kavlovestoread

Baby Protection Mission + Giveaway

When a baby is targeted, can a K-9 team keep him safe?

When his sister is kidnapped, rancher Cade McNeal will do anything to prevent his baby nephew from being next. Now Officer Ashley Hanson and her K-9 partner are on the case, and it’s up to them to track down the assailant and keep Cade and his nephew from harm. But as the suspect list grows and the attacks escalate, will they bring a kidnapper to justice…before he strikes again?

Mountain Country K-9 unit

My Review:

Woohoo! We’re at the start of a new Love Inspired Suspense continuity series featuring K-9s. That right there has sent me into a euphoric state of bibliophile bliss. Plus all the books will be available in audible format too which has me a tad shy of giddy. I know, I’m such a ridiculous book nerd.

Laura Scott has us off to a great start with lots of adrenaline rushes and high intrigue. And, seriously, who can resist a rough, tough cowboy cradling a baby in his arms? Not me!

So, the suspense in this first novel deals with an abduction which involves lots of tense moments and heart-stopping action scenes, but there’s also an over-arcing series suspense involving a serial killer. We’re introduced to all the team members in this book though the focus stays mainly on Ashley and her K-9 partner. And I love that it’s a multi-state task force so we’ll get to do some traveling as we follow the team on the hunt for a killer.

An absorbing, quick read (or, in my case listen). Jennifer Jill Araya’s narration enhanced my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much more.

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 Baby Protection Mission, 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 April 13 2024.

Sandcastle Inn + Giveaway

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she’d left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course–because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn’t in Matt Quinn’s plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn’t on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister’s new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B–if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.

My Review:

Hope Harbor is one of my favourite series — ever! — so I was thrilled to add this tenth book to my collection. I love this setting, the community and the thrill of meeting up with familiar characters who feel like friends. Having said that, ‘Sandcastle Inn’ can definitely be read as a standalone, but, if you are an ardent visitor of this special corner of the fictional world, you’ll get an extra thrill every time something seemingly insignificant is mentioned (since you’re in the know.) So. Much. Fun. I’m looking at you Floyd and Gladys and belching seal and dueling clerics and Charlie’s taco stand and….I’m still in a swoon of giddy bibliophile delight!

Love Irene Hannon’s rich storytelling, her complex characters wrestling with real life problems and the way they come together to work out a solution. You can see God’s hand in their gathering and I got so excited as I watched events unfold.

We’re blessed with two romances (eeeep!) While the main focus is on Matt and Vienna, there’s a secondary love story featuring a young married couple trying to work through a tough situation. And Hope Harbor is the perfect place to land when you’re down on your luck or facing tough decisions or trying to mend relationships or, well, any hard thing you can think of. I so wish this town really existed, I’d move there in a flash! But maybe, more to the point, is the inspiration to create our own loving and nurturing Hope Harbors wherever we call home.

I listened to the audible edition (pre-ordered and then downloaded on release day because I couldn’t not wait!) and, as always, was thrilled by Therese Plummer’s exceptional narration.

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 Sandcastle Inn, 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 April 13 2024.

Cold Case Target + Giveaway

Caught in a serial killer’s deadly game with nowhere to turn…

Interrupting an attempted murder—and leaving with incriminating evidence—makes Sissy Spencer a serial killer’s next target. With a flash drive in her possession containing disturbing proof of multiple murders, Sissy has no choice but to trust her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Beau Brighton, to keep her safe. But can they unravel the clues and track down a killer…before he catches them first?

My Review:

Whoa…emotional overload and hair-raising angst…this must be a Jessica R. Patch romantic suspense novel! Be prepared for a reading (or in my case, listening) marathon, ’cause you’ll become so absorbed in the story you won’t want to break away until everything is resolved. And — phew — what a journey to that happily every after!

A second chance romance filled with trepidation. Sissy does not want anything to do with Beau Brighton. Period. But her brother has hired the man on as a private investigator for the family business and with a serial killer stalking her, no one is listening to Sissy’s protestations.

What she doesn’t understand is that Beau is a changed man. Transformed by faith and eager to make amends. These two clash and battle (well, that’s mostly Sissy) even as sparks fly and yearnings for ‘what might have been’ start to take hold. Only, these two have backstories that will break a sensitive reader’s heart so be prepared for some emotional turmoil. Love the honesty of their romance. It’s raw and real and punctuated with highs and lows. Hurt feelings. Unforgiveness. So many barriers stand between theses two and their second chance. Makes for the kind of read you feel your way through. Outstanding and, eventually, triumphant.

The suspense is the edge-of-your-seat, whiplash-inducing kind that’s impossible to put down. And, are we surprised (?), features a serial killer. Tense and spine tingling and that ending…..Wow, just…WOW!

This second book in the Texas Crimes Scene Cleaners series reads well as a standalone but I love the camaraderie among the Spencer siblings and the glimpse we are given into the lives of future series heroes and heroines. Can’t wait for book three to come out!

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book and can’t gush enough over how excited I am that more and more Love Inspired Suspense novels are being made available in this format! Woot! Makes me one happy listener.

