Kav's Best Reads

Deadly Charade + Giveaway

Special Agent Kira Miller’s new career at the FBI has started–in translations. It’s not the opportunity she was hoping for to show off her skills, until she detects a lead in the paperwork. Now assigned an undercover role, she’s in her element as she gathers intel on an art smuggling ring. She’s daunted not by the mission but by her cover–posing as a married woman to the fake husband she met less than twenty-four hours ago.

Special Agent Bryce Lambert’s assignment to charade as a newlywed couple with Kira has the two of them moving next door to the prime suspects, and a relationship is the last thing he wants, fake or real. With secret auctions, hidden treasures, and a legend of art thought to be lost forever, there’s plenty to keep them busy–if only they can play the part their lives and careers depend upon while keeping their own hearts in check.

Romantic suspense novelists Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood collaborate in this fast-paced thriller that weaves high-stakes danger with a hard-fought happily ever after.

Review:

Intense and suspenseful and full of subtle edge-of-your-seat moments as well as some truly hair-raising ones. Loved the way these authors kept me off balance blending the two. And the addition of some of my favourite tropes – forced proximity and fake relationship — eeeeppp – soooooo much fun!

Okay, I’m dating myself here, but does anyone remember the TV Show ‘Sue Thomas F. B. Eye’ – particularly the episode where Jack and Sue go undercover as a married couple and move into a house next door to their suspects? Well – eeeppp — ‘Deadly Charade’ gives me those vibes only so much better! All the scrumptious details and swoony moments plus some nail-biting ones. I was in giddy bibliophile bliss all the way through.

Oh, and this is very much an opposite attracts romance as well, with Bryce being a law and order, by the book kind of agent while Kira is more impulsive and…creative. Makes for some tense situations and funny ones too. Love the way their romance develops as they gradually break down barriers and really get to know each other. Emotionally complex back stories add emotional depth and makes their HEA so satisfactory!

The suspense is just as delightful. Love the historical art heist angle with a treasure hunting flare. Intriguing investigations and plot twists galore which include more than a few gasp-out-loud moments. The kind of unputdownable read a seasoned romantic suspense reader is sure to savour.

And, woohoo, ‘Deadly Charade’ is the first book in a series which has me all kinds of excited because I’m hoping Kira’s best friends who are also in the biz, will get their own stories, including happily every afters as well, of course!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audible edition, expertly narrated by Cynthia Farrell who did an amazing job keeping up with the fast paced thrills and chills (and heart stuttering romance) of Eason’s and Underwood’s storytelling.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – 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 Deadly Charade, 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 31 2026.

Christy Awards 2026 Finalists – Short Form + 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 Short Form 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.

A Very Merry Matchup, Becca Kinzer
Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496489067

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

If there’s one thing travel nurse Ivy West prides herself on, it’s her matchmaking skills. She’s even convinced she knows her own perfect type, a man who, unlike her parents, isn’t traveling the country for the sake of a career. It doesn’t matter Ivy hasn’t met him yet. She’s sure she will in a few years. At least, it’s one of her goals. Then Beau Wall—a minor league baseball player with his sights set on the big leagues—lands in the hospital, and there’s an undeniable spark between them. No need to worry. Ivy will just match him up with her friend Lucy, and she won’t be tempted to date him herself.

A few months later, Ivy’s convinced everything’s gone perfectly when she hears Lucy’s engaged. But when Ivy arrives to spend Christmas in Iowa and celebrate the engagement, there’s one little problem. Lucy has set her up. Sure, Lucy’s engaged, but not to Beau. And Beau isn’t about to lose this unexpected shot at winning Ivy over. Neither are his mom and grandma who also try to throw the two together.

Amid twinkling Christmas lights and hours spent watching holiday movies, Ivy finds herself falling for Beau. Maybe it’s time she ditched her plans . . . because it’s looking like Beau might be her perfect match after all.

A clean, sweet love story for readers who enjoy holiday romances by Courtney Walsh, Jenny Bayliss, and Sheila RobertsA standalone Christmas novella for fans of cozy Christmas movies and opposites-attract sports romances https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/08/28/a-very-merry-matchup-giveaway/

One Nine, Sara Davison
Sara Davison, 9781069326928

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

Detective Chase Washington knows Brooke Turner is guilty of murdering her best friend. What he can’t comprehend is how she has managed to elude capture for six months. With Lenora Chambers’ blood calling out to him from the ground, Chase will stop at nothing to find Brooke Turner and bring her to justice.

