Kav's Best Reads

Rocky Road + Giveaway

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

My Review:

Bwahahaha! That Meet-Cute!!!! Snicker inducing and so much fun! Sets the tone for this relationship of contrasts. Because you can’t get more opposite attracts than Gemma and Jude! She’s Miss Impulsive Spontaneity and he’s Mr Cool and Collected and she loves messing with that. (That scene involving a shirt – hilarious!) So many ‘Cheshire grin’ opportunities played out to perfection. 🙂

But, while I’d classify this as a rom/com — it’s also much more! There’s family drama and complicated back stories and deep faith discussions…the messy, real life stuff that we all have to deal with to some degree. And the way the author pulls it all together is sheer brilliance. As emotionally satisfying as it is fun to read.

While mainly told from Gemma and Jude’s POVs, we are also treated to the occasional personal reflections of Jude’s mother. Her story is a bit of a carry over from the first book and will continue on into the third and I’m really looking forward to that. (Side Note: I think this ‘Sons of Scandal’ series would be best read in order. It will make sense if you jump in here but certain things will make more of an impact if you read ‘Memory Lane’ first. )

Becky Wade’s storytelling is sweet perfection. Word choice, descriptions, banter (!!!!), snappy one-liners, soul-stirring reflections…she delivers it all with such grace and hope…and humour.

And that sweet little epilogue! There should have been a warning posted! Luckily my fainting couch was perfectly situated to catch me mid toe-curling swoon!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Rocky Road’ and thoroughly enjoyed the dual narration performed by Reba Buhr and Ryan Hudson.

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 Rocky Road , 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 17 2024.

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret–grumbling the whole way–to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

My Review:

published in 2021

This is a case of trusting a book recommendation even though the only thing you know about ‘The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady’ is that it has an odd title:-) Even though it’s not your usual type of read. No ticking genre and trope boxes or studiously examining every nuance of the synopsis first. Nope. Just a cautious reader fuelled by a bit of bibliophile bravery who went in blind! Gasp! That’s waaaayyy out of my comfort zone! All because a friend said: “Pssst, this is a good book. You should read it.” And, yowza! But am I ever glad I did!

Heartwarming and charming, but hard hitting too. A plot with a faith thread so significant that the whole story would unravel without it. Beautifully written, with such relatable characters! Ladies who could easily be sharing a pew with you at church on Sunday.

I love how this little group of prayer shawl knitters know next to nothing about each other even though they’ve been meeting together for years! Until their pastor shakes up their orderly little world and casts them out of the prayer chapel and into the community, encouraging them to (gasp) knit and pray in public!

Bwahahaha! Humour abounds, especially when it comes to Margaret’s jaded view of their new situation. Her acerbic tongue and blatantly forthright nature had me alternating between laughter and despair because we’ve all known a Margaret or two. Fran, Rose and Jane all have softer personalities which makes for a nice contrast and creates some interesting conflict.

But it’s when they start to meet people in their community that this story takes on a life of its own. A mix of humour and heartache all jumbled together as these four ladies interact with strangers. People who are in need of their unique gifts and talents, if only they have the courage to share.

So many moving stories woven together — especially as we learn about the personal challenges of each knitter. Their back stories intertwine with the lives of new friends and it’s easy to see God’s hand in it all. I reached the end with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. What an exceptional debut novel!

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 Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady , 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 17 2024.

Double Take + Giveaway

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he’s rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it’s not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

My Review:

Whooooosssshhhhh!!! That’s the sound of my pent-up breath releasing at last! Warning: this book may induce light-headedness, hyperventilating and the need for a defibrillator. Read at your own peril! Bwahahaha!

‘Double Take’ is the best kind of suspense because it’s all edge-of-your-seat plot paired with mind-blowing revelations BUT it’s also the worst kind of suspense because it’s impossible to express true bibliophile euphoria in a review for fear of sharing spoilers. So, excuse me if I’m vague.

Truth: I started reading and I couldn’t stop. Right into the wee hours of the morning and I never do that because I covet my beauty sleep! 🙂 However, today I wear my bloodshot, raccoon ringed eyes as a badge of honour. Not only did Lainie and James survive the read, I did too!

More Truth: the plot has more highs and lows than a rollercoaster. Death defying drops even. And the way Eason s-l-o-w-l-y makes sense of the impossible. Whoooaaaa! Astounding! Stunning! Indescribably good.

