kavlovestoread

Deadly Harvest

All Georgia Rae Winston wants is to fall in love. Life, of course, has other plans.

Georgia’s biggest challenge in the farming town of Wildcat Springs, Indiana, is figuring out how to win Evan Beckworth’s heart. Until the day she discovers the body of a former student in the woods.

She assumes it was an accident. When she starts to suspect it wasn’t, it stirs memories of her father’s murder nine years earlier. A murder never solved. Georgia refuses to let that happen this time.

Not necessarily the wisest decision.

As Georgia works with the sheriff’s department’s newest detective, Cal Perkins, she finds her heart slipping into his hands. But her head is pummeled with conflicting evidence and anonymous threats of severe consequences if she digs any deeper.

In the end, Georgia faces a paralyzing choice. Ignore the dark secrets inside the family and friends who surround her or be willing to risk her own life to uncover the truth.

My Review:

published in 2018

What a delightful find! I don’t know of many cozy mysteries that also fit into the Christian Fiction category and Deadly Harvest is an excellent example of how well that works. I loved it — but do be aware that there is no mistaking the inspirational elements throughout the story. Prayer, scripture, bible study, friends who talk about Jesus and who are striving to follow Him. The characters are realistically flawed so this definitely isn’t a sugary sweet Utopia kind of read. Just be prepared to be uplifted in the midst of all the murder and mayhem! And yes, it actually works, as odd as that seems.

Love that Georgia has an unusual occupation for a heroine. She’s a farmer, spending her days out in the fields and working in the barn and doing all the things you would associate with farm life. She has an interesting backstory mystery which I think will play out more in future stories but in this first book in the series, Georgia stumbles upon a body on her property and the race is on to expose a killer…and new literary amateur sleuth is born!

Georgia’s gutsy and even a bit brazen when it comes to investigating. I enjoyed how up front she is and especially appreciate that she keeps the police in the loop when her snooping produces results. And speaking of the police…there is a new detective in town who just happens to be single. Yes, that’s a cozy mystery cliche and I love it!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya . She did a fantastic job with these characters and delivered a compelling performance.

Happy Sidenote: Deadly Harvest is currently free on Kindle right now.

Waiting for Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

The year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.

My Review:

published in 2024

The word that comes to mind when I think about this book is ‘exquisite’. Exquisite storytelling. Exquisite characters. Exquisite Christmas message. And just plain exquisitely emotional. I choked up at one point which was kinda embarrassing since I was listening to the audiobook while grocery shopping. I actually had to blink back tears. It’s hard to compare prices and read labels when your vision is all blurry!

This novella follows ‘All My Secrets’ and it was a delight to get a more in depth glimpse at Addy and Howard’s happily ever after. However, ‘Waiting for Christmas’ could easily be read as a standalone as well. It focuses on the newlywed’s first months of marriage and the adjustments they both learn to make as they create a new life together.

Addy in particular is struggling with feelings of inadequacy as she learns to live well beneath the means she grew up with. What she lacks in experience she more than makes up for with passionate determination. And her servant’s heart opens doors and changes lives in astonishing ways over the Christmas season.

I was charmed and thrilled and emotionally wrung out by the end. A truly heartwarming and uplifting holiday read. (Well, listen in my case. As always, I enjoyed Sarah Zimmerman’s narration.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Waiting for Christmas 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 November 1 2025

Matchmaking the Cowboy + Giveaway

random retro read

What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends?

Lucy Aveline’s ex has a knack for making her feel small and helpless. She’d avoid him entirely, but he still owns a piece of her heart in the form of the pets he purchased for her but kept for himself. She visits Rosie and Jasmine when she can, vows to avoid another controlling boyfriend by staying single, and focuses on her large animal veterinary practice. Or that’s the plan until some longtime family friends attempt to set her up with former rodeo star Hollis Price. Lucy convinces them to drop the plot only when she promises to find Hollis a good match herself.

Hollis is more concerned with surviving his first Christmas after losing his dad than with finding love. Dad’s champion horse is aging, and rumors started by an unhappy client threaten the horse training business Hollis inherited from his father. When the kind and talented Lucy offers friendship, he accepts simply to add cheer to the season.

