Category: Book Review

An Irish Kiss + Giveaway

Aurora Fairall—Rory to her friends—loves her jobs working at the village bookshop and the family castle-turned-boutique hotel, even if she sometimes wonders if this is all God has for her life. She knows she has much to be grateful for—her family, her friends, her faith—but she wonders if the special Fairall legacy that sees its members struck by Cupid’s arrow has passed her by. Until she meets Aidan Quinn—not the actor, but an Australian guest on a genealogical mission to discover his ancestry—and sparks fly.

Aidan never thought his visit to Ireland’s west coast would result in meeting a redheaded firecracker with a bewitching smile and pixie-like laughter. But obviously God knew better. And his quest to find his kin brings him into the warm embrace of this loud and loving family has helped heal his heart and gives hope that his future might be different to what he’d imagined. Until a secret from the past threatens everything he holds dear…

Can these two opposites find a future even though their lives are worlds apart? And just what role does the Fairall legacy have to play in matters of the heart?

My Review:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I can’t resist a good romance set in Ireland and this one is excellent! Miller does a wonderful job bringing the Irish ambience to life in this enemies to more romance with a most unfortunate meet-cute (which means tons of fun!)

Rory and Aiden get off on the wrong foot (mostly Rory’s fault…well, all Rory’s fault actually) but even so she experiences the sizzling zing of family legend that is supposed to signify true love when she first lays eyes on Aiden. If you believed in that sort of thing and if you hadn’t muddled up introductions which Rory had. Her incorrigible sister doesn’t let her wallow in embarrassment though and pretty soon the hotelier and her Australian guest are starting to get along…until secrets from the past have the potential to sever their budding relationship for good.

Eeeeep!!! Such a lovely mix of sweet romance (including toe-curling kisses!) and the rigours of real life stresses, all wrapped up with a significant faith thread. Makes for an outstanding inspirational romance!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Irish Kiss, 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 March 21 2026

Raging Waters + Giveaway

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing “Bullseye,” the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron’s best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he’s certainly not interested in helping her after he’s already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron’s fatal choices, but not for the reasons she suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie, it’s clear to Gideon she’s in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can’t bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

My Review:

Another enthralling adventure/suspense from one of my fave authors. The addition of our hero and heroine battling the elements as well as relentless villains adds so much intensity to this romantic suspense. Mentink’s descriptions are phenomenal, made me feel cold and wet and bruised and ready to drop right along with Mackenzie and Gideon! This author is not always kind to her characters…at least, not until the very end, so you might want to grab a comfy blanket and a warm beverage before your curl up with ‘Raging Waters.‘ Just a friendly readerly recommendation. 🙂

Gotta love a wilderness survival expert hero who comes equipped with a Mary Poppins-esque backpack! As well as some personal history that’s adding extra weight to his load. I loved Gideon instantly…Mackenzie not so much. Her “stubborn, mercurial, maddening” personality took some getting used to. Obsession has clouded her judgement and she’s skirting the fine line between justice and revenge, but oh my, is her personal journey inspiring!

And that’s partly because of Gideon as he gently but unapologetically forces her to face some hard truths. These two have a history — non romantic — but the relationship was severed after the tragic death of MacKenzie’s brother. He was also Gideon’s best friend and these two dealt with their grief and the brutal reality of murder in very different ways.

Fast forward two years and their ‘chance’ meeting in the Washington wilderness triggers a series of events that throws them together no matter how hard Mackenzie tries to evade Gideon. Though reluctant, his innate protector radar is on full alert and he has every intention “to be a barnacle on her back” until the bitter end.

Action and adventure ensue and draw them together as they fight for survival and truth. All while a dangerous criminal king pin closes in. Buckle up for lots of tension and hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat moment, thankfully punctuated by Mentink’s trademark humour to relieve some of the stress.

A riveting addition to the “Elements of Danger” series (easily read as a standalone though) and now I’m wondering what’s next. Please say this series will continue!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Raging Waters 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 March 21 2026

Deadly Connection

random retro read

Will they uncover the secrets between them before it becomes deadly?

After fending off a would-be abductor, 27-year-old singer-songwriter Hannah Cassidy hides behind a car in the half-empty parking lot behind Pancake Pantry in Nashville. From there, she watches in horror as her attacker grabs another woman and pushes her into a nearby car. Within seconds, the vehicle speeds away.

TBI Special Agent Jake Matheson may have planned a quiet day off and a date with Shannon―the only name her online profile revealed―for an introductory lunch, but after pulling into a parking space on 21st Avenue South, he hears a scream. He races to the back of the building and finds a frightened young woman bent forward and gasping for breath.

Thrown together by uncanny circumstances and driven by the whys and what-ifs of secrets yet to be revealed, Hannah and Jake set out to find the connection between them before it becomes deadly.

