kavlovestoread

Waiting for Gilbert + Giveaway

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of her phone, asking her landlord to come for dinner.”

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

My Review:

I’m more than a tad shy of giddy over this literary discovery — both book and author! Reader friend recommendations are the best! Woohoo! And ‘Waiting for Gilbert’ is waaaaaayyy up at the top of my fave reads in 2024 list (if I ever made such a thing!) It’s exactly what I am looking for in a rom/com — lots of humour with generous doses of heart and faith.

And all the Anne-girl references. Hellllooo — a heroine named Cordelia! She’s just as effervescent as my favourite childhood fictional character, with an extra pop of snark. She doesn’t just have witty inner dialogue – she carries on entire conversations with herself which are so hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times! And then promptly felt my eyes welling up with tears in a moving, inspirational scene towards the end. Sniffle. Sooooooo good!

Then there’s Gilbert. I was just as over-the-moon excited as Cordelia when she finally meets an actual Gilbert who could possibly be her perfect match. Truly a friends to more romance that is as touching as it is funny. And I love that Gilbert is a musician! Cello player no less.

Cozy small town vibes with some amazing secondary characters add to the heartwarming tone of this story. Sheer romantic comedy perfection!

Highly recommend the audio edition of ‘Waiting for Gilbert‘. Hopper Stone and Emelle are brilliant! They brought these characters to life and didn’t miss a comedic beat. So. Much. Fun.

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 Waiting for Gilbert, 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.

A Yorkshire Carol + Giveaway

indie!

The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it?

When Juliana Issot’s godmother invites her to spend the month of Christmas for a house party in Yorkshire, Juliana feels compelled by affection to accept. Never mind that she escaped Yorkshire at first chance to secure a more glittering match in London, and the only matrimonial prospect at home is her childhood playmate, Willelm.

Willelm Armitage is a born and bred Yorkshireman, and as far as he is concerned, Juliana belongs here, too—and at his side. However, the one time he tried to convince her of this, she speedily gave him the right-about, making him question whether she truly was the right choice for him. After all, if she cannot see how well they suit, he is not about to force her hand.

A Christmas house party with pudding, games, charades, riding, and carols turns out to be just the thing to remind Juliana of how much she loves Yorkshire. But when her nostalgia slips into love will she be able to admit that Willelm knew the longings of her heart better than she knew her own?

My Review:

I seem to be attending a lot of Regency Christmas house parties this year and I’m loving it! Such a great way to keep a hero and heroine in close proximity, and to allow matchmakers free license. That’s what happens in ‘A Yuletide Carol’ much to my reader’s delight.

True confession: I wasn’t sure if I could warm to Juliana right at the start. We’re so opposite — she loves the busy atmosphere of London. All the balls and social gatherings and has been set on securing an advantageous match. So she’s a bit calculating when she arrives back home in Yorkshire. She’s definitely looking for a gentleman who will whisk her back to the gaiety of London society. I’m too much of an introvert to put up with all that nonsense, so I usually bond with outlier heroines who prefer the country and their books and animals to social climbing.

Happy to say Juliana did win me over by the end. That’s because Goutet (eep — new-to-me author!) creates some wonderful character growth in Juliana as she begins to set aside girlish dreams and comes to realize her feelings for Willelm might run deeper than she thought.

Willelm has been besotted with Juliana for a long time now. Friends since childhood, he discovered deeper feelings early on. Alas, they were not reciprocated so he has been nursing an unrequited love. I was sympathetic to Willelm right away and I think that might have something to do with why Juliana irked me in the beginning too. But, what’s a romance without conflict? Makes the happily ever after more satisfying. And this one was!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Stevie Zimmerman. She’s a favourite voice performer and she never disappoints.

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 A Yuletide Carol, 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.

Conversations With Kav – Christmas Carol Book Tag + Giveaway

‘Tis the season for all the book tags and here’s another fun one I came across on Chautona Havig’s book tube channel. I stuck with Christmas books but I think the challenge was meant for any book. Feel free to answer one or some or all of the prompts in the comment section and I’ll throw your name in a giveaway draw for a $10 Baker Book House e-gift card.

Red, Gold & Green – a book with a combination of these colours on the cover (was it ever hard to find all three on one cover!)

Carol Singing – What is your favourite Christmas Carol? Pick a book with a title that includes a word from that song title. (Mary Did You Know?)

