Kav's Best Reads

The French Kitchen + Giveaway

As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, one ex-pat uses the skills she learned in French kitchens during the war to bring long-held secrets to light.

Paris, 1952 — An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs–an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for.

Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together–and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart–Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .

Rue, 1943 — Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day–as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list–and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm–even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France–and the spy backstory of the world’s most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child–The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she’d planned for a perfect future.

My Review:

I’m always a little gobsmacked and ferhoodled after reading one of Kristy Cambron’s dual timeline novels. How on earth does she manage to weave so many story threads together and keep everything straight? I’m in awe!

The start of the ‘The French Kitchen’ drops us right into the middle of a tense (understatement) resistance fighting scene in 1943 and leaves us hanging at a particularly precarious point. Then we’re whisked away on a breathtaking whirlwind of scenes both before that pivotal moment and then nearly ten years afterwards. Completely riveting and emotionally whiplashing!

Love the inclusion of Julia Child in the 1950s timeline. I haven’t read many novels that explore post-war Europe and I found the complexities of that time in France so fascinating. The author does an amazing job of bringing Paris to vibrant life through rich descriptive storytelling. And she kept me riveted (and my emotions in tatters) all the way to the end. Just…stunning!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and, whoa, her performance elevated my ‘reading’ enjoyment so much! She captured the essence of every character, including accents, while conveying the emotional depth of the story to absolute perfection. Highly recommend giving the audio edition a try.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – ebook copy

Canada – 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 The French Kitchen, 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 August 2 2025

Perilous Tides + Giveaway

Three years after her mother’s suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder–and becomes a target.

More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother’s death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together.

As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide to sweep them away before the truth can be revealed.

In this action-packed thriller, USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard serves up a complex plot and the sizzling romance readers have come to expect.

My Review:

The kind of suspense that leaves a reader delightfully muddled and on the edge of her seat right through to the heart pounding conclusion. So many gasp out loud moments with Cole and Jo battling natural elements while evading relentless danger as they try to stay alive long enough to figure out what on earth is going on! And that opening scene! Wowzers! No turning back for me after reading that!

Love that Jo and Cole have a bit of a history. He’s back working on regaining her trust while trying to explain what went awry months ago. Made for some lovely romantic tension that served to amplify the overall edginess of the story that much more. Definitely an inhale in one gulp kind of read!

Also love the way the author worked in a significant faith thread without overwhelming the story or making it feel forced. There are some stunning inspirational tidbits that a reader can carry away with her. I appreciate that so much!

This is the second book in the author’s ‘Hidden Bay’ series and, though it reads perfectly fine as a standalone, I enjoyed having inside Hidden Bay knowledge and seeing more of Hawk and Remi’s (Book #1’s hero and heroine) happily ever after.

As with the first ‘Hidden Bay’ book, I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Chloe Peiffer who did an amazing job conveying the tension and desperation and emotional angst in this story. Would totally recommend the audio book to people who enjoy a good listen as much as they enjoy a good read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Perilous Tides, 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 August 3 2025

Carol Award Finalists – Speculative + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2025 finalists are books published in 2024. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 6 2025 at the ACFW Gala in Springfield, Missouri (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2025—Speculative Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.

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.

Speculative Finalists

The Castle Rose by Tabitha Caplinger – Blue Ink Press – Editors: Christa Leonheart and Liz Sheth – Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: paperback or ebook, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

Bastian Roux lived and died a hundred years ago. Kind of. He certainly feels like nothing more than a ghost as he haunts the abandoned Castle Rose Theatre, his only solace found in the notes of his piano. That is until Odette arrives.

Odette Durand moved to New Orleans for a fresh start. The coffee-addicted local bookshop manager never expected to be pulled into something supernatural and she certainly doesn’t believe in ghosts. But seeing a man no one else can see and hearing music that shouldn’t exist makes a girl question her beliefs–and her sanity.

With a mysterious and somewhat charming Southern gentleman thrown in the mix, Odette finds herself entangled in a century-old rivalry bound by a curse. If she’s the only one who can see Bastian, is she also the only one who can break whatever is keeping him stuck in the realm between the living and the dead? As Odette and Bastian navigate the shadows of Bastian’s past, they must grapple with the ultimate question: Will breaking the curse give Bastian his life back or take it away forever?

