Conversations With Kav – Celebrating Indie Authors 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.

Topics Up For Discussion

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

Here’s a look at my Indie Reading in August

I didn’t read as many indie books this month as I planned, though I guess there’s a few days left in the month to catch up. Only two were on the priority list I made up at the beginning of the month – The Lumberjack From the Cabin Next Door and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie – the rest were whimsical mood reads after my audible sale blitz. 🙂

What I’m Reading Now:

Tracey put me onto this series and I ordered the first book quite a while ago but it’s been languishing on my TBR pile. I’ve been in a suspense-y mood, so I picked this one up today and started reading. I’m already shocked, might even be mildly traumatized depending on if what I think happened actually did happen. Yikes!

The Fall Series I’m Hoping to Read as the Books Release:

So far I’m on track and the audible edition for the third book releases the same time as the ebook and paperback editions so I’ll be able to keep up this week at least. (They mentioned that the audiobooks might not always be available on the release dates.) I’m enjoying the fall vibes / rom/com mix and looking forward to getting to the heart of all the romances. 🙂

These are the same authors who did the ‘Falling for Summer’ series a couple of years back. They’ve also collaborated on ‘The Christmas Escape’ series. I haven’t read any books in that series – have any of you? I’m thinking of targeting it for some of my holiday reading but I haven’t looked into it yet.

Let’s start the conversation:

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 August 29 2026.

58 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – Celebrating Indie Authors Day + Giveaway”

  1. Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now, eek! I read Collision Course 3 months ago and totally forgot about that opening when I recommended it to you. It such a good book though and I’ve read the entire series and prequel. That’s saying a lot for this scaredy cat reader. So, try not to hold that opening against me. I’ve even read her new series book Breach, and it was excellent so I can recommend that one too for fans of romantic suspense.

    I have kept my Kindle Unlimited subscription going all year and have read dozens of indies on there. I know indies can be hard to find, so here are some I can recommend that were 5 stars for me:

    Who Names the Stars by Deborah Raney

    Hearts in Harmony by Amity Hope (pen name for LIS writer Amity Steffen)

    A Heart in Bloom by Deanna Lilly, perfect small town romance

    I have a new author/indie to read this week, Rebecca Meek. Summer at Caroling Creek. It looks good.

    I also bought Vanetta Chapman’s newest indie, The Reimagined Life of Jade Morrow, but haven’t gotten to it yet.

    Almost every indie I come across is on KU so I don’t have an entry yet. I’ll be watching for what others pick or recommend.

    *Bonus intrepid reporter alert! all 3 books in Karen Barnett’s National Park series are on sale through tomorrow for ebook readers @$3.99, When Stone Wings Fly, Where Trees Touch the Sky and Through Water and Stone.

    Have a great Sunday Kav and Best Readers! I’ll be diving back into Things We Cannot Keep by Amanda Cox after church.

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    1. Whimper. 😦

      Thanks for all those indie book suggestions. Some of them have made their way into my TBR Recommends book. Some of them aren’t available in paperback, at least in Canada. And thanks for that great ebook deal announcement. Definitely a series worth reading. I still have one to left to get to. Oh — and I belatedly checked this new multi-authored fall series and all the books are on KU, in the US anyway. Happy Reading, Tracey!

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  2. Good morning, Kav, and fellow book lovers! Seems it’s been awhile since I’ve visited. I have been reading all the blog posts on my Kindle (which won’t let me reply on here anymore), just not commenting. I dread gettting on this PC, but it’s actually being nice to me today! 🙂 I’ve read more indies than these but I’d have to hop on GRs & my time is limited bc hubby wants breakfast. No, I didn’t marry a man who cooks, but he does everything else for me, so there is that!!

    I’ve read:
    To Chase the Stars by Tara Johnson
    A Cup Refilled by Sarah Price
    Love That Lasts by Valerie Bodden
    Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas
    Sapphire Island by Creston Mapes

    Looking forward to reading in Aug:
    Mercy Unbroken by Chelsey Welwood (she hasn’t given us an exact date yet, but is hoping for end of Aug)
    Weight of Guilt by Christy Barritt (Aug 31)
    When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage by Joanna Davidson Politano
    Everlasting Love by Latisha Sexton . . . and a few traditionally published books in between. Will see how THAT goes. lol

    Just started The Sacrifice by MaryLu Tyndall yesterday. Releases Sept 8th

    Would love to win:

    Everlasting Love by Latisha Sexton (the 1st book was so good!)

