Kav's Best Reads

Reader’s Choice 2024 Goal Review + Baker Book House Giveaway

Happy New Year, reading friends!

So nice to be back after the holiday break and eager to get started with the first 2025 Reader’s Choice week(s). Woohoo. We’ll be starting off by reflecting back on our 2024 reading history. If you are a goal setter, it’s also time for our Annual Reading Goal Review.

I’ll share how I did, and, if you are so inclined, feel free to share some of your 2024 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? 🙂

The Giveaway

To enter this giveaway you can, a) reflect on a 2024 reading goal OR b) if you’re not a goal oriented person, share a book that made an impact from your 2024 reading list. Share in a comment or send me an email at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. and I will enter you in a draw to win a $10 Baker Book House Gift Card.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 11 2025. (You will have until noon on the 11th to enter this giveaway.)

A LOOK AT MY 2024 READING GOALS AND PROGRESS.

Goal #1 : Read more Indie books. I’m calling this one a fail…er…kafuffle. I actually read 18 fewer indie books than last year. I did do better in the last quarter – actually doubled my Indie number from October through December and that’s largely thanks to all of your excellent recommendations. So thank you!

GOAL #2: Read more debut books. Counting this one as a win since I doubled the number I read last year. I’m still finding it hard to source debut books so I’m not reading as many as I anticipated I could.

GOAL #3: Read more new-to-me authors. A resounding success!!!! I made the acquaintance of 100 new-to-me authors in 2024!!!! Woohoo!!!!!

GOAL #4: More diversity in the authors I read. I’m calling this one a win too, though there’s always room for improvement.

GOAL #5: Targeted author catch-up. Mega fail…miserably kafuffled. 🙂 Revamping this goal for 2025 for sure.

GOAL # 6: Enjoy some rereads. Had fun with this goal and reread way more than I thought I would. Enjoyed every minute too!

GOAL #7: Social Media Influenced Reads. 100% Success!! I only had to pick one book from instagram/blog recommendations per month and that was easily achievable. Book recommendations from like-minded readers is the bestest!

GOAL #8: Read outside my comfort zone. Success! I only had to read 5 books but I read 11 so I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment because it’s so hard for me to do. And even though this goal was achievable, I still approach out of comfort zone reads with way too much wariness. Definitely not a reading initiative I’ll embrace but I’ll continue to occasionally stretch my reading wings because I found some great books this way!

GOAL #9: Serious about series – start 24 new-to-me series, catch up on 24 series I’ve already started and keep up with 24 series I’m up to date with. Phew! Too bad I’m not counting all the series I started and even finished that weren’t on my list but we’ll stick to the specific series I targeted.

Goal #10: Keep reading stats. SUCCESS!!! And here are some more nerdy graphs to prove it!

Phew! I’m nerded out! Now it’s your turn. How was your 2024 reading year?

Irish Soda Bread Murder

It’s almost time for the delicious warmth of Irish soda bread, but be careful where you bite–some of these recipes call for murder in this delicious collection of cozy mystery novellas featuring the popular St. Paddy’s Day treat.

IRISH SODA BREAD MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
There’s very little time left before her wedding, but nonetheless Tara Meehan is helping out at her Uncle Johnny’s salvage yard for the day. Aunt Rose set up a convention for local psychics, including a bake sale to raise money for charity, but now she’s sick and available only via an iPad Johnny is carrying. The event promises to deliver a real pot of gold until Rose’s biggest rival shows up. Before Tara can utter a simple “top o’ the morning” to the man, he drops dead—with Johnny’s soda bread in his hands. It’s up to Tara to identify the deadly baker before another victim ends up chasing the rainbow straight into a grave . . .

