Kav's Best Reads

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Spring 2025 Edition – Mystery/Suspense Fiction

Signs of spring means my bookish fancy turns to the joy of new releases so it’s time to plot our way into a new season of wonderful reads which is where this Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaways works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in April, May or June 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 SUSPENSE/MYSTERY 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 Suspense/Mystery Fiction genre you would like to win.

Suspense/Mystery 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 be set in any time period and may cross genres such as YA, Amish etc. and may include dual timelines.

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 April, May or June 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.

SPECIAL NOTE: Harper Muse books won’t fit into the giveaway criteria since they aren’t Christian Fiction even though some of our fave authors have moved over to this imprint.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday March 29 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on March 29. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Spring 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! 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 April, May or June 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.)

SPECIAL NOTE: Harper Muse books won’t fit into the giveaway criteria since they aren’t Christian Fiction even though some of our fave authors have moved over to this imprint.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday March 29 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on March 29. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Spring 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! 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 April, May or June 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.)

SPECIAL NOTE: Harper Muse books won’t fit into the giveaway criteria since they aren’t Christian Fiction even though some of our fave authors have moved over to this imprint.

DRAW WILL BE HELD AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday March 29 2025

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on March 29. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Conversations with Kav – sharing fave bookish sites

This week’s conversation will be short and sweet since I’m going into pre-Reader’s Choice Week frenzy mode 🙂 Plus, today is my church’s General Meeting so church is going to be loooonnnng. Service first then a potluck lunch, then the GM, then kitchen clean up.

I was thinking about the sources I use to find out about books — specifically upcoming books and new-to-me authors, particularly Indies. I’ve shared about Closed Door Romance on instagram which has been such a wealth of information for me. And about the Christian Faith and Fiction YouTube channel and blog. Lou has just released a very comprehensive list of April releases which is pertinent to this weeks festivities. Here’s the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOQEvwDG5xw

or, if you would just like to read the list from her blog: https://louallenwriter.wordpress.com/2025/03/20/new-christian-fiction-books-releasing-in-april-2025/

Australian author Narelle Atkins has started a YouTube channel /podcast. She reviews one book each week – on Thursdays. Love her reviews, they are comprehensive and thoughtful and full of interesting insights without spoilers. They are short and sweet — no more than 15 minutes. Here’s the link (and don’t be shy about subscribing to boost her new channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPpDvzKb9No.

Narelle also has a blog and every Friday she features a Preorder Roundup with a list of soon to be releases and includes a lot of indie books. Here’s the link to the most recent one: https://www.narelleatkins.com/narelles-preorder-roundup-3-14-25/?utm_source=sendfox&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=narelle-atkins-march-newsletter

So, I thought it would be fun and ever so helpful if you could share any great book sources that you routinely check to keep up to date with all that’s going on in our corner of the Book World. Don’t try to post a link — WP comments won’t like it, but do give us enough information that we can find it in a google search.

Here’s to another productive Reader’s Choice Week!

March 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!

And then the rest of the week will be devoted to….drumroll please…

READER’S CHOICE WEEK – SPRING 2025 EDITION!

Of note: Harper Muse books won’t be considered as giveaway options this time round as they are not Christian Fiction and may have some questionable content – usually mild – but this week is all about celebrating Christian Fiction. I know some wonderful authors are publishing with Harper Muse and I have read some stunning novels so certainly feel free to share any upcoming releases that interest you in addition to the novels you would like entered in the giveaway.

For folks new to the blog: Reader’s Choice is a week we eagerly look ahead for new books in the CHRISTIAN FICTION genre coming out over the next three months. So this time ’round it will be books releasing in April, May or June 2025. You recommend genre specific titles (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! Full details will be included in each day’s blog post so be sure to read them. And feel free to ask any questions along the way. Often helpful reader friends will answer them even before I get a chance to.

Monday March 24 – 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.

Tuesday March 25 – – 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.

Wednesday March 26 – 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 be set in any time period and may cross genres such as YA, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Thursday March 27 – 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, Women’s Fiction, Speculative, SciFi etc.

Friday March 28 – Goals in Review – where we share our reading progress and suggest books that can help us reach a goal. (can include books published any time up to and including June 2025)

Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday March 29
You have until noon on the 29th to enter any of the giveaways
It will take a good bit of the afternoon for me to calculate the winners so they won’t be posted until later in the day.

In the Company of Others

random retro read

Father Tim and Cynthia arrive in the west of Ireland, intent on researching his Kavanagh ancestry from the comfort of a charming fishing lodge. The charm, however, is broken entirely when Cynthia startles a burglar and sprains her already-injured ankle. Then a cherished and valuable painting is stolen from the lodge owners, and Cynthia’s pain pales in comparison to the wound at the center of this bitterly estranged Irish family.