Even More Truth: The romance between James and Lainie is so well done. She’s been his sister’s best friend for years but he’s been overseas with the armed forces for a decade. They reconnect in a spectacular way (no spoilers here!) and then gradually develop a friendship that teases on the edge of becoming something deeper…only… Issues. Personal struggles that complicate things. Not to mention the trying to stay alive part!!!! But, oh, sweet joy, the heart-to-hearts, the faith talks, the way he starts to be able to read her mind because they have a connection that won’t be denied. Swoon! Thud! And repeat!

Last Truth: Read this book. Seriously, it’s that simple. If you love romantic suspense, read this book. If you don’t love romantic suspense, read this book anyway and you will. 🙂

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 Double Take , 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 February17 2024.

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 in the title and note the book editions available for each giveaway as they will vary.

Shadows at Dusk + Giveaway

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

My Review:

Whoa! What an adrenaline rush of a read! Oxygen tank and defibrillator might just be necessary standbys for sensitive readers! 🙂

First, love the Alaskan setting. There’s something so alluring about stories set in this state…at least for me. Have no idea why because I’m definitely not the rugged wilderness type. I’m much more of the curl up by the roaring fire reading about rugged wilderness types kinda gal. But there’s something modern day wild west-ish about this setting which makes it quite brilliant for suspense.

And too funny — I grabbed this book to help me ride out an epic snowstorm only to discover the story takes place in the spring/summer. Still lots of scope for fighting against the elements even if it’s rain and the wilderness is just as untamed so that kind of thrill carried all the way through.

Love that our heroine is a bush pilot and that our hero isn’t all that keen on flying. They have great chemistry that’s all tangled up in complicated back stories and current agendas. Goddard is a master at weaving all of that into the increasingly difficult situations Carrie and Trevor find themselves in.

And the suspense! A reader practically needs climbing gear to navigate all the treacherous fissures cracking through the plot! So many twists and turns and downright bottomless pits to tiptoe around. And the stakes just kept getting higher as the story progressed. Danger, corruption, deceit run rampant. Oh and that prologue!!! Jaw-dropping, gasp-out-loud, what-just-happened good.

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 Shadows at Dusk , 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 10 2024.

Tex

Random Retro Read

He’s back in town after a successful country music career. She owns a bordering farm to the family land he wants to buy…and she outbids him at the auction. Can Tex and Abigail rekindle their old flame, or will the issue of land ownership come between them?

Tex Young has spent the last two decades traveling around the world with his brothers as part of Country Quad, a successful cowboy boy band. He’s stepping back from the band and returning to his roots in Coral Canyon, where the Young brothers all grew up.

Their father sold the family ranch several years ago when none of them wanted it, and Tex, along with his son, rolls into town the day before an auction for the land. He wants it. He talks to some of his brothers, and they decide to try to get the ranch back.

Abigail Ingalls has other plans for that land, as it borders her small farm, which she’s labored on with her disabled brother for the past two decades…after Tex left her in Coral Canyon so he could go live the country music star life. The land isn’t taken care of, and she wants to add it to what she owns and create an oasis out of weeds.

Abby and Tex both show up at the auction, and they both want that land. The sparks between them are as hot as they were twenty years ago, but Tex tells himself it’s because the uppity town librarian outbid him and bought his family ranch.

So he devises another plan to get the ranch back…and that includes taking his gorgeous, former girlfriend to dinner a time or two. Can Tex and Abby build a real, lasting relationship now that they’re both back in Coral Canyon for good? Or will Tex’s plan to get his family ranch back end up breaking both of their hearts?

My Review:

published in 2022

My first Liz Isaacson novel and happy to get in at the start of the ‘Coral Canyon Cowboy’s series featuring nine (yes, 9!!!!) brothers! Loved the sense of homecoming featured in this story as Tex and his teenage son return to the town he grew up in.

It’s a summer of second chances — for father and son, the family ranch, the girl (now woman) next door, and brotherly bonding. Loved that reoccurring theme and the way the author weaves it throughout multiple storylines.

I enjoyed the romance between Tex and Abby. (You really can’t go wrong with a librarian and a cowboy, right?!) She’s nursing some hurt and is a little prickly at first, but he just doesn’t give up and it isn’t long before they fall back into the easy friendship of their youth. There are obstacles to overcome, of course, but I love that they actually communicate with each other. Not always well, but they muddle their way through to a hard earned happily ever after eventually.

