Kav's Best Reads

Forged in Love + Giveaway

When sparks begin to fly, can a friendship cast in iron be shaped into something more?

Mariah Stover is left for dead and with no memory when the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she’s riding in, killing both her father and brother. As she takes over her father’s blacksmith shop and tries to move forward, she soon inds herself in jeopardy and wondering — does someone know she witnessed the robbery and is still alive?

Handomse and polished Clint Roberts escaped to western Wyoming, leaving his painful memories behind. Hoping for a fresh start, he opens a diner where he creates fine dishes, but is met with harsh resistance from the townsfolk, who prefer to stick to their old ways.

Clint and Mariah are drawn together by the trials they face in town, and Clint is determined to protect Mariah at all costs when danger descends upon her home. As threats pursue them from every side, will they survive to build a life forged in love?

My Review:

Yeehaw! This new series is off to a rip-roarin’ start with a classic Connealy flare.

I always brace myself for this author’s opening scenes — because, wooheee, but she knows how to start a Wild West adventure off with a bang. She does not go easy on her poor characters — I bet she has to give her heroines hazard pay just so they stick with her to the end of the story. lol But, mercy, ‘Forged in Love’ (great play on words since the heroine is a blacksmith!) has to be the most heart-breaking, hair-raising, nerve-racking opening scene out of all Connealy’s books! I was hooked into speed-reading my way through after this first line: “A bullet slammed into the side of the stagecoach carrying Mariah Stover, her pa, and her older brother.”

This book starts with action, ends with action and is just plain full of action! The kind of frenzied page-turner of a read that makes you hit pause on the rest of your life until you’ve seen Mariah and Clint safely through every last desperate encounter.

This author is known for her strong female characters and she definitely delivers that here, not only in our heroine, but her two best friends. (I’m hoping Nell and Becky are the featured heroines in future books in this series.) And I love the contrast Clint brings to the romance. He’s quite a departure from the usual western hero — because Clint’s a French-trained chef! Delighting the inhabitants of Pine Valley with his tasty, but strangely named, concoctions. And he’s been attracted to Mariah since he came to town two years ago. Mariah, of course, is oblivious.

So the romantic stage is set, and Clint is finally contemplating making a move when tragedy and chaos strike as Mariah’s world implodes. Then it becomes all about keeping her alive.

Captivating plot, witty dialogue, lots of humour, a few touchingly vulnerable moments and a whole lot of action make ‘Forged in Love’ an unputdownable marvel.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Forged in 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 April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Wyoming Cold Case Secrets + Giveaway

A decades-old mystery. And extensive cover-up. This investigation could turn lethal.

When the search for her birth parents is met with a threat to leave town, Brynn Evans turns to private investigator Avery Thorpe — and leads armed assailants to his door. With no clue why she’s a target, Brynn and Avery rush to unfold her family’s secret…and to stay alive. But when the truth reveals a decades long conspiracy, can they survive a killer’s plan to cover it up?

My Review:

Action and intrigue on every page make for an unputdownable read.

I love cold cases and this one is a doozie! Plus there’s something extra compelling about an adopted child searching for her birth parents — particularly when it’s all cloaked in mystery!

Brynn and Avery have their work cut out for them…if they can stay alive long enough to figure it all out! Bwahahaha! And, bonus, this is a kinda, sorta second chance romance ’cause both our hero and heroine had crushes on each other in high school, only they didn’t know it! Oh, the foibles of teenage unrequited love!

I didn’t plan on reading Wyoming Cold Case Secrets in one sitting, but I did and enjoyed every second!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Wyoming Cold Case Secrets 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 April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Windswept Way + Giveaway

Buying a supposedly haunted house wasn’t in Ashley Scott’s plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap, she’s ready to launch a new life. But she can’t do it alone, and her reclusive new neighbour, Jonathan Gray may be just the person to help — if only there were room in his life for romance.

My Review:

This is the ninth book in the Hope Harbor series and it’s still going strong — and with storytelling like this it’s easy to see why!

If you haven’t read any of the books in this series (gasp! Why every not?!) you could still easily jump into this book without any problems. But — if you are a die-hard fan like me, you will be over-the-moon with bibliophile delight at the multiple cameos of previous heroes and heroines. I kept squealing and waving madly every time someone I knew entered a scene. “Yoohoo, remember me? I was rooting for you in book (insert # here).” That was me, all the way through, like a giddy teeny bopper at her first concert.

