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.

42 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – Book Haul + Random Questions + Giveaway”

  1. Hey, Kav!

    Hmm, Audible sales. My mom and I have an Audible account but so far we have mostly relied on the free titles plus the monthly credit. This past month, I ended up buying extra credits, but I haven’t paid much attention to sales. I’m curious: It’s sounding like the sales may be more cost-effective than buying extra credits for $10+ a month? Has that been your experience?

    I had an awesome “haul” last weekend! The local library does a periodic book sale where they charge $5 for a BAG of books! I snagged a mix of picture books and paperbacks, totaling less than 40 cents a book! Such a blessing!

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    1. I am a longtime Audible member. They tend to do these sitewide sales twice a year. At least they’ve done that for the last three years or so. Once in the early part of the year and once in the later part of the year.. when they do the sitewide sale a lot of the books end up being three or four dollars apiece. If you can wait for one of the site wide sales and stock up then you can get quite a few books for what you would pay for the pack of extra credits. Now, not all of the books are that cheap during the site wide sale, but a significant portion are less than five or six dollars apiece. I spent $45 the other night and got like 17 books….

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      1. Oh wow! That’s amazing! I think I have noticed more of the “free” titles during sitewide sales. I’ll search up authors I keep an eye out for and see titles added to the free section. But wow! Sounds like some awesome deals FOR SURE. Thanks so much for responding!

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      5. Melmo, I have never noticed this type of sale before, I’m in Canada, so not sure if it’s the first time here or if I was astonishingly oblivious!? I also noticed a few weeks back that the price for buying extra credits had been reduces and you could buy a single credit now to instead of just the bundles. Clueless me didn’t realize it was a sale so I only picked up one extra credit. I thought maybe they’d permanently reduced their prices.lol A bibliophile’s dream for sure. The prices are back up but it’s still cheaper for me to buy audible books with credit than actual print books. The print books are anywhere from $24 – $30 dollars here so I can easily get two or three audible books for that price. Good luck, Melmo!

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      6. I can’t speak for the Canada side of things, but they have done this sale twice a year in the US since around 2023 because I have ended up buying a chunk every sale.…my mom, my hubby and my kids all use the account besides me so we have a LOT of books in our account❤️

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    2. Ohhhh, books in bag for $5 is an epic sale! My library has a little used book area, all our branches do but the main library depot holds a monthly sale and apparently it’s huge but also three bus rides away from me and, considering the number of books I’d try to lug back home it just doesn’t seem practical for me to go. lol Good luck, Stephanie!

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  2. Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series MUST be read in order. The characters are related and the story builds through the books. Each book is its own story, but you do not want to read them out of order…

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    1. Thanks for this info, Melmo. I have read the first book and wondered if I could skip around since I got a feel for the world building but I wasn’t sure if the time traveller characters were connected in any way so now I know. For some reason I’m really balking at the twin scenario in the second book. It feels like it would be so complicated and hard to keep track of with the two timelines. Anyway, that’s where I’m stalled.

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      1. I understand. Once you get into the story it flows really well and it wasn’t overly confusing at least for me. But each story us a subsequent generation of the family and things build overall that reading them out of order would not be advised.

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  3. Woohoo on the book hall! The Seeking Justice Novels are from Marx’s perspective and fit in after Crossed Off and before Cross the Line. They cover Collin’s trial. I literally read them last week after I read the other Holly novels and would definitely recommend reading them before Holly #4 because there are a few spoilers. There is also a Christmas novella called Holly Jolly Christmas that is included with that series, but it’s not important to the plot of the whole series.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your insider Holly scoop, Rebecca. So I’ve just finished Crossed Off so that means I read Injustice for All and Imperfect Justice next, though if they both cover Collin’s trial (why didn’t he just die in the third book??????) sounds like more angst is in store. Best to read a cozy mystery first to steady my nerves. Bwahahaha! Good luck, Rebecca!

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  4. You might be thinking of Vannetta Chapman and Joshua’s Mission. Looks like some great titles you found. Notice several Sarah Eden and a number of interesting sounding cozy mysteries. We all love sales. I have picked up a couple of books on Kindle sale this week. Their daily deals listing is helpful.

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    1. Eeeeeppppppppp!!!!!! CC, you are a wonder! That is the series – ‘Plain and Simple Miracles’ by Vannetta Chapman. Anna’s Healing, Joshua’s Misson and Sarah’s Orphans! So strange because I could picture the covers but not the titles or the author’s name and I’ve been hunting off and on for weeks now. I tried Marta Perry (so convinced it was her for ages) and Leslie Gould and Cindy Woodsmall and Tricia Goyer and well, everybody but Vannetta Chapman! You’ve made my day. Happy dancing! 🙂 Good luck, CC!

