Kav's Best Reads

Conversations With Kav – It’s Canada Library Month! So Let’s Talk Libraries + Giveaway

It’s Canada Library Month and this upcoming third week in October is Ontario Public Library Week so now is a perfect time to talk about libraries and how they benefit authors (besides the obvious.)

But first – after all the talk about favourite autumn beverages last week and discovering so many fellow hot chocolate aficionados in our midst, I thought it would be fun to set up a Hot Chocolate Bar. Cocoa for the traditionalist, flavoured hot chocolate pkgs for the adventureous and your choice of toppings, marshmallows (we have regular and vegan), shaved dark chocolate pieces and peppermint stir sticks. Do help yourself. Oh, and, in honour of library month, I’ve made gingerbread librarians. Do be kind and bite the head off first so they can’t watch the dismemberment of their bodies. 🙂

How Libraries Benefit an Author’s Bottom Line

Of course, we know that authors get a royalty payment for every book a library buys and that’s wonderful. Also an important reason for readers to request libraries to purchase titles they don’t already carry. My library allows for three requests per patron a month and I’m happy to say that the library has purchased nearly every book I’ve asked for – sometimes in multiple copies!

Recently though, I got to wondering about what kind of financial benefits there are to digital library purchases. I assumed that it would be similar to physical books and it kinda is…but also not quite. Here’s how authors make money when a book is checked out on Libby and Hoopla:

Libby

The library buys a license for an ebook or audiobook which covers x amount of checkouts (usually around 26.) Once they’ve reached their limit they have to buy another license. Each time a license is purchased, the author receives a royalty. So, the more times a book is checked out on Libby, there is the potential for more times a library buys a license and that means more $ for the author. A library often buys multiple copies of popular titles.

Hoopla

Operates on a Cost-Per-Checkout system – the author gets a small amount of money per checkout. You don’t have to even read the book. You just have to check it out. The amount an author earns per checkout is somewhere between 40 – 80 cents which sounds really low BUT when you take into consideration the number of Hoopla accounts across North America, it has the potential to add up to a nice tidy sum and the author doesn’t have to put any money, time or effort into the process – that’s all done by the library and Hoopla, so it’s kind of a bonus.

Interestingly enough all this works the same way for both ebooks and audiobooks on both platforms. Audiobooks cost the library more – around $50 – $75 per book, but that also means a larger royalty for the author, so they actually could make more money on audiobooks. It also explains why my library buys more ebooks than audiobooks on both platforms.

Inter Library

Digital Borrowing

My library has just buddied up with a number of other public libraries in Ontario on the Libby app which means I have access to all their collections as well. I’ve been able to access audiobooks that my library doesn’t carry so I’m uber excited. Plus, now I’m thinking of the boon to authors since the number of checkouts is bound to increase across the board which means more royalties for the authors! Woohoo!

Let’s Chat:

Are you a library user? Have you looked into Libby and Hoopla? They are truly a great free source for ebooks and audiobooks so, even if you don’t live close to a library or want to actually visit the building, you can still borrow from home and contribute to authors’ income. Every little bit helps!

Oh — and I’m curious – how many monthly borrows do you get on Hoopla? My library’s limit is 5 per month and it’s agonizing choosing which five books to pick from a long list of potential borrows. lol I usually used up all my credits before the middle of the month.

The Giveaway:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 24 2026

October Giveaways – 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 NEXT WEEK:

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!

MONDAY

Christy Awards Finalists – Historical Romance

Resisting the Fall

The divorce never finalized. Neither did their feelings.

The discovery that I was still legally married—years after I thought my divorce was final—was supposed to be the worst thing to happen to me this fall.

It wasn’t.

Because apparently the state of Vermont believes in closure. And no regrets. And court-ordered thirty-day reconciliation efforts. So now, in order to fast-track my divorce from Bennett Walker—my high school sweetheart and the man who walked out on our marriage seven years ago—I’m being forced back to the small town we grew up in to spend an entire month proving our relationship isn’t worth saving.

A situation Ben annoyingly finds amusing.

Which is why I plan to make this the most memorable, insufferable, torturous thirty days of his life. As a prank-loving aficionado, I have countless ideas about how to drive Ben crazy while keeping myself focused on the goal: finalizing our divorce.

