Kav's Best Reads

Husband Auditions

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?

Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

My Review:

published in 2021

Unexpected, refreshing…and so funny!

A wonderful mix of solid gold comedic moments paired with an honest look at marriage from a Christian world view. It never gets heavy but there are some pointed ‘aha’ moments that made me want to cheer. There’s lots more that I could say, but I won’t for risk of revealing spoilers. This would make a great book club pick though because there really is a lot to talk about. And laugh over.

Brilliant pacing. Engaging characters (even if a certain hero had me pulling my hair out a time or two.) Lots of intriguing introspection from both Meri and Kai’s points of view. And the character growth – phenomenal. All while the comedic beats hit the right chords again and again.

Such a great idea for a contemporary romance. The YouTube channel touch is brilliant, drawing these two together with some sizzling results. They start as enemies though, and then turn into friends but it’s quite a while before that surpassed sizzle actually turns into fireworks. And the 1950s guide to finding a husband! I don’t know whether I laughed or cringed more.

Thrilled that I am at the beginning of my ‘Love Off Script’ journey. I have ‘Hero Debut’ perched on the top of my TBR clamouring for some attention so it won’t be long before I begin book two.

The Nature of Love + Giveaway

A doctor feeling fractured

Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she’s achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.

A wildlife enthusiast ready for more

Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.

Two hearts destined by nature

With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced.

The Nature of Love is a clean, African American contemporary romance with themes of friends to lovers and the healing power of love. This heartfelt happily-ever-after tale is the series finale of Shiloh’s beloved Love in the Spotlight novels.

My Review:

Eeeeeppp!!!! Excuse me while I swoon and squeal and happy dance over these characters, this series and the epic epilogue that brings everyone from all three books together in the best kind of happily ever afters!

Toni Shiloh is one of my favourite authors for a number of reasons. First, her characters. They are multi-dimensional with layered backstories that make it easy to connect with them. And feel for them! Which brings me to the second reason I love Shiloh’s books – she engages my emotions to the point I am totally invested in her characters. I’m not just reading about them I’m living their experiences right along with them. And then there’s the third reason, and perhaps the most important one – the way she weaves in significant faith threads that stir my soul and encourage my own relationship with Jesus.

And, mercy, but Erykah’s faith journey is a powerful reminder that God is always with us…especially during the times we feel most vulnerable and alone. I loved the way Chris patiently encouraged her interest in his faith, answering her questions with candid honesty. And what a prayer warrior! Simple, direct and heartfelt. Honestly, who can resist a guy like that? Erykah tried but failed miserably…eventually.

Which brings me to what I loved about the romance: it’s a slow-burn, purposeful friends to more kind of love story with lots of emotional depth. Lots of time for a reader to bond with these characters and delight in the subtle tension drawing them closer as the story progresses. Sheer romantical ecstasy! And I appreciated that both hero and heroine are on the ‘mature’ side for this genre – early forties. With successful professional lives and interesting careers.

Of course, no ‘Love in the Spotlight’ book would be complete without all the bro-bantering and texting between all three heroes. These guys are there for each other no matter what. Anything from lame joke pick-me-ups to empathetic listeners or united prayer partners, these guys do friendship right. So much fun to get glimpses into Tuck’s and Lamont’s lives as well. No worries though if you haven’t read the first two books in this series, you’ll still be able to enjoy this one as a standalone. Though I’m betting once you finish ‘The Nature of Love’, you’ll be scrambling to get your hands on ‘The Love Script’ and ‘A Run at Love’.

I preordered this book from audible and thoroughly enjoyed Dioni Michelle Collins’ narration. She has been the voice of this series through all three books. Love that continuity, especially since Collins is an amazing performer who breathes life into all these characters. Would definitely recommend the audio edition for discerning fans of this format.

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 The Nature of Love, 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 15 2025

How to Catch a Prince + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could’ve been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife’s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever.

My Review:

published in 2015

How can you not love a book that has exquisite lines like: “With a smile, Daisy pulled Corina into a hug. And for a fleeting second, Corina cradled her cheek on her friend’s shoulder and left a piece of her burden there.” Honestly, Hauck’s eloquence takes my breath away. Her words speak directly to my heart and I find myself emotionally invested in the lives of the characters she brings to life. There’s just no way I could have stopped reading. And when the end came, I didn’t want it to be over.