Christmas trees, wreaths and evergreens: a book that features nature on the cover.

Sending cards: a book with epistolary elements you read this year or want to read this year. (This one has some fun texting scenes so I’m counting it.)

Mistletoe: a book that features unrequited love.

Santa Claus: a book that features a character who’s old, maybe a little frightening, but endearing anyway.

Nativity scenes: family based historical fiction

Elf on a shelf: a book on your shelf that catches your eye but you haven’t picked up yet. (and that’s only because my order finally came in and I just picked it up!)

Christmas movies: favourite adaptation or a book you’d like to see adapted. (One I’d love to be made into a movie as long as they stuck to the plot and dialogue of the book!)

Ugly sweater: a book that made you laugh out loud. (So much!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Just leave a comment (or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) answering at least one of these Christmas Carol Book Tag prompts and I’ll put your name in my Random Wheel of Names Generator and you could win a $10.00 e-gift card for Baker Book House. They have fantastic deals, including free shipping and discounts for new releases as well as used books.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Friday December 20 2024.

December Giveaway – Week Two

WON BY JACKIE

WON BY ANGIE ADAMS

WON BY WINNIE THOMAS

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:

Please remember to check giveaway details (paperback, ebook, either/or, gently read etc.) each day as they will vary and check for the ‘+ giveaway’ notice added after the title . Titles without that addition are review only.

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!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AND START OF CHRISTMAS BREAK

A Christmas Duet

A solo holiday trip inspires one woman to rediscover her passion—and remember that, sometimes, duets are more fun—in this romantic Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of composing her own songs, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland, Oregon. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of Christmas with her meddling family, where she’ll have to play nice while dodging their traditional expectations.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in small-town Podunk, Washington, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin is occupied by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the mayor’s son—who happens to be an incredibly charming former musician—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s encouragement and feedback inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, threatening her newfound peace and confidence, while she realizes Jay might be more than he presents himself to be. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

My Review:

The holidays can’t really commence until I’ve read a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel and ‘A Christmas Duet’ is a delightful addition to her long standing tradition of delivering heartwarming yuletide stories at the most wonderful time of the year.

An easy, satisfying, read-in-one-sitting kind of story with wonderful Christmas elements, family drama and new beginnings — complete with romance.

Hailey is all for escaping Christmas festivities this year (and who can blame her after what her mother has done?!) so she merrily heads off to a cabin on the outskirts of the smallest of small towns. What could be more blissful than ten days of creative isolation and rest? Yeah, well, things don’t go exactly as planned…and the result is another memorable Macomber Christmas story to add to my collection.

Faking Christmas

Indie!

One little white lie.

That’s all it took. Now I’m suddenly having to fake-date my work nemesis to get me through a week at a Vermont Christmas lodge with my family.

The problem? I can’t stand Miles Taylor. Not only that, but I don’t date people I work with. But I can handle it. I’ve had practice faking my emotions for years. So it shouldn’t matter that Miles never lets me get away with anything. And that he happens to boil my blood hotter than a steaming pot of wassail. So when he throws his annoying grin my way or forces me on dates he knows I’ll hate, I’ll just grit my teeth and smile.

Or maybe not. Did I mention that Miles is the one person in the world I can’t seem to fool?

When my emotions begin feeling less like a sham and his arms feel way too comfortable, it makes me think that maybe Miles had a plan of his own. And I’m starting to like it a lot more than mine.

My Review:

published in 2022

Sarcasm and witty banter abound in this entertaining holiday rom/com.( I listened to the audio edition and narrator Justis Bolding’s performance really enhanced my ‘reading’ enjoyment.)

At first I thought Olive was way too uptight and judgemental and while she kinda was, she also has reasons and she has an epiphany further into the story which just added to my emotional investment in the romance. And, goodness, but her inner dialogue regarding Miles was hilarious!

The fake dating trope is played to perfection as it (almost) seamlessly weaves into the real thing. There are a few hiccups along the way, but Steel keeps even the darker moments lighter in honour of this being a seasonal read, I think, which I so appreciated. I was never on tenterhooks, anxiously worrying and angsting over Miles and Olive — I could just settle back and enjoy the show. Loved that.

Miles is definitely book boyfriend material. I am stifling the urge to list all the reasons why because you should definitely discover him for yourself, one delicious quality at a time. Let’s just say fainting couch recommended with smelling salts on hand. And be prepared for vigorous toe-curls. 🙂

This is a sweet, clean (kisses only — but oh my they sizzle!) romance with lots of holiday cheer and comedic action.