Irene Hannon has created the kind of characters that not only come alive, but reside in a reader’s heart years after she first meets them! I have the whole series in audible now (narrator Therese Plummer is the perfect pairing for these stories!) and I’ve listened to all the books multiple times and will continue to revisit Hope Harbor regularly because…

Characters!!!! Not only the current hero and heroine, but all the secondary characters that add to the personality of the town — both human and animal! The seagull lovebirds, the dueling clerics, Charlie!!!!!! Oh, everyone needs a Charlie to gently speak truth into their life. The way the man can say one thing while delivering an astute insight about something else is mind-boggling! I know that won’t make sense unless you’ve met Charlie in one of the stories, but once you do, you’ll understand why he’s the glue that holds this town together.

And then there’s the faith elements — gentle and poignant and touching. Has me thinking about the patient way the Lord pursues us no matter how many times we turn away. How He can turn despair into hope and provide an everlasting comfort if we are willing to open up to Him.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot of this book since the synopsis is pretty sparse. I will say the romance has a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe to it and goes beyond toe-curling and swoons into a whole other realm of a love story. I was in tears in places. And goose bumping my way through others. Let’s just say ‘Windswept Way’ lived up to it’s name and swept me away!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Windswept way, 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 April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

After the Shadows + Giveaway

A brighter future awaits — if she can escape the shadows of the past.

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the handsome new schoolteacher, Craig Ferguson, and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Along and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father’s death — and to aid Craig, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.

My Review:

This book is all about relationships — in a fractured family, between old friends…and new, and in a romance that promises hope after a long stretch of hardship. Cabot has captured the essence of frontier life with all its complexities and threw in a mystery to liven things up even more!

I ached for Emily from the very first page. After enduring a horrific marriage she returns home only to find so many devastating changes. I felt as overwhelmed as she did, but this lady has grit and a stubborn streak that just won’t give up. Plus she has innate kindness and a propensity for compassion that has her reaching out, despite her circumstances.

Soon her life is filled with the unexpected when she opens her family’s large home to boarders. Some of them are wonderful surprises –like the new school teacher and his son, who go a long way towards easing Emily’s fear of men and others are…well blood pressure rising nasty and I won’t say more — you’ll meet them soon enough. 🙂

This is very much a character-driven story where we get to really know not only the hero and heroine but some key secondary characters as well. I really felt as if I was one of Emily’s boarders with a ringside seat on all the happenings. I love when I feel that involved in a story!

Then there’s the ever present mystery that grows slowly as the story progresses. I wouldn’t classify this as a mystery read — more like a Historical Romance with a mystery element. It develops gradually, and I’ll admit to figuring it out by the half way mark. Which just made it deliciously frustrating while I waited for Emily and Craig to catch up. 🙂

A compelling adventure in the Texas Hill Country that kept me enthralled to the very end.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of After the Shadows, 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 April 15, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

April Giveaway — Week One

Winners will be contacted if they left their email address, otherwise it’s up to the winner to contact me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca (please note it’s ca as in Canada, not com.) From time to time a winner and I do not connect so I have a one month time frame on giveaway wins. If I haven’t been able to reach you within 30 days of your win, it will be forfeited. This has happened a few times now, so please, DON’T BE SHY — CONTACT ME IF YOU DIDN’T LEAVE AN EMAIL OR IF I HAVEN’T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING YOU!

Books will be ordered or mailed within a week of receiving your address (or email address for ebooks) and I’ll email you to confirm your book is on the way.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK’S GIVEAWAYS:

Please read the giveaway options written in red noted under “Giveaway Opportunity” in each blog post as formats will vary.

Paperback or ebook — winner can choose either format

Paperback — I have a new physical book on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback — It’s the actual book I read to review

ebook — that’s the only format option available, often because it’s an indie book where a paperback copy is either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. Or when a physical edition is out of print.

Reader’s Choice Bonus Round Giveaway

Well, wasn’t last week a whirlwind of bookish delight?! So many great books to add to our spring reading lists! Except, guess what? I found more! Extra titles that still need to be added to our TBRs. So, I thought I’d list them here (with very brief descriptions — usually just a tag line unless the blurb was really short) and for this giveaway you can pick one book. Add it in a comment (or in an email, kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca) and if your name is drawn, that’s the book you’ll win. So, yeehaw, let’s get started on this

Reader’s Choice Bonus Round Giveaway

Memories of the Heart by Valerie M. Bodden : A series of heartbreaking losses have left Simeon and Abigail’s marriage in shambles. But can God rebuild it even stronger than they remember? (indie; April 25)