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 Cold Case Target, 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 April 13 2024.

Reader’s Choice Goal Review Giveaway – Spring Edition

How This Giveaway Works:

Another Best Reads Blog tradition is quarterly reading goal reviews. I’ll share my progress (or not!) here just for some fun, book nerdy stats and, if you’re so inclined you can share a goal or two in the comments. But no pressure – a goal can be as simple as ‘read a book.’

So, to enter this giveaway, just share anything goal related in the comments. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

“I want to catch up on some suspense series. Night Prey by Susan Sleeman.”

NOTE: BOOKS MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments — and you can use the same goal or a different one each time, but a different title for each entry.

Books can be published any time up through to June 2024. Currently published books will be ordered this coming week for winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a title releasing later in April, May or June 2024.

See? Easy Peasy. But if you’re still not clear, don’t be shy about asking questions.

Books Read: 137

Other is a mix of YA, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Novellas & Fairytale Retellings.

I’m surprised that Contemporary won out over Historical because I feel like I’ve read a lot of Historical Fiction. And cozy mysteries took up almost half my reading in the first quarter of 2024!

Five of my goals relate to authors and I made pretty good headway on four of them as you’ll see in the graphic below. (Yes, I’ve gone graph made…but…humour me.) The goal I did rather abysmally in was #5, where I was supposed to concentrate on certain authors’ backlists. I read all of 3 books! Will definitely have to concentrate on this goal for my spring/summer reading.

A few other goal highlights from January – March 2024:

I did really well with my Diversity goals — 58 out of 137 books! That’s just over 40% of the books I read. Diversity includes settings other than the US, ethnic diverse authors and characters and non-American authors. I’m really enjoying the added variety this brings to my fiction. Hope to make it 50% by the next Goal Review.
I actually achieved my Reading out of my Comfort Zone goal already! I set 5 titles for the whole year and it’s done and dusted. Woohoo me!!!!
I’m making some headway on the series I targeted for this year. I chose 24 new-to-me series to start (guess how many I started that weren’t on my list?!), 24 series to catch up on and 24 series to keep current with. I started 7 of the new-to-me series, am working my way through 8 of the catch-up series (only 3 are caught up) and am current with 15 of the 24 series on that list. So not bad. 🙂
And, of course, I kept up with all my reading stats!

Phew! That’s it for me. How about you?

Share below and remember to include a book title that will help you achieve any kind of reading goal. You can enter three times in three separate comments using the same goal or different ones. What ever strikes your fancy. Just make sure each entry is for a different title.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

SATURDAY APRIL 13 2024.

OFFER OPEN TO ANY READER WHO HAS A KINDLE .COM ACCOUNT FOR EBOOKS. OTHERWISE IT’S WINNER’S CHOICE OF PAPERBACK OR EBOOK FOR US AND CANADIAN ENTRIES.

April Giveaway – Week One

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:

MONDAY

Some left over business from our Reader’s Choice Week — where we review our reading goals and suggest books that would help us meet them.

Hearts of Briarwall

Lydia Wooding is fascinated by the latest inventions the new century brings, including motorcars. She longs for the independence they represent and believes that women should have a say in the future of the industry—just as they should have a say in suffrage, adventure, and, of course, love.

Spencer Hayes is a man of practicality and innovation, but he lacks the financial backing to make his dream a reality. When he contacts his childhood friend, Andrew Wooding, about a promising business venture, he is invited to Briarwall Manor to discuss the terms. Once there, he is surprised to find that Andrew’s once shy, younger sister, Lydia, has grown into a young woman of beauty, wit, and a bit of fire. Even better, the two share a passion for motorcars.

Andrew, however, is wary of cars, having lost his parents in a tragic auto accident when he and Lydia were young. And he’s not sure a relationship between his sister and Spencer is the best idea—not when Sir Lawrence is available and could match both Lydia’s social status and her fortune.

Torn between risking their hearts and being loyal to their dreams in an era of whirlwind change, Spencer and Lydia anchor themselves with the determination they both share: to live life to its fullest.

My Review:

Fun and flirty and banter-ful!

Jensen utilizes the innovations at the turn of the century to intriguing perfection in this historical romance. Such an enthralling time in history! New inventions, new ideas and a changing society are opening up new possibilities for women…despite what stuffy older brothers might think. 🙂

A classic love story delivered with wit and charm. The friends to more trope is executed well, especially when a meddling older brother keeps messing things up. A clean, light romance that was a joy to read…well listen to. And performed by one of my all time favourite narrators — Justine Eyre!

*currently available on Audible Plus (in Canada, anyway)

The British Booksellers + Giveaway

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington . . . until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of WWII, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

My Review:

Stunning…but my heart hurts. So, the kind of emotional read that twists your innards into pretzels and pummels your heart into a misshapen lump…to start off anyway.

I knew going in (from the synopsis) that there would be a doomed love scenario, I just wasn’t prepared for how bereaved I would be. Kudos to Cambron for creating such engaging characters. Easy to love and root for even though you know it’s a train wreck waiting to happen. And then it’s twenty-five years later.

And my heart still hurt.

