kavlovestoread

Echoes of Darkness + Giveaway

A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.

The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now?

Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse.

As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare…

My Review:

Look at me, getting all brave and venturing out of my comfort zone! Serial killer stories usually aren’t my go-to suspense genre but this one intrigued me. It might have been that beguiling cover, actually, so deceptively serene with only a hint of mystery in the way the heroine is glancing back over her shoulder.

So, was it creepy? Definitely. Over the top? Not so much…quite tame for seasoned readers I would imagine. There’s an eerie stalkerish vibe that sent chills up my spine all the way through. The suspense is riveting with exceptional storytelling skill. It was easy to get swept away into the grit and grime of a particularly nasty case…I just didn’t read this one after dark. Bwahahaha!

Intense in both the investigation and the personal lives of our hero and heroine. Oaklynn in particular is wrestling with some really heavy stuff that’s left her distanced from God. Loved the way the author seamlessly wove a significant faith thread throughout the story without it coming across as heavy handed. Very organic to the story and the lives of these characters.

There are some brutal scenes (though not overly descriptive) and a host of heavy subject matter which sensitive readers might find difficult to read about. Though, again, not overly descriptive and no over-the-top gratuitous scenes. Turner manages to breathe grace and hope into even the direst circumstances. This isn’t a light, escape read though, so keep that in mind when you settle down to lose yourself in this gripping romantic suspense.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Lenor A. Woodworth. I really liked the way she portrayed these characters, delivered their dialogue and even gave voice to the creepy villain POV scenes (eeeek!) Made for some thrilling listening!

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US: ebook
Canada: ebook or audible edition
International: ebook with a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Echoes of Darkness, 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 June 14 2025.

2025 Carol Awards Finalists – Historical Romance

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2025 finalists are books published in 2024. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 6 2025 at the ACFW Gala in Springfield, Missouri (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2025 – Historical Romance Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.

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.

Historical Romance Finalists

The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder – Barbour Publishing – Editor: Becky Fish -Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: paperback, ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

The nightmares may free her…but destroy the man she loves

Eliza Ellis has stayed hidden in Balfour Forest for as long as she can remember. Perhaps her only friends are the trees, or her little dog, or her story-telling father called Captain. But at least she is safe from the cruel world outside, a world Captain has warned her against and protected her from.

That is, until a handsome stranger named Felton Northwood invades her quiet forest and steals her away. Why does he tell such lies? Why does he insist that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham, daughter of a viscount, who disappeared fourteen years ago after the murder of her own mother? A murder Eliza is said to have witnessed.

When Felton returns Eliza to Monbury Manor and reunites her with a man who is told to be her father, all she remembers are the strange nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Why have they suddenly grown worse? Are the answers hidden inside her own mind?

As danger mounts and lethal attempts are made on her life, Eliza and Felton must work together to uncover the identity of a killer who has stayed silent for fourteen years. When she finally uncovers the horrendous memories trapped in her mind, will divulging the truth cost her the man she loves―and both of their lives?

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle – Tyndale House – Editors: Elizabeth Jackson and Sarah Rische – Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/01/22/of-love-and-treason-giveaway/

Above All Dreams by Naomi Rawlings – Indie – Editor: Erin Healy – ebook giveaway for US, Canada and International with US Kindle account.

Ever since she was a girl, Kate Amos wanted to be a doctor, a dream that made her leave Alaska and travel clear to Boston for medical school. The problem is, there aren’t too many female doctors in 1886, and there are even fewer people who will let a female doctor treat them.

Fortunately for Kate, the only other doctor in the growing town of Juneau Alaska is drunk more than he’s sober, and he doesn’t know the first thing about medicine. So even though the townsfolk might not want a woman doctor to treat them, they don’t have much choice.

Until Dr. Nathan Reid arrives in town.

Nathan has been tasked by the Marine Hospital Service to start a hospital in the gold rush town of Juneau, and he’s excited to get started. His research on the area showed him the town was desperately in need of a competent doctor. But Nathan is only in town for a few minutes before discovering that Juneau already has a competent doctor. She just happens to be a woman.

A rather beautiful woman—who’s worried he’s going to take away her patients.