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      1. You do so many nice things for us! I am so happy for an opportunity to assist you, as I actually have one of that series in the obscurity of my book stack. Different from the typical Amish book.

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  5. A blessed Resurrection Sunday to everyone!

    I am 3 for 3 in not being able to answer any of your questions. But I am super excited about your audible haul! Yay Kav and audible readers with this great sale going on! I have tried numerous times to listen to audible samples but just can’t deal with the variety of voices. I have however been able to adapt to the voice of “Sallie” on my text-to-voice feature so I’m happy with that.

    I guess my best book haul would be my Kindle Unlimited membership. I had KU 7 months last year (1 month free) so that was $72. Being the book and numbers nerd I am, I kept track of what each book I read would have cost. I read $777 worth of books! I never would have spent that much, but at 90% off, yes! Also, of the 60 new authors I read last year, the majority were read on KU, so it’s a great way to try new authors with no risk.

    I’m off to a great start this year too. My first quarter, I’ve read $237 worth of books for $36, so I’m averaging 85% off this year. I keep telling myself I will only stay with KU as long as it covers the $12 a month cost. So far, I haven’t had any problems meeting and exceeding that, lol. Not every book I buy is on KU, but it sure helps keep my total book budget in a good place.

    I hope everyone has a great day rejoicing at all Jesus has done for us!

    tracey14567 atgmail.com

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    2. Happy Easter, Tracey. It’s been a wonderful weekend. A thoughtful and moving Good Friday service, family time on Saturday and today’s church was a celebration with a pancake breakfast and an uplifting service with the Mose stirring music.

      No worries about being clueless, Tracey 🙂 I have the answer to all my questions. You are still my star reporter for inside scoops on current CF trivia! Bwahahaha! I’m so surprised that you prefer your AI Sallie to a real live narrator. I’m the exact opposite. Mind you, there are narrators that I don’t enjoy and will definitely not listen to. I always check the sample to see if I jive with the narration before buying an audio book. Well, usually I do, this week I might have been too bedazzled by the sale prices to be as thorough as I usually am.

      I love your nerdy book accounting. I’ve never tried that. So encouraging to see how much you save with KU. I’m likely the same with audible. Good luck, Tracey!

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  6. Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

    Regarding Timeless – you’ll definitely get more for reading them in order (especially if you care about family trees, and this has the world’s most complicated family tree, as everyone has lived in multiple time periods), but I’d say as long as you read book 6 last, they’re largely stand-alone. There will be some spoilers for events of previous books, but it’s usually in passing (“My mother lived in such-and-such a timeline and survived this catastrophic event”). So it depends on how surprised you want to be. In my opinion, book 3 had the most surprising plot twist that does get spoiled in subsequent books, so I’d read that one early on. Book 6 really brings the series full circle, referencing pretty much everything that came before it, so that one must be read last.

    It looks like the new Timeless book coming out in May is the same concept, but probably with a new family/characters, so I’m guessing that one will be safe to read whenever, but if anyone has read an early copy, I’d be glad to hear if my theory is correct!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Yikes, I never thought about a family tree! I can see how that’s would be complicated. Thanks for sharing these details. I have read the first book, am not super keen on the second book — the twins angle seems like it would be way to much so sounds like I could jump right to the third book and go on from there. Also — I didn’t realize that the new Timeless book coming out in May is essentially a new series so that might be the place to jump in too. Thanks, Rachael. Good luck!

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  7. Gotta make this quick. Shingles have spread all around my body from lower front to back on one side. So sick & in so much pain. But I love your book haul! How mouth watering! Like Tracey said, I’m happy with Sallie on my Kindle. I also don’t care for the different voice inflections on audiobooks. It sounds like my teacher at school reading to us when I was a kid. lol Have a blessed resurrection Sun everyone!

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      1. Oh Diane, I am so sorry! Nerve been is vicious and that it’s spreading is awful! I’ve lived in fear of shingles since I wrecked my leg and got nerve damage so I got the shingles vaccine as soon as I could. Praying for you, my friend!

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      2. Kav, I had a bad experience with the flu vaccine years ago! So no more vaccines for me. Especially not Covid since they didn’t really have time to test it. I’d see shingle vaccine ads on tv & just ignored them saying, “I’ll never get that.” Never say never. I have had leg nerve pain since surgery & didn’t associate the two. The anti-viral horse pills make you sick so that just adds to it. I don’t think they’re working. Blisters have spread all over my right side. I’m a miserable soul. 😢 Thank you for prayers.

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  8. Blessed Resurrection Sunday to all Best Readers AND KAV!! I NEVER had a book haul (except in my dreams) but will share that my daughter donated over 36 books to the small library in my apartment complex. Soooo many readers were thrilled….some patients in the next door nursing home also loved the books. This library relies on donations to function. jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    2. That’s wonderfu, Jackie. Sounds like you have a little free library in your apartment complex. That’s such a neat idea. All apartment buildings should do that. I’ve been contemplating moving to an apartment and if I do, I’ll definitely look into doing this in some form or other. Thanks for the inspiration. Good luck, Jackie!

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  9. Happy Easter!!!

    The Timeless Series in my opinion is to be read in order. Otherwise you get spoilers for past books. And they can be pretty big spoilers sometimes. So I would recommend reading it in order. I haven’t read the Holly series yet.

    I love book hauls. I get a lot from my library sale room and thrift stores. Also our community college has a library and they have the best sale table. Then whenever I travel to see my mom or family I always try to make it to their thrift stores and libraries.

    Between that and getting free books from publishers for promoting and reviewing, I never really have to buy. I keep everyone in my family and friends in books because of this. I’m like their book dealer lol

    Anyway, you got some awesome books and I can’t wait for your reviews on some of them!

    sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. I usually avoid series that need to be read in order but I started enjoying them more when I began reading cozy mysteries. In my opinion cozies need to be read in order because of character and relationship developments. The Holly series is one that I am being very deliberate about reading in order so I’ve appreciated the input form Best Reads Holly fans. Thanks for your Timeless advice — who knew that series would take off the way it did? So unique. I wonder if Gabrielle Meyer had a lot of ‘nos’ before the first book was accepted.

      Sounds like you have lots of opportunities to thrift books in your area. Nothing like the thrill of a book sale to add a sense of adventure to our bibliophile lives! And I love that your share your book wealth. You’re a living little free library! 🙂 Good luck, Sarah!

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  10. Happy Easter! Yay for your awesome book haul! I’m always looking at my “extensive” Amazon list and try to buy my ebooks when they’re on sale. I also browse my library’s sales room and occasionally find a book there too.

    I think I read that the Timeless series will total 10 books. I’m up to date and am looking forward to the next one coming in May!
    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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    1. Happy Easter, Sandy! Wow, a ten book series has to be a record for Christian fiction, I think, other then the Jan Karon series. So thrilled for the author and I really need to get into this series! One of the fun pastimes for us bibliophiles is browsing our wishlists in anticipation of future reading thrills. Kinda like window shopping for fashionistas 🙂 Good luck, Sandy!

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  11. As far as book hauls go, our library has two big sales a year. The first one, books are $1 each and the second , they go down to 50 cents each. I missed the last one because I was working at a garage sale tor church. But I did win gift cards recently: $35 to Baker which I chose 3 preorders. The newest from Gabrielle Meyer, Jocelyn Green and Jaime Jo Wright.
    Then I won a $150 to CBD. Still trying to figure that one out but there are 15 books and ebooks in my cart and I still have about $5 to go! I was gobsmacked!
    I have won several $100 giftcards to Amazon in the past.
    Timeless series: I love them and I think they need to be read in order.

    Holly series: I love them and have read most of them and read the books in order of publication.
    Another long series is Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon, which #12 will be out on next Tuesday. And it will have a few more.
    Some of the older published authors have long series too, I am thinking House of Windslow by Gilbert Morris and several by Al Lacy. The Brides of Montclair by Jane Peart. Karen Kingsbury Baxter series and spinoffs.
    Have a wonderful Easter everyone! He is Risen!

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    1. Whoa! Those are some wins! What fun and then the puzzling over the perfect books to buy! That makes for an extra special book haul.

      Yes, the consensus seems to be I need to read the Timeless books in order and now I have a lot of catching up to do! I love the Hope Harbor series and the neat thing about that one is that the books can be read out of order though it’s fun to revisit with favourite secondary characters and bask in the whole Hope Harbor vibe. I have Harbor Pointe on preorder and guess what I will be reading sas soon as I wake up on Tuesday morning?! I am soooooooo excited!

      Happy Easter, Paula. Good luck!

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