AN IRISH RECIPE FOR MURDER by PEGGY EHRHART
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, the Arborville, New Jersey, Advocate is sponsoring a soda bread–baking competition. Bettina Fraser is excited—her bake-off idea was the one to get the green light! But when a town councilman acting as a judge keels over after sampling an entry, the party atmosphere dies just as quickly. Now it’s up to Bettina and her Knit and Nibble knitting club bestie, Pamela Paterson, to find the killer responsible for the murderous morsel.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SINISTER SODA BREAD MAN by LIZ IRELAND
When April Claus arrives in Cloudberry Bay, Oregon, to check on her flooded inn, her biggest worry is to keep everyone from realizing her three companions—Jingles, Juniper, and Butterbean—are elves. But soon enough she has more serious worries—it looks like her hapless caretaker Ernie has been storing stolen goods at the inn! Then one of Ernie’s shady pals is found dead, and the murder weapon turns up in a decorative loaf of soda bread at April’s craft fair booth. It’s up to April to uncover the killer before she spends St. Patrick’s Day in the county jail!

My Review:

What fun to find a book that features St. Patrick’s Day as a theme! I’m only current with one of the series featured in this collection but I still found the other two novellas easy to jump in at mid series.

Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O’Connor – Super excited about this addition to the ‘Home to Ireland’ series. I was so disappointed when it stopped after two books so I was eager to meet up with Tara and the gang in Galway. A fun mystery with a Christie-esque gather all the suspects together to reveal the killer grand finale. This is the only story actually set in Ireland and I was a bit let down since the narration didn’t include Irish accents (there’s only one American character in the mix.) It was kind of strange to hear some of the Irish phrasing without the lilt.

An Irish Recipe for Murder by Peggy Ehrhart – I’ve only read the first book in the ‘Knit & Nibble Mystery‘ series but it was fun to get reacquainted with these characters and I loved the Bake Off theme featuring Irish Soda Bread. Two amateur sleuths, a knitting group made up of an eclectic mix of personalities and a murder! Definitely more cozy than mystery in this novella. Lots of descriptive details on food and fibre crafts.

Mrs. Claus and the Sinister Soda Bread Man by Liz Ireland – My introduction to the Mrs. Claus series and this novella has charmed me into adding the rest of the books to my Serious About Series Challenge for the New Year. So. Much. Fun. The elves cracked me up all the way through (it’s their first time away from Christmastown.) So, quirky humour, great characters and a multi-layered mystery to solve. Not to mention a Soda Bread Man to bake. I’m still grinning.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of this collection, narrated by Carlotta Brentan. She did a great job giving distinctive voices to all the characters (with the exception of Irish accents in the first novella.) A pleasant listening experience.

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

December Giveaway – Week Three

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR!

Tuesday December 24 – last Net Galley review of the year Irish Soda Bread Murder, novella collection – Review Only. ( the release date is actually December 24th!)

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ll be taking a wee break over Christmas and then we’ll welcome the New Year in with our first Reader’s Choice Week of 2025! We’ll be looking at Christian Fiction books releasing in Jan, Feb and Mar 2025. Woohoo! So the schedule will look like this:

Thursday January 2 – 2024 Goals in Review Giveaway – where we share our annual reading progress and the books that got away. (can include books published any time — don’t have to stick to new 2025 releases.)

Friday January 3 – 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.

Monday January 6 – – 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.

Tuesday, January 7 – 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.

Wednesday, January 8 – Amish Fiction – a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where the hero and/or heroine are Amish OR the setting is in an Amish community with secondary characters who are Amish. May cross genres such as Historical, Mystery etc and may include dual timelines.

Thursday January 9 – 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 Women’s Fiction, Speculative, SciFi etc.

Winners will be announced on Saturday January 11th 2025 .

Crystal Clear

indie!

Would Rosalind escape the grip of gossip while hidden away in a French château?

As Rosalind’s muddied past and foggy future crystalize in Château Chenonceau, she hopes to find refuge from gossip. Even though the sequestering is not fair, Rosalind finds a friend in the owner of the château. A magical garden, Christmas ball, and crystal ornaments center her determination to rise above her marred reputation.

Luc Bélanger, retiring from battle with scars manifested in a constant drumming in his ears, plans to hide at his aunt’s château. A pretty English guest and a Christmas ball interfere with his need for rest and time to plan his next step.

Watch as the fairy tale château and the Christmas of 1879 work their magic and break the bonds of propriety, perhaps leading to healing and purpose.

