Kav's Best Reads

Love in the Castle Library + Giveaway

Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I.

Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. The only catch? That protection looks like Jack posing as her beau.

Jack Worthington believes that his instinct to protect Delphine was the right one, but he’s determined to stay focused on his research for Lethersby—and keep his emotional distance after reeling from a broken heart. Yet as the clues to discovering the Lost Queen’s story unravel and the Delphine’s future hangs in the balance, both Jack and Delphine must step out in faith, choosing to trust that what God has ahead for them is worth any risk.

My Review:

Not just a five star read but an all the stars in the sky read! And it’s impossible for me to even begin to express how incredible this book is. Immersive and emotional and so, so, sooooooo very swoonable! Jack! Be. Still. My. Heart. Not to mention the incredible inspirational threads that are seamlessly woven throughout the entire story. It’s all…just…bibliophile perfection.

I was so moved by Delphine’s story. Her struggles were so relatable to me and I ached for her. I’d love to do a deep dive into all the emotional triggers but I don’t want to spoil the reading experience for others. This would make an awesome book club read though, for the numerous talking points ‘Love in the Castle Library’ provides. This is not a simple romance by any means, though it is an epic one (I cried at the end.)

I appreciate the strength of the faith content in this novel. There’s no mistaking this Christian Fiction and I love the way characters support one another in their different stages of understanding. Even the secondary characters — oh my, Jack’s father! What an incredible source of steadfast wisdom! So many wonderful takeaways for readers seeking encouragement and comfort.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Love in the Castle Library’ but there are so many quotable quotes in this book that I’m going to get a print copy as well. Marni Penning did a wonderful job narrating the book and it’s one that I will definitely listen to again, but I need to annotate a paperback too. It’s that good!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, 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 Love in the Castle Library, 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 January 24 2026.

Conversations with Kav – Triggers, where do you draw the line? + Giveaway

I think it’s fair to say we all have strong preferences when it comes to the kind of books we read. Likes and dislikes vary with every reader but occasionally some topics can actually do emotional harm to a vulnerable reader. Triggering subject matter like grief, addiction, abuse, cancer, violence, darker themes in suspense novels to name just a few. Triggers are as unique and numerous as there are readers!

Lately I’ve noticed an increase in trigger warnings offered by both authors and reviewers which seems like a kind, helpful thing to do. Warning off sensitive readers can be beneficial…except those same triggers often become spoilers which can actually ruin the reading experience by revealing too many plot points. Such a conundrum!

For example, let’s say you’re reading a contemporary romance and the author skillfully, slowly and deliberately reveals what’s behind the hero’s grumpy attitude. We won’t know his whole story until we’re well into the book….unless ‘grief’ has been listed as a trigger warning. That would be a spoiler for me.

Or how about a woman’s fiction novel about estranged sisters coming together to clear out the family cottage after their parents’ death. The author digs deep into the emotional dynamics of these adult women and the reasons they grew apart. It will take the whole novel to come to grips with everything each sister has dealt with on their own and that’s the thrill of the read….except if you read the list of triggers ‘miscarriage, addiction, domestic violence’ before you open the book!

So, I’m curious about your thoughts on trigger warnings vs spoilers. Do you post triggers in your reviews? Can you think of a way to include triggers without giving away spoilers? Or are there times you think it’s more important to post a trigger warning even if it gives away key plot points? Do you look for triggers before choosing a book?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Let’s get the discussion started. Share your thoughts in a comment below to be entered in a draw to win a $10 Baker Book House gift e-card (US) OR a $10 Amazon gift e-card (Canada). Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 24 2026.

January Giveaway – Week Three

Winners will be contacted if they left their email address, otherwise it’s up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca (please note it’s ca as in Canada, not com.) From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven’t been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now, so please, DON’T BE SHY — CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN’T LEAVE AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN’T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE REST OF THE YEAR:

Sunday

Conversations with Kav – a place for us to chat about bookish topics if anyone is so inclined. Sometimes there will be giveaways, sometimes there won’t. It will just depend on the topic of the day. Hope to see you there! Otherwise my inner book nerd and I will carry on by ourselves. Bwahaha!