With my life in New York and a career I absolutely love, not even deeply embedded habits and old feelings can threaten my resolve.

I’m resolved.

So resolved.

Absolutely, definitely, one hundred percent resolved. And if I keep saying it, maybe this time around, I’ll be capable of resisting the fall.

My Review:

What a fun and sometimes angsty (but not too angsty) Second Chance Romance. And it is sooooo romantical! I was a little bit worried about the divorced but not divorced angle, fearful that it would start out with a more combative feel – like an enemies to more trope with a vicious bite – BUT it totally wasn’t that at all. Yay!

‘Resisting the Fall’ is funny and tender and there are insightful flashbacks into Ben and Maven’s youth that were so entertaining. And all the way through the story I could feel the push/pull of their attraction which made for a delightfully edgy read. We know they are divorced…well almost divorced due to an unfortunate (or fortunate) oversight, but we don’t know for the longest time what exactly broke them apart. It about drove me crazy because I could see how good they were together.

Love the strong sense of community and friendship in this novel (the whole series, actually.) As well as all the fall festivities which enhanced my appreciation of the season. Plus, catching glimpses of the other couples in the series at various stages of their own romances added even more glee to my bibliophile giddy! My first Jess Heileman novel, but it won’t be my last!

Anchor Cove + Giveaway

A lonely single mom
Simone Avery has been doing life on her own for the past sixteen years. The last thing she needs is to fall for her next-door neighbor who’s only in town for the summer. Love’s not in the cards for her. It wasn’t in the past, not now, and not in the future. She’s easily forgettable.

A man looking for his next steps
Derrick Benjamin just retired from the United States Air Force at God’s bidding and has no clue what’s next. The last thing he expected to find on his summer vacation is a woman he can’t forget and a town that makes him want more from life.

God’s plan in the works
Will Derrick and Simone find an ever after that lasts beyond the summer? Or will heartache anchor their futures?

My Review:

This is the summer read that got away from me this year. I’m blaming it on my move. But I couldn’t wait a whole year before reading a new release from Toni Shiloh so I got to bask in the sunshiny summer weather in Anchor Cove on a cold and stormy autumn afternoon. Made for a lovely escape read.

Derrick is fresh out of a twenty year stint in the army and trying to figure out what’s next. I really appreciated this perspective and his honest struggle to find his footing as a civilian. Shiloh explores the difficult transition with compassion and even humour as well as a healthy dose of faith. Love the way Derrick seeks God in his plans. Also love that he spends a lot of time wrestling with God’s silence but he never gives up. And oh my, are there some inspirational gems to be found in this novel.

“He never stays silent. Sometimes His silence is a way to get our attention to make sure that when He speaks – because He will – that we’re ready to listen.” (p 58)

So Derrick moves into a a beach house right next door to Simone and her fifteen year old son and, well the sparks don’t immediately fly, but they do simmer as he gets to know his feisty neighbour. Loved the tenderness in their romance, the insecurities and wariness as well as the yearning. And the humour! Shiloh delivers a heartwarming inspirational romance that left me in a happy bibliophile swoon by the last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to any reader anywhere so – YAY – an international giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Anchor Cove. 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 17 2026.

Where Stillness Speaks + Giveaway

An unwanted engagement. A new life where she struggles to belong. One lie that might save her–but binds her with the very man who wants her gone.

The last place Audra Bancroft wants to be is trapped in the glittering world of the elite—paraded as little more than a decoration on some gentleman’s arm. She longs to be truly known and understood, but as the niece of a wealthy businessman, she is anything but. When her uncle announces her betrothal to a man she despises—a man whose power could ensure she never escapes the gilded cage—she makes the only choice her heart can to disappear.

Hiding her true identity, Audra takes a position on a family-run farm in another state, where faith runs deeper than blood and work is done with calloused hands. Though unaccustomed to the honest toil of the laboring class, she is determined to prove herself. Winning over the sharp-eyed eldest son, Tobias Haystead, is another matter entirely. He finds her suspicious, far too outspoken—and a threat to his family’s carefully guarded secret.

When Audra’s past catches up to her, she tells a desperate lie to save herself—one that binds her fate to Tobias in a way neither of them saw coming.

A tale of courage, faith, found family, and unexpected love. WHERE STILLNESS SPEAKS is perfect for fans of wholesome clean historical Christian romance with depth and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers journey.

