First a bit of blog business: Christmas is fast approaching as is our last Reader’s Choice Week of the year and I’m looking for your input as to when and how to schedule it. I’m taking a break from blogging for Christmas week, December 22 – 28 so we’re looking at Reader’s Choice Week being mid December or the first week in January. I’m also considering drawing it out over two weeks instead of the hectic one, so we’d do three genre days the first week and three genre days the second week. That could be three days the week of December 15-21 and three days the week of December 29 – January 4. Or the first two weeks of January – Any preferences? Let me know in the comments.
‘Tis the season where bloggers, booktubers and bookstagrammers start making their top books of the year lists, daring to answer absolutely horrid questions like: What was your favourite book of the year? Seriously?! Who can pick just one? And choosing a favourite is like asking a mother to identify her favourite child! It’s just not done! So, I’ve modified the question and asked myself:
What is one notable book you read this year?
I thought I’d have a really hard time picking just one, but, honestly, there actually is one book that did come to mind right away, and it’s one I’ve thought about time and again since I read it way back in January! One of the reasons is because it seems to have been largely overlooked, in my sphere of social media anyway. There wasn’t a lot of hoopla over the book’s release or lots of review chatter. I didn’t see it posted on Instagram. I don’t even remember how I stumbled upon its existence — but oh my, am I ever glad I did! This story has stayed with me for a whole year! And it’s definitely one I’ll be adding to my re-read list. The book:
Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer
This is how I started my review: “Me after finishing this book: languishing on my fainting couch in a gobsmacked swoon of astounded delight. I did not expect this story to be so…royal and deep and spellbinding! And the faith thread about trusting God and how easy/hard that is all rolled into one. Goyer touched my heart and made me think and stunned me with the richness of this not quite fairy tale.”
Because this is such an awesome, unsung hero kinda book, I’m offering a giveaway of Trust the Stars. Details below. And feel free to share one of your 2024 notable reads as well!
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 Trust the Stars, 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 7 2024.
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.
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!
Falling for my best friend’s brother while pretending we’re engaged to save our hometown at Christmas—what could go wrong?
There’s no place like home for the holidays … especially for Lesley Carver. Life in the big city just wasn’t her jam and now she’s back in Hickory Falls, working at the family diner and helping her mom after she took a tumble. Lesley longs to build a life here, working at the cafe, selling her handmade ornaments and … er, apparently reviving her high school crush on her best friend’s older brother. Only one problem, her mom wants her to leave Hickory Falls far behind.
Jamal Gainey is beyond busy keeping the family farm afloat. But when the mayor ropes him into pretending to date his little sister’s best friend to help make the town into a Christmas destination, he finds he doesn’t want to say no. Plus oops, a reporter has already dubbed them “Mr. and Mrs. Christmas” and the story may have gone a teensy bit viral on social media.
As the story draws tourists from far and wide, bringing much needed life back to Hickory Falls, the ruse starts to feel all too real. “Mr. and Mrs. Christmas” takes on a life of its own even as Jamal and Lesley start to realize their relationship isn’t just a Christmas miracle for the town, but the miracle they both need.
My Review:
The tagline says it all: falling for best friend’s brother, fake relationship for the noblest of causes and it’s Christmas! Perfect balance of humour and angst — the way they get roped into the fake engagement is so funny! And the small town vibe makes for a cozy setting. Pretty much Christmas romance perfection in my book.
Loved Lesley and Jamal’s friendship and the way it morphed into something so much more. They’re like deer caught in the headlights in the beginning but gradually become comfortable with the charade…maybe a little too comfortable? Bwahahaha! Swoonalicious all the way to the end!
A solid cast of secondary characters add extra dimension to the story. And all the Christmas-y details made for a very festive read. Honestly, one of my favourite holiday reads this year — and I’ve read a lot of Christmas books since September! ‘Mr and Mrs Christmas’ is the kind of story I’ll happily revisit in the future.
Ahem. Excuse me if I gloat a little but y’all have your Kindle Unlimited deals and now I have this audible original which, as far as I can tell, isn’t available in either print or ebook format. Plus, it’s available free if you have an audible membership (even though it’s a new release.) It seems a strange concept, to offer a free book in only one format but there must be a marketing strategy in there somewhere. I’m just thrilled I made the discovery and got to listen to this amazing story. The dual narration is excellent. Marcella Cox and Ian Hackney did a fabulous job of bringing these characters to life.
For the last three years, Georgia has called the quirky southern town of Sugartree home, dutifully moving back to manage her parent’s coffee shop after her father suffered a heart attack and finding contentment in her busy schedule and the occasional shenanigans of her three younger siblings.
