Category: Book Review

Southern by Design

Sweet Magnolias meets Fixer Upper in this delightfully refreshing debut about a woman bravely chasing her dreams, building a life on her own terms, and maybe even discovering a second chance at love.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is staring down the barrel at single motherhood–thanks to an unsolicited personal picture her husband texted another woman that quickly went viral among every mom group in town. But she’s determined to not let it distract her from the professional victory she’s inches away securing Charleston’s prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship, the apple of every local designer’s eye.

But when the final house tour is undone by a host of calamities, Mack’s shot at the fellowship goes up in flames. Smelling blood in the water, Mack’s mother, the original Magnolia Bishop, breezes in with a project lead–strings attached. If there’s one thing Magnolia lives for, aside from maintaining her station atop the Southern social ladder, it’s to control Mack’s life . . . and that includes keeping the identity of the absentee father Mack never knew in the shadows.

While working for her mother is the professional equivalent of moving into one’s parent’s basement, Mack spots an opportunity to make it her own when a television network puts a call out for local designers. Pitching the home renovation TV pilot of her dreams–one with a historic preservation twist–might just be the way to finally prove herself. Still, she’ll have to do it covertly to avoid her mother’s interference.

Just when Mack finds her professional footing, at home she spots an impossibly familiar figure unloading his moving truck into the newly sold house next door. She is furious, floored, and regrettably flustered because Lincoln Kelly is the one who got away. Fifteen years earlier he was a summer romance she inadvertently fell in love with, and when he left, following his dreams to New York, Mack was broken-hearted.

Filled with characters who could step off the page and a reminder that nothing worth saving is beyond repair, this charming and delightful debut novel will resonate with readers of Southern women’s fiction by Mary Kay Andrews and Kristy Woodson Harvey.

My Review:

I didn’t know Southern Fiction was a thing until recently but I feel like this is the perfect example of what’s so good about it (says the Canadian who is clueless about all things Southern.) Maybe it was the subtle Southern twang Amanda Stribling brought to her narration (I listened to the audio book) that added to the charm. In any case, both words and performance drew me in and kept me riveted.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is an intriguing character. Spunky and tenacious in some ways and infuriatingly submissive to her mama in other ways. Are all Southern Mamas like Magnolia Sr.? I shudder to thinks so! I spent a large part of the read fuming over that woman! Gah! I so wanted Mack to grow a backbone and stand up to her mother once and for all. I wanted a colossal ‘take that!’ moment and instead, Walz humbled me with the surprising twist towards the end. Sigh. My righteous indignation bubble was burst…but only somewhat. I’m still angsting over lots and lots of Magnolia Sr. moments because, no matter what happened in her past, she still made choices that, well…you need to read the book and angst right along with me!

There’s a rocky second chance romance that plays out in two timelines which was really interesting. We get to see the summer romance of fifteen years ago unfolding oh so sweetly until the train wreck happens all while watching Mack and Lincoln warily reconnecting as single parents in present day. I really enjoyed their journey to reconciliation, angst and all!

Loved the interior design/house flipping backdrop to the story — and the clever title that fits it to perfection. If you are an HGTV fan, this is definitely the book for you. Great details on design and historical restoration and the thrill of reality TV as well.

My thanks to Harper Muse Audibooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Of note to readers of this blog: a wee bit of mild language and LGBTQ+ rep in a secondary character

Uneasy Street + Giveaway


Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance! 

My Review:

Becky Wade’s books are always a treat and this last book in her ‘Sons of Scandal’ series is exceptional. A lovely mix of angst and humour with a gentle, but oh so profound, faith thread woven throughout.

While ‘Uneasy Street’ could work well as a standalone, I think reading the books in order will enrich your enjoyment so much more. This crazy, complicated family, the brothers and their personal love stories, all build to this grande finale featuring outcast Max.

Excuse me while I swoon, but Max is so…Max! Infuriating at times, yes, but, oh my, once he makes his mind up about Sloane…well, it’s all toe-curls and smelling salts. But oh what a journey! Wade kept me on tenterhooks right to the end with this unique friends to enemies to wary friends to more trope.

Sloane is such an interesting mix of fiery spunkiness and controlled etiquette expert. Love her profession! The way she leans into the structure in the rules of conduct like they are a security blanket. It’s funny and sad all wrapped up together. And makes a great contrast to Max’s laid back, easy going manner.

