Kav's Best Reads

Of Love and Treason + Giveaway

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

My Review:

This book is so far out of my comfort zone that I’m surprised it lured me in anyway. Not only caught my attention, but kept it right to last heart-breaking, hope-soaring word. (Sniffle.) Of course, I knew going in there wouldn’t be the kind of fictional happily ever after that I craved but still…

So much to say about this unique novel…and yet I’m too bereft to find the words. That’s Jamie Ogle’s fault — her exquisite writing wrapped me in the best of bookish hugs for all that it also induced tears and sorrow. (More sniffles and a heaving sigh.)

Memorable characters for all their flaws but also for the light of Christ that shines through them. There are some very raw, hard to read scenes. Brutal even. But so many goose-bumping, Jesus-praising moments as well which helps to balance things out. Still, it’s the kind of read that brings on an emotional stupor of epic bibliophile proportions by the time you reach the end. And I’m still reeling.

So, not an easy read. A most difficult one, actually. But I’m richer for having read this story and met these characters and experienced what it was like to live as a Christian under the brutal rule of the Roman Emperor. Thought-provoking and emotionally stirring (though I’m diving into a rom/com asap to lighten my mood!)

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book. Lillian Kelly’s narration is stunning! She has a soothing, easy-to-listen to voice which helped carry me through the hardest scenes. Her emotional, attention grabbing performance held me spellbound.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of the book OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Of Love and Treason , 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 January 27 2024.

The Heart’s Shelter

Kira has no interest in dating and putting down roots in Pennsylvania—that is, until she finds a kindred spirit in Jayden Bontrager.

Kira Detweiler doesn’t plan to be in Lancaster County for long. She’s left her family in Indiana to help her aunt after the birth of her fourth boppli. Or at least that’s what she tells people. Deep down, she’s trying to escape the heartache of a broken engagement and has no plans to date again anytime soon.

Jayden Bontrager watches his older brothers with admiration, and he prays that someday he’ll have the kind of life they do. Even so, he’s only twenty-three and not in a hurry to marry and start a family. He’s content to watch from the sidelines and is happy to see his brothers enjoying a close relationship once again.

When Jayden and Kira strike up a friendship, they are each drawn to the other’s gentle and humble demeanor, and they feel things for one another unlike anything they’ve felt before. But Kira is torn between her heart and her home. She sees no point in pursuing a relationship with Jayden when she doesn’t plan to put down roots in Pennsylvania. The last thing she needs is another heartbreak.

Will Jayden and Kira be able to overcome the obstacles in their path to find the future they both dream of?

In this fourth and final book of the Amish Legacy Series, readers will find out if the youngest Bontrager brother will get his happily ever after.

My Review:

A lovely slice of Amish family life with a sweet friends to more romance trope.

The strength of this story is in the rich details of the Amish community. I loved reading about the day to day goings on in both Jayden’s and Kira’s extended families. And the way they are drawn together and slowly open themselves up to love made for a rich, satisfying read.

Of course it doesn’t all go smoothly. Clipston captures both the anxiety and thrill of starting a relationship and I was unaccountably nervous off and on through the whole read. I mean, I knew there’d be a happily ever after, but still the emotional twists and turns kept me angsting…as did one very annoying maidel. ‘Nuf said.

Of Note: This is the fourth book in the author’s Amish Legacy series but reads perfectly fine as a standalone. If you are familiar with the Bontrager men, you’ll be thrilled to catch up with them and their Frauen. This was my introduction to the series and I had no problem using this story as my starting point. You can bet I’ll be backtracking to catch up with this series sometime soon.

I listened to the audio edition of this novel and Lauren Berst’s narration brought an extra level of enjoyment. It was fun to actually hear various Pensylvania Dutch words spoken (as opposed to the mangled pronunciations rattling around in my head!) And she did a fantastic job of giving the characters distinctive tones and inflections which helped to flesh out the characters in my mind.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of The Heart’s Shelter.

