Reader’s Choice Week Winter 2026 Winners

Thanks for joining me for another week full of anticipatory bookish delights! Looks like we’re off to a great reading year! My TBR wishlist is looking quite healthy and I’m already debating over what to buy first. Decisions, decisions!

First, allow me to indulge my inner stats nerd (who knew she was lurking inside of me for all these years?!) I tallied all the books mentioned on the 3 specific genre days and came up with the popular pick for each one and here they are:

historical popular pick
won by Elly Cox
contemporary popular pick
won by Jackie
Mystery/Suspense popular pick
won by Kim Hansen

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

HISTORICAL FICTION
WON BY CONNIE SAUNDERS
CONTEMPORAY FICTION
WON BY DIANE FLOWERS
mystery/suspense
won by Cindy davis
christian fiction
won by Jo Ruth
goals REVIEW
won by Tracey

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

historical cover love
won by rkkoppen

I’m drawn to the softness that comes through on this cover. Everything from her blouse to the chateau? castle? in the background. And I love the contrasts between the figures in the foreground and the lush garden/house in the background.

contemporary cover love
won by Mark Buzard

Maybe it’s the season, but I love all that snow and the couple embracing front and centre (though they aren’t adequately dressed for an Alaskan winter!) This cover promises pure romance and I love it!

Mystery/Suspense Cover Love
won by Parkand Mom (Tammy)

This cover has all the feels. Eerie, moody, chilling. Leaves my imagination running overtime with all kinds of questions. And I love that background colour!

WAIT! Don’t go away ’cause we’re not through yet. We have another Reader’s Choice tradition of picking a random number which becomes a ‘just because giveaway’ on the genre specific days. If that doesn’t make sense, all you need to know is that it means more book giveaways. Woohoo! This time the number is 54.

54th historical
won by Perrianne
54th contemporary
won by Pam K.
54th mystery suspense
won by Tammy hudson

And that’s another wrap on a glorious Reader’s Choice Week. Thanks for participating and growing my wishlist! 🙂

Looking ahead to next week:

This week wore me out and I need to give my eyes (and brain) and rest, so I’m skipping Conversations with Kav this week but we’ll be back to chatting all things bookish next Sunday!

monday
tuesday
wednesday

Hello January! Time to take a look at January releases now that they are fresh on our minds!

thursday
friday

Reader’s Choice Week Giveaway – Winter 2026 – Goals in Review

Happy New Year, reading friends! 

Time for a bit of quiet reflection at the end of a busy week, when we look back on the highs and lows of our reading year. If you are a goal setter, it’s also time for our Annual Reading Goal Review. I always like to assess the past year’s goals before setting new ones. So, today is all about what we read in 2025.

I’ll share how I did, and, if you are so inclined, feel free to share some of your 2025 reading successes…or failures. Hmm…let’s not call them failures. More like….kafuffles. That sounds friendlier. Nothing wrong with a few goal kafuffles in the grand scheme of things, right? And I had more than a few kafuffles this year!!!!

Today’s Giveaway is a little different, so be sure to read the fine print before entering!

To enter this giveaway you can, a) reflect on a 2025 reading goal OR b) if you’re not a goal oriented person, share a book that made an impact from your 2025 reading list. Then, in the same comment, list a book that will help you reach your goal. So it looks like this:

“I am still two books shy of my goal to read-to-zero Hannah Linder. The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder.”

OR

“Still thinking about the characters from A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh. I need to read more of her books! The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh.”

NOTE: BOOKS MUST BE CHRISTIAN FICTION

You can enter up to three times in three separate comments 

Books can be published any time up through to March 2026. Currently published books will be ordered this coming week for winners, otherwise it will be an IOU for a title releasing later.

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)

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

Here we go! Time to face up to what worked and what didn’t when it came to my goals this year.

Overall, I’m pleased with how much I accomplished with my Author Goals – with the exception of my Read-to-Zero goals. I did make some progress with two of the authors on my list, Hannah Linder (2 left to read!) and Annah Conwell (I’m a little more than halfway through her books.) but otherwise I really didn’t make any headway. Something to think about for 2026 (ack, that’s this year!)