My Review:

You know that feeling you get when you come across the special kind of story that consumes you? Where the emotions leap off the page and into your heart and your reading journey becomes full of heartache and hope, right along with the heroine? Where sometimes it’s hard to catch your breath because you desperately need to know that everything is going to work out? And you want it to right away only not really because you don’t want the story to come to an end? Well, ‘Where Stillness Speaks‘ was that kind of read for me. And now I’m emotionally wrung out and not quite coherent as you can tell from my rambling.

I think what touched me the most was the significant inspirational thread that is so tightly woven into the very fibre of the story that the novel couldn’t exist without it. The Haystead family are struggling homesteaders who have known their share of grief and strife. Yet their unwavering faith acts as a beacon to a very lost and frightened Audra. She’s the epitome of a ‘poor little rich girl’, fleeing a deplorable arranged marriage with no idea of what comes next. Tabitha Haystead takes her in, with mixed reactions from her adult offspring. Evangeline is ecstatic, Felix is amused but Tobias is suspicious. Audra is caught in the middle.

Yes, this is Audra and Tobias’ love story, but honestly, I was drawn to the Haysteads as a whole even more. Such wonderful family dynamics and Tabitha’s matriarchal wisdom and steady inspiring words gave me lots to ponder in my own life. And I so love when fiction grows my faith!

Welwood has a lovely writer’s ‘voice’. Her artfully crafted words and phrases are immersive and the depth in characters and backstory beg to be savoured. I enjoyed every second I spent with Audra and the Haysteads.

There’s friction and drama but lighthearted moments too as well as the lure of an impossible romance. And while, no spoilers here, Welwood graciously provides Audra and Tobias with a heartfelt HEA, we find Evangeline in a particularly tenuous situation at the conclusion of ‘Where the Stillness Speaks’ which leaves me scrambling to get a hold of book two in the ‘Tabitha’s Kin’ series asap!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Where Stillness Speaks, 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 17 2026.

Autumn by the Sea + Giveaway

random retro read

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she’s never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who’s searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago.

If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie’s once again caught up in the past, convinced she’s finally found her long-lost granddaughter.

Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there’s something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that’s messier than ever. Together, they’re pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

My Review:

published in 2021

This came up on someone’s bingo card and reminded me that I have the third book left to read in this series (Muir Harbor.) But then I remembered how fantastic this first book is so I thought I’d revisit it before finally reading ‘Wedding at Sea.’ Spoiler alert: it was just as good the second time around!

Seriously the most eye-popping meet cute I’ve ever read!!!! Funny and cringy and blush worthy. Bwahahahaha!

And Tagg just keeps on giving all the way through to the very end. I mean, doesn’t that cover set the tone for autumnal reading? Cue the cozy fire and a cuppa of your choice (I’ll make mine hot cocoa with marshmallows, please) and be prepared to lose yourself in small town Maine. Blueberry farming no less!!! I’ve been in love with blueberry harvesting ever since I read Blueberries for Sal way back when…and then kept on reading it to my own daughter and then all my kindergarteners when I was a school librarian. Sometimes old-fashioned simplicity is best…but I digress.

Love, love, love these characters! Their farm! the small town! The mysteries (and, yes, some aren’t explained…yet.) Tagg has the ability to transform a reader into a participant and I really felt like I was right there in Muir Harbor, experiencing it all from the fresh eyes of one very confused, warily hopeful Sydney. And I was emotionally invested in this heroine from the very nail-biter of a first chapter.

Sydney’s past has always been a mystery and the hope that she might find answers in this quaint New England town is…well, almost too much to hope for! 🙂

“I think Maggie would say that’s what love does. It keeps hoping even when the answers don’t come easily. It invites strangers in. It doesn’t give up. Love keeps searching.” (p 165)

Who is Maggie, you ask? The wisest most open-hearted woman on the planet — and possibly, maybe, Sydney’s grandmother. But there are three other grandchildren who are all kinds of skeptical about that. This isn’t their first rodeo when it comes to long lost heirs. And Neil in particular has his dander up.

Cue the fireworks, lightning bolts and every other kind of pyrotechnics you can think of ’cause Sydney and Neil have chemistry! And watching their barriers crumble while they sizzle their way to each other makes for one toe-curling reading extravaganza.

Their romance is all wrapped up in multiple mysteries — not the high-octane suspense kind though. More questions without answers. Perplexing occurrences. And family history conundrums. Some of them are answered in this book. Others are still a big ‘?’ so I’m anxiously keeping an eye out for ‘A Seaside Wonder’, the second book in the Muir Harbor series to release…gah, I don’t know when — it’s another mystery!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Autumn by the Sea, 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 17 2026.

Christy Awards 2026 Finalists – Historical Fiction + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2026 finalists are books published in 2025.

How does this Giveaway work?

You select one of the Historical Fiction finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Giveaway details may vary with each book (print, ebook only or winner’s choice of either, plus audible options for Canadians.) Edition availability will be noted in bold after the title/author/publisher of each entry. ALSO NOTE: Giveaway is for US and Canada OR ebook international if you have US Kindle account.

The Daughter of Rome, Angela Hunt
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764241581

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

In Nero’s Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians–unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world.

When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of setting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death.

New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt brings her series to an exhilarating close with a gripping tale of faith and sacrifice set against the rich tapestry of ancient Rome.

The French Kitchen, Kristy Cambron
Thomas Nelson, 9781400345267

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

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. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/07/30/the-french-kitchen-giveaway/

From the Valley We Rise, Elizabeth Musser
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243493

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

Loyalty during Peril
In the heart of war-torn France, Isabelle Seauve’s resolve is tested after her father sacrifices his life to protect her involvement in the French Resistance. Heartbroken, Isabelle becomes more dedicated to hiding Jewish children in and near the village of Sisteron despite the growing danger when she discovers a traitor within the Resistance ranks.

Truth amid Deception
As the shadow of betrayal looms, Isabelle’s world collides with that of US Army Chaplain Peter Christensen, who carries emotional scars from his first position in Kentucky and his service in North Africa. Together, they face the brutal reality of war as the second D-Day—the Allied invasion of Provence—unfolds.

Bravery through Trial
Fifteen-year-old René Amblard narrowly escapes a devastating German attack that claims the lives of his mother and their fellow Maquis fighters. With a Jewish orphan girl at his side, René seeks out his cousin Isabelle for refuge while he contemplates revenge.

When the bombs of Operation Dragoon begin to fall, this unlikely group of heroes must first find freedom in their souls before they can rebuild what has been destroyed.

Splendor of the Land, Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764238932

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

Gavriel, a soldier in the elite company of Yonatan–son of King Saul–dreams of forging his destiny through crafting weapons with his own hands. Despite earning his place among Israel’s finest, he is haunted by a dark past that no distraction can dispel. When his reckless behavior forces Yonatan to present him with an ultimatum, Gavriel is sent on a mission to persuade a distant tribe to sever their ties with the Amalekites.

Zahava, a gifted goldsmith hidden behind her father’s legacy, lives in the shadows due to her physical affliction. Her talent, unmatched and unrecognized, is a closely guarded secret within her family. Disheartened by a love that seems unattainable, she resigns herself to a life of obscurity. However, when Gavriel arrives in her village, they’re tangled together in a way no one could have imagined. As they navigate through unforeseen dangers and enemy threats, Gavriel must confront his past and either bend his knee to the One True King or lose his love forever.

Set against the backdrop of ancient Israel, bestselling author Connilyn Cossette breathes life into the Old Testament era with this exhilarating tale of redemption, courage, and sacrifice.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 17 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Conversations With Kav – Happy Canadian Thanksgiving + Giveaway

And we’re going to celebrate with all things books and reading since they are high up on my thankfulness list! I came across this book tag on booktube courtesy of Paperbacks and Ponytails channel and I thought it would be fun to share here. A great way to discover new books and get to know each other a little better. I imagine this is the kind of conversation that would be going around the table if we all gathered for Thanksgiving dinner.

Cozy Autumn Book Tag

What book reminds you of Autumn?

This year it’s the ‘Falling for Autumn’ multi-authored series. I hope to get to all the books by the end of November. I’ve read four out of eight so I’m halfway there! Lots of fun autumn activities, community events etc and the romances have all been toe-curling and swoonalicious!

What is your favourite autumnal book cover?