January Giveaway – Week Three

CONGRATULATIONS!

WON BY STEPHANIE

WON BY ROXANNE

WON BY KIMMY

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.

Daisies Are Forever

Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch’s identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her “marriage.”

Their journey to Gisela’s mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella’s daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

My Review:

I’ve read a lot of World War II novels and I’m always amazed at how authors find unique settings and perspectives for their stories. I knew absolutely nothing about this area of Germany (Prussia at the time) and the Russian invasion. Supposed allies fighting to free the world from Hitler’s tyranny, their brutality matched the Nazis and Tolsma captures the desperation and despair of the innocent civilians caught in their path. But she also conveys the people’s resiliency and courage and it all made for a riveting read.

We see that first hand in Gisela’s story which is full of danger and treachery in the midst of the most atrocious circumstances. Yet she doesn’t make the journey alone as an unlikely band of refugees gather together to make their impossible trek to freedom. That includes British POW Mitch and hiding his true identity makes their situation that much more dire.

Phew! But this was a gripping, hard to read at times, uncomfortable but ultimately triumphant story of love and loss in the midst of one of the most turbulent times in history.

I listened to the audio book, narrated by Carol Jacobanis who did a fantastic job with accents and phrasing and helped bring this story to life.

Fragile Designs + Giveaway

Family secrets can be the most dangerous of all.

When Carly Tucker’s police-officer husband is killed during a home break-in, she knows that her side hustle finding the antique treasures at flea markets isn’t enough to support her and their infant son, Noah. So her grandmother’s proposal to have her and her two sisters restore the family’s waterfront Beaufort home into a bed-and-breakfast–that Carly will run–is immediately intriguing. But it’s equally daunting with the animosity that exists between the three sisters.

What Carly never expected as she begins to go through the attic was to find a letter in a trunk, written in her husband’s handwriting . . . dated two days before his death. Eric had discovered that Carly’s grandmother was adopted–a fact Carly is certain Gram is not aware of–and had already begun trying to track down her birth family. Is it possible that Eric’s death wasn’t random after all?

With few options, Carly reaches out to Gram’s neighbor Lucas—and the older brother of her high school sweetheart–who is a local homicide detective. One of the items in the trunk is an enameled egg. If it truly is a Faberge egg, the value could set Carly up for life . . . and would certainly be worth killing for. The journey to find the truth and protect her family will have Carly delving deep into the lost treasures of Eastern Europe–if she and Lucas can survive that long.

My Review:

Classic edge-of-your-seat Coble! Chock full of intrigue and danger paired with bourgeoning romance. And, oh, the family drama! Yikes but I wanted to shake some sense into Carly’s entitled sisters! Gah! I thought the author handled the reasons for the family dynamics and the way they are revealed and resolved really well…but I still want to purse whomp somebody! 🙂

Love the genealogical aspect to the mystery. It brought a bit more edge and emotional rawness to the story. And the Faberge egg angle is unique and captured my imagination. I went on a google deep dive for images and history during the read. Love when a work of fiction prompts me to do that!

The romance is a bit of enemies to more and at first I wasn’t sure I’d become invested in the love story since Carly is recently widowed and a new mother, BUT the author develops the pull between this hero and heroine in a way that had me rooting for them…and swooning over Lucas. Happy sigh. Baby Noah was a heart stealer as well. And when baby-shy Lucas falls for the little guy, well, my heart did happy dancing flip-flops!

Of course, in true Coble style, there’s plenty of intrigue and ominous danger to wade through before the twisty-turny plot can straighten out into a happily ever after and I hung on every last word!

My thanks to the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of Fragile Designs. Narrator Karen Peakes has a soothing, easy-to-listen-to voice which captures the nuances of individual characters perfectly — both male and female. Highly recommend the audio edition if you are an avid bibliophile listener like I am!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of the book OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fragile Designs , 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 January 20 2024.

