Category: Book Review

A Family Under the Christmas Tree + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO RE-READ

This Christmas, will their shared puppy love lead to a forever family?

Sophie Griffith travels around the world as a photographer. Her new assignment — helping her grandmother for a few weeks — is just temporary. Once Christmas Day comes, Sophie will be on her next adventure.

Caring for Grandma is a piece of cake. Caring for her new Bernese mountain dog, Riggs, is a different story. Then Riggs strikes up a friendship with a lost little boy at the park, who leads her to David.

David Murphy never knew much about kids. But when his brother dies unexpectedly, David is granted custody of his five-year-old nephew, Troy. He already has his hands full running his business, and he has no idea how to help the grieving boy. When Troy runs off one day, David finds him at a park playing with an adorable and rambunctious Bernese mountain dog — who leads him to Sophie.

Sophie will be gone after Christmas, and the last thing David needs is another distraction. Still, their faith and growing love for the little boy — and the mischievous dog — soon have them falling for each other. Could this be more than a holiday romance? Will Troy finally get his Christmas wish for a family?

My Review:

published in 2016

It’s official — it’s puppy love! As in Riggs the Bernese Mountain dog pup. Squealll! His antics are hysterical and endearing and kept me grinning and ‘ahhhing’ all the way through the read. Okay, yes, there is a two-legger hero in this novel as well and he’s pretty fetching too. I expect you want to hear about him. 🙂 

David is in over his head when it comes to his five-year-old nephew. His workaholic bachelor days are over and if that isn’t enough of an adjustment, dealing with the intricacies of a grieving little boy might prove to be his breaking point. Until his elderly neighbour’s granddaughter visits for the holidays. His conniving, matchmaker-minded neighbour, that is. 

David and Sophie are thrown together as they strive to make a memorable Christmas for Troy. Emotions become entangled despite their best efforts because no matter how much they seem right for each other, common sense tells them they’re all wrong. Sophie lives a nomadic lifestyle as a photographer. David is anchored by a growing business and an orphaned nephew. A future together seems impossible. That makes for some truly tender love scenes that kept me on edge because it all seemed so futile. 

The Christmas backdrop brings a stirring element to the story and includes a children’s pageant complete with Riggs in reindeer antlers!!!!! (one of my favourite scenes, by the way!) Destined to become a Christmas classic.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Family Under the Christmas Tree, 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 Nov 25, 2023.

O Little Town + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-read


Stores of small-town Christmas and the enduring love of God from three critically acclaimed authors. In the sleepy small town of Mapleview, Michigan, Christmas is always something special. In this charming collection of romance novellas, join three generations of Mapleview residents longing for love — and finding it — on the most wonderful night of the year.

Hopes and Fears by Amanda Wen

Emma Trowbridge is determined to give her students the Christmas pageant of a lifetime. The last person she expected, or wanted, to encounter in her two-room schoolhouse is her childhood rival, Frederick Oberstein. He would rather be far away himself. He wants no part of cheer, Christmas or otherwise. Can they learn to see each other in a new light — embrace a new season of hope and faith tougher?

While Mortals Sleep by Janyre Tromp

While World War II rages overseas, news reporter Eleanor Sweers returns home to Mapleview to face the repercussions of the death of her sister and her nightmare of Christmases past. But the Homefront isn’t as far from the war as she thought: a bomb has landed in the middle of the U.S. Now Eleanor and family friend Gideon Braum may have to choose between the scoop of a lifetime and the love of a lifetime.

The Wondrous Gift by Deborah Raney

High school football coach Caleb Janssen and music teacher Rachel Hamblin bond when they both lose their jobs at a Christian school. But when they discover their plans for the future are mutually exclusive, the fallout threatens to tear them apart.

My Review:

published in 2022

A stunning collection of Christmas stories that I will cherish every year. These authors deliver the very essence of the season in classic tales of loss and hope and the wonder of new beginnings during the most magical time of the year.