It’s not long before his interest in Lucy deepens, but so do problems at his ranch. Saving his father’s legacy begins to look as impossible as earning Lucy’s trust. Especially when her ex continues to use her love of animals against her and she won’t stop pushing her single friends at Hollis long enough to notice she’s the one he’s falling for.

Return to Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters in this Christian Christmas Romance.

Matchmaking the Cowboy is book 9 in the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series, but each of the books can be read on their own.

My Review:

published in 2024

I do so love a good matchmaking romance and this one fits the bill, especially with the added bonus of a Christmasy setting! Love the unique twist to the matchmaking plot: in order to avoid being aggressively (though lovingly) matched with Colter throughout the holiday season, Lucy agrees to find him a match herself. While that might get the well meaning matchmakers off her back, it also catapults Lucy into Hollis’s orbit so frequently that it’s impossible not to, well, fall in love with the guy. Bwahahaha!

Of course, things don’t go smoothly. There’s plenty of sassy banter and charged attempts to fight the inevitable attraction. Plus there’s Lucy’s horrid ex whose despicable actions made me want to pursewhomp him in the worst way. Thankfully, Hollis has his own measured comeuppance planned which sent me twirling into a jubilant victory dance while whooping my delight at the top of my lungs. My neighbours might still be traumatized, but I found it refreshingly cleansing. And yes, I know that’s not appropriate given it’s the season for good will and peace on earth but, trust me, once you meet the ex, you’ll totally understand!

There’s an array of engaging secondary characters who add depth and humour as well as unsolicited advise. 🙂 Many are heroes and heroines from previous ‘Christmas at Redemption Ridge’ novels, but this one easily reads well as a standalone.

I appreciated the faith elements the author included in Hollis and Lucy’s story. Pertinent and meaningful without coming off as preachy or too forceful. Just the perfect touch to bring hope and healing to this hero and heroine who absolutely deserve their happily ever after.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –paperback or ebook, winner’s choice

Canada – paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Matchmaking the Cowboy, 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 November 1 2025.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House + Giveaway

It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions–and a couple of nephews intent on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property–or someone else will.

My Review:

The first sentence that sparked my curiosity:

“It was a strangely calm morning in March, with no wind off the dales, when the woman I assumed to be my mother slipped into the shop.”

And from there I was hooked. Often confused, but completely absorbed. Even the secrets have secrets! Sometimes it felt like I’d been dropped on my head and I was reading everything upside down! Kafuffled doesn’t begin to describe my bibliophile state…but also intrigued!

Sydney is my kind of heroine – “That was what novels were for – having adventures without any of the discomfort.” She is a clever, quirky young woman who loves her books but likes the security of reading them in comfortable surroundings. And then, suddenly, she’s catapulted into a novel-worthy adventure of her very own…complete with a ‘pirate’ hero. (Her man of mystery inspires untold swoons and toe-curls for both Sydney and me!)

Blakely House and its inhabitants are as surprising and confusing and mysterious as you’d expect to find in this kind of thrilling atmospheric read. Adventure, romance and amazing curiosities abound. Politano is a gifted storyteller with an unsurpassed imagination and she has delivered a stunning inspirational historical romance in ‘The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House.’

“God had a rather unexpected way of saying “yes” to little girl prayers, slipping his answer into the fabric of everyday life.”

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House 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 November 1 2025

Christy Award Finalists – Historical Romance + 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 2025 finalists are books published in 2024.

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:

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.

As Sure as the Sea by Jamie Ogle – Tyndale House – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.

Once she denied everything she believed in. Now she’d give anything to choose differently. But in the shadow of the Roman Empire’s persecution and the shame of her past, she fears that what she wants most will be forever out of reach.

Eastern Roman Empire, AD 310. In the shadow of Emperor Diocletian’s anti-Christian edicts, Demitria makes a meager living harvesting coral and pearls for a merchant who turns a blind eye to her faith. By night, Demi goes upriver with her brother, Theseus, to obtain provisions for fellow believers in the port city of Myra. While willing to risk her own life to ensure others are safe and fed, Demi lives with a desperate fear for those she loves and carries secret shame over her greatest failure. When Theseus is injured in a diving accident, all seems lost, until a stranger named Nikolas appears on the beach and offers help.