    Have a blessed Sun, Kav, and thanks for the giveaway opportunity! dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. Where Stillness Speaks came out on August 29, 2025. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Chelsey releases Mercy Unbroken on that day, exactly one year later. we’ll see, I’m watching for it 🙂

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      1. Tracey, I hope you’re right! Just hoping it doesn’t go into Sept before it releases. It’s not like I don’t have anything else to read in the meantime, though. lol Have a blessed Sun, my friend.

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    2. Happy to see your smiling….um…comment…here today! Perhaps your PC is cooperating because it felt slighted for being ignored. Gotta make it feel like you are gracing it with your presence. 🙂 Fair trade if you do the cooking and he does everything else, I say. Bwahahaha!

      Love your list! I guess I best get cracking on Where Stillness Speaks by Chelsey Welwood, if her second book is releasing so soon. I know you and Tracey and so many others have raved about it. Weight of Guilt looks really good but yikes, another Fog Lake spin off. I haven’t caught up with the second one. The suspense in this one sounds really intriguing though. I wonder if I can skip over 4+ books. lol Happy Reading, Diane!

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      1. My computer & I have a love/hate relationship. I need to be nice, though, bc he’s (maybe he’s a she?) the only way right now I can comment on your blog. My phone & tablet are quite snobby lately as well. He’s a great hubby. Doesn’t mop or clean toilets either, but well, can’t quite blame him for that lol So he actually doesn’t do everything!

        That list of TBRs are for Aug only. I have a lot more for the rest of the year. YIKES! As far as I recall I didn’t read all of the Fog Lake series, just the ones that struck my fancy. So I’m ok with reading Christy’s spin off. Oh, you will love Where Stillness Speaks! It’s a must read for sure!

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  3. This month I read the last two books in Jody Hedlund’s Waters of Time series, which are indie, and I’m currently reading the second book in Lynne Basham Tagawa’s The American Puritans series, Jezebel’s Children (sooo good!)

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    1. Elly! So glad to hear from you. I was worried since I think you live in an area that was hard hit by storms a couple of weeks ago. And here you are reminding me that I haven’t read the last Waters of Time book and my library has the whole series which is astonishing! Are you going to submit an indie title for the giveaway? Happy Reading!

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      1. Ha! I totally forgot to add a title! I meant to name Partin: The Taken by Riley J. Perrie (not to be confused by Partin: The Chosen😄)

        And yes! We had EXTREME flooding and my entire town was closed off. I was staying with my sister at the time and couldn’t go home. The river broke its all-time record in flood height😬 Fortunately, my house was unaffected and none of my family had their houses flooded. There were a LOT of houses and businesses that were devastated though.

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  4. Good Indie Sunday Morning,

    I read a few indies this past month:

    Until April by Janet Ferguson

    A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton

    What About the Song by Rebecca Reed (The aHeart of Nashville book 3)

    A Lot Like Lavender by B.R. Goodwin

    Horseshoes and Honeymoons by Jody Hedlund

    The Bodyguard’s Fall by Cindy Steel

    Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage by Rebecca Connolly

    On My List To Read:

    What About Something New by Andrea Christenson

    Autumn on my Mind (thanks Kav!)

    The Lumberjack from the Cabin Next Door (from your and others high recommendation)

    On the Fence About You by Emily Conrad

    When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage by Joanna Davidson Politano

    Resisting the Fall by Jess Heileman

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    1. I like your indie TBR list, Sandy! You read some great books this month. A Lot Like Lavender was a book I wanted to get this month but I haven’t read the Goodwin book already on my TBR pile sooooooooo….What About the Song? sounds good. I like the equine therapy angle, but it’s in the third the series. Do you think it could be read out of order? Do you have an indie title you’d like to suggest for the giveaway? Happy Reading, Sandy!

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      1. I’d say that The Heart of Nashville books could be read out of order. The series is about a friend group, each one getting a stand alone romance story, but still having the friend interactions that support the other characters.

        I forgot my pick…I’ll go with The Lumberjack from the Cabin Next Door. Thanks and Happy Reading!

        Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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  5. I haven’t read any indie books this month and am not sure about what new releases are coming, but if Laura Frantz does another indie, I’ll be all over that 🙂 For the giveaway, the indie book I’d still love to read is Lori Benton’s A Scattering of Light. No big surprise there! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  6. I just finished A Scattering of Light by Benton. Sooooooo good!

