Tag: Dual Timeline

The Island Bookshop + Giveaway

A heartwarming tale of family, love, forgiveness and second chances.

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.

My Review:

Captivating setting, a surprise dual timeline and characters I came to care about all contributed to making this a memorable read for me. My first contemporary novel by Roseanna M. White (and wondering if it might be her first too?) Gave me Melissa Tagg, Betsy St. Amant vibes.

I was loving on the descriptive writing style, just getting my feet wet (ha – quite literally) along with Kennedy as she comes racing home for a family emergency with all the emotional complications that go along with that (I’m looking at you, Wes) and then I turned the page and suddenly found myself in 1938! Same place, different time and my heart did a little bookish jig at the unexpected dual timeline. To be fair, the contemporary timeline takes prominence, but I loved the tantalizing glimpses of Ana in 1938, wondering how the two would connect. Spectacularly as it turns out!

I certainly can’t resist a librarian heroine, especially one who works at the Library of Congress! Be still my library lovin’ heart! Plus, Kennedy is part owner of the island bookshop so she has the best of both worlds and so do we since there’s lots of bookish content and bibliophile nostalgia.

And then there’s Wes. The focus of Kennedy’s unrequited love for so many years, way back to their teens. His first romance was very much a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you keep ‘the one’ in the friend zone because the friendship is too important to risk. Instead, he married someone else with disastrous results. Cue the set up for the perfect second chance, friends to more romance. So touching and tentative and heartwarming!

But before we can fully embrace the happily ever after, there’s a family legacy to save, and a family history to uncover which makes for a captivating read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the The Island Bookshop, 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 August 30 2025.

The French Kitchen + Giveaway

As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, one ex-pat uses the skills she learned in French kitchens during the war to bring long-held secrets to light.

Paris, 1952 — An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs–an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.

Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together–and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart–Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .

Rue, 1943 — Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day–as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list–and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm–even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France–and the spy backstory of the world’s most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child–The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she’d planned for a perfect future.

My Review:

I’m always a little gobsmacked and ferhoodled after reading one of Kristy Cambron’s dual timeline novels. How on earth does she manage to weave so many story threads together and keep everything straight? I’m in awe!

The start of the ‘The French Kitchen’ drops us right into the middle of a tense (understatement) resistance fighting scene in 1943 and leaves us hanging at a particularly precarious point. Then we’re whisked away on a breathtaking whirlwind of scenes both before that pivotal moment and then nearly ten years afterwards. Completely riveting and emotionally whiplashing!

Love the inclusion of Julia Child in the 1950s timeline. I haven’t read many novels that explore post-war Europe and I found the complexities of that time in France so fascinating. The author does an amazing job of bringing Paris to vibrant life through rich descriptive storytelling. And she kept me riveted (and my emotions in tatters) all the way to the end. Just…stunning!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and, whoa, her performance elevated my ‘reading’ enjoyment so much! She captured the essence of every character, including accents, while conveying the emotional depth of the story to absolute perfection. Highly recommend giving the audio edition a try.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – ebook copy

Canada – ebook or audible — 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 French Kitchen,  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 August 2 2025

Castle on the Rise + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

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

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

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

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

My Review:

published in 2019

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

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

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

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

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

An emotional masterpiece that quite literally took my breath away.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

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

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Castle on the Rise, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 22 2025.


Where Trees Touch the Sky

Some secrets have shadows as long as the redwoods are tall.

In the early 1920s, the accelerating destruction of the California redwoods is more than nature-loving Marion Baker can bear. Throwing herself headlong into the work of the Save the Redwoods League, she is shocked to learn that Frank Duncan, a man she’s grown to love, is the son of one of the area’s worst timber barons. Though devastated by the betrayal, she realizes this could also be an opportunity–if only she can convince him to help preserve her favorite grove from his father’s greedy grasp. Is her love strong enough to persuade him to save these precious trees? Or will Marion choose to sacrifice her beliefs to keep Frank by her side?

Nearly fifty years later, in 1972, polio survivor June Turner is deeply proud of the legacy her great aunt Marion has left as a redwood warrior. And despite her disability, June is determined to prove herself capable as a ranger at the recently established Redwood National Park, even if it means taking to the trails with her crutch in hand. What better way to carry on the family tradition of preserving God’s magnificent creation?

