Category: Book Review

Against All Odds + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Monica Callahan isn’t making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father–who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East–she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real–and escalating.

As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, Monica’s father triggers an abduction that puts his daughter’s life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls around his heart are dropping. After all, terrorists aren’t known for their patience–or their mercy.

Book one in the Heroes of Quantico series, this suspense-filled novel will whisk readers along for the thrilling ride.

My Review:

published in 2009

Eeeeppp!!! This was my first Irene Hannon book way back in the day! Read it even before I started posting reviews on Good Reads or started my blog and I don’t believe I’ve missed a single one of her books since then. In fact, I picked Irene Hannon as one of my re-read authors for 2024, so this is the official start.

This time round I listened to the audio book (courtesy of Audible Plus) narrated by Stevie Ray Dallimore. While I usually prefer female narrators, I thought Dallimore did a pretty good job with the female voices and I enjoyed my listening experience….

And discovered that I really like ‘vintage’ romantic suspense. The pacing is very different from current books which leaves room to develop relationships and get to know the characters more. Also time for significant faith threads which is another bonus.

So, while there’s definitely suspense right from the start, it’s drawn out in a different way. As the plot thickens (literally!) readers are drawn in to the high stakes situation that gradually grows more desperate as time progresses.

Meanwhile there’s Monica trying to live her normal life while being guarded by Coop’s FBI team. There’s a certain ominous dread looming over every scene because this is a suspense, after all! But it’s a lot of ‘normal’ too as Monica and Coop clash over safety concerns. Monica can’t quite believe that something to do with her estranged father half way around the world could actually impact her ordinary life. But she’s wrong! Soooooo wrong!!!

Loved the way the romance developed. It didn’t feel rushed and was full of heartfelt conversations, some teasing banter and the delicious tension of two people meeting at the wrong time. He has a job to do and she’s at the centre of it! Definitely no time for romance and yet…happy sigh. Beautifully crafted!

The suspense builds gradually and then bursts into a ‘heart-stopping, gasp-out-louding’ scenario that left me clinging to the edge of my seat. Expertly written, from mega emotions to action scenes. And then — huge bonus — we’re given some wonderful downtime to decompress and wrap things up and head out into our happily ever after. Like I said — impeccable pacing.

A must read for the inspirational romantic suspense connoisseur!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Against All Odds , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 24 2024.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel + Giveaway

Shaken by her parents’ divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle’s farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She’ll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother’s belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town’s history, her ancestors–and her estranged father.

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured–with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

My Review:

Argh! This is one of those books that’s impossible to do justice to in a review because there are so many talking points only that would mean spoilers so…let’s see if I can get as creative as the title (which makes sense once you’ve read the book!)

Sara Brunsvold’s second novel is just as captivating as her first. I love the way she puts words and phrases together in a way that transforms the characters into living people that I grow attached to. And the significant faith threads are both down-to-earth as well as weighted with words that leave characters (and readers) pondering personal ‘aha’ moments.

“The good news is God’s not afraid of an attitude. That divine whack will come in due course — to all the skulls that need it.”

That quote is courtesy of Aunt Emma who we only meet through emails and phone calls, but she sure knows how to make an impression! And though this is largely Nikki’s story, there’s a subplot involving her Uncle Wes who is a man after my own heart. A humble man who doesn’t realize that he’s actually a spiritual giant.

If I had to assign a theme to this novel…well, hard to pinpoint just one. I’d say finding joy in endurance, for sure. And definitely the complexities of forgiveness. The importance of family and how each generation makes way for the next whether positive or negative…often a mashup of both.

But for all that there’s drama, ‘The Divine Proverb of Streusel’ is a quiet, nurturing story too. The kind a reader wants to sink into and savour. The kind that has the power to make a difference — in fictional lives and real ones.

Simply stunning!

Oh — and a side note: this book includes decadent German recipes involving lots and lots of butter. 🙂

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Divine Proverb of Streusel , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 24 2024.

The Flower Quilter

Barbara Breaks from Amish Tradition to Express Her Artistry

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Barbara Schwartz was born into a family of quilters, but she would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic or sew on another binding. When her parents send her to Indiana to help her grandmother in her quilting shop, she finds herself amongst a very different community. It’s only one summer and then she will be back in Kentucky where she belongs.

Melvin Bontrager’s world stopped six years ago when his parents died. Now when his only means of providing for his widowed sister and niece is threatened, Melvin finds his landscaping business disappearing too. When spring delivers a newcomer who is immune to his salty moods, Melvin does something he has never done before, accepts help. 

What blooms is the last thing Barbara ever expected, and everything Melvin could ever want. 

