -- even hire her childhood nemesis, Nathan Taylor. Sure, he's grown into a charming, handsome man since then, but it won't change the past...or her present situation. Like it or not, Charlotte must work with Nathan, but that doesn't mean she has to enjoy it!

After love burned him, the only commitment Nathan will make is to his career. He won't be distracted...even if Charlotte is as lovely as she is feisty and the hotel is beginning to feel like home. But when a new opportunity pits his ambition against his heart, will Nathan choose Charlotte and her family?

My Review:

Wow -- I don't think I've ever read a book where grief is almost like a secondary character. It's painful and hopeful and faith-stretching and I really appreciate the realistic portrayal of a grieving family. And while that might sound like a heavy read, it really isn't. A Ready-Made Texas Family is the perfect mix of laughter and tears as the Green siblings find their way in a world without their parents.

In the midst of this horrendous loss, Charlotte becomes the proprietor of the family hotel as well as sole guardian of her much younger half-siblings. She's stretched beyond her limits when Nathan Taylor comes on the scene and Charlotte is forced to work with him in order to save her father's legacy.

A moving story about loss and change and the hope of second chances.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win  acopy of A Ready-Made Texas Family, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title of the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Convergence

GIVEAWAY

YTTRUP, GINNY L.
CONVERGENCE

A psychologist paralyzed by fear.
A mother propelled by love.
A stalker bent on destruction.

Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn't tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can't seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.

Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi's teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless -- using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.

As Denilyn's past and Adelia's present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he unocver the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?

My Review:

Excuse me if this review doesn't make any sense -- I'm still reeling with aftershocks -- the post-read-I-can't-believe-I-survived-right-through-to-the-jittery-end kind. My brain is rattled, my tummy in knots and my heart is in permanent need of a defibrillator after reading Convergence (brilliant title, by the way -- crazy brilliant!) Phew!

So...this story...let's just say I was bemused and confused right from the start and stayed in that state for a good part of the read. Be prepared to feel like you've been dropped on your head and you're reading upside down at the beginning. It really made no sense. At all. But patience, dear reader friends, because it s-l-o-w-l-y starts to make sense...until it doesn't! Bwahahahahaha!!!!!! Edge-of-your-seat riveting and gasp-out-loud gripping. I could not put this book down!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Convergence, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!