At Lighthouse Point

GIVEAWAY

FISHER, SUZANNE WOODS

AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan -- to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor's kitchen has been badly remodled by her sister, Cam, who doesn't know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.

As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn't matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships.

My Review:

I am enamoured with this series! This family!! These sisters!!! Not to mention all the familiar islander faces and a few new ones besides. Blaine's French sidekick especially tickled my fancy with his gentle, insightful support to the entire family. And I chuckled over the comedic moments provided at his expense. :-)

I had a real sense of coming home the second I opened this book. Not only because this is my third visit to the island but because Fisher does a wonderful job of showcasing the cast and setting in a nostalgic, you-can't-go-home-again kind of way. (At least, not in the way you anticipate you can.)

And by the by, while you could read At Lighthouse Point as a standalone, I think you will get so much more out of the story by reading books one and two first. There are some ongoing secondary character plot threads that carry over from book to book plus the change and growth in the Grayson family is a sight to behold.

But those sisters! Maddie and Cam may have had their individual 'aha' moment in previous novels, but, of course, just like real life, it doesn't always stick. Cam is still micromanaging everybody -- including the entire island and Maddie is still psychoanalyzing people and they both think they know exactly what Blaine should do and how she should do it!

And Blaine's in the middle of it all, older and wiser with a better understanding of who she is and what she wants to do with her life...even if it goes against her family's expectations.

Brimming with the chaos and camaraderie that comes with small town living, At Lighthouse Point is the perfect fictional summer getaway. I'm sad to see the series end...even sadder that I can't actually grab a ride on the never-late ferry and spend some quality time at Camp Kicking Moose. 

Spectacularly funny and poignant and full of surprises!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of At Lighthouse Point, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Cold Pursuit

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

COLD PURSUIT

She's on the run...

When Whitney Rochester's brother-in-law kills her sister, Whitney fears for the life of her niece and nephew. She can't lave them in her murderous brother-in-law's care so she goes on the run with the children to be sure they're out of his reach. Or so she thinks until a killer shows up -- weapon in hand -- at the ski resort where she works and targets her.

But he's in pursuit...

Former Recon Marine Alex Hamilton is working an undercover investigation at the resort when a crazed man wielding a gun takes out a guy in close proximity to Whitney. Despite not having the support of the Backwell Tactical team, other than their forensic expert, Samantha Willis, Alex isn't about to let the shooter harm Whitney or anyone else. When a blinding snowstorm triggers avalanches in the area, it's too dangerous for the police to reach the secluded resort to stop the killer. Alex and Sam must protect everyone at the resort while they feverishly work to figure out if Whitney or the victim were the intended target. As Alex and Whitney grow close and the killer strikes again, Alex has to find and take down this madman even if it means risking his own life.

My Review:

published in 2018

Another edge-of-your-seat addition to Susan Sleeman's Cold Harbor series and I enjoyed every thrilling moment. Love the extra oomph the avalanche brings to the suspense 'cause it's bad enough knowing a gunman is on the loose but when you're cut off from the rest of the world in your very own snow globe, well, that's all kinds crazy tense!

 

There are lots of layers to the mystery which was fun to try and figure out along with enough potential suspects to keep this armchair sleuth on her toes. And watching Alex and Sam work the scene and long distant banter and plot with the rest of the Blackwell team made me all kinds of happy. I do love the way this author builds team dynamics.

And then there's Whitney, thrown into a nightmare that's rapidly snowballing (a little avalanche humour -- wink -- ) out of control. Love the way Alex and Whitney warily size each other up. Their meet cute is pretty funny...and intense. She's feisty and guarded and he's just plain smitten. That snap, crackle and pop you hear are the fireworks they're setting off 'cause these two definitely have chemistry.

But there's a killer to corner and back stories to deal with before a happily-every-after is in their sight line. And one of the best epilogues ever to enjoy once the excitement dies down. Sure to thrill Blackwell Tactical team fans.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and enjoyed every intense second.