When aspiring film student Adam Garner approaches June to help make a documentary about Marion’s life, she swiftly grabs the opportunity to spread her aunt’s worthy reputation. That is, until they unearth a secret that might shatter the family legacy. In the scramble for answers, June may lose not only her family pride but also her own dreams.

Karen Barnett’s beautifully crafted split-time novel, set against the majestic backdrop of a beloved national park, immerses the reader in history that feels as fresh as if it happened yesterday.

My Review:

A multifaceted faith-infused dual timeline historical novel that has left me a wee bit discombobulated. Some things went exactly as I thought they would while others sent me into a tailspin. Wow. Just. Wow.

Barnett did a wonderful job with her historical research for both timelines (1920s and 1970s) and I loved being in at the beginnings of a National Park. I especially appreciated the inspirational perspective on what it means to honour God’s creation through the way we care for the natural world. A refreshing viewpoint to find in Christian Fiction, especially at this particular time in world history.

Both our heroines face unique challenges and I love the personal connection between the two. Marion is an environmentalist fighting to save the majestic redwood forests from lumber barons in 1923. Decades later, her great-niece becomes one of the first female park rangers. Their stories are unique and yet contain some uncanny parallels. The author expertly weaves the two timelines together until the point where they finally overlap and then — kapow – fireworks! Made for such a captivating read!

If For Any Reason

random retro read

Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door-turned-baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.

As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

My Review:

Woohoo! A Second Chance Summer Romance set on Nantucket Island! Love the contrast of carefree beachy vibes as background to the emotionally packed love story! And mercy, but Walsh wrung every last bit of emotion out of me by the end.

So, high drama, including a family scandal with Emily in the middle of it all. Oh, yeah, and her teenage crush is living next door. Who just happens to be an ex baseball star sidelined by a permanent injury. And he has his own personal issues he’s dealing with. So, pile on some more drama. This book was intense! But I loved the way Walsh lets her characters work through it all. Very realistic — and so emotional! My heart is still tender from all the pummelling!

And there’s even a bit of a dual timeline to the story. In the form of letters from Emily’s deceased mother as well as some ‘real time’ scenes from the past. Which include another love story! The way the author blends those two timelines and slowly builds towards the emotional climax — well, wowzers! Kept me completely immersed until everything finally got sorted.

A slow burn second chance romance with so much heart and hope!

Specter in the Glass House + Giveaway

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past. 

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?Renowned as a “trailblazer extraordinaire” (Booklist) of inspirational dual-time suspense, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright weaves a haunting tale of mystery, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of truth across two distinct eras.

My Review:

Thoroughly Gothic and more than a little eerie. And I feel like that is practically all I can safely say about this book without giving away any spoilers.

Wright excels at this type of dual timeline mystery which includes stunning complexities in both character and plot. Our heroines, Marian in 1921 and Remy in present day, are faced with similar dilemmas yet both have very unique stories to tell.

Past and present are cleverly woven together with impeccable pacing. I hung on every word. I don’t know how the author manages to keep all the details straight! And the way she builds the suspense as well as the creep factor is phenomenal! (You might need some comfort chocolate and a security teddy to make your way safely through to the end.)

So, definitely an unputdownable read. The kind that keeps you scrambling for logical explanations in the midst of so many impossibilities. A spectacularly stunning read!

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 Specters in the Glass House, 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 26 2024.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

Random Retro Read

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder. 

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. As Heather digs, she finds a mysterious journal that belonged to a woman she never knew and it contains clues that lead to the truth about a mysterious drowning decades ago. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history. 

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways. Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Review:

published in 2015

I’m feeling a bit pensive and sad after finishing this novel. It’s an amazing story but not everyone gets a happily ever after. Three generations of women in the same family, all repeating the same mistakes and it just hurt to see how easily history can repeat itself.

It starts with Heather in present day and then flashes back in time, first to Maggie and then to Libby. Melanie Dobson is a genius at connecting the separate stories in a dual timeline novel, slowly giving her readers tiny pieces of the puzzle but not nearly enough to prevent a few earth shattering “aha” moments.

So, I was captivated and compelled to non-stop listen to ‘Shadows of Ladenbrooke’ (great narration by Nancy Peterson. Highly recommend the audio book.) Family history and mystery, a second chance romance and the very real, raw, messiness of broken people doing their best. I definitely need to follow this read up with a rom/com to lighten my spirits!