Book available on Kindle Unlimited and the audio book is on sale for $2.99 at Chirpbooks.

A Seasonal Pursuit + Giveaway

Indie!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, four cousins have been told they all need a spouse…

Have yourself a married little Christmas…

Rose Portman, determined spinster, has a bit of a predicament. Her great aunt has challenged her to get married before Twelfth Night and promised that, if she does, Rose will inherit the perfect country cottage with the funds to maintain it. Rose has always wanted to get away from London and Society, and this could be her chance! But the catch is that Rose has to attend a holiday house party in York and find a husband among the guests. Worst of all… she must marry for love.

Webb Rixton, Lord Downing, is attending a holiday house party hosted by his neighbor, but only because his mother and sister are making him. He knows his young children need a mother, but no one could possibly replace his late wife, so marriage and love are the last things on his mind. Still, he thinks he might have found a friend in the refreshingly frank Miss Portman, and a friend could be just what he needs to return to the land of the living. When she tells him of her situation, and her plot to thwart it, he is determined to help her, setting them both on a path of the most unexpected nature.

Will this season be particularly jolly for Rose and Webb? Or will the weather not be the only thing that is frightful?

Decking the halls has never been quite so jolly in this sweet, snarky, swoonworthy holiday romance. Read as a stand-alone, or enjoy it as the last book in the Regency Christmas Brides series.

My Review:

After reading ‘A Seasonal Pursuit’ I absolutely have to read the rest of the books in this multi-authored series! There’s just something about a Regency Romance at Christmastime that tickles my bibliophile fancy. Especially when the author takes her characters to a house party!

Rose is decidedly ‘on the shelf’ and content (resigned?) to it being that way. But when her great aunt dangles the temptation of her very own ‘cottage’ (ahem, their idea of a cottage and mine vary greatly!) and the funds to maintain it, well it’s hard to resist. Even with the caveat of finding a love match by Twelfth Night. So off she goes to York with a counter scheme of her own.

Webb’s widower status has kept him away from societal expectations for nearly two years. He has focused on his estate and his two (adorable!) children and is content to stay that way. But the matchmaking force is strong in the York countryside and he finds himself committed to a Christmas house party.

Webb meets Rose and, well, he can’t help but be intrigued by her unorthodox penchant for speaking her mind. Oh, the banter! The slow-burn (if you can call a month slow-burn, but it felt deliciously unhurried) romance! And the party games! I have read so many Christmas Regency stories and still can’t grasp the appeal of Snapdragon (fishing raisins out of a bowl of brandy set alight. As in on fire!) And there are enough scheming matriarchs to make things interesting. 🙂

A delightful addition to my Regency Christmas collection and one that I will definitely revisit in the future.

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 A Seasonal Pursuit, 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 December 14 2024.

Wishing for Mistletoe + Giveaway

indie!

When the heart pens its own holiday romance, even a skeptic can find magic under the mistletoe.

On Sanctuary Island, Ariel Highbridge seeks refuge from crippling writer’s block and a disillusioned heart. As a writer of Regency romances who’s been betrayed by love herself, Ariel struggles to weave tales of romance when her own faith in it has frayed.

Tom Fuller is a devoted schoolteacher and a widower, whose life orbits around his daughter Shauna. He has sworn off the possibility of new love. Yet, the arrival of their enchanting neighbor stirs an unexpected warmth in both father and daughter’s lives..

As the island’s Yuletide enchantments weave their spell, Tom and Ariel find themselves drawn to each other. Ariel’s burgeoning belief in love and Tom’s tentative steps towards healing suggest that perhaps, this Christmas, they could write a love story of their own.

But their fledgling romance will soon face its ultimate test, and it will take the magic of the season and the island’s charm for their love story to prove the most enchanting tales don’t end—they simply transform into new beginnings.

* * *

Welcome to the shores of Sanctuary Island, where six bestselling authors of Christian romance bring you stories of love and redemption. From tender romance to enduring faith, each standalone novel in this series promises unforgettable characters and heartwarming small town charm.

My Review:

An exquisitely written Christmas novel full of faith and hope and new beginnings. I so enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher’s storytelling style. Her talent in creating living, breathing people from fictional characters is phenomenal and the subsequent emotional connection I feel enhances my reading enjoyment so much.