Holding Onto Hope by Janet W. Ferguson : A fun road trip romance to the Grand Tetons. Always the wedding planner, never the bride. (indie; April 1)

The Beach Reads Bookshop by Lee Tobin McClain : Running a bookshop on a quaint Chesepeake island is exactly the life Deena Clarke would have chosen for herself — but helping billionaire businessman Luis Dominguez figure out fatherhood is part of the package. Can bonding over books and one little girl help them open their hearts to each other? (HQN; April 25, Hometown Brothers;3)

Shadow Dancing by Jennifer Sienes : Wading through grief is like dancing with shadows….When you’re dancing with shadows who gets to lead? (Celebrate Lit Publishing; April 18, Bedford County;2)

Loving Lydia by Susan Pope Swan : Two Southerners thrown together by the Union army. He’s on a quest for vengeance. She’s determined to preserve her family. (Wild Heart Books; April 25, Rescued Hearts of the Civil War;2)

The Title Wave by Chautona Havig : All he wants to do is help people, but local women want to help themselves…to him! (Celebrate Lit Publishing; April 25; Sumalie Islands;3 (multi-authored series)

Expired Hope by Megan Being (inspired by Lisa Phillips) : She battled every fire she ever faced. He’s risking everything for the chance to belong. (Sunrise Publishing; April 25; Last Chance Fire and Rescue ; 2)

A Green and Vibrant Hope by Valerie Comer : A small-town Christian Romance. She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s flaky. Two bad they need each other…What will it take to get them to see into each other’s hearts and grasp a green and vibrant hope? (Indie; May 6; Farm Fresh Market ; 2)

In Feast or Famine by Mesu Andrews : Thrust into an arranged marriage, the daughter of ancient Egypt’s high priest plays a pivotal role in Jospeh’s biblical narrative in this powerful novel from the award-winning author of Potiphar’s Wife. (Waterbrook; May 9; The Egyptian Chronicles ; 2)

Finding Her Frontier Home by Louise M. Gouge : A ranch out west could be the home she’s longed for. (Love Inspired Historical; May 23)

Wagon Train Baby by Rhonda Gibson : They came together for an orphaned child…will they stay together for love? (Love Inspired Historical; May 23)

Beneath a Peaceful Moon by Debby Lee : Mary’s language skills could help end the war in the Pacific. Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes — the heroines of WWII. (Barbour; May 31; Heroines of WWII; 10 multi authored series of standalone novels)

Love Somebody Like You by Carolyn Miller : For Lexi Franklin, returning to Trinity Lakes feels a little like running home with her tail between her legs. But what’s a girl to do when her life has been turned upside down on the other side of the world?…Jackson Reilly has his own set of troubles. Will he be able to save his ranch, and his hopes and heart, before Lexi returns to Australia? (Indie; June 27; Trinity Lake Romance ; 5)

The Lies We Believe by Lisa Harris : A gripping psychological thriller. The book blurb is way too long and there’s no tagline so I’ll give it a go. A single mother who works at home as a security analyst starts forgetting things…and then seeing things…and then her daughter disappears! The hero is a SOG team member tasked with tracking down a group of endangered children…(Indie; June 28; Shadow Stalkers ; 1)

The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer : On her tour of the English countryside, a chance encounter on the streets alerts Miss Prudence Watson to the inhumane working conditions at the worsted mill. She learns that the owner is William Sherbourne, a Royal Naval officer just returned from sea. Following in his wake is his reputation as a cad and a secret so ghastly he’ll do anything to protect it. Even worse, he’s handsome and charming and not at all the villain Prudence expected him to be. (Tyndall House; June 20)

One Southern Summer by Heidi McCahan : It’s her second chance summer…if she’s ready for it — in this warm and utterly irresistible Southern small-town novel. ( my input: includes three generations of strong Southern women and some grandmotherly interference. keep!) (Love Inspired Trade; June 27)

So, there you have it — lots to choose from. I know what’s caught my eye, how about you? Leave a comment below with the title you’d like to win and we’ll see what happens come Saturday. (and look at me getting fancy with my photo placements! Snicker!)

April New Releases Giveaway!

I recently listened to an author interview and was surprised to learn that a book’s success or failure is often determined by first month sales! (Though I bet preorders play into that as well.) Publishing houses look at those stats to determine whether they’ll add on to a series or accept the author’s next manuscript! All that literary goodness hanging in the balance but for a month’s worth of sales! (This was a cozy mystery author, but I imagine all traditional publishers use the same ‘system’.) So, I thought I should do my wee little bit to promote Christian Fiction by introducing a new tradition.