When he finally tracks her down, nothing is as black and white as Chase thought. Lost in the wild with no way to communicate with the outside world and another possible suspect on their trail, Chase and his prisoner have become the prey in a desperate quest to survive.

Fans of riveting, edge-of-your-seat suspense with clean romance and spiritual truths will love this fast-paced offering. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/01/21/one-nine-giveaway/

Planning for Nickie, Tasha Hackett
Tasha Hackett, 9781965778043

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

“Fifty-three weeks is plenty of time to find a wife. One week to plan, fifty-two to execute.”
Career-obsessed Mark is history. From now on, my heart is open and ready for a family. No more fifth wheel. No more working alone through dinner in restaurant booths.
Solo Mark is out. Family man is in. As with every challenge, I’ve divided the task into a step-by-step process. While on holiday in Hadley Springs, Nebraska, I drafted the twelve-month plan. I included a detailed description of what I’m looking for and a spreadsheet for the expected timeline. Project: Find-A-Wife will commence as soon as I return home to Phoenix.
It’s all well and good until I join my cousins on a blizzard walk for a few donuts.
Who knew a chance encounter with a scrubs-wearing, sweet-smiling, schedule-wrecking woman would derail my life so efficiently?
To Do…
1. Review the plan
2. Drink coffee
~~3. Find a wife~~

To Reveal a Reckless Love, Robin Lee Hatcher
RobinSong, Inc., 9781962005173

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

In a desperate attempt to find her missing brother, Victoria Castleton leaves behind the comforts of Boston for the wild beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Her search leads her into the path of Roger Bernhardt—a gifted British artist with a guarded heart. What begins as a chance meeting soon becomes a journey neither expected.

Roger came to America seeking inspiration, not entanglement. But from the moment he sees Victoria’s determined gaze, he’s drawn to her quiet strength—and the mystery of the brother she’s willing to risk so much to find.

As their path leads from the wonders of Yellowstone to an Idaho ranch called Eden’s Gate and the small town of Gibeon, Victoria and Roger discover that God’s plans often look nothing like their own. When danger threatens the town and hearts are tested by fear and longing, they must decide if the love growing between them is only temporary—or the home they’ve both been searching for.

A story of second chances, steadfast love, and the courage to follow where God leads.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 31 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

How does this Giveaway work?

You select one of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller 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:

The Accused, Cara Putman
Kregel Publications, 9780825448058

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

When a popular college student is murdered, her international roommate, Anneliese, becomes a prime suspect. But law professor Margeaux Robbins doesn’t believe that the quiet, lonely German girl in her class is the killer.

Chase Crandall is a burned-out defense attorney ready to extricate himself from the grind of criminal law. After he loses a client to tragedy, he’s ready for an in-house corporate position.

When Chase is assigned to Anneliese’s case, Margeaux is horrified. She doesn’t want him to provide legal counsel—not after what happened to his past client. And not with the evidence incriminating Anneliese.

Despite their mutual misgivings, the lawyer and professor pair up to find the killer and prove Anneliese’s innocence. Will they be able to untangle the mystery—and navigate their growing interest in one another—before the wrong person is charged with murder?

Final Approach, Lynette Eason
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group,

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

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there’s more to this story than meets the eye–and more to love and admire about each other. They’ll have to put their skills to the test–and their hearts on the line–to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/08/12/lethal-approach-giveaway/

Girl Lost, Kate Angelo
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746636

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

Luna Rosati found acceptance and a family during childhood, but when she became pregnant at seventeen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has left–the teenage daughter she’s never met. Her mentor, Stryker, promises to reveal her daughter’s identity, but first Luna must meet him in the old neighborhood, the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.

Special Agent Corbin King changed his surname to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together toward a greater mission. But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse, Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243790

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

In 1874, a battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper named Edgar. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the unforgiving waves of Lake Superior years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, there is more at stake than just reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well.