How to Catch a Prince is clever and witty and heartrending. A tumultuous mix that had me alternately laughing and crying and shouting scathing comments at ne’er-do-well characters that had no business giving Corina such a hard time. Not to mention swooning over some lovely romantical bits too. And yet it also has an ethereal, fairy tale quality with enough inspiration to touch my soul. That astounding combination equals sheer reading delight.

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 How to Catch a Prince, 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 15 2025.

Paws for Love + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

The Only Thing Sweet About Jellybean Is His Name

Jellybean the terrier is about to unleash some serious mayhem on the unsuspecting town of Albatross.

There’s no quiet on the set when over-the-hill screen star Lawrence Tucker brings his naughty terrier, Jellybean, on location to the beachside town of Albatross, California. When Jellybean develops a rapport with Tucker’s violin tutor, the painfully shy, socially awkward Misty Agnelli, her arm is twisted into minding the mischievous animal. Trailing Jellybean leads Misty into the candy store of Bill Woodson, a handsome chocolatier with a painful secret and a three-year-old niece to raise.

Misty must deal with the unstable Tucker, a temperamental Jellybean, her budding feelings for the mysterious Bill, and the high-pressure atmosphere on the set. Though she wants nothing more than to flee, how can she tell her Grandma, Lawrence Tucker’s biggest fan, that she abandoned the star and his dog?

It’s actors, animals, and antics galore when Jellybean gives his own heartwarming performance.

My Review:

published in 2017

Paws down the cutest cover ever!!!! Who can resist that face? Even if it belongs to a “fuzzy wrecking ball?” I don’t know if anyone will be surprised if I tell you that Jellybean might have a bigger piece of my heart than two-legged hero, Bill. Such a little scamp (dog, not man) and while I found it highly entertaining to read about his escapades, I think the thrill would soon wear off if I actually lived through them. It takes a certain personality — one that consists of an abundance of patience — to cope with that opinionated mutt. Grinning just thinking about it.

And a huge ‘hoorah’ for a klutzy heroine!!! You don’t often find them in the pages of a romance novel. At least I haven’t spied that many and as a self-proclaimed klutz I pay attention to things like that. So there was an instant connection between Misty and me. And her deer-in-the-headlights reaction to complicated social situations just warmed my heart even more.

I think what impressed me the most about Bill was his insecurities and the fact that the author went out on a limb to write an atypical hero. He is struggling to adjust to being the sole caregiver to his orphaned niece and feelings of inadequacies keep creeping in. He’s an ‘out of the box’ kind of guy and I love the way Mentink slowly reveals a major issue. I fell in love with his vulnerability and courage.

And even though Paws for Love is slapstick funny — there’s a touching inspirational thread that binds everything together. “God made you to shine a light…You don’t get to pick what kind of candle you get.” (p 79) Has to be one of my favourite lines ever.

A rousing comedic masterpiece that also delivers a stirring amount of tenderness and hope.

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 Paws for Love, 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 15 2025.

Love Overboard + Giveaway

A snort-laughing, cruise ship romance takes readers into topsy-turvy waters

When a group of four quirky friends retire on a neverending round of cruises, their attire consists of more than floral shirts and gaudy skirts. Armed with walkie-talkies and battle plans, these relationship experts–who’ve dubbed themselves the “Shippers”–target hostess Lacey Anderson and director Jonathan King in their romantic schemes. But the young couple refuses to cooperate. They’ve been on the “love boat” together before, and it went down in flames.

Boss matchmaker Emily Windsor has orchestrated multiple romantic successes, and these two upstarts certainly won’t get the best of her. The chemistry between Lacey and Jonathan is obvious, but the couple rebuffs every outlandish plot and “coincidental” meeting, forcing the matchmakers to chart a new course to true love–all while inadvertently thwarting drug smugglers threatening to ruin their floating home on the ocean.

This laugh-out-loud rom-com features loveable characters, over-the-top situations reminiscent of 1950s sitcoms, a dash of mystery, and romance to push the reader overboard and all in with Shannon Dunlap’s new series.

My Review:

I’ve had my eye on this book for awhile but I was waiting to see if it might come out in an audio edition (it hasn’t) so I finally bought a print copy because I kept hearing rave reviews about it and, guess what? They were right! ‘Love Overboard‘ is a deeeeelightful cozy read. Part romance, part mystery all wrapped up with a whole lot of senior sass. So. Much. Fun!