Oh -- and I should add that though this is the sixth book in the Cold Harbor series it reads well as a standalone. Mind you, once you've met the whole team, you'll want to read every single book too!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Pursuit, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Between Stairs and Stardust

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

BASHAM, PEPPER

BETWEEN STAIRS AND STARDUST

An illustrator in hiding, a millionaire with a gardening fascination and the possibility of a perfect fit for a happily-ever-after. Once upon a time...

A young illustrator, forced from her home in Boston, must return to her Blue Ridge Mountains to escape a scandal. Certain that her dreams are on hold, Stella Emory doesn't expect to find a prince charming in the form of James Craven, a young man who works in the gardens of the famed Biltmore Estate. Brought together unexpectedly, the two begin a tender friendship inspired by James's little sister and the story of Cinderella, but James isn't all he seems. 

As their friendship grows into a romance, the truth of James's millionaire status shakes Stella's confidence. When her past follows her to Asheville, Stella thinks her chance at romance with James is over, but will a Christmas masquerade and the remnants of a charm bracelet somehow provide the magic Stella needs to clear her name and claim her own happily-ever-after?

My Review:

published in 2019

"There was something singularly attractive about a man reading a book."

Sqqquuueeeealllll!!!! Pepper Basham turns fairy tale land upside down in this cleverly rendered Cinderella retelling. Love the unexpected twists she brought to this well-loved tale. Clever and witty and just plain swoonalicious! 

It's 1913 in the Blue Ridge Mountains where our plucky heroine dashes to the hero's rescue...see, the author shakes things up right from the very start. It was so much fun to spot the the fairy tale elements in their re-imagined state. And the way the story flows courtesy of Basham's whimsical phrasing is divine. And packed with life wisdom.

Throw in a wee bit o' Christmas along with a Biltmore estate setting, not to mention that alluring cover and ingenious title and 'sweet perfection' about sums it up. 

"Magic is as much your own making as any fairy godmother's."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Between Stairs and Stardust, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

A Tapestry of LIght

 

GIVEAWAY

DUFFY, KIMBERLY

A TAPESTRY OF LIGHT

In 1886 Calcutta, Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon the skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger named Everett Scott appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett, friend to Ottlie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home. 

But betrayal and loss lurk in England too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in a cold, distant land.

My Review:

Well, I'm stunned gobsmacked! Teetering on a crest of bibliophile speechless euphoria that is making it hard to string words together let alone a comprehensive review. So I'm resorting to a list of random impressions in no particular order.

Exquisite prose. Evocative imagery. Duffy's words catapulted me into a different time and place, engaging all my senses. The first half of the book is set in India and I'd actually experience culture shock when I looked up from the page and found myself in ordinary ol' Canada. :-)

The respect and care the author has for India and her native people. The beauty of the language, the depth of meaning in a phrase, the exotic celebration of traditions. But she doesn't shy away from the harsher realities either. The poverty, the prejudice, the brutality and unfairness of the British colonization. Especially when it comes to the Eurasian community and Ottilie's struggle to find a place she can belong.

Ottilie might be one of my favourite heroines ever. Devoted sister and granddaughter. Fiercely protective of what's left of her little family. She struggles with understanding God's plan for her life. Well, she's begun to doubt he actually has one! She doesn't quite draw away from Him, but she's always questioning, challenging. And she can be stubborn and impetuous. But she's also innately kind and compassionate. A complex, richly layered heroine who has to draw on every last ounce of inner strength and fortitude to not only survive, but thrive despite the circumstances she finds herself in.

All the characters are finely crafted. Even smaller secondary roles make a huge impact in a variety of ways. I felt like I knew them all by the end of the read. And I love how the author swayed my opinion on some of them during the course of the story. :-)

Faith is intrinsically woven into the very fiber of this novel. So many startling beautiful truths in the midst of sorrow and despair. Joy too.

And I can't forget to mention Everett! The man who turns Ottilie's world upside down. We had a love/hate relationship, Everett and I...well, hate might be too strong a word. But one particular notion he stuck to made me want to purse-whomp  him more than once. :-) In the end, I was ably to extend him some grace since he does have his reasons...but, still.....Thankfully, he comes to his senses in time.