But when trying to save a man’s life leaves them in a compromising situation, Nathan finds himself standing at the front of a church while Kate walks down the aisle toward him.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 14 2024. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK

Conversations with Kav – Let’s talk Summer Reading + Giveaway

I haven’t always been a seasonal reader, but the last couple of years I’ve found I crave books that fit the season I’m living in. Not all the time, but I like to pick at least some books that match the seasonal vibe and standard holidays I’m enjoying. Of course, I have particular themes for every season, because I’m book nerdy like that (aren’t we all?). Here’s my Summer Bookish Craves List:

Contemporary summer rom/coms!
lighthouses!
seaside settings (especially in Historical romances for some strange reason)
animal rescues (?!)
thrillerish (mild) suspense (which is out of character for me the rest of the year)
holiday romances (especially travel abroad or shipboard romance)
wilderness survival adventure/ suspense
gardening
renos and upcycling
pun-y titles and bright cover art

Okay, I admit, that’s a weirdly eclectic list and not everything is specific to the summer season, but this is where my mood reading takes me in the summer! How about you? What kind of book draws you in during the summer months?

Looking for a specific kind of summer series recommendations. Can you help?

Last year I discovered a delightful multi-authored closed door romantic comedy series that was so much fun! The Falling for Summer series was set on an island off the Florida coast and featured seven heroes and seven heroines all finding their happily every afters by the end of the summer. It was really clever the way the stories overlapped each other and yet could all be read as standalones. I actually read them out of order without any problem. It was fun to keep going back to the same setting and lovable (and not so lovable) secondary characters all summer long. These were all independently published.

So, now I’m wondering it that’s a ‘thing’ each summer? Does anyone know of a similar kind of series with a summer setting that’s either Christian Fiction or Closed Door? Independent or traditionally published. I think it would be fun to dive into another summery series. Do let me know if you have any suggestions.

Books with a Summer setting suggestions for the Best Reads Summer Book Bingo!

I thought it would be fun and helpful to gather some suggestions for the trickier Bingo prompts so it seems appropriate to start with this one. Usually it’s hard to determine the seasonal setting just from the cover or title ( exceptions being: The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh and The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter.) It seems like lately every book I’ve picked up has been set in the winter! So, let’s help each out by sharing Christian Fiction or Closed Door Romances that are set in the summer time. I really had to think hard to come up with any that didn’t have ‘summer’ in the title as a major clue! Here they are:

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter
A Match in the Making by Jen Turano
Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson
Seaside Proposal by Narelle Atkins (Australian summer, which is a fun twist)

Okay, let’s get the conversations going. Add your thoughts in a comment to be entered in a draw for a $10.00 Baker Book House (US) gift card or an Amazon gift card (Canada.)

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 14 2025

June Giveaway – Week One

WON BY CHERYL BARKER

WON BY CINDY DAVIS

WON BY LORAINE NUNLEY

WON BY LUCY

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 – a place for us to chat about bookish topics if anyone is so inclined. Sometimes there will be giveaways, sometimes there won’t. It will just depend on the topic of the day. Hope to see you there! Otherwise my inner book nerd and I will carry on by ourselves. Bwahaha!

MONDAY

2025 Carol Award Finalists – (Historical Romance) I can’t believe it’s that time already but the finalists were just announced this week and the winners in each category will be announced on September 6 at the ACFW Conference Gala. Soooo exciting. This year especially because 40% of the finalists are indie authors! And most of the rest are from small publishing houses. Tons of new-to-me authors listed and books I’ve never even heard of.

So, while all that is exciting, I’ve discovered it can be a little be tricky when it comes to sourcing all editions of the books. I’ve noticed that small press books seem to carry hefty price tags in print format for a while now, but some of these were crazy! One 300 page book is $80 in Canada! And a $10 US book is $32 in Canada while another book was $7 here and $40 in the US. All kinds of crazy — so, all this to say pay particular attention to the giveaway options for each Carol Award Finalists title in the coming weeks. They will be listed in bold after the title/author/publishing info statement and will be divided by US, Canada and International.

Hero Debut

“Another sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat!”– Bethany Turner, award-winning author of The Do-Over

Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?

Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.

Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?

My Review:

Fun and flirty with hidden depths.

