kavlovestoread

Solid as Steele + Giveaway

He lost his memory…

Mackenzie Steele has been instrumental in keeping Steele Guardians afloat, working long hours for months. Nearing burn out, her family encourages her to take a vacation, and she reluctantly agrees. She needs solitude and quiet, and a vacation rental home in the Oregon desert is just the ticket. But she’s no sooner unpacked her bags when a man lands on her doorstep. A man who can’t remember his identity or why he’s there. All they know is that the name Owen seems familiar to him.

But will finding it bring a killer to her doorstep.

Mackenzie shouldn’t trust this man, but something about his earnestness draws her to him and she agrees to help him determine his identity. When her rental home is bombarded with bullets, she knows she’s accepted a task that could turn deadly, and she should walk away. But by this time, her deepening connection with the stranger keeps her firmly rooted at his die, and she can only pray that she won’t regret her potentially life-altering decision.

My Review:

First, who knew that there was a desert in Oregon? Not this Canadian, that’s for sure. So, great setting, including some wilderness adventuring. And we’re also introduced to a band of brothers who run an outdoor wilderness adventure business and I am heartily hoping that their inclusion might be a foreshadowing of a future series! Please, please, please!

But, I digress. Best opening line ever: “The body lying on the front porch wasn’t included in MacKenzie Steele’s vacation home rental.” Bwahahahaha! And we’re off and racing through pages of adventure and danger and toe-curling romance! And didn’t Susan Sleeman go and bewitch me by turning a not-so-favourite trope of mine into something dazzlingly clever?!

I think I might have to stop saying I’m not an amnesia trope fan now. It’s done so well, and with a fresh slant too which makes it all the more interesting. Loved MacKenzie’s reaction to meeting Owen and that she was smart and sensible about it (you have to read the book to find out what I mean.)

And then I was in sheer bibliophile delight all the way to the end as Sleeman delivered her iconic blend of family, faith, humour and suspense. And I loved all the investigative details — along with some exciting cameos from previous series.

I listened to the audible edition of Solid as Steele, narrated by Whitney Dykehouse (who does all of Susan Sleeman’s audio books and I love the giddy ‘home coming’ feeling I get when I start listening to a new book.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Solid as Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave an email in your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. I 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 announce don Saturday February 18 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Gentleman Physician + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A second chance Regency Romance

“I didn’t really understand what love was. I didn’t know what it meant, that I should’ve fought harder for it.”

Banished from home by her angry father, Julie Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousins, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.

Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.

Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?

My Review:

published in 2018

Sometimes a reader just needs to lose herself in everything that is wonderful in a Regency Romance and when that mood hits, Sally Britton is definitely the author to reach for. In fact, she’s on my short list of authors I want to catch up with in 2023 so expect to see more of her books here in the future.

And this one is sheer perfection. Starting with — squuueeeeaaaaaallll — the second chance romance trope, which is done so well. My heart felt every ache and tug and the way the author develops the reacquainting of Julia and Nathaniel is absolutely divine. I felt the shock of their first meeting, the scattered thoughts, the battered equilibrium as they come to grips with not only seeing each other after five years, but having to work together for the greater good of a grieving family.

I was on delicious romantical tenterhooks all the way through! From the stilted conversations that slowly grow warmer as time passes to the barest hint of an eye twinkle and the wrenching sighs of pent up longing. Well, it is best to indulge in this read while reclining on your fainting couch and devouring chocolate bonbons (the better for keeping your strength up to deal with these broken hearts.)

No worries though, despite the more serious tone of this romance, there are light-hearted moments as well. And some truly comedic ones when poor Nathaniel receives love life advice from best his friend.

This is the second book in the Branches of Love series but can readily be enjoyed as a standalone novel. It’s definitely a series I intend to be reading more from very soon.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Gentleman Physician, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, please 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 February 18, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Secret Society of Salzburg + Giveaway

Based on true event, this is a gripping and heart-wrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II

London, 1933

At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection — and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to reduce as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.

Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, which offers more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favourite opera singer and her secret Jewish ancestry make her both a weapon and a target — until her future, too, hangs int he balance.

From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship — and the courage to save countless lives.