Right Here Waiting

RANDOM RETRO READ

Can she belong in his world?

Sled dog musher and vlogger Nick Dahlquist has simple goals—teach outdoor survival, run the Iditarod…and chat with online friend, LadyJHawk. Sure, he’s starting to like her more than he wants to admit, but has no capacity for an in-real-life relationship.

Chopper pilot Jae Washington has been an avid follower of Nick’s DogQuest vlog since inheriting a military working dog. Now, his online friendship has made her wonder if he could be more than a friend. Getting a job on Deep Haven’s Crisis Response Team seems the perfect next step—so long as he doesn’t think she’s stalking him.

Nick is pretty sure petite Jae won’t last a moment in the brutal cold—a fear he shares with LadyJHawk. Meanwhile, Jae decides to keep her avatar a secret until she can prove to Nick she’s not a stalker. But as he trains her—and the chill between them begins to thaw—what if he discovers the truth she’s hiding?

When a blizzard strikes, and the CRT is deployed, more than just their relationship is at risk…

Cozy up to this delightful twist on You’ve Got Mail set in the snowy escape of Deep Haven.

My Review:

published in 2021

This is my first venture into the Deep Haven Collection series and I’ll admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the characters in the beginning. Understandable since this is the 6th book in the multi-authored Collection series and then there are the original Deep Haven books written by Susan May Warren that came before . So, that’s a lot of history wrapped around this community and the CRT gang. I wasn’t so much lost as feeling a bit left out at times. Not enough to dim my enjoyment of the read, but just something to be aware of.

This hidden identity trope is equal parts charming and angsty…especially as Jae is always on the verge of revealing her online persona but never quite manages it and I just knew that we were heading for disaster which left me on edge for most of the read. But this is also a great friends to more love story, though both Jae and Nick are grappling with issues of trust and self-confidence. They have to learn to be open and vulnerable and that trusting God first can ease the way to fully trusting others.

So, plenty of angst, lots of sweet moments, a few toe-curling kisses and even some handy winter survival tips that are quite timely for this Canadian with lots of cold and stormy days ahead. 🙂

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Brittany Goodwin courtesy of Chirp Books.

A Noble Masquerade + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO REREAD

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother’s old school friend, a duke–with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she’s heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother’s new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.

When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men–one she’s never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marcus is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda’s heart is far from all that’s at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.

My Review:

published in 2015

I was inspired to revisit this series after reading The Hawthorne House novella collection. This time I listened to the audible edition and was just as captivated by this story and these characters!

—

Thrilled me to my toes. I adore Regency novels — but Regency novels full of tongue-in-cheek humour is in a category all its own. Stupendous. And not the genteel laughter kind of humour — more like the snorting guffaw kind. Very unladylike. Miranda’s mother would so not approve, but I snorted and chuckled my way through A Noble Masquerade with complete abandon.

This is the kind of book that you want to make last. I found myself putting it aside in order to savor the delight of the read. I’d play over a scene, twist it around in my mind, imagine where the plot was heading and only when I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, I’d pick up the book and start reading again. It took my three days to read this book. Three days!!!!! (says the woman who usually reads a book a day.)

Captivating plot, delicious intrigue, and an endearing, funny, outlandish romance that will keep you alternately laughing and swooning — honestly, what more could you want in a story?

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 A Noble Masquerade , 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 January 20 2024.

To Spark a Match + Giveaway

After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she’s destined to remain a spinster forever–a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours.

Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend–and one of high society’s leaders–to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable.

When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon’s case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good–along with their lives.

My Review:

Romance and mystery woven together with all the quirkiness only Jen Turano can create makes for some enchanting madcap mayhem!

Poor Gideon — so out of his depth for all he’s a former Navy man and intelligence agent! Nothing in the field has prepared him for Miss Adelaide Duveen or the pandemonium that follows in her wake. 🙂 She’s all but shunned from society, considered a hopeless lost cause on the marriage mart and has a penchant for rescuing cats. which she can’t find homes for so she has cats. Lots of cats. Oh, and she’s a voracious reader. Gasp!