When Lakeland Lovett, troubled son of the local pastor, wafts through the door of Good Start Coffee like a tantalizing cup of hot chocolate, Georgia promises herself she won’t fall prey to his charms and annoyingly perfect face again. She’s not the girl she was in high school who foolishly put her trust and heart in his careless hands. She knows better now, and more importantly, she knows Lake… at least she thinks she does.
But with Lake strutting around Sugartree, driving Georgia crazy all over again with his pesky nicknames, dumb dimples, and swoon-worthy attention laser focused on her, she starts to find any promises to maintain her distance from Lakeland Lovett harder to preserve, and Georgia begins to see him, and her life in Sugartree, in a whole new way.
My Review:
Another amazing find courtesy of November’s Bell Pepper Romance Event.
This is rom/com at its best. Full of small town charm and witty banter and, oh my goodness, Georgia and her siblings are a riot of fun! Flying quips, teasing tomfoolery and heartwarming loyalty. I almost feel like those scenes were the best but then I think of Lakeland and…swoon!
The teenage crush with a bad boy reputation is back home to make amends and Georgia’s the girl he left behind. She’s not about to forget the past and he’s just as determined to show her the future could be different. Sometimes I wanted to shake the pig-headedness out of her because Lake is so…well, I could list all the reasons why he makes the best kind of book boyfriend, but then I’d give the whole plot away. Trust me, the man is kind and thoughtful with an attention to detail that should have clued Georgia in early on, but, she’s busy trying to hold onto her grudge in a misplaced attempt at safeguarding her heart. Silly girl!
I appreciated the significant faith threads woven organically throughout the story. Reconciliation. Redemption. Forgiveness. Grace. With a multi-faceted approach that touches the lives of both Lake and Georgia and those close to them.
And Christmas is definitely centre-stage in this holiday romance which adds to all the cozy, heartwarming vibes and makes it the best kind of festive read.
I listened to the audible edition and thoroughly enjoyed Grace Woods’ narration. She brought out the Southern charm and lightheartedness in the story, making this a Christmas ‘read’ I will happily listen to again in the years ahead.
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 Southern Snow, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 30 2024.
A Christmastime Novella of Restoration and Sweet Romance
It’s the end of 1897 and Christmas approaches. It’s been years since Holly Moore has seen her father, a well-known lumber baron, but she has heard he’s come back home to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Having lived with her aunt and uncle since the age of ten, Holly holds mixed feelings about seeing the man who once abandoned her.
When the opportunity comes for Holly to slip into the household of Grapevine Lodge—her childhood home and the seat of the Moore Lumber fortune—virtually unnoticed, she takes it.
While at Grapevine Lodge, Holly encounters Matthew Peterson, the son of a business associate of her father’s. She quickly develops a friendship with Matthew, but when she finds out just who he really is and what he’s come to the lodge for, Holly questions their relationship.
Will Holly’s father recognize her? Can she move past all that has kept her and her father apart and finally be able to truly come home? Can Holly keep her feelings for Matthew and still step into her role as the heiress to a lumber fortune?
Find out in this short and sweet, Christmas-themed novella with a surprise twist. Readers of Christian historical fiction, Christian or clean romance, and Christmas fiction will experience a heart-warming story of all that makes Christmastime magical.
My Review:
published in 2021
A heartwarming Christmas story featuring reconciliation and romance.
Holly is on a quest to discover more about her estranged father and a past she doesn’t understand. Love the atmospheric setting and the unexpected way Holly’s arrival at Grapevine Lodge gets turned around, giving her an opportunity to seek answers through stealthy means rather than confrontational ones.
The author’s storytelling style sets the tone beautifully. A little bit haunting, a wee bit mysterious and very intriguing. I felt for Holly and her desire to know the truth…even if she isn’t prepared for it! The gentle romance brings a sweet reprieve to her inner turmoil. And the frosty ambience of a house left neglected for much too long is the perfect setting for a story that is as much about forgiveness and mercy as it is about love.
This is the first book in the‘Botanical Seasons Novellas‘ collection as well as the first book I’ve read by Jenny Knipfer and I definitely intend to continue with this series and this author . I’m extremely excited over her new ‘Retold Fairy Tales’ series she has releasing next year. Eeeeeppp!
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 Holly’s Homecoming, 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 November 30 2024.
Rachael I’ve had a crush on my brother’s best friend my entire life. Once, in high school, I even got a taste of what it would be like to be with him thanks to some well-placed incredible and humiliating. We always spend Christmas with Max’s family at our cabin, and every year I have to suffer through a blissful week with him in a completely platonic way. His steady stream of girlfriends have made him off limits . . . until now.
It’s Christmas.
We’re at the cabin together.
And Max Dawson is single.