My Review:

I’m emotionally wrung out after this kind of read, but filled with hope too. Because people like Elsa and Hattie actually lived and risked their own lives to stand up against the horrors of Hitler’s regime. I always come away humbled after reading about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the greater good. And, okay, you might not classify a famous opera singer as ‘ordinary’ but Elsa’s immense talent only masks the vulnerability and tender heart of this very real, flawed woman.

I was intrigued to learn that the author’s inspiration for this story comes from real-life sisters, Ida and Louise Cook, British citizens who rescued 29 Jews from the Nazis through out the 1930s. There’s even a book about them which I’ve put on hold from my library. Love, love, love when fiction inspires me to do some research!

Renee Ryan has brought something fresh to the World War II genre. I’m not an opera fan at all(!) but this book almost makes me want to revisit that opinion. Elsa’s life on the stage contrasted with Hattie’s more ordinary existence which created extra depth and breadth to the story. And a lot happens in both women’s lives since this book spans more than a decade!

The story starts in 1943 with an ominous foreshadowing scene, then goes back to the 1930s and progresses chronologically with occasional leaps back to the crucial event in 1943. So, in a way this could be considered a dual timeline story, though both are historical and only years apart. It’s very artfully done and makes for a compelling read.

Rich characterization, heart wrenching stories and even a gentle romance all contribute to make this an incredible unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Secret Society of Salzburg, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave an email in 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 easier to spot your entry. Draw will held and winner announced on Saturday February 18 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Coming Home + Giveaway

When an army vet becomes a firefighter in small-town Colorado, the flames of an old love reignite in this sweet romance by bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray.

In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school “it” couple — the star quarterback and the cheerleader. They broke up when Anderson joined the army, and one poor decision at a college party changed Chelsea’s like. Now she works long shifts in a senior center to support her eight-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed too. Physically scarred but mentally strong, he decides to move back to Woodland Park. Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center. They soon discover that the love they once shared never completely vanished. But it will take a fire, a dangerous collision, and the love of one little boy to help Anderson and Chelsea see that the future they’ve always yearned for is in sight…

My Review:

A whole romance series featuring fire-fighter army veterans?! Yes please!!!! And Coming Home is the perfect introduction to this crew and the community they serve. I’m super excited about this series.

Love the reunion romance trope and Gray writes it well with just the right balance of angst and new hope. Anderson and Chelsea have grown up quite a bit since their high school days, both dealing with life experiences that have transformed them. Once they stop avoiding each other, they ease into a wary friendship that gradually blossoms into something more. Love that they meet challenges head on — choosing to discuss issues rather than stew over misconceptions…for the most part! 🙂

There’s a nice blend of action and romance and I particularly enjoyed all the details as far as the day in the life of a fire-fighter goes. From the mundane to the heroic, the author showcases the career in a positive and realistic light.

And the community of Woodland Park is definitely a place I’d like to visit. There are some wonderful secondary characters, including a bonus senior romance, that added to my reading enjoyment.

Waiting with bated breath now for the second book in the Woodland Park Firefighers series which comes out in August of this year.

P.S. Can you spot the heart in the picture? That’s my nod to Valentine’s Day!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy, reader’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Coming Home, 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 February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers..

The Cairo Curse + Giveaway

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

The Cairo Curse is a delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham.

My Review:

I was so excited about this book that I preordered it on audible and did a frenzied happy dance when it was delivered on release day. Because, really, how could I live without more Fredrick and Grace shenanigans?! It would be a dismal reading future without them in it for sure!

So, this is where I mention that The Cairo Curse is the second Freddie and Grace Mystery and is best read after The Mistletoe Countess. You could, jump in here — the story would make complete sense — but there are a few hints at spoilers from the first book (well, they actually might only be recognized as spoilers if you’ve read MC now that I think of it.) Okay, so I’m not being very clear, am I? But really, if you love toe-curling romance with lots of humour and bookish references and a mystery besides, go ahead and read The Mistletoe Countess first. You definitely won’t be sorry. And you’ll have a better grasp of the back stories of our main characters.

And now Frederick and Grace are on their honeymoon. They had a bit of a rough start to their marriage so they are definitely due for some peace and relaxation. What they get is a stark change of scenery with murder, mystery and stolen antiquities. The tag line for this novel says: “Clue meets Indiana Jones” and I’d tack on “with an Agatha Christie flair.” So much fun! So many interesting characters to peg as suspects! And the allure of foreign soil! So many reasons to recommend this mystery!

