Kav's Best Reads

Searching the Truth + Giveaway

A K-9 on a gunman’s trail
will uncover a sinister scheme.

Officer Autumn Riley and her K-9, Bear, are jolted awake in the middle of the night by an intruder—and just barely escape the shots fired their way. When rancher Jordan Clarke, who has been searching for his missing sister, gets caught in the crossfire, he becomes a target too. Is the gunman a vengeful convict that Autumn sent to jail, or is it someone linked to her mother’s unsolved murder? With the attacks against them unrelenting, they’ll have to put everything on the line—including their own lives—to take down this criminal.

My Review:

So excited that a K-9 continuity series has become an annual Loved Inspired Suspense tradition! My absolute favourite series in the line and Laura Scott has created a stunning introduction to this year’s offering, the Colorado K-9 Unit.

The tense, action-packed opening scene sets the stage for the story that follows. This time a special K-9 Unit has been created to expose a diabolical crime ring and Autumn spends her time working leads on that case as well as a more personal one of her own. Only she’s not sure if they are connected or how Jordan Clarke fits into the mix. Lots of intriguing layers to delve into here.

Of course, she has Bear and his unique K-9 skills to help her along the way. Scott does a wonderful job portraying the strong bond between these partners and the way they work together in the field.

Then there’s Jordan, a neighbouring rancher who adds his own measure of intrigue as well as sparks of attraction. I enjoyed the progression of their romance in the midst of sheer bedlam! If my heart wasn’t racing because of the suspense it was skipping beats over their love story.

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Searching the Truth’ and was thrilled to hear the familiar voice of Jennifer Jill Araya narrating the story. She always delivers a well-paced performance that catches the essence of the story and the spirit of the characters.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Searching for Truth, 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 11 2026

Never Forgotten + Giveaway

random retro read

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.

Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.

Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.

Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

My Review:

published in 2024

‘Never Forgotten’ was unexpected in so many ways but absolutely gripping nonetheless. A Gothic Regency with a darker tone and such romantical yearning that my heart ached for Simon and Georgina all the way through.

Desperation and danger dog Simon’s steps as he seeks justice for a horrific crime…or is it revenge? His actions put both his children and Georgina in peril which results in a page-turning frenzy of exquisite torture until everything is righted.

Loved the slow burn romance that blossoms from a decidedly enemies to more start. And there are some delightfully tender scenes featuring Simon and his children that totally melted my heart (Georgina’s too!) But, oh, the plot twists, both with their love story and the mystery! An atmospheric historical romance that rivals any of the classics.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Never Forgotten, 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 11 2026

Conversations With Kav – Book Haul + Random Questions + Giveaway

Videoing book hauls is a popular trend on Booktube. That’s where content creators highlight great sales and used book store purchases as well as kindle sales. I have always marvelled at the deals available to every reader on the planet except me. 🙂 I don’t have a used bookstore close by and I don’t read ebooks so drastic sales have never been a bookish thing for me….

Until…

AUDIBLE’S CRAZY HUGELY DISCOUNTED SALE!

I had heart palpitations this week when I checked my audible wishlist and noticed that every single book on my list (there are 420 of them!) was on sale. And the vast majority of them were like 80% off. Tons of audiobooks for $3 and $4 . Not yet releases for $8. I was flabbergasted and discombobulated and might have spent way too many hours over the next few days deciding what to buy.

True confession: I might have made purchases every day of the sale so far. Somehow it doesn’t feel as wickedly decadent to break down my binge buying into smaller hauls. 🙂 And the sale is on through to April 8th so there’s no guarantees that I won’t go back for more. (Don’t judge me.)

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to finally share my very own book haul. So here it is (so far….bwahahahahaha!)

If you are an audiobook fan, definitely check out this sale. It’s phenomenal!

Ohhhh, and I’d love to hear about one of your epic book hauls! Such a lovely bibliophile topic for a discussion.

Random Questions

The best thing about my Best Reads Besties is that you are a font of collective knowledge and I can always count on someone here to have the exact information I’m looking for so…I have some random questions:

Re: Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series:

Do the books have to be read in order? Do they have carryover characters or plots that over-arc between books that would make it confusing to read them out of order? And will the world building make sense if you pick up a book mid series? Important to know because they are all $3.47 right now on audible….eeeeeeppppp!

