Tag: Contemporary Romance

The Summer of You and Me + Giveaway

Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again–until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she’d lost.

Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all of his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers–and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers at all.

My Review:

Angst-riddled and full of surprises. In some ways this contemporary romance plays out as I thought it would…until it doesn’t. Love the way Hunter kept me balancing on an emotional tightrope all the way through. I’m still dizzy from the nosebleed heights and the occasional free fall! Brilliantly executed. Compelling read. BUT, make sure to have some (or a lot) of comfort chocolate on hand.

Loved the way the story unfolds. It’s almost lazy at times occasionally punctuated by a sense of urgency that set my pulse rate soaring. The friendship-to-more developing relationship is both precarious and hopeful. So. Many. Complications!!! Not the least of which is Josh being Maggie’s deceased husband’s brother. Yikes! Honestly, it’s my faith in Denise Hunter’s storytelling that convinced me to pick up this book despite that unusual situation!

Of course she deals with that particular issue brilliantly and weaves a captivating story full of raw emotion and soaring hope…as well as that longed for happily ever after. (Phew!)

I enjoyed listening to Kim Churchill’s narration of ‘The Summer of You and Me’. She has become a familiar voice in my audio reads and I love the way she builds upon the author’s words in order to deliver a satisfying and memorable listening experience.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

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 Summer of You and Me,  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 April 19 2025.

Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

From the bestselling author of Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits comes a new and comical contemporary take on the perennial Jane Austen classic, Emma.

Caroline Ashley is a journalist on the rise at The Washington Post until the sudden death of her father brings her back to Thorny Hollow to care for her mentally fragile mother and their aging antebellum home. The only respite from the eternal rotation of bridge club meetings and garden parties is her longtime friend, Brooks Elliott. A professor of journalism, Brooks is the voice of sanity and reason in the land of pink lemonade and triple layer coconut cakes. But when she meets a fascinating, charismatic young man on the cusp of a brand new industry, she ignores Brook’s misgivings and throws herself into the project. 

Brooks struggles to reconcile his parents’ very bitter marriage with his father’s devastating grief at the recent loss of his wife. Caroline is the only bright spot in the emotional wreckage of his family life. She’s a friend and he’s perfectly happy to keep her safely in that category. Marriage isn’t for men like Brooks and they both know it…until a handsome newcomer wins her heart. Brooks discovers Caroline is much more than a friend, and always has been, but is it too late to win her back? 

Featuring a colorful cast of southern belles, Civil War re-enactors, and good Christian women with spunk to spare, Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs brings the modern American South to light in a way only a contemporary Jane Austen could have imagined.

My Review:

published in 2013

I’m really enjoying Hathaway’s twist on Austen novels. So clever and fun. A light-hearted read with a punch of grit.

Love the dynamics between Brooks and Caroline. So comfortable with each other, anchored by years of friendship. Their rapid-fire dialogue is a treat to read, whether they are teasing or fighting. or in deep conversation about important issues. These two know each other and care deeply.  Totally understandable that neither wants to risk their friendship with romance. But once that crackle of attraction makes an appearance a new kind of tension enters their exchanges and that brings a thrilling edge to every scene. Of course I knew they would get to together by the end, but Hathaway kept me on tenterhooks trying to figure out how.

Secondary characters and subplots give added depth and a good dose of intrigue, to the story. Hathaway has created a unique approach to familiar stories in her ‘Jane Austen Takes the South‘ series and this second book (which can be read as a standalone) is a wonderful addition to the collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs, 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 April 12 2025.

Some Like It Scot + Giveaway

An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes–or even countries–was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she’d found her perfect match. But as she’s nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she’s starting to wonder where “home” actually is. Her own family hadn’t felt like home since her sister’s death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live “Edwardian,” she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if “home” looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra “ayes” thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?

My Review:

First off, kudos to narrators Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen for their stellar performances. This story is magnificent all on its own but it rises to a whole other level as an audio book. They convey all the drama and humour with the kind of feeling that leads me to believe they enjoyed the story as much as I did and that increased my ‘reading’ pleasure all the more.

So, what can I say about this story other than it’s sheer brilliance in every way. Humour. Faith. Emotional depth. Quirky characters. All woven together into an incredible love story that had me laughing one moment and close to tears the next.

And, much like Katie, I was in a constant state of ‘human combustion of emotion’ because of a certain amount of ‘hot Scotness or Scot hotness.’ Their meet-cute is hysterically appropriate for a Pepper Basham rom/com. Especially since Katie has a unique radar for trouble no matter what country she’s currently traveling through.

