Contemporary Romance – Page 14

One Perfect Spring + Giveaway

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.

As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

My Review:

published in 2014

Magical. There’s something so appealing about a story that revolves around a child’s innocent request. Hannon’s ability to develop vivid characters that leap off the page make this the kind of read you want to linger over. Masterful storytelling expertly knit diverse lives together in a powerful way. It’s a thrilling plot that left me stunned by an unexpected revelation. I laughed, I cried and I worried over Claire and Keith and David and Maureen and young Haley who started it all.

A charming tale that will linger with you long after you’ve read the last word.

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 One Perfect Spring , 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 May 25 2024.

Cinder Luna + Giveaway

Move to the adorable town of Brookhaven? Check.

Get bumped to first class on the train and meet the most gorgeous, considerate man of my life? Check.

Find a job in video game animation and a cozy apartment of my own? Not so much.

So maybe things in Brookhaven aren’t quite as idyllic as my friend promised. My one saving grace is playing video games every evening with my best online friend, MidKnight. Plus, helping him create his own video game helps me escape the drudgery of my demanding twin bosses and a dusty, cramped apartment.

It’s not long before our relationship turns from friendly to…a lot more personal.

Things get complicated when I run into the man from the train again. He couldn’t forget about me either, and he’s been searching for me. I can’t deny the intense physical attraction we have, but I feel like my heart is being pulled in two directions. But there are things that both guys don’t know about me.

Being brave isn’t my strong suit, but maybe it’s time to find some courage.

Cinder Luna is a closed door, romantic comedy retelling of Cinderella with hidden identities and swoony kisses!

My Review:

So. Much. Fun! I’m fan-girling over a new-to-me fairy tale rom/com series AND a new-to-me author! And what a wonderful introduction to both!

The Cinderella set up is priceless — all kinds of familiar only with new, modern twists that are quite brilliant. Classic rom/com tropes — hidden identity, instant attraction — paired with humour and heart made this read (or listen) fly by. Includes an emphasis on family as well.

I’d categorize ‘Cinder Luna’ as primarily for a Young Adult or New Adult audience, but it’s also perfect for fairy tale retelling aficionados no matter their age! And this is pure romance all the way through! Have your toe-curls and swoons on standby.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Renee Dorian and Joe Jameson. Love a dual narration in a romance — especially a rom/com — and this was excellently done. I especially appreciated the Disney Princess buoyancy Renee brought to Cinder’s character. 🙂

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media 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.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of Cinder Luna, 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 May 18 2024.

A Run at Love + Giveaway

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse racing world. Raised on a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts.

My Review:

“Let go of your plans and let God order your steps.”

First off, let me start out by saying how much I appreciate the strong faith elements Toni Shiloh includes in her novels. Artfully woven into every nuance of story, inspiration is as much a character as, well, the characters. Powerful and yet never heavy-handed or overbearing. And it brings such depth and heart and hope to the story! Nurtures my soul and lifts my spirit even as I’m entertained…and sometimes it even goes beyond that, speaking truths into my life that I need at the exact right moment. Inspirational words from an inspired author. This is why I crave Christian Fiction!

And then there’s the romance. Eeeepppppp!!!! Make sure your fainting couch is clear so you have a soft landing for all the swooning because Tuck is….happy sigh…pretty near perfect in all his imperfectness. 🙂 Love the way the ‘friends to more’ trope plays out. Tantalizingly delectable from the get go, building to mildly frustrating when neither Piper or Tucker is willing to make the first move. And then, just when I thought I couldn’t stand it another second…zap! Fireworks ignite and the romance starts to sizzle.

These two are so good together! And I love the pacing. There’s enough conflict to keep things interesting without any forced drama to keep them apart. And so many rich layers to both the characters and the plot! Shiloh touches on some significant issues with grace and compassion while opening a path for some great discussions if a book club or reading buddies feel so inclined.

I’m not a huge horse racing fan (show jumping is more my thing) but I’ll admit to being captivated by the intriguing insights into the racing world. Definitely added to the compelling nature of the plot and provided more than a few edge-of-your-seat scenes that kept me riveted.