    The one I’m looking for is: When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage by Joanna Davidson Politano

    kathrynlvossATgmailDOTcom

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  7. Ok, we took a short, 2 day trip north to visit friends we haven’t seen in two years. Had an amazing, albeit way too short, time! This morning as we were preparing to leave (like 5 minutes before doing so), I took a very rough tumble face forward. Knew I hit hard on my right knee, then left elbow, ending up face planting. Didn’t break my glasses, but sure had to do some work to get them right afterwards and left bruise on the right side of my nose. Sit for a bit and since nothing was broken, knew we needed to it the road. Every stop for break for our two chihuahuas, it got rougher to get out of the truck. We’ve been home to grab a fast bite, tend to the furbabies and that’s it. Nothing else will get done tonight. Praying I can get out of bed in the morning for physical therapy appointment on hand (least of my worries now) at 9 tomorrow. All this to say, my brain is fried. I do know I need to read more Indie books.

    If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I would love the opportunity to read SPECIAL TARGET by Jerusha Agen, which I’ve wanted to read for a few months. Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  8. An Indie book I want to read is A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton.

    Two Indie books I’ve read this year and enjoyed are Beyond the Melody by Amanda Cabot and To Win a Crown by Rachel Hauck.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  9. I haven’t read a lot of Indie books lately. I do have Joanna Davidson Politano’s new book When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage on my TBR list to read very soon, and also Janet Ferguson’s Until April.

    I’d love to read Deborah Raney’s Who Names the Stars.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot ocm

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  11. I did read most of The Christmas Escape series, and I did DNF one as it was going into a love triangle and I wasn’t enjoying the audio version. My favorite was Cindy Steel’s Faking Christmas. I am also hoping to keep up with this fall series. I am already behind, but I haven’t started reading fall books yet.

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    1. Good to know. I’m really intolerant of love triangles at this point. I was reading a cozy romance – general market – that turned into a love triangle with two really nice guys I’m just , nope, not interested so I DNFed it. Happy Reading, Cindy! (don’t forget to add a book title if you want to be in the giveaway.)

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  12. I’ve been racking my brain for a non-KU indie and when I checked my list I remembered Stephania McGee’s new one Mist on the Waters so throw me in for that one. It’s third in a series but I’ve heard it reads fine as a standalone. Something about that cover just speaks to me.

    Thanks Kav! tracey14567 atgmail.com

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    1. I’m surprised at the number of books that are available in KU. I know the author doesn’t make as much as she would if she outright sold a copy of the book. And I’m thinking they are paid by pages read? Anyway, handy for ebook readers to have such a resource available to them. Good luck, Tracey!

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      1. I’ve seen authors in FB groups discussing KU and a good number of them said they did pretty well with it. I think they get more exposure that way too. I’ve read so many books I probably wouldn’t have read otherwise and found some favorite authors that way. I think it has to be advantageous or they would remove their books from there.

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  13. I don’t keep up with indie authors as well as I should and haven’t read any recently. I know Elizabeth Camden has done a few and I think Becky Wade is completely indie now.  I’ve followed Joanna Davidson Politano whom I believe is hybrid.  I’m not yet familiar with Jorgia Yates at all, so I’ll have to check out her novels.

    The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano would be my choice for the drawing.

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

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    1. Um, Covert Risk by Jorgia Yates it’s free on the US Amazon Kindle site! That’s very timely to check out one of her novels.

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  14. I don’t know if I have read any Indy books this month. It’s hard to tell.
    my pick would be Lori Benton A Scattering of Light.
    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

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  15. I love indie authors! They tend to make their e-books available on Kindle Unlimited and I feel like I’m really getting my money’s worth out of that subscription. Here are my 5 star indie reads this year…

    By favorite authors: The Bodyguard’s Fall by Cindy Steel, Autumn on My Mind by Gracie Ruth Mitchell, Off the Ice by Lucy McConnell, A Match of Misfortune by Jess Heileman, A Most Unfortunate Happenstance by Esther Hatch, You Again by Jen Atkinson, No Match Found by Martha Keyes, Never Say Maybe by Savannah Scott, Miss Cordelia Finds Herself Arranged by Amanda Panhorst, Love Catch by Laura Langa, The Marriage Trap and Mr. Darcy’s Folly by Melanie Rachel, Love You Later by Julie Christianson, Love at First Gripe by Emily Evermore, The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair, The Setup Man by Kate Watson, Frost and Flame by Savannah Scott, Between the Shelves by Kasey Stockton, Try for Love by Dana LeCheminant, Of Pixies and Pekoe by Shari L. Tapscott, Love & Letter Charms and Frost & Fae Bargains by Rachel Morgan

    New to me authors: Not a Fan and Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes by Shelbey Kendall, A Practical Man by Grace Gibson, Forget Me Knot and Head Over Wheels by B.R. Goodwin, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 1-8 by Beth Brower.

