kavlovestoread

October Giveaway – Week Four

Thanks so much for the great discussion on Indie authors. I created my first ever spreadsheet with 137 author names!!!! I’ve already bought three books, read two of them (as you’ll see from next week’s line-up.) If I didn’t rely on the library and audio books for much of my reading material, I’d declare November and December indie only months. But I’m going to make sure to at least read one indie book a week from all your suggestions so stay tuned!

WON BY COURTNEY

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!

If For Any Reason

random retro read

Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door-turned-baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.

As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

My Review:

Woohoo! A Second Chance Summer Romance set on Nantucket Island! Love the contrast of carefree beachy vibes as background to the emotionally packed love story! And mercy, but Walsh wrung every last bit of emotion out of me by the end.

So, high drama, including a family scandal with Emily in the middle of it all. Oh, yeah, and her teenage crush is living next door. Who just happens to be an ex baseball star sidelined by a permanent injury. And he has his own personal issues he’s dealing with. So, pile on some more drama. This book was intense! But I loved the way Walsh lets her characters work through it all. Very realistic — and so emotional! My heart is still tender from all the pummelling!

And there’s even a bit of a dual timeline to the story. In the form of letters from Emily’s deceased mother as well as some ‘real time’ scenes from the past. Which include another love story! The way the author blends those two timelines and slowly builds towards the emotional climax — well, wowzers! Kept me completely immersed until everything finally got sorted.

A slow burn second chance romance with so much heart and hope!

Every Day is Christmas + Giveaway

INDIE!

Civil Engineer Landon Michaels’ grandmother’s memory is fading. All she wants for Christmas is a unique black angel ornament. The problem is it’s March. Will Granny Lonna know when it’s Christmas, or will she recognize her family by December?

Gina Christmas and her family of accountants founded Every Day is Christmas to bless youths living in a children’s home. It’s not an ordinary charity. The children help fund the charity by creating artwork for sale. Their specialties are black angels, ornaments, and sculptures.

When Landon crosses paths with Gina, she joins his mission to find the perfect black angel ornament that will bring joy to his grandmother.

My Review:

What a scrumptious Christmas love story with lots of scope for all kinds of emotional undertones.

First we’ve got the poignancy of Landon’s grandmother’s fading memory and the seemingly impossible quest she sends Landon on. Then there’s his lively ‘all in your business’ family who make things even more interesting. Not to be outdone by Gina’s determined (aka pushy) sister. Plus, poor Gina is in a constant state of fatigue due to difficult work circumstances and that makes her a titch grumpy. So, to say their meet-cute was ‘cute’ would be a lie …but that made it so much fun!

So, not quite an enemies to more trope, but definitely a strong dislike to more. Both make assumptions about the other which need to be ironed out and they are at opposite sides of a critical issue which seems to be a huge stumbling block. Argh — I simultaneously wanted to hug these two and thwack their heads together in hopes of shaking some sense into them. But, oh my, when Landon makes his move…be still my heart! Sizzles and sparks, pass me some mistletoe!

I so appreciated Landon and Gina’s eight month journey to their happily every after. The romance never felt rushed even though this novel is on the shorter side. Landon’s wooing and Gina’s capitulating was paced to sweet perfection. And I loved the focus on faith in both their lives and their relationship.

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Every Day is Christmas’ (such a clever title tie in!). Susan Spain’s narration was excellent and made the story that much more memorable for me.

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 Every Day is 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 26 2024.

The Christmas Singing + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?

Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.

Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk and discover the power of second chances in this touching story from the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Bridge of Peace .

Gideon Beiler has loved Mattie Eash since they were children. But when faced with unexpected circumstances, he makes up an excuse to end their engagement. He doesn’t want to lie to her, but he believes that telling Mattie the truth will be more hurtful.

Brokenhearted, Mattie moves from Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania to Ohio, where she pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator. She finds a new beau—a man offering the secure relationship Gideon has denied her.

When Mattie is forced to return to Apple Ridge, she and Gideon must confront the suffering created by his dishonesty – and address the powerful emotions that continue to bind the two childhood friends.