Oh — and there’s a sweet, subtle nod to the author’s Oloro Ile novels which was all kinds of fun!

I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Dioni Michelle Collins. She gave an incredible performance, bringing these characters and story to life which enriched my ‘reading’ pleasure that much more.

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 one of the A Run at Love, 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 May 18 2024.

Rhythm of Fractured Grace + Giveaway

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who’s calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh’s shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He’s too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he’s fascinated with the restoration process–and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell’s family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father’s prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she’d resigned herself to a spinster’s life. But Levi Martinson’s gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love–and Deborah’s shaky faith–to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God’s healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

My Review:

Well…this story was unexpected — in a very good way! You know how you go into a book thinking you know where it’s heading only to be catapulted in a completely different direction? That’s this novel. Plus, I felt like there was no way to predict what was really going to happen in either timeline. Mind boggling good at every turn!

Emotional! Compelling! Jaw-dropping revelations! Faith-stirring! The kind of read that makes you examine your own relationship with the Lord and highlights some toxic aspects of church culture.

Tons of thought provoking quotes. This one from Chapter Two took on a whole new meaning as the story progressed. “It’s the Lord who got you here. And it’s the Lord who’ll equip you to do what he’s so clearly called and gifted you to do.” You could spend a whole book club meeting just talking about that quote, who said it, who it was said to, how it affected their relationship, how God ultimately worked His will around them, the foreshadowing…and…oy…so much I want to say but can’t without spoilers!

So, dual timelines with the kind of gentle, persistent, genuinely kind, heroes that made me want to weep! Not just because of their true, steadfast natures, but because of the traumas both heroines endured. Gut-wrenching and infuriating — this was such an emotional read for me!

“Forgiveness is an act of grace and a gift from God.”

Simple enough statement until you’ve journeyed with Siobhan and Deborah through these pages. And then…another wow…what women of faith! And what a struggle to get there. Loved how relatable that was. (And what a perfect tie-in the title is!)

Okay, I feel like I’m rambling a bit. Mostly because there’s tons I want to say, but can’t because of spoilers. If you’re looking for a ‘meaty’, discussion promoting book for your next book club, look no further. ‘Fragments of Fractured Grace’ could keep you talking for months!

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 one of the Rhythm of Fractured 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 May 18 2024.

Aloha Rose + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

When Laney Carrigan’s adoptive parents encourage her as an adult to seek out her birth family, her only clue is the Lokelani quilt in which she was found wrapped as an infant. Centering her search on the Big Island, she battles fears of rejection from a family that abandoned her once before while her faith struggles to embrace God’s love.

Along the path to her true heritage, she meets Hawaiian cowboy/helicopter pilot, Kai Barnes. Kai is determined to protect the people he’s come to regard as family against a woman he suspects of being nothing more than a gold-digger, but he finds himself drawn to Laney in spite of his reservations. He’s spent his entire life seeking forgiveness from past mistakes and longs for a second chance at happiness. Laney’s painstaking journey to find restoration and a place to belong among the breathtaking allure of the Big Island will lead her closer to her past and maybe even something more.

My Review:

published in 2013

Lisa Carter has a gift with words that enables a reader to become totally lost in a story. It’s in the rich descriptions which are never overdone but paint a vivid picture of people and places. It’s in the abundant dialogue so real and gritty and funny and even absurd at times. Just like real life. And it’s definitely in the lush romance riddled with emotion of every conceivable kind. Honestly, I lived in Hawaii for a while. I love that kind of escape read.

This is a character driven story where Laney and Kai constantly struggle to find their footing — not just with each other but with coming to terms with their individual pasts. Great fodder for conflict and there’s plenty of that. Both are stubbornly clinging to old wounds which threaten their chance at happiness together. The heart of their story is finding — and extending — forgiveness and acceptance while moving forward in Christ.

A stunning read from beginning to end. Sweet perfection.

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 Aloha Rose , 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 May 11 2024.

Loyally Luke + Giveaway

Sometimes love means embracing the good, the bad…and even the impossible.