This was my introduction to Sanctuary Island, but I am eager to sample some of the other stories in this series – especially since there are a few new-to-me authors in the mix. Love the unique setting and the small town ambience that promises happily ever afters. This is the kind of town that puts action into their caring and there were so many sweet moments of camaraderie, compassion and service. Perfect for a Christmas story.

And the perfect place for Ariel to land as she struggles both professionally and personally. Hatcher does an amazing job of conveying the conflicting highs and lows of authorship. Insecurities surface, despite past success, and somewhere in the mix, Ariel realizes that her priorities might be skewed. I found her faith journey quite profound and easily relatable to my own life.

And then there’s Tom and his precocious daughter who play a significant role in integrating Ariel into island life. And at Christmas time, that’s pretty special. He has a heartbreaking back story and is still working through some issues but I love the way the island community encourages these two. And I really love the solid faith woven throughout their love story.

I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Hilarey Johnson which made ‘reading’ Wishing for Mistletoe even more memorable. A solid recommendation if you enjoy audio books.

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 Wishing for Mistletoe, 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 December 14 2024.

December 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 December 2024 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 December 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 December 14 2024.

Conversations with Kav – End of Year Book Tag

Just a wee bit more End of the Year bookish chitchat. Feel free to join in by answering any (or all) of these questions in the comments. It’s fun to see what other readers’ bookish priorities are as we draw near to the close of another year.

Are there any books you started this year and want to finish?

Not any fiction that I can think of. Once I start a book, I either commit or DNF pretty quickly. So, if I’m committed, the book is read in a day or two – three at the most. If it’s DNFed, I don’t give it a second thought and move on.

It takes me longer to work my way through non-fiction books though. I’ve been reading ‘Hearing God : Developing a Conversational Relationship with God’ by Dallas Willard that I thought I’d have finished before the end of the year, but I’m not going to push myself so it will likely be a carry over. Lot’s of thought-provoking ideas that I need sit with and mull over before I continue reading.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for this year?

YESSSSSS!!!!!!! ‘Cloaked in Beauty’ by Karen Witemeyer. I loved the first two books in her ‘Texas Every After’ series and this one is a Red Ridinghood retelling. Eepppp! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book based on this particular fairy tale so I’m excited to see the ways the author weaves the familiar parts into her unique reimagining. It comes out December 17.

What 3 books would you like to read before the end of the year?

Ummm….only three, eh? Okay, let’s see if I can be that concise:

Because it’s been on my TBR for months and everyone is raving about it: ‘Wedding at Sea‘ by Melissa Tagg. I know, I know, what have I been waiting for?!

Because it’s tradition to read a Julie Klassen book in December: “The Seaside Homecoming” — it just released this week. Eeeeppp!!!

Because I just picked it up from the library: ‘The Roads We Follow’ by Nicole Deese…yes, I know, another book that got away from me this year but it’s on my TBR now, right at the tippy top so it we’re getting closer….if I could just stop reading Christmas books long enough to look at anything else. Bwahahaha!

Is there a book that could surprise you and become a favourite?

Hmmm….I’m usually pretty secure in my picks but I’ve been exploring more clean rom/coms lately and I never know if I’ll jive with a new-to-me author until I give one of their books a try. That’s because the definition of ‘clean’ can vary quite a bit and I’m looking for the ones that fit my comfort level. So, another recent library acquisition on my TBR is ‘How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss’ by Jenny Proctor. I’m excited to give this author a try and see is she becomes a fave.

What book have you been putting off reading this year?

Didn’t have to think twice about this answer. ‘Wishtress’ by Nadine Brandes. I have checked this book out of the library so many times, renewed it over and over again, returned it and then checked it out again. And repeat and repeat and repeat. I don’t know why I’m so reluctant. It has rave reviews from readers I trust, the story sounds intriguing, I’ve enjoyed other books by this author but still, here we are at the end of year and ‘Wishtress’ is back on my physical TBR valiantly battling her way to the top. I really need to give her a chance. Maybe it’s the fantasy aspect that gives me pause?

Have you already started making plans for the new year?

Wellll….I did go out and buy my reading and tracking journals. I’ll set them up sometime over the Christmas break and since Reader’s Choice Week will be upon us soon I’ll start plotting out the January, February and March 2025 new releases I will want to read. I’m very much a mood reader though, so I never really have any concrete reading plans.