Conversations With Kav – It’s Indie Day! + Giveaway

It’s the fourth Sunday of the month and time for a 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.

  • what we’re reading
  • new release alerts
  • recommended authors

Here’s a snapshot of the indie books I read since we chatted last month:

As you can tell, it’s heavy on the cozy mysteries, especially one particular author. Eryn Scott is a fairly new-to-me author and I have become obsessed! I’ve added her to my ‘read to zero’ list and I’m well on my way! Eryn writes clean (no swears, no innuendos etc.) cozy mysteries with a wonderful combination of cozy vibes and heartfelt mysteries. Her heroines are relatable, insatiably curious, sometimes bordering on TSTL but never crossing the line 🙂 and, bonus, all the series I’ve read so far develop a sweet romance that slowly builds with each book. Absolute cozy perfection as far as I’m concerned! I highly recommend checking out Eryn Scott if you are a cozy mystery fan like me. And, FYI, a lot of her books are on Kindle Unlimited.

Eryn Scott series I have read and loved:

  • Murder at the Morrisey Mysteries – setting is in a boutique apartment building in Seattle and features a friends to more romance
  • Whiskers and Words Mysteries — features a bookstore that doubles as a cat rescue centre. I thought I had finished this series but I see that more books have come out so, yay, more visits to Button for me!
  • Pebble Cove Mysteries – a lightly paranormal (ghosts) tea room cozy with the most romantical subplot I’ve come across in a cozy mystery series. I was so invested in these characters!
  • The Stoneybrook Mysteries – a fun twin connection, Hadley is the amateur sleuth while her brother is the deputy working the official investigation. I’ve just read the first three so far and I am loving this series too!

Two Independently Published May Releases I am looking forward to:

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?

Ooopppsss — my mistake this isn’t an indie release — it’s published by Barbour Fiction

Can the Matchmaker Find True Love?
Emma-Jane (EJ) Bennett and Jordan Knight are longtime best friends who codesigned the immensely successful dating app, Dream Match. Success starts to go to EJ’s head when she gets caught up in the famous and money-hungry social circles and starts dating the son of a TV mogul. But Jordan’s feelings have grown from friendship to more. He determines to protect her by exposing Eric Churchill for the two-timer he is, finally agreeing to attend a function with her at the Sydney Opera House. But his best intentions go awry when EJ is embarrassed and runs for the security of home, small-town roots, and The Silver Teapot Café, feeling like Jane Austen’s chastised Emma–only without her Mr. Knightley.

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 May 30 2026

62 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – It’s Indie Day! + Giveaway”

  1. Ooooooh Toni Shiloh does more indie stuff than I thought! I didn’t even know about this one. I’d definitely choose Anchor Cove because I enjoy the warmth that Toni Shiloh infuses into her stories.

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. This one surprised me. I just noticed it on instagram yesterday and ordered it right away. I love Toni Shiloh’s books and thought we’d have to wait until later in the year for her Christmas book to come out. Good luck, Perrianne!

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  2. An indie book I can recommend I came across on KU was No Punchline for This by Vanessa Richards, maybe a pen name, no info on author. It appears to be her second book, published using a digital hub called CLaW publishing. I gave this one a try and it was really good. The cover drew me in and then the unique storyline. It’s about a standup comedian who’s been traveling 2 years and called home to take care of her nephews. It’s written in a very different form of storytelling, it’s funny, deep, uplifting, healing, touching.

    An indie book I’m looking forward to releasing on Thursday is Love that Lasts by Valerie M. Bodden. It’s the start of a new series and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll read this one on KU but have my eyes open for other indies this week.

    Remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom this Memorial Day weekend.

    Happy reading to all.

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation, No Punchline for This is available here and at a reasonable price. Woohoo! But, wait, I’m not supposed to buy any more books until I move. Oops. I’m not sure that I’ve read anything by Valerie M. Bodden, though I have heard of her. I’ll have to look into her. Happy Reading, Tracey!

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  3. Good morning, Kav! How’s the moving coming along?

    Chelsey Welwood has a new book releasing this summer (date unknown yet) called By Mercy Unbroken. Her last book Where Stillness Speaks was outstanding.

    This sounds pretty good, Swimming to the Surface by Kristin Billerbeck. I think it’s a revised edition & I heard about it from Denise Hunter.

    Of Flaw and Scorn by Vera Bell was super good! Vikings are out of my comfort zone, but this was SO romantic!

    Stronger Than the Storm by Deena Adams was another good one!