Dear Reader,

My name is Luke Edgewood, and there are few things in life that I require. Mainly black coffee. And flannel. And lots of solitude. And my dogs, Chewy and Indie. What I don’t need is romance, so I have no plans to change my thirty-year-old bachelor status anytime soon.

But my youngest sister thinks that by accepting a short-term construction job in the small European country of Skymar, I’m going to follow along in her footsteps and discover my own romantic adventure. Nope. Bah humbug. The End. This time, her rom-com-movie senses are totally wrong.

Or maybe not. Because I’ve met a Grace Kelly look-alike who is annoying . . . until she isn’t. But she is impossible. As in, nothing can happen between us because she is a literal princess. Even though that’s easy to forget when we’re working together to restore a castle-like orphanage in a secluded mountain town and “forced proximity” includes a small closet, a secret one-hundred-year-old journal, and the tactile memory of an off-limits royal in my arms.

Basically, the whole situation has turned into an ooey gooey magical snow globe of romantic tropes complete with cute kids and an actual ball. Now, even my sentences are starting to sound like mush. Ugh. Send high levels of testosterone my way—I’m going to need it.

Loyally,

Luke

My Review:

My heart is full is full to bursting with bibliophile rapture! I. Can’t. Even….

My brain is scrambled and my tummy hurts from laughing so hard and my knees are still buckling in preparation for a swoon every time I stand. Because Luke is the hero of my heart. The best of all book boyfriends.

I’ve anticipated this book since first meeting Luke in ‘Authentically Izzy’ to the point I was almost nervous to read it because my expectations were so high. Happy to report that Pepper Basham did not disappoint and neither did the stellar cast of performers who narrated the audio book. Seven narrators!!! Christopher Ashman, K.C. Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies and Mhairi Morrison. They all did a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life and I think avid audio ‘readers’ will be thrilled with their listening experience. I sure was!

So…if you’ve been following this series, ‘Loyally Luke’ delivers exactly what you’d expect…times a billion! So much fun! The meet-cute! Snicker. Cue the banter that doesn’t let up the whole read through. And let me tell you, I was already in love with grumpy Luke, but flirty Luke about did me in. My fainting couch needs new springs!

One thing I found interesting is that the author mixed up the format in this third book where the emails and messages are interspersed with ‘live action’ scenes. If you’ve read one of the other books in this series, this will make sense (I hope) but if you haven’t, I’ve likely totally confused you. Explanation: The first two books are written in epistolary format for the first half and then switching to a combination of emails/texts and ‘in the moment’ POVs for the rest of the story. In this one, there’s definitely less emails and texting and the book starts on in real time with Luke just off the plane as he arrives in Skymar. I enjoy both styles, but I know some people aren’t a fan of epistolary novels so this strikes a happy medium.

We still get enough Izzy and Penelope (and even Josephine) input (Luke’s sisters/cousin) through their correspondence, which kept me grinning, because they go all Disney Princess on him in a big way much to his consternation. There are so many wonderfully clever movie references which become quite hysterical because it’s Luke realizing he’s caught in the snare of one of his sisters’ romcoms. He kept needing to watch Rambo to centre himself. Bwahahaha! But there is no getting away from all those romantic tropes!

And his princess’s story? Heartbreaking and inspiring. The paparazzi — Gah! We occasionally get the point of view of a gossip columnist which set me off every time. (And scary to contemplate, but Pepper Basham would make an excellent tabloid reporter!)

Gah — there’s so much more to gush over but this review is way too long. You just need to read this book — the whole series, really — and then we can form a Luke fan club and gush to our hearts content.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A SERIES BEST READ IN ORDER, THIS GIVEAWAY IS FOR THE WINNER’S CHOICE OF BOOK 1,2 OR 3

BUT

PLEASE NOTE THAT EDITION OPTIONS VARY SO CHECK BELOW CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHICH BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN. ONCE YOU’VE MADE YOUR DECISION, PLEASE INCLUDE THE TITLE IN YOUR COMMENT (OR EMAIL).

Authentically Izzy OR Practically Penelope — This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. 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.

Loyally Luke — 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.

If you would like a chance to win a one of the Skymar books, 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 May 4 2024.