And, oh my, the banter between these two! Max knows just how to goad Sloane and no matter how outrageous he was, I couldn’t stop falling for him. I was definitely Team Max from the start, impatiently waiting for Sloane to catch up. So. Much. Fun.

And if all that romantical deliciousness wasn’t enough, the author also gives us two family mysteries to sort out and Max is in the middle of both of them. ‘Uneasy Street’ is the kind of emotionally compelling story you don’t want to come to an end. I could have done with a dozen more epilogues but even then, I’d be left wanting more.

I listened to the audio book and thrilled over the dual narration provided by Reba Buhr and Ryan Hudson. Brilliant performances that captured the essence of these beloved characters making this an emotionally satisfying listening experience. The combination of storytelling and acting talent ensures that ‘Uneasy Street’ will end up on my re-listen play list.

My thanks to the author and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition 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 Uneasy Street, 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 8 2025

Ambush + Giveaway

She’ll do anything to uncover the truth of her parents’ murder–even work alongside the man who once broke her heart.

Paradise Alden’s childhood in Nova Cambridge, Alabama, was idyllic until the night her parents were murdered. Since then life has left her scarred. The abuse she suffered in the foster care system, her first love’s betrayal, and the jaguar attack that nearly destroyed her career have led to an unshakable distrust–in men, in God, and maybe in even in herself.

After fifteen years, returning to her hometown is a last resort to finding her life again. She’s hoping the wildlife refuge where she’s accepted a veterinarian job will be the perfect place to heal from her recent traumas and unlock her memories about the night her parents died. But on the day she arrives at The Sanctuary, a body is discovered on the grounds. And soon, a series of deadly events threatens not only her future but the man who, despite all odds, still makes her pulse stutter. Arson, a shooting, a break-in, and multiple instances of animals being freed from their enclosures all point back to him, but Paradise knows Blake Lawson isn’t responsible. Not the man who has been helping his mother manage The Sanctuary these past six months and care for his stepbrothers in the wake of their father’s death . . . even if his betrayal years ago cost her everything.

Someone dangerous is lurking beneath the town’s moss-draped trees, and Paradise refuses to let another murderer disappear into the shadows.

My Review:

Whoa! I’ve read a ton of Colleen Coble’s books (not all, but a lot) and this one might be my absolute favourite. I just loved everything about it. The way the suspense elements are evenly paced out – intense all the way through without being completely overwhelming. I was on edge, waiting for the next ‘thing’ to happen but still able to enjoy the quieter, thoughtful moments with these characters. And the emotional fireworks too, of course!

A second chance romance sparks from doomed puppy love fifteen years earlier. Both Blake and Paradise have coped with their share of trauma through the ensuing years, but they are stronger for it. And even more stubborn! Clashing wills, gnarly reckonings, and oh my heart hurt so much for Paradise when all is revealed! But they are soon united in their quest to save the wildlife refuge from an unknown threat.

And that sanctuary setting! Such an exciting backdrop for the story. It added even more intensity to the plot and was peppered with intriguing insights into the animals and their habitats and a very creative way to up the danger too!

Coble is a master at character development – and not just with the hero and heroine. Every secondary character is fleshed out in a memorable way and kept me emotionally engaged all the way through the read. Sometimes happy feels (Blake’s mother and little brothers…sooooo cute!); sometimes seething with rage (there’s one character in particular…) and the whole gamut in-between. I love feeling my way through a story and I did that with this amazing read. In a word: unputdownable.

I was blessed to listen to the audio edition of ‘Ambush’ and was thrilled with Karen Peakes’ performance. She brought distinctive voices to all the characters – especially loved the way she portrayed the little boys – and the way she used her voice to build tension was phenomenal. Highly recommend this audio book.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of ‘Ambush’.

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 Ambush, 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 8 2025

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey + Giveaway

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she’s about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection–she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

My Review:

Squuuueeeaaalllll!! I experienced all kinds of gothic-y shivers of delight while reading this stunning mystery! Kind of reminds me of Mary Stewart novels from way back in the day. I can picture Louisa thrilling to ‘Madame, Will You Talk?’ (Stewart’s 1955 debut novel) in the rambling old house she lives in with her aunt and uncle. And, of course, she has just as much gumption as any fictional heroine…wait, she is a fictional heroine only it didn’t seem that way when I was reading. Am I making any sense? Maybe not but I blame ‘The Burning of Rosemont Abbey’ for my discombobulated state.

