Kav's Best Reads

Snow on the Tulips + Giveaway

In a time of unprecedented darkness and fear, Cornelia must decide if saving a stranger’s life is worth risking her own.

In the twilight of the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, the Germans have taken everything Cornelia had to give, even what was most precious to her. Now Gerrit Laninga—a man who puts God and country above all else—arrives at her house, needing help. She is terrified for herself and terrified for her family, but most of all, terrified of the pain she might feel again if she allows herself to love Gerrit. Her hope is to be free from her paralyzing fear.

Gerrit is a known and hunted Dutch Resistance member. When he comes to Cornelia’s home for shelter, he’s drawn to her strength and kindness. When he asks her to contact the local Resistance on his behalf, she refuses. Gerrit is determined to find a way to continue his underground work without putting Cornelia or her family in harm’s way.

When things start to unravel and Gerrit’s life depends on her actions, she must summon her courage and learn to depend on the perfect love that drives out all fear. But will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?

My Review:

published in 2013

Gripping from the very first sentence. There are heart-in-your-throat scenes that will leave you gasping for breath. The brutality of war — the senseless slaughter of humanity — all play a role as this story unfolds.

Life is fraught with danger and uncertainty during wartime and no one knows that better than Cornelia. Something died inside her the day her husband was killed by German soldiers. It’s all she can do to go through the motions of living. Trying to control what is left of her shattered life, she retreats, willing to wait until the end of the war before she starts to live again. And then her brother brings home a wounded Resistance fighter.

Gerrit is motivated by a deep sense of duty and justice. A risk-taker, willing to do whatever he can to fight for his country. Recovering from a bullet wound keeps him trapped in Cornelia’s home and the two are thrown together in tight quarters where their opposing views act like tinder to a flame. Yet as they battle, something else ignites — the kind of deep feelings that are dangerous to nurture during wartime.

I love how they both grow from the challenge of their relationship. Gerrit softens a bit, leans more deeply into his faith. Cornelia struggles with her fear and I truly appreciate this part of the story. So often we read about larger than life characters who seem to be born heroes. Cornelia is just plain scared and yet she is willing to follow where her faith leads.

A captivating, page-turner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy of Snow on the Tulips so – yay – available for any reader anywhere – International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Tulips on the 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 January 17 2026.

Redemption for Ransom + Giveaway

random retro read

Previously published as Tides of Duplicity by Robin Patchen. Brand-new title, same great story!

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love.

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They lost their parents years ago, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. When Fitz meets the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has taken his sister.

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life.

My Review:

originally published in 2021 under the title “Tides of Duplicity.”

I’m new to Robin Patchen’s books (this is only my second one) but I am forever a fan. Love the way she develops a suspense plot and creates characters with depth and conviction. Inspirational without being preachy. And, whoa, but she knows how to keep a reader on edge right through the entire read! So thank you to all my bibliophile kindred spirts who recommended this author to me!

The story begins with the sweet beginnings of romance at an exotic Belize resort. Fitz and Tabby meet when their vacations overlap, neither looking for romance. Fitz has his hands full parenting his teenage sister while Tabby feels burdened by family responsibilities back home. Still, the attraction is there and furthering their connection once they are both stateside is a tantalizing temptation. One that Tabby is more able to resist than Fitz, because once she boards her plane she’s convinced she will never see him again.

But then Fitz shows up on her doorstep back home in Coventry and her world implodes because he’s there under false pretences…or is he? Argh, but there were aspects of their romance that tied me up in knots! Because Fitz is in part, playing a role as a means to an end. Only, also, he isn’t. Love the tangled twist to their romance as the suspense slowly builds. And then it transforms into a high-stakes treasure hunt that kept me frantically engaged until the end.

Phew! Looking forward to continuing with the Coventry Saga series. I’ve been listening to the audio books narrated by Aimee Lily and am really enjoying the way she portrays a variety of characters as well as the sense of urgency she brings to the high-octane scenes. Makes for a compelling listen.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – 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 Redemption for Ransom, 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 January 17 2026.

A Fierce Devotion + Giveaway

Exiled from his beloved Acadie in Canada, Bleu Galant has little on his mind but survival as the tumultuous French and Indian War comes to a close. When his journey to Virginia’s Rivanna River settlement takes an unexpected turn, he crosses paths with Brielle Farrow–a woman whose presence stirs something in him he cannot explain nor express. Unable to forget her, his decision to help her takes them across an ocean into a lavish world he’s never known. Will their intricate tie decide not only her fate but his future?