In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel’s ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/02/09/tempest-at-annabels-lighthouse-giveaway/

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 31 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Conversations With Kav – Celebrating Indie Authors Day + Giveaway

It’s the fourth Sunday of the month and time for our new blog tradition – celebrating our independently published authors! I’m trying to read more indie books and have been thrilled to get all kinds of great recommendations from you guys so I thought it would be fun to set aside one day a month where we can chat about indie books as a way to support these hardworking, often overlooked authors.

Topics Up for Discussion

what we’re reading
new release alerts
recommended authors

Indie Author Spotlight

From time to time, I thought it would be fun to shine a spotlight on an indie author I am particularly enamoured with and this month it’s:

She is a new-to-me discovery thanks to Best Reads friend recommendations. I can’t remember who told me about her first…might have been in a Bingo entry line up? Or on one of our indie conversation days – anyway, whoever you are, THANK YOU! I blitzed through these five books in one month and I’m intending to finish the Danger in Destiny series in November.

Her books are fast reads, about the length of a Love Inspired novel, some might be a bit shorter. They are chockfull of faith and drama and suspense/mystery though I’d categorize the ones I’ve read so far as contemporary romances with a significant suspense/mystery subplot. Great characterization that gets me emotionally invested in the story and intrigue and action scenes add an extra oomph to the reading experience. The perfect escape read when you want a shorter novel without forfeiting the satisfying depth of a longer one.

It’s Been a Good Indie Reading Month for Me – about 50% of the books I’ve read have been indie and there’s still a week to go.

Let’s Start the Conversations:

And now it’s time for a chat. What indie books have you been reading this month? Already on your TBR just waiting to be noticed? New Indie Releases you are looking forward to? Share in the comments

AND LEAVE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR OF AN INDIE BOOK (CHRISTIAN FICTION OR CLEAN ROMMANCE) THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO OWN AND IF YOUR NAME IS DRAWN, THAT’S THE BOOK YOU WILL WIN.

Giveaway Opportunity:

US – paperback or ebook (check to make sure the book you choose has the edition you want, some seem to only be in ebook format.)

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible (if available) and also confirm that the book comes int he format you want

International – ebook if you have a US kindle account

You suggest an independently published Christian Fiction (or Clean Romance) already in print and leave the title and author in a comment and you will be entered in the giveaway. If your name comes up, then that’s the book you will win. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday Oct 31 2026.

October Giveaway – Week Four

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:

We’re getting close to the Christy Awards Gala where the winners will be announced so I’m doubling up the last four categories over the next two weeks so we will be up to date.

Also, I might be in a bit of a suspensey mood which is reflected in this weeks offerings. My apologies to those who don’t share my enthusiasm for the genre. 🙂 I’ll do better 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 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Tuesday

Christy Awards Finalists – Short Form

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Death Down the Aisle

Agatha Christie’s cherished housekeeper, Phyllida Bright, not only keeps the celebrated author’s home running smoothly, but she has also proven herself an accomplished sleuth. So when a murderer brings mayhem to a wedding, in this USA Today bestselling series’ latest installment, she’s on hand to sweep up the mystery…

Phyllida is delighted to receive an invitation to the wedding of her friend Dr. John Bhatt. It’s a chance to get to know his fiancée, Emily Hartparker, and to explore Coatesworth Manor—the grand seaside estate that belongs to Emily’s distant relatives. Coatesworth is now managed by Lady Artemis Coatesworth and offers ample space for a celebration. But it’s soon clear that some of the guests have intentions beyond cheering on the happy couple.

As is often the case when extended family gathers, there is bickering, not to mention an awkward love triangle between Emily’s lovely cousin Lily, her handsome ex-husband Heath, and his new wife, Tibby. Besides that, some of the other cousins—all of whom are there simply to appease Lady Artemis, who has the power to enact a morals clause in her late husband’s will that could impact the heirs’ inheritances—don’t seem to get along. Discomfiting, certainly. Dramatic for sure.

And the drama gets infinitely worse when a wedding guest is discovered dead in the small chapel only hours after the ceremony.

Phyllida immediately agrees to help discover what happened, and brings some of her staff over from Mallowan Hall, Mrs. Christie’s manor house, for cover. But with plenty of dark secrets and ugly family dynamics, it seems the killer could be any one of the Coatesworths—and that killer is dangerously motivated to keep the grisly truth from being revealed .