First – love the 1950s time period. Long enough after the war for life to be getting back to some sort of normal but not quite modern enough to shun all those hoity-toity societal expectations Louisa’s aunt and uncle foist upon her. She is, after all, the orphaned niece living on their charity.

Caught between family duty and her desire to find justice for her bother, Louisa’s set on discovering the truth, even if it shakes their sleepy little village to the core….and infuriates a certain police inspector who used to be a childhood friend. Brilliant pacing, absorbing mystery, characters it’s easy to forget aren’t living, breathing people…well, ‘The Burning of Rosemont Hall’ contains everything I’m looking for in a historical mystery…and then some!

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 Burning of Rosemont Abbey, 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 8 2025

The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton

Random Retro Read

In her search for a rare gem, will Everleigh end up uncovering the true treasure of her heart?

Personal care nurse Everleigh Wheaton knows it only takes a few well-placed lies to ruin a reputation. She’s experienced it time and time again. But there’s a silver lining to repeatedly proving she’s confident and self-reliant.

When she loses yet another job and an enigmatic stranger offers her a potential way out, she’s game. After all, she loves a good mystery, and an invitation to visit the legendary Halstead Manor is irresistible. But she’s not about to let her guard down–especially with the other women who received the same invitation.

A strange voice on the phone tells them he’s gathered the three of them to work together as treasure hunters. The first assignment requires Everleigh to be a traveling nurse for retired FBI agent Gertrude Levine, who has one cold case she just can’t let go the Florentine diamond that went missing when the Austrian Empire fell.

With Everleigh’s keen ability to solve puzzles, Natalie Daughtry’s vast knowledge of history, and Brooke Sumner’s connections to the antiques world, they’re bound to track down the diamond. Except that Gertie’s nephew, Niles Butler, doesn’t trust Everleigh’s innocent act . . . even if he finds himself falling for her. Worse, Everleigh’s walls of self-preservation may doom the entire team.

Hints of real-life historical events combined with contemporary characters make this first book in the Treasures of Halstead Manor series a masterful blend of romance, mystery, and strong female friendships. Readers of authors like Denise Hunter and Nicole Deese who enjoy unfolding relationships and the organic discovery of God’s love will relish this new series.

My Review:

An international treasure hunt with all kinds of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ vibes! And it includes a slow-burn, enemies to more romance with lots of sniping and banter. Add in the historical mystery element along with the not quite dual timeline (More time is spent in the present than the past) and well, this quickly became an unputdownable read for me.

This is my first Susan L. Tuttle book and I have fallen for her storytelling style. Love the way she developed the characters – especially Everleigh. I didn’t quite like her at the start, and she frustrated me no end with some of the decisions she made, but she has spunk and tenacity and a gnarly past that explains so much. And there are two more women on the team who obviously have just as intriguing backstories so I’m hoping future books in the series will feature them.

Now or Never + Giveaway

Indie!

Will leaving positive legacies mean kissing their own happily-ever-after goodbye?

If Tim Bergeron got a lifetime achievement award for anything, it’d be managing the iconic rock band, Awestruck, but he’d trade his successful career for the opportunity to prevent his daughter from repeating his mistakes.

When a health scare proves time is short, he talks Isabella into a cross-country road trip. His attempts to talk her out of a hasty marriage drive a wedge between them, and it looks like the best he can hope for from the trip is scouting out promising new talent to represent. That is, until he meets Gabby.

Widow Gabrielle Voss has responsibilities to her daughter and patients, deep roots in the community, and a dream that scares her. Though she’d never utter it to the people she lives and works among, the truth slips out with Tim, who’s not in Many Oaks, Iowa, to stay.

As her fiftieth birthday party draws near and an attraction to Tim sparks to life, Gabby realizes she must pursue her dream now—or, more reasonably, never.

This prequel novella to the Many Oaks Romances stars a popular character from the Rhythms of Redemption Romances.

My Review:

The perfect place to begin a new series, with the prequel novella! I love the glimpse the author gave us of the town and some characters who I believe will be featured in future novels (angsty ones at that!)

But this story focuses on a ‘later in life’ romance between Tim and Gabby who are both in their early fifties. And, of course, it’s all kinds of complicated given each of their personal histories. And the fact that they don’t live in the same town or even state!