DON’T FORGET TO MENTION THE TITLE OF THE BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN IN YOUR COMMENT (OR EMAIL)

Lucky Charm + Giveaway

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I’m all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember. My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It’s the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.

My Review:

A rom/com with a whole lot of heart!

An opposites attract, grumpy sunshine (to the nth degree!!!) romance and Walsh writes it so well. I was grinning and sighing and swooning all the way through.

Gray is so….well, this nifty quote from Eloise sums him up: “He’s grumpy and rude and he grunts instead of using actual words — what’s not to like?” Bwahaha! And Gray is happy with the status quo thank you very much so, of course, he’s trying very hard to resist Eloise who is his exact opposite. “If the world lost power, all it would need is Eloise. She’s like a bright light all on her own.” Happy sigh.

So, there’s a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe going on here with lots of wonderful banter and even some physical comedy that had me cracking up. I was equally charmed (Eloise) and appalled (Gray) and completely intrigued.

I’m not a hockey fan, but I actually liked the hockey scenes — especially when the whole team offers advice to the lovelorn (Gray) which goes about as well as you might expect. I’m still grinning. 🙂

Now I have to go back and read the first book as I impatiently wait for the third ‘Holidays with Hart’ book to release.

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.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of My Lucky Charm, 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 27 2024.

The Proposal Plot + Giveaway

A headstrong young businesswoman. An unlucky-in-love bachelor. And the chaperoning assignment that keeps pushing them together.

For someone so strong-willed and certain, Ella Yoder has never been more unsure of her life. It’s been a year since she convinced her father to move with her and her younger sister Junia to Marigold, Ohio, to open E and J Grocery. Ella’s got a keen eye for running a business and has big dreams to expand. But her plans are stalled because Junia refuses to lift a finger at the store–or listen to her about anything.

Nelson Bontranger knows one thing for creating his own artisan deli meats is his passion. Well, maybe one other he’s sworn off women forever. After two bouts of heartbreak, he’s not willing to open up himself to a third. When he eyes his own butcher shop next to E and J Grocery in Marigold, he’s surprised to learn that Ella has had her eye on the property for some time. He doesn’t trust this stubborn, pushy young woman–and for her, the feeling is mutual.

Against their wishes, Ella and Nelson’s paths continue to cross when Nelson’s nephew Malachi falls head over heels for Junia. Nelson and Ella are brought together to keep the lovebirds in check, but somewhere along the line, their frustration turns to something altogether more pleasant. But they will both need to come to terms with past pain before they can find their future happiness.

My Review:

A captivating Amish romance full of surprises. Like that fiery meet-cute! Bwahahaha! And things don’t settle down for quite a while so be prepared for clashing wills and lamentable outbursts in this enemies to more romantic trope.

Truth: sometimes Ella frustrated me no end! She is opinionated and bossy to the point I wanted to purse whomp some sense into her. Her motives are good, but her delivery leaves a lot to be desired! Which means she makes a horrible first impression on Nelson and that doesn’t improve upon further acquaintance for a long time. I think it’s about the halfway point before they declare a truce.

And Nelson is just a tad grumpy over all things Ella which comes with its own frustrations. So this one isn’t your typical ‘sweet’ romance. I do like the way the author digs deep into both our hero ad heroine’s backstories and their family dynamics. Especially Ella’s. It really helps to explain nuances of her personality. I could totally sympathize with her and became righteously indignant on her behalf more than once. But then we’re given more insights into Ella’s father and sister and well..wow, it all makes sense. The author doesn’t just leave it there, though, she works some healing magic that includes even more romance which made for a delightfully satisfying read.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘The Proposal Plot’ expertly narrated by Lauren Berst. She’s a familiar voice in my Amish Fiction listening which made this even more of a comfort read for me. Funny how I can become as attached to narrators as I am to my fave authors.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy 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 Proposal Plot, 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 20 2024.

Sandcastle Inn + Giveaway

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she’d left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course–because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn’t in Matt Quinn’s plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn’t on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister’s new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B–if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.

My Review:

Hope Harbor is one of my favourite series — ever! — so I was thrilled to add this tenth book to my collection. I love this setting, the community and the thrill of meeting up with familiar characters who feel like friends. Having said that, ‘Sandcastle Inn’ can definitely be read as a standalone, but, if you are an ardent visitor of this special corner of the fictional world, you’ll get an extra thrill every time something seemingly insignificant is mentioned (since you’re in the know.) So. Much. Fun. I’m looking at you Floyd and Gladys and belching seal and dueling clerics and Charlie’s taco stand and….I’m still in a swoon of giddy bibliophile delight!

Love Irene Hannon’s rich storytelling, her complex characters wrestling with real life problems and the way they come together to work out a solution. You can see God’s hand in their gathering and I got so excited as I watched events unfold.

We’re blessed with two romances (eeeep!) While the main focus is on Matt and Vienna, there’s a secondary love story featuring a young married couple trying to work through a tough situation. And Hope Harbor is the perfect place to land when you’re down on your luck or facing tough decisions or trying to mend relationships or, well, any hard thing you can think of. I so wish this town really existed, I’d move there in a flash! But maybe, more to the point, is the inspiration to create our own loving and nurturing Hope Harbors wherever we call home.

I listened to the audible edition (pre-ordered and then downloaded on release day because I couldn’t not wait!) and, as always, was thrilled by Therese Plummer’s exceptional narration.

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 Sandcastle Inn, 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 13 2024.

Love in Tandem + Giveaway

She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that.

After a failed engagement and her mother’s battle with cancer, Charlotte Carter’s life is finally turning around now that she’s landed a dream job teaching music. What she didn’t see coming was the imminent closure of the school’s music program. She’s determined to save it, even if it means getting creative. There’s no way she’s chalking this up as just another failure in her book of recent embarrassments.

Zach Bryant is back in town just long enough to see his brother Ben get married and then he’s off traveling the world again. He never imagined he’d run into Charlotte Carter, his brother’s ex-fiancé, or that everyone would believe he and Charlotte are an item. He certainly didn’t dream he’d end up riding a tandem bicycle hundreds of miles with her in an attempt to raise funds for a defunct music program, but how can he say no when the prize money would help him out of his financial predicament too?

Charlotte is sure she can set aside her differences with Zach long enough to cross the finish line and win the giant cash prize . . . can’t she? A few hundred miles in, she’s questioning her deeply held assumptions about Zach and wondering if maybe tandem biking is only the start of their biggest adventure yet.

My Review:

I don’t even know where to start…except to say that I laughed my way through the entire book. And not just mild bubbles of mirth but frequent full out belly laughs which leads me to my first reader warning: Do not read this book in public. I did, since I walk and listen, and I was enthusiastically enjoying C.J. Bloom’s narration which resulted in staccato bursts of chuckles, high-pitched peels of laughter, and even the occasional oh so embarrassing snort chortle which caused dogs to bark and pedestrians to cross over to the other side of the street. My standing in the neighbourhood is now in question but I don’t even care.

So – 5 stars plus a billion more! Impeccable comedic pacing delivered masterfully by the narrator to bring the most impact and ensure my 15 facial smile muscles got a coordinated workout. All the way through. And it never got absurd…well, okay it did but it didn’t feel like it. The way Charlotte and Zach’s situation snowballed out of control made for an epic farce. Excellent combination of physical comedy and smart banter with a healthy dose of zaniness just because.

But there’s so much heart in this story too. Emotional depth and great character development as Zach and Charlotte wrestle with angst and past trauma. Somehow the author manages to strike the right balance between the heavy and the light which made ‘Love in Tandem’ not only an entertaining read, but an impactful one as well.

Love a good fake dating trope with all the ensuing romantical complications and this one is outstanding! Plus, we’re given a secondary plot line featuring Charlotte’s sister which was just as compelling and a whole lot quirky. These sisters don’t know how to do ‘normal.’

As I mentioned, I listened to the audio edition and I really think C.J. Bloom’s performance amped up my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much more. Brilliant choice of narrator and she did these characters justice.

My thanks to the publisher, RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy 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 Love in Tandem, 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 6 2024.