Bitter and Sweet + Giveaway

Two sisters at a crossroad in life find the answers to their problems in the lessons from the past…

Mariah never pretended her marriage was perfect but that didn’t mean she ever suspected her husband of ten years would not only ask for a divorce but steal the business she built for them. Defeated and depressed, she’s not sure how to bounce back from the manipulative betrayal. Sabrina has been self-destructing for years, maybe since she was born, but certainly since the death of her long-time boyfriend. Barely scraping by and living in her van, she’s struggling to figure out what’s next for her, when all she’s ever wanted to do is bake cakes like her mother did.

When Mariah and Sabrina’s grandmother sends them a cryptic text message summoning them to Georgetown, South Carolina, both assume their ailing grandfather’s health has declined. Instead, the estranged sisters are faced with their grandmother’s undeniable request–save the family restaurant. Through letters written by their great-great-grandmother, Tabitha, Mariah and Sabrina learn a heartbreaking yet powerful story of struggle and survival. As the whole truth about Tabitha’s complicated past unfolds, the sisters are inspired by her ability to forge her own way in Charleston, a beautiful and prosperous city that was also rife with oppression under Jim Crow.

With the lessons in their family’s past guiding them, both sisters have a chance at a different life–if they can find a way to bridge the gap that tragedy and unhealed trauma forced between them. Told in a dual timeline that alternates between the 1920s and present-day Charleston, SC, Bitter and Sweet is an emotional story about love, one family’s perseverance, and the bonds of family and heritage.

My Review:

This is the kind of book you dread writing a review for because there is no possible way to convey the brilliance of the storytelling or the emotional impact it made. So excuse me if words fail.

First, I listened to the audio edition and was completely captivated by the trio of narrators. Janice Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean and Lynette R. Freeman gave stunning performances, adding to the rich vibrancy of Rhonda McKnight’s words. The result — an exceptional listening experience. I savoured every second.

And, oh my, these sisters and their stories! Deep layers of personal and family drama culminating in divine healing. I was an emotional wreck by the end. (Gentle warning: don’t listen to or read this book in public, especially if you are an ugly crier like I am. Don’t ask me how I know 🙂 )

The author expertly weaves Mariah and Sabrina’s great-great-grandmother’s story into the mix, so – yay – dual timeline. ‘Bitter and Sweet’ honours the legacy of faith and family through generations. So much wisdom and insight! I’ve preordered a print copy because there are so many impactful quotes that I need to highlight and pour over again and again.

A stunning, emotionally-stirring, faith-filled read!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

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

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Bitter and Sweet, 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 June 15 2024.

The Italian Ballerina + Giveaway

At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events.

Rome, 1943 . With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day . With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her aging parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what’s true of her grandfather’s hidden past. Together with the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she’d revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave.

Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of WWII Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving just one life can impact countless others.

My Review:

Phew! This one was a heartbreaker! I’m a bit of an emotional mess now that it’s all over. A vulnerable mix of aching and hope and everything in-between.

Kristy Cambron is known for writing complex dual timeline novels full of rich layers and important bits of history that should never be forgotten. She accomplishes that again with ‘The Italian Ballerina’ though I will admit to sometimes getting lost in the un-chronological yo-yoing in the past timeline. This might have been because I listened to the audible edition (expertly narrated by Barrie Kreinik by the way.) It probably would have helped to see the dates/places printed out every time we broke away from the present day. It’s not like there was a huge leap of decades — more like a 5-6 year span — but we’d be in 1943, then the next time in 1939 and then 1941 — and in the POV of two different characters so I was always scrambling to properly place the character and situations. I really enjoy dual timeline stories but I am finding that I enjoy them more when the historical story unfolds chronologically.

Amazed once again to discover yet another aspect of World War II that I knew nothing about. That an Italian hospital created a fictitious highly contagious sickness in order to hide Jews in quarantine wards is — well it sounds like it could only happen in fiction! And Cambron has cleverly woven it into a story that bridges decades and continents. How on earth does she keep it all straight in her mind as she writes?! Sheer genius!

I liked the contrast in the present day timeline. Not without its own emotional upheavals, but it was still lighter and served to highlight the powerful impact the choices of the past have on our present.

This book gutted me though — so not a light read but an important one.

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 Secondary Target, 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 June 1 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.