I felt all kinds of ‘Anne and Gilbert’ vibes from Amanda Wen’s ‘Hopes and Fears’.  As students, Emma and Fredrick shared a long standing school rivalry, but they are adults now, teachers in the same two room school house where that rivalry has the chance to spark into something so much more…if only past sorrows and mistakes can be faced and forgiven. Brilliantly paced and beautifully told, the author has managed to capture the heart of Christmas and its everlasting promise of hope. 

Janrye Tromp’s Christmas offering includes a compelling World War II mystery which was a fun surprise. She has packed all the depth and substance you’d find in a full length novel into‘While Mortals Sleep’ — from characterization to plot and beautiful descriptive writing. Unputdownable!

Deb Raney’s ‘Wonderous Gift’ was the least Christmas-y of this trio. It starts a week before Christmas (present day) and ends on Christmas the following year. So seasonal bookends to a fun and flirty contemporary romance with just the right touch of angst. And there’s a very sweet ‘coming full circle’ vibe between the first story in this collection and this one. Uplifting and inspiring.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of ‘O Little Town’. Excellent narrators in Leah Horowitz and Matt Godfrey (though only Janyre Tromp’s novella included both a male and female narrator.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world, so, yay, another International Giveaway!


If you would like a chance to win a copy of  O Little Town , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 November 25 2023 .

Kiss Me on Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that she’s getting married in less than two weeks — on Christmas Day — that’s exactly what the holiday looks like becoming. Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent son’s need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while they’re away from home. It’ll be tricky, but she can do it.

At least, that’s what she thinks before her son’s favourite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her world’s just tilted on its axis?

My Review:

published in 2022

What a wonderful blend of humour and hope mixed up with a slice of real life…at Christmas time! I was drawn in right from with the very personable 1st person present tense POV, which, is not a favourite, but somehow it worked for me here. Brought me right into every scene, experiencing every emotion and impression. And I love that we are given both Kaitlyn’s and Beckett’s points of view, with young Liam gleefully worming his way into every scene.

The whole story takes place in about a two week time-span amidst the flurry of wedding preparations. Kaitlyn is concerned about keeping routines and traditions for her neurodivergent son in the middle of all the chaos. Loved this glimpse into a mother’s heart and the challenges and rewards of raising a unique child like Liam. He’s funny and personable and often all too literal. And I love the way Beckett fits into the story, his true swoon-worthiness shining in the way he accepts and champions Kaitlyn’s son.

Kiss Me on Christmas is short on length but not in depth — this novella packs an emotional punch. The kind of Christmas story that celebrates the season and leaves the reader with a heartwarming afterglow .

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Kiss Me on Christmas, 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 November 25, 2023.

Rescue Mission + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

A missing baby’s trail has gone cold…but this K-9 has one last lead…

With a baby still missing after months of searching, Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit handler Lucas Hudson and his furry partner must protect the only witness as she recovers from amnesia. But the kidnapper wants Kate Montgomery silenced — permanently. Now hiding in the icy Montana mountains might be the key to their survival and to triggering Kate’s memories of the night baby Chloe Baker disappeared…

Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit

My Review:

Woohooo! This is the book I’ve been waiting for — when we finally get to find out what happened to baby Chloe. ‘Rescue Mission’ is the eighth book in this multi-authored series and I love how each previous book edged us closer to this big reveal. If you’re new to this series, you can totally jump in here so no catching up needed, though you’d enjoy it if you did. 

Each book in the series has it’s own unique suspense and romance as well as an overarching suspense plot that finds resolution in this final instalment. But the authors do a great job of catching new readers up with former heroes and heroines as well as the progress of the suspense tie-in so you can really hop in at any point in the series.

The intense opening scene sets the stage for this action-packed grand finale. I felt like I knew Kate already from snippets in previous books and I was excited to delve into her story. And — bonus points — she comes with her very own therapy dog so we get double the puppy love and that makes me very happy. 🙂 Plus hero Lucas is kinda alluring in his own right. 