My Review:

Hooray for a glasses-wearing heroine on the cover! And yes, that’s what drew me to this particular Amish story among all the others waiting to be read. Mind you, I enjoy Mindy Steele’s storytelling as well, but the glasses were definitely the deciding factor. :-)

Poor Melvin doesn’t make a good first impression. Or second. Or third. Or…let’s just say it took a while for Barbara to warm up to him much to this reader’s delight. Not quite frenemies to more…but almost. The way they butt heads is both amusing and frustrating and always highly entertaining!

Barbara has left her Kentucky home to spend the summer helping out her grandmother in Indiana…at least that’s supposed to be the plan. But since Barbara “would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic” (bwahahaha!) plans change and she’s suddenly around Melvin way more than she’d like which might not sound like fun to Barbara, but it sure was for me!

I could relate to both hero and heroine – their individual histories brought depth to the story and explained the difficulties they had with connecting and committing. Duty to family pulls at individual desires and leaves both Barbara and Melvin with a conundrum that doesn’t seem easily solved…unless God has a plan.

Loved the way the author describes the Amish and the intricacies of relationships within the community. And she has cleverly highlighted differences between Barbara’s stricter Kentucky Amish community and the more liberal Indiana one which made for an interesting read.

Great blend of humour and angst add just the right sizzle to this heartwarming romance.

Beauty and the Baron + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

A penniless maid determined to save her father, a broken baron bent on isolation, and the undeniable draw between them that will lead to happiness—or disaster. 

Rose Sinclair has run out of options. With her father in prison and their bookshop sold to pay his debts, she has no choice but to turn to Henry Covington, the Baron Norcliffe. But the baron has more than earned his harsh reputation, and Rose must face his wrath in order to save her father—and herself.

Since the deaths of his parents, Henry Covington has isolated himself from society, ensuring the solitude of his estate with his deliberate callousness. However, when the beautiful Miss Sinclair appears on his doorstep, begging for a chance to repay her father’s debt to him, a moment of weakness finds him offering her a position—as a maid in his own house.

They both soon learn that first impressions are not to be believed. Henry is surprised—and intrigued—by Rose’s optimistic charm, while Rose slowly uncovers Henry’s true self, his compassion concealed behind the pain of loss and betrayal. But when a shadow from Henry’s past returns, their newfound hope is tested. They must decide for themselves who to trust—and what they will risk for their happily ever after.  

Beauty and the Baron is a Regency retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is a sweet/clean romance novella, and is Book 1 in a series of Regency retellings. The stories can be read in any order.

My Review:

published in 2019

I was crazy excited over this Regency Beauty and the Beast retelling when I first read the story. I recently discovered it on audible for an excellent price so I couldn’t resist revisiting these characters, this time listening to Janna Fox’s wonderful narration. Such a sweet, timeless story!

—

Squuueeeeee — I just discovered a new-to-me favourite Regency author! Thank you Good Reads friends for leading me to Joanna Barker. My fainting couch got a real workout with this one — partly from me jumping up and down as I shrieked my ecstatic pleasure to the world. Because, not only is Beauty and the Baron a scrumptious Regency romance, it’s also a retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Squeeeep!!!

Grinning like an idiot writing this as I remember all the good bits which is basically the whole book. An impoverished, genteel lady with quiet strength and such a kind heart. A seething, embittered baron who has become so jaded by the world that he keeps it at bay with his foul humor. The way Rose softens him by slow degrees, gently showing him a different way to live. Be still my heart! So many happy swoony bits!

But there’s treachery afoot and a mystery to solve before we get to “…and they lived happily ever after.” I had so much fun spotting the fairy tale elements Barker wove throughout the story. Her unique twists made this timeless story feel fresh and new.

Toe-curling romantical bliss!

Side note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, Beauty and the Baron is a clean read that also inspires with sweet gems like this: “Kindness matters most when it’s hardest to give.”

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beauty and the Baron , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 3 2024.

Rocky Road + Giveaway

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

My Review:

Bwahahaha! That Meet-Cute!!!! Snicker inducing and so much fun! Sets the tone for this relationship of contrasts. Because you can’t get more opposite attracts than Gemma and Jude! She’s Miss Impulsive Spontaneity and he’s Mr Cool and Collected and she loves messing with that. (That scene involving a shirt – hilarious!) So many ‘Cheshire grin’ opportunities played out to perfection. 🙂

But, while I’d classify this as a rom/com — it’s also much more! There’s family drama and complicated back stories and deep faith discussions…the messy, real life stuff that we all have to deal with to some degree. And the way the author pulls it all together is sheer brilliance. As emotionally satisfying as it is fun to read.

