Kav's Best Reads

Storm Warning + Giveaway

Haunted by a half-forgotten past, former army photographer Remi Grant is working at an isolated storm-watching lodge on the rocky Washington coast when she receives a mysterious puzzle piece. The puzzle piece may be the catalyst to unlock a disturbing incident she struggles to remember–the event that sent her into hiding. But with heavy storms rolling in, she has to focus on the present, not get caught up in the past.

When a mysterious man at the lodge saves her life–twice–Remi becomes suspicious and confronts him. After a catastrophic event in his own life, former military pilot Hawk Beckett is trying to get some perspective at the suggestion of his former commanding officer. Faced with the fiercest storm to hit the coast in a decade, Remi and Hawk are forced into survival mode. But they’re not alone at the lodge.

Someone doesn’t want Remi to remember what happened–and they will stop at nothing to see her dead.

My Review:

I’m gobsmacked, discombobulated and I think my blood pressure is permanently spiked after reading (er, listening to) this engrossing, unputdownable, incredibly compelling romantic suspense. Five bazillion stars into infinity!

Remi and Hawk are a powerhouse team, though it takes them some time to reach that conclusion! Love the pacing of their romance; their hair-raising meet cute; Remi’s reluctance to trust; Hawk’s mysterious past; Remi’s forgotten memories; the danger closing in on them….Wow, just Wow, wow, wow!

And then there are the startling revelations slowly exposed throughout the story. Gasp-out-loud ‘aha’ moments that left me shaken. And suspicious. And anxious to figure out the who, what, where, why and how of the suspense. It got to the point where I began to suspect everyone of nefarious purposes. And, mercy, once all was revealed…well, that’s why I’m gobsmacked and discombobulated.

Thrilled that this if the first in her Hidden Bay series, which may just turn out to be her best yet!

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:

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 Storm Warning, 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 1 2025.

Conversations With Kav – Bibliotherapy + Giveaway

Bibliotherapy!

What is Bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy started out as a creative arts approach to therapy. Using the power of the printed word and storytelling to help an individual process trauma or address difficult issues in their life. It has evolved over the years to also include the simple idea of indulging in an ‘escape read’ – literally getting away from reality for awhile by slipping into a fictional world (and isn’t that tempting these days?!)

In practise

Way back when I worked as a librarian at my school board’s Central Resource Centre, one of my jobs was to create bibliotherapy kits teachers could borrow when they were presented with a student, or students, dealing with a difficult situation. The kits were an age appropriate mix of fiction and non-fiction on various subjects like:

grief (oddly specific ‘loss of a pet’ included)
divorce
blended families
social anxiety
shyness
racism
autism
mental health issues
cancer
bullying

The teachers would share the books in a class setting and/or send some of them home with the child in need. The non-fiction books were great starting points for discussion but we found that fiction made the most transformative impact. Especially when a picture book or novel was shared with the whole class.

Example: A grade two child was exhibiting anti-social behaviour stemming from the upset of his parents’ recent divorce. The teacher selected picture books and short novels from our bibliotherapy kit to share with the whole class during their regular story times. The benefits were twofold: first, the student experiencing the upheaval of divorce in his family, saw himself in these stories. He wasn’t alone. Not only did he see himself in these stories, his friends did as well.

Which brings me to the second benefit: his classmates developed (and this really blew us all away) empathy for the boy who was upturning play areas or pushing and shoving in line etc. Instead of escalating the conflict, they demonstrated patience and understanding (these were seven year old kids!) Were the behaviour problems magically solved overnight? No. But they grew less frequent and didn’t escalate, largely because ‘Jonny’s classmates chose not to retaliate. Why? They understood that he was sad, that there was a reason behind his actions and they simply accepted that, which, in turn, calmed ‘Jonny’ down.

In our Fiction Reading

Why is this our conversational topic this week? Well, we’re all about the power of words, the power of story here at Best Reads. And did you know that reading fiction actually increases your capacity to empathize with others? Why? Because we live thousands of life experiences through our beloved fictional characters. Our brains actually emotionally connect to fictional experiences as if they were our own, increasing our understanding and the compassion we in turn, extend to others. Is that cool or what? And goodness, but we need a lot of that in this crazy, mixed up world.

Bibliotherapy in CF

So, I thought it would be fun to share some of the Christian Fiction books that have made a profound impact on us. Our faith, our understanding of an issue, a historical perspective or even provided a comforting escape from the rigours of our own lives.

