Category: Book Review

Fugitive Manhunt

A hunt for escaped prisoners
becomes a deadly K-9 mission.

After a prison break, K-9 officer Lizzie Reynolds is ready to join the search for the criminals—but one of the escapees finds her first and ambushes her. She’s rescued by Deputy US Marshal Walker McCane, her high school crush, and they’re forced to work together to find the fugitives. Soon they realize that one of the prisoners has a personal vendetta against Lizzie. As they face persistent attacks, Walker and Lizzie must rely on each other to survive a dangerous game with a convict who wants to complete his deadly plan…no matter the cost.

My Review:

Taut and tense and full of action and suspense, a reader barely gets a chance to catch her breath before the next harrowing scene. Lizzie’s on somebody’s hit list and she doesn’t know why. Enter Walker, her high school crush (which ended badly) to the rescue. Their unexpected reunion is fraught with emotion as they navigate their professional and personal lives. One edge-of-your-seat scene follows another right to the gasp-out-loud conclusion. (I figured out the villain waaaaaayyyyy before Walker and Lizzie did but that didn’t diminish my reading enjoyment…made it even more edgier actually.)

This is the fifth book in the ‘Colorado K-9 Unit’ continuity series which features and overarching suspense plot as well as one particular to this story. Lizzie’s mystery is solved, but there are plenty of dangling threads to tie up for the series suspense. No worries, though, ‘Fugitive Manhunt‘ can easily be read as a standalone as well, though I am enjoying this series tremendously. Might be my favourite Love Inspired Suspense continuity series yet.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Mac Folder whose performance added to the high drama and tender moments too . A captivating listen that I’d definitely recommend to audio enthusiasts.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Ambushed in Yosemite + Giveaway

A murderer will stop at nothing
to keep secrets buried.

Park ranger Skylar Jansen’s morning hike turns into a nightmare when she witnesses a man burying a body—and then the killer chases her through the wilderness. She’s saved by Special Agent Bode Tucker, a devoted single dad, who suspects a serial killer is at work. Soon it becomes clear that the killer may be connected to the cold case disappearance of Sky’s father. With targets now on both of their backs, they team up to investigate, but outrunning danger could be beyond their reach. Can they outwit a deadly enemy…or could one wrong move be their last?

My Review:

What a riveting romantic suspense! I was hooked right from the start. Love the way the author brings the wilderness to life with her descriptive phrasing and there are some rock climbing scenes that are…well…gripping (ha!) I felt a renewed appreciation for God’s creation through the outdoor elements to the story. Plus they add a whole other survival element to the suspense!

Speaking of suspense, this one is diabolically stalkerish. Loved the pacing between investigative and action scenes, the author struck a really nice balance with enough breathing room to allow for relationship development.

The slow burn romance is filled with trepidation as both Skylar and Brode struggle with letting go of past hurts. But, oh my goodness, I could feel the pull between them and I love the way VanHorn built up the tension by agonizingly slow degrees. Sheer romantical bliss! And Brode’s sweet little girl adds the perfect touch of levity (as well as some hair-raising moments!)

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Ambushed in Yosemite’ and thoroughly enjoyed Dominique Salvacion’s interpretation of these characters. She captured all the emotional nuances and high tension scenes perfectly which increased my ‘reading’ satisfaction all the more. Great collaboration between author and narrator.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Ambushed in Yosemite, 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 July 18 2026

Don’t Upstage the Body + Giveaway

Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family of professional mourners have perfected the theatrical art of grief. When the reclusive Lord Basil Monfort engages her family’s services for his own funeral, she vows it will be her last performance as she’s tired of the disguise. Then she discovers the undertaker’s body in the library and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an undercover investigation. 
 
Rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort’s estate–with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father’s wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta must navigate a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort’s charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be. 
 
Concealing her family’s true identities while unraveling secrets might be the role of Hippolyta’s life, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls. 
 
With her Agatha Christie inspired voice, Naomi Stephens pens a 1950s manor house murder mystery where no one is who they seem. 

My Review:

Very much a classic cozy mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie and brilliantly executed. I was enchanted from the very first line, “The first body was exactly where it was supposed to be.” A bit of fine foreshadowing there since the second body was exactly where it wasn’t supposed to be!

The 1950s British setting adds all kinds of ambience to the mystery. As does the notion of a family of professional mourners! And in true Golden Age Mystery fashion a host of intriguing characters are stranded at a mansion…and one of them is a murderer. Bwahahaha!

There’s also some light romance with the most charming witty banter. I mean, really, can you ask anything more of a cozy mystery? Oh, yes, there’s also a cat! 🙂 Loved this to pieces and am hoping that Naomi Stephens has many more mysteries in her future (and ours!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Don’t Upstage the Body, 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 Wednesday July 18 2026.

Part of Your World + Giveaway

She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.

Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn’s veins-a fact that has long concerned her father, who longs for his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.

Despite his family’s wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.

Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

My Review:

A captivating Little Mermaid retelling with an innovative Western spin. Loved spotting the similarities to the classic (Disney version) and am in awe of Witemeyer’s creative genius, especially when it comes to the villain. So clever.

The romance is full of tension and yearning – a bit of a love at first sight / star-crossed lovers kind of feel – that kept my emotions engaged and me anxiously devouring Muriel and Zane’s story. And I love the way the author blends humour into the mix too.

‘Part of Your World’ delivers all the elements I enjoy in a story – engaging characters (including some memorable secondary ones like Grampa Clem), a gentle faith thread and just the right amount of suspense to keep things interesting. Not to mention the sweet (and swoonworthy) romance!

I am thrilled that Karen Witemeyer is continuing these Texan Fairy tale retellings independently. She has a knack for mixing classic tales with the Historical Western genre which is all kinds of fun to read. Hoping for many more reimaginings in my reading future.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Part of Your World, 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 Wednesday June 23 2026.