My Review:

This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series. Love the vintage flare, the Christie influence and especially Phyllida’s pragmatic ‘get the job done as efficiently as possible’ attitude. Part of her charm is that she thinks she’s always right, and she usually is, which should be off-putting but somehow isn’t. She’s a complex character – a little bit prickly but that just hides her compassionate heart and a complicated back story. She’s also an exceptional amateur sleuth. I think of Phyllida as a mix of Poirot’s keen investigative instincts and Miss Marple’s intuitive observational skills, especially where people are concerned.

Only the cat’s among the pigeons in this sixth ‘Phyllida Bright Mystery,’ when Phyllida’s personal life threatens to upend both her common sense and her sleuthing capabilities, which makes for a highly entertaining mystery. And oh my word, if looks could kill in between all those sizzling sparks there would surely have been another murder! Bwahahaha!

So much to love about this novel – witty banter, clever conversations, the inner workings of Phyllida’s strategic mind. Just pure bibliophile delight all the way through.

I listened to the audio edition and narrator Jennifer M. Dixon is the perfect voice to tell Phyllida’s story. She’s been consistent throughout the series which I really appreciate (hate when narrators are switched out mid series!) Dixon captures the subtle humour in Cambridge’s writing especially well and her performance made for a highly entertaining listening experience.

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

Mad Dog + Giveaway

In the next eight seconds, he will achieve everything he ever thought he wanted.
Or he will die.

Four years ago, Maddox “Mad Dog” Holt walked away from a life with the woman he loved to pursue rodeo success. Winning the championship failed to quench the drive to achieve more, so he entered the highly secretive and extremely dangerous underground X Games. Then a devastating tragedy forces him to choose between taking one last ride—the one that could see him crowned King of the X—and being there for his three-year-old niece.

Mad Dog has faced this choice before. Will he make the right one this time?

With deadly pursuers on their trail, Maddox fights to save the people he cares about the most as everything he has worked so hard for slips from his fingers. It might take losing all he has for him to finally understand what is truly important. When he does, will it be too late to get back everything—and everyone—he chose to leave behind?

My Review:

“He had eight seconds to live. Maybe less.” How’s that for an intriguing opening? And then what follows! Break neck action and a desperate escape courtesy of the girl he left behind!

Woohoo – this is the definition of a page-turner – I read ‘Mad Dog’ in one sitting because there just wasn’t a good place to leave off! There’s a second chance romance with a lot of hurt that needs forgiving, the sweetest little three-year-old sprite (Maddox’s niece) to watch over, and more than one posse of bad guys in hot pursuit. Oh, and a few plot twists to keep things interesting!

Love the way Davison blends action and intrigue with tender family moments and poignant romantic ones. Maddox and Tory make an indomitable team as they face demons from their past…and present. Love the faith elements the author has deftly woven into the story. Never heavy handed but they spark hope, even in the dark times, and shine a light on the importance of living a God entered life.

What a compulsive read! And the first in the new “Seconds to Live” series (isn’t that a deliciously ominous series title?) Tory has some brothers I wouldn’t mind learning more about. 🙂

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 Mad Dog. 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 24 2026.

In the Waves of Tristwick + Giveaway

random retro read

What is a fisherman to do when he catches a mermaid in his net? Let her go—or fall in love?

A Regency Romance
Cornwall, 1815

As a well-respected fisherman in the Cornish seas, Trevik Honeysett provides a living for many poor families in the southwest of Cornwall. Despite the most powerful fishing companies attempting to cut off his own ability to fish, Trevik refuses to give up. However, when he discovers a mysterious, injured woman entangled in his net, things become much more complicated—especially when suspicions arise that she is, in fact, a mermaid. Knowing he might very well lose his workers to their superstitious beliefs, Trevik decides to uncover just who the woman is. The only problem is…she can’t remember.

In truth, Morvoren Hollow knows exactly who she is. She merely needs to keep her identity a secret long enough to accomplish what she’d set off to do. Fortunately, pretending to be a mermaid will keep Society away long enough to do just that. Her lie becomes harder to manage, however, as her injury takes longer to heal—and as the nosy but handsome fisherman reels closer to the truth.