My Review:

Laura Frantz’s storytelling has the power to lure me in even if the novel is set an era I don’t have a huge interest in. And I always come away richer for the read. As well as educated. If only we had been able to learn our high school history through incredible historical fiction like this one! Because, not only do we get an accurate accounting of time and place and customs, Frantz also delivers emotional authenticity to the era through her characters.

And oh la la, this romance is exquisitely slow burn with lots of luscious layers for a reader to lose herself in. Fainting couch and smelling salts recommended. Bleu is so….stalwart. Steadfast. Deliberate. Worlds away from Brielle’s background and life experience. Their love develops slowly in the midst of heartache and struggles. Fierce devotion indeed! What an apt title!

An absorbing novella, rich in history and characterization, this is an easy read to lose yourself in. Definitely in the ‘unputdownable’ and ‘keeper shelf’ categories!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – 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 A Fierce Devotion 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 January 17 2026.

Conversations With Kav – New Year Bookish Chat + Giveaway

The start of the year is the perfect time to cozy up for a nice bookish chat, don’t you think? Okay, I know some of you are way farther south than I am, or in another hemisphere entirely and are experiencing record heat levels, but, for today, let’s pretend you’re up here with me in the chilly, very snowy North. That way we can gather around an enchanting fire and sip some hot cocoa (or lemon ginger tea with a splash of honey if you prefer) and talk bookish hot topics.

Books vs Audio Books

Who knew that my social media feed would be rampant with controversial bookish chats in January? It started with the heated debate over whether audio books should count as reading. I’m still gobsmacked that there is a very opinionated faction among the larger reading community who are adamantly opposed to considering audiobooks as actual reads! I mean…whhaaaattttt?

I was encouraged by the pushback these naysayers received and moved by the myriad of heartfelt stories about the difference listening to audiobooks made in readers’ lives. I know first hand how audio books have provided distraction and encouragement in my battle with chronic pain. And isn’t listening to a book while engaged in other activities a mood boost? I’ll never do housework without audio accompaniment again! Or tedious garden tasks like weeding! Don’t know how I survived before audio books!

So, what do you think? Audio books – yay or nay? And do you think they should be counted as books read in a Good Reads Challenge?

Category Romances don’t count

Think Love Inspired or Love Inspired Suspense or Harlequin Heartwarming. Again, there are well, literature snobs I guess, who don’t consider these novels to be legitimate reading material. Critics can be quite scornful not only of the books, but of their readers. I’m like, seriously, aren’t there more important things in this world to worry about than whether folks are spending their time reading a category romance as opposed to a 600 page literary tome?!

Opinions? I know my Love Inspired Suspense giveaways aren’t as popular as other books but I’m hoping just because this genre niche isn’t your cup of tea that you don’t look down on those of us who do enjoy them?

Books under 400 pages don’t count either

Seriously, the same literature snobs think that longer somehow makes a book more valid! Most of the books I read are in the 300 – 400 page range. I find that’s the perfect pacing for me, though, of course, I’ll read longer books if the story warrants those extra words. I don’t have patience for authors who extend their word count with excessive flowery descriptions, or copious unnecessary scenes that don’t propel the plot forward. Maybe it’s because I mostly read romance and I figure if a hero and heroine can’t get their act together within 400 pages then they need to go to therapy and try again later! Bwahahaha!

How about you? Do you worry about word count? Make specific goals to read very looonnnggggg books? (That’s a thing on booktube.)

If you read over a hundred books in a year, you aren’t a serious reader!?

Seriously, I had no idea reading could be so controversial! But yes, those same literature snobs maintain that people who read over one hundred books in a year can’t possibly comprehend, retain or appreciate what they read. I can only speak to my experiences so here we go:

I read a lot (and I include audiobooks in my book count) and I feel that it’s been reading time well spent. Do I remember every detail of every story? Not always…but, hey, that’s what rereads are for, right? And I’d challenge any reader to give a detailed accurate recall of a book they read ten years ago.

