Category: Book Review

A Deal With a Debutante + Giveaway

She’s running from London’s marriage mart. He’s running out of time to save his estate. Neither planned on falling in love—but their hearts have other plans. 

American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London’s high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named “the debutante of the season” back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she’s been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated—an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune?

My Review:

Funny and touching and oh so swoonable! Chelsea Bobulski is a new-to-me author but I’ll be hunting down every book she’s written now! And I’m so hoping this is the first in a series because Calliope has some delightful friends who need to star in their own stories!

This Edwardian era romance explores that odd American craze of New York Society’s nouveau riche carting their marriageable daughters across the ocean to England in order to make an aristocratic match, all for the want of a title. Their enormous dowries set to lure in cash strapped nobility for a mutually ‘advantageous’ match.

Well, Miss Calliope Hart is having none of it. Her mother (one of the most obnoxious fictional mothers I’ve read!!!) is blatantly pushing her daughter to attend all the Season’s prestigious parties. Calliope’s reluctance is no deterrent to the husband hunting mama who is determined that her daughter will be engaged by the end of the summer.

Calliope and Edward’s unfortunate meet-cute is anything but encouraging. He might have made a bit of a blunder. She might have taken it too personally. Fireworks ensue and Calliope storms off, leaving Edward surprisingly intrigued. And then the fun really begins!

A wonderful mix of humour and tenderness with enough sparks to singe a gentle reader’s fingertips. And once Edward commits to persuing Calliope…well, clear your fainting couch and prepare for a toe-curling frenzy of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Deal With a Debutante, 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 May 16 2026

Traveler’s Rest + Giveaway

random retro reread
  • A young woman determined to honor her commitment
  • An injured soldier convinced life is no longer worth living
  • A retired doctor certain it’s too late to be forgiven

Jane Morrow has a dilemma. She’s engaged to Seth Ballantine, a member of the National Guard’s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and he’s returned from Iraq severely wounded. Jane hasn’t seen him for nearly a year, and with trepidation, she heads to the VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is being treated.

Seth isn’t happy to see her. He’d asked her not to come. He wants to end the relationship. But Jane loves him, and despite his injury, she’s determined to convince him that they can have a life together. Her faith has never been strong, yet she hopes God will answer her prayers and tell her what to do.

Beautifully written, Travelers Rest takes readers on a journey through pain and tragedy to a place of hope and redemption.

My Review:

published in 2012

 Profound. The kind of book that makes you a better person for having lived within its pages for a few hours. This character-driven  story unfolds with a rich blend of drama and poignancy, but there’s humour tucked in there as well.And life lessons well worth learning. Like the power to influence for good just by having the courage to try. 

And, oh my, the characters! And the cunning way their disparate lives are woven together. A purely stunning, gorgeous book that has left me near speechless.

Giveaway Opportunity:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Traveler’s Rest,  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 May 16 2026

Tracking the Taken Child

A little girl has vanished…
Can a K-9 team find her?

Preschool teacher Lydia Caldwell’s peaceful day in the Rockies becomes her most harrowing nightmare when she’s pushed over a mountain ledge and her three-year-old daughter is abducted. Lydia must now entrust her life and her child’s fate to K-9 Officer River Jameson and his yellow Lab partner, Frankie. As the danger escalates and the trail grows colder by the second, River and Frankie work tirelessly to track down the kidnapper. Is the culprit Lydia’s ex…or is someone from her past seeking revenge? Will River’s skill and Frankie’s instincts save an innocent child—and protect Lydia from the elusive criminal targeting her?

My Review:

The emotionally charged opening scene sets the stage for the second instalment of the Colorado K-9 Unit continuity series and I loved every second of this intense mix of danger, drama and romance.

A mother’s worst nightmare, the kidnapping of her child, makes for a gripping backdrop for the suspense and an intense introduction for Lydia and River. And K-9 extraordinaire, Frankie! What follows is a gripping game of cat-and-mouse as Lydia and River dodge bullets and danger in a desperate attempt to track a kidnapper and find little Elsie. Action packed adventure with enough plot twists to keep a reader on the edge of her seat.

I listened to the audible edition of Tracking the Taken Child narrated by Megan Tusing who did a great job conveying a sense of urgency into her storytelling. A truly compulsive listening experience for me.

Injustice for All

random retro read

“I should have tried harder.”Those final words are scrawled across a note that’s been pinned to a man’s remains.

Pulled to a crime scene in the middle of the night, Detective Marx struggles to unravel the mystery behind a message written by the victim. A suicide note . . . or an admission of guilt? Before he can discover the truth, what seems to be a random act of violence becomes something much darker and far more dangerous.

Another note. Another body.

With very little evidence and even less time, Detective Marx searches for the common thread between the victims before another innocent dies, but his efforts might put him directly in the killer’s path.

Injustice for All is a spin-off from the Holly Novels, but it can be read as a standalone book. If you’re wondering where this book falls in relation to the Holly Novels, here’s the Criss Cross, Winter Memorial, Cross Fire, Crossed Off, Injustice for All.