While the story starts off mostly from Tex and Abby’s points of view, it morphs into an all encompassing story with various new character POVs. Only, I get the feeling they are actually ‘old’ characters from a previous series. It got a bit confusing for this newbie Isaacson reader, but I imagine it would be thrilling for veterans out there. 🙂 Sweet vignettes, they just didn’t have any meaning for me since I couldn’t put them into context.

I enjoyed listening to the dual narration performed by Amanda Stribling and Tyler Darby.

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of Tex.

Three Little Matchmakers + Giveaway

1817, Staffordshire, England

Caroline Dempsey, a loving governess, and Henry Graves, an impassive earl, fall prey to the matchmaking machinations of three newly orphaned children who determine to forge a new family for themselves, no matter the havoc their plans cause.

My Review:

Of Note: originally appeared in the 2017 Regency Bride Collection published by Barbour.

So much fun! This is on the short side for a novella but it is oh, so sweet! Lovely characters who come alive — from the innocently conniving children to the austere Earl and devoted governess. So — eeeepp — grumpy/sunshine trope in full swing at the start of this story.

Caroline and Henry have a history right back to childhood (when one might have harboured a secret crush on the other) but time and personal difficulties have kept them apart and make them strangers when they meet up once again in order to create a stable home for Henry’s orphaned nieces and nephew.

And, oh my, these children! Imaginatively enthusiastic in their pursuit of a happily ever after for them all. Spurred on, no less, by the wild tales of Henry and Caroline’s misspent youth! Our hero and heroine don’t stand a chance…thankfully.

Heartwarming and funny with some serious undertones too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Three Little Matchmakers , 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 10 2024.

Alaskan Wilderness Rescue + Giveaway

A missing person rescue is now a K-9 manhunt for a killer…

A missing person case sends search and rescue worker Elsie Montgomery and her K-9 to a remote Alaskan island…only to discover she’s got a target on her back. Now she must partner with pilot Wyatt Chandler, the one man she doesn’t trust, to stay alive while confronting her shadowy past. But can they capture a killer before their time together runs out for good?

My Review:

I can’t express how thrilled I am that some of the Love Inspired Suspense novels are coming out in audio format too! I have them preordered as fast as they appear on Audible. Enjoyed Sara Sheckells’ narration immensely.

Varland knows how to deliver an edge-of-your-seat suspense with emotional depth. Elsie’s backstory is especially compelling and explains a lot about her reactions and need to be in control even as her life transforms into a terrifying free fall.

Enter Wayne — her best friend’s older brother who has a past of his own even though he’s a changed man. Once he comes to Elsie’s aid the pull to continue helping her is too strong to ignore — despite Elsie’s stubborn independent streak. Really enjoyed the way their relationship evolved, the deep discussions as they started trusting each other with their pasts.

And, of course, there’s the K-9 angle full of interesting SAR tidbits that added to the suspense and kept me riveted right to the very end.

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 Alaskan Wilderness Rescue , 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 10 2024.

All My Secrets + Giveaway

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company―and most of the vast fortune that goes with it―to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

My Review:

I’m gobsmacked and teary-eyed and quite reluctant to leave Gilded Age New York and the characters I’ve grown to love . ‘All My Secrets’ is the kind of rich, absorbing story that leaves a reader feeling bereft once she reaches the end. I’m still experiencing the aftershocks of joy and heartache and hope and I just want to sit with it all in quiet contemplation for awhile.

There’s no doubt that Lynn Austin is a masterful storyteller. The combination of descriptive writing, deeply layered plot and characters who take on a life of their own is so alluring! The historical details are illuminating as we follow three generations of Stanhope women at a pivotal time in American history.

The story is told from three points of view as Junietta, Sylvia and Adelaide are forced to come to terms with the sudden change in their circumstances. While most of the story takes place in ‘present day’ (1898) we are given flashbacks into the early lives of Junietta and Sylvia, so this is kind of a dual timeline as well. And oh my, those back stories!!!! The lessons learned (and not!) Powerful and moving and Christ centred. Loved the faith elements shared in this book.

Then there’s Addy, a young woman who has spent her entire life doing what is expected of her. Now she’s torn between duty to her mother and the disruptive ideas of her grandmother. Riveting stuff. The kind of all-consuming read that leaves you with a book hangover by the end!

I enjoyed listening to Sarah Zimmerman’s excellent narration. She’s a familiar voice in my audiobook library and I love the feeling of being invited back into a favourite storyteller’s circle once again.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of All My Secrets.

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 All My Secrets , 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 10 2024.