Kav's Best Reads

Five Golden Wings

Readers will flock to NYT bestselling author Donna Andrews’ latest installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.

Two of Meg’s cousins, members of Mother’s vast Hollingsworth clan, are getting married, and both have chosen Caerphilly for their Christmas destination wedding . . on the same day, in the same venues. But while they’re cousins they’re also lifelong enemies. Mother’s efforts to keep the peace are wearing her down, and the battling brides (and their mothers) are making the holiday season miserable for everyone. So Meg steps in to keep the peace. And it was going badly even before she stumbles over the murdered body of the wedding photographer.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of suspects. The photographer has been hitting on many of the guests, bridesmaids . . . possibly even one or both of the brides. He’s also been slinking about and taking candid shots that are unflattering, embarrassing . . . occasionally even incriminating.

Can Meg help the local police nab the killer in time for the weddings to go on as planned? Unless, of course, the killer was one of the brides or grooms, in which case she needs to identify the killer in time to reveal their identity when she hears those fateful words, “If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else forever hold your peace.”

My Review:

What would Christmas be without a new Meg Langslow seasonal mystery to get us into the holiday mood? And this 38th (Yes, 38!!! and I’ve read them all…multiple times) book is full of all the charm and humour unique to this incredible series. Discovering a new Meg Langslow mystery is the highlight of my reading year and the Christmas ones are extra special.

Of course, Christmas in Caerphilly has the nasty habit of including a festive murder and Meg is always in the middle of the intrigue! Luckily she has a great rapport with the Chief of police and her meddling comes in handy…especially since she always seems to be the one to discover the victim. Love that predictability and the way the author manages to infuse the real spirit of Christmas in the midst of all the murder and mayhem.

This Christmas two bridezillas are putting a damper on Meg’s Christmas celebrations. Love the nod to the first book in the series (three bridezillas in that one!) but even though the two books share a similar theme they are very different. There are some great plot twists with the mystery which kept me guessing and I love the way the author was able to include so many of my favourite characters in the seasonal sleuthing. And, of course, there’s plenty of humour and Langslow family hijinks to liven things up even more.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Five Golden Wings’, narrated by Bernadette Dunne, who has been with the series from the very beginning. I get such a cozy homecoming kind of feeling every time I listen to one of the Meg Langslow books. Dunne has created unique voices for the many characters and has kept them consistent over all these years! And she captures the humour and heart of these stories to perfection.

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

Hello October – New Release Giveaway

HELLO OCTOBER!

It’s a Best Reads blog tradition! Celebrating the month’s new releases the first week of each month.

why?

Because I recently discovered 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.

how?

By hosting a special ‘Hello – insert month’ giveaway. It’s easy to play along. You just have to choose ONE of the October 2025 new releases on your TBR wishlist (must be Christian Fiction) and mention the title in a comment below (or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) If your name is drawn, that October release is the book you will win and we’re one book closer to keeping our fave authors in business.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook for anyone anywhere who has an Amazon.com kindle account

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book (if available) – winner’s choice

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 4 2024.

Trail of Suspicion + Giveaway

Uncovering buried secrets
could be fatal for a K-9 and his handler.

When crime scene technician Aurora “Rory” James and her K-9, Moose, stumble upon a dead body in the woods, she finds herself fighting off a killer who wants to hide his crimes. Although she’s the criminal’s next target, Rory doesn’t want protection from Sergeant Asher Mitchell—the man who implicated her father in her mother’s disappearance years ago. But as the attacks escalate and they discover that a second body belongs to Rory’s missing mother, Asher realizes that the murderer will do anything to stop the police investigation. Can Rory and Asher catch the culprit before they become the next victims?

My Review:

Whoa – what a riveting romantic suspense! An emotional and thrilling story that finds reunited high school friends facing down a killer. Brilliant pacing with a nice rhythm between action scenes and more contemplative ones. And there’s lots of emotional angst in those down times because Rory and Asher didn’t part on the best of terms.

Asher has regretted the decision he made ten years ago that splintered their friendship. Rory has been nursing bitterness ever since. Getting deep into each of their perspectives made for a compelling read and their hard-won happily-ever-after that much more rewarding.

And then there’s the suspense. Pierce did an amazing job of peppering in all kinds of forensic and K-9 details which made the story even more fascinating and added an air of authenticity to the investigative side of the suspense. And the way the author used Rory’s forensic knowledge when she’s in dire danger was ingenious.

I really enjoyed listening to the audio book. Narrator Melissa Moran’s performance matched the energy of the story, from the action scenes to the romantic ones. A wonderful listening experience.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

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

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Trail of Suspicion 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 October 4 2025

Christy Awards Finalists – Contemporary

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2025 finalists are books published in 2024.