And she’s smart enough to figure out that Gideon isn’t an ordinary gentleman and tenacious enough to suss out his secrets and then demand to assist in his investigative work. Wills clash, hearts are won, hilarity ensues. And, oh my, the banter! Cunning dialogue that hovers on the absurd but makes complete sense and kept me grinning all the way through.

All that as well as mystery and danger and a happily ever after to be won. Escape read perfection!

Nancy Peterson’s wonderful narration does justice to these characters and made for a highly entertaining listening experience.

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 To Spark a Match , 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 January 20 2024.

The Sign of Four Spirits

Gemma Doyle won’t be spooked when a body shows up at the psychic fair in bestselling author Vicki Delany’s ninth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she finds herself talked into attending a séance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and former pop star Bunny Leigh.

But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the séance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight. Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has collapsed on the table–dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who?

The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

My Review:

What I love about Gemma: She’s socially awkward, blunt to the point of cringing at times and comically detail oriented at the worst (and best) of times! She speaks her mind and doesn’t fuss overmuch about how her opinion is received. The woman has confidence and class (she’s a British ex-pat after all) and her cat hates her. 🙂 In short, she makes a most captivating amateur sleuth heroine.

Gemma is the reason I am such a fan of this series but the quirky secondary characters are a close second and that combination keeps me coming back for more Sherlockian adventures.

This ninth book in the ‘Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery‘ series is just as entertaining and unputdownable as all the others. A mystery layered with intrigue wrapped up in a twisty-turny plot with the bookshop and tearoom providing the perfect cozy backdrop. There’s an array of potential suspects to give your sleuthing armchair a real workout (I was wrong for the longest time!) It’s sharp and funny with just the right balance of wit and drama. And a wee bit of romance too.

I listened to the audio book expertly narrated by Kim Hicks. She caught the nuances of dry humour and inward eye rolls that I’ve come to associate with Gemma Doyle perfectly. :-)

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of ‘The Sign of the Four Spirits’.

Deadly to the Core

Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Julie Anne Lindsey, when Kate Mulligan inherits her great uncle’s fruit orchard, she quickly realizes that apples aren’t the only thing that can have rotten cores.

After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.

She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling—Uncle Stan’s lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard’s past, present, and future.

Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there’s more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can’t quite put her finger on if it’s sweet or sour.

Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it’s too late?

My Review:

That tag line mentioning Amanda Flower and Julie Anne Lindsey sold me on this new series. I’ve loved both Flower’s ‘Farm to Table’ mysteries as well as Lindsey’s ‘Cider Shop’ series and I’d rank ‘The Cider House Mysteries’ by Joyce Tremel right up there with them. — judging by this first book anyway.

First off – love the setting. Small town, tight-knit community and all the give and take that comes from country living. This is definitely a case of equal parts cozy and mystery, beautifully balanced in intriguing detail.

And I have to say it’s one of the best introductions to a mystery series that I’ve ever read. We meet up with a lot of characters right from the start but it’s done in such a way that each one makes an impression and is easy to remember — which is important as the mystery evolves.

Kate is easily relatable and, as someone who lives with a chronic pain condition, I appreciate that representation in a novel. (Kate was in a serious car accident and while she has mostly recovered, there are some lingering side effects that she has to deal with off and on.) She’s also a widow and I thought the way the author portrayed her grief journey was realistic and encouraging and brought depth to her story.

A solid mystery with a bevy of likely suspects made for some exciting armchair sleuthing (I was somewhat right, but mostly wrong!) I do so love a mystery that keeps me puzzling out the clues.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Hillary Huber and enjoyed her interpretation of these characters very much. Made for an entertaining listening experience.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audio edition of Deadly to the Core.

Please Note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, this is a clean read.