My Review:

published in 2018

First thing to know is that this book fits in the middle of the Holly series, right after the third book. It’s important because it carries over main plot points from that series, though as a secondary plot in Marx’s first solo story. You could read this as a standalone, but you’d be missing out on a lot of Holly’s background, including spoilers, as well as some complex character backstory elements.

The suspense is gripping, a bit gritty but utterly compelling. I loved getting so much of the story from Marx’s POV and the way he juggles his work as a detective with his care and support for Holly has she processes recent traumatic events is inspiring.

The strong sense of found family is what really draws me to this series; the impeccable plotting and relatable characters keep me anchored in the story. And committed to the series. I still have some catching up to do before the latest Holly instalment releases this month but I’m happily up to the challenge. 🙂

The Vigilante’s Bride + Giveaway

random retro reread

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expects to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from him, but ends up with a feisty copper-haired orphan thrown over his shoulder who was on her way to marry Sullivan’s bitter enemy.

Emily McCarthy is an orphan out of options. Forced to marry because she was too old for her orphanage, she doesn’t take kindly to her “rescue.” Still she trusts God can turn any situation to good especially when it seems Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Sullivan’s crossed a dangerous man unused to losing and Emily may just be the prize he’s unwilling to sacrifice.

My Review:

published in 2010

‘The Vigilante’s Bride’ has it all – hunky hero, spunky heroine, downright evil villain and a riveting plot.

Loved the dynamics between Luke and Emily. Sparks fly at their very unorthodox meet-cute. This is an enemies to more trope and the author does a great job transforming intense dislike into love. There are some achingly tender scenes, toe-curling ones too with a healthy dose of humour mixed in.

In fact, Harris does a wonderful job of blending drama and comedy while drawing out the suspense. Plus she adds some surprise that I didn’t see coming at all. Impeccable pacing kept me turning pages, eager for more, only to be disappointed when I finally came to the end because it was all over! Love when a story leaves me wanting more! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Vigilante’s Bride, 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 May 9 2026

Counting on a Cowboy + Giveaway

random retro reread

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk. Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she’s brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn’t interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become—or the women who might be looking at him like he’s their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn’t looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can’t help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

My Review:

published in 2015

I want to say ‘Best Romantic Comedy Ever’ but as I think back on this story I realize there are a lot of really intensely emotional issues that various characters are struggling to deal with. So there’s definitely gritty realism delivered in an honest, and sometimes heart wrenching, way but I still start grinning when I think about Counting on a Cowboy. I guess the humorous bits that shine through the drama really made an impact on me.

Like two cowboy brothers dealing with the day in, day out care of an infant: “Aw, come, Jarrod. Give me a break. I’ve changed him three times and you should see the stuff coming out of that kid. Maybe we should take him to the doc.” (p. 75) Bumbling cowboys out of their element are always a treat to read about.

As is the simmering romance between Bo and Abby. Attraction confirmed, desire to do something about it, not so much. Because it’s truly complicated. From a crash bang first meet to Abby’s painful past, there just doesn’t seem to be a way for them to move forward. Cue the audacious town matchmakers — Clara Lyn and Reba — though, honestly, their clumsy attempts do more harm than good a time or two. And that’s because they don’t have all the facts. 

Neither does the reader when it comes to Abby’s haunting past. Clopton expertly tantalizes with subtle hints that grow clearer as the story progresses. I was gutted by the time the whole truth was revealed but thrilled when Bo proves to finally be the hope for her future.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Counting on a Cowboy 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 May 9 2026

No Stone Unturned + Giveaway

She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground.

Miss Bridget Littleton’s passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village nestled in the beautiful English countryside. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by excavating the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle.

Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey’s once thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget’s potential trove of artifacts. He will not—cannot—fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion.

Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined.

Sweet Regency romance filled with hope, faith, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamicHistorical fiction that’s perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or Abigail WilsonIncludes discussion questions for book clubs.

My Review:

Delightfully shivery Gothic vibes with a twist because in ‘No Stone Unturned’ it’s the hero who is returning to his ancestral home which just happens to be an atmospheric abbey steeped in mystery. It has also been sadly neglected and the whole estate is in jeopardy unless he can turn things around quickly.

Rafe is facing an impossible challenge as he adjusts to civilian life as a wounded soldier. He’s both physically and emotionally scarred and loathe to return to place that holds so many painful memories. So, he’s dealing with a lot when he first meets Bridget, digging up ‘his’ field with archeological enthusiasm. She’s under the impression the field belongs to her best friend’s family. Rafe’s steward assures him it is part of his estate. Wills clash when neither is willing to compromise and this enemies to more love story gets off to a volatile start.

I’m not always a fan of this trope, though I hasten to add I loved this one. It can be difficult to keep up the enemy pretence while at the same time making both hero and heroine relatable but Hovde did an amazing job here and that’s because of the richly layered backstories. My emotions couldn’t help but become engaged. Rafe with his traumatic childhood and difficult war years. Bridget upended by the death of her mother and the ensuing domestic upheaval. She’s an educated woman who can’t find a place in a male dominated field. Though there is instant chemistry, it takes them awhile to find some common ground but when they do…blissful happy swooning sigh!