Hmmm….it’s always changing. This year, Autumn at the Cat Cafe by Kathleen Fuller embodies my idea of autumnal splendour on a book cover. And it’s sooooo cozy!

Do you prefer to read late at night or early in the morning?

I’m an equal opportunity reader! Morning, noon and night will find me with a book (or audio book) in hand. But I’m more of an early bird. You know, that annoyingly ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’ person that bounces out of bed eager to embrace the day (or the current story!) so I’ll say I have a morning preference.

Favourite autumnal drink to while you cozy up with a good book?

Hot chocolate with marshmallows! I wait all summer for the weather to get chilly enough to bring out the cocoa! But I’ve also become exceedingly fond of a turmeric ginger tea blend that I picked up at a quaint little shop in my new neighbourhood.

What is your favourite spooky read?

Since I’m a big ol’ scaredy cat, I don’t really do spooky but I recently read The Memory House by Mary Alford and that was quite eerie. Psychological thrillerish which was quite eerie. And look at that atmospheric cover! Shivery delight!

What is your ultimate fall comfort read?

Gotta go full out cozy mystery for this one. A toss up between Lord of the Wings from the Meg Langslow series (it takes place on Halloween and the entire Family Skeleton Mystery series – an actually skeleton is one of the characters. So fun and quirky. And the Halloween one is excellent. Must give it a re-listen this month.

What is your favourite autumnal snack?

Anything pumpkin for sure! Bread, pie, muffins, loaf. Ohhh, Tim Horton’s has the yummiest pumpkin donuts that are only offered in October. Must get some.

When you are not reading, what is your favourite autumnal activity?

Wait…there are other things to do in the fall besides read? Well…I never! 🙂 Okay, I do like to walk a lot. Love rustling up the leaves and watching the squirrels scurrying around preparing for winter and the crisp fall air, light frost in the morning. Happy sigh. But, I’m usually listening to an audio book while I walk so, ha, still reading!

What is on your autumn reading list?

Ohhhh, so many books!!!! Not all autumn themed though. Heavily suspense/mystery because ’tis the season for murder and mayhem – for me anyway. I’ve been bingeing indie author Melanie D. Snitker romantic suspense books the last few weeks and I found This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart (what a thrilling find!) in a little free library that I’ve been saving for October. Oh and Axe Me No Questions by Paula Charles – a cozy mystery with a beautiful autumnal cover – so yay, a setting that will work for the Autumn Bingo Challenge!

Speaking of which, JUST A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE THREE WEEKS LEFT IN THE AUTUMN BINGO CHALLENGE. I’m having so much fun tallying bingo cards and seeing what everyone is reading. Plumping up my TBR as well, and distracting me from my planned reading goals for this month. You guys are such a band influence. Bwahahahaha!

The Giveaway

Just answer one (or more) of the Cozy Autumn Book Tag questions in the comments to be entered in the giveaway. US and Canada only.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 17

October Giveaways – Week Two

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

Sunday

Monday

Christy Awards Finalists – Historical Fiction

The Black Sheep’s Redemption

Random Retro ReRead

Danger lurks in every corner in bestselling author Lynette Eason’s spine-chilling story in the Fitzgerald Bay series

Everyone in Fitzgerald Bay—except his law-enforcement family—is convinced Charles Fitzgerald murdered his children’s nanny. Condemned by public opinion, his only hope for a replacement nanny to take care of his two-year-old twins is newcomer Demi Taylor. But Demi has problems of her own…starting with amnesia. She doesn’t remember who she is, doesn’t know where she’s from—and has no idea why she always feels like someone is watching her. Is she in danger because of Charles? Or has someone sinister from her old life found her yet again?

My Review:

published in 2012

Woohoo — this was a blast from my reading past. An early Lynette Eason novel, among the first that I read by her — and they just released an audio edition so, of course, I couldn’t resist. Especially not after listening to the sample! What a way to leave a reader hanging! Here’s my review from back in the day:

Prepare yourself for a nail-biting read. The action is fast, the suspense thick and the romance exciting — all the markers of a runaway best-seller. Eason barely gives her readers a chance to catch their breath before she hits them with another tense scene and then another and another. It is so full of cliffhangers it’s a wonder I have any nails left at all! And yet, in classic Eason style, she has successfully woven an credible love story into the suspense threads, which makes this a dream of a read for a romantic suspense lover like me!