My Review:

published in 2011

This slim little book packs a wallop and proves that Cindy Woodsmall can do concise without losing out on the depth and detail she is known for. Mattie is such a fun character — and very different from your typical Amish heroine. Love her dreaminess, her klutziness, the way she can turn disaster into something fun and light-hearted. Except for her broken engagement that is. She knows how to harbour a grudge and I honestly can’t blame her since she thinks one thing while the reality is far different.

I spent my time being alternately irritated and enamoured with Gideon. Honestly –he’s…he’s…just like a man!!!! Thinks like a man, acts like a man and believe me that isn’t always a good thing! So there’s fireworks at times, angst a plenty, but Woodsmall weaves it all together with some wonderfully heart-warming, light-hearted moments as well. A great combination for a Christmas read — though there’s not a lot of Christmas in the read. LOL. It’s not as seasonal as I thought it would be, but that didn’t detract from the story at all. In fact it makes it more universally appealing. Definitely not a book that has to be read only at Christmas.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover 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 Christmas Singing, 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 26 2024.

Specter in the Glass House + Giveaway

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?Renowned as a “trailblazer extraordinaire” (Booklist) of inspirational dual-time suspense, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright weaves a haunting tale of mystery, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of truth across two distinct eras.

My Review:

Thoroughly Gothic and more than a little eerie. And I feel like that is practically all I can safely say about this book without giving away any spoilers.

Wright excels at this type of dual timeline mystery which includes stunning complexities in both character and plot. Our heroines, Marian in 1921 and Remy in present day, are faced with similar dilemmas yet both have very unique stories to tell.

Past and present are cleverly woven together with impeccable pacing. I hung on every word. I don’t know how the author manages to keep all the details straight! And the way she builds the suspense as well as the creep factor is phenomenal! (You might need some comfort chocolate and a security teddy to make your way safely through to the end.)

So, definitely an unputdownable read. The kind that keeps you scrambling for logical explanations in the midst of so many impossibilities. A spectacularly stunning read!

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 Specters in the Glass 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 October 26 2024.

Christy Awards Finalists 2024 – Historical Romance

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 2024 finalists are books published in 2023.

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.

A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen – Bethany House, Baker Publishing Group – Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook – Royalty comes to Sidmouth, bringing unexpected danger and the sweet possibility of romance. .

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter—the future Queen Victoria—rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple’s male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they’ve invited secrets and intrigue into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers longs to become an author. A local publisher offers to consider her novel if she will first write a Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily agrees and begins researching the area with help from the Duke of Kent’s handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she’s long held dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/05/07/a-winter-by-the-sea-giveaway/

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle – Tyndale House – Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook – 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.

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

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz – Revell, Baker Publishing Group – Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook – As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada’s Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family–French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral–are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America’s borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William’s, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 26 2024 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Conversations with Kav – Indie Books + Giveaway

This is me feeling uber guilty over one of my ten reading goals for this year. That would be to read more independently published books. Because my reading year looks like this so far:

Yikes! It looks really bad put into a graph! So I have just two months left to sort this and I need your help!

LET’S TALK INDIE AUTHORS AND THEIR BOOKS

I need some guidance and a whole lot of encouragement to help me navigate the indie world of Christian Fiction. So, what’s a reader to do but turn to her bookish besties who always have her back?!

I’d love to hear about:

some of your favourite indie authors (can include hybrid authors (publish both indie and traditional)
a specific indie book recommendation you think I would enjoy
how you source indie books

No worries if some of you end up recommending the same author(s )– that’ll just push them higher up the priority list since they are so popular. But I’d also like to end up with a healthy Indie TBR list by the end of the day. And, as a special thank you for sharing your love of Indie Christian Fiction:

INDIE CHRISTIAN FICTION GIVEAWAY

At the end of your comment, include the title and author of an indie CF book you would like to win and I’ll enter you in the draw. Books MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION and can be independently published any time up through the end of this year.

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 a Christian Fiction Indie novel, 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 26 2024.

October Giveaway – Week Three

WON BY PARKLAND MOM

WON BY CC

WON BY CARYL KANE

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

Guarded by the Hero

Random Retro Read

His job is to protect her, not to fall in love with her.