I like that there’s a bit of a history between these two as well. More on Lucas’s end since he has been watching over Kate (in a way) since her attack eight months previously. So he’s really invested in the outcome of this case and his protector spidey senses are fully charged. It makes the romance that develops all the more realistic.

And, though ‘amnesia’ isn’t my favourite trope in a suspense plot, I really like the way it plays out here. It’s been eight months since Kate’s attack and she’s been through extensive physical and psychological therapy during that time. Even so, she still hasn’t fully regained her memories. They are coming to her in fragmented pieces though, and no one knows if she will ever fully recover. I like how realistic this approach to the amnesia trope is. I just bought into it more, plus it really amped up the suspense all through the series as we got updates on Kate’s recovery…and lack of solid memories that could have helped the investigation along. 

Eason delivers an enthralling conclusion to this outstanding series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Rescue Mission, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday Nov 18, 2023.

The Wish Book Christmas + Giveaway

A holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don’t deserve.

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab–since a dog topped the boys’ wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love.

My Review:

published in 2021

Wow…just…wow! What a holiday treasure for any discerning reader who enjoys collecting Christmas books because this one definitely belongs on the keeper shelf! It’s nostalgic and charming and puts me in mind of classic holiday films from the 40s and 50s. Left me with the same happy afterglow as well.

The Wish Book Christmas is a sequel to ‘If I Were You’ but can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book and had no problems diving in here for a Christmas in Connecticut with Eve and Audrey.

Love the way the author brought this time period to life and the way she deftly wove a powerful inspirational thread throughout the story. Honestly, the way it all culminated into an epic ‘aha’ moment for both our heroines was brilliant and thrilling and, well, inspiring!

I listened to the audible edition (it’s available on Audible Plus right now) narrated by Sarah Zimmerman. I always enjoy her performances and she definitely excelled with her interpretation of these characters and their special Christmas story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Wish Book Christmas, 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 November 18, 2023

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A Beautiful Disguise + Giveaway

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend’s father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they’re creating a new secret intelligence branch, he’s intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend’s sake, and she’s more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can’t possibly be as noble as he seems.

My Review:

Honestly, I didn’t think that this author could top her ‘Shadows Over England’ series as my all time favourite, but after reading this first book in the ‘Imposters’ series, I might have to rethink that. And for a lot of reasons that I can’t say in a review without posting spoilers so excuse me if I turn all enthusiastically vague!

Love the found family vibe going on here. Marigold and her brother have the support of some very interesting allies and they have been instrumental in molding her into a unique, multi-talented woman. And what exactly are those talents, you ask? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to discover Marigold’s quirks for yourself. She’s an uncommon heroine with an exceptional story and I loved the way the author reveals her novel background and unrivalled flair for…well so many things. (Insert an image of me Cheshire grin happy dancing here.)

And Merritt…imagine swoons between every couple of words and you’ll get an insight into my state of mind. I do so love a hero in full protective mode. One dedicated to King and country and unwilling to be sidelined by a pesky health problem. I especially love a hero who recognizes the genius within his heroine while the rest of the world complacently overlooks her. And the more Merritt finds out about Marigold’s ummmm….novel traits…the more intrigued he becomes.

Of course there’s subterfuge and spying. Mystery with a hint of danger. An incredible cast of secondary characters who add light and laughter and sage wisdom. Not to mention complicated relationships with the promise of more to come in the next book in the series. All brilliantly executed with plot twists and delightfully building tension until the resounding stand-up-and-cheer conclusion.

I was happily bibliophile comatose by the time I reached the end. Replete on captivating storytelling paired with the expert narration delivered by Susan Lyons (yay audiobooks!) Cannot wait until the second book, A Noble Scheme, comes out in March 2024.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Beautiful Disguise, 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 November 18, 2023

Shadows on the Sand + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning…but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small cafe in Seaside New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals…although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children — and from the year he tried to drink his reality away.  While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her.