My Review:

A beguiling Christmas romance with some historical significance. The Château Chenonceau is a real place – a French fairy tale castle that captured the author’s imagination when she was a young girl. Love how she found a way to tie it into one of her stories. And two secondary characters are real people out of the pages of history. One of them is quite famous so that was a fun surprise.

There is a fairy tale quality to this story but it also has a significant inspirational influence which I so appreciated.

“My God is bigger than we are. I’m not deterred. But He doesn’t promise the answer I want, only an answer and a plan.”

A touching redemption story for a beleaguered soldier searching for peace and the young English woman who is instrumental in helping him find hope in unexpected places.

The Christmas Catch + Giveaway

When two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?

Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille “Bebe” Gordon.

Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns–for the first time in eight years–all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won’t risk him leaving her again. As their hometown’s Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he’s only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.

My Review:

What would Christmas be without a holiday romance from one of my favourite authors? It would be dismal, that’s what. Because, once again Toni Shiloh has blended faith and family and Christmas memories into a heart-tugging romance that made me all kinds of festively happy.

Second Chance romance. Check. Christmas Ball. Check. Reindeer. In Georgia?! Check. Perfect building blocks that set the stage for an inspirational contemporary romance with a meaningful faith thread in the midst of all the holiday fun.

Love the way Bebe and Jahleel prayerfully worked their way through past hurts to reclaim their friendship…and the hope of something so much more. There’s Christmas activities, Bebe’s adorable young daughter, special friendships along with some family drama to keep a reader invested in the outcome. A captivating read from start to finish.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of ‘The Christmas Catch’ (clever title!) expertly narrated by Jasmin Walker. Would definitely recommend giving this book a listen if you enjoy audio books as much as I do.

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 Christmas Catch 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 Friday December 20 2024.

Waiting for Gilbert + Giveaway

indie!

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of her phone, asking her landlord to come for dinner.”

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

My Review:

I’m more than a tad shy of giddy over this literary discovery — both book and author! Reader friend recommendations are the best! Woohoo! And ‘Waiting for Gilbert’ is waaaaaayyy up at the top of my fave reads in 2024 list (if I ever made such a thing!) It’s exactly what I am looking for in a rom/com — lots of humour with generous doses of heart and faith.

And all the Anne-girl references. Hellllooo — a heroine named Cordelia! She’s just as effervescent as my favourite childhood fictional character, with an extra pop of snark. She doesn’t just have witty inner dialogue – she carries on entire conversations with herself which are so hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times! And then promptly felt my eyes welling up with tears in a moving, inspirational scene towards the end. Sniffle. Sooooooo good!

Then there’s Gilbert. I was just as over-the-moon excited as Cordelia when she finally meets an actual Gilbert who could possibly be her perfect match. Truly a friends to more romance that is as touching as it is funny. And I love that Gilbert is a musician! Cello player no less.

Cozy small town vibes with some amazing secondary characters add to the heartwarming tone of this story. Sheer romantic comedy perfection!

Highly recommend the audio edition of ‘Waiting for Gilbert‘. Hopper Stone and Emelle are brilliant! They brought these characters to life and didn’t miss a comedic beat. So. Much. Fun.

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 Waiting for Gilbert, 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 Friday December 20 2024.

A Yorkshire Carol + Giveaway

indie!

The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can understand it?

When Juliana Issot’s godmother invites her to spend the month of Christmas for a house party in Yorkshire, Juliana feels compelled by affection to accept. Never mind that she escaped Yorkshire at first chance to secure a more glittering match in London, and the only matrimonial prospect at home is her childhood playmate, Willelm.

Willelm Armitage is a born and bred Yorkshireman, and as far as he is concerned, Juliana belongs here, too—and at his side. However, the one time he tried to convince her of this, she speedily gave him the right-about, making him question whether she truly was the right choice for him. After all, if she cannot see how well they suit, he is not about to force her hand.

A Christmas house party with pudding, games, charades, riding, and carols turns out to be just the thing to remind Juliana of how much she loves Yorkshire. But when her nostalgia slips into love will she be able to admit that Willelm knew the longings of her heart better than she knew her own?