Re. Holly series:

I’ve picked up the rest of the Holly books I need plus the rest of C. C. Warrens’ books in the audible sale (eeeeepppp) but now I see where there seems to be a spin off series featuring Marx – Seeking Justice – and they also feature Holly. Curious to know how they fit in with the actual Holly series. Has anyone read them? Can they be read as standalones, or do they have spoilers? Trying to figure out if I should read all the Holly books and then the Seeking Justice books or merge them.

Looking for an Amish book about disasters:

I read a series — maybe three books? — about the disaster relief work the Amish and Mennonites do through the Mennonite Central Committee. The characters were a mix of Amish and Mennonite – young people volunteering after natural disasters. So they travelled away from home to serve. Disaster was a hurriance or flood? I read it quite awhile ago — maybe ten years even but I don’t know when the books were published. Does this ring any bells? I’ve a hankering to read the books again but I can’t remember author, titles, or any other useful information. Any ideas?

Now it’s your turn — do you have any bookish questions we can help you with? Today’s the day to find those answers!

Giveaway Opportunity:

Share your thoughts/answers/questions in a comment to be entered for a chance to win a $10 gift card (U.S and Canada) – your choice of Baker Book House or Amazon.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 11 2026.

April Giveaway – Week One

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!

Crossed Off

random retro read

Collin Wells is relentless and ruthless, and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he his foster sister, the girl who always manages to slip through his fingers.

Holly’s foster brother has haunted her footsteps for years—taunting her, toying with her—and until recently, she never dared to stop running and build a life for herself. Now, everyone she loves is in danger. How can she protect the people she loves when her foster brother comes to collect?

My Review:

This series has been intense but this third book is, well, brutal! I’ve been putting it off for months now because I knew from reviews that this story is very hard to read in places and I was honestly dreading it. But, I love Holly and all these characters (well, except for…) and I knew I just had to brave my way through this one so I could continue on with the series. Sound ominous? It really is!

So, first thing to know: the Holly series needs to be read in order, both for the developing suspense plot (all kinds of freaky stalker vibes) and the relationships. Honestly, for me, Crossed Off’s saving grace comes from the deep friendships and strong sense of found family that forms a buffer between Holly and untold brutality.

I basked in those bonding scenes. Holly’s fierce loyalty, the teasing among her friends, the pranks she plays on Marx, the wary friendship she has with Jordan. All these characters have become real people to me and I savoured every second with them.

The flip side is that the suspense goes way beyond gut-wrenching. Almost unbearable. Definitely pushed me way past my comfort zone in places. Tough situations, serious crimes, Holly’s backstory is heart breaking and she’s facing the worst of it all over again. I honestly had to read this book in stages, giving myself a reprieve with a lighthearted read before picking it up again and I’ve never had to do that before in my eons of reading!

So, not for the faint of heart, but a rich, satisfying, if emotionally draining, read that left me loving Holly and company all the more!

More Than Friends + Giveaway

There’s nothing like teaming up to investigate your mother’s shady new boyfriend to make you see your best friend in a whole new light . . .

Jenna Greene has been very clear with her She is not ready for marriage. Too bad he didn’t listen. Turns out a rejected proposal is a sure way to lose a boyfriend—and a job. Because, yes, he’d also been her boss. But it seems the firing has come at the perfect time. Back on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, Jenna’s widowed mother has returned from a cruise—with a new boyfriend in tow. Something isn’t right, and Jenna decides to return home to find out what’s going on.

Tyson Parker has a pretty great life on Chincoteague. He’s gainfully employed at his parents’ bed and breakfast—in the very home where he grew up with his three brothers, right across the street from his best friend, Jenna. He loves volunteering for the island’s illustrious fire company and being one of the saltwater cowboys who cares for Chincoteague’s wild ponies. If only he could’ve skipped the whole part where he’d married a two-timing woman. Still, he’s elated to have his best friend back when Jenna returns to the island, even if it is only temporary. And he’s happy to help her figure out what her mom’s suspicious new beau might be up to. But soon his feelings for Jenna begin to shift into. . . something different.