There are walkie-talkie toting seniors on do or die matchmaking missions. Emily is the head Shipper (yes, they have a name and everything) and she runs a tight ship (pun intended.) There are a vast number of single cruise employees after all! And, really, what else is a body to do when you live on a cruise ship year round?! That angle alone is fascinating. The Shippers bring in plenty of drama and a whole lot of laughter. Well…the only one not laughing is Lacey.

She loves her job as cruise hostess and finds the dear ‘old ladies’ sweet and charming most of the time. Just not when they have her in their sightline as the next matchmaking target. Enter Jonathan King, new to the ship but not to Lacey (a little something the Shippers aren’t aware of) and cue rom/com hilarity circa 1950s sitcom as these two reluctant lovebirds have a second chance romance forced upon them.

Oh — and if that wasn’t intriguing enough, there is actually a shipboard mystery to solve as well. Completely captivating from start to finish and — hooray — it looks like this is the beginning of a series as it ends with a nice set up for the second book which better come out soon!

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 Love Overboard, 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 15 2025.

Conversations With Kav – Let’s Celebrate Valentine’s Day Week With Some Book Love! + Giveaway

Before we get started with the St. Valentine’s Day festivities, I have some great news! I can post reviews on Amazon again! I’ve been checking off and on over the past few months and suddenly, this week, it worked! Wonder if the bots heard me dissing them last week? 🙂 Anyway, that’s my good news…though I’m a bit peeved that they wouldn’t send me an email to say my community features had been reinstated. Lucky I kept checking!

I had fun searching my shelves and TBR pile for books with hearts on the cover or the word ‘love’ in the title for this week’s review lineup. It was harder than I thought it would be and I found more contemporary romances than historical which was interesting. So then I thought it would be even more fun to start the week off with…drumroll please….

BOOK LOVE TAG!

Tags are a Book Tube thing, where a booktuber creates a series of questions around a central theme and then tags other booktubers to participate by creating videos where they answer the questions. I discovered the Book Love Tag on Chautona Havig’s channel and thought I’d accept the tag challenge only do it on my blog.

Get ready to participate, ’cause if you answer one (or more) of the questions in a comment, I’ll enter you in a draw for a $10 Baker Book House Gift Card ’cause every reader’s Valentine’s Day should include new books, right?! So, here we go:

Friendship Love – name a book that includes a loving friendship
Sibling Love – name a book that features a strong sibling relationship
Parental or Guardian Love – name a book that has a main character who is a parent or guardian.
Pet Love – name a book that features a loyal pet or animal companion
Romantic Love – name a book that contains a swoonworthy romantic plot
Self-Love – name a book that includes the theme of self love (finding yourself, self acceptance, personal growth etc.)
Divine Love – name a book with a strong faith thread featuring a character who comes to understand God’s love for them.

There were so many different books I could have suggested for each question but I tried to stick with the one that came to mind first — and discounted my most recent reads to make it a little more challenging. Here are my answers:

Friendship Love

I know the prompt didn’t mean a book featuring a friends to more trope but the friendship between this hero and heroine is so delightful. Everyone should have a bestie like one of these guys!

Sibling Love

I could have picked any of the books in Sarah M. Eden’s Jonquil Brothers series because…these brothers!!!!!! What a swoonworthy lot! And in this book, shy quiet Corbin is earnestly coached on how to attract a lady’s attention. The brotherly banter and shenanigans are priceless! And now I think I have to reread the whole series.

Parental Love

Nicole is a single mother with the most precociously adorable child! Nicole is well intentioned but a bit too intense and serious while her love interest is the exact opposite. It’s the way the author fits Nicole’s motherhood into the story so seamlessly that makes this one so memorable for me.

Pet Love

There is a wolf with a very unique relationship with the heroine…and he’s very, very, very loyal!

Romantic Love

Maverick heroine. Brooding hero. Mystery and romance. Fainting couch essential. Romantical bliss!

Self-Love

This is a tough read — the beginning is brutal (it deals with domestic violence quite graphically) but Leah’s growth – her journey towards discovering her worth and her value as a child of God is phenomenal.