Max I’ve never looked forward to Christmas less in my entire life. My parents’ holiday will be ruined after I tell them my news, and to make matters worse, I blabbed to Rachael on the drive out to the cabin. Now she has to keep my secret until I’m ready to share with my family.
Which is probably why she’s acting so weird. Watching me. Touching me. Flirting. It would be terrible if I wasn’t enjoying it so much. But her brother has made it clear she’s off limits. And besides, I kissed Rachael once, and we all know how that ended.
So we definitely shouldn’t do it again.
Right?
My Review:
A sweet and swoony festive rom/com.
Three tropes I enjoy – brother’s best friend, secret crush and friends to more – mixed in with some delightful holiday shenanigans at a Lake Tahoe cabin. Well, I say cabin, but it’s big enough to hold both Rachel’s and Max’s families.
They’ve been holidaying together forever, just one big happy blended family of sorts. Only Rachel has harboured a secret crush on Max since her early teens. And they have a bit of cringeworthy history so sometimes it’s awkward and Rachel has to give herself pep talks before, during and after each family event. But this Christmas things seem a little different. More sizzle, some unintended (possibly) flirting and, of course, there’s mistletoe.
Loved the families’ holiday traditions and the way they helped progress the romance. Wonderful secondary characters add to the fun (and drama!) There’s even a hint of Christmas magic! An entertaining Christmas read that delivers all the feels.
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 Cabin Crush, 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 November 30 2024.
Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!
In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker’s desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend’s car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?
In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can’t refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she’s forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.
In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect–especially for Lahela.
My Review:
Happy sigh! What a sensational Romantic Suspense collection which comes as no surprise given the caliber of these authors. Each book reads with as much depth as their longer novels do. Satisfying to the very last word! Oh — and with this trio, ‘it ain’t over ’til it’s over’ is a good thing to keep in mind.
I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Leah Horowitz. She really knows how to deliver a suspense! A perfect pairing of authors and narrator. Highly recommend the audio 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 the Cornered, 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 November 30 2024.
In honour of American Thanksgiving, let’s share some of our favourite bookish things. And let’s chat holiday traditions and FOOD too. (I have so many questions!) Plus, there will be a GIVEAWAY because we’re all so thankful for Baker Book House and all they do to promote quality Christian Fiction and make it easily accessible to us all. More details about that at the end of this post.
CANADIAN VERSUS AMERICAN THANKS GIVING
Canada or the US, it’s all the same to the poor turkey!
I’m surprised by some of the differences between our two countries’ celebrations. Canada’s Thanksgiving is always the second Monday in October. We’ve been celebrating since 1879 but it became an official holiday in 1957 with this heartwarming proclamation: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October.”
American Thanksgiving began a little bit earlier — 1863 — and, of course, is linked way back to the Pilgrims’ harvest festival in 1621, so actually, you kinda have a couple of centuries jump on us. But the fourth Thursday of November? How does that make any sense? Why not make it Friday or Monday so everyone can have a long weekend?
And y’all are football crazy! (disclaimer: I’m getting my US cultural facts from all the fiction I’ve read.) But, seriously, football seems to be the main event on Thanksgiving day…and I’m thinking it’s a major league important game? Canadians are — surprise — hockey mad and the NHL season starts in early October so if anyone is watching a game on Thanksgiving weekend, it’ll be hockey!
Another interesting difference between our two countries is that right after Thanksgiving, Canadians decorate for Halloween while Americans go into full Christmas mode. 🙂
And the food! The basics are the same, turkey or ham with veggies and green bean casserole seems to be a universal love/hate side dish…BUT… speaking of sides, do you actually have baked macaroni and cheese as a side too? Up here that’s the main course and I’ve never seen it paired with meat in the same meal as well…unless you have a vegetarian in your midst that you’re catering to.
Now onto to pies. I have questions. First, in Canada I’d say by far the favourite is apple pie for our Thanksgiving dinner, though we have pumpkin pie too. I LOVE pumpkin pie, but most people I know aren’t a fan, hence the apple pie. Or any other kind of fruit pie.
What we don’t have is sweet potato pie! We have yummy sweet potatoes as a side veggie (divine with a maple syrup glaze) but in a dessert?! Nope. I don’t think anyone up here has even thought of it and, honestly, I think it sounds kinda gross. So, if you’ve had sweet potato pie, what does it taste like?
And I’ve never seen a pecan pie. I’m thinking that’s a mostly Southern dish? We have butter tarts here, and sometimes you can get them with pecans, but that’s the closest I can think of to pecan pie. Maybe because pecans are so expensive up here since we can’t grow them ourselves? Definitely not a part of a our Canadian harvest.