    I’ve read several new-to-me authors from Instagram recommendations and they usually turn out to be 3-4 star books, but I’m always hopeful! Here are the authors on my list I still need to try: Rachel Turner, Abigail Nadine, Jaye L. Knight, Ashley Funk, Kendra Hope, Bekah Overbey, Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht, Sarah Sutton, Mari Loyal, Elise Haynes, Melissa J. Sweet, Susan Henshaw, Brooke Gilbert, Sophie Irving, Tracy Baack, Genny Carrick, Ashley Dill, Jordan Abitz, Molly Barlowe, Grayson Long, Sharon M. Peterson, Stacy Williams, Melissa Lark, Rebecca Jo Jackson, Elise Haynes

    Re-reads: Manor For Sale, Baron Included; The Earl’s Hideaway and There Goes the Groom by Esther Hatch, All for You by Heather B. Moore, Not Friends by Rachel John, Falling Under by Sydney Muse, Holiday Machinations and How to Fall in Love with a Man You Thought You Hated by Elizabeth Adams, Insta Kiss by Jen Atkinson, Just a Date by Jenessa Fayeth, Unequal Affection by Lara S. Ormiston, The Midnight Princess by Keira Dominguez, Snow Trouble at All and The Relationship Clause by Emily Evermore, A Christmas Spark, Stranded Ranch, and The Cowboy Game by Cindy Steel

    Books I’m looking forward to: Evie and the Big Bad Bodyguard by Kaylee Baldwin, Never Not Friends by Kortney Keisel, The Fall Classic by Kate Watson, Once Upon a Fall by Becky Monson, Resisting the Fall by Jess Heileman, Falling for Keeps by Kasey Stockton, Fall Fake-Out by Kortney Keisel, Forbidden to Fall by Martha Keyes, Autumn Kissed by Deborah M. Hathaway, Off Script by Martha Keyes, Second Down and Second Chances by Leah Dobrinska, Welcome to Camp Kismet by Emily Evermore, Movers and Fakers by Annah Conwell, Wild Card by Lucy McConnell, Tangled With the Tight End by Savannah Scott, The Maid and the Mistletoe by Deborah M. Hathaway, Holly & Folly by Martha Keyes, The Secret Suitor by Kasey Stockton, Nothing to See Here by Dana LeCheminant

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    1. Whoa, you’ve given me lots to research! Thanks for sharing all that. True confession: when I’m checking out an indie author I’m unfamiliar with, I check Good Reads for friendly reviews and when I see your 4 or 5 stars I know it’ll likely be a fit for me. 🙂 Don’t forget to enter an indie title for the giveaway. Happy Reading, Heidi!

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      1. I totally do the same thing! I love that Goodreads puts friend reviews at the top. So glad my ratings are helpful!

        The One With the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel

        colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  16. The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano would be my choice for the drawing.

    I just started branching into Indie authors. This chat has given me a whole new list of them. 😀 I just finished reading Chronicles of Cashel (The Time Traveling Matchmaker Book 1) by Joi Copeland, which was very good. This is a new series for her.

    On My List To Read:

    When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage by Joanna Davidson Politano

    Waters of Time series by Jody Hedlund, which are Indie, I believe.

    High Tower Security series by Jorgia Yates

    Thanks for this fun chat, Kav! It’s a whole new treasure hunt!

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

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    1. I get so many ideas for new books and authors to try on these indie days. There are so many indie published books out there and it’s reassuring to get some guidance from like-minded book lovers. Good luck, Alison!

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  17. I think the last Indie book I read/listened to was Until we All Run Free by Heather Wood. It’s part of a series, and I did feel like I was missing some of the other characters back story, but it was good, maybe more overtly religious than much Christian Fiction today.

    I would love to read Deborah Raney’s The God Who series. The first book is Who Touches the Mountains.

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  18. I read one of Cindy Steel’s books before and absolutely loved it, so my choice would be The Bodyguard’s Fall! Thanks for the giveaway and supporting indie authors!

    Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  19. I don’t have time to know what is Indie or not especially during this busy season of canning. I would love to read When Winter Came to Dunn Cottage by Joanna Davidson Politano leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  20. I’ve only read one indie published book this month, at least I’m pretty sure it was indie published… “The Baby and the Guardian” by Danielle Grandinetti. 

    I’ve had “To Love a Lady” by Gabrielle Meyer on my radar since it came out (really the whole series, I love the covers and story ideas😊).

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  21. Conveniently, I just learned about A Misguided Devotion by Rachel Knowles, a new Regency romance about a portrait painter and his muse’s protective companion. It sounds delightful!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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  22. I have read an older Indie, a mystery ~ The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen, Lake Union Publishing, August 6, 2024. The newer one I would like to read is The Pearl Beneath the Ashes by Dr. Lende Click – Lende Click Publishing, June 9, 2026. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]gmail[dot]com

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