How does this giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Contemporary Romance finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Giveaway details may vary with each book (print, ebook only or winner’s choice of either, plus audible options for Canadians.) Edition availability will be noted in bold after the title/author/publisher of each entry. ALSO NOTE: Giveaway is for US and Canada OR ebook international if you have US Kindle account.

A Run at Love by Toni Shiloh – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse racing world. Raised on a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/05/15/a-run-at-love-giveaway/

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she’s achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.

A wildlife enthusiast ready for more

Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.

Two hearts destined by nature

With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced.

The Nature of Love is a clean, African American contemporary romance with themes of friends to lovers and the healing power of love. This heartfelt happily-ever-after tale is the series finale of Shiloh’s beloved Love in the Spotlight novels. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/02/13/the-nature-of-love-giveaway/

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

As the youngest daughter of a country music legend, Raegan Farrow longs to establish an identity away from the spotlight and publish her small-town romances under a pen name. But after her dream is dashed when she won’t exploit her mother’s fame to further her own career, she hears a rumor from a reliable source regarding a tell-all being written about the Farrow family. Making matters worse, the unknown author has gone to great lengths to remain anonymous until publication.

Raegan chooses to keep the tell-all a secret from her scandal-leery sisters as they embark on a two-week, cross-country road trip at their mother’s request and makes it her mission to expose the identity of the author behind the unsanctioned biography. But all is complicated when she discovers their hired bus driver, Micah Davenport, has a hidden agenda of his own–one involving both of their mothers and an old box of journals. As they rely on each other to find the answers they seek, the surprising revelations they unearth will steer them toward their undeniable connection and may even lead them down the most unexpected of paths.

Who Touches the Mountains by Deborah Raney – Raney Day Press – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

Traveling all across the country is exciting…until it isn’t anymore.

Liesl Bachman enjoys success as a travel writer, but that success comes at a price. Now she feels isolated and stuck in a way she never expected in the “cool” job she always wanted. Zach Freylan is bound by an unspoken promise he made to his beloved wife before her death in a mysterious one-car crash. For two years, he’s run The Inn at Rosebud Lane that belonged to Jenny’s grandparents, but he finds little joy in maintaining what was always her dream. From the moment Liesl checks in for an extended stay at the inn, something begins to shift inside Zach, letting him dare to hope that his life could be different. Liesl feels that same promise of hope, but the clock is ticking for them both as circumstances only grow more complicated. Is thirty-seven days enough to know for sure that this is God’s yes?

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 4 2025 (after 12 pm) REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

Reader’s Choice Week Autumn 2025 Winners

Thanks for joining me for another week full of anticipatory bookish delights! My wishlist is plumped up and I might have placed a few preorders already! Am I the only one who noticed how many books are being released in October? Must be the ‘it’ month for book releases before Christmas.

Now it’s time to indulge my inner stats nerd (who knew she was lurking inside of me for all these years?!) I tallied all the books mentioned on the 4 specific genre days and came up with the popular pick for each one and here they are:

Christmas Popular Pick

won by SYLVIA MILLER

HISTORICAL POPULAR PICK

WON BY SANDY AVERY

CONTEMPORARY POPULAR PICK

WON BY TRACEY

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE POPULAR PICK

WON BY PERRIANNE

AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE READER’S CHOICE WEEK WINNERS!

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE FICTION

But wait, it’s not over yet. The Vanity category has become a blog tradition. It’s where a book is actually judged by its cover and I choose my favourite cover art per genre and then draw from a pool of readers who requested that title. Here are COVER LOVE winners!

CHRISTMAS COVER LOVE

WON BY DIANE FLOWERS

Eyecatching. Campy. Playful. Nostalgic.

historical cover love

won by cc

Striking contrasts. That pop of red! The softer details fading into the background. There’s more to see the more you look.

Contemporary cover love

won by Elizabeth Litton

Love the warm tones, autumn leaves, the turquoise bookmobile. Plus…bookmobile…eeeeepppp!!!!!

Mystery/Suspense cover love

won by Kay Garrett

Simple but so atmospheric!

WAIT! Don’t go away ’cause we’re not through yet. We have another Reader’s Choice tradition of picking a random number which becomes a ‘just because giveaway’ on the genre specific days. If that doesn’t make sense, all you need to know is that it means more book giveaways. Woohoo! This time the number is 70.

70th Mystery/suspense

won by Jo Ruth

And that finishes off another Reader’s Choice Week. Thanks for participating and sharing your love of books!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

Monday

Christy Award Finalists – Yes, it’s that time again. The Christy Award Finalists have been announced and we’re going to check them out by category every Monday. This week it’s Contemporary Fiction.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Hello October! Timely, since we have our lists handy after this week’s rush and lots of books to choose from. This giveaway is for October 2025 Christian Fiction releases. Only one title suggestion though, not the RCW three!