    My choice would be: Forget Me Knot by B.R. Goodwin

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, Kav!
    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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      2. Sometimes you’re in the mood for intense and other times you want something more lighthearted. Right now I’m reading Denise Hunter’s new book. They’re always angsty but not too deep.

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    2. I still have Where Stillness Speaks creeping its way up on my TBR pile! B.R, Goodwin is an author I want to read more of. I have one of her books on my TBR right now as well — Honeysuckle something, I think. Hope I haven’t already packed it. 🙂 Speaking of which, the moving stuff is going well. I’ve completed all the gardening chores including emptying out the gardening shed. I wanted to get all that out of the way before it gets too hot. Good luck, Diane! (Hope you are feeling tons better!)

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      1. You’ll enjoy Chelsey’s when you get a chance to read it! Good idea about emptying out your gardening shed 1st. Will you have somewhere at your new place where you can garden? Or at least have some flowers?

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      3. Oh that’s right. Weren’t we discussing geraniums & other nice potted flowers for that spot? 🤔 My brain has been befuddled the past couple of months for sure! I’m steadily reading, but it takes so long to finish a book. 🐢🐌

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  4. I checked my amazon list and remembered this suspense series, great covers attracted me, but they sound interesting too. I’m going to read book one (that I already own) this week, Collision Course by Jorgia Yates, Hightower Security series. It has good ratings, so I hope I like it. I’m going to go ahead and take a leap of faith and throw my name in for book 2, Lethal Deceit.

    Thanks Kav! tracey14567 atgmaildotcom

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      1. After reading book one I couldn’t wait, so I read book 2 🤷‍♀️

        can I exchange my pick for Passive Attack by Jorgia Yates? I hope so, thanks

        And yes these suspense are high octane in intensity, but so good!

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  5. I haven’t read any Anna Travis books yet. Toni shilo is an amazing author. The plight of light by anna travis I would be interested in reading.

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  6. I hadn’t seen that one by Toni Shiloh… I haven’t read anything of hers in a couple years. But always enjoy them.

    Another series that I think is in the published is Magnolia Bluff by Leslie Kirby DeVooght. I read the first book in the series, but haven’t read the other two. So I would love a copy of How To Sparkle.

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    1. It came out of nowhere for me too. Excited to read it. Eeeeepppp, I did not realize there was a third Magnolia Bluff novel out — and just out, April 30. Woohoo! Ahem, thanks for the tip, Patty, that totally passed me by. Good luck, Patty!

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  7. Yay for indie books! I didn’t know about Toni Shiloh’s new one.

    I’d choose A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton. Thanks for the giveaway! Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  8. Eryn Scott is a new to me author and it appears that I really NEED to check out her books.  Thanks for the heads up and more books to add to my TBR list.  Love Toni Shiloh’s book so that one is already on my list.

    If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I would LOVE the opportunity to read ARIE’S APRIL ADOPTION by Rachel J. Good

    Release date – April 3, 2026

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Do check out Eryn Scott since I know you enjoy cozy mysteries too. You can never have to many books on your TBR list! Bwahahaha! I find this multiple authored Amish series very intriguing. One for every month of the year and lots of familiar authors and a few new-to-me ones. What a great idea. Good luck, Kay!

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  10. I’m going to choose To Love a Lady by Gabrielle Meyer. It’s been on my wish list for a while.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  11. Even some of the traditionally published authors are going indy for some books.

    The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  12. Yay for another chance to mention Lori Benton’s new book A Scattering of Light! I’d really like to read that one. Thanks for this new blog feature, Kav!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  15. I’ve enjoyed all the books by Rachael Bloome and already have ebook copies. I also have read all books by Rebecca Hartt, except for the latest, Flee From Evil, so that is my choice. Thanks, Sandyavery at comcast dot net.

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  17. This is always such a fun Day! It is tricky now since so many trad have went hybrid now but I’m glad they are so we get to read more of their awesome stories!!

    Some of my favorite indies are

    Anne Perrualut (esp her Arabian Night Series)

    Pegg Thomas (Forts Of Refuge Series is the BEST!)

    Temperance Johnson (Amish River Series is my favorite so far)

    Urcelia Teixeira ( Valley of Death Series HIGHLY recommend!)

    Jenny Knifper(I’m collecting all her books as she recently quit writing due to her MS getting extremely worse and I’m so sad about that!)