In the Company of Others is a moving testament to the desperate struggle to hide the truth at any cost and the powerful need to confess. Of all her winning novels, Jan Karon says this “dark-haired child” is her favorite-a sentiment readers everywhere are certain to share.

Another stirring page-turner about Father Tim—this time set in County Sligo—from the bestselling author of At Home in Mitford, Somebody Safe with Somebody Good, and other books in the Mitford Series.

My Review:

published in 2010

Somehow the entire Mitford series has eluded me all these years but it just seemed so daunting to try and catch up. However, when I discovered that this eleventh book is set in Ireland featuring only two of the main characters (Father Tim and his his wife Cynthia) I figured it might be the perfect place to jump in. Plus I was looking for Irish themed reads for St. Patrick’s Day and this fit the bill.

I loved the way the author brought Ireland to life — from physical descriptions to the culture and history — I could almost hear the fire crackling and feel the moisture of a a grand soft day on my face. Definitely made me homesick.

Father Tim arrives on holiday but somehow becomes embroiled in multiple family dramas at the inn they are staying at. It must be the clerical collar. 🙂 I quite enjoyed the rambling feel of the story. Not one that I felt needed to be rushed through, but one I quietly enjoyed for a half hour or so each evening. There’s a bit of mystery complete with an old journal from the 1860s and a slew of interesting characters (which were sometimes hard to keep track of. ) Overall, an excellent introduction to the author’s storytelling style and her beloved Father Tim. I’m intrigued enough to back track and – shock! – start with the first Mitford book sometime later this year.

Falling for Grace + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

Grace Logan has taken a lot of tumbles in life, but she works hard to bounce right back. Dreams shattered and hope for reconciliation gone, Grace needs a place where she can pick herself up now that her ex is marrying her former best friend. Her boss’s beach house in Santa Rosa seems like the perfect getaway, but stumbling into the attractive-but-damaged handyman next door isn’t part of the plan.

After losing his infant son—and his marriage—Seth Gibbs is left with smothering grief and guilt. Bad memories make it difficult to find a new normal, so he escapes to his family’s vacation home. Three years later, he’s still in Santa Rosa with no plans to leave. That is…until Grace falls into his life.

My Review:

published in 2018

I can’t believe I’m just ‘discovering’ Janet Ferguson now! And what an introduction! This novella packs all the heart of a full length novel. My emotions were engaged from the very first page and I do so love to be emotionally pummeled by my fiction! Talk about gut-wrenching and hope-soaring!

Grace and Seth are both recovering from painful losses. Their chance encounter on the beach pulls them into each other’s arms (literally) and sets in motion a breath-taking second chance love story. Raw and real and achingly sweet. And sometimes funny. All the elements that I enjoy in a romance.

I’m amazed at the way Ferguson packed so much into this shorter word count. Exquisite word choice and impeccable pacing propel the story along and turned Falling for Grace into an unputdownable read for me. Devoured it in one sitting and now I’m on the hunt for more.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Falling for Grace, 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 March 22 2025.

Irish Meadows + Giveaway

random retro reread

Irish immigrant James O’Leary has spent his life building Irish Meadows into a thriving horse farm and is not about to let hard economic times threaten its success. He intends for his daughters to marry prosperous men–ones who will secure the family’s rightful place in society, and at the same time, guarantee the future of Irish Meadows. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna and Colleen O’Leary know their father expects them to marry well. Yet despite his wishes, Brianna, the quieter sister, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry–as long as her father’s choice meets her exacting standards. When stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from college and distant family member Rylan Montgomery stops in on his way to the seminary in Boston, the two men quickly complicate everyone’s plans. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

My Review:

published in 2015

Double the romance doubles the reading pleasure.

Brianna and Colleen are as different as night and day and I will readily admit to bonding with Brianna way before Colleen started to chip away at my reserve. Colleen is…challenging…at the beginning of the this story…and quite awhile thereafter. In short, she made my blood boil. But Mason weaves her magic and Colleen’s storyline becomes a beautiful testimony of the power of redemption.

And the heroes? Be still my heart. In a word: swoonworthy. But both have to battle internal demons before they can come to grips with their pasts. Gilbert is near perfection — noble, trustworthy, a man of integrity…except when he isn’t. LOL Mason has created a flawed hero who struggles with misplaced loyalty. And Rylan is a delightful surprise. I adored his wit and ability to find joy in everyday things. And his first meet with prickly ol’ Colleen is sweet perfection. There’s plenty of scope for the imagination when it comes to these captivating heroes.

As we all know, the course of true love never runs straight and in the case of the O’Leary sisters it’s a big old curvy, tangled mess. Which makes for a blissfully emotional read. I’m still feeling kind of gutted now that it’s over. The kind of read you want to gallop through because it’s that good, but you also don’t want to reach the end because…well…it’s that good.

Fans of Julie Lessman will find a lot to love about Susan Anne Mason’s first book in the Courage to Dream series. Highly recommended.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Irish Meadows, 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 March 22 2025.