My Review:

published in 2021

Fraught with danger, taut with emotion, ‘Deadly Connection’ takes off at a breakneck speed that set my heart racing. Gripping doesn’t begin to describe this romantic suspense!

The author is an expert at plotting and pacing, making her stories impossible to put down. I love the way she builds up the suspense with equal parts action/danger and police procedural. We even get some villain POV scenes which were eye-opening and gobsmacking!

Hannah and Jake’s developing relationship brings a nice respite from all that edginess. They are both cautious, even wary, and I loved watching them work through their own personal issues in order to be supportive to one another. Faith plays a part in their struggles, as Harris deftly weaves inspirational elements throughout their story.

A gripping romantic suspense that made an emotional impact.

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall + Giveaway

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning her uncle’s paranoid motivations. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended on the property.
 
In present day Newton Creek, the whispers of a curse still cling to the century-old time capsule of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after the death of her parents, she is intent on solving the century-old mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still form the cornerstone of the manor. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

My Review:

“People are the ones who create the darkness. Traeger Hall is just the place where they lock it up so it can’t get out.”

Jaime Jo Wright delivers another unputdownable read with her unique brand of thrilling dual timeline suspense. So much mystery! The Gothic flare! Plus, the emotional depth and inspirational insights add even more quality to the storytelling.

“She ached to move on. Jennie wanted God to make her messy beautiful. To infuse life with hope and peace.”

I was completely riveted and utterly confused more than once. The way Wright slowly (and I mean s-l-o-w-l-y) reveals the mystery elements leaves a reader with more questions than answers. And if you’re a reader with a runaway imagination like me, you’ll end up concocting umpteen potential scenarios in your head whenever your nose isn’t buried in the book. This story took on a life of it’s own and haunted me until I got to the final wrap up.

A little bit spooky, a whole lot intriguing with characters that grab your attention (and your heart) makes for a sensational read!

And. yes, this is me all caught up with Jaime Jo Wright’s books and eagerly waiting for her spring release.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall, 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 March 14 2026

Embergold + Giveaway

Fire dreamed of water, but the first sip would be its last.

Gilde has spent her life isolated in the wild marshlands, a place too wet for the dragon to go. She’s safe there, according to her father. So why is he asking her to leave with him now that she has come of age? There is more to Gilde’s family than she knows, and debts need to be paid.

Betrayed and shattered, she wakes in a crumbling mountain castle with the beast of her nightmares. Except this dragon speaks like a man and reads books. His kindness confuses her and opens a forgotten longing in her heart, all while Gilde plans her escape from a mountain full of secrets.

This place can unveil her past and why she was sacrificed to the beast—truths that may put both their lives in danger if they can’t learn to trust each other. But how can Gilde ever trust again? Especially after she discovers what dragons truly are.

My Review:

Look at me, moving out of my comfort zone and becoming thoroughly enchanted by Rachelle Nelson’s loose reimagining of Beauty and the Beast! And with a dragon hero no less!

Evocative descriptions, engaging characters, imaginative world building and a plot that moves along at just the right pace. There’s time to savour tender scenes in between the action and adventure ones. I loved watching the friendship gradually build between Gilde and the dragon. Gives new meaning to the enemies to more trope too!

I really enjoyed the mystery elements as well. Around Gilde’s story and the dragon’s origins and the way their worlds collide. So many delicious story layers for a reader to lose herself in! There’s grit and drama and villains to thwart and things get quite dark in places. I about passed out from holding my breath a time or two! And, whoa, the way the author builds tension and emotion to an epic scene that needled me with an onslaught of goosebumps! Truly inspirational! I need a sequel. Immediately!

I listened to the audible edition of Embergold and was absolutely captivated by Aimee Lilly’s narration. Her portrayal of every character is spot on – especially the voice she gives the dragon! Highly recommend the audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Embergold, 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 March 14 2026

A Horseman’s Gift + Giveaway

random retro read

 Filipa Beltran is tired . . . sick and tired of living out her parents’ dreams. After years of guitar lessons and the seemingly endless string of part-time jobs to pay for them, Filipa makes a drastic decision to leave New York and the hope of becoming a professional musician behind and return to her hometown, to move forward with her life–on her terms.

For Nathan Cross, the past year has been nothing short of crazy. Once set on becoming a big business mogul, Nathan’s plans derail following his father’s untimely death and then his mother’s remarriage. Now he’s headed back home to carry on his father’s legacy running an equine therapy program . . . and trusting God to sort out his future.

When Nathan discovers childhood friend Filipa is also back in town—to stay—he finds it hard to swallow. Maybe she wasn’t the girl he thought, or else she wouldn’t sacrifice everything her parents dreamed of for her.

Can Nathan and Filipa find contentment in their God-given gifts?