I do so love a good grumpy sunshine romance and this one is excellent. Gemma is an accident waiting to happen whenever Karson is around and I loved all the comedic action in this rom/com.

Snappy dialogue, a great friend group egging Gemma on and poor, long-suffering Karson trying to keep a straight face at the most inopportune moments. I grinned my way through this read (well, listen) but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any emotional depth. There is. I really love the way Strong tackles dysfunctional family relationships with the seriousness the topic deserves, along with a light touch of humour.

The Citizens Safety Academy setting is absolute perfection! So much scope for mischief and mayhem. Straight-laced, by-the-book Lieutenant Zellner has no idea what he’s in for when Gemma and friends enrol in his training sessions. So. Much. Fun! And informative too! Gemma’s quirkiness is the perfect foil to Karson’s staid professional demeanour.

This is the second book in the author’s ‘Love Off Script’ series and it’s just as delightful as the first (though it could easily be read as a standalone too.) Engaging characters (and that includes secondary characters) and a cleverly paced plot kept me enthralled from start to finish.

I enjoyed listening the the audio edition of Hero Debut. Jeannie Sheneman and Mike Lenz teamed up to deliver stellar performances which increased my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much more.

The Hunted Heir + Giveaway

After a tragic loss, private investigator Nona Taylor swore off romantic entanglements and distanced herself from the world. Once a year, on New Year’s Eve, she attends church to beg God for forgiveness, haunted by the guilt of driving her twin sister to her death.

Attorney DeMarcus Johnson is determined to climb the ladder to partnership by winning high-profile cases at his Los Angeles law firm, harnessing his ADHD hyperfocus to excel. He’s everything Nona knows to steer clear of–an overconfident ex-jock willing to do anything for success.

Their worlds collide when Nona’s pastor receives a mysterious letter claiming he’s the sole heir to a substantial estate. Desperate for answers, Nona infiltrates a lavish charity ball, only to be found out by a suspicious stranger–so she latches onto DeMarcus and concocts a fib about being his fiancée.

Now bound by a false engagement, the pair reluctantly join forces to discover the truth about the inheritance. But when an unseen enemy strikes, they realize the stakes are higher than they thought. Can Nona and DeMarcus overcome their differences to keep the pastor safe, secure DeMarcus’s partnership, and preserve a future for themselves?

My Review:

“My G’Mama used to always tell me, ‘God gives everybody a basket of gifts and a basket of challenges. He wants us to serve him with both.” (p 94)

DeMarcus’s grandmother’s pearls of wisdom really tied this story together for me. She’s rarely on page but her presence is felt through the faith lessons she’s taught her grandchildren. Love that legacy and the clever parallel in the genealogical mystery which is another kind of family legacy. And the way the author weaves the two together along with a feisty ‘fake dating’ romance is sweet perfection.

Nona has plenty of attitude and a whole lot of buried pain which sometimes makes her snippy and unapproachable which adds some spice to their meet-cute. DeMarcus is intrigued, Nona is not…until her quest to help an elderly pastor discover the truth about his past catapults her into DeMarcus’s high-stakes legal world. Oooooohhhh, but do the sparks ever fly! Loved the sparring and the banter and DeMarcus’s gentle determination to turn the ‘fake’ in their relationship into something real. Happy swoony sigh!

I really enjoyed the way the mystery played out. There’s actually two and the intriguing details of Nona’s PI work kept me turning pages. A good balance between the almost leisurely slow-burn romance and the increasing urgency of the investigation.

This is the author’s debut novel and it is brilliant! She is a lawyer and I was afraid the ‘legal-eeze’ might be too confusing for me, but that wasn’t the case at all. Details are kept to simple layman’s terms and never overwhelm the story. I was completely captivated from start to finish!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Hunted Heir, 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 June 7 2025.

Following the Clues + Giveaway

A search-and-rescue mission reveals a lethal secret

After K-9 handler Kara Wolfe witnesses her childhood friend Beau O’Connor survive a targeted hit-and-run, she’s shocked to learn his mother’s missing. And Beau, who can no longer recognize familiar faces after an earlier attack, can’t shake the feeling these terrifying incidents are somehow connected. With the tracking skills of her blind bloodhound, Kara will help Beau locate his mother—but someone will do anything to sabotage their search. With the culprit on their trail, can they uncover a sinister plot…before their rescue mission turns into a fight for survival?