Lightshed by Crystal D. Grant – Quill & Flame Publishing House – Editor: Meghan Kleinschmidt – Giveaway Options: US and Canada: ebook, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

The coveted Shadowstone is finally his. But what will it cost him?

Empowered by his new role as Shadowman, Mason Grey has strengthened his resolve against the Steward Army and the prince he has sworn to kill. But his heart is torn between justice for his brother and desire for the girl who stands with his enemy. Determined to bridge the gap, he risks everything he’s worked for to try to win her over to his side.

Convinced there is still good in him, Seria Gayle makes up her mind to point Mason to the truth, even if it means betraying the Stewards she has befriended. When the dark Emperor Jader turns his sights on the Gateway between his realm and theirs, Seria makes a bold decision that takes her far from home and into enemy territory. But standing between light and darkness comes with a price, and she fears the cost for Mason’s salvation may be too high to pay.

As tensions heat up on both sides of the Gateway, Mason is given a challenging assignment that will strengthen his master’s army for years to come-but it could mean losing Seria forever. To make matters worse, his abilities as a Reader begin spiraling out of control. Will this mission of vengeance bring him the closure he needs…or destroy him from the inside out?

Drawn by Light by John W. Otte – Indie – Editor: Megan Gerig – Giveaway Options: US and Canada: ebook, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

Can they reunite to save everything they know?

After a staggering betrayal that felled her husband and captured his throne, Queen Everys retreated to the Cold Light Forest. She thought she’d be able to regroup and face her enemies–the invading Dalark Imperium and now King Brencis, who stole her husband’s crown. But the return of an ancient evil reveals what’s truly at stake. Everys is determined to overcome these challenges for both her kingdom and her Siporan people. But alongside these threats, the temptations of her power have never been so strong, and her grief and fear are suffocating after the loss of her husband.

Except Narius is still alive, hidden within the Dalark Imperium. His rescuers want his help with an audacious plan, one that could bring about peace between the Imperium and Narius’s Dynasty. But doing so would mean he can’t have the one thing he wants: Everys, safe in his arms.

Long-held secrets, old animosities, and difficult realizations threaten to reshape everything they know. If they want to stop their enemies, they’ll have to risk everything. To whatever end, between the power of Everys’s magic and Narius’s faithful determination, the Dynasty will never be the same.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 2 2025. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK.

Dog Days of Summer (includes gardening questions) + Giveaway

Did you know that the phrase ‘dog days of summer’ refers to the hottest and most humid period of the season? Which kind of describes the weather since May actually. Oy. I wish I had a pool I could cool off in like this doggo. 🙂 Fun Fact: the term goes way back to Ancient Greece and Rome who thought the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star added to the intensity of the sun’s heat.

Anyway, in celebration of these lazy, hazy dog days of summer, I thought it would be fun to chat about dogs (and pets in general) in our fiction. Oh – and I also have a couple of random ‘gardening in extreme heat questions’ for all you Southern Gardners so read to the end.

So – dogs (and pets) in fiction. Are you a fan? A dog lover in general? I wish we had the ability to share photos in the comments, I’d love to see your fur babies! This is my grandpuppy, Tobey. I’m the go to dog sitter when needs arise. He’s a wonderful cuddlebug but he’s also stubborn. Doesn’t like to retrace his steps on a walk – in other words always wants to head away from home into infinity. lol So I rigged up a basket on my rollator (walker) and when he balks at turning around I scoop him up and give him a ride for a bit. We get lots of snickers around the neighbourhood. And now the poor little guy has a heart murmur and asthma so riding in the basket has become more of a necessity.

Do you have a favourite fictional dog hero/heroine? Or author who knows how to write ‘dog’? A pet peeve of mine is when a dog or other pet is included in a story but barely referenced other than to say ‘let the dog out’ or ‘fed the cat’ — I mean, why bother adding an animal into the story at all if you aren’t going to develop its character and the relationship between hero or heroine and pet.