Jenna expected to enjoy visiting her mom, Tyson, and his whole family. She’d expected to feel closer to her deceased father on the island where the foal they’d named years ago now roams the wild salt marshes of Assateague like its ancestors have for hundreds of years. What she didn’t expect was for her feelings for her best friend to change. But she’s always sworn she’d never date a firefighter. Plus, Tyson is fresh off a betrayal. And also, there’s that teensy commitment problem she seems to have. Would she even have the courage to finally give her heart away? And should they really risk their beautiful friendship in the hopes they could someday be something more?

My Review:

First off, I have to fangirl over the setting! I have been fascinated by Chincoteague Island since reading Marguerite Henry’s ‘Misty’ series when I was a child so to discover that returning home for Jenna means Chincoteague, well, I might have squealed out of sheer bookish glee. And then to discover that our hero, Tyson, is a volunteer saltwater cowboy! I can’t even…happy sigh. Love all the details the author includes about the island, it’s history and the wild ponies. The next best thing to actually being able to go there myself.

This emotional slow-burn friends-to-more romance delivers just the right balance of humour and drama. Jenna and Tyson have always been best friends, and while they haven’t been as close since Jenna moved away from the island, they easily pick up where they left off when she comes back. Hunter writes this classic trope with such skill. Love the way their relationship develops. The dawning realization that their feelings are changing. The fear of risking their friendship for the uncertainty of romance. I agonized with them every step of the way. Thrilled when they got it right and groaned when the inevitable missteps occurred. I was completely invested in their love story!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘More Than Friends’ and really enjoyed Kim Churchill’s narration. She has become a familiar voice in my audiobook listening and I appreciate the way her performances enhance my ‘reading’ pleasure. Always a delight to listen to.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – ebook copy

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of More Than Friends, 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 4 2026

Hello April + Giveaway

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

Why?

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.

How?

By hosting a special ‘Hello – insert month’ giveaway. It’s easy to play along. You just have to choose ONE of the April 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 April release is the book you will win and we’re one book closer to keeping our fave authors in business.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book (if available) – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 4 2026

Love and Order + Giveaway

Family, Love, and Justice

Separated as children when they were adopted out to different families from an orphan train, the Braddock siblings have each grown up and taken on various jobs within law enforcement and criminal justice.

Pinkertons Callie Wilson and Joe Trenamen come to Cambria Springs to stop a killer. But when evidence points to a ghost from Callie’s childhood, she must choose between two men she loves.

Falsely accused, bounty hunter Rion Braddock vows to prove his innocence. Former flame Maya Fellows and dime novelist Lucinda Peters both offer help, but is either beauty truly on his side?

In her first solo case, attorney Andi McGovern defends Rion, but the infuriating prosecutor, Daniel Littrick, outwits her. Following a hunch could win her case—or leave Andi dead.

Can these couples stop the true culprit and right the greatest injustice of Callie, Andi, and Rion’s lives?

My Review:

What a captivating story! I’ve been ‘off’ Historical Westerns for a while now but ‘Love and Order’ (such a clever title!) has renewed my interest in the genre. Jennifer Uhlarik’s exquisite storytelling brings this time period to life in a fresh way.

Siblings separated on an orphan train reunite fifteen years later only to find themselves in a desperate fight for justice. Their unique professions -a Pinkerton Agent, a bounty hunter and a lawyer – prove extremely useful for the arduous journey ahead.

Loved these characters and their ‘Wild West’ challenges. Feisty heroines, long suffering heroes, a diabolical villain and enough sub-plots to keep me anxiously engaged right to the very end.

The book is divided into three parts with each sibling getting their own story while also playing roles in the over-arching suspense plot. Love the way the author bridged each section together, building tension with each story and culminating in an emotional courtroom scene that kept me on the edge of my seat! I might have shouted ‘I object’ more than once in the midst of all the drama. 🙂

And — eeeepppp — we get three times the romance as Callie, Rion and Andi find love in the midst of action and danger! The perfect literary escape read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love and Order, 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 4 2026

Not What We Pictured + Giveaway

This is absolutely not how they pictured their summer going.

McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?

Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.

With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.

My Review:

Oh dear, I think I cracked a rib or two from laughing so hard over all the bantering bedlam. Whip smart and witty. Quips that are so clever you’ll want to take notes so you can use them in your life someday.

The comedic beats are brilliant and I think I enjoyed them all the more for having listened to the audio book expertly narrated by CJ Bloom. The way she delivers the rapid-fire dialogue is priceless…and she does it with a complete repertoire of voices so it’s easy to identify who is talking. Her performance elevated my overall appreciation of this wonderful story. Definitely recommend the audiobook to discerning listeners!

And the clever way the story unfolds right from the side-splitting opening scene! Kinzer artfully builds her plot through, well, controlled choreographed chaos! Indescribably good.

And I can’t forget to mention these characters! McKenna and Nate shine in their starring roles right from their inauspicious meet-cute. The enemies to more trope suits them to a T, especially as they hurdle their way through a series of unfortunate events with hair-raising hilarity. Throw in a crew of quirky seniors who manage to add even more muddled layers to a memorable summer and you get rom/com perfection with oodles of heart.

My thanks to Tyndale House Audiobooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Not What We Pictured, 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 4 2026

Reader’s Choice Week Spring 2026 Winners

Phew! What a week! Thanks so much for participating in the Best Reads’ Spring edition of Reader’s Choice Week! My TBR lists are plumped up with tantalizing new titles thanks to everyone’s input. I might spend as much time plotting my reading future as I do actually reading! Decisions! Decisions! 🙂

And my aplogies for getting this post up so late in the day. My eyeballs gave out on my yesterday – too much screen time = ocular migraines which isn’t as painful as it sounds. More annoying. I get flashing lights and fuzzy vision which makes it hard to do any focus work. I got the gist of the tallying done in stints yesterday but I wanted to double check the results today when I was more clearheaded. Only I forgot that we had our AGM after church this Sunday so I was later getting home than usual which delayed my double checking. But it’s all done now so…tada…here are the results!

First, I had to satisfy my inner book nerd and tally up all the titles in each genre to find out the popular pick for each one and here they are:

indie popular pick

won by sabrina

Historical Popular Pick

won by Pam K

Contemporary Popular Pick

won by Perrianne

Mystery/suspense popular pick

won by Sandy Avery

AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE RCW WINNERS!

won by Elizabeth Litton

General christian fiction

won by Tracey

Goals Review

won by kcrhoades

But wait, it’s not over yet. The Vanity category has become a blog tradition. It’s where a book is actually judged by its cover and I choose my favourite cover art per genre and then draw from a pool of readers who requested that title. Here are the COVER LOVE winners!

Indie cover love

won by Diane Flowers

Eye catching! Love the sense of movement conveyed through the heroine’s cloak and hair. And the Celtic knots that frame the scene are exquisite and remind me of Ireland.

Historical cover love

won by Cindy davis

I mean, who can resist a silhouette in a graveyard? Especially with a title like that. And I love the classic cut to the heroine’s outfit.

contemporary cover love

won by Jo Ruth

I’ve got to be honest, it’s hard to not see that tantalizing word ‘highlands’ in the title which is a big draw for me. Mind you I love the fall vibes on this cover — the cozy ambience inside complete with two furry companions and the autumn splendour outside.

mystery/suspense cover love

won by Kimmy

I like this cover because it’s unique – very striking with he black and gold and I desperately need to know if the gold is foil or embossed. I might be disappointed if it isn’t either or. 🙂

WAIT! Don’t go away ’cause we’re not through yet. We have another Reader’s Choice tradition of picking a random number which becomes a ‘just because giveaway’ on the genre specific days. If that doesn’t make sense, all you need to know is that it means more book giveaways. Woohoo! This time the number is 48.

48th mystery/suspense

won by Elly cox

And that’s another wrap on a glorious Reader’s Choice Week. Thanks for participating and growing my wishlist!

I’ll start contacting winners tomorrow, but if you haven’t left an email or if you are so inclined, you can send me an email listing your preference of either paperback or ebook and your contact info. kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca

Looking ahead to next week:

Monday