Code of Valor + Giveaway

What Detective Brady St. John really needs is a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, just as the sun is setting on his second day at a friend’s cabin on Lake Henley, he hears a scream and races to rescue a woman from her would-be killer. When the killer escapes only to return to finish the job, Brady vows to utilize all of his many resources to keep her safe—and catch those who would see her dead.

Financial crimes investigator Emily Chastain doesn’t trust many people. And even though she let the detective who saved her life in on a few pertinent facts about why she was being attacked, there are some things you just don’t share with a stranger. Little does she suspect that the secret she is keeping just might get them both killed.

My Review:

published in 2019 I noticed I had two copies of this book when I was unpacking after the move. Have no idea how I missed that fact all these years! I noticed the double copy as I was organizing my bookshelves in my new apartment, placing books in author order of publication date and in series order (as one does, bwahahaha!) and that’s when I noticed the double copies.

Whoa — my head is still spinning! You might need a healthy dose of caffeine (in the form of rich, dark chocolate, of course) to keep your brain sharp and ready for some serious convoluted story threads that gnarl into one colossal tangle before our hero and heroine manage to smooth it all out. Perfectly perfect for intrepid armchair sleuths everywhere. 🙂

And it all starts with a gripping edge-of-your-seat opening scene. Poor Brady, in need of a relaxing vacation and getting anything but! (And this is where I go all fan-girling over the St. John family — especially those brothers!) Because, of course, they’re not about to leave Brady floundering on his own. Love that connection between the books (this is #3 in the Blue Justice series.) Code of Valor reads wonderfully as a standalone though — so no worries if you haven’t read the the first two books and the novella. Eason does such a great job of making returning readers feel like they’ve come home while welcoming new readers to the family.

A fast-and-furious plot with lots of action and gasp-out-loud moments buffered by sibling rivalry and teasing make this an inhale-in-one-gulp kind of read. Not to mention the heavenly toe-curling romantical scenes that provide a buffer between all the angst! 

This right here is why Lynette Eason is a best-selling author — she knows how to weave a spellbinding tale that won’t let you go — even after you’ve reached the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Bookmarked for Love + Giveaway

When children’s librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library’s children’s programs, she’s determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library’s behalf. The bad news? She swore she’d never step foot in his office again. 

Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family’s publishing empire, and now he must prove he’s ready to take the helm by turning around the company’s languishing children’s imprint. That wouldn’t be a problem, except he doesn’t know the first thing about children’s literature. But when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a best-selling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they’re forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line. 

In her charming rom-com style, Sarah Monzon presents a story that will delight fans of bookish-themed reads and forced-proximity romance.

My Review:

“Happily Ever After isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.” Isn’t that the absolute bookish truth! And I love taking that journey with Sarah Monzon’s characters! Guaranteed to be a rewarding read – the perfect mix of humour and emotion with the kind of dialogue that switches back and forth from banter to heartfelt soul sharing which keeps a reader compulsively engaged.

And in a Sarah book, setting is just as important as characterization. I mean, yes, Martha and Julien are clearly at the heart of the story, but what’s happening in the background, and evolving around them, plays such an integral role in their personal lives and that journey towards their HEA.

Absolutely loved getting a glimpse into the publishing world and authorship in this third ‘Checking Out Love’ novel, particularly one phenomenal aspect that plays a huge part in their story but I can’t say what exactly that is because it isn’t mentioned in the book blurb and I don’t want to post a spoiler. But, oh my goodness, eeeeeppppp, I was as enamoured with that setting as I was with Martha and Julien. All kinds of giddy bibliophile goodness. 🙂

I listened to the audio edition of “Bookmarked for Love” (kudos for the clever title! – the whole series is brilliant) and really enjoyed Allyson Morgan’s narration. Her ability to enhance these characters’ personalities through her performance brought the whole story to life in a different way. Monzon’s words and phrasing, especially her dialogue, is amazing, but being able to hear it directly from Julien and Martha really added to my ‘reading’ .

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

The Stranger I Love + Giveaway

When both attempt to flee their past, can love’s pursuit catch them?

Estelle Lowry has traded her privileged life for anonymity, running away to become Miss Estelle Lewis—governess and companion. But her carefully laid plans unravel when she discovers a man beaten and left for dead. Defying every rule of propriety, she rescues him, bringing him to safety. A connection sparks between the two strangers, yet his injuries keep his face obscured. Before he fully recovers, she is forced to leave in search of employment—without a name, a past, or any way to find him again.

Six months later, Estelle arrives at Rosemont Manor, determined to guard her heart—and her secrets. But her resolve falters when she finds herself drawn to the last man she should want: the brooding and unpredictable Lord Camden.

