Contemporary Romance – Page 13

Rescued by the Hero + Giveaway

The hardest part about this fake relationship is hiding it from her brother. Especially when it doesn’t feel fake.

Joanna Drake can’t wait to escape to Freedom Ridge for the holidays. She needs to put hundreds of miles between her and her creepy coworker who won’t seem to take no for an answer. When she runs into her brother’s best friend at the ski resort, every relationship gets complicated.

Aiden Clark is shocked to find out that his best friend brought his little sister along on vacation, especially when he finds himself interested in getting to know her. When she asks him to play along as her boyfriend to ward off an unwanted pursuer, he wholeheartedly agrees despite his friend’s warnings to stay away from her.

Between hiding their fake relationship from her brother and flaunting it in front of her pursuer, Aiden and Joanna find themselves wishing the relationship was as real as it seems under the mistletoe. When their ruse is exposed and Joanna is in danger, Aiden will have to put it all on the line to bring her home.

Visit Freedom, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Heroes of Freedom Ridge in this Christian Christmas romance.

My Review:

published in 2020

A holiday romance with a side of suspense.

Is it weird that I admit to loving a good Christmas stalking story? I don’t think my festive reading can be complete without one and, while this is definitely more contemporary romance than romantic suspense, there’s enough of a stalkerish vibe to keep me happy. 🙂

And who doesn’t love a fake dating story? Especially when it turns all too real? This one is a bit of an insta-love romance, but realistically written so I think even readers who aren’t fans of this trope will enjoy Aiden and Joanna’s story.

Love all the holiday touches as well. What a great time of year to introduce the town of Redemption Ridge to readers! ‘Rescued by the Hero’ is the first book in the ‘Heroes of Redemption Ridge’ multi-authored series.

A winning combination of faith, romance and a hint of suspense.

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 Rescued by the Hero, 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 October 5 2024.

A K-9 Christmas Reunion + Giveaway

Can one special dog make this a Christmas to remember?

Struggling to manage his father’s dementia while raising two young sons, widower Nathan Crenshaw is desperate for help. That is, until his dad’s new service dog arrives with an unexpected guest—trainer Gemma Spencer, the woman who broke his heart fifteen years ago. Now Nathan must spend the holidays working alongside his first love and ignoring their rocky history. But when Gemma steps up for his family after a near tragedy, old feelings start to resurface. With their future uncertain, can matchmaking relatives and a K-9 turn the New Year into their second chance?

My Review:

Phew! What a heart-wrenching read! Carter has captured all the emotional nuances that rise to the surface after a dementia diagnosis. The Crenshaw family dynamics are shifting and neither Nathan, his young sons, or his ailing father are prepared for the changes ahead.

Until Gemma arrives with Rascal, a very special service dog. Trouble is Nathan and Gemma have a history; a first love gone awry when Gemma broke his heart and he’s not keen on having her stay around for the two weeks it will take to acclimate his dad with his new service dog. But if he doesn’t accept her help they’ll go back on the waiting list and by the time his dad’s name comes up again it will be too late. What’s an overworked, super stressed and grieving single dad to do? Put up with the close proximity of his first love for the sake of not only his father, but his whole family.

So — sqquueallll — Second Chance Romance with a Single Dad, two of my favourite tropes! Made all the better because we’re back in Truelove where the civic hobby is matchmaking. So, yes, parts of this novel are hard to read between the dementia diagnosis and the tough back stories of both our hero and heroine BUT the author has also infused their romance with laughter and hope as they create some precious Christmas memories.

A heartwarming inspirational holiday romance.

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 A K-9 Christmas Reunion, 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 October 5 2024.

One Happy Summer

Running away from my disastrous career to an island off the Florida coast wasn’t part of my summer plans, but life hasn’t been cooperative lately, anyway. At least here, I can hide away and figure out how to untangle the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

One thing is certain: my A-list status and title of America’s Sweetheart are long gone, and they’re probably never coming back. I’ll just remain on this island until the worst of it blows over. Until the gossip magazines move on to another juicy topic. Until the paparazzi lose interest.