Divine Love

January’s faith journey is funny and tender and angsty. So true to life and inspiring.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Now it’s your turn: What book would you pick for one (or more) of these categories? I’d love to add some more titles to my TBR list because…well, I don’t really have a good reason. There are too many titles on that list as it is, but, the more the merrier I say when it comes to books!

Leave a comment to be entered in the draw for a $10 e gift card with:

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 15 2025.

February 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 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.

Side Note: I had fun searching for books with hearts on the cover or ‘love’ in the title in honour of Valentine’s Day. 🙂

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!

Southern by Design

Sweet Magnolias meets Fixer Upper in this delightfully refreshing debut about a woman bravely chasing her dreams, building a life on her own terms, and maybe even discovering a second chance at love.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is staring down the barrel at single motherhood–thanks to an unsolicited personal picture her husband texted another woman that quickly went viral among every mom group in town. But she’s determined to not let it distract her from the professional victory she’s inches away securing Charleston’s prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship, the apple of every local designer’s eye.

But when the final house tour is undone by a host of calamities, Mack’s shot at the fellowship goes up in flames. Smelling blood in the water, Mack’s mother, the original Magnolia Bishop, breezes in with a project lead–strings attached. If there’s one thing Magnolia lives for, aside from maintaining her station atop the Southern social ladder, it’s to control Mack’s life . . . and that includes keeping the identity of the absentee father Mack never knew in the shadows.

While working for her mother is the professional equivalent of moving into one’s parent’s basement, Mack spots an opportunity to make it her own when a television network puts a call out for local designers. Pitching the home renovation TV pilot of her dreams–one with a historic preservation twist–might just be the way to finally prove herself. Still, she’ll have to do it covertly to avoid her mother’s interference.

Just when Mack finds her professional footing, at home she spots an impossibly familiar figure unloading his moving truck into the newly sold house next door. She is furious, floored, and regrettably flustered because Lincoln Kelly is the one who got away. Fifteen years earlier he was a summer romance she inadvertently fell in love with, and when he left, following his dreams to New York, Mack was broken-hearted.

Filled with characters who could step off the page and a reminder that nothing worth saving is beyond repair, this charming and delightful debut novel will resonate with readers of Southern women’s fiction by Mary Kay Andrews and Kristy Woodson Harvey.

My Review:

I didn’t know Southern Fiction was a thing until recently but I feel like this is the perfect example of what’s so good about it (says the Canadian who is clueless about all things Southern.) Maybe it was the subtle Southern twang Amanda Stribling brought to her narration (I listened to the audio book) that added to the charm. In any case, both words and performance drew me in and kept me riveted.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is an intriguing character. Spunky and tenacious in some ways and infuriatingly submissive to her mama in other ways. Are all Southern Mamas like Magnolia Sr.? I shudder to thinks so! I spent a large part of the read fuming over that woman! Gah! I so wanted Mack to grow a backbone and stand up to her mother once and for all. I wanted a colossal ‘take that!’ moment and instead, Walz humbled me with the surprising twist towards the end. Sigh. My righteous indignation bubble was burst…but only somewhat. I’m still angsting over lots and lots of Magnolia Sr. moments because, no matter what happened in her past, she still made choices that, well…you need to read the book and angst right along with me!

There’s a rocky second chance romance that plays out in two timelines which was really interesting. We get to see the summer romance of fifteen years ago unfolding oh so sweetly until the train wreck happens all while watching Mack and Lincoln warily reconnecting as single parents in present day. I really enjoyed their journey to reconciliation, angst and all!

Loved the interior design/house flipping backdrop to the story — and the clever title that fits it to perfection. If you are an HGTV fan, this is definitely the book for you. Great details on design and historical restoration and the thrill of reality TV as well.

My thanks to Harper Muse Audibooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Of note to readers of this blog: a wee bit of mild language and LGBTQ+ rep in a secondary character

Uneasy Street + Giveaway

Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance!

My Review:

Becky Wade’s books are always a treat and this last book in her ‘Sons of Scandal’ series is exceptional. A lovely mix of angst and humour with a gentle, but oh so profound, faith thread woven throughout.

While ‘Uneasy Street’ could work well as a standalone, I think reading the books in order will enrich your enjoyment so much more. This crazy, complicated family, the brothers and their personal love stories, all build to this grande finale featuring outcast Max.