But it’s attraction at first sight at a time neither of them is looking for love. Conrad writes a beautiful romance with depth and grace…and a healthy dose of grit. I appreciated the maturity in the way they tackled all the issues they faced, both personally and together as they try to figure out what their future might hold. And I love that they are both anchored by their faith which makes for a strong foundation.

Realistic drama, family struggles and the way the author approached some tough topics added emotional layers to their story and made for a captivating read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback 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 Now or Never, 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 1 2025.

Serial Burn + Giveaway

She’s out for justice. But the arsonist she’s tracking is out for retribution.

Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn McCormick is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family when she was just seven years old. As the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy approaches, a string of fires–including at Jesslyn’s church–brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past–one he’d prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she’ll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive.

My Review:

Gobbled this one up in a day. Just could not leave these characters at any point in the story. An engrossing police procedural mixed with arson investigation and a s-l-o-w burn romance had my bookish heart singing!

This is the third ‘Lake City Heroes’ book and something that is done spectacularly well in this series is the ‘found family ‘aspect in the diverse friendships. The gang is back, ready to serve and protect and kid around at every opportunity. As well as have those pointed heart to hearts when necessary. It was such a blast to spend time with these characters again and I loved getting a glimpse at previous books’ power couples. Having said that, ‘Serial Arson’ can easily be read as a standalone novel too so don’t be afraid to hop in mid-series if you feel the urge.

Jesslyn and Nathan make a great team – both in the investigation and as friends…and maybe something more? This book is quite light on the romance and more about the deepening friendship (they’ve known each other through their friend group for a while.) They both have traumatic backstories and I appreciated the time the author gave them to work through issues and come to terms with how they can move forward together.

And there’s a powerful inspirational thread about forgiveness that really hit home. “Forgiveness is a decision.” Had to sit with that simple but profound statement for a bit. I love when something like this jumps out at me through my fiction and there’s a moving scene involving Nathan that really touched my heart.

Of course, the suspense is stellar (this is a Lynette Eason creation after all) with just the right mix of action and danger and good old boots to the ground legwork before the pieces of the puzzle finally come together in a resounding conclusion.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book, narrated by Lauren Pedersen. She’s become a familiar voice in my audio book ‘reading’. I really love the way she captures the personalities of each character which helps me feel even more connected to the story.

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 Serial Burn, 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 1 2025

With All Her Heart + Giveaway

Bonnie and Elijah each believe that marriage is not in their futures . . . but they hadn’t counted on God’s plans being bigger than their own imaginations.

Bonnie Yoder owns and operates a gift shop popular with tourists and local shoppers alike. She’s glad she’s found a way to be a productive member of her Plain community where all women aspire to marry and have children–something she’s sure she’ll never do because of her physical disability.

Elijah Miller has been acutely shy his entire life, which makes joining his brothers as auctioneers unthinkable. It also means he’s never courted a woman. Instead, he spends every spare moment creating wooden children’s toys and child-size furniture in a workshop he built behind his parents’ house, all the while dreaming of starting his own business.

It’s that dream that prompts Elijah to approach Bonnie about selling his wares in her store. He feels an immediate connection. So does Bonnie, but she’s afraid to believe he’ll ever see her as more than a shop owner kind enough to sell his toys. Elijah’s convinced that someone so sure of herself would never be interested in a man who’s too shy to put two sentences together around her.

What they can’t see, others can. Matchmaking mothers and caring friends conspire to bring the two together. After spending time with each other, Elijah and Bonnie learn that sometimes the most challenging obstacle is a lack of faith–in themselves and in God. Together, they will traverse a difficult road to find their way to the future they’ve never allowed themselves to dream of having.

My Review:

First off, as someone who lives with a disability, it was exciting to see that representation in this book. Just simple things like distinguishing between a walker and a rollator nearly made me giddy! And a romance featuring a heroine with mobility issues is such a gift, not only for people like me, but to help others understand that physical limitations don’t have to limit life choices.

That’s something Bonnie wrestles with. She has an almost false sense of pride, not wishing to be a burden to others which was so relatable. I cringed in places because I could see myself being as stubbornly independent in just as exasperating a way as she is. So, lessons learned here.

Definitely don’t skip the author’s note at the beginning of the book. It is heartfelt and to the point and should be read before diving into the story.

And what an incredible story it is! With a surprise second romance! There’s a real sense of Amish community – both comforting and frustrating (for this reader, anyway) and two strong women finding their way after life has knocked them around a bit.