Thursday

Friday

Reader’s Choice Week Giveaway – Autumn 2025 Edition – Goal Review

Quarterly reading goal reviews have become a Best Reads Blog tradition and I can’t believe we’ve reached the last quarter already! Where does the time go, I wonder? Hours spent reading I’m guessing. 🙂

I’ll share my progress (or not!) here just for some fun, book nerdy stats and, if you’re so inclined, you can share a goal or two in the comments. But no pressure – a goal can be as simple as ‘read a book.’

So, to enter this giveaway, just share anything goal related in the comments. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

“I want to catch up on some suspense series. Night Prey by Susan Sleeman.”

NOTE: BOOKS MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments — and you can use the same goal or a different one each time, but a different title for each entry.

Books can be published any time up through to December 2025. Currently published books will be ordered this coming week for winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a title releasing later.

WINNER’S CHOICE OF PAPERBACK OR EBOOK FOR US AND CANADIAN ENTRIES. EBOOKS ONLY FOR INTERNATIONAL READERS WHO HAVE A US KINDLE ACCOUNT.

See? Easy Peasy. But if you’re still not clear, don’t be shy about asking questions.

Here we go! Time to face up to what’s been working and what hasn’t when it comes to my goals this year.

361 Books Read

Overall, I’ve done fairly well on my goals so far…with a few exceptions. I did manage to increase the number of indie books by a wee bit this past quarter, still aiming for more though.

And my Read to Zero Authors! Oy! I read one Hannah Linder, have Garden of the Midnights on hold at my library so that just leaves two books left (counting her new release in November.) Surely I can manage that by the end of the year! I got sidetracked with Irene Hannon when I decided to reread the whole Hope Harbor series which means I’ve only read two of her Encore edition books so far. Think I still have twelve books to go! I’ve almost given up on Sarah M Eden. Too many books to read before the end of the year. I think she’s going to become a five year plan! I did read The Best-Kept Secret (Huntresses #3) so at least I’m working on it! And I went and added two more authors to the list – Annah Conwell (7 books left) and Gracie Ruth Mitchell (11 books left) because…well…just because! 🙂

Alas, my attempt to focus on completing series has been surpassed by my compulsion to start new series so….that’s a goal well and truly failed. 😦

Okay, that’s enough nerdy stats stuff. Let’s get on with the giveaway!

Share below and remember to include a book title that will help you achieve any kind of reading goal. You can enter three times in three separate comments using the same goal or different ones. What ever strikes your fancy. Just make sure each entry is for a different title.

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON

Saturday September 27 2025

AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Sunday September 28 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday September 27. Winners will be announced on Sunday September 28 which is a bit of a switch from previous RCWs. It’s just to give me a little more time to do all the tallying and setting up the blog post.).

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Autumn 2025 Edition – General Christian Fiction Edition

Three cheers for my favourite season! Cooler temps, vibrant fall colours, geese flying south — I am loving the autumn vibes! And what is one of the first things I do to celebrate the start of the new season? Check into all the fall new releases of course! And that’s where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in October, November or December 2025 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the General Christian Fiction genre you would like to win.

General Christian Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre, including previous selections you made on other days this week as well as specific genres not covered yet such as Amish, Speculative, SciFi etc.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! May recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be October, November or December 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON

Saturday September 27 2025

AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Sunday September 28 2025

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Autumn 2025 – Mystery/Suspense Fiction

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S MYSTERY/ROMANCE FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Mystery/Romance Fiction genre you would like to win.

Mystery/Suspense Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense) Can set in any time period and cross genres such as Amish, dual timeline etc.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be October, November or December 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON

Saturday September 27 2025

AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Sunday September 28 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on Saturday September 27 2025 . Winners will be announced on Sunday – a bit of a switch from previous RCWs. It’s to give me more time to do all the tallying and set up the blog post.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Autumn 2025 Edition – Contemporary Fiction

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Contemporary Fiction genre you would like to win.

Contemporary Romance/Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! May recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be October, November or December 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON

Saturday September 27 2025

AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Sunday September 28 2024

You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on Saturday September 27 2025. Winners will be announced on Sunday September 28 . (A bit of a switch from previous RCWs just to give me a little more time to do all the tallying and setting up the blog post.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Autumn 2025 Edition – Historical Fiction

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S HISTORICAL ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the books in the Historical Fiction genre you would like to win.

Historical Romance/Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy Peasy! May recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES

Publication date must be October, November or December 2025

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY.

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON

Saturday September 27 2025

AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Sunday September 28 2024

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday September 27. Winners will be announced on Sunday September 28 (A bit of a switch from previous RCWs first to give me a little more time to do all the tallying and setting up the blog post.).