Author: kavlovestoread

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2025 Edition – General Christian Fiction

A Happy New Year for me means happily perusing websites for the first new releases coming out this winter. There’s nothing like wiling away a cold winter’s day in the company of a good book and a cuppa hot cocoa. And it’s that time again — when we get to look ahead and plot out our reading futures…and that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the General Christian Fiction genre you would like to win.

General Christian Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre and can include previous selections you have made on previous Reader’s Choice Winter Edition days as well as specific genres not covered yet like Speculative, Middle Grade, Sci Fi etc.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be January, February or March 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 11 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on January 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

I’m adding in some of the books I found in my convoluted internet search for new releases that I don’t think have been mentioned yet…just because we can never have too many book titles on our wish lists, right?!

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2025 Edition – Amish Fiction

A Happy New Year for me means happily perusing websites for the first new releases coming out this winter. There’s nothing like wiling away a cold winter’s day in the company of a good book and a cuppa hot cocoa. And it’s that time again — when we get to look ahead and plot out our reading futures…and that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S AMISH FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Amish Fiction genre you would like to win.

Amish Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where the hero or heroine (or both) are Amish OR the story has significant Amish content through secondary characters and an Amish community. Can be set in any time period and may cross genres such as Suspense, YA etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be January, February or March 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 11 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on January 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2025 Edition – Mystery/Suspense Fiction

A Happy New Year for me means happily perusing websites for the first new releases coming out this winter. There’s nothing like wiling away a cold winter’s day in the company of a good book and a cuppa hot cocoa. And it’s that time again — when we get to look ahead and plot out our reading futures…and that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S MYSTERY/SUSPENSE FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Mystery/Suspense Fiction genre you would like to win.

Mystery/Suspense Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense). Can be set in any time period and may cross genres such as YA, , Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be January, February or March 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 11 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on January 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2025 Edition – Contemporary Fiction

A Happy New Year for me means happily perusing websites for the first new releases coming out this winter. There’s nothing like wiling away a cold winter’s day in the company of a good book and a cuppa hot cocoa. And it’s that time again — when we get to look ahead and plot out our reading futures…and that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Contemporary Fiction genre you would like to win.

Contemporary Romance/Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be January, February or March 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 11 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on January 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter Edition 2025 – Historical Fiction

A Happy New Year for me means happily perusing websites for the first new releases coming out this winter. There’s nothing like wiling away a cold winter’s day in the company of a good book and a cuppa hot cocoa. And it’s that time again — when we get to look ahead and plot out our reading futures…and that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S HISTORICAL ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Historical Fiction genre you would like to win.

Historical Romance/Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be January, February or March 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 11 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on January 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice 2024 Goal Review + Baker Book House Giveaway

Happy New Year, reading friends!

So nice to be back after the holiday break and eager to get started with the first 2025 Reader’s Choice week(s). Woohoo. We’ll be starting off by reflecting back on our 2024 reading history. If you are a goal setter, it’s also time for our Annual Reading Goal Review.

I’ll share how I did, and, if you are so inclined, feel free to share some of your 2024 reading successes…or failures. Hmm…let’s not call them failures. More like….kafuffles. That sounds friendlier. Nothing wrong with a few goal kafuffles in the grand scheme of things, right? 🙂

The Giveaway

To enter this giveaway you can, a) reflect on a 2024 reading goal OR b) if you’re not a goal oriented person, share a book that made an impact from your 2024 reading list. Share in a comment or send me an email at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. and I will enter you in a draw to win a $10 Baker Book House Gift Card.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 11 2025. (You will have until noon on the 11th to enter this giveaway.)

A LOOK AT MY 2024 READING GOALS AND PROGRESS.

Goal #1 : Read more Indie books. I’m calling this one a fail…er…kafuffle. I actually read 18 fewer indie books than last year. I did do better in the last quarter – actually doubled my Indie number from October through December and that’s largely thanks to all of your excellent recommendations. So thank you!

GOAL #2: Read more debut books. Counting this one as a win since I doubled the number I read last year. I’m still finding it hard to source debut books so I’m not reading as many as I anticipated I could.

GOAL #3: Read more new-to-me authors. A resounding success!!!! I made the acquaintance of 100 new-to-me authors in 2024!!!! Woohoo!!!!!

GOAL #4: More diversity in the authors I read. I’m calling this one a win too, though there’s always room for improvement.