The two clash head-to-head as Trevik refuses to believe Morvoren is actually a siren from the sea. But such a thing would be easier to imagine than what he finally discovers about her past. Fearful of what might happen next, Morvoren must decide her next step. She can either learn to trust again—or end up truly alone.

My Review:

published in 2022

This is the kind of story that carries a reader into a fictional world to such an extent that you feel like you’ve time travelled. The way Hathaway captures the essence of time and place is phenomenal. Descriptive storytelling that doesn’t overburden the plot but leaves an indelible impression on the reader. I swear I could hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the tangy sea air while I listened to ‘In the Waves of Tristwick.’

(Excellent performance by narrator Vicki-Jo Eva, by the way. She delivered on accent and dialect and portrayed a vast number of characters from all walks of life with convincing zest. I was enthralled.)

The author captures the Cornish culture and folklore in such a captivating way. Morvoren’s dramatic rescue from the sea stirs up old legends and stubborn superstitions and it isn’t long before half of the community is convinced she actually is a mermaid. For her part, Morvoren embraces the myth as the perfect guise to hide her true identity so she can remain hidden from her uncle.

Of course, Trevik doesn’t hold with such nonsense and is suspicious of Morvoren’s true intentions and the conflict she has created among the fishermen.. Their bickering banter is pure delight as the enemies to more trope plays out to perfection in a slow-burn kind of romance full of conflicting emotions.

Rich history, sea faring lore and engaging characters all combine to deliver a charming Regency romance with a unique twist.

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 In the Waves of Tristwick, 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 24 2026.

A Seaside Wonder + Giveaway

random retro read

In one evening, Indi’s world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé…make that ex-fiance.

Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine…or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister he barely knows — one who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with a name on its storefront window that sounds familiar, a hint of a mystery nudging him inside.

More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from — though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay… until her past and present collide, shattering her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when danger comes calling at her childhood home.

The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shops months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril…and take a chance on love.

Breathtaking romance, a captivating mystery, and an enchanting wintry seaside…return to Muir Harbor in bestselling author Melissa Tagg’s latest.

My Review:

published in 2023

“You are not a mess. God sees the beauty you already are. He’s not in a hurry and you don’t have to be either.”

What a stunningly beautiful and incredibly moving story! Written in a way that pulled at all my emotions — I cried, I laughed, I swooned. Intricate details woven into a tapestry of…well…wonder! And it comes from more than just our hero and heroine’s stories. It’s in the family relationships — raw and real and imperfectly wonderful. And the way a myriad of story threads pull together, building in intensity until they are all expertly intertwined by the end. I’m truly gobsmacked at the impact ‘A Seaside Wonder’ had on me.

So rich in inspirational wisdom. Honestly, I filled a little notebook with faith quotes and tabbed so many pages…I’m not one to annotate fiction books but this one might be the exception. The kind of book that transforms the reader as much as the characters. So many profound insights! Like:

“I just wonder if instead of asking God to take the pain away, we invite Him into it.”

and…

“She’s put her trust in a God who…who maybe doesn’t make every crack disappear, but who holds all her broken pieces tenderly.”

I could go on and on and on…but you just need to read this book for yourself. Guaranteed to hold a cherished place of honour on any library shelf.

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 A Seaside Wonder, 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 24 2026.

Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Historical Romance + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

How does this Giveaway work?

You select one of the Historical Romance 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:

Belle of Chatham, Laura Frantz
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746568

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

In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides–Patriots and Loyalists–causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond.

As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.

The Collector of Burned Books, Roseanna M. White
Tyndale House Publishers, 9798400501746

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

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

Mists Over the Channel Islands, Sarah Sundin
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group,, 9780800741877

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

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot’s peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father’s medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything–providing medical aid to escaped workers even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide–or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

A renowned author of World War II fiction, Sundin showcases a compelling tale of loyalty and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/05/21/mists-over-the-channel-islands-giveaway/

Through Water and Stone, Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications, 9780825448539

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

In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son’s sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn’t diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he’s unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God.

Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers.

Talia navigates the rocky path into her past with Blake by her side, what she discovers may alter everything she knew to be true about herself. With the uncertain future looming, Talia must learn that family is deeper than genetics and that trusting God can mean being still and clinging to the Rock.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 24 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!