I’m through being wordy, I promise! I’m going to share some ‘bibliotherapy’ topics along with a book that influenced me. I’d love it if you’d share a Christian Fiction book that touched you so I can increase my personal bibliotherapy list. Put it in a comment along with any thoughts you might have, and I’ll enter you in a draw for a $10.00 ecard from our fave CF resource : Baker Book House!

Giveaway Opportunity for anyone willing to shop at https://bakerbookhouse.com

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 1 2025.

February 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:

Please remember to check giveaway details (paperback, ebook, either/or, gently read etc.) each day as they will vary and check for the ‘+ giveaway’ notice added after the title . Titles without that addition are review only.

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!

The Art of Love and Lies

Random Retro Read

A free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michaelangelo painting.

Manchester, England, 1857

Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families.

When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England opens in Manchester, Rosanna is excited to visit. She meets the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison, who is head of security, and is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and portrait-worthy good looks. The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art, and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.

But when they discover the theft of some of the paintings—and all the evidence points to Rosanna—she must convince Inspector Harrison she is innocent and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.

It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michaelangelo’s The Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Inspector Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to paint their own happily ever after.

My Review:

published in 2023

I listened to the audible edition of ‘The Art of Love and Lies’ narrated by the exceptional Justine Eyre. She is one of my favourite voice performers and elevated my enjoyment of this story so much. The way she conveys flirty banter highlights all the fun and excitement of a blossoming romance. She’s able to convey all the emotion and tension and even provides distinctive voices/demeanors to every single character. Such a brilliant narrator.

Now on to the story. It’s the first in a series about three sisters who excel in the arts at a time when women weren’t supposed to. Luckily they have encouraging parents who provide their daughters with the same tutoring a son would have. But what is an accomplished lady supposed to do with all that finely honed talent?

Well, Roseanna sets out to make a career from her painting. Unfortunately, she trusts the wrong man and…well, you need to read the story to find out how that goes. I could totally see where things were heading from the very first scene but I enjoyed the bookish angst that kept me on edge, waiting for Roseanna to figure things out too.

When she crosses paths with Inspector Martin Harrison at an art exhibit things really get interesting – in both the romance and the mystery. This was a fun, quick read, well listen for me. Sweet romance and a bit of a suspense towards the end.

Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread + Giveaway

Random Retro ReRead

A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.

Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.

Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?

My Review:

published in 2014

Austen in the South with Hathaway’s unique spin has been reading nirvana for me. And I do believe that Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread is my favourite of the three. I just loved Lucy and Jem’s story even though it was angst riddled to the very end…or maybe because it was. Carefully plotted and flawlessly executed, every precious word built up sights and sounds and smells and oh, so many emotions in my mind. A total escape read — so much so that it was surreal to be jarred out of it when real life got in the way.

If I never get my blood pressure down, I’m blaming Lucy’s family. I was foaming at the mouth over some of their antics. Gah! I wanted to shake that girl for capitulating so many times. All that Southern breeding has made her a tad too biddable.

Stalwart Jem, hurt by past rejection but still drawn to the girl who broke his heart. There is something about a sensitive hero who struggles to stay on an even keel. These two have such history — and it goes way beyond personal. Their past is cluttered with societal expectations, class consciousness and even racial prejudice. The heart of this story is the hero and heroine’s willingness to create something enduringly beautiful from the shards of their shattered pasts.

Reviewer’s sidetone: I love Mary Jane Hathway’s storytelling and I thought she’d stopped writing but I did a google dive and have discovered that she has published more books, including a cozy mystery series! Eeeeppp!!! I just ordered the first one.

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 Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread, 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 February 22 2025.

When All My Dreams Come True + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

An adventurous tale of faith, hope and love in the wild west.

Bobbie McIntyre dreams of running a ranch of her own. Raised without a mother and having spent most of her time around men, she knows more about wrangling than acting like a lady. Still, the friendship of her new employer awakens a desire to learn more about presenting her feminine side…but ranch life keeps getting in the way.

Ranch owner, Jace Kincaid figures the Lord is testing his faith when a female wrangler shows up looking for work. Bobbie has an uncanny way of getting under his skin, though, and he’s surprised when she finds a home next to his heart. But when his cattle begin to go missing and his wranglers are in danger from some low-down cattle thief, will Jace trust God, even if it means giving up his dreams?

My Review:

published in 2011

If you’re in the mood for a rollicking Western full of dastardly villains, heart-palpitating heroes and sassy heroines then look no further. This book is for you. I felt like I’d time-warped onto the Bonanza set and loved every minute of it!

Mowery starts at a breakneck speed and keeps her readers gasping for breath right to the very last page. Just when you think Jace and Bobbie are going to get a reprieve the action hitches up another notch. The last third of the book is a real page-turner.