My Review:

I seem to be attending a lot of Regency Christmas house parties this year and I’m loving it! Such a great way to keep a hero and heroine in close proximity, and to allow matchmakers free license. That’s what happens in ‘A Yuletide Carol’ much to my reader’s delight.

True confession: I wasn’t sure if I could warm to Juliana right at the start. We’re so opposite — she loves the busy atmosphere of London. All the balls and social gatherings and has been set on securing an advantageous match. So she’s a bit calculating when she arrives back home in Yorkshire. She’s definitely looking for a gentleman who will whisk her back to the gaiety of London society. I’m too much of an introvert to put up with all that nonsense, so I usually bond with outlier heroines who prefer the country and their books and animals to social climbing.

Happy to say Juliana did win me over by the end. That’s because Goutet (eep — new-to-me author!) creates some wonderful character growth in Juliana as she begins to set aside girlish dreams and comes to realize her feelings for Willelm might run deeper than she thought.

Willelm has been besotted with Juliana for a long time now. Friends since childhood, he discovered deeper feelings early on. Alas, they were not reciprocated so he has been nursing an unrequited love. I was sympathetic to Willelm right away and I think that might have something to do with why Juliana irked me in the beginning too. But, what’s a romance without conflict? Makes the happily ever after more satisfying. And this one was!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Stevie Zimmerman. She’s a favourite voice performer and she never disappoints.

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 A Yuletide Carol, 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 Friday December 20 2024.

Conversations With Kav – Christmas Carol Book Tag + Giveaway

‘Tis the season for all the book tags and here’s another fun one I came across on Chautona Havig’s book tube channel. I stuck with Christmas books but I think the challenge was meant for any book. Feel free to answer one or some or all of the prompts in the comment section and I’ll throw your name in a giveaway draw for a $10 Baker Book House e-gift card.

Red, Gold & Green – a book with a combination of these colours on the cover (was it ever hard to find all three on one cover!)

Carol Singing – What is your favourite Christmas Carol? Pick a book with a title that includes a word from that song title. (Mary Did You Know?)

Christmas trees, wreaths and evergreens: a book that features nature on the cover.

Sending cards: a book with epistolary elements you read this year or want to read this year. (This one has some fun texting scenes so I’m counting it.)

Mistletoe: a book that features unrequited love.

Santa Claus: a book that features a character who’s old, maybe a little frightening, but endearing anyway.

Nativity scenes: family based historical fiction

Elf on a shelf: a book on your shelf that catches your eye but you haven’t picked up yet. (and that’s only because my order finally came in and I just picked it up!)

Christmas movies: favourite adaptation or a book you’d like to see adapted. (One I’d love to be made into a movie as long as they stuck to the plot and dialogue of the book!)

Ugly sweater: a book that made you laugh out loud. (So much!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Just leave a comment (or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca) answering at least one of these Christmas Carol Book Tag prompts 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 Friday December 20 2024.

December Giveaway – Week Two

WON BY JACKIE

WON BY ANGIE ADAMS

WON BY WINNIE THOMAS

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!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AND START OF CHRISTMAS BREAK

A Christmas Duet

A solo holiday trip inspires one woman to rediscover her passion—and remember that, sometimes, duets are more fun—in this romantic Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of composing her own songs, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland, Oregon. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of Christmas with her meddling family, where she’ll have to play nice while dodging their traditional expectations.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in small-town Podunk, Washington, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin is occupied by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the mayor’s son—who happens to be an incredibly charming former musician—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s encouragement and feedback inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, threatening her newfound peace and confidence, while she realizes Jay might be more than he presents himself to be. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

My Review:

The holidays can’t really commence until I’ve read a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel and ‘A Christmas Duet’ is a delightful addition to her long standing tradition of delivering heartwarming yuletide stories at the most wonderful time of the year.

An easy, satisfying, read-in-one-sitting kind of story with wonderful Christmas elements, family drama and new beginnings — complete with romance.

Hailey is all for escaping Christmas festivities this year (and who can blame her after what her mother has done?!) so she merrily heads off to a cabin on the outskirts of the smallest of small towns. What could be more blissful than ten days of creative isolation and rest? Yeah, well, things don’t go exactly as planned…and the result is another memorable Macomber Christmas story to add to my collection.