My Review:

I am so enjoying the Security Hounds Investigation series by Dana Mentink because….the hounds! They are a brilliant combination of noble goofballs! This time it’s Millie, the blind bloodhound who has her very own guide dog! And I love the way Mentink writes the dogs into the story as important secondary characters. I might have fangirled more over this intrepid pair than our hero. Oops.

Mind you Beau comes a very close second. 🙂 He’s back home after a challenging time recovering from a debilitating injury that has altered his life and left him questioning his future. Unfortunately, he cut himself off from friends and family as he struggled to come to grips with his new reality.

Kara’s mourned the loss of her friendship with Beau. She’s never understood why he cut her off and she certainly doesn’t understand why he’s pretending he doesn’t know her when they finally meet up again. He has a very good reason, as it turns out, and it is fascinating and contributes to the emotional intensity of both the romance and the suspense. Such an enthralling read!

Quintessential Mentink humour lightens even the most intense scenes while thoughtful inspirational moments bring hope in the midst of trauma. A deliciously lethal combination that makes this a not-to-be-missed romantic suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Following the Clues, 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 June 7 2025

June New Releases + Giveaway

It’s a new Best Reads blog tradition! Celebrating the month’s new releases the first week of each month.

WHY?

Because I recently discovered that a book’s success or failure is often determined by first month sales! (Though I bet preorders play into that as well.) Publishing houses look at those stats to determine whether they’ll add on to a series or accept the author’s next manuscript! All that literary goodness hanging in the balance but for a month’s worth of sales! (This was a cozy mystery author, but I imagine all traditional publishers use the same ‘system’.) So, I thought I should do my wee little bit to promote Christian Fiction.

HOW?

By hosting a special “Hello — insert month” giveaway. It’s easy to play along. You just have to choose one of the June 2025 new releases on your TBR wishlist (must be Christian Fiction) and mention the title in a comment below (or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca.) If your name is drawn, that June release is the book you will win and we’re one book count closer to keeping our fave authors in business.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO:

ebook for anyone anywhere who has an Amazon.com kindle account

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book (if available) – winner’s choice

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 7 2025.

2025 Carol Awards Finalists – Historical + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 6 2025 at the ACFW Gala in Springfield, Missouri (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2025 —Historical Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

HISTORICAL FINALISTS

Patriot at the River by Jayna Baas – indie – Editor: Robert Siedenburg – ebook giveaway for US, Canada and International (with a US Kindle account)

Book 2 in the Liberty and Conscience series

The fight he got wasn’t the fight he wanted.

It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally.

But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches Sunrising fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home.

Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before his settlement goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first.

Where Trees Touch the Sky by Karen Barnett – Kregel Publications – Editor: Janyre Tromp – Giveaway Options: US: ebook, Canada: ebook or audible, International: ebook with a US Kindle account.

Some secrets have shadows as long as the redwoods are tall.

In the early 1920s, the accelerating destruction of the California redwoods is more than nature-loving Marion Baker can bear. Throwing herself headlong into the work of the Save the Redwoods League, she is shocked to learn that Frank Duncan, a man she’s grown to love, is the son of one of the area’s worst timber barons. Though devastated by the betrayal, she realizes this could also be an opportunity–if only she can convince him to help preserve her favorite grove from his father’s greedy grasp. Is her love strong enough to persuade him to save these precious trees? Or will Marion choose to sacrifice her beliefs to keep Frank by her side?

Nearly fifty years later, in 1972, polio survivor June Turner is deeply proud of the legacy her great aunt Marion has left as a redwood warrior. And despite her disability, June is determined to prove herself capable as a ranger at the recently established Redwood National Park, even if it means taking to the trails with her crutch in hand. What better way to carry on the family tradition of preserving God’s magnificent creation?

When aspiring film student Adam Garner approaches June to help make a documentary about Marion’s life, she swiftly grabs the opportunity to spread her aunt’s worthy reputation. That is, until they unearth a secret that might shatter the family legacy. In the scramble for answers, June may lose not only her family pride but also her own dreams.