An emotional and rewarding read…well, listen in my case. I thoroughly enjoyed narrator Lauren Berst’s performance. She doesn’t just narrate, she brings the characters alive with her emotional interpretation. An immensely satisfying listening experience.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio 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  With All Her Heart, 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 1 2025

A Death in Diamonds

The royally brilliant fourth book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates mystery series!

1957 – The young Queen is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom adjusts to being a country without an empire, without a place in post-war Europe, and without a reliable friendship with America. 

As she travels the world to try and build bridges, she is advised by the ‘men in moustaches’, as Philip calls them – her father’s old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of. 

And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her. 

She knows she can’t face these challenges alone. She needs the help of someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw …

My Review:

In a word: brilliant! This coming from a decidedly non-Royal watcher. But there’s just something about Queen Elizabeth and the way the author has captured her and life as a royal in general that is so engaging. And I love the clever way she has incorporated the amateur sleuthing while staying true to the reality of the Queen’s obvious logistical limitations.

The first three books in the series are contemporary novels but this fourth one takes us back to 1957 when a much younger Queen Elizabeth is juggling royal duties, family life and finding her way in a new post-war / Cold War world. Fascinating historical details and insights into what it must have been like for the young queen to gently break away from her trusted but oh so stuffy staff. Lots of pompous, moustached gentlemen who would prefer to remain in the past, keeping the Queen as a figurehead while they ‘wisely’ guide her path.

Only, there seems to be a saboteur in the palace and the astute Queen has her suspicions but lacks the freedom to find the evidence. And that’s where beleaguered typist (with an interesting war history) Joan comes in. She’s Watson to the Queen’s Sherlock.

Argh — there were times I wanted to scream over the insufferable chauvinism and backward 50s ideologies. But then I’d be chuckling over how the Queen deftly works around all those well-meaning men to solve not one, but two mysteries and all with them none the wiser. I dearly wished she could stand up and shout “Ta da! I figured it all out for you!” and take the credit instead of cleverly orchestrating the investigations behind the scenes.

A complicated mystery with lots of complex layers and multiple points of view kept me invested in the read right to the end. And left me hoping that we won’t have long to wait for the next ‘Her Majesty the Queen Investigates’ book to release.

Of note: Some mild language.

I listened to the audio edition, narrated by Samantha Bond who did a tremendous job with all these characters. From a young Queen to all the stuffy gentlemen and everyone in between. She made an already stellar story that much more engaging. Highly recommend the audio book if you are a listening kind of reader.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Wonderful Lonesome + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

“Without church for over a year, this is a wonderful lonesome place to be.”

In a struggling Amish settlement on the harsh Colorado plain in 1914, Abbie Weaver fights for the life of the church she cherishes. Hail, wind, drought and coyotes are daily enemies to the farming Amish, and some families are giving up and returning east. But the loss the community feels most deeply is the lack of a minister. Visiting bishops have stopped coming – a mystery that demands explanation.

Even Abbie’s closest friends aren’t much comfort. Ruthanne is pregnant and afraid her husband will die. Rudy is lonely and weary. Willem is fiercely determined to succeed at any cost. Their unfolding responses to daily challenges press Abbie to confront the convictions that form the backbone of her dreams for the settlement. Though Abbie loves Willem, his choices put a wedge between them. She turns her gaze to Rudy as a blessing that just might save the settlement.

When Abbie discovers the root of the unspoken spiritual divide that runs through the settlement, she finds herself questioning her own father’s faith. Will a collision of loves and values cost her Willem forever?

My Review:

published in 2014

A different kind of pioneer story. It is 1914 but Colorado is still a wild, relatively unsettled part of the country. Land is cheap but not without challenges as a small group of Amish settlers soon discover. This whole story fascinated me on so many levels. The historical facts for one — the author based the settlement on actual Amish endeavors in the area at the same time and she deals with a lot of ‘big’ questions. The conflict that stems from those concerns — both personal and as a group — compelled me to keep reading.

No worries if you are not an Amish fiction fan. This isn’t ‘that’ book. If you like pioneer stories with a good dose of grit, you’ll like this novel. It’s about living a dream — willing a dream actually and what you do when that dream starts crumbling right before your eyes. Do you let it go or hang on for all you are worth? And at what cost? Not just to you, but to those you love.

Told through multiple viewpoints ‘Wonderful Lonesome’ is a sombre tale that will haunt you long after you close the book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback 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 Wonderful Lonesome, 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 January 25 2025.