And, of course, the dynamics between Frederick and Grace are at the heart of it all. She thinks in fiction. Seriously, there isn’t a situation Grace gets herself into that she can’t draw from literary resources to find a solution. Though, of course, Grace likes to improve upon fiction because, “Fairy tales were all well and good but many of the characters could have done with a bit more sense to keep their troubles at bay.”

Freddie is besotted. I love how he embraces all that Grace is without trying to change her. They make the perfect team — both in romance and mystery solving. And Basham puts this dynamic duo through their paces as she plots and connives with the villain to keep Frederick on guard and Grace in danger. Gasp! Love the plot twists and the depth in the secondary characters (who surprised me over and over again.) Plus, now I’m hoping for some of those characters to have their own stories told so I’m praying that this will be a very long series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Cairo Curse, 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 easier to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 18 2023. Offers open to International Readers.

February Giveaway – Week Two

WON BY WINNIE

WON BY TOBI

WON BY ROXANNE

WON BY BECKY

WON BY KAY GARRETT

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 — CONTCT ME IF YOU DIDN’T LEAVE AN EMAIL, OR IF I HAVEN’T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered or mailed within a week of receiving your address (or email address for ebooks) and I’ll email you to confirm your book is on its way. Give it a full month before inquiring on the status of an order to allow for processing and shipping times.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK’S GIVEAWAYS:

***IMPORTANT — PLEASE NOTE GIVEAWAY EDITIONS AS THEY WILL VARY***

Paperback or ebook — winner can choose either format

Paperback — I have a new physical book on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback — it’s the actual book I read to review

ebook – that’s the only format option available, often because it’s an indie book where a paperback copy is either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. Or when a physical edition is out. of print.

Rescuing Her Ranch + Giveaway

A fight for her future…might not be the one she things.

Returning home after losing her job, Macey Stone agrees to care for the daughter of old friend Cole Crawford. Then she discovers that Cole’s uncle’s company wants to bulldoze her family’s land. Seeing the devoted dad with his child soon has her falling for the enemy. But can she choose between saving Stone River Ranch…and helping the man who’s stolen her heart?

A Stone River Ranch Novel

My Review:

Phew! This one gave me all the feels. Totally immersed from the very first paragraph. And the way Jordan writes makes everything come alive: these characters, the town and the myriad of emotions that mess with an unsuspecting reader’s equilibrium.

A kind of second chance romance (Macey and Cole were friends in high school…until they weren’t!) I could feel the energy crackling all around them and feel the hurt and regret and I so wanted them to make things right and just when they have a chance…bam…it’s emotional sucker punch time! Oy, my heart feels pummelled. And there’s one nefarious character that had me steaming mad! Luckily Cole’s sweet little daughter soothed my ire some.

This looks to be the first in a new series centered around the Stone clan and the author has done a magnificent job of introducing us to Macey’s siblings as she sets the stage for future books. I’m really exciting about this series. Can’t wait for the next one to release!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like an chance to win a copy of Rescuing Her Ranch, 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 February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Mistaken Twin Target + Giveaway

A case of mistaken identity. A bounty hunter to the rescue.

Taken by men who think she’s her identical twin, Charlotte Halstead finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun. Thanks to bounty hunter Wade Fast Horse, she escapes their clutches, but she’s not safe for long. Her twin sister suddenly goes missing, and someone wants Charlotte dead. Wade is her only hope for survival, but can they find Charlotte’s sister before the killer finds them?

A Range River Bounty Hunters Story

My Review:

Whoa! Unputdownable and then some! I intended to only read the first few chapters and then move on to a ton of other things I have on the go but, instead, I came back with a jolt to my real world a couple of hours later. Just couldn’t put it down. I had to know if Charlotte was going to be okay and what happened to her sister and then I was squealing over cameos from previous books. Had way too much fun to stop reading anywhere but at the last page!

This is the third Ranger River Bounty Hunters novel, but it reads really well as a standalone, so no worries if you’re just starting the series here. I love the bounty hunter angle and the way the author slips in tantalizing tidbits of information about the profession and the way they work alongside other law enforcement officials. As with her other books, there’s just the right mix of action and danger and romance which makes for the perfect escape read.

And I’m super excited because the next book is going to feature Connor and I’m all kinds of intrigued. Plus, who can resist a man who rescues stray animals? I’m on tenterhooks waiting to find out his full story…at last!