Arriving in a sinking boat, Nikolas is burdened by guilt over his older brother’s tragic death. Though the wealth he inherited from a prosperous shipping business now rests at the bottom of the sea, as the new pastor in Myra, he is determined to recover it and use it for good. As the violence against Christians increases, Demi helps Nikolas retrieve his lost fortune and distribute it to those in dire need.

Despite wondering if she can ever be worthy, Demi is drawn to Nikolas and longs to trust in his belief that freedom can be found in forgiveness. Then one terrifying night, everything changes as the Roman Empire’s fury rains down. Demi has no other choice but to decide if she has the courage to do what she once failed to . . . and if the faith she calls her own is sure enough to carry her.

Stand-alone Christian historical romance novel set in ancient timesFor fans of historical fiction by Francine Rivers and Tessa AfsharIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano – Revell/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.

Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit–and a murky past.

Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story–and the sapphire–Peter employs Lily’s help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line between real and make-believe.

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Option: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

A surprise homecoming tests the bonds of sisterhood as a hidden past comes to light. . . .

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to lose her place and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire sees an advertisement from someone looking for a “respectable female partner” in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign? She answers the ad, hoping she has not made another reckless mistake. When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he’s hiding and if he’s any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Claire is drawn to him even though she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family learns their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or deepen the divide?

Return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel – Kregl Publications, Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.

“A tangled web, a sleuthing adventure, a rekindled romance . . . Walking on Hidden Wings has it all.”
–Rachel Fordham, author of The Letter Tree

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes’s marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband’s plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer–and to prove it wasn’t her!

When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva’s guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend’s cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 1 2025 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Christy Award Finalists – Short Form + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

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:

all three of the novellas in the Something Borrowed collection published by Kregel are among the finalists! Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

“A Heart in Disguise” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US “Camouflage Corps,” sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home–except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

“A Letter to Eli” by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It’s never far away from their thoughts–not with Alice’s fiancÃ© serving at sea, in danger every minute. That’s a worry Bette doesn’t envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

“A Daffodil in the Dress” by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family’s bookstore since Kate’s husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk? https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/08/25/something-borrowed-giveaway/

Forgiving the Cowboy by Tabitha Bouldin – Love Inspired – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

heir past stands between them

But is a second chance in reach?

Planning to take his orphaned niece back home to Chicago, K-9 police officer Malcolm Mitchell encounters an unexpected obstacle—his ex-fiancée, Tenley Jacobs. Six years ago, she jilted him at the altar without explanation. Now the equine therapist has shared guardianship with him. Refusing to give up custody of her late best friend’s daughter, Tenley knows she must regain Mac’s trust—even if it means revealing the secret that ended their engagement. But as old feelings reignite, will the truth lead to forgiveness…or give Mac a reason to walk away with her heart forever?

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 1 2025 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

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:

Sunday

Conversations with Kav is being preempted for the next two week in order to get all the Christy Award Finalists covered before the winners are announced on November 7. Today will be the Short Form Category.

Monday

Christy Award Finalists – Yes, it’s that time again. The Christy Award Finalists have been announced and we’re going to check them out by category every Monday. This week it’s Historical Romance

A Wonderful Christmas Crime

Innkeeper Holly White has a lot to be joyful about this season, until an attempted robbery throws the town into suspicion in the sixth installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mysteries from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift for the a new baby on the way. Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure and Holly has agreed to take this year easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly’s gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner’s holiday display, it’s clear that someone is on the naughty list.

The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It’s clear that someone in town was keen to kill them. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she’ll leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer.

Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer, and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer strike again and paint the town a bloody red?

My Review:

What would Christmas be without some heartwarming murder and mayhem involving the ‘Christmas Tree Farm Mystery ‘crew?! This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series for so many reasons and this sixth book is a perfect example of why.

First — the cozy to mystery ratio is superbly written. While the investigation (both official policing and amateur sleuthing) is centerstage, Frost seamlessly incorporates exquisite cozy elements that provide an anchor of humour and heart to the story. The result is me alternately chuckling and swooning and feeling all nostalgically Christmas-y while trying to solve the mystery before Holly ( or at least keep up with her!) Makes for an incredibly captivating read.