As far as book goals — I accomplished what I set out to do with diverse settings and diverse characters and I hope to increase that in 2026. I even exceeded my Non-Fiction goal! (gasp!) Where I epically failed, er, majorly kafuffled, was with the targeted series I wanted to catch up with or keep current with. I was really haphazard with my tracking and didn’t include a lot of the series I did complete (though they weren’t on my targeted list.) I did manage to complete 8 series out of 15 of the ones I had picked for this goal. I need to be more organized in 2026!

I had made goals for both upgrading this blog and getting more savvy on Instagram and those were dismal failures as well! Ah well, there’s always next year, right? 🙂

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 3 2026

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday January 3 2026 Winners will be announced later that afternoon or early evening.

Reader’s Choice Week Giveaway – Winter 2026 Edition – General Christian Fiction

Another New Year. Fresh goals to set. And a whole year’s worth of new books releasing! Woohoo!!!! All my reading journals are blank, waiting to be filled with all the fictional delights 2026 has to offer. So, I’m on the hunt for New Releases and this is where Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2026 (up to 3 suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

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

IT’S GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

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

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

How does it work?

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

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES

Publication date must be January, February or March 2026

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

Christian Fiction books only please!

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

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

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

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

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

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 3 2026

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday January 3 2026 Winners will be announced later that afternoon or early evening.

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2026 Edition – Mystery / Suspense

Another New Year. Fresh goals to set. And a whole year’s worth of new books releasing! Woohoo!!!! All my reading journals are blank, waiting to be filled with all the fictional delights 2026 has to offer. So, I’m on the hunt for New Releases and this is where Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2026 (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 MYSTERY/ SUSPENSE FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

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

Mystery/Suspense Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense.) Can 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! May recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES

Publication date must be January, February or March 2026

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

Christian Fiction books only please!

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

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

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

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

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

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 3 2026

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday January 3 2026 Winners will be announced later that afternoon or early evening.

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2026 Edition – Contemporary Fiction

Another New Year. Fresh goals to set. And a whole year’s worth of new books releasing! Woohoo!!!! All my reading journals are blank, waiting to be filled with all the fictional delights 2026 has to offer. So, I’m on the hunt for New Releases and this is where Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2026 (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 CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

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

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

How does it work?

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

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES

Publication date must be January, February or March 2026

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

Christian Fiction books only please!

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

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

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

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

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

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 3 2026

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday January 3 2026 Winners will be announced later that afternoon or early evening.

Reader’s Choice Giveaway – Winter 2026 – Historical Fiction

Another New Year. Fresh goals to set. And a whole year’s worth of new books releasing! Woohoo!!!! All my reading journals are blank, waiting to be filled with all the fictional delights 2026 has to offer. So, I’m on the hunt for New Releases and this is where Reader’s Choice Week comes into play.

Here’s how this week’s giveaway works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in January, February or March 2026 (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 HISTORICAL ROMANCE/FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

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

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

How does it work?

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

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES

Publication date must be January, February or March 2026

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

Christian Fiction books only please!

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

No email entries this time round since WP comments are working

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

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

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

DRAW WILL BE HELD ON AND WINNER ANNOUNCED ON

Saturday January 3 2026

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon EST on Saturday January 3 2026 Winners will be announced later that afternoon or early evening.

December Giveaway – Week Three

won by Paula Schreckhise
won by Tammy Hudson
won by Leslie Waters
won by Kim
won by Elizabeth Litton

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:

I’m taking a break from December 21 through December 28 but when blogging resumes it will be time for:

2026 New Year

Reader’s Choice Week!

The blog tradition that keeps us looking ahead for new releases. This time ’round it’s Christian Fiction releasing in January, February or March 2026.

Monday December 29 2025

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 December 30 2025

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 December 31 2025

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

Thursday January 1 2026

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

Friday January 2 2026

Goal Reviews – time to reflect on those 2025 goals and tally up our successes and failures. This giveaway will feature suggestions of books that got away in 2025.