So, sometime during the first week of each month I’ll run a special “Hello — insert month” giveaway. It’s easy to play along, especially since we have all our lists organized after Reader’s Choice Week! You just have to choose one of the April 2023 books on your TBR wishlist and mention it in a comment below (or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca) If your name is drawn, that April release is the book you will win and we’re one book count closer to keeping our fave authors in business. 🙂

Shielding the Baby + Giveaway

A K-9 Unit has a child to protect…and a murderer to catch.

A double murder and an attempted kidnapping of a baby in a national park have Officer Danica Hayes and her K-9 partner on high alert. She’ll have to protect Luke Stark and his six-month-old son while tracking the person who murdered his sister. Danica and Luke face a battle for their lives to keep from becoming the next victims.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit

My Review:

Woohoo! A brand new multi-authored K-9 continuity series from Love Inspired Suspense! And double woohoo because the books are available on audible and I might have them all preordered. 🙂 I’m such a happy reader!…er, listener.

And does Laura Scott ever know how to pull together an unputdownable (unstoppable?) story. The suspense is non-stop, edged with danger and bogged down in a baffling case that has all kinds of twists to it.

Plus, there’s an adorable baby, a kind of wary romance (both Luke and Danica have issues to resolve) and an exceptional K-9 to fur-bond over. My heart is full of bookish glee over this great start to the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Shielding the Baby, 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 April 8, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

A Match in the Making + Giveaway

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to sped the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the safe of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention — and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might me….her.

My Review:

Still grinning when I think back on these characters and all the madcap mayhem that follows them around. The hilarity knows no bounds. I mean…I’ve loved all of Jen Turano books but this one gives new meaning to ‘quirky banter’. In fact, in honour of this book, I’ve come up with a new word to describe this particular type of quirky banter. Ready? Here it is (Merriam-Webster eat your heart out!)

Turanter: tur-an-ter, verb, definition: when regular banter takes on next level absurdity all while making complete sense.

Seriously, Jen Turnano’s comedic talent is next level brilliant. And it is infused in every aspect of the story. From character thoughts to tongue-in-cheek descriptions to all the cunning dialogue (aka turanter) — this book is a sheer delight.

It’s an enemies to more love story that sparkles. Tender and light-hearted but with some profound moments as well. The pacing is perfection, from the way the plot develops to the unusual romance. And every single character is memorable. Just…just….an awesomeauce of turanterism!!!

While I did receive a copy of this book from the publisher, I listened to the audible version and I really think Sarah Zimmerman’s performance enhanced my enjoyment that much more!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Match in the Making, 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 April 8, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Metropolitan Affair + Giveaway

Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City’s most esteemed museums.

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she’d accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptogoly for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father’s offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York’s wealthiest patrons who have been victims of fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York’s high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger’s identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

My Review:

Phew! This is the kind of read that is so well plotted that you want to take your time to savour every nuance of scene and character but, at the same time, you are impatient to get all the pieces put together and bask in the happily ever after! Such a reader dilemma! To race or relish? I confess to doing both, and revelling in it all.

The Second Chance Romance trope is one of my favourites and this one has lots of delicious layers to dig through. A chance childhood meeting sparked an unusual friendship, complicated by differences in class and education that eventually separated Lauren and Joe. Until a not-so-chance meeting reunited them and then the fun begins.

Gah, but my emotions were all over the place during this read. I loved Lauren but don’t get me started on her naivety. I was forever cautioning her, but did she listen? She did not! Luckily Joe is more grounded — the life of a New York City police detective (with scruples) will do that to a guy. Absolutely loved the depth in both their back stories, their complicated (and distinctly different) family relationships and the way all of that played into the story.

And the whole ‘Egyptomania’ craze both irked and enthralled me. The historical details are riveting (I wouldn’t expect anything else from this author, but it bears saying anyway.) I’d get so steamed up over all these wealthy patrons of the arts who thought nothing of robbing a nation of their priceless antiquities for their own private collections! And then I’d be confounded by the irresistible draw all the Egyptology details held over me. And that made me wonder if I’d have been any different as a high society matron back in the day. And that just made me cranky. 🙂

Green blends history and mystery to create a captivating tale of greed and deception nicely contrasted with faith and love and the kind of insurmountable hope God can bring into our future.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Marthin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Metropolitan Affair, 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 April 8, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.