My Review:

published in 2024

This second Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm book is just as emotionally satisfying and spiritually uplifting as the first! No worries if you haven’t yet read Kip and Sheridan’s love story (book one), ‘A Horseman’s Gift’ can easily be read as a standalone. Mind you, I was thrilled to see them play important secondary roles here. Nathan was definitely out of his element at times and could use the support (and tough love) from his big sis and brother-in-law.

A friends to more romance with just the right mix of lighthearted teasing and emotional angst. Both Nathan and Filipa are at crossroads in their lives, struggling to find their way amidst family responsibilities and expectations. Emotions run high, insecurities surface and the quest to find the right path – the one God is directing them to – is fraught with a myriad of emotions and uncertainties. Loved how relatable these two are and how inspiring as they figure things out, both separately and together. Made for such a compelling read!I

Well, listen for me as I chose the audible edition of this book which is expertly narrated by the author. Myra Johnson brings her characters to life in the kind of way only the person who created them can. Such a novel experience to be able to sit down and have the actual author read aloud to me! Thoroughly enjoyable listening experience and one that I highly recommend.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Horseman’s Gift 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 March 7 2026

Last to Fall + Giveaway

Bronwyn Pierce has poured everything into The Haven, her family’s exclusive mountain resort in Gossamer Falls. But when financial discrepancies surface and the numbers suggest something far darker than simple mismanagement, she’s forced to call on the one person with the skills to help Mo Quinn, a former Army Intelligence officer, her first love, and the last person she ever wanted to trust again. 

Mo has spent years avoiding the woman he once loved and the secrets that tore them apart. But when Bronwyn calls, he can’t walk away–especially when it’s clear someone wants her gone for good. As they dig deeper into the treacherous motives behind a blackmail scheme, their proximity reignites long-buried feelings neither of them is ready to face. And when the evidence points to an unexpected culprit, Mo faces an impossible trust the proof in front of him or trust his heart.

With danger closing in and no one else to turn to, Bronwyn and Mo must break years of silence to uncover who’s trying to destroy The Haven. They’ll have to risk everything–including their hearts–to expose the truth before it’s too late.

Lynn H. Blackburn skillfully draws you into a thrilling plot taut with gripping suspense and romantic tension that will have you turning pages long into the night.

My Review:

Seems like I’ve been waiting for Mo and Bronwyn’s story forever! I am totally invested in all the characters of this series but the author has been teasing us with Mo and Bronwyn from the very start. At least, it feels that way! And now it’s finally time for them to sort out their differences and see a way forward to a happily ever after…together! Only, of course, it isn’t quite that simple.

For starters they have been at odds for years after betrayal (on both their parts) severed their relationship while they were still in their teens. But they share this awesome found family made up of brothers/sisters/cousins of two feuding families so they can’t completely avoid each other. Ah – the delicious romantic tension that is finally released in this third Gossamer Falls novel. (Picture me doing my bibliophile happy dance all the way through to the end.)

So, third in a series which can be read as a standalone. The author does a really good job of involving multiple characters and sharing pertinent parts of the family dynamics so that it’s easy for Gossamer Falls newbies to follow BUT that comes with a few spoilers too. My recommendation is to read the books in order and bask in all the wondiferous glory that comes from Blackburn’s storytelling.

I really love the way the author develops both the romance and the suspense in ‘Last to Fall.’ It seems unhurried and yet every scene counts and builds on previous ones while foreshadowing catastrophic deception ahead. I was on the edge of my seat the entire read and sometimes, I honestly had to stop and take a breather – either to enjoy the respite of an especially tender scene or freak out over things I was putting together. (I was somewhat right, but not always and not about some important motives!)

Lynn H. Blackburn writes the kind of romantic suspense I adore! Gossamer Falls is a series I will definitely revisit – especially since I loved listening to Kate Forbes’ audio book narration. She’s become a familiar voice in my audio book collection and she’s particularly good at conveying the unique tension and pacing that comes with the romantic suspense genre.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Last to Fall, 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 March 14 2026

Cold Fury

Random Retro Read

Five years ago tragedy tore them apart… 

Forensic anthropologist Maggie Turner happily works as an assistant professor at her local university and lives a quiet life near campus. That is until Jackson Lockhart enters her classroom. Then a cyclone of emotions erupt as she remembers the tragedy that once tore them apart. She’s often thought of him, but they’d agreed never to see each other again and so far they’d kept their promise. But today…Jackson has a good reason for breaking his promise. Maggie’s life depends on it. 

Will it now bring them back together? 

In an ongoing investigation, Jackson has learned that university officials secretly videoed her classroom in a study on attendance. The recorder was supposed to run only during the class session, but it malfunctioned and recorded an entire week, which includes a shocking murder that has now put Maggie’s life in danger. Can Jackson unravel the lies surrounding this incident before the killer unleashes his fury on Maggie and takes her life?