I can think of a ton of fictional canine examples but I will restrain myself and just share this one. Clyde from Sandpiper Cove (Hope Harbor #3). This is what I said about Clyde and his human in my review: “You can tell a lot about a hero by the way he treats a dog. And Clyde will tell you that Adam is a keeper. Some of my favourite scenes are between this life-battered pair. A man who has had a rough start in life and the abused dog he rescued. Both are wary of getting too close to people, finding comfort and safety in their solitude.”

Extreme Heat Gardening Questions:

I know there are a few avid gardeners in the crowd so I am making an urgent appeal. Our growing season is so out of whack that some plants flowered early, others sped through their flowering period and others seem frozen in time. Not dying off but not blooming either. So I have questions – especially for gardeners who work with these conditions all the time.

My tomato plants are looking hale and hardy — I’ve been good about watering them regularly and I even have lots of green tomatoes…only they have been green for weeks. Not rotting but not ripening either. I read that they will kind of go dormant in extreme heat but will go back to their normal growth cycle once there’s relief from the heat. But it’s been…wow, over three weeks for some of my plants. Is there anything I can do to help ripen the tomatoes? Or is it just a waiting game? Which really doesn’t make sense since a lot of our off season tomatoes come from Mexico which is super hot, so why would they ripen there and not here? Help!
For my flowers that bloomed early. If I cut them back will they bloom again? (Shasta daisies, asters, flax, wild geraniums, bee balm…perennials.) I’ve already dead-headed the daisies and one kind of bee balm and did a get a second flowering but I’m wondering since the weather is so warm, will I get new growth if I cut it all back?
I have a really pretty purply-pink aster that literally turned gray over night after a thunderstorm and days of severe heat. It’s like all the pigment got zapped out of the petals! Happened to my daisies too. One day they were pretty white petals with bright yellow centres, the next day the petals were gray and the centres were black!!!! I feel like I’m growing. a Munster Family garden. How do Southern gardeners stop the weather from messing with their colour palette?!

Giveaway Opportunity:

Come chat in the comments and I will add your name into a draw for a $10 Baker Book House gift card (Amazon for Canadian readers.)

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 2, 2025.

July Giveaway – Week Four

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!

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK:

SUNDAY

Conversations with Kav – a place for us to chat about bookish topics if anyone is so inclined. Sometimes there will be giveaways, sometimes there won’t. It will just depend on the topic of the day. Hope to see you there! Otherwise my inner book nerd and I will carry on by ourselves. Bwahaha!

MONDAY

2025 Carol Award Finalists – (Speculative) I can’t believe it’s that time already but the finalists were just announced this week and the winners in each category will be announced on September 6 at the ACFW Conference Gala. Soooo exciting. This year especially because 40% of the finalists are indie authors! And most of the rest are from small publishing houses. Tons of new-to-me authors listed and books I’ve never even heard of.

So, while all that is exciting, I’ve discovered it can be a little be tricky when it comes to sourcing all editions of the books. I’ve noticed that small press books seem to carry hefty price tags in print format for a while now, but some of these were crazy! One 300 page book is $80 in Canada! And a $10 US book is $32 in Canada while another book was $7 here and $40 in the US. All kinds of crazy — so, all this to say pay particular attention to the giveaway options for each Carol Award Finalists title in the coming weeks. They will be listed in bold after the title/author/publishing info statement and will be divided by US, Canada and International.

Remembering Christmas + Giveaway

Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He’s never liked Art and resents the man’s presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick’s attitude sours even more.

Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons–as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day–work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

My Review:

published in 2011

Remembering Christmas is destined to be a holiday classic, I’d love to see this story played out on the big screen! I guarantee it would become an annual favourite. Somebody call Hallmark!

Walsh writes with a measured clarity that evokes images. Vivid, heart-wrenching and definitely heart-warming, the author has penned a story that shows us the powerful difference one constant follower of Christ can make in many lives. Have a Kleenex box handy and be prepared for more than just a few goosebump moments. This is a timeless tale you’ll want to immerse yourself in. I read it in one sitting because I simply couldn’t stop.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read print copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Remembering 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 July 26 2025.

Like a Winter Snow + Giveaway

Cozy up with this charming and uplifting romance all about unexpected love, true friendship, and family loyalty. Set during a Christmas-time wedding among the falling snow, this sweet story will warm your heart.