When Carrie’s a dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries…and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all too present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s building with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

My Review:

published in 2011

I was organizing my bookshelves (translation — trying to fit more books into an already crammed bookcase) and came upon this gem from twelve years ago. I started reading and couldn’t stop. My original review is below, but I just wanted to mention…or muse over…how much the mystery/suspense genre has changed over the years. This one is almost cozy — in the way we’re given a glimpse into the lives of the people who frequent Carrie’s cafe — as well as her own personal backstory. The mystery is there, gradually building as the story progresses, but sometimes it’s in the background in order to allow these characters to shine. I really enjoyed the different pacing and the way it all balances out so beautifully by the end. 🙂

—–

I completely and utterly adored this book! I mean how can you resist a heroine who describes her heart doing a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of the hero? And when things heat up she declares, “No way could Snoopy move his feet fast enough to keep up with my tap-dancing heart.” (pg 186) I could totally relate to Carrie on that point alone. But of course there is much more to this complex character, including a gnarly past that she hasn’t quite left behind.

Greg has his own issues too but he finds himself surprised by his sudden desire to enter the land of the living again. Carrie has a lot to do with his change of heart and that scares him. His emotional struggle is a strong thread in the story — achingly touching and I had a real wow factor once I’d finished the book and read the author’s note at the end.

The mystery/suspense is incredibly well developed — the kind where the reader is handed the clues at the same time as the hero and heroine. We try to solve the mystery together and it totally surprised me…multiple times. A really riveting read, which is what you want in a suspense. 

Roper’s writing style is unique in that she mixes POV. Carrie’s is in first person, but all the other characters are written in third person. You’d think it would make for a disjointed read, but somehow Roper makes it work. The story flows into the page-turning kind that you want to devour in one sitting. Highly recommended for lovers of mystery/suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Shadows on the Sand, 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 for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Holly and the Ivy + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Spend the holidays with four of your favorite historical romance authors, whose stories of Yuletide romance will brighten the season with humor, hope, and the promise of true love.

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden
As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart.

“Hiding Christmas” by Esther Hatch
Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide.

“A Twist of Christmas” by Dana LeCheminant
A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences.

“A Season to Love” by Anneka R. Walker
Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

My Review:

published in 2022

A fantastic collection of holiday romances. I listened to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall. She’s one of my favourite narrators and does a great job with the British and Scottish accents.

Christmas in spring? How does that even work? Why, beautifully if you’re reading “The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden. And…eeeeeepppppp…totally fan-girling here because it’s about the Duke of Kielder when he’s an eight-year old boy. And, oh my heart! Eden gives us a glimpse into why the austere Duke of ‘Seeking Persephone’ fame is the way he is. Plus we are treated to the Jonquil family at it’s very beginning. So much to love about this novella!!! No worries if you haven’t met these characters in the author’s previous books — this will still read wonderfully as a standalone. Especially since it features a working class romance between the Duke’s nurse maid and the Jonquil’s gardener. And lots of lovely Christmas traditions besides.

Be still my heart. Close proximity and fake relationship tropes feature in Esther Hatch’s Hiding Christmas. As well as some interesting facts about a Christmas ban in Scotland! That sent me on a google deep dive, let me tell you! Love the inauspicious meet-cute for this Scottish lass and English gentleman. Funny and poignant by turns.

Dana LeCheminant is a new-to-me-author and ‘A Twist of Christmas’ was the perfect introduction to her storytelling style. A seasonal Regency Romance? Yes please! Add in some mistaken identities, the lure of forbidden love and a whole lot of enticing mix-ups and you get the recipe for a highly entertaining holiday read. Loved the banter so much but also appreciated the more serious look at what it was like for this hero and heroine to deal with the expectations placed on them due to their social standing. This story is a bit light on seasonal flare, though it culminates at a Christmas ball.