GOAL #5: Targeted author catch-up. Mega fail…miserably kafuffled. 🙂 Revamping this goal for 2025 for sure.

GOAL # 6: Enjoy some rereads. Had fun with this goal and reread way more than I thought I would. Enjoyed every minute too!

GOAL #7: Social Media Influenced Reads. 100% Success!! I only had to pick one book from instagram/blog recommendations per month and that was easily achievable. Book recommendations from like-minded readers is the bestest!

GOAL #8: Read outside my comfort zone. Success! I only had to read 5 books but I read 11 so I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment because it’s so hard for me to do. And even though this goal was achievable, I still approach out of comfort zone reads with way too much wariness. Definitely not a reading initiative I’ll embrace but I’ll continue to occasionally stretch my reading wings because I found some great books this way!

GOAL #9: Serious about series – start 24 new-to-me series, catch up on 24 series I’ve already started and keep up with 24 series I’m up to date with. Phew! Too bad I’m not counting all the series I started and even finished that weren’t on my list but we’ll stick to the specific series I targeted.

Goal #10: Keep reading stats. SUCCESS!!! And here are some more nerdy graphs to prove it!

Phew! I’m nerded out! Now it’s your turn. How was your 2024 reading year?

Irish Soda Bread Murder

It’s almost time for the delicious warmth of Irish soda bread, but be careful where you bite–some of these recipes call for murder in this delicious collection of cozy mystery novellas featuring the popular St. Paddy’s Day treat.

IRISH SODA BREAD MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
There’s very little time left before her wedding, but nonetheless Tara Meehan is helping out at her Uncle Johnny’s salvage yard for the day. Aunt Rose set up a convention for local psychics, including a bake sale to raise money for charity, but now she’s sick and available only via an iPad Johnny is carrying. The event promises to deliver a real pot of gold until Rose’s biggest rival shows up. Before Tara can utter a simple “top o’ the morning” to the man, he drops dead—with Johnny’s soda bread in his hands. It’s up to Tara to identify the deadly baker before another victim ends up chasing the rainbow straight into a grave . . .

AN IRISH RECIPE FOR MURDER by PEGGY EHRHART
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, the Arborville, New Jersey, Advocate is sponsoring a soda bread–baking competition. Bettina Fraser is excited—her bake-off idea was the one to get the green light! But when a town councilman acting as a judge keels over after sampling an entry, the party atmosphere dies just as quickly. Now it’s up to Bettina and her Knit and Nibble knitting club bestie, Pamela Paterson, to find the killer responsible for the murderous morsel.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SINISTER SODA BREAD MAN by LIZ IRELAND
When April Claus arrives in Cloudberry Bay, Oregon, to check on her flooded inn, her biggest worry is to keep everyone from realizing her three companions—Jingles, Juniper, and Butterbean—are elves. But soon enough she has more serious worries—it looks like her hapless caretaker Ernie has been storing stolen goods at the inn! Then one of Ernie’s shady pals is found dead, and the murder weapon turns up in a decorative loaf of soda bread at April’s craft fair booth. It’s up to April to uncover the killer before she spends St. Patrick’s Day in the county jail!

My Review:

What fun to find a book that features St. Patrick’s Day as a theme! I’m only current with one of the series featured in this collection but I still found the other two novellas easy to jump in at mid series.

Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O’Connor – Super excited about this addition to the ‘Home to Ireland’ series. I was so disappointed when it stopped after two books so I was eager to meet up with Tara and the gang in Galway. A fun mystery with a Christie-esque gather all the suspects together to reveal the killer grand finale. This is the only story actually set in Ireland and I was a bit let down since the narration didn’t include Irish accents (there’s only one American character in the mix.) It was kind of strange to hear some of the Irish phrasing without the lilt.

An Irish Recipe for Murder by Peggy Ehrhart – I’ve only read the first book in the ‘Knit & Nibble Mystery‘ series but it was fun to get reacquainted with these characters and I loved the Bake Off theme featuring Irish Soda Bread. Two amateur sleuths, a knitting group made up of an eclectic mix of personalities and a murder! Definitely more cozy than mystery in this novella. Lots of descriptive details on food and fibre crafts.