Well, listen (again!) for me because narrator Allyson Ryan has become the voice I hear in my head when I think about these characters. She’s brilliant at giving everyone distinctive voices, including Holly’s disgruntled semi-feral cat Miss Cindy-Lou Who. And I always have the feeling that she is enjoying the story just as much as I am, which makes it feel like I’m buddy reading with a kindred spirit.

This is definitely a series I think should be read in order – not only for the character development, evolving friendships and slow-burn, toe-curling romance – but also for the sheer brilliance of all the holiday festivities. The author has an exceptional imagination and I love the mix of old favourite ‘reindeer games’ along with new traditions that appear in each book. This series breathes Christmas and, in fact, might just contain a hint of special Christmas magic on the side. I might be gloating a wee bit after reading that ending because, well, I knew it all the time!

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

Toils and Snares + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A riveting tale of love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, set in the heart of Alaska.

Daphne’s life takes a sharp turn when she becomes engaged to the love of her life, a beloved pastor in Anchorage. But joy is short-lived as she is thrust into the upscale world of her fiancé’s wealthy and influential family.

As the news of their engagement spreads, peculiar incidents start to unfold, leaving Daphne questioning whether there’s a sinister force at play. Haunted by her own family’s dark past, she begins to suspect that her secrets might be intertwined with those of her fiancé’s family—secrets that could shatter not only her own future but also the lives of everyone she holds dear.

From the bestselling USA Today author Alana Terry comes a gripping tale of danger, romance, and faith, set against the backdrop of the rugged Alaskan countryside.undefined

My Review:

An intriguing read and a little hard to define. Not quite a suspense, but there is a mystery, only it’s the kind that happens to Daphne rather than her trying to solve it. As a reader, I could see the pieces pulling together so there was still a bit of an armchair sleuthing component to the read which kept me turning pages.

Engaging characters with an interesting relationship – Daphne’s backstory is particularly compelling. And that’s about all I can say without posting spoilers due to the writing style and the shorter word count. A great read to go in blind and just let the story unfold.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Toils and Snares, 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 25 2025.

Love Finds You in the City at Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Love comes to the big city in two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present.

“Red Kettle Christmas”
It’s 1946, and police officer Mike Wolzak has inherited his family’s home . . . and the custody of his younger sister, who is in trouble with a problem he doesn’t know how to fix. While on patrol during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike makes the acquaintance of a lovely Salvation Army bell ringer, Karen O’Leary, who is struggling to support herself and her young daughter. As their paths cross during the festive holiday season in Manhattan, Karen teaches the tough World War II veteran how to support and love his family. In the process, he just might gain a new one.

“Manhattan Miracle”
A war-weary soldier who has served three tours in the Middle East, Max Wolzak has come home to New York City to celebrate Christmas with his family in the Manhattan brownstone where he spent much of his childhood. There Max reconnects with Sarah Peterson, his sister’s old schoolmate who now organizes relief missions for the United Nations. Sparks fly as the pair gets reacquainted over various holiday events, but when Max realizes that Sarah will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make—convince her to stay, wait for her to return, or go with her to the one place to which he never thought he’d return.

My Review:

published in 2013

Be still my heart — I’m sure I heard the Hallelujah Chorus in the background as I finished this book. It is that good. That’s moving and uplifting and down-home Christmasy good. Both stories start with Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and that sets the mood perfectly. Both stories have adorable little girls who know the true magic of Christmas and how to share it. Another excellent way to set that special mood. But though there are similarities in these two novellas, each author’s distinctive voice creates a unique and heart-warming read.

In Red Kettle Christmas, Herne’s characteristic writing style swept me into the heart of post World War II New York City from the very first page. I love the way characters come to life at her fingertips. And I love how she portrays life and loss realistically, but always laced with hope. This novella has all the makings of a classic Christmas read.

Fast forward to present day and we get to read about the next generation of Wolzaks in Schmidt’s Manhattan Miracle. Interesting to jump decades and land at the very same place and the very same time. Love that link between the two stories. This is another touching read that gave me goosebumps at the Hollywood worthy finale.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy of this book so – yay – International Giveaway. Available to readers everywhere!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Love Finds You in the City at Christmas, 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 25 2025