Excuse me while I swoon, but Max is so…Max! Infuriating at times, yes, but, oh my, once he makes his mind up about Sloane…well, it’s all toe-curls and smelling salts. But oh what a journey! Wade kept me on tenterhooks right to the end with this unique friends to enemies to wary friends to more trope.

Sloane is such an interesting mix of fiery spunkiness and controlled etiquette expert. Love her profession! The way she leans into the structure in the rules of conduct like they are a security blanket. It’s funny and sad all wrapped up together. And makes a great contrast to Max’s laid back, easy going manner.

And, oh my, the banter between these two! Max knows just how to goad Sloane and no matter how outrageous he was, I couldn’t stop falling for him. I was definitely Team Max from the start, impatiently waiting for Sloane to catch up. So. Much. Fun.

And if all that romantical deliciousness wasn’t enough, the author also gives us two family mysteries to sort out and Max is in the middle of both of them. ‘Uneasy Street’ is the kind of emotionally compelling story you don’t want to come to an end. I could have done with a dozen more epilogues but even then, I’d be left wanting more.

I listened to the audio book and thrilled over the dual narration provided by Reba Buhr and Ryan Hudson. Brilliant performances that captured the essence of these beloved characters making this an emotionally satisfying listening experience. The combination of storytelling and acting talent ensures that ‘Uneasy Street’ will end up on my re-listen play list.

My thanks to the author and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

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 Uneasy Street, 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 8 2025

Ambush + Giveaway

She’ll do anything to uncover the truth of her parents’ murder–even work alongside the man who once broke her heart.

Paradise Alden’s childhood in Nova Cambridge, Alabama, was idyllic until the night her parents were murdered. Since then life has left her scarred. The abuse she suffered in the foster care system, her first love’s betrayal, and the jaguar attack that nearly destroyed her career have led to an unshakable distrust–in men, in God, and maybe in even in herself.

After fifteen years, returning to her hometown is a last resort to finding her life again. She’s hoping the wildlife refuge where she’s accepted a veterinarian job will be the perfect place to heal from her recent traumas and unlock her memories about the night her parents died. But on the day she arrives at The Sanctuary, a body is discovered on the grounds. And soon, a series of deadly events threatens not only her future but the man who, despite all odds, still makes her pulse stutter. Arson, a shooting, a break-in, and multiple instances of animals being freed from their enclosures all point back to him, but Paradise knows Blake Lawson isn’t responsible. Not the man who has been helping his mother manage The Sanctuary these past six months and care for his stepbrothers in the wake of their father’s death . . . even if his betrayal years ago cost her everything.

Someone dangerous is lurking beneath the town’s moss-draped trees, and Paradise refuses to let another murderer disappear into the shadows.

My Review:

Whoa! I’ve read a ton of Colleen Coble’s books (not all, but a lot) and this one might be my absolute favourite. I just loved everything about it. The way the suspense elements are evenly paced out – intense all the way through without being completely overwhelming. I was on edge, waiting for the next ‘thing’ to happen but still able to enjoy the quieter, thoughtful moments with these characters. And the emotional fireworks too, of course!

A second chance romance sparks from doomed puppy love fifteen years earlier. Both Blake and Paradise have coped with their share of trauma through the ensuing years, but they are stronger for it. And even more stubborn! Clashing wills, gnarly reckonings, and oh my heart hurt so much for Paradise when all is revealed! But they are soon united in their quest to save the wildlife refuge from an unknown threat.

And that sanctuary setting! Such an exciting backdrop for the story. It added even more intensity to the plot and was peppered with intriguing insights into the animals and their habitats and a very creative way to up the danger too!

Coble is a master at character development – and not just with the hero and heroine. Every secondary character is fleshed out in a memorable way and kept me emotionally engaged all the way through the read. Sometimes happy feels (Blake’s mother and little brothers…sooooo cute!); sometimes seething with rage (there’s one character in particular…) and the whole gamut in-between. I love feeling my way through a story and I did that with this amazing read. In a word: unputdownable.

I was blessed to listen to the audio edition of ‘Ambush’ and was thrilled with Karen Peakes’ performance. She brought distinctive voices to all the characters – especially loved the way she portrayed the little boys – and the way she used her voice to build tension was phenomenal. Highly recommend this audio book.

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

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 Ambush, 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 8 2025