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

At the darkly glamorous height of the Roaring 20s, an independent Black intellectual and her bi-racial foster child are immersed in the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance – and a shocking murder on Striver’s Row – in this thrilling Jazz Age mystery for reader of Nekesia Afia, Jacqueline Winspear, Avery Cunningham’s The Mayor of Maxwell Street.

1926: Harriet Stone, a liberated, educated Black woman, and Lovey, the orphaned, biracial 12-year-old she is bound to protect, are Harlem-bound, embarking on a new, hopefully less traumatic chapter in their lives. They have been invited to move from Connecticut by Harriet’s cousin, Junetta Plum, who runs a boardinghouse for independent-minded single women.

It’s a bold move, since Harriet has never met Junetta, but the fatalities of the Spanish flu and other tragedies have already forced her and Lovey to face their worst fears. Alone but for each other, they have little left to lose—or so it seems as they arrive at sophisticated Junetta’s impressive brownstone.

Her cousin has a sharp edge, which makes Harriett slightly uncomfortable. Still, after retiring to her room for the night, she finally falls asleep—only to awaken to Junetta arguing with someone downstairs. In the morning, she makes a shocking discovery at the foot of the stairs.

What ensues will lead Harriet to question Junetta’s very identity—and to wonder if she and Lovey are in danger, as well. It will also tie Harriet to five strangers. Among them, Harriet is sure someone knows something. What she doesn’t yet know is that one will play a crucial role in helping her investigate her cousin’s murder . . . that she will be tied to the others in ways she could never imagine . . . and that her life will take off in a startling new direction. . . .

My Review:

What a wonderful introduction to Valerie Wilson Wesley’s storytelling! I was completely captivated by her craftsmanship. Her words not only brought each character to life, but captured the era and setting in a way that allowed me to visualize the entire story – like a movie playing through my mind as I read (or in my case listened.)

So many fascinating details around the Harlem Renaissance. Vibrant art and culture mixed with the bone crushing struggles of oppression and injustice. Harriet arrives with her young charge, Lovey, in the hopes of starting anew at the invitation of an unknown cousin. However, before Harriet can acclimatize to her new surroundings, she’s plunged into mystery and murder and a house full of strangers…one of whom could be a killer.

Rich characterization and a complex plot kept me committed to Harriet’s story and excited over the possibility that this is the first in a new mystery series. At least, I think that’s what that last scene was hinting at!

I enjoyed listening to Diana Blue’s narration of ‘The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum.” I was drawn to her soothing tone and the way she brought distinctive voices to characters of all ages and backgrounds.

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

Midnight on the Scottish Shore + Giveaway

The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable–become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water–and in the depths of the human heart–for a WWII tale you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

Intense. Dramatic. Emotional. The kind of edge-of-your-seat World War II novel that Sarah Sundin is famous for. She fits this literary niche perfectly and I’m always amazed at the fresh points of view and different angles she finds to approach this subject matter. I always learn some new about this complex time in world history.

This time round I discovered how the war reached northern Scottish shores and the integral workings of the naval base at Scapa Flow. I had no idea! And what an atmospheric setting for espionage and intrigue! It even comes complete with a taciturn Scotsman whose loyalty to the United Kingdom is challenged because of the behaviour of his separatist brother. So, brooding is a skillset Lachlan has perfected. And he’s not about to give any leeway to a German spy, no matter what fantastical tale she spins.

But when Cilla is recruited by British Intelligence and sent back to Scotland to work as a double agent, Lachlan is forced to work with her and that’s when the sparks start to fly. They are so different in temperament, opposites in every way, though, surprisingly they compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Loved the balance between heart-stopping danger and heart-melting romance! Along with plain old real life struggles that happen even during (maybe especially) wartime. Complex characters with layered backstories enrich the story even more. ‘Midnight on the Scottish Shore’ is the definition of unputdownable read.

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 Midnight on the Scottish Shore, 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 December 20 2025