Atlas Camden has no time for distractions. Due to his complicated past, he is determined to shoulder his responsibilities and keep his family safe. The arrival of his sister’s new companion sets him at odds with himself. Miss Lewis is as headstrong as she is captivating—and far too often at the center of trouble, drawing both his attention and concern. His mother would be scandalized if she knew he was even entertaining romantic notions about a woman in service, let alone one who is half-Irish. Besides, a man with his history has no right to offer his heart—and even less to hope for one in return.

When secrets are revealed and trust crumbles, running from their past is no longer an option. Estelle and Atlas must choose between the new paths they’ve forged or the broken history to which they are still bound.

The Stranger I Love is full of longing, redemption, and courageous love. It is the first book in The Runaway Brides series and is a clean Victorian romance without explicit content.

My Review:

Swoonaliciously toe-curling and this romance reader’s idea of a dream story. Definitely the kind you need to savour. From the characterization to the banter (be still my heart, when Atlas turns on the charm!) and all the delicious descriptions that set every scene, Walker’s storytelling is infused with exquisite details that kept me earnestly engaged all the way through.

And…eeeeppppp….the first in a new series aptly titled ‘The Runaway Brides’ and the author has done a magnificent job of setting up the next book with some delightful foreshadowing.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio edition’s dual narration. Lola Jones and Eli Thorne did a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life and I got the sense that they were enjoying the story as much as I was, which always add an extra thrill to my listening experience.

2026 Carol Award Finalists – Romantic Suspense + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2026 finalists are books published in 2025. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.

Carol Award Winners will be announced on August 29 2026 at the ACFW Gala in Memphis, Tennessee (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2026 – Romantic Suspense Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. 

Romanctic Suspense Finalists

Failed Protocol by Cindy Bonds – Scrivenings Press – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook with a US kindle account.

Olivia Lloyd left the U.K. to work in Texas as head of security for a tech firm. Her training in the British Army gave her a chance to get into the SAS—Special Air Service. But she washed out, with the help of her uncle and his contacts. Now, here at her uncle’s request, she’s lonely and miserable after running away from her last life-altering loss.

Kenton Matthews’ recon days are over. He now works as a detective in Dallas, offering assessments for security when high-value targets come to town. But a request from an old friend has his heart pounding, as the threat to the large tech firm holds more than just a breach of security.

Kenton is determined to battle the failed mission from long ago and will do everything he can to protect Olivia from facing the same torturous man her uncle faced. But can Olivia trust the one man her uncle deems more than worthy?

Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong – Scrivenings Press – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook with a US kindle account.

After barely escaping an attempted abduction, Houston attorney Riley Hudson is forced to accept her wealthy father’s demand for private security. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard—especially one as maddeningly arrogant, bossy … and handsome as Colton Blankenship. Yet as the threat against her escalates, she begins to rely not only on his skills, but his steadfast presence.

Colton isn’t thrilled about giving up his hard-earned holiday vacation to protect a spoiled heiress. But he soon learns Riley is nothing like he expected. Fierce, independent, and unwavering in her faith, she’s everything he thought he’d left behind after tragedy shattered his own beliefs. As the unknown threat circles closer, the tension between them ignites into something deeper … and far more perilous.

When a second attempt on Riley’s life nearly succeeds, Colton faces a terrifying truth. Protecting her means risking more than just his life. Haunted by a past he can’t outrun, and a faith he’s all but lost, he must decide if he can trust God again … before he loses Riley—and his heart—for good. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8178522686

I Can’t Hear You by Vikki Kestrel – independently published – Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook with a US kindle account.

TWO SCENES, TWO WOMEN, two separate deaths, yet neither death suspicious in and of itself. What confounds Detective Richard Hawke and his partner Dov Mayer is the blood left at both scenes . . . blood that does not belong to either of the deceased.

The mystery surrounding the two deaths and the inexplicable “blood ritual” found with both bodies grows when Grace Warner, a local physician and psychiatrist specializing in hearing disorders, receives a scrawled note and brings it to the homicide I dint meen to skare her.

Was the note written by a juvenile or by an adult with a patchy education?

Hawke and Mayer’s working theories fall apart when the city experiences a third death, a definite homicide this time, complete with the same strange blood ritual found with the first two bodies. Worse, the grisly murder is followed by another . . . and another and another.

As panic takes hold of the city, pressure on Hawke and Mayer to find the killer and end his killing spree intensifies. At the same time, the commonalities between the first two deaths and the ongoing string of murders cannot be ignored.