Her ‘surly Scot’ is classically brooding though a tender heart beats beneath that brawny, gruff exterior. Personalities clash even as sparks fly and I happily settled in for what I knew would be an exceptional read.

Discovering emotional depth in the midst of riotous bedlam was an extra bonus. Our hero and heroine have suffered similar loss, though they’ve dealt with it in different ways. Basham compassionately tackles the power grief holds – to draw people closer or push them apart. And the hope that comes from finding your place in an accepting community.

‘Some Like it Scot’ is a definite must read (or listen) for discerning romance readers who enjoy savouring every last drop of deliciousness in a profound love story.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

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 Some Like it Scot,  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 April 5 2025.

Falling for Grace + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

Grace Logan has taken a lot of tumbles in life, but she works hard to bounce right back. Dreams shattered and hope for reconciliation gone, Grace needs a place where she can pick herself up now that her ex is marrying her former best friend. Her boss’s beach house in Santa Rosa seems like the perfect getaway, but stumbling into the attractive-but-damaged handyman next door isn’t part of the plan. 

After losing his infant son—and his marriage—Seth Gibbs is left with smothering grief and guilt. Bad memories make it difficult to find a new normal, so he escapes to his family’s vacation home. Three years later, he’s still in Santa Rosa with no plans to leave. That is…until Grace falls into his life.

My Review:

published in 2018

I can’t believe I’m just ‘discovering’ Janet Ferguson now! And what an introduction! This novella packs all the heart of a full length novel. My emotions were engaged from the very first page and I do so love to be emotionally pummeled by my fiction! Talk about gut-wrenching and hope-soaring!

Grace and Seth are both recovering from painful losses. Their chance encounter on the beach pulls them into each other’s arms (literally) and sets in motion a breath-taking second chance love story. Raw and real and achingly sweet. And sometimes funny. All the elements that I enjoy in a romance.

I’m amazed at the way Ferguson packed so much into this shorter word count. Exquisite word choice and impeccable pacing propel the story along and turned Falling for Grace into an unputdownable read for me. Devoured it in one sitting and now I’m on the hunt for more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Falling for Grace, 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 March 22 2025.

Summerlin Groves + Giveaway

Elizabeth Camden’s first Contemporary Romance!

Jenny Summerlin is struggling to save her dying orange grove when a baffling mystery upends her world. A skeleton buried with a priceless treasure has been found on her land, which brings of flood of investigators onto her property to study a decades old crime.

Captain Wyatt Rossiter is charged with solving the puzzling discovery. Unfortunately, he is also the man who broke Jenny’s heart two years earlier. Plagued with regrets and unresolved feelings for Jenny, Wyatt resists getting drawn back into her world, but he cannot rest until he solves the unusual crime.

The former lovers are trapped on a case neither of them want. Soon they awaken a fifty-year old mystery involving Cold War espionage and a forbidden romance. Will resurrecting the old secrets endanger the survival of her grove and everything she holds dear?

My Review:

Wow, this story delivered so much more than I expected! The emotional depth, the complex layers, the seemingly impossible chasm between the hero and heroine. Whoa, compelling stuff! I’m kinda gobsmacked by how good Elizabeth Camden’s first contemporary romance is! And I really shouldn’t be since her historical novels are just as amazing. Maybe it’s the deceptively serene cover that lulled me into a false sense of cozy security? While we do reach a happily ever after there’s plenty of angst (including some gasp out loud moments) before we get there.

So, meet Jenny, an overcomer to the nth degree. Her back story! Her determination! Her ability to keep getting up when life knocks her down! She’s in no way perfect, but she’s so likeable! Even when she’s her most tenacious, stubborn self. Wyatt can’t even resist her though he has a lot of solid reasons too.

Which brings me to their doomed Second Chance / Enemies to More Romance. There is so much I want to say but I can’t without spewing major spoilers which I would never do. But when you meet Wyatt and Jenny and see what they are up against you’ll totally understand why my sensitive reader’s heart had conniptions. And the way Camden brings redemption into their relationship is sheer masterful storytelling. I might have teared up a time or two.

I really enjoyed the look at the real life struggles for a farmer’s life (not an occupation for the faint of heart!) and I could feel Jenny’s desperate tie to the land of her ancestors and their way of life. Again…so much to talk about here but not in a review! This would make a great book club selection for all the talking points.