Series Spotlight – Homefront Sleuths

What I love about this series:

  • The WWII British Homefront setting
  • Diverse life experience and ages of the sleuths – a retired Scotland Yard detective, his police inspector nephew, village herbalist, young mum trying to make ends meet while her husband’s at war, wounded veteran school master and even an American ex-pat who did a stint working for the French resistance. Gotta love Evie.
  • Excellent characterization and so many gripping back stories!
  • Complex mysteries with clever plotting
  • War issues play a big part in most of the mysteries, including sabotage and spies!
  • Multiple POVs
  • light romance threads
  • Gives a real sense of what life was like for the average citizen during the war

I discovered this series last year – free on Audible Plus for subscribers (Canada) and that’s been the case for all the books so far. I’m amazed at how quickly the books have been released. They are all a decent length and so well written. Iona Campbell is the perfect choice as narrator for the series! Also available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback as well. While not Christian Fiction, all the books are closed door, no swearing and some of the stories have light faith threads.

Series Spotlight – Hope Harbor + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

  • Each book feels like the warmest homecoming
  • Full of that bookish hug kind of feeling
  • Memorable secondary characters that have become family to me
  • Stories filled with hope despite difficult circumstances
  • Exquisite storytelling
  • Captivating romances
  • Found family themes
  • Charley’s wisdom
  • Peppered with life lessons and nuggets of faith

The Giveaway

Winner’s choice of one of the books in this series. Please state the title in a comment or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please put the title in the subject area of your email. Also, please remember to take note of the formats available for different countries.

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026

Series Spotlight – Freddie and Grace Mysteries + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

  • The swoonalicious romance!
  • The banter that goes along with it!
  • Freddie’s devotion to Grace
  • Her absolute trust and faith in him
  • Grace’s penchant for reading and using books in her sleuthing
  • Solid faith threads throughout
  • Compelling mysteries
  • Engaging secondary characters

The Giveaway:

Winner’s choice of one of the books in this series, including the upcoming July release. Please state the title in a comment or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please put the title in the subject area of your email. Also, please remember to take note of the formats available for different countries.

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – Mistletoe Countess, ebook or audible, all the rest of the books, paperback, ebook or audible – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026

Series Spotlight – Checking Out Love + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

  • All the splendiferous bookishness!
  • The heroines are all librarians
  • The wonderful mix of heart and humour
  • Storytelling that sings
  • Diverse characters I don’t always see in my fiction
  • Inspirational faith threads

The Giveaway:

Winner’s choice of one of the books in this series, including the upcoming July release. Please state the title in a comment or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please put the title in the subject area of your email. Also, please remember to take note of the formats available for different countries.

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026.

Delta

A second chance at love sparks a fight for redemption.

Dylan “Delta” Hunt thought he left his past behind when he returned from war. Haunted by all he’s seen, he’s built walls around his heart, convinced that peace and love are beyond his reach.

Emma has never stopped loving Dylan, even after the man she knew came back a broken stranger. She’s spent years trying to reach him but has failed every time. Now, an unexpected revelation about her estranged family pulls her into a dangerous mystery, and Dylan might be the only one who can help.

When Emma vanishes without a trace, Dylan is forced to confront the feelings he buried long ago. But the real question is, does he have enough light inside to bring them both home? Or will rescuing her cost him what little peace he clings to?

My Review:

The fifth and final (I think) ‘Hunt Brothers Search and Rescue’ novel and, whoa, is it a doozie! All of the books have been filled with intriguing action-packed suspense but this one has an added creepy ick factor that kept me on edge all the way through. Some graphic descriptions of violence and off page torture too, so not for the faint of heart.

Dylan has been the tortured soul sibling throughout the whole series. Wounded and a long way out from healing both emotionally and spiritually. His story is powerful as he works his way back to his faith. He struggles with finding God in the dark places but when he finally does…whooooeeee…be prepared for an emotional outpouring!

The second chance romance with his childhood sweetheart is bittersweet for a lot of the story. Dylan hurt Emma badly, his reasons buried in a complicated layer of grief, fear and anger. It all comes to a head when Emma is threatened and Dylan will do anything to save her.

Intense with dark undertones, this last book in the series packs a serious wallop.

Explosive Alliance

random retro read

The last thing Krista Curry expected to find in a soccer stadium was a time bomb. When she alerts explosives expert Cash Dixon, she becomes a local hero. But the attention could expose her real name—and the infamous past she fought to escape. Cash promises Krista protection from the bomber’s retaliation. Yet she hesitates to trust him as she sees his suspicion about her grow with every question she dodges. She can’t expect Cash to continue to safeguard her unless she tells him the truth. Now Cash must decide if she’s an innocent woman or guilty accomplice. But the clock is ticking down—and the real bomber is still on the loose… 

First Responders: Brave men and women alert and ready for danger and love.

My Review:

first published in 2015

This ‘First Responders’ series is what made Susan Sleeman a must read author for me and I’ve followed her faithfully (mostly) ever since. It’s a four part series but somehow I missed the second book ten years ago so was thrilled to discover this audio ‘retro’ edition available this month. It is narrated by the incomparable Whitney Dykhouse who has become the voice of most, if not all, of Susan Sleeman’s novels. Love the way she portrays the tension and action in a suspense. And she’s excellent at creating distinctive voices for each character which keeps me engaged in an already compelling story.

‘Explosive Alliance’ is all breath-snatching action, taut suspense and wary distrust on both sides, making Cash and Krista’s love story absolutely bingeworthy. From their hair-raising meet-cute to the complicated give and take of a relationship forged in the midst of chaos, Sleeman delivers everything I love to find in a romantic suspense.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.