GIVEAWAY OPPROTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy of this book.

If you would like win a copy of Mistaken Twin 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 February 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Her Heart’s Desire + Giveaway

What happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures?

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she’s amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber, a handsome and charming carpenter.

Jayson is taken with Mary from the get go, but he’s responsibilities back home in Kentucky — including a girl he’s supposed to marry. And when someone from Mary’s past shows up in Minecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding.

My Review:

I’m bewitched by the Pinecraft setting for starters. Shelley Shepard Gray introduced me to this Amish ‘hot spot’ in a previous series she wrote — Amish Brides of Pinecraft. and I’m thrilled she’s returned for this new series. There’s nothing like sun, sand and romance to warm a northerner on a cold, wintry day!

Told in what I’ve come to think of as ‘Classic Shelley Shepard Gray style’, she delivers a thought-provoking and engaging read. We have multiple points of view, each character struggling with some aspect of their past that has led them to this point and time: the much needed escape a carefree holiday can bring.

Relationships are at the forefront of this story. New friendships, old enemies, budding romances and all the complications that entails. And I love the way the author ties myriad plot threads together by the end. Very excited to continue on with this ‘A Season in Pinecraft’ series. And, woohoo, we won’t have long to wait because the second book, Her Only Wish, releases this coming June!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Her Heart’s Desire, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter via email, please add the book title to the subject line so it’s easier to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Rose and the Thistle

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Blythe quietly awaits the crowning of a new king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with her maid in tow. He has his own problems — a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

In this whirlwind of intrigue, ambitions, and shifting alliances, Blythe yearns for someone she can trust. But the same forces that draw her and Everard together also threaten to tear them apart.

My Review:

I don’t even know where to begin. I’m gobsmacked and addlepated over this braw story — the latest (and very best, I think) Laura Frantz masterpiece.

Stunning details — from the incredible cover art to the rich story within. And let’s stop to admire that cover for a second. What you can’t tell from the photo is that the thistle and the rose emblems are actually embossed gold. And the heroine’s skirt is so lush looking that you just have to touch it and come away surprised when you feel paper instead of cloth. Yes, this is my book nerdiness showing, but sometimes a book is so pretty I just have to gush!

Now onto the story. Which is where the gobsmacking comes in. I’m pretty near speechless over the perfection of it all. Vibrant storytelling merges history and romance in the most spellbinding of ways. Descriptive passages that bring the Scottish countryside to life. Intrinsic historical details that both appall and intrigue!

(A little side note here: I didn’t know much about the politics of this time and I did feel a wee bit overwhelmed at the beginning, but as I got further into the story it all started to make sense. So I’d advise readers like me to just go with the flow instead of trying to figure out who was right and who was wrong and what each side stood for and why….Or maybe I’m the only one who madly googles facts in the middle of a read?!)

Now for the addlepated part. Everard. THUD! Fainting couch essential. Smelling salts necessary. Comfort chocolate optional, though advised (because when would chocolate consuming ever be considered ill-advised?!) And be prepared to be swept off your feet (hence the fainting couch) over and over again by this rather gruff, moody, sometimes churlish hero. He has a servant’s heart though and that shines through over and over again. Especially in the way he cares for his youngest brother. And reluctantly takes on the responsibility of sheltering Lady Blythe in the midst of her storm.

Their romance is delectable. I love the way Frantz takes time to develop it. From enemies, to wary strangers, to cautious friends, to…toe-curls!!!! Nothing ever feels rushed in this story but it never bogs down either. The author has found the perfect balance between delivering enticing details and keeping the plot propelling forward. All while keeping the reader hoping the story never ends!

Gah, this review is getting too long and I haven’t even mentioned the Hume brothers or wonderful mix of secondary characters or the way I feel like I’ve actually lived in Scotland in the 1700s or…so many points to recommend this read! Definitely a top ten contender for 2023.

Oh, and I couldn’t resist listening to the audio book, even though I have a paperback copy. Amy Scanlon’s narration exceeded everything I could hope for in an audible performance. All the accents, unique voices of each character, the sheer enjoyment that came from listening to her read. If you are an audio book lover, this is definitely one to listen to.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like to win a copy of The Rose and the Thistle, 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 via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easier to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.