Hawke begins to realize that something much deeper is in play, something hidden yet intensely sinister. Can Hawke and Mayer outthink the killer and capture him before they or those close to them become the hunted?

Protecting You by Robin Patchen – independently published – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook with US Kindle account.

In a high-stakes game of deception, two rivals must work together to bring down a ruthless terrorist network.After Alyssa’s dream of working in US intelligence is thwarted, she leaves her mundane profession to pursue a career as a cyber investigator. Though she aces every case she gets, securing enough customers to pay her rent proves challenging. When a lucrative commission comes along, she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. But this client isn’t the British entrepreneur he claims to be. And then her old nemesis interrupts their meeting with a startling move.

NSA agent Gideon Todd is floundering in his new role as a single father to a surprise daughter, but he still has a job to do. He follows a tip about a terrorist, only to be shocked when he finds his old college adversary dining with the notorious killer. Maybe there was a better way to step in than by posing as Alyssa’s fiancé, but it was the best excuse he could come up with to insert himself into their meeting.

Gideon once stole the job Alyssa coveted, and now the last thing she wants is his help. But when he explains who her client actually is, she realizes she’s in way over her head. Dariush Ghazi knew exactly what he was doing when he targeted her. She’s trapped. She must go along with a dangerous scheme, pretending to help him while working with Gideon…or end up dead.

In their quest to dismantle Dariush’s network of evil, Gideon and Alyssa risk sacrificing each other—and everything they hold dear.

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Summer 2026 Edition – Goal Review

So, to enter this giveaway, just share anything goal related in the comments. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

“I want to catch up on some suspense series. Night Prey by Susan Sleeman.”

NOTE: BOOKS MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION OR CLOSED DOOR

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments — and you can use the same goal or a different one each time, but a different title for each entry.

Books can be published any time up to and including September 2026. Currently published books will be ordered this coming week for winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a title releasing later.

WINNER’S CHOICE OF PAPERBACK OR EBOOK FOR US AND CANADIAN ENTRIES. EBOOKS ONLY FOR INTERNATIONAL READERS WHO HAVE A US KINDLE ACCOUNT.

I haven’t been focusing on two of my other author goals – 1) authors I’m keeping current with, and 2) read to zero authors.

I have only listed two keep current authors (and I am up to date with them) but I think I might just scrap this goal for the year and organize it better for 2027.

I’m having some success with the read to zero authors only I chose prolific writers and have quite the catching up to do. I’m really close with Hannah Linder, just have one book left to read, The Red Cottage. The other authors on my list: Sara Davison (15 left), Anna Conwell (4 left), Irene Hannon (9 of her Encore novels left), Gracie Ruth Mitchell (11 left), Toni Shiloh (17ish – a lot of these are from her early backlist and I’m still figuring out what’s available in print. I think some of the novella collections are ebook only), Courtney Walsh (9 books), Eryn Scott (32 books!)

I’m more or less on track with my 26 in 26 goals though I have only read four books this past quarter. I have twelve to go and I own almost all of the books or can borrow them from my library so I just need to apply my mood reading whims to this list! 🙂

Serious About Series – this goal has been a little less structured than I usually do. I have nineteen series on the list and am caught up with nine of them and am making progress on six more. Some are really long series – 10-20 books – so I’m not sure if I will manage to complete them all by the end of the year, but I’m gonna try!

July 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:

Reader’s Choice Week – Catchup with Goal Reviews – a chance to share how we are doing with our reading goals and, for the giveaway, suggesting books that will help us achieve a goal, or two, or three. Full details will be posted on the blog.

Carol Awards – Romantic Suspense – Yes, it’s that time again. What are the Carol Awards, you ask? They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. We’ll be looking at the finalists for each category every Monday through the summer. I’ll share the book titles and you get to choose the one you’d like to win if your name is drawn.

Fugitive Manhunt

A hunt for escaped prisoners
becomes a deadly K-9 mission.

After a prison break, K-9 officer Lizzie Reynolds is ready to join the search for the criminals—but one of the escapees finds her first and ambushes her. She’s rescued by Deputy US Marshal Walker McCane, her high school crush, and they’re forced to work together to find the fugitives. Soon they realize that one of the prisoners has a personal vendetta against Lizzie. As they face persistent attacks, Walker and Lizzie must rely on each other to survive a dangerous game with a convict who wants to complete his deadly plan…no matter the cost.

My Review:

Taut and tense and full of action and suspense, a reader barely gets a chance to catch her breath before the next harrowing scene. Lizzie’s on somebody’s hit list and she doesn’t know why. Enter Walker, her high school crush (which ended badly) to the rescue. Their unexpected reunion is fraught with emotion as they navigate their professional and personal lives. One edge-of-your-seat scene follows another right to the gasp-out-loud conclusion. (I figured out the villain waaaaaayyyyy before Walker and Lizzie did but that didn’t diminish my reading enjoyment…made it even more edgier actually.)