Heath Mitchell learned his security skills during his time in the US Marine Corps. After spending his first few years in the civilian world as the head of security for the Freedom Ridge Resort, he’s ready to branch out and help form a security firm. Things are just getting off the ground when he meets his sister’s friend. When a hit and run breaks into their meeting, she becomes his first client instead of his girlfriend.

Claire Odom has grown accustomed to a quiet life in the small town of Freedom. The perils of her past seem long gone until they resurface when she meets Heath. Determined to protect her, he becomes her full-time bodyguard. His good looks and the security he brings make it hard for her to remember he’s only there because she hired him.

Heath and Claire grow closer as they fight to outrun their unknown enemies. Loyalties are broken, and unlikely alliances are formed as the quiet town of Freedom bands together to protect their friends this Christmas season. But is their new found love just a reaction to the fear or was it always meant to be?

Return to Freedom, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Heroes of Freedom Ridge in this Christian Christmas romance.

My Review:

published in 2021

Sigh. Yes, this is me swooning over another bodyguard romance. I do so love a damsel in distress kind of read, especially set during the holidays. Yes, I know that sounds strange…kinda creepy really, but there you have it. So this one ticked all the boxes for me.

‘Guarded by the Hero’ is the seventh book in the multi-authored ‘Heroes of Freedom Ridge’ series but it reads fine as a standalone. All the books do — they share the same town and a host of secondary characters. And some of those characters get their chance to shine in their own books. It’s fun to see some of that overlap, but it’s not necessary to fully enjoy each story. I’ve only read 4 out of 18 (!)

I found Claire really relatable — she has suffered a traumatic past (and I love the way the author gradually lets her readers into exactly what happened!) She’s a contradictory mix of fear and grit, which made for an emotional read. She’s a survivor trying her best to overcome her past until it feels like her past is about to catch up with her.

Enter Heath — ex-Marine, a skilled bodyguard starting up his own security firm. He also happens to be Claire’s best friend’s brother. And Heath’s sister isn’t afraid to try her hand at a little holiday matchmaking, especially since it’s looking like Claire could use a security detail!

This is mostly a contemporary romance but there is a hint of suspense thrown in. The threat is real, and Heath and his team are on the case which keeps our hero and heroine in close proximity at all times. Which, of course, leads to romance. Happy sigh! Along with some lovely festive touches. And a surprising twist at the end which left me with a bit of reader whiplash! All in all, a delightful holiday romance.

Rainbow’s End

Can a reclusive artist help a man who’s lost and adrift find his way home?

Broken, empty, and alone after a cross-country search for answers, Keith Michaels takes refuge with reclusive artist Jill Whelan after a sudden squall strands him on Orcas Island. But while she offers him a place to wait out the storm, she wants nothing more to do with the stranger who’s invaded her turf. Yet Keith finds unexpected solace on her isolated property, and his one-night stay turns into an extended visit after he agrees to take on a project that is near and dear to her heart.When a little boy in need enters their world, Jill and Keith join forces to help him. And along the way, might they also reconnect with life—and find healing, hope, and love at Rainbow’s End?

In this RITA award finalist novel, bestselling author Irene Hannon pens an unforgettable story that tugs at the heartstrings and demonstrates the power of love to transform lives.

My Review:

Perfect for fans of the author’s ‘Hope Harbor’ series.

‘Rainbow’s End’ was originally published in 2007 but the author has recently re-issued this timeless love story. Perfect timing for me since I missed it the first time round. And I was thrilled to find a copy on audible narrated by the amazing Therese Plummer. Sheer bibliophile bliss!

And what a story! The inspirational theme of defeating darkness with “grace and grit” infuses hope into every scene, including those fraught with despair and fear. Hannon tackles some tough topics as she takes her characters on a path toward healing…and the kind of happily ever after they thought they could never have.

Beautifully written. The kind of storytelling that makes both characters and setting come alive in a memorable way. And I got all kinds of ‘Hope Harbor’ vibes — in fact, this book made me homesick for that fictional place! I can’t help thinking that ‘Rainbow’s End’ might have been the spark way back when that grew into the phenomenal HH series. It’s definitely just as satisfying. Now I’m eager to explore more of the author’s Encore editions — and happily they are also all available on audible.