Women’s counselor Joy Beckman has always been a friend and helper to all. That’s why she’s given up everything to be with her parents as her mother suffers through Alzheimer’s. Joy may not have a thriving career or a love life at the moment, but she’s doing what she does best—taking care of others. And even though it’s difficult, she knows it’s where she is supposed to be.

But life throws a curveball when she has to leave her parents temporarily to travel to Cornwall, England, for the December wedding of her best friend. While there, Joy helps Sophia tackle her last-minute to-do list, and in the process, finally meets a man who turns her head—and her heart. The only problem? He lives in snowy London, and her life is with her parents back in sunny Florida.

She tries to resist Oliver Lincoln’s charms, but it’s harder than it should be. With her heart torn in two, Joy is forced to choose between a life she knows she’s meant for and the one she didn’t see coming.

Fall in love with this enchanting romance that’s sure to delight fans of Rachel Hauck and Melissa Tagg. Even if you have not read The Secrets of Paper and Ink (where the quaint village of Port Willis was first born), you can fully enjoy this heartwarming holiday novella.

My Review:

published in 2020

A lot of bookish friends have recommended this Port Willis Romance Christmas series and this is the year I am going to catch up with them all. After reading this first book #1, I can totally see what all the buzz is about.

A short, sweet novella length story filled to the brim with inspiration and hope and the spirit of Christmas. Oh, and an impossible romance. Oliver is British, Joy American, and they meet at a mutual friend’s Christmas wedding in Cornwall. Eeeeeppp – perfectly divine setting! Their attraction is real and quickly developing into something much deeper only they are an ocean apart except for Joy’s brief holiday sojourn.

Such a captivating, insightful story that explores the kind of courage it takes to trust God – especially at the most difficult time in our lives. “Yes, but I think sometimes God wants us to be stretched. To choose the thing that’s frightening and unsure. To live boldly. To take a chance on the unknown.” (p 156.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Like a Winter Snow, 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 July 26 2025

A Match Made at Christmas + Giveaway

Hayes McGuire never believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties while she’s off the island for Christmas.

So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme—his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.

Little do they know that magic doesn’t discriminate, and the pair soon finds their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?

A Match Made at Christmas is a stand-alone holiday novella.

My Review:

published in 2020

A seriously brilliant twist on the friends to more trope with so much Christmas pizzazz I can’t even…

“They were like two shattered pieces of glass, and she had to wonder if their pieces would ever fit together.” (p 8)

A blissfully happy marshmallows-melting-in-my-hot-chocolate romantical read that transformed me into giggling goo. 🙂 (And apparently left me a tad addlepated to boot!)

Loved the matchmaking magic that turns out to have quite a kick! And the valiant way Hayes tries to honour his promise to carry out his mission. And, since he’s a romance flunkee, he enlists the aid of his bestest of best friends, Pru. Who is also his secret love, though he refuses to acknowledge that pesky feeling. And Pru, well, she’s all about preserving their friendship at any cost — including not giving in to the romantic notions about Hayes that have plagued her for years.

Thrown together on a holiday quest to bring light and love to an unsuspecting pair, these amateur matchmakers aren’t prepared for the residual fallout that has the potential to make or break their friendship forever.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the A Match Made at 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 July 26 2025.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor + Giveaway

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their old friendship would kindle into something more–but that was before she heard that Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will finally be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Due to misunderstandings, Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself torn between his affection for her and her family’s distance toward him because of Lady Pearl, a woman he’d rather forget. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas . . . and to disgrace Cyril in the process.Inspired by The Nutcracker, this Edwardian-era historical romance is a tale of holiday spirit, love, and the power of family and friendship from bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White.

My Review:

I’m quite enamoured with retellings – especially Christmas ones and Roseanna M. White has done an exceptional job with her reimagining of The Nutcracker. And while she has crafted her own unique story, I really enjoyed spotting the gentle nods to the original classic as well. So much fun!

A reunion romance, of sorts – Mariah and Cyril were great friends for a time during their childhood. And Mariah corresponded with him for years afterwards but their meet-cute is awkward and stilted as they shift from childhood friendship to adult expectations. Cyril is the heir apparent to her beloved Plumford estate and she has a potential suitor coming to stay with the family for Christmas.