There’s even a cold case mystery that’s revealed in the first chapter of the book when a decades old skeleton is discovered in on Jenny’s land. Enter Captain Wyatt Rossiter and the sparks start flying. Loved the way the author wove the mystery throughout their day to day lives and the significance it plays in the restoration themes of the story. Brilliantly done.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book narrated by Lisa Larsen. She did a great job creating distinctive voices for these characters and conveying the emotional depth of their story. Definitely recommend the audio for discerning listening readers like me.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a brand new paperback copy ( I originally bought the print version in December but it languished so long on my TBR that the audio edition released at a crackerjack price so I couldn’t resist buying it too. and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Summerlin Groves, 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 March 22 2025.

Castle on the Rise + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?

When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks–a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple’s fledgling marriage–it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend–and once, for herself–is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom’s family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It’s in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland’s majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own–and a heart afraid to trust again–Laine must determine how much she’s willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.

Set in three time-periods–the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland’s turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day–Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin’s storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland’s stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith–which legacy would you choose?

My Review:

published in 2019

“Ireland has a million stories and if you stay long enough you’ll learn them all.”

Heartfelt, shivery sigh. Followed by some muffled sobs and inelegant hiccups. I need a moment…or a week…to recover from this splendiferous read.

Heart-breaking. Awe-inspiring. Hope-lifting. Sure and Kristy Cambron must have kissed the blarney stone, her words are that eloquent. And greatly enhanced by the narration of Amy Rubinate. I listened to the audible version of this book and I’m so glad I did. It created an evocative mood that heightened Cambron’s storytelling prowess. This is one book I think ‘reads’ best when you listen.

And the story! Well, stories, really — three distinct time periods at pivotal points in Irish history. Magical and spellbinding. I had no trouble jumping between centuries and connected with each hero and heroine. Honestly — each timeline story could easily have been published as a standalone novel…but the way Cambron weaves them together! Impeccable pacing — and the way she stops one story at a heart-plummeting moment and then picks up with the next…wow — I’m still experiencing reader whiplash. There were times I had to hit pause and collect myself. Pace madly around my house while wringing my hands and moaning…”no, no, NO!” And then wonder if I’d have the courage to press play again.

Castle on the Rise made me homesick (I’m an Irish born Canadian.) It celebrates the courage and conviction and abiding faith of a complex people. There were so many inspirational passages that I’d have jotted down if I’d been reading a paperback copy. I guess I’ll have to buy one for my keeper shelf as well. 🙂

An emotional masterpiece that quite literally took my breath away.

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 Castle on the Rise, 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 March 22 2025.


Match Made at the Amish Inn

Sometimes love is what you need. Even if it’s not what you want.

Running the local Amish inn is the only reason Molly Esch has gained back her confidence after being jilted at the altar. When the owner is suddenly injured, Molly’s sure she’ll be promoted. Except the owner asks her widowed nephew, Aaron Fisher, for help instead. Now Molly’s forced to work alongside the handsome single father, and with his grand ideas for change, they clash right away. But their disagreements soon give way to something deeper. Neither wants to risk their heart again, but facing their fears could lead them to a forever partnership…

My Review:

I do so love the way Marta Perry spins a tale – a whirlwind of love and laughter with just enough angst to keep things interesting.

Molly and Aaron fit the opposite attracts mold to perfection. She’s the sweet, outgoing, has never met a stranger type while he’s more of a brooding introvert. It’s only natural that there’s some clashing of wills when they are thrown together working at the inn. And it doesn’t help that Aaron’s convalescing aunt has matchmaking on the mind. Gotta love a devious Amish matchmaker.

Of course, things don’t go according to plan as Molly and Aaron’s love story takes on a life of it’s own much to my reader’s delight. First comes the uneasy truce, and then a friendship of sorts, but when their stubbornness gets in the way things start to get complicated.

Captivating secondary characters add to the charm of this sweet romance as does the whole Amish community. Love the way the author weaves every last detail into an emotionally satisfying story.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Match Made at the Amish Inn’, narrated by Maayan Voss who did a wonderful job breathing life into these characters through her engaging performance.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

An Overdue Match + Giveaway

If the covers of every romance book ever published hadn’t convinced librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection—even if it’s not her own.

Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn’t surprise him when the town’s quirky new librarian does the same thing and believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can’t help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline’s secret matchmaking scheme, he’s not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can’t judge a book—or each other—by the cover.

My Review:

‘An Overdue Match’ will definitely make my ‘Top 10 in 2025’ list. It’s funny and flirty but hard-hitting too. I experienced a mash-up of emotions from snort laughing to teary-eyed and everything in between. I love feeling my way through a story and Monzon always delivers that for me.

Evangeline is a heroine after my own heart. She’s a kindred book nerd – “a book doesn’t have feelings but it has a soul.” This is one passionate librarian who ferociously guards her charges (aka books) from the perils of careless borrowers. Enter tattoo artist Tai and their tumultuous meet cute sets the stage for rom/com delight.

Loved the bantering, Tai’s teasing. He takes such pleasure in pushing Evangeline’s buttons. And when he starts trying out nicknames for her…be still my heart. I was constantly swooning into a puddle the rest of the read. He has this bad boy persona that is completely opposite to what he’s really like. Judged by a few youthful indiscretions, there are plenty of folks in town who see his return ( to open a tattoo parlour no less!) as Bad News. Of course Evangeline isn’t as immune to Tai’s rakish charms as she claims to be and a delightful game of cat and mouse ensues. Highly entertaining!

But while the comedic beats are measured out to perfection, it is the deeper inspirational threads that elevate Evangeline and Tai’s story to the ‘memorable, rereadable, keeper shelf’ status. So touching and poignant . And inspiring. I appreciate the autoimmune rep and the role it played in the drama and conflict…and ultimately triumph.

I listened to the audible edition of ‘An Overdue Match’ (cute title that totally fits!) narrated by Allyson Morgan. Loved the way she portrayed these characters and delivered dialogue. Listening to the story added to its emotional impact. I so appreciate these talented performers who bring beloved stories to life.

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 An Overdue Match, 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 March 8 2025.

Her Part to Play + Giveaway

Desperate for extra income after her mother’s passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She’s working to save her parents’ legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.

John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he’s ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set–and definitely not a fan.

Sparks of tension–and could that be attraction?–fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John’s scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what’s right in front of them?

My Review:

Stunning debut novel that packs an emotional punch.

I’m usually not a huge fan of entertainment industry type romances (2nd least favourite trope after billionaires) but I’ve come across some really good ones recently so I’m learning never to say never.

Really enjoyed the Alabama setting for this enemies to more romance. It made for a nice mix of Hollywood angst (courtesy of John’s pushy manager) and the Southern charm of Adanne’s home town. Desperate to earn some extra money to help her family, she brushes off her make up artist skills and winds up being John’s exclusive MUA. Cue fireworks and complications because these two have back stories!

Right from the start we know that Adanne holds John responsible for her getting fired from her last job in Hollywood. We don’t know any of the details though, and it drove me crazy trying to figure it out! John has no clue either, so he’s confused…and intrigued…by Adanne’s aloofness.

Loved the way the author progresses the romance, deepening their relationship slowly as Adanne gradually lowers her guard and they have some meaningful conversations. And that includes talking about faith:

“I don’t understand how you can go through so much and still hold onto your faith…”

“It’s not me doing the holding.” (p 170)

I had to sit and think about that second line for a minute. Simple statement that makes a big impact. Faith is seamlessly interspersed throughout this story. Both John (a redeemed former bad boy) and Adanne seek out God’s will for their lives but they don’t always get it right which is so relatable.

A moving, multi-layered love story full of heart and hope and a swoonworthy happily ever after.

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 Her Part to Play, 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 March 1 2025.

Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.

Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love. 

Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?

My Review:

published in 2014

Austen in the South with Hathaway’s unique spin has been reading nirvana for me. And I do believe that Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread is my favourite of the three. I just loved Lucy and Jem’s story even though it was angst riddled to the very end…or maybe because it was. Carefully plotted and flawlessly executed, every precious word built up sights and sounds and smells and oh, so many emotions in my mind. A total escape read — so much so that it was surreal to be jarred out of it when real life got in the way.

If I never get my blood pressure down, I’m blaming Lucy’s family. I was foaming at the mouth over some of their antics. Gah! I wanted to shake that girl for capitulating so many times. All that Southern breeding has made her a tad too biddable. 

Stalwart Jem, hurt by past rejection but still drawn to the girl who broke his heart. There is something about a sensitive hero who struggles to stay on an even keel. These two have such history — and it goes way beyond personal. Their past is cluttered with societal expectations, class consciousness and even racial prejudice. The heart of this story is the hero and heroine’s willingness to create something enduringly beautiful from the shards of their shattered pasts.

Reviewer’s sidetone: I love Mary Jane Hathway’s storytelling and I thought she’d stopped writing but I did a google dive and have discovered that she has published more books, including a cozy mystery series! Eeeeppp!!! I just ordered the first one.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread, 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 22 2025.