My Review:

published in 2018

While Cold Fury is the third book in the Cold Harbor series, it can be read as a standalone. Sleeman does a super job of introducing the Blackwell Tactical members. Team building is something this author really excels at and I love the way she writes the camaraderie and banter. Great scenes that showcase the heart of these amazing men and women and makes each one lifetime friends material.

But — be prepared to have your heart skewered with Jackson and Maggie’s story. Their history is so devastating! They are both still overwhelmed by their past — burdened to the point of not being able to let it go.Though they are both successful in their chosen careers, they’ve closed themselves off from living life to the fullest. Their conversations are insightful and the way they grow in their faith is inspiring.

“God always gets things right and when we worry or question Him it’s like we think He’s gotten it wrong.” — “We thank Him for the good things and blame Him for the bad. God is consistent so we’re just tormenting ourselves by fluctuating as circumstances change.” (sorry I don’t have page references, but I was listening to the audbile version.)

And the suspense is action-packed and danger inducing! Absolutely love the details Sleeman has added to the various technical aspects of the story — from the forensics to the police procedural to the armed forces tactics the team use in their operations — all fascinating and add authenticity to the story.

I’m three books down with four more to go before I finish the series. I’m excited to get back to Cold Harbor and thrilled that I don’t have to wait long to do so. I have Cold Case in my sight-lines — Eryn’s story — double woot!!!!

Hearts Aweigh + Giveaway

Cheeky septuagenarian matchmakers, the “Shippers” are on a mission to secure a dreamy Mr. Right for Abby O’Brien, a sunny, optimistic childcare worker for Monarch Cruises. She loves her job looking after the children of vacationing parents, but harbors one unfulfilled to be a wife and a mother.

With his shy five-year-old daughter in tow, divorced elitist lawyer Spencer Randolph Masterson has anything but romance in mind. His goal on the MS Buckingham is to persuade his mother, Daisy, to leave her ridiculous cruise ship lifestyle and return to New Orleans. But Daisy isn’t interested in life on land. Besides, she and her matchmaking posse have a marriage to arrange.

When a secret from Daisy’s past surfaces and threats of blackmail start flying, the Shippers must protect their own while attempting to convince Spencer’s scarred heart to weigh anchor and boldly set sail for a future with Abby.

My Review:

This series has Golden Girls meets the Love Boat vibes and is so much fun. Who can resist septuagenarian matchmakers who carry around a ‘battleground binder’ and create dossiers on potential suitors while dabbling in a bit of mystery solving on the side? Because, “God gave her nosy bones for a reason.”

These ladies are a sweet/funny mix of audacious and vulnerable. They keep Spencer and Abby (and readers) on their toes. I loved watching their romance unfold through multiple points of view. Spencer is so unapproachable, stuffy, unbending, rule-obsessed…well, you get the idea. The Shippers were certain he was not a potential match and so was I! But he’s a man in the middle of transformation as he learns to live his new-found faith. He also has an adorable daughter he’s just getting to know now that he has full custody and watching his awkward attempts to reach the shy little girl is sweet and funny and emotional too.

This opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine romance delivers all the feels along with some pointed observations from the beloved ‘Shippers.’ Add in a side of light amateur sleuthing and you get a delightfully captivating read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro, 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 March 7 2026

Arise From Dark Places + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A modern-day retelling of Sleeping Beauty

Finally free of the ten-year revolving hidden world in which she lived, Ari wants one thing before her life transforms for the final and most critical time—to see the young man who first brought her love. But he no longer lives in the beaten-down shack he’d once shared with his abusive, alcoholic father. Where could he be? Will Ari find him in time, or will those who want her dead find her first? She’d search to the ends of the earth, if only …

~Run, run, as through a maze. A spinning wheel will end your days.~

… her mother’s premonition hadn’t just come true.

Trying to absolve himself of his greatest sin, Manny seeks to help those in need, even if one of them is his very wealthy employer. But the memories still assault Manny with blows more powerful than his father’s fists.

Until he meets the woman who will change his life.

My Review:

published in 2017

What a stunning Sleeping Beauty retelling! So full of emotion and faith and even allegorical elements I found so inspiring!

As in Almony’s first ‘Dark Forest’ novel, this contemporary story is gritty in places. She deals with some tough issues, but does so with compassion and grace. And so much hope.

And the way she wrapped the classic fairy tale into her own uniquely imaginative retelling is quite brilliant. The sleeping spell part of this tale is particularly ingenuous. And the whole thing is written with such an air of mystery that sometimes I wasn’t sure if I actually understood what was happening. I pressed on though, slightly befuddled but eagerly snatching up every cleverly planted hint until I had enough pieces to send me into a gobsmacked tizzy of exciting revelations! Even some goosebumping ones!

‘Arise from Dark Places’ is the very definition of unputdownable!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and available to any reader anywhere so – yay- another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Arise From Dark Places,  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 March 7 2026.