The dual timeline is written so artfully and the way the author feeds us bits of pertinent information gradually is delightfully frustrating. I wanted to know everything NOW but at the same time enjoyed the anticipation. So, well plotted and beautifully written.

And my heart stopped hurting…though it still aches a little.

Two wars. Two love stories. The miracle of finding faith and basking in hope in the midst of the horror of war. Breathtakingly beautiful prose. Deeply emotional. So easy to live and breathe in every detail right along with the characters. A story to savour and hold on to even after you reach the end.

I really enjoyed the audio edition narrated by Barrie Kreinik. Well performed and easy to listen to. Her performance enhanced my appreciation of these characters and their story.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win an ecopy of The British Booksellers, 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 April 6 2024.

Tracking the Truth + Giveaway

To expose a suspect, he needs evidence…and a K-9’s instincts.

After Emery Duncan is abducted and dumped in a lake, private investigator Roman Wolfe and his bloodhound partner rescue her from an icy death. Someone doesn’t want Emery to find out what really happened the night her father confessed to attempted murder. To keep Emery and her baby nephew safe, they must uncover the connection between her father’s confession and the attack…or they’ll be silenced for good.

My Review:

Spectacularly brilliant!

Say what you will, but you’ll never convince me that Wally, the ‘nose with a dog attached’, isn’t the hero of this romantic suspense. Okay, maybe not in the romance department (though he is a lovable goofball) but definitely in every other way. Even if he has some unusual quirks that Roman can’t fix no matter how hard he tries. Mind you, without them Wally would just be your run-of-the-mill bloodhound. Instead he’s a one-of-a-kind rock star hound! Seriously, getting to meet Wally is worth the read.

And, yes, Roman makes a great straight man for Wally’s comedic schtick, but he’s also the perfect blend of flawed hero and knight in shining armour. And just the guy to help Emery out of a perilous situation that embroils them both in mystery and danger. Loved the way the author blends intrigue and romance while upping the suspense in tantalizing measures until — Whoooshhhh, it’s finally safe to let go of that pent-up breath!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Tracking the Truth’ and thoroughly enjoyed Abby Craden’s narration. So thrilled that we are seeing more Love Inspired Suspense novels available in this format. I’m preordered all the way up to November and it’s such a bibliophile rush when I get the notification that a book is waiting 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 Tracking the Truth, 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 April 6 2024.

Love in Tandem + Giveaway

She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that.

After a failed engagement and her mother’s battle with cancer, Charlotte Carter’s life is finally turning around now that she’s landed a dream job teaching music. What she didn’t see coming was the imminent closure of the school’s music program. She’s determined to save it, even if it means getting creative. There’s no way she’s chalking this up as just another failure in her book of recent embarrassments.

Zach Bryant is back in town just long enough to see his brother Ben get married and then he’s off traveling the world again. He never imagined he’d run into Charlotte Carter, his brother’s ex-fiancé, or that everyone would believe he and Charlotte are an item. He certainly didn’t dream he’d end up riding a tandem bicycle hundreds of miles with her in an attempt to raise funds for a defunct music program, but how can he say no when the prize money would help him out of his financial predicament too?

Charlotte is sure she can set aside her differences with Zach long enough to cross the finish line and win the giant cash prize . . . can’t she? A few hundred miles in, she’s questioning her deeply held assumptions about Zach and wondering if maybe tandem biking is only the start of their biggest adventure yet.

My Review:

I don’t even know where to start…except to say that I laughed my way through the entire book. And not just mild bubbles of mirth but frequent full out belly laughs which leads me to my first reader warning: Do not read this book in public. I did, since I walk and listen, and I was enthusiastically enjoying C.J. Bloom’s narration which resulted in staccato bursts of chuckles, high-pitched peels of laughter, and even the occasional oh so embarrassing snort chortle which caused dogs to bark and pedestrians to cross over to the other side of the street. My standing in the neighbourhood is now in question but I don’t even care.

So – 5 stars plus a billion more! Impeccable comedic pacing delivered masterfully by the narrator to bring the most impact and ensure my 15 facial smile muscles got a coordinated workout. All the way through. And it never got absurd…well, okay it did but it didn’t feel like it. The way Charlotte and Zach’s situation snowballed out of control made for an epic farce. Excellent combination of physical comedy and smart banter with a healthy dose of zaniness just because.

But there’s so much heart in this story too. Emotional depth and great character development as Zach and Charlotte wrestle with angst and past trauma. Somehow the author manages to strike the right balance between the heavy and the light which made ‘Love in Tandem’ not only an entertaining read, but an impactful one as well.

Love a good fake dating trope with all the ensuing romantical complications and this one is outstanding! Plus, we’re given a secondary plot line featuring Charlotte’s sister which was just as compelling and a whole lot quirky. These sisters don’t know how to do ‘normal.’

As I mentioned, I listened to the audio edition and I really think C.J. Bloom’s performance amped up my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much more. Brilliant choice of narrator and she did these characters justice.

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

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 Love in Tandem, 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 April 6 2024.

April New Releases Giveaway

It’s a 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 April 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 January 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 April 6 2024.