Summerlin Groves + Giveaway

Elizabeth Camden’s first Contemporary Romance!

Jenny Summerlin is struggling to save her dying orange grove when a baffling mystery upends her world. A skeleton buried with a priceless treasure has been found on her land, which brings of flood of investigators onto her property to study a decades old crime.

Captain Wyatt Rossiter is charged with solving the puzzling discovery. Unfortunately, he is also the man who broke Jenny’s heart two years earlier. Plagued with regrets and unresolved feelings for Jenny, Wyatt resists getting drawn back into her world, but he cannot rest until he solves the unusual crime.

The former lovers are trapped on a case neither of them want. Soon they awaken a fifty-year old mystery involving Cold War espionage and a forbidden romance. Will resurrecting the old secrets endanger the survival of her grove and everything she holds dear?

My Review:

Wow, this story delivered so much more than I expected! The emotional depth, the complex layers, the seemingly impossible chasm between the hero and heroine. Whoa, compelling stuff! I’m kinda gobsmacked by how good Elizabeth Camden’s first contemporary romance is! And I really shouldn’t be since her historical novels are just as amazing. Maybe it’s the deceptively serene cover that lulled me into a false sense of cozy security? While we do reach a happily ever after there’s plenty of angst (including some gasp out loud moments) before we get there.

So, meet Jenny, an overcomer to the nth degree. Her back story! Her determination! Her ability to keep getting up when life knocks her down! She’s in no way perfect, but she’s so likeable! Even when she’s her most tenacious, stubborn self. Wyatt can’t even resist her though he has a lot of solid reasons too.

Which brings me to their doomed Second Chance / Enemies to More Romance. There is so much I want to say but I can’t without spewing major spoilers which I would never do. But when you meet Wyatt and Jenny and see what they are up against you’ll totally understand why my sensitive reader’s heart had conniptions. And the way Camden brings redemption into their relationship is sheer masterful storytelling. I might have teared up a time or two.

I really enjoyed the look at the real life struggles for a farmer’s life (not an occupation for the faint of heart!) and I could feel Jenny’s desperate tie to the land of her ancestors and their way of life. Again…so much to talk about here but not in a review! This would make a great book club selection for all the talking points.

There’s even a cold case mystery that’s revealed in the first chapter of the book when a decades old skeleton is discovered in on Jenny’s land. Enter Captain Wyatt Rossiter and the sparks start flying. Loved the way the author wove the mystery throughout their day to day lives and the significance it plays in the restoration themes of the story. Brilliantly done.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book narrated by Lisa Larsen. She did a great job creating distinctive voices for these characters and conveying the emotional depth of their story. Definitely recommend the audio for discerning listening readers like me.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a brand new paperback copy ( I originally bought the print version in December but it languished so long on my TBR that the audio edition released at a crackerjack price so I couldn’t resist buying it too. and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Summerlin Groves, 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 March 22 2025.

Castle on the Rise + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?

When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks–a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple’s fledgling marriage–it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend–and once, for herself–is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom’s family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It’s in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland’s majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own–and a heart afraid to trust again–Laine must determine how much she’s willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.

Set in three time-periods–the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland’s turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day–Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin’s storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland’s stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith–which legacy would you choose?

My Review:

published in 2019

“Ireland has a million stories and if you stay long enough you’ll learn them all.”

Heartfelt, shivery sigh. Followed by some muffled sobs and inelegant hiccups. I need a moment…or a week…to recover from this splendiferous read.

Heart-breaking. Awe-inspiring. Hope-lifting. Sure and Kristy Cambron must have kissed the blarney stone, her words are that eloquent. And greatly enhanced by the narration of Amy Rubinate. I listened to the audible version of this book and I’m so glad I did. It created an evocative mood that heightened Cambron’s storytelling prowess. This is one book I think ‘reads’ best when you listen.

And the story! Well, stories, really — three distinct time periods at pivotal points in Irish history. Magical and spellbinding. I had no trouble jumping between centuries and connected with each hero and heroine. Honestly — each timeline story could easily have been published as a standalone novel…but the way Cambron weaves them together! Impeccable pacing — and the way she stops one story at a heart-plummeting moment and then picks up with the next…wow — I’m still experiencing reader whiplash. There were times I had to hit pause and collect myself. Pace madly around my house while wringing my hands and moaning…”no, no, NO!” And then wonder if I’d have the courage to press play again.

Castle on the Rise made me homesick (I’m an Irish born Canadian.) It celebrates the courage and conviction and abiding faith of a complex people. There were so many inspirational passages that I’d have jotted down if I’d been reading a paperback copy. I guess I’ll have to buy one for my keeper shelf as well. 🙂

An emotional masterpiece that quite literally took my breath away.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

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 Castle on the Rise, 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 March 22 2025.