Karen Barnett’s beautifully crafted split-time novel, set against the majestic backdrop of a beloved national park, immerses the reader in history that feels as fresh as if it happened yesterday.

Up From the Dust by Heather Kaufman – Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group) – Editors: Rochelle Gloege and Jennifer Veilleux – Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: paperback, ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 7 2025. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK.

Conversations With Kav – Summer Reading Fun + Giveaway

Eeeepppp! This might be the fault of the recent bout of hot, summery weather and me sweltering in the garden, but I had this brain wave (or it could have been heatstroke) when I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be fun to create the first ever Best Reads Readathon?’ One with a summer theme…like, oh, light bulb moment, a Best Reads Summer Book Bingo event! So here we are with an official Bingo card and everything (three cheers for me getting more proficient on Canva.) And, of course, there has to be a prize!

US winner will receive a $25 Baker Book House e gift card. Canada winners will have a choice between a $25 Amazon or Indigo gift card. Stay tuned for details on how the giveaway will work, but first, drumroll please…

How to Play (and how to have a chance to win!)

Bingo runs from June 1 (today!) to August 31 2025
Read a book that fits a prompt (or prompts) to fill in a square (or squares)
So yes, that means, one book could fit multiple prompts. Example: if you read a historical book featuring a summer house party with a croquet scene that involved a romance written by a new-to-you author you could mark off 4 squares (summer setting, includes a summer sport, historical romance, new-to-you author)
12 chances at a Bingo – 5 rows across, 5 rows down, 2 diagonal rows
Your name will be entered into a draw every time you get a Bingo (so the potential for 12 times)
Bonus round: Fill your entire card to have your name entered 5 more times
Once you’ve achieved a Bingo, submit the prompts and corresponding books to me at kavluvstoread@yahoo.ca. using BINGO in the subject field
Technically, you have until midnight EST August 31 to submit all your entries, but it would be easier on me to have them trickling in throughout the summer.
Winner will be announced on Saturday September 6 2025

More About the Prompts:

Summer Setting: a book set in June, July or August (or, if it’s set in Australia or New Zealand, November, December or January.)
Water on the cover: a body of water like a lake or ocean or you could get creative – glass of water, drop from a faucet etc.
Beach Read: the kind of read you want to take on holiday with you
Yellow on Cover: doesn’t have to be the whole cover, but enough of a splash to be noticable
Travel is part of the plot: up to your descetion, but the travel should play an important role in the plot. So, a holiday romance might involve a trip to a cottage in Maine or a mystery might involve traveling from town to town to follow clues
A flower in the title or on the cover: Can be literally the word flower or any specific flower in the title or, obviously, any kind of flower in the cover art.
Holiday romance: a romance that takes place during a summer vacation
Short Story or novella: self-explanatory
Includes a summer sport: I’m thinking of sports like swimming, skate boarding, baseball, horseshoes 🙂 frisbee etc
Part of a series: any book in a series
Contemporary Romance: self-explanatory
Garden/Farm Theme: story where gardening, specific garden setting or farming plays an important part in the story
Summer Release: book released in June, July or August, any year
Historical Romance: self-explanatory
Mention of a refreshing beverage: thirst quenching lemonade on the porch, guzzling down a cool glass of water after working on a hot day, Southern sweet tea, iced cola, frosty milkshake (I’m getting thirsty!) etc.
Christian Fiction: self-explanatory
Indie authored: self-explanatory
Family centred story: where family plays an important role in the story. Could be a single mom or dad. Could involve an extended family working together. The relationship between a grandparent and child. A multi-generational story. etc.
Animal Secondary Character: Any kind of significant critter sidekick.
Comfort Read: this will be different for everyone. For me it’s a reread or a cozy mystery
New-to-you author: self explanatory
Suspense/Mystery: a book with a significant suspense/mystery plot.
Friend Recommendation: a book recommended by a ‘real life’ or online friend. 🙂
On TBR / Wishlist since last summer: this is the book that’s gotten away for nearly a year. Now is the time to chase it down and finally read it!
Outside of Comfort Zone: could be a genre or a trope. Something you usually avoid. For me it would be love triangles, secret babies or sci-fi.

Phew! I think that’s everything. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments. And let the summer reading begin!