‘No Stone Unturned’ delivers it all – a brooding hero, a feisty heroine, an atmospheric abbey steeped in mystery, villains and treachery and pages full of drama, including integral faith threads, before the triumphant HEA!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of No Stone Unturned, 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 May 9 2026

Plain Murder

Random Retro ReRead

Fifteen years after leaving her Old Order Amish life, Rachel Mast has returned to Stone Mountain, Pennsylvania. Corporate success didn’t bring true happiness, but Rachel also knows she can never be Amish again. Instead, she runs a B&B and tries to help her community in ways they can’t help themselves.

But now a gruesome discovery has been made in her Uncle Aaron’s cow pasture—the body of prominent Englisher businessman Willy O’Day. Aaron refuses to hire a lawyer, trusting his own innocence, and his faith, to see him through. Rachel isn’t so sure, especially give the public feud between the two men. Her relatives won’t speak to the police, but they will talk to Rachel—if she puts on a skirt and a bonnet. Rachel knows emotions and entanglements run as complicated in the Amish world as outside it. But as she delves deeper to clear Aaron’s name, she discovers secrets that could put her own life in danger.

My Review:

published in 2014

Squeezing in one more Amish book before ‘Amish in April’ comes to a close!

Miller has crafted a compelling page-turning mystery. And I absolutely love the intrepid Rachael Mast. With her familial ties to the Amish, she’s a great help to the police, even though they don’t always see eye to eye. And Rachael can’t help channeling her inner Nancy Drew, especially when it’s a family member’s freedom at stake Plus, she desperately wants to help the Amish community she still feels ties with.

The author deftly weaves mystery into the day to day life of an Amish/English community. Provoking insights into plain living add an extra zest the story. As does the light romance. This Amish adjacent cozy mystery makes the perfect kind of armchair sleuthing read.

Sit, Stay, Love + Giveaway

random retro reread

A Novel for Dog Lovers 

Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you’re ready for a lesson in love…Tippy style. 

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother’s elderly dog, Tippy, he’s quick to call on a pet-sitting service. 

Gina isn’t thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can’t abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy. 

As Gina travels through Cal’s world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too… 

Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.

My Review:

published in 2016

Surprise! Another reread from ten years ago! How is it I am gravitating to 2016 books?! It was a very good year for fiction!

Quirky and fun with lots of sweet and savoury bits. Anyone who has been owned by an eccentric dog will adore Tippy! And empathize with Gina! And eventually Cal — though he was a bit of a hard sell at the beginning. 🙂 And because I love dogs so much I actually cried in two places so be forewarned if you have a tender canine loving heart like mine! Mentink knows how to turn on the emotional angst.

Cal is a bit of a lost soul in the beginning. It isn’t so much that he’s egotistical, but he is cynical about his fame and what people want from him. As a result he’s lost his bearings, confusing self-worth with worldly labels instead of in God’s glory. The enticing thing about Gina is that she sees Cal for who he really is. She couldn’t care less for all the trappings that comes with being a star pitcher. When Cal starts to see himself through her lens, he begins to sort out who he really is and what he wants his future to look like.

Be prepared for a few curve balls as the story progesses — especially since stubborn Cal has a penchant for playing hardball. Through all the mayhem and mirth, Mentink manages to hit a home run with Sit, Stay, Love. (sorry, couldn’t resist using some baseball idioms!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sit, Stay, Love, 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 May 2 2026

An Appearance of Impropriety + Giveaway

As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.

Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God’s calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation’s eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America’s freeways.

Mahalia’s rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow’s attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.

A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

My Review:

I usually don’t read novels with strong legal themes but loved Jayna Breigh’s debut novel so I jumped into this one without any second guessing and it was as brilliant as I knew it would be!

A character-driven legal drama that turned into a compulsive listen. Yes, this was another audio ‘read’ for me and Alyx Monroe might be my dream narrator. The tone of her voice is so soothing and pleasant to listen to and the way she infuses the characters with emotion and humour made me love them all the more!

My fear of not understanding the legal-eeze in ‘An Acceptance of Impropriety’ was unfounded. Somehow Breigh manages to create the thrill of a legal drama in layman’s terms. I never felt lost, in fact, the courtroom scenes were some of the most riveting. JD and Mahalia’s volunteer work with the Junior Jurors program for at-risk youth also helped because I got to learn the court system right along with them.

But there’s also so much more to this story than the legal drama (but, whoa, the drama!) There’s a slow burn romance that builds from misunderstanding. Opposites attract and forbidden love tropes play a part in their complicated relationship as well. JD is a knight in shining armour slaying big corporations on behalf of widows and orphans. I was so invested in his court case! Mahalia is the youngest female judge in LA and she carries that burden of expectation and scrutiny.

I love the way we got to know this hero and heroine through snippets of their backstories at pivotal moments. It helped me understand their thoughts and actions. Watching them struggle to learn from their pasts while finding the courage to create their own unique futures was exhilarating.

A stunning inspirational legal drama/romance that I’m still thinking about days after finishing it.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Appearance of Impropriety, 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 May 2 2026