While mainly told from Gemma and Jude’s POVs, we are also treated to the occasional personal reflections of Jude’s mother. Her story is a bit of a carry over from the first book and will continue on into the third and I’m really looking forward to that. (Side Note: I think this ‘Sons of Scandal’ series would be best read in order. It will make sense if you jump in here but certain things will make more of an impact if you read ‘Memory Lane’ first. )

Becky Wade’s storytelling is sweet perfection. Word choice, descriptions, banter (!!!!), snappy one-liners, soul-stirring reflections…she delivers it all with such grace and hope…and humour.

And that sweet little epilogue! There should have been a warning posted! Luckily my fainting couch was perfectly situated to catch me mid toe-curling swoon!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Rocky Road’ and thoroughly enjoyed the dual narration performed by Reba Buhr and Ryan Hudson.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Rocky Road , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 17 2024.

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret–grumbling the whole way–to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

My Review:

published in 2021

This is a case of trusting a book recommendation even though the only thing you know about ‘The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady’ is that it has an odd title:-) Even though it’s not your usual type of read. No ticking genre and trope boxes or studiously examining every nuance of the synopsis first. Nope. Just a cautious reader fuelled by a bit of bibliophile bravery who went in blind! Gasp! That’s waaaayyy out of my comfort zone! All because a friend said: “Pssst, this is a good book. You should read it.” And, yowza! But am I ever glad I did!

Heartwarming and charming, but hard hitting too. A plot with a faith thread so significant that the whole story would unravel without it. Beautifully written, with such relatable characters! Ladies who could easily be sharing a pew with you at church on Sunday.

I love how this little group of prayer shawl knitters know next to nothing about each other even though they’ve been meeting together for years! Until their pastor shakes up their orderly little world and casts them out of the prayer chapel and into the community, encouraging them to (gasp) knit and pray in public!

Bwahahaha! Humour abounds, especially when it comes to Margaret’s jaded view of their new situation. Her acerbic tongue and blatantly forthright nature had me alternating between laughter and despair because we’ve all known a Margaret or two. Fran, Rose and Jane all have softer personalities which makes for a nice contrast and creates some interesting conflict.

But it’s when they start to meet people in their community that this story takes on a life of its own. A mix of humour and heartache all jumbled together as these four ladies interact with strangers. People who are in need of their unique gifts and talents, if only they have the courage to share.

So many moving stories woven together — especially as we learn about the personal challenges of each knitter. Their back stories intertwine with the lives of new friends and it’s easy to see God’s hand in it all. I reached the end with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. What an exceptional debut novel!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 17 2024.

Double Take + Giveaway

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he’s rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it’s not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

My Review:

Whooooosssshhhhh!!! That’s the sound of my pent-up breath releasing at last! Warning: this book may induce light-headedness, hyperventilating and the need for a defibrillator. Read at your own peril! Bwahahaha!

‘Double Take’ is the best kind of suspense because it’s all edge-of-your-seat plot paired with mind-blowing revelations BUT it’s also the worst kind of suspense because it’s impossible to express true bibliophile euphoria in a review for fear of sharing spoilers. So, excuse me if I’m vague.

Truth: I started reading and I couldn’t stop. Right into the wee hours of the morning and I never do that because I covet my beauty sleep! 🙂 However, today I wear my bloodshot, raccoon ringed eyes as a badge of honour. Not only did Lainie and James survive the read, I did too!

More Truth: the plot has more highs and lows than a rollercoaster. Death defying drops even. And the way Eason s-l-o-w-l-y makes sense of the impossible. Whoooaaaa! Astounding! Stunning! Indescribably good.

Even More Truth: The romance between James and Lainie is so well done. She’s been his sister’s best friend for years but he’s been overseas with the armed forces for a decade. They reconnect in a spectacular way (no spoilers here!) and then gradually develop a friendship that teases on the edge of becoming something deeper…only… Issues. Personal struggles that complicate things. Not to mention the trying to stay alive part!!!! But, oh, sweet joy, the heart-to-hearts, the faith talks, the way he starts to be able to read her mind because they have a connection that won’t be denied. Swoon! Thud! And repeat!

Last Truth: Read this book. Seriously, it’s that simple. If you love romantic suspense, read this book. If you don’t love romantic suspense, read this book anyway and you will. 🙂

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Double Take , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February17 2024.

Shadows at Dusk + Giveaway

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

My Review:

Whoa! What an adrenaline rush of a read! Oxygen tank and defibrillator might just be necessary standbys for sensitive readers! 🙂

First, love the Alaskan setting. There’s something so alluring about stories set in this state…at least for me. Have no idea why because I’m definitely not the rugged wilderness type. I’m much more of the curl up by the roaring fire reading about rugged wilderness types kinda gal. But there’s something modern day wild west-ish about this setting which makes it quite brilliant for suspense.