‘A Season to Love’ by Anneka R. Walker is playful and fun with a light touch of angst as the romance builds. The meet-cute between the hero and heroine is hilarious! Alice is only too aware of her short-comings when compared to her successful (and well-married) sisters…or so she thinks. But a visit to her grandmother’s home for the holidays provides her with some unexpected enlightenment. And romance. Eeep! Clever and sweet and laugh out loud funny at times. And achingly tender too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Holly and the Ivy, 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 November 11, 2023

Snowbound Escape + Giveaway

To rescue a witness…this K-9 teams must face a killer and a storm.

After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?

My Review:

Finally — the resolution we’ve all (well, fans of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series) have been waiting for!! And it’s a doozy! So, definitely don’t read ‘Snowbound Escape‘ if you are planning on reading the whole series — it has a number of spoilers since this is the grand finale. But if you want to jump in and just read this one, the story will make sense…maybe just won’t pack the same emotional wallop it will for those of us we have been with this K-9 team from the very beginning.

Dana Mentink did a fantastic job of wrapping things up with her unique blend of hair-raising and laugh-out-loud finesse. Honestly, the meet-cute — desperate tension meets Cheshire grin because Mara is one tough, tenacious, never-say-die survivor. She’s been on the run for eight months and just when she finally gets some K-9 help…well….if the killer in pursuit doesn’t do them in, Mother Nature’s fury just might.

There’s something about reading a good ‘stranded in a blizzard’ suspense that ticks all the boxes for me. I actually crave this scenario once the weather starts to grow colder so I was in reading ecstasy all the way through. Loved all the wilderness survival parts and, oy, the relentless snow! Luckily they have K-9 wonder dog Britta on their side.

An exciting conclusion to this continuity K-9 series — and I’m hoping there will be another one starting up in the New Year.

Oh — and I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Eva Kaminsky. Love, love, looooovvvvveeeee that this series was available in audio format. I preordered them all and got such a thrill each time I got the notification that I had a new book ready to download. (Yes, I’m nerdy like that.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Snowbound Escape, 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 November 11, 2023

An Ivy Hill Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Richard Brockwell, the youngest son of Ivy Hill’s most prominent family, hasn’t been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life — unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over.

But Christmas in the country presents unforeseen surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing then he recalled…and determined to have nothing to do with him.

Will Christmas time in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, joyous songs, and divine hope, work its magic in his heart…and hers as well?

My Review:

I’m bedazzled. Best Christmas story ever. An Ivy Hill Christmas exudes all the warmth and cheer and heart-tugging moments found in all the classic holiday stories…and then some. Ivy Hill fans will be thrilled to get reacquainted with favourite characters from books past and meet some intriguing new ones. No worries, though, if you aren’t familiar with the series, this can definitely be read (and enjoyed immensely!) by IH newbies. Just be prepared to be greeted by a barrage of friendly faces in the first few chapters and go with the flow. You’ll feel settled in no time at all.

Unlike poor Richard who is decidedly unsettled by his mama’s request to…gasp!…come home for Christmas! And his life continues to go all topsy-turvy from there. The social awakening of this spoiled gentleman is at the heart of the story. It’s breath-takingly beautiful, and moving and uplifting. Absolutely everything I love to see in a Christmas tale delivered with exquisite precision by a gifted storyteller.

I loved all the historical details of Regency Christmas traditions. From decorating to partying to charitable works….I couldn’t help but sigh over the naivete of a simpler time. We could all use this type of hearty Christmas cheer after this pandemic year!

And there’s romance!!!! Multiples, in fact, which sent me into a swoony tilt-a-whirl of giddiness. Oh…and Wally, the dapper terrier!!!! He’s worth the read alone. 🙂

A charming, heartwarming, romantical celebration with the true meaning of Christmas at its very core.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Ivy Hill Christmas, 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 November 11, 2023