The First Gift

Random Retro ReRead

Five-year-old Cassie Carruthers fends for herself while her father drinks himself into a stupor. But her isolation has not gone unnoticed as a northern Appalachian works to rescue the neglected little girl. Kerry McHenry, the kindergarten teacher, sees her own tough upbringing in Cassie’s dire situation. As she throws herself into helping Cassie become everything God wants her to be, she finds herself torn between a commitment-phobic doctor and a widowed deputy sheriff still angry with God. As the stakes grow ever higher and the characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways, each will face a true test of faith – and come face-to-face with indisputable evidence of God’s love.

My Review:

I’ve chosen Ruth Logan Herne as one of the authors I’d like reread from this year so you’ll be seeing some of her Classics (in my opinion) on this blog from time to time. It’s been awhile since I’ve read anything by her and this was the perfect book to remind me of why I love her storytelling so much.

published in 2016

I’m suffering from the woe-is-me-I-read-that-book-way-too-fast-and-now-I’m-going-to-miss-it blues. Sniffle. But that’s the kind of book The First Gift is. You can’t stop yourself from reading at a voracious speed even though you want the story to last forever. Such a reader dilemma! And Ruth Logan Herne does it to me every time because she writes from the heart and I love an emotionally charged novel.

This is complex, true-to-life stuff with all the gnarly bits included. Cassie’s story moved me to tears — of both sorrow and joy. In fact, I’ll just issue a five tissue box alert right here and now. I sobbed at the end – a ragged crying jag because this book messed with so many emotions I just had to get it all out. Very cathartic. It left me with a better understanding of how God really does direct our paths, even at the unlikeliest of times. How His big picture is so much better than my narrow-minded view. The First Gift is worth the read just for Hannah’s sage wisdom and down-to-earth counsel. Not to mention Father Cumming’s no nonsense approach to spirituality. Loved them both to pieces.

This story reminds me of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” And, you know what? In the process the child raises the adults to a higher level — including the reader.

There’s a lot to celebrate in this novel: racial diversity among the characters, the power of God to change hearts, the encouragement to find hope even during the darkest times. And I haven’t even touched on the romance! Which is just as gnarly and realistic as the rest of the book. My heart raced. My knees buckled. And it hurt, a lot, before it got better ’cause I just wasn’t sure if I trusted Ruthy to make it right the way I wanted it to be right.

What more can I say except if ever a book begged to be turned into a movie script — this one is it!

The Golden Braid + Giveaway

random retro reread

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

My Review:

published in 2015

I can’t begin to convey how much I love Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings. She can’t write them fast enough for me! The Golden Braid is a fantastic addition to her impressive collection. Rapunzel was one of my favourite fairy tales as a kid and I have read a number of fairy tale retellings, but never one with Rapunzel as the theme. So there I was — squealing in delight all the way through! Kinda embarrassing, but at least I read it at home so no one witnessed my fan-girling moments, except maybe the mice lurking in the walls. 🙂

Dickerson keeps her reader riveted while weaving a familiar but not-so-familiar tale. She’s done a marvellous job with the key points of this particular fairy tale, Cleverly twisting classic elements into her own gripping tale of love and betrayal and that all important happily ever after. She kept me on my toes right to the end though.

Oh — and about that ending. There’s a point where this book meshes with scenes from The Princess Spy. It took me a page or two to adjust. I was like, “Wait, I’ve read this before…no I haven’t…um, yeah…but not exactly.” So much fun — the author has added additional layers to the original scenes from a whole new perspective. That was one of my major fan-girling moments. Loved the crisscross connection. No worries if you haven’t read The Princess Spy (though why ever not, I ask with a scowl aimed directly at you) those scenes will make total sense to a new reader. Dickerson veterans will just get an extra kick of book-happy while reading them.

Also loved the way the inspirational thread is seamlessly woven into the very fibre of this tale. The Golden Braid checks all the boxes: Adventure. Romance. Inspirational. Angst. Humour. A lovely mix that’s sure to leave you basking in the glow of a stellar happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read print copy of The Golden Braid. Available to any reader anywhere so — woohoo — International giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Golden Braid, 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 January 17 2026.

Snow on the Tulips + Giveaway

random retro reread

In a time of unprecedented darkness and fear, Cornelia must decide if saving a stranger’s life is worth risking her own.

In the twilight of the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, the Germans have taken everything Cornelia had to give, even what was most precious to her. Now Gerrit Laninga—a man who puts God and country above all else—arrives at her house, needing help. She is terrified for herself and terrified for her family, but most of all, terrified of the pain she might feel again if she allows herself to love Gerrit. Her hope is to be free from her paralyzing fear.