Bobbie is spunky and funny and endearingly lost. Jace is solid and comforting and ooohhhhhh so protective. They clash. Then clash some more and then…magic happens. Sigh.

This is a captivating escape read with a solid inspirational message — the perfect blend for success.

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 When All My Dreams Come True, 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 February 22 2025.

Honor + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

When unexpected circumstances leave Honor Penworthy destitute after the death of her grandfather, she is forced to leave her Maryland plantation–and the slaves she hoped to free–and seek refuge with a distant relative. With no marketable skills, her survival hinges on a marriage arranged through the Quaker community to local glass artisan Samuel Cathwell. Samuel is drawn to Honor, but he has been unwilling to open his heart to anyone since scarlet fever took his hearing as a child.

A move west brings the promise of a fresh start, but nothing in Honor’s genteel upbringing has prepared her for the rigors of frontier life with Samuel. Nevertheless, her tenacity and passion sweep her into important winds of change, and she becomes increasingly–though secretly–involved in the Underground Railroad. Samuel suspects Honor is hiding something, but will uncovering the truth confirm his worst fears or truly bring them together as man and wife?

Set against the backdrop of dramatic and pivotal moments in American history, the Quaker Brides series chronicles the lives of three brave heroines, fighting to uphold their principles of freedom while navigating the terrain of faith, family, and the heart.

My Review:

published in 2014

I was first drawn to this book by the stark one word title and the incredible cover art. The model is the perfect match for the book’s heroine. The set of her shoulders, the proud tilt of her head, the determination in her eyes. I took one look at Honor and knew I had to read her story. And then when I scanned the description on the back of the book and discovered that Honor joins in the fight against slavery I was ready to swoon right there in the bookstore! Needless to say, I devoured this book in a day.

Honor and Samuel have such a difficult start to their marriage. Both have pasts that have affected them deeply, leaving them wary of any kind of union. And if that isn’t enough of a handicap to start a marriage with, they are immediately thrust into a series of dire situations, one following after another in an endless stream of difficulties.

Honor has to be one of my favourite heroines of all time. She really captivated me. Her faith in the Lord, her passion for doing right even when the personal cost is crushing, her yearning for love and acceptance from her husband. A backbone of steel and a heart filled with grace. She’s both strong and vulnerable but always carries herself with a genteel dignity. Such a complex character and I love her!

Samuel is quite the opposite. His deafness has embittered him and he has turned away from his Quaker faith and spent years building up walls around himself. He lives in his own world, having as little to do with others as possible. Acquiring a wife sends his well-ordered life into a tailspin. Such a complicated romance! Full of sorrow and fear and tenderness and passion. Sublime!

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 Honor, 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 February 22 2025.

Cloaked in Beauty + Giveaway

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty’s resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm’s way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

My Review:

I do so love a good fairy tale retelling and this one is excellent! An intriguing mash up of Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. Loved spotting the nods to both classic tales – only with such clever twists. I’m thinking of the wolf. And the role the hunter plays and…well…it was so much fun reaching these little ‘aha’ moments as the story unfolded.

‘Cloaked in Beauty’ (fabulous title – eye catching cover!) is also very much a classic Western tale too. The Texas setting brings a unique ambience to this fairy tale retelling and Letty and Philip’s journey across the state was peppered with action and danger along with some good old fashioned neighbourliness in unexpected places.

I enjoyed the way the romance unfolds at a gentle pace. It’s very much a forbidden love trope – she’s soon to claim her spot in Houston’s high society and he’s from a totally different class. Of course, Letty has grown up knowing she’s an heiress but living a simple, homespun country life which makes it hard for Philip to rein in his feelings since a romance seems so plausible. That’s once they shift from wary strangers to tentative friends! Some nice tension there, especially after Letty, who has lived a very solitary life with her Grandmother, becomes aware of Philip as more than a friend.

A captivating reimagining of two classic tales with lots of action and adventure to keep things interesting until the hard-won happily ever after!

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 Cloaked in Beauty, 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 February 22 2025

Oops! Snow Day!

So — we got hit with another crazy snowstorm this weekend and I lost Internet Saturday evening through to Sunday evening. I always schedule my reviews about a week in advance but I tend to write my Conversations With Kav posts on Saturdays depending on what I’m in the mood to talk about. So, while I was all chatty, the internet wasn’t cooperating so I couldn’t schedule the post. We’ll just have to save it for next week, I guess.

It’s like Mother Nature suddenly realized that winter was half over and she hadn’t been giving us enough attention so she made up for that this week. 36 cm on Thursday, 10 cm on Saturday and 30+ cm today…it’s still snowing so who knows how much it will end up being.