A lush, resplendent, decadent kind of story that is well worth the read.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a  paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Tapestry of Light, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Starfish Pier

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

HANNON, IRENE

STARFISH PIER

A year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good -- but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.

First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence -- until she's recruited to advoate for a cause that's dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven's assistance, sparks fly -- especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection -- and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor -- where hearts heal...and love blooms.

My Review:

published in 2020

I'm rereading the whole Hope Harbor series via audible editions and am loving Therese Plummer's narration so much! She breathes life into these characters and heart and humour into her interpretation of Hannon's exquisite words.

I'm sporting a HUGE Cheshire grin because...this series!!!!!! There aren't any words to convey all the awesomeness within the pages of all the Hope Harbor books. Each one reads superbly as a standalone but, honestly, why wouldn't you want to read them all?!

Starfish Pier is the sixth (and please say there will be many more...please, please, please!) so I think we can officially elevate Charley to folk hero status now. His sage wisdom, open heart and listening spirit guide not only Hannon's characters, but this eager reader as well. And the sparring clergy are back too! Love the way the author has created so many memorable characters in a town so aptly named because it's brimming with hope and you will be too once you've spent some quality time within these pages.

Holly and Steven are about as opposite as you can get -- staunchly opinionated on moral matters that should make romance impossible. Hannon delivers one emotional sucker punch after another as she draws her readers into a labyrinth of angst. And, oh, their back stories! The way she dangles tidbits of information without a full reveal for sooooooooo long I was about jumping out of my skin waiting for the full story! Happy agonizing sigh of sheer readerly bliss. And that's all I'm going to say about them because you really need to discover their issues on your own reading adventure.

And along with the main romance, we get the additional viewpoints of three other characters who are weathering their own storms. Messy lives collide, revealing how interconnected we actually are. One act of kindness or a hesitant word can cause a ripple effect that reaches further than we can imagine.

I finished Starfish Pier feeling buoyed up. Hopeful. Comforted. Encouraged. And with a deeper understanding of why God called us to live in community. The perfect message for these uncertain times. My heart is full.

I listened to the audible version narrated by Therese Plummer who is absolutely amazing! She has such a beguiling style and an incredible gift for creating distinctive voices for every character. I think I'd listen  with rapt attention if she read from the phone book!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Starfish Pier, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

May Giveaway -- Week Three

  

WON BY MELANIE BACKUS

WON BY RUBYNREBA

WON BY KIM HANSEN

WON BY KAREN

WON BY PERRIANNE

WON BY TRIXI

You know the drill: winners will be contacted if they left their email address in the comments, otherwise it's up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. (Please note it's ca as in Canada not com)

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 AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered within a week of receiving your mailing address (or email address for ebooks) and I'll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK'S GIVEAWAYS:

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

The Texans's Truth

GIVEAWAY

NAVARRO, JOLENE

THE TEXAN'S TRUTH

He's always been a loner, but coming home could change everything...

Returning to his hometown, Bridges Espinoza's surprised to find his cousin's widow, Lillianna -- the woman he once secretly loved -- there as well. But even more stunning is the child who shows up claiming to be his son. Certain he can't be a father, Bridges works with Lillianna to find the truth. But a shocking discovery about Cooper's parentage could tear their makeshift family apart.

A Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch story

My Review:

Wow, woowww, wwwwoooowwww!!! This is all that is good in a Love Inspired novel...ten-fold. Beautifully written with a whole lot of heart. It's heartwarming and funny and poignant and inspired. 

Love the unrequited love angle. Poor Bridges, secretly harbouring feelings for Lillianna since their childhood only his cousin made his move first. Now Bridges is on the sidelines, feeling guilty that his long suppressed emotions are surfacing again even though Lillianna is a widow now. That's all kinds of complicated for a romance but then an orphaned boy shows up claiming to be Bridges' son. Phew! Complicated becomes completely complex!

And Bridges' large, boisterous, in-your-face-with-an-opinion-on-everything family is sheer delight! The chaos! The laughter! The frustration! Bedlam in the nicest kind of way.

An engaging, heart-tugging romance with characters who come to life under Navarro's skilled storytelling! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Texan's Truth, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your 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 May 25, 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!