Gerrit is a known and hunted Dutch Resistance member. When he comes to Cornelia’s home for shelter, he’s drawn to her strength and kindness. When he asks her to contact the local Resistance on his behalf, she refuses. Gerrit is determined to find a way to continue his underground work without putting Cornelia or her family in harm’s way.

When things start to unravel and Gerrit’s life depends on her actions, she must summon her courage and learn to depend on the perfect love that drives out all fear. But will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?

My Review:

published in 2013

Gripping from the very first sentence. There are heart-in-your-throat scenes that will leave you gasping for breath. The brutality of war — the senseless slaughter of humanity — all play a role as this story unfolds.

Life is fraught with danger and uncertainty during wartime and no one knows that better than Cornelia. Something died inside her the day her husband was killed by German soldiers. It’s all she can do to go through the motions of living. Trying to control what is left of her shattered life, she retreats, willing to wait until the end of the war before she starts to live again. And then her brother brings home a wounded Resistance fighter.

Gerrit is motivated by a deep sense of duty and justice. A risk-taker, willing to do whatever he can to fight for his country. Recovering from a bullet wound keeps him trapped in Cornelia’s home and the two are thrown together in tight quarters where their opposing views act like tinder to a flame. Yet as they battle, something else ignites — the kind of deep feelings that are dangerous to nurture during wartime.

I love how they both grow from the challenge of their relationship. Gerrit softens a bit, leans more deeply into his faith. Cornelia struggles with her fear and I truly appreciate this part of the story. So often we read about larger than life characters who seem to be born heroes. Cornelia is just plain scared and yet she is willing to follow where her faith leads.

A captivating, page-turner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy of Snow on the Tulips so – yay – available for any reader anywhere – International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Tulips on the Snow, 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 January 17 2026.

Redemption for Ransom + Giveaway

random retro read

Previously published as Tides of Duplicity by Robin Patchen. Brand-new title, same great story!

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love.

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They lost their parents years ago, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. When Fitz meets the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has taken his sister.

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life.

My Review:

originally published in 2021 under the title “Tides of Duplicity.”

I’m new to Robin Patchen’s books (this is only my second one) but I am forever a fan. Love the way she develops a suspense plot and creates characters with depth and conviction. Inspirational without being preachy. And, whoa, but she knows how to keep a reader on edge right through the entire read! So thank you to all my bibliophile kindred spirts who recommended this author to me!

The story begins with the sweet beginnings of romance at an exotic Belize resort. Fitz and Tabby meet when their vacations overlap, neither looking for romance. Fitz has his hands full parenting his teenage sister while Tabby feels burdened by family responsibilities back home. Still, the attraction is there and furthering their connection once they are both stateside is a tantalizing temptation. One that Tabby is more able to resist than Fitz, because once she boards her plane she’s convinced she will never see him again.

But then Fitz shows up on her doorstep back home in Coventry and her world implodes because he’s there under false pretences…or is he? Argh, but there were aspects of their romance that tied me up in knots! Because Fitz is in part, playing a role as a means to an end. Only, also, he isn’t. Love the tangled twist to their romance as the suspense slowly builds. And then it transforms into a high-stakes treasure hunt that kept me frantically engaged until the end.

Phew! Looking forward to continuing with the Coventry Saga series. I’ve been listening to the audio books narrated by Aimee Lily and am really enjoying the way she portrays a variety of characters as well as the sense of urgency she brings to the high-octane scenes. Makes for a compelling listen.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, 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 Redemption for Ransom, 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 January 17 2026.

A Fierce Devotion + Giveaway

Exiled from his beloved Acadie in Canada, Bleu Galant has little on his mind but survival as the tumultuous French and Indian War comes to a close. When his journey to Virginia’s Rivanna River settlement takes an unexpected turn, he crosses paths with Brielle Farrow–a woman whose presence stirs something in him he cannot explain nor express. Unable to forget her, his decision to help her takes them across an ocean into a lavish world he’s never known. Will their intricate tie decide not only her fate but his future?

My Review:

Laura Frantz’s storytelling has the power to lure me in even if the novel is set an era I don’t have a huge interest in. And I always come away richer for the read. As well as educated. If only we had been able to learn our high school history through incredible historical fiction like this one! Because, not only do we get an accurate accounting of time and place and customs, Frantz also delivers emotional authenticity to the era through her characters.