This is the fifth book in the ‘Colorado K-9 Unit’ continuity series which features and overarching suspense plot as well as one particular to this story. Lizzie’s mystery is solved, but there are plenty of dangling threads to tie up for the series suspense. No worries, though, ‘Fugitive Manhunt‘ can easily be read as a standalone as well, though I am enjoying this series tremendously. Might be my favourite Love Inspired Suspense continuity series yet.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Mac Folder whose performance added to the high drama and tender moments too . A captivating listen that I’d definitely recommend to audio enthusiasts.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Ambushed in Yosemite + Giveaway

A murderer will stop at nothing
to keep secrets buried.

Park ranger Skylar Jansen’s morning hike turns into a nightmare when she witnesses a man burying a body—and then the killer chases her through the wilderness. She’s saved by Special Agent Bode Tucker, a devoted single dad, who suspects a serial killer is at work. Soon it becomes clear that the killer may be connected to the cold case disappearance of Sky’s father. With targets now on both of their backs, they team up to investigate, but outrunning danger could be beyond their reach. Can they outwit a deadly enemy…or could one wrong move be their last?

My Review:

What a riveting romantic suspense! I was hooked right from the start. Love the way the author brings the wilderness to life with her descriptive phrasing and there are some rock climbing scenes that are…well…gripping (ha!) I felt a renewed appreciation for God’s creation through the outdoor elements to the story. Plus they add a whole other survival element to the suspense!

Speaking of suspense, this one is diabolically stalkerish. Loved the pacing between investigative and action scenes, the author struck a really nice balance with enough breathing room to allow for relationship development.

The slow burn romance is filled with trepidation as both Skylar and Brode struggle with letting go of past hurts. But, oh my goodness, I could feel the pull between them and I love the way VanHorn built up the tension by agonizingly slow degrees. Sheer romantical bliss! And Brode’s sweet little girl adds the perfect touch of levity (as well as some hair-raising moments!)

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Ambushed in Yosemite’ and thoroughly enjoyed Dominique Salvacion’s interpretation of these characters. She captured all the emotional nuances and high tension scenes perfectly which increased my ‘reading’ satisfaction all the more. Great collaboration between author and narrator.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Don’t Upstage the Body + Giveaway

Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family of professional mourners have perfected the theatrical art of grief. When the reclusive Lord Basil Monfort engages her family’s services for his own funeral, she vows it will be her last performance as she’s tired of the disguise. Then she discovers the undertaker’s body in the library and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an undercover investigation. 
 
Rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort’s estate–with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father’s wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta must navigate a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort’s charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be. 
 
Concealing her family’s true identities while unraveling secrets might be the role of Hippolyta’s life, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls. 
 
With her Agatha Christie inspired voice, Naomi Stephens pens a 1950s manor house murder mystery where no one is who they seem. 

My Review:

Very much a classic cozy mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie and brilliantly executed. I was enchanted from the very first line, “The first body was exactly where it was supposed to be.” A bit of fine foreshadowing there since the second body was exactly where it wasn’t supposed to be!

The 1950s British setting adds all kinds of ambience to the mystery. As does the notion of a family of professional mourners! And in true Golden Age Mystery fashion a host of intriguing characters are stranded at a mansion…and one of them is a murderer. Bwahahaha!

There’s also some light romance with the most charming witty banter. I mean, really, can you ask anything more of a cozy mystery? Oh, yes, there’s also a cat! 🙂 Loved this to pieces and am hoping that Naomi Stephens has many more mysteries in her future (and ours!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Hello July + Giveaway

It’s a Best Reads blog tradition! Celebrating the month’s new releases the first week of each month.

Because I recently discovered that a book’s success or failure is often determined by first month sales! (Though I bet preorders play into that as well.) Publishing houses look at those stats to determine whether they’ll add on to a series or accept the author’s next manuscript! All that literary goodness hanging in the balance but for a month’s worth of sales! (This was a cozy mystery author, but I imagine all traditional publishers use the same ‘system’.) So I thought I should do my wee little bit to promote Christian Fiction.

By hosting a special ‘Hello – insert month’ giveaway. It’s easy to play along. You just have to choose ONE of the July 2026 new releases on your TBR wishlist (must be Christian Fiction) and mention the title in a comment below (or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) If your name is drawn, that July release is the book you will win and we’re one book closer to keeping our fave authors in business.