Plus, I think we have to look at lifestyle as well. I live alone and have a medical condition that restricts how much I can do. I have a three hour daily activity threshold before my pain levels spike to a point that will take hours to bring back down, so I spend a lot of time at home. Alone. Not a huge TV or movie fan (though I am dedicated to some British murder mystery series) so what’s a reader to do but read? 🙂 Then I share what I read on this blog (or Good Reads if it’s a cozy mystery) so in away, my reading is my job too. Love the motivation blogging gives me and the readerly fellowship here so that’s a huge mood booster for this not-quite-shut-in. Talk about appreciating books and reading!

Any thoughts on this controversial subject (at least, I think it’s controversial!)

New Year, New Reads Giveaway

Share a thought or two in the comments below and you’ll be entered in a draw to win a:

US – $10 Baker Book House ecard

Canada – $10 Amazon ecard

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 17, 2026

January Giveaway – Week Two

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 THE REST OF THE YEAR:

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!

Scent of Sabotage

To track down the truth,
they’ll need to unravel the clues

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

My Review:

What an unexpected conclusion to Dana Mentink’s ‘Security Hounds Investigations’ series. Unexpected because there are five siblings and after the fifth one got their happily ever after I thought the series was done. Until book six released featuring Wolfe matriarch Beth. Widowed for over a decade, this mature (56) heroine has a second chance at romance when her high school sweetheart, Jack, unexpectedly enters her world again. Their meet-cute is violently interrupted and becomes the gateway to all kinds of mayhem!

Mentink combines heart-in-throat action scenes with tender, even humorous, ones at a dizzying pace. Adrenaline rush meets emotional angst in the most compelling way! And the booby-trapped amusement park setting is diabolically brilliant! As is veteran K-9 Arthur, an 11 year old bloodhound with an amazing sniffer and even more heart.

I didn’t plan on listening to ‘Scent of Sabotage’ (brilliant title, by the way) all in one go, but Mentink’s storytelling paired with Abby Craden’s excellent narration made it impossible to stop. What a great partnership — riveting from start to finish!

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

Track of Courage + Giveaway

A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9’s instinct to help them make it out alive.

Pop Singer Keely Williams’s search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she’s suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaska blizzard but also a killer who’s on her tail.

After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend–Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it’s up to the former cop to stage a rescue.

But Dawson has no idea he’s being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future.

Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest–and most rewarding–adventure of all.

Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.

My Review:

Whoa! When you’re reading a Susan May Warren novel keep in mind that it ain’t over until it’s over! My whiplash has whiplash after all those plot twists! Be forewarned, this is the the kind of compulsive read that’s hard (impossible) to put down!

While this author excels at writing riveting action scenes, she’s also brilliant at creating stories with emotional depth and unapologetic spirituality. I’m not sure which I enjoy more — having my tummy tied in knots because of physical danger or the emotional kind! Makes for a thrilling read either way!

And such relatable characters (Dawson and Keely’s fraught romance had me in tears at the end.) But there are also cameos from some favourite heroes and heroines from previous series. Warren expertly weaves them into the story in such a way that it’s not confusing for newbie readers. Mind you, if you are an avid Warren fan, you will thrill on repeat all the way through to the end. Love the homecoming feel that brings to the story.

And the Alaska wilderness setting is a character all on its own. Stunning descriptions engaged all my senses and I came away feeling a bit frostbitten a time or two. Helped that I read ‘Track of Courage’ during a blizzard. Talk about perfect mood reading!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Brian Hutchison and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a rule, I prefer female narrators mostly because I find male narrators have a hard time creating the right tone of voice for female characters. They either all sound grandmotherly or cartoonishly dramatic. Not so in this case. Hutchison manages to soften his voice in such a way that it’s evident a woman is speaking without creating a high-pitch falsetto that’s hard to take seriously. So a five star performance and I’m adding him to my ‘optimum listening experience’ list for future reference.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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 Track of Courage, 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 January 10 2026.

Hello January + Giveaway

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 January 2026 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 December release is the book you will win and we’re one book closer to keeping our fave authors in business.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 10 2026

Hunting a Killer + Giveaway

Digging up past secrets puts a K-9 team in the line of fire.

During an investigation into a series of homicides, FBI agent Finn McDaniel is unexpectedly attacked, and a blow to the head leaves him with amnesia. Left for dead, he’s discovered by cadaver dog Cipher and her handler, search and rescue specialist Jordyn Williams — who is also Finn’s missing sister’s best friend. As Finn and Jordyn work to recover his crucial memories, they unearth evidence that links his sister’s disappearance to the killings. When the body of the latest victim is found, can they stop the murderer from striking again…or will their pursuit place them directly in the enemy’s crosshairs?