And too funny — I grabbed this book to help me ride out an epic snowstorm only to discover the story takes place in the spring/summer. Still lots of scope for fighting against the elements even if it’s rain and the wilderness is just as untamed so that kind of thrill carried all the way through.

Love that our heroine is a bush pilot and that our hero isn’t all that keen on flying. They have great chemistry that’s all tangled up in complicated back stories and current agendas. Goddard is a master at weaving all of that into the increasingly difficult situations Carrie and Trevor find themselves in.

And the suspense! A reader practically needs climbing gear to navigate all the treacherous fissures cracking through the plot! So many twists and turns and downright bottomless pits to tiptoe around. And the stakes just kept getting higher as the story progressed. Danger, corruption, deceit run rampant. Oh and that prologue!!! Jaw-dropping, gasp-out-loud, what-just-happened good.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Shadows at Dusk , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 10 2024.

Tex

Random Retro Read

He’s back in town after a successful country music career. She owns a bordering farm to the family land he wants to buy…and she outbids him at the auction. Can Tex and Abigail rekindle their old flame, or will the issue of land ownership come between them?

Tex Young has spent the last two decades traveling around the world with his brothers as part of Country Quad, a successful cowboy boy band. He’s stepping back from the band and returning to his roots in Coral Canyon, where the Young brothers all grew up.

Their father sold the family ranch several years ago when none of them wanted it, and Tex, along with his son, rolls into town the day before an auction for the land. He wants it. He talks to some of his brothers, and they decide to try to get the ranch back.

Abigail Ingalls has other plans for that land, as it borders her small farm, which she’s labored on with her disabled brother for the past two decades…after Tex left her in Coral Canyon so he could go live the country music star life. The land isn’t taken care of, and she wants to add it to what she owns and create an oasis out of weeds.

Abby and Tex both show up at the auction, and they both want that land. The sparks between them are as hot as they were twenty years ago, but Tex tells himself it’s because the uppity town librarian outbid him and bought his family ranch.

So he devises another plan to get the ranch back…and that includes taking his gorgeous, former girlfriend to dinner a time or two. Can Tex and Abby build a real, lasting relationship now that they’re both back in Coral Canyon for good? Or will Tex’s plan to get his family ranch back end up breaking both of their hearts?

My Review:

published in 2022

My first Liz Isaacson novel and happy to get in at the start of the ‘Coral Canyon Cowboy’s series featuring nine (yes, 9!!!!) brothers! Loved the sense of homecoming featured in this story as Tex and his teenage son return to the town he grew up in.

It’s a summer of second chances — for father and son, the family ranch, the girl (now woman) next door, and brotherly bonding. Loved that reoccurring theme and the way the author weaves it throughout multiple storylines.

I enjoyed the romance between Tex and Abby. (You really can’t go wrong with a librarian and a cowboy, right?!) She’s nursing some hurt and is a little prickly at first, but he just doesn’t give up and it isn’t long before they fall back into the easy friendship of their youth. There are obstacles to overcome, of course, but I love that they actually communicate with each other. Not always well, but they muddle their way through to a hard earned happily ever after eventually.

While the story starts off mostly from Tex and Abby’s points of view, it morphs into an all encompassing story with various new character POVs. Only, I get the feeling they are actually ‘old’ characters from a previous series. It got a bit confusing for this newbie Isaacson reader, but I imagine it would be thrilling for veterans out there. 🙂 Sweet vignettes, they just didn’t have any meaning for me since I couldn’t put them into context.

I enjoyed listening to the dual narration performed by Amanda Stribling and Tyler Darby.

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of Tex.

Three Little Matchmakers + Giveaway

1817, Staffordshire, England

Caroline Dempsey, a loving governess, and Henry Graves, an impassive earl, fall prey to the matchmaking machinations of three newly orphaned children who determine to forge a new family for themselves, no matter the havoc their plans cause.

My Review:

Of Note: originally appeared in the 2017 Regency Bride Collection published by Barbour.

So much fun! This is on the short side for a novella but it is oh, so sweet! Lovely characters who come alive — from the innocently conniving children to the austere Earl and devoted governess. So — eeeepp — grumpy/sunshine trope in full swing at the start of this story.

Caroline and Henry have a history right back to childhood (when one might have harboured a secret crush on the other) but time and personal difficulties have kept them apart and make them strangers when they meet up once again in order to create a stable home for Henry’s orphaned nieces and nephew.

And, oh my, these children! Imaginatively enthusiastic in their pursuit of a happily ever after for them all. Spurred on, no less, by the wild tales of Henry and Caroline’s misspent youth! Our hero and heroine don’t stand a chance…thankfully.

Heartwarming and funny with some serious undertones too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Three Little Matchmakers , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. 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 February 10 2024.