Then there’s chocolate pie. I have never seen one of these either. Since it sounds divine (hello, chocolate!) I thought I’d give making one a try but it turned into one very expensive inedible mess, so, I’m on the fence about chocolate in a pie. I think I’d prefer cake. But if you’re a fan, tell me why.
Now onto the Bookish Things I’m Thankful For!
Book I’m most thankful for this year:
This is an impossibly cruel question to ask an avid reader so I’m not going to answer it, other than to say — ALL OF THEM!!!! Bwahahahaha!
Author I’m most thankful for this year:
Argh — I hate having to single any one author out. I will say that for my Cozy Mystery reading, Donna Andrews is someone I’m so thankful for. I have been reading and re-reading her Meg Langslow series (36 books and counting) since 2020. She’s created characters who have become my friends and Caerphilly is where I want to live, if only it existed. Meg and company have seen me through some tough times and they always lift my spirits.
For Christian Fiction.…there are just so many that I don’t dare single one author out. How about I go with the last time I felt such an anticipatory thrill when I discovered a new-to-me book by a fave author that I ordered it immediately. That would be Pepper Basham and the book was The Christmas Clue to Finding You.
Booktuber I’m thankful for this year: Again, there are so many I enjoy watching who highlight Christian Fiction. But, I’ll pick Lou at Christian Faith and Fiction. She lives in the UK and gives really insightful reviews, plus, she’s started rating faith content — 1 – 3 stars, which is really, really helpful. And, while she’s a regular contributor to the booktube community, you won’t be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of videos releasing, so great for a newbie to the book world on Youtube. Oh, and at the beginning of each month she does a pretty thorough update of Christian Fiction releasing that month. https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianFaithAndFiction
New author I’m thankful I ‘met’ this year: Gah….it’s always so hard to stick to just one so I’ll go by genre.
Gracie Ruth Mitchell for Clean Contemporary Romance
Jackie Layton for Christian Fiction Cozy Mystery
Laura Thomas for Christian Fiction Romantic Suspense (and she’s a Canadian!)
Pat Simmons for Christian Fiction Contemporary Romance
Juneau Black for Cozy Mystery
Tricia Mingerink for Fantasy
Miranda D. Nelson for Historical Romance
2024 Debut author I’m thankful for: Hmmm….I’ll say Angela Carlisle. Her debut, Secondary Target is incredible and she’s an exciting new voice in Romantic Suspense. Can’t wait to see what she releases next.
And let’s not forget about notebooks! Squeall!! I need them for keeping tracking of giveaways, goals, stats, scheduled blog posts, upcoming releases, books I want to read, authors I want to check out…the list goes on forever. This is my recent haul courtesy of the Dollorama’s stationary aisle. All brand new, pristine pages ready to be filled to brimming with bookish wonders. I can’t wait!
AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Just leave a comment (or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) about one of the bookish things you are thankful for and I’ll put your name in my Random Wheel of Names Generator and you could win a $10.00 e-gift card for Baker Book House. They have fantastic deals, including free shipping and discounts for new releases as well as used books.
Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 30 2024.
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.
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!
Kindle the spirit of the season as four of your favorite storytellers weave tales of love and hope in this charming yuletide collection.
Lord Blakely’s Gift by Anneka R. Walker
When Miss ivy Hunt and Lord Curtis Blakely establish a secret acquaintance, neither can deny that their feelings extend beyond friendship. But as the children of bitter rivals, it will take a Christmas miracle for this star-crossed pair to reach their happily ever after.
A Season of Hopeby Sian Ann Bessey
Following the death of her father, Amelia knows Christmas will be lean. But when circumstances become dire, it is the unexpected arrival of a childhood friend that renews Amelia’s hope — both for the future and for love.
Christmas by the Seaby Carla Kelly
After two years at sea with the Royal Navy, surgeon Will Crenshaw longs for a quiet Christmas with his family. But when unrest at home threatens to ruin the holidays, it takes the kindly intervention of a mysterious house sitter to remind them of the true meaning of the season.
Expectations at Canterwoodby Krista Lynn Jensen
Marina Rowley is a spinster, Richard Stanhope a war-weary military man. A case of mistaken identity throw them together, but the unexpected stirrings of their hearts lead to an unforgettable holiday romance.
My Review:
published in 2020
I’m in twitterpated Regency heaven! What an exceptional collection of Christmas stories! I was only familiar with one author (Sian Ann Bessey) and bought A Hopeful Christmas because I loved the two books I’ve read by her but now I have discovered three new-to-me favourite authors! Woohoo! How cool is that?!
And this is definitely a case of all four novellas being equally matched. Gripping, well-written stories that speak to the true meaning of Christmas with engaging characters and emotional plots. I can’t name a favourite for they all deliver exactly what the title promises — hope. (And some delicious toe-curls besides!)
Kav's Best Reads 