Mrs. Claus and the Sinister Soda Bread Man by Liz Ireland – My introduction to the Mrs. Claus series and this novella has charmed me into adding the rest of the books to my Serious About Series Challenge for the New Year. So. Much. Fun. The elves cracked me up all the way through (it’s their first time away from Christmastown.) So, quirky humour, great characters and a multi-layered mystery to solve. Not to mention a Soda Bread Man to bake. I’m still grinning.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of this collection, narrated by Carlotta Brentan. She did a great job giving distinctive voices to all the characters (with the exception of Irish accents in the first novella.) A pleasant listening experience.

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

December Giveaway – Week Three

WON BY DIANE F
WON BY ALISON
WON BY KIMMY
WON BY PAULA S.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR!

Tuesday December 24 – last Net Galley review of the year Irish Soda Bread Murder, novella collection – Review Only. ( the release date is actually December 24th!)

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ll be taking a wee break over Christmas and then we’ll welcome the New Year in with our first Reader’s Choice Week of 2025! We’ll be looking at Christian Fiction books releasing in Jan, Feb and Mar 2025. Woohoo! So the schedule will look like this:

Thursday January 2 –  2024 Goals in Review Giveaway – where we share our annual reading progress and the books that got away. (can include books published any time — don’t have to stick to new 2025 releases.)

Friday January 3 – Historical Romance / Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Monday January 6 –  – Contemporary Romance / Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Tuesday, January 7 – Mystery/Suspense Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense.) Can be set in any time period and may cross genres such as YA, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Wednesday, January 8 – Amish Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where the hero and/or heroine are Amish OR the setting is in an Amish community with secondary characters who are Amish. May cross genres such as Historical, Mystery etc and may include dual timelines.

Thursday January 9 – General Christian Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre, including previous selections you made on other days this week as well as specific genres not covered yet such as Women’s Fiction, Speculative, SciFi etc.

Winners will be announced on Saturday January 11th 2025 .

Crystal Clear

indie!

Would Rosalind escape the grip of gossip while hidden away in a French château?

As Rosalind’s muddied past and foggy future crystalize in Château Chenonceau, she hopes to find refuge from gossip. Even though the sequestering is not fair, Rosalind finds a friend in the owner of the château. A magical garden, Christmas ball, and crystal ornaments center her determination to rise above her marred reputation.

Luc Bélanger, retiring from battle with scars manifested in a constant drumming in his ears, plans to hide at his aunt’s château. A pretty English guest and a Christmas ball interfere with his need for rest and time to plan his next step.

Watch as the fairy tale château and the Christmas of 1879 work their magic and break the bonds of propriety, perhaps leading to healing and purpose.

My Review:

A beguiling Christmas romance with some historical significance. The Château Chenonceau is a real place – a French fairy tale castle that captured the author’s imagination when she was a young girl. Love how she found a way to tie it into one of her stories. And two secondary characters are real people out of the pages of history. One of them is quite famous so that was a fun surprise.

There is a fairy tale quality to this story but it also has a significant inspirational influence which I so appreciated.

“My God is bigger than we are. I’m not deterred. But He doesn’t promise the answer I want, only an answer and a plan.”

A touching redemption story for a beleaguered soldier searching for peace and the young English woman who is instrumental in helping him find hope in unexpected places.

The Christmas Catch + Giveaway

When two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?

Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille “Bebe” Gordon.

Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns–for the first time in eight years–all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won’t risk him leaving her again. As their hometown’s Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he’s only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.

My Review:

What would Christmas be without a holiday romance from one of my favourite authors? It would be dismal, that’s what. Because, once again Toni Shiloh has blended faith and family and Christmas memories into a heart-tugging romance that made me all kinds of festively happy.

Second Chance romance. Check. Christmas Ball. Check. Reindeer. In Georgia?! Check. Perfect building blocks that set the stage for an inspirational contemporary romance with a meaningful faith thread in the midst of all the holiday fun.

Love the way Bebe and Jahleel prayerfully worked their way through past hurts to reclaim their friendship…and the hope of something so much more. There’s Christmas activities, Bebe’s adorable young daughter, special friendships along with some family drama to keep a reader invested in the outcome. A captivating read from start to finish.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of ‘The Christmas Catch’ (clever title!) expertly narrated by Jasmin Walker. Would definitely recommend giving this book a listen if you enjoy audio books as much as I do.

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 The Christmas Catch 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 Friday December 20 2024.