My Review:

I’m a cautious fan of the amnesia trope because — love it when thoughtfully plotted and abhor it when the story relies on trite cliches. Happy to say Sarah Varland did an amazing job incorporating Finn’s amnesia into this story. Believable, intriguing and whoa, but did it ever add to the suspense! That opening scene when he…ack, I can’t say what happens but…yikes, I was on tenterhooks for the rest of the read. Well played, Sarah Varland, well played indeed.

I love a good K-9 story and cadaver dog Cipher is a devoted floof with stellar instincts. Her human search-and-rescue partner is pretty nifty too. And brave. Searching the wilderness for human remains takes grit and stamina and Jordyn has both in spades. But a routine search morphs into chaos when Cipher leads her to an unconscious Finn. And then things get really complicated.

Loved the edginess to both the suspense and the romance. Finn and Jordyn have both struggled in the aftermath of his sister’s (her best friend’s) disappearance and that makes for a messy reunion. So lots of emotional stuff to work out while they try to figure out if the current missing person is related to their cold case. Absolutely riveting from start to finish!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Hunting a Killer’ expertly narrated by Cindy Kay. I’ve added her to my ‘must listen’ narrator list. I love the way she breathes life into a story and conveys emotional tension with her voice. Makes for an incredibly great listening experience!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this book doesn’t release until January 27 so the winner will have to be patient and accept an IOU until then. 🙂

US – 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 Hunting a Killer, 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 January 10 2026

Without a Clue + Giveaway

When a mystery writer mysteriously dies on a cruise filled with rabid fans, his protégé (and personal assistant) teams up with a rugged cowboy and fellow writer to crack the case. One part Only Murders in the Building, one part Book Lovers, and a whole lot of laughs, Without a Clue will keep readers guessing and swooning until the very end.

If there’s one thing Penelope Mae Dupont prizes most, it’s her composure–her ability to stay calm in the face of stress. It’s a vital trait in her job as a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven–seven celebrated authors from different genres who have supported each other through thick and thin–her famed composure is in danger of sailing away. One boat, hundreds of devoted readers, and seven Big Personalities. What could possibly go wrong?

Disaster strikes when, on the second day of the cruise, Hugh is found murdered. And, in the face of gross incompetence by the on-board security force, Pip realizes she’ll need to be the one to discover who did it. With the ship stranded in the middle of the Atlantic and no help on the horizon, it’s up to her to unravel the mystery. Along with her friend Nash–a dreamy Western author who’s just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about. As Pip’s composure starts to sink faster than a leaky dinghy, Nash becomes her anchor in a storm of clues and red herrings.

With Nash at her side, Penelope dives into the murky depths of the mystery, navigating treacherous waters filled with unexpected twists and turns. No one, not even a desperately hopeful mystery sleuth named Pip, could anticipate the wild ride ahead. Whether she likes it or not, she is on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and maybe, just maybe, she’ll find love along the way.

In this laugh-out-loud funny Clue-meets-Emily-Henry rom-com, Penelope Mae Dupont is about to find out that in the world of mystery and romance, you have to risk going overboard to find the truth.

My Review:

A brilliantly crafted rom/com meets cozy mystery mash-up and so much fun! I especially enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Karissa Vacker. She not only brought distinctive voices to each character, she captured the nuances of all the personalities too, making this a superb listen!

I love the way the author gives equal billing to both mystery and romance, with plenty of comedic moments to lighten everything up. The story flows really well, all told from Penelope’s point of view and, believe me, being inside her over-active mind is highly entertaining!

Madcap mayhem ensues when a book cruise turns sinister — eeeeppp, love that ‘locked room’ aspect to the mystery. Obviously, the killer has to be someone on the ship, right? And unable to elude capture since they are surrounded by ocean! Which is a good thing….and a bad thing because that means the killer could strike again! Of course, Penelope turns amateur sleuth with the help of some friends which results in enough plot twists to keep things very interesting.

And readers who aren’t especially fond of the cozy mystery genre — never fear — this really isn’t that kind of book. Ferguson has done an amazing job of combining the best elements of both the romance and mystery genres and has created a unique hybrid which is sure to please a variety of readers.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this book doesn’t release until February 17, 2026, so this giveaway is an IOU until the release date. 🙂

US – 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 Without a Clue, 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 January 10 2026