The problem is, I’m feeling pretty bored and lonely. Sneaking into town and grabbing a book to keep me occupied turns out not to be my best move. Because what I absolutely don’t need is Briggs Dalton, the man who runs the shop. He’s handsome and funny, and I can’t stop thinking about him.

Briggs believes that despite the chaos that is my life, I can still have a fun summer, and he’s determined to prove it to me.

Maybe, just maybe, this summer could turn out to be a happy one after all.

My Review:

I’m happy to be back in Sunset Harbor for this sixth book in the multi-authored ‘Falling for Summer’ series. I’ve read — well, listened– to five of the seven books now and am really enjoying these summer romances.

FYI: I read them all out of order, so each book reads well as a standalone, but since all the romances are happening during the same summer, there are some fun cameos of heroes and heroines from previous stories. This one is the least interactive that way though, because of Presley’s need to lay low so that no one knows where she’s staying and I definitely missed being able to catch up with some of the characters I’ve grown attached to from previous books.

Briggs and Presley’s meet-cute x 2 is all kinds of cringey and awkwardly funny. And I was kinda already swooning since he’s a glasses wearing hero (Presley likes that too) but — GASP — he’s actually not a reader despite the fact that he’s running the island bookshop. I was crushed!

So, we have a heroine who is running away from a scandal and a hero who is regrouping after a business failure — not exactly a solid foundation to build a relationship on but they just can’t resist each other and there are some solid Notting Hill vibes to their love story.

As their friendship grows, Briggs orchestrates the kind of summer Presley has always dreamed about but never experienced. All the simple, playful staples of summery activities she missed out on as a kid. There’s a ‘poor little rich girl’ air about Presley and I adored the gentle way Briggs went about making her feel seen and heard and accepted.

Of note: I was surprised by the occasional usage of mild language in this novel. It’s sparse, but just not what I was expecting, or looking for in a ‘clean’ read. Also, some kissing scenes were a bit overly descriptive — definitely fits the ‘clean’ category, but with a wee bit more detail than what I’m used to in this romantic sub-genre.

I listened to the audio edition — loved the dual narration by Abigail Reno and Ryan Stone. Their voices suited the personalties of Briggs and Presley and their performance enhanced my enjoyment of ‘One Happy Summer’.

My thanks to the author and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Bidding on a Second Chance + Giveaway

His bid for a second chance this Christmas might lead to her most disastrous fall yet.

Police officer Graham Lockhart’s life is dangerous enough without accident-prone Piper Wells tripping around in it—at least that’s what she claimed when she declined his marriage proposal two years ago. But he can’t help but wonder if there is more to her refusal.

Piper always cared for Graham, but she is incapable of giving him the one thing he wants more than anything—family. All her orphaned self knows about that is how much it hurts to lose. She’s better off focusing on caring for her nephew and running her business. Secondhand furniture doesn’t break hearts.

When an injury sidelines Piper leading into the holidays, Graham steps up to help her keep her commitment to a Christmastime auction benefiting a local family. Can they overcome the hurdles between them, or will the past and their warring hopes and fears trip them up for good?

Visit Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series of Christian romance.

This series is a spin-off continuation of the best-selling Heroes of Freedom Ridge Series with all new characters and traditions, but the same magic of community and romance readers love.

My Review:

Second Chance Romance + Christmas = one happy reader 🙂

And…wait a minute…this is a whole series of Christmas stories?! Yes, please! ‘Christmas in Redemption Ridge’ is a spin-off of the ‘Heroes of Freedom Ridge’ series and both are multi-authored so the books read well independently. I haven’t read any of the other books in either series and had no issues jumping in here.

Loved the setting — Redemption Ridge is the kind of town I want to live in. Great community spirit with just enough busybodies to get things done in the reluctant romance department. 🙂 And we’re talking Reluctance with a capital R when it comes to Piper and Graham! So, be prepared for some angst before we reach that sought after happily ever after.

Piper struggles with an overwhelming fear of ‘what ifs.’ Her doomsday attitude hampers her ability to ‘let go and let God’ and just appreciate what she has in the moment instead of worrying that it might be snatched away any minute. She has legitimate reasons for feeling this way, but she has allowed fear to smother her hope for the future…and that includes having one with Graham.

But then circumstances conspire to bring these two star-crossed lovers together at the most magical time of year. It’s messy and awkward and sweet and endearing. All the key ingredients for a good romance and I really appreciated the strong inspirational message seamlessly woven all through the story.

Heartwarming and hope soaring – the perfect combination for a Christmas romance.

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 Bidding on a Second Chance, 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 November 9 2024.

A Not So Fictional Fall + Giveaway

I live for happily ever afters.
And I’m finally meeting my favorite romance author in person!

Only, all this time, I thought author, Amelie De Pierre, was a woman.

It turns out, Pierre Toussaint is the man behind the books that make me weak in the knees. He could be the consummate book boyfriend with his dreamy hazel eyes, strong jawline, and those black-rimmed glasses. Not to mention that accent. Oh, that French accent. When Pierre speaks, I feel like I’m curled in his arms on a riverbank being fed chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Not Pierre’s arms, of course. We barely just met. And I’m just me. And he’s Pierre, internationally renowned romance author.

Seeing Pierre in person has me stammering and blushing—two things I don’t usually do.

Imagine my surprise when I receive a call a few weeks after meeting Pierre—from his agent—proposing marriage. Not that I’d marry his agent.

They want me to marry Pierre.

My Review:

bkboz;hyphyupww…this is the result of trying to type in a liquified state because I’ve swooned myself into an epic romantical meltdown and I’m not sure if my bones will solidify any time soon.

Because….THIS BOOK!!!!! Pierre!!! This book and Pierre and a rabid romance fiction fan and A MODERN DAY MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE. I can’t even…excuse me while I get my swoons out. Again.

Okay, I’ll try to be coherent now. If you’re looking for sweet perfection in a rom/com, ‘A Not So Fictional Fall’ is the way to go. I mean, even the title is creatively brilliant and teases at the scrumptious nuances of the story inside. From the delightfully awkward meet-cute to the the way the marriage of convenience comes about — happy, happy sigh….I have no words.

Well, maybe a few. Funny. Heartwarming. Compelling. The kind of book you want to race through but force yourself to hang back and savor every delicious moment. Excellent pacing — love the way the romance gradually develops between Pierre and Tasha. So many swoonworthy moments and when we get to those toe-curling kisses, well, my toes may be permanently crimped.

And, as if the storytelling wasn’t enough to captivate me, the dual narration of the audio book sent my bibliophile heart soaring ever higher! Amanda Friday and Tyler Hyrchuk gave brilliant performances. The way they brought every facet of Pierre and Tasha to life — from the teasing moments to the introspective ones, not to mention the sarcastically funny ones. Made for an incredibly entertaining ‘read’. Highly, highly recommend the audio edition of this book.

My thanks to the author 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 A Not So Fictional Fall, 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 September 21 2024.

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.

But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.

Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

My Review

published in 2012

Even though this is a novella, Woodsmall has managed to pack it full of angst, romance and beautiful prose. She is such a gifted wordsmith! This is a Romeo/Juliet kind of love story with an Amish/Mennonite twist and I absolutely loved it. All the way through I kept fretting over how she could possibly turn this into a happily ever after. And I loved the fascinating details that explain the differences between the Amish and Old Order Mennonite faiths.

A sweet, satisfying read in that breathes the hope of spring into any season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover 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 The Scent of Cherry Blossoms , 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 September 14 2024.

Mistletoe Seasons + Giveaway

This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller–Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O’Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister’s close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he’ll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham–Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month “punishment” in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn’t recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.

Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts–Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild’s kryptonite. Every time she’s kissed someone under the mistletoe it’s led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams) kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn’t a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she’s never forgotten, and now she’s about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.

My Review:

There’s something about the Christmas season that has me craving holiday novella collections. I’m not a huge novella reader at other times of the year but come Christmas, I’m all in and the stories in ‘Mistletoe Season’ remind me of why I love these collections so much!

Love the way each author took the mistletoe theme in a different direction. Great creative approaches and each author brings their unique storytelling gifts to this collection.

In ‘Return to Mistletoe’ by Kathleen Fuller, Emmy and Kieran are older than the typical hero and heroine in a contemporary romance — not that old, early forties — but old enough to have lived life, experienced both joy and heartache and become a little jaded about love.

Kieran’s home for the holidays after spending years abroad. Emmy never left Mistletoe. She’s his sister’s best friend and had a crush on him in high school. He was oblivious. And now, here they are twenty odd years later and sparks are flying, the air around them is sizzling but he has no intention of staying and she will never leave so….They need a Christmas miracle…and a healthy dose of mistletoe!

Be still my heart — it’s another royal romance from Pepper Basham in ‘The Mistletoe Prince’, featuring a Skymar prince! And Luke manages to wangle his way into the story quite a bit, always ready with a quip or a piece of no-nonsense advice.

And then there’s Arran, redemptive prince who is guaranteed to curl your toes and leave you in a constant swoony state. So prepare to spend some quality time reading on your fainting couch.

Construction worker Charlie (Charlotte) is a princess in the making only she doesn’t know it. And the way Arran goes about showing her is, well, all kinds of swoony. Charlie’s spunky though, and kind with a heart for serving others. And quick with the smart-aleck comebacks — her nicknames for the prince are hysterical! As is their very unique meet-cute. Haven’t read anything like it. Ever! Bwahaha!

If you love heartwarming romance with a healthy dose of humour, this is the story for you. Oh — and no worries if you haven’t read any of the Skymar books (there are three), this would read well as a standalone — and serve to whet your appetite for the rest of the series!

Shelia Roberts’ ‘Say No to Mistletoe’ wraps up this collection beautifully. It’s shorter than the other two stories, but delivers a satisfying read nonetheless.

Hailey has never been able to resist the lure of the mistletoe, and it always ends in disaster so she’s determined that this year her Christmas will be mistletoeless! But she’s back home for a visit and well meaning family are causing all kinds of grief. Plus, meeting up with her high school crush tests her mistletoe resolve.

Love the pacing of this short story — the author packed so much emotion into the read. I was wincing and angsting and fuming right along with Hailey as she comes to terms with her past in her small hometown and finds her way to an unexpected happily ever after.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Mistletoe Season’, thrilled with Tanya Eby’s narration as she is a favourite narrator. She does these stories justice and created an enjoyable, easy-listening experience. Highly recommend the audio book.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR an audible copy. Winner’s Choice.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BOOK DOESN’T RELEASE UNTIL OCTOBER 8.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of Mistletoe Season, 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 September 14 2024.

Greetings From Next Door + Giveaway

Christmas is supposed to be about “peace on earth” and “goodwill toward men.”

Glynn Darrow bought that lie for the first three decades of her life, but
whoever said that (it was one of God’s angels, wasn’t it?) clearly hadn’t met Glynn’s new neighbor. He’s stolen all the peace from her life and any goodwill she might have had toward men.

If only his notes wouldn’t make visions of mistletoe dance in her head.
When Clay Ruskin moved onto Elderberry Close, he didn’t imagine that he’d be “greeted” by a note from his uptight new neighbor… or that she’d drive him to distraction–good and bad.

She’s determined to do the right thing–always.

He thinks she’s got weird ideas about what the “right thing” even is.
They do agree on one thing, though. This will be the most memorable Christmas ever. If they survive it.

My Review:

Glynn has a new neighbour…and he’s a grump. Bah Humbug. Mind you, she doesn’t make the best first impression (but then she thinks he made the worst impression first so…) Letters are carried back and forth — sometimes snippy, sometimes sweet, always funny and a…well, we can’t really call it a friendship but something like…is formed.

The book starts in late October and ends on Christmas so there’s lots of time for hearts to thaw and nurture warmer emotions. A sweet novella that explores deeper feelings of love and acceptance with dry wit to smooth out the angst and a healthy dollop of faith to seal the deal.

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 Greetings From Next Door , 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 September 7 2024.

Before We Were Us + Giveaway

She can’t remember. He can’t forget.

Seven months ago, after graduating with a hospitality degree, city girl Lauren Wentworth travelled to rural New Hampshire to become temporary manager of Pinehaven Lodges, a rustic family-owned resort. What started as just a springboard to her dream job became so much more when she fell in love with the owner’s son Jonah, the Landry family, and her simple but rewarding position at the resort. Now she’s reaching toward a different kind of future than she’d imagined for herself–and happier than she’s ever been. But then she falls from a ladder.

When Lauren wakes up in the hospital, she only recalls her first couple months at the resort. She remembers her adversarial relationship with Jonah and her major crush on small-town doctor, Carson, who also has big-city ambitions–but is, unfortunately, taken. However, according to everyone around her, she’s now madly love with Jonah and has forfeited the dream job awaiting her in Boston. It seems impossible to believe she could’ve made such drastic changes in a matter of months!

Jonah is heartbroken at her memory loss and determined to help Lauren remember the deep feelings they’ve developed for one another. But Lauren isn’t sure she wants to remember falling in love with someone she doesn’t even like or giving up her dream career for a rustic resort in Podunk, New Hampshire.

Especially when Dr. Carson is now available. . .

My Review:

What an interesting approach to a romance! I’ve never read anything like it and, wow, just upped the angst factor so much and had my emotions tied up in knots so that I was completely invested in the outcome. I mean, I knew there had to be a happily ever after, but what was that going to look like?! Rabid reading (well, listening in my case) ensued in order to find out!

So, the very first chapter reads like the happily ever after epilogue of a traditional romance. Jonah and Lauren are crazy in love and soooooo sweet together, I was already swooning. Then…bam! (and I mean that quite literally) Lauren falls from a ladder, conks her head, and loses several months worth of her memories. Like the falling in love with Jonah months!

She wakes up in the hospital thinking it’s April when it’s actually Labor Day weekend. And back in April, Jonah was the enemy. I mean she really didn’t like Jonah and with good reason because he was quite the brooding grump. And, oh my heart hurt, because, of course Jonah is still madly in love with Lauren, only she can’t stand him! So, an enemy-to-more/second chance romance! I think Denise Hunter invented a new trope!

And this is a bit of a dual timeline novel too, because Hunter takes us back to the falling-in-love-the-first-time moments through Jonah’s memories. All, while he is trying to win Lauren’s heart for a second time! Oh. My. Stars! This was soooooo good. Beautifully written, incredibly crafted. And that ending! Unexpected!

Kim Churchill did a fantastic job narrating Lauren and Jonah’s story. She captured their personalities and emotions perfectly. I really enjoyed my listening time and would definitely recommend the audio edition of ‘Before We Were Us.’

P.S. If you are as love triangle phobic as I am, have no fear, that tease in the synopsis really doesn’t have any bite. You can read easy on that angst score…though there are plenty of other tumultuous dilemmas you can stew over.

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 Before We Were Us, 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 September 7 2024.

Hometown Hero’s Redemption

Random Retro Read

A Temporary Father

When he becomes guardian to his friend’s troubled ten-year-old boy, firefighter Drew Gannon knows he needs help. But before he can get former social worker Lauren Pierce to agree, he’s got to prove he’s changed from the sports jock who gave her a hard time back in high school. Returning home, Lauren wants no part of her old profession. She only wants to forget the unspeakable tragedy she left behind. She can’t take responsibility for another child. Or a reunion with Drew–no matter how generous he’s become. But a desperate boy and his handsome guardian may be more than Lauren can resist…

My Review:

published in 2017

Though this book was published seven years ago, the audio edition just released this month and I was happy to dive into ‘Hometown Hero’s Redemption’ since I missed it first time round.

I do love the way Jill Kemerer weaves emotion into her stories. Complex layers of accumulated angst that our hero and heroine have to fight their way through. Both their backstories are challenging, but the one they share together is what stands in the way of them working through everything else.

Nothing like revisiting high school angst to set already raw emotions on edge and Drew and Lauren’s meet-cute is a pretty much a disaster. She has reasons for being wary of him and he has reasons for needing her to believe he’s changed.

Loved the way they come together to help a traumatized child. The author realistically portrays the complications and turmoil involved. No sugar-coating the way to their happily ever after, but creating a hope-filled one just the same. I might have gotten teary at the end. 🙂