I’ll admit, I was worried about the romantic plot because I am so love triangle adverse and I am happy to report that it wasn’t as angsty as I anticipated. Oh, there’s a bit of drama, but the story really does focus on Mariah and Cyril getting reacquainted and building on that childhood friendship which was so delightful! And occasionally toe-curling. 🙂

An inspiring Christmas full of old-fashioned holiday ambiance and the true meaning of the season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor, 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 July 26 2025.

Carol Award Finalists – Short Novel + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 6 2025 at the ACFW Gala in New Orleans, Louisiana (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2025 —Short Novel Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Short Novel Finalists

Twenty-One Stones by Janice Boekhoff – Indie – Editor: Linda Yezak – Giveaway options: US and Canada: ebook (also available on Kindle UnLimited), International: ebook with US Kindle account.

A genius with a reckless streak. A risky scientific breakthrough. Is saving a life worth the cost?

Mars Lockporte lives for excitement. Brilliant but impatient, the quantum physics major chases each new blood-pumping high with the cockiness of an action hero. So when his best friend is murdered, the loyal adrenaline junkie doesn’t hesitate to use his untested invention to jump back in time and stop the killer… but instead ends up in the middle of the Civil War.

Scrambling to survive the Battle of Antietam, Mars is shocked to discover his foe’s distant ancestor is a male nurse patching up wounded Union soldiers. And with scant hours left before he’s returned to his own era, the bright young scientist fears his only opportunity to alter his friend’s deadly fate means destroying an innocent life.

Will Mars change history at the price of his soul?

Twenty-One Stones is the intriguing first book in the Leap Limit time-travel science fiction series. If you like smart but flawed heroes, historical backdrops, and facing difficult decisions, then you’ll love Janice Boekhoff’s fascinating what-if.

Matchmaking the Cowboy by Emily Conrad – Indie – Editors: Brandi Aquino and Judy DeVries – Giveaway Options: US and Canada: paperback or ebook (also available on Kindle UnLimited) International: ebook with US Kindle account.

What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends?

Lucy Aveline’s ex has a knack for making her feel small and helpless. She’d avoid him entirely, but he still owns a piece of her heart in the form of the pets he purchased for her but kept for himself. She visits Rosie and Jasmine when she can, vows to avoid another controlling boyfriend by staying single, and focuses on her large animal veterinary practice. Or that’s the plan until some longtime family friends attempt to set her up with former rodeo star Hollis Price. Lucy convinces them to drop the plot only when she promises to find Hollis a good match herself.

Hollis is more concerned with surviving his first Christmas after losing his dad than with finding love. Dad’s champion horse is aging, and rumors started by an unhappy client threaten the horse training business Hollis inherited from his father. When the kind and talented Lucy offers friendship, he accepts simply to add cheer to the season.

It’s not long before his interest in Lucy deepens, but so do problems at his ranch. Saving his father’s legacy begins to look as impossible as earning Lucy’s trust. Especially when her ex continues to use her love of animals against her and she won’t stop pushing her single friends at Hollis long enough to notice she’s the one he’s falling for.

Return to Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters in this Christian Christmas Romance.

Waiting for Gilbert by Tasha Hackett – Indie – Editors: Megan Schaulis and Crystal Nelson – Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: paper, ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a phone, asking her landlord to come to dinner.”

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up!
If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

To Do…
17. Finish unpacking
18. Drink coffee
19. Ask Gilbert to marry me

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This is a no-door, kisses only romance with beautiful raw emotions and silly and wonderful characters.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/12/17/waiting-for-gilbert-giveaway/

Amish Witness to Murder by Dana R. Lynn – Love Inspired – Editor: Tina James – Giveaway Options: US and Canada: paperback or ebook. International: ebook with US Kindle account.

To identify her father’s killer…she must stay alive.

After finding her family’s barn in flames and witnessing her father’s murder, Beth Troyer becomes the killer’s next target. She narrowly escapes death when the murderer turns on her, but now she’s left temporarily blind. She’ll have to rely on former family friend Gideon Bender to keep her safe until her eyesight returns. But with a killer who’ll stop at nothing to find her, staying alive might just be impossible…

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 26 2025. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK.