Tag: Contemporary Romance

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie + Giveaway

Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .

Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?

My Review:

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! Funny and touching and thoughtful and inspiring! What an incredible story, made all the better by the phenomenal performance of narrator Jorjeana Marie. Yes, this is another audio book win for me. Comedy beat perfection. Inner dialogue perfection. Rosie’s personality – perfection. And all the various characters in the retirement village – yet even more perfection. This narrator is off the charts fantabulous! I could tell she was relishing the story as much as I was and that made my listening experience extra special.

Rosie is hilarious and heartbreaking all wrapped up in a cute package of insecurity. It seems like she has it all together – but that’s just what she portrays to the outside world, including her very best friends. She’s an actress more often performing a role offstage than on. And it’s tiring and stressful and even debilitating…until one summer in Wisconsin.

Cue the dashing hero, an eclectic mix of quirky secondary characters and a theatre to save before the summer’s out! And while the theatre needs some redeeming, Rosie does too as she navigates an emotionally fraught path to a deeper understanding of herself.

I’d be laughing hysterically at one point and then wiping tears from my eyes the next. The depth of emotion in Rosie’s story is stunning! Her struggles are so relatable, her insecurities all too common. A sympathetic heroine with a depreciating sense of humour that deflects from what’s really hidden in her heart.

Did I say brilliant already? Well, it’s worth saying it again. Brilliant! The kind of story that stays with a reader even after you reach the end. The kind you want to revel over and ponder on and just plain bask in the bookish afterglow. Definitely a book I will revisit over and over again!

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

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 Everything’s Coming Up Rosie,  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 3 2025.

Pine Creek Marriage + Giveaway

random retro read

Love may blossom where it’s least expected in the delightful and heartwarming Pine Creek series from Amity Hope.

Widow Amelia Baumann has sworn to never love again. She’s content to live peacefully in Pine Creek at her friend Mary’s warm, comfortable farmhouse. But then Samuel Kurtz shows up and becomes Mary’s permanent guest, making it hard to keep her feelings in check. Especially after Samuel’s six-year-old niece, Ruthie, whom he’s been raising as his own daughter, completely steals her heart.

When the bishops from another district threaten to send Ruthie to live with her distant aunt, so that she’ll have two parents raising her instead of just Samuel, he hatches a plan.

Amelia reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience with Samuel–only because she loves Ruthie and can’t bear to see her torn from the only father she’s ever known. Not because Samuel’s kind green eyes and charming laugh draw her in. And as long as she and Samuel are in agreement that they will simply remain friends…what could possibly go wrong?

My Review:

published in 2022

New-to-me Amish Fiction author and I am so excited to have ‘discovered’ Amity Hope. Love her storytelling style and the way she writes the Amish community and family relationships. Everything isn’t perfect and sweet all the time but folks work their way through.

Amelia and Samuel’s love story makes for an absorbing read with just enough misunderstandings to keep things interesting – the first one being the meet-cute. Such a funny introduction to them as a couple. Feisty Amelia gobsmacks Samuel into a stupefied state. Bwahahaha! It takes them awhile to get over that introduction for sure and for certain. 🙂

Loved the time the author took developing their relationship. We really get to know them both as well as Samuel’s adorable niece. And along the way there’s lovely tidbits of Amish home life and friendships and the general workings of the community.

Funny and tender and faith-filled. A charming Amish Romance.

Of note: this is the the second book in the Pine Creek series but reads wunderbaar goot as a standalone. I’m excited to read the first and third books now and, happily, my library has both so — yay — I’ll be reading them soon.

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 Pine Creek Marriage,  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 26 2025.

The Marriage Pact + Giveaway

Perry and Daisy’s fake relationship is fooling everyone . . . but they’re the ones who might be getting fooled.

When Daisy Hershberger and Perry Bontrager meet, they discover they have one thing in both their families are way too eager to see them matched with the person of their dreams. Daisy is convinced that Maynard is the one for her, but her parents have their doubts. And Perry? His family wonders if there’s anyone out there for a quirky guy like him. He’s also certain that some people–himself included–are destined to be single for life.

After comparing notes, Perry and Daisy agree to a pact. He’ll help her make Maynard realize what he’s missing, and she’ll pretend to be Perry’s love interest to keep his matchmaking mother satisfied. For a while, their pact seems to be working.

Maybe their imagined futures aren’t exactly what fairy tales are made of, but they’re committed to their plan . . . until they realize that a real-life fairy tale is happening where they least expect it. Sometimes, you don’t have to pretend to be anything but yourself in order for love to find you.

The final book in the Amish of Marigold series is a heartwarming, cozy inspirational romance featuring a pretend relationship and plenty of small-town charm. A perfect read for fans of Beverly Lewis and Suzanne Woods Fisher.

My Review:

Take an introverted Amish bachelor with an unusual hobby, add an extroverted Amish woman confused about love and you have the makings for a charming love story full of hope and laughter. Especially when you take into consideration the out-of-the-norm matchmaker working behind the scenes. Or trying to.

The first chapter features ten meddling brothers needling the lone bachelor in their midst — all kinds of cute and funny. But Perry’s just fine with his marital status (or lack thereof) thank you very much. He has a business to run and an absorbing hobby to occupy his spare time. What more could a fella want? Or so he thinks until ‘Daisy from Dover’ arrives on the scene.

The way their inauspicious meet-cute evolves into a fake dating scenario makes for an entertaining read. Of course their ruse backfires when real feelings become involved and it gets messy and a wee bit angsty before everything is all sorted, much to my bookish delight!

A classic Amish romance told in Kathleen Fuller’s engaging storytelling style, enhanced for me by Laura Berst’s winning narration. She’s a familiar voice in my Amish fiction listening and I enjoy the energy she brings through her performances.

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 Marriage Pact,  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.

Shall I Stay + Giveaway

Like it or not, it’s fight or flight when it comes to love and legacy.

Professor Magdalena Martín needs to find a man—or at least find out why he disappeared in the sixteenth century. Research leads her from Spain to picturesque Puerto Rico. Accustomed to being a team of one, she finds herself working alongside a too-charming-for-his-own-good fellow historian who proves to be an unfortunately distracting necessity.

The last thing Rico Morales expected when he left Wall Street was to end up going on a wild-goose chase with a snooty academic. Can’t a man aimlessly search for his life’s purpose in peace? His loose itinerary did not include bantering through a genealogical investigation with a captivating colleague—or grappling with their undeniable connection.

‘Lena’ is on a singular mission to solve this career-defining mystery and return to her life in Salamanca. Yet the more time she spends with Rico, the more she falls for the enchanting island and his smoldering smile. When they’re together, possibilities hum. Like the possibility of something that would stand the test of time—if only she were the sort to stay.

First in the Los Morales series, “Shall I Stay” is an opposites-attract, witty contemporary romance with swoony kisses only and no swearing. Extra dose of yearning tension included.

My Review:

“There is no history without ‘story’…Without the stories of the people who lived, people who belonged somewhere, without the tangible and intangible that they’ve passed on, history is just a timeline of dates and events.” (p 173)

Eeeepppp!!!!! A romance centered around a genealogist on the hunt for a client’s lost ancestor? Eeeeppp — yes please! Rich in Puerto Rican history and culture, this romance is full of lush, vivid descriptions and delicious foodie references that fed all my senses. A bookish smorgasbord of literary delights.

And the enemies-to-more romance is divine! (The meet-cute!!!!!) Their love story is funny and touching and toe curling. She’s a reserved workaholic with a fear of relationships. He’s an easy going and oh-so-debonair romantic. And his commitment to his family — swoon! His Abuela is a riot…as well as a force to be reckoned with! Loved the comedy and drama the Morales clan contributes to the story.

As Lena and Rico embark on a journey to solve a sixteenth century mystery, they are drawn together with a clashing of wills and rapid-fire banter that lights a spark neither of them wants to ignite. Loved the push-pull of their developing relationship and, mercy, when that spark finally does ignite, well, I think my fingertips are singed from the heat emanating off the pages. 🙂

I’ve been charmed by the entire Morales clan and am thrilled that this is the first in a series. The second book comes out in July and features one of Rico’s sisters so – yay- well be back on the island with more love and laughter Morales style and I can’t wait!

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 Shall I Stay,  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.

Earning the Veteran’s Trust + Giveaway

A second chance at love could be what she needs to finally heal.

After leaving the navy, Mallory Stone plans to buy her best friend’s fruit farm, a safe place to raise her son and adopt senior dogs like her dear Rosie. Until her ex-husband, Jonah Hayes, drops a he wants the same farm…and they’re still legally married. A trial partnership running the farm means the former marine can get to know the son he just met—and prove to Mallory he’s changed. As old feelings resurface, can Mallory open her heart for a chance at the future she’s always wanted?

My Review:

An incredible love story full of all kinds of second chances. Not only in the romance, but for the farm, the dogs and embracing new life after the chaos and trauma of military service. Such an impactful story on so many levels.

Yes, ‘Earning the Veteran’s Trust’ features one of my least favourite tropes – secret baby – but Jordan handles it well, making me sympathetic for both Mallory and Jonah and I appreciate the way they handle the situation going forward. And I do enjoy a redemptive love story!

Jonah is very much like the prodigal son. He approaches his fractured marriage with an air of humility and repentance which immediately softened my heart. Not so Mallory. She is so prickly at the beginning that I wanted to shake some sense into her a time or two, but really she has her reasons. Loved watching the way their relationship slowly rekindled as she embraced the power of forgiveness and learned to trust all over again.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition, narrated by Alyx Morgan. She brings life to the story with a variety of voices that match each character and made my listening experience a delight.

My thanks to Harlequin 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 Earning the Veteran’s Trust,  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.

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.