    Some new ones whose books are on my ever growing TBR

    A Poppy in Rememberance by Michelle Rule(esp fitting for Memorial Day)

    The Shadow Gospel by Rebecca Pruett

    Even if I Perish by Terrie Todd

    I am In Here by Creston Mapes

    The Bible of Blackwater County by Jenny Cafaro(not sure if it is CF although I found it in a Christian Fiction FB group)

    Love At First Light by Stephanie Grace Whitson

    The Splendor of Fire by Ashley Worrell(she’s an amazing Christian lady. I absolutely love her)

    Through the Waters by Embassie Susberry

    All the Kings Horses by Faith Mathewson

    Mist O’er the Voyager by Naomi Musch

    Shifting Sands by Kathi Peterson

    A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton

    Come Forth As Gold by Erica Dansereau

    Storm at Nottingham Castle by Ann Fryer

    The Witness Tree by Denise Weimer (not sure if it’s indie, might just also be a really tiny publisher)

    This should give you plenty of recommendations for your indie list lol🤣

    Also I know it isn’t indie, but have you checked out Baker Book House Preorder section recently?! There have been so many releases coming out that are so unique and interesting! I went through it and it added like 25 books on my TBR!

    The Book I’d Choose If I Won Would Be

    Wages of Sin by Urcelia Teixeira.

    Thnx Kav!

    sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom

    That’s so sad you can’t order books until you move! Hopefully you can get settled in quickly to start adding to your collection again!

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    1. Whoa! Love this list of indie books/authors! Thanks, Sarah. I’ll have some fun checking all these out. I’m working my way through Urcelia Teixeira’s Angus Reid series — haven’t explored any of her other books yet, but I am enjoying her storytelling. Just really lagging behind with the reading! Argh — you’ve distracted me, I keep sneaking over to Amazon to check out the authors on your list. lol Noooo, I must pack a few boxes first! Good luck, Sarah!

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  18. I didn’t realize Carolyn Miller’s book was independently published, I always learn something new here! 😜 One that I’m pretty sure is indie published is “To Speak His Name” by Tara Johnson

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    1. Sylvia corrected me on Carolyn Miller’s book, I am afraid I just assumed her book was indie since so many of them are but I was wrong. It’s a Barbour Publication! So, reminder to me to fact check and to you to not believe everything I say. Bwahahahaha! Good luck, Sabrina!

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  19. These Long Shadows by Jennifer Mistmorgan looks good. I’ve read book one and enjoyed it. Book two is on my kindle, but I don’t have book three.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

    Also, the The Silver Teapot series by Carolyn Miller aren’t indie published. They are published by Barbour Fiction.

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    1. Thanks for the fact check on Carolyn Miller’s book! I’ll have to post a disclaimer next to it in my post. Oops. These Long Shadows looks really good – World War II and marriage of convenience sounds intriguing. Good luck, Sylvia!

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  20. I’m currently reading The Carpenter by Pegg Thomas, and am enjoying it! I also went back to look at the books I’ve read so far this year, and was surprised to see how many were independently published. As far as the giveaway portion goes, I would pick The Letter by Edwina Kiernan 

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    1. Well you just sent me down an internet rabbit hole! I’m quite captivated by Edwina Kiernan and everything I’ve read about her and her books. Sounds right up my alley. Good luck, Bridget!

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  21. I’m excited about Joanna Davidson Politano’s new Indie book, The Life She Forgot! Fun to see her branching into the Indie world!

    Alison Boss
    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. Gracie Ruth Mitchell is another indie published author I enjoy (not sure if all hers are indie or not), but she had one come out in February that I have not been able to get my hands on. It’s called To All the Guys I Loathed Before. I have read and enjoyed the first two books of the series. If chosen, I would love to win this one 🙂 cilydav at hotmail dot com

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  23. Have you read The One With the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel? I love it so much! I read it on KU but would love a print copy for my shelves. Thanks Kav! Happy indie reading!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  24. I just discovered Pegg Thomas, who apparently has a huge backlist of Indie titles! She writes primarily colonial fiction, and I’m always happy to find more authors for that time period. I’d love to read her novel Native Patriot (which just came out at the beginning of this month).

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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    1. I have heard of Pegg Thomas but I haven’t read any of her books…maybe a novella in a collection? Possibly? Sounds like she writes the same kind of stories/settings as Laura Frantz. Not a hugely popular era so that’s exciting. Good luck, Rachael!

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  25. I don’t know how to find Independently Published books. Help! I will go with one I had on our Apr-June Indie Fiction Sunday.
    Long Trail Home (Wagon Train Matches, Book 9 of 9) by Lacy Williams – Lacy Williams Books LLC, February 26, 2026 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

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  26. A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips would be my choice… says it a retelling of the story of Ruth, which has me excited! Blessedmommy3x AT gmail DOT com .

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