And oh la la, this romance is exquisitely slow burn with lots of luscious layers for a reader to lose herself in. Fainting couch and smelling salts recommended. Bleu is so….stalwart. Steadfast. Deliberate. Worlds away from Brielle’s background and life experience. Their love develops slowly in the midst of heartache and struggles. Fierce devotion indeed! What an apt title!

An absorbing novella, rich in history and characterization, this is an easy read to lose yourself in. Definitely in the ‘unputdownable’ and ‘keeper shelf’ categories!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, 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 A Fierce Devotion 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 January 17 2026.

Conversations With Kav – New Year Bookish Chat + Giveaway

The start of the year is the perfect time to cozy up for a nice bookish chat, don’t you think? Okay, I know some of you are way farther south than I am, or in another hemisphere entirely and are experiencing record heat levels, but, for today, let’s pretend you’re up here with me in the chilly, very snowy North. That way we can gather around an enchanting fire and sip some hot cocoa (or lemon ginger tea with a splash of honey if you prefer) and talk bookish hot topics.

Books vs Audio Books

Who knew that my social media feed would be rampant with controversial bookish chats in January? It started with the heated debate over whether audio books should count as reading. I’m still gobsmacked that there is a very opinionated faction among the larger reading community who are adamantly opposed to considering audiobooks as actual reads! I mean…whhaaaattttt?

I was encouraged by the pushback these naysayers received and moved by the myriad of heartfelt stories about the difference listening to audiobooks made in readers’ lives. I know first hand how audio books have provided distraction and encouragement in my battle with chronic pain. And isn’t listening to a book while engaged in other activities a mood boost? I’ll never do housework without audio accompaniment again! Or tedious garden tasks like weeding! Don’t know how I survived before audio books!

So, what do you think? Audio books – yay or nay? And do you think they should be counted as books read in a Good Reads Challenge?

Category Romances don’t count

Think Love Inspired or Love Inspired Suspense or Harlequin Heartwarming. Again, there are well, literature snobs I guess, who don’t consider these novels to be legitimate reading material. Critics can be quite scornful not only of the books, but of their readers. I’m like, seriously, aren’t there more important things in this world to worry about than whether folks are spending their time reading a category romance as opposed to a 600 page literary tome?!

Opinions? I know my Love Inspired Suspense giveaways aren’t as popular as other books but I’m hoping just because this genre niche isn’t your cup of tea that you don’t look down on those of us who do enjoy them?

Books under 400 pages don’t count either

Seriously, the same literature snobs think that longer somehow makes a book more valid! Most of the books I read are in the 300 – 400 page range. I find that’s the perfect pacing for me, though, of course, I’ll read longer books if the story warrants those extra words. I don’t have patience for authors who extend their word count with excessive flowery descriptions, or copious unnecessary scenes that don’t propel the plot forward. Maybe it’s because I mostly read romance and I figure if a hero and heroine can’t get their act together within 400 pages then they need to go to therapy and try again later! Bwahahaha!

How about you? Do you worry about word count? Make specific goals to read very looonnnggggg books? (That’s a thing on booktube.)

If you read over a hundred books in a year, you aren’t a serious reader!?

Seriously, I had no idea reading could be so controversial! But yes, those same literature snobs maintain that people who read over one hundred books in a year can’t possibly comprehend, retain or appreciate what they read. I can only speak to my experiences so here we go:

I read a lot (and I include audiobooks in my book count) and I feel that it’s been reading time well spent. Do I remember every detail of every story? Not always…but, hey, that’s what rereads are for, right? And I’d challenge any reader to give a detailed accurate recall of a book they read ten years ago.

Plus, I think we have to look at lifestyle as well. I live alone and have a medical condition that restricts how much I can do. I have a three hour daily activity threshold before my pain levels spike to a point that will take hours to bring back down, so I spend a lot of time at home. Alone. Not a huge TV or movie fan (though I am dedicated to some British murder mystery series) so what’s a reader to do but read? 🙂 Then I share what I read on this blog (or Good Reads if it’s a cozy mystery) so in away, my reading is my job too. Love the motivation blogging gives me and the readerly fellowship here so that’s a huge mood booster for this not-quite-shut-in. Talk about appreciating books and reading!

Any thoughts on this controversial subject (at least, I think it’s controversial!)

New Year, New Reads Giveaway

Share a thought or two in the comments below and you’ll be entered in a draw to win a:

US – $10 Baker Book House ecard

Canada – $10 Amazon ecard

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 17, 2026