Kav's Best Reads

Christy Awards Finalists 2023 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2023 finalists are books published in 2022.

How does this giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

By Way of Deception by Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn (Harvest House)

Nir Favor Mossad #2

Nuclear Deception

The Mossad has uncovered Iran’s plans to smuggle untraceable weapons of mass destruction into Israel. The clock is ticking, and agents Nir Tavor and Nicole le Roux can’t act quickly enough.

Nir and Nicole find themselves caught in a whirlwind plot of assassinations, espionage, and undercover recon, fighting against the clock to stop this threat against the Middle East. As they draw closer to danger—and closer to each other—they find themselves ensnared in a lethal web of secrets. Will they have to sacrifice their own lives to protect the lives of millions?

Inspired by real events, authors Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn reteam for this suspenseful follow-up to the bestselling Operation Joktan . Filled with danger, romance, and international intrigue, this Nir Tavor thriller reveals breathtaking true insights into the lives and duties of Mossad agents—and delivers a story that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (Revell)

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/03/13/cold-light-of-day-giveaway/

Forged by Sara Davison (Mountain Brook Ink)

The Night Guardians #4

The one missing person he can’t find is the one who matters the most.

Private Investigator Jax Rodriguez has been searching for his brother, Diego, for twenty years. When he stumbles upon another lead, he makes an agonizing decision—he will follow this last trail until it grows cold, and then he will marry the woman he loves and abandon his quest once and for all.

Artist Mikayla Grant is terrified of losing another person close to her, but she has to let Jax go after his brother. Given the secrecy surrounding Diego’s disappearance, clearly Jax is heading into danger. When all contact with him is abruptly cut off, can Mikayla trust that God’s promise to never leave nor forsake Jax will be enough to bring him safely home? Or does she need to take matters into her own hands?

As Jax attempts to survive the dangerous streets of Caracas, Venezuela, and then face the myriad of unknown threats in the El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico, he is not the only one hunting down his brother.

A ruthless drug lord bent on revenge is using all his resources to discover the truth about what happened to Diego. If Jax can’t stay one step ahead of his pursuer, then he, like his brother, could disappear and never be heard from again.

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

Wren Blythe has long enjoyed being among the Northwoods, helping her father with programming at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess, who still roams the woods. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coons cabin ruins and a rotting porcelain doll. But even more terrifying is seeing her name etched on the doll’s foot like a sinister omen.

In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last ten years carrying the mantle of mystery since she emerged from the forest as an eight-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger’s axe. She has accepted she’ll never remember what happened to her family. When a member of the town of Tempter’s Creek is murdered, rumors spread that Ava’s secret is more malicious than previously imagined.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-souls-of-lost-lake.html

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway available to US and Canadian readers (book or ebook where available) as well as anyone who has a US Kindle account (Amazon.com) for ebook wins.

Christy Award book giveaways vary by title. Please check the list below for formats available.

All Mystery/Suspense/Thriller books are available in both paperback or ebook format. Winner’s choice (US and Canada). Only ebooks for International winners.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller finalists, leave a comment below (including the title you would like to win) or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 18 2023 .

November 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’S GIVEAWAYS:

MONDAY

Choose which Christy Awards 2023 finalist you would like to win in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category

TUESDAY

Choose which Christy Awards 2023 finalist you would like to win in the Short Form OR Speculative categories

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Shadows on the Sand + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning…but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small cafe in Seaside New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals…although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children — and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her.

When Carrie’s a dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries…and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all too present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s building with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

My Review:

published in 2011

I was organizing my bookshelves (translation — trying to fit more books into an already crammed bookcase) and came upon this gem from twelve years ago. I started reading and couldn’t stop. My original review is below, but I just wanted to mention…or muse over…how much the mystery/suspense genre has changed over the years. This one is almost cozy — in the way we’re given a glimpse into the lives of the people who frequent Carrie’s cafe — as well as her own personal backstory. The mystery is there, gradually building as the story progresses, but sometimes it’s in the background in order to allow these characters to shine. I really enjoyed the different pacing and the way it all balances out so beautifully by the end. 🙂

—–

I completely and utterly adored this book! I mean how can you resist a heroine who describes her heart doing a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of the hero? And when things heat up she declares, “No way could Snoopy move his feet fast enough to keep up with my tap-dancing heart.” (pg 186) I could totally relate to Carrie on that point alone. But of course there is much more to this complex character, including a gnarly past that she hasn’t quite left behind.

Greg has his own issues too but he finds himself surprised by his sudden desire to enter the land of the living again. Carrie has a lot to do with his change of heart and that scares him. His emotional struggle is a strong thread in the story — achingly touching and I had a real wow factor once I’d finished the book and read the author’s note at the end.

The mystery/suspense is incredibly well developed — the kind where the reader is handed the clues at the same time as the hero and heroine. We try to solve the mystery together and it totally surprised me…multiple times. A really riveting read, which is what you want in a suspense.

Roper’s writing style is unique in that she mixes POV. Carrie’s is in first person, but all the other characters are written in third person. You’d think it would make for a disjointed read, but somehow Roper makes it work. The story flows into the page-turning kind that you want to devour in one sitting. Highly recommended for lovers of mystery/suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Shadows on the Sand, 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 easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Holly and the Ivy + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Spend the holidays with four of your favorite historical romance authors, whose stories of Yuletide romance will brighten the season with humor, hope, and the promise of true love.

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden
As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart.

“Hiding Christmas” by Esther Hatch
Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide.

“A Twist of Christmas” by Dana LeCheminant
A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences.

“A Season to Love” by Anneka R. Walker
Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

My Review:

published in 2022

A fantastic collection of holiday romances. I listened to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall. She’s one of my favourite narrators and does a great job with the British and Scottish accents.

Christmas in spring? How does that even work? Why, beautifully if you’re reading “The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden. And…eeeeeepppppp…totally fan-girling here because it’s about the Duke of Kielder when he’s an eight-year old boy. And, oh my heart! Eden gives us a glimpse into why the austere Duke of ‘Seeking Persephone’ fame is the way he is. Plus we are treated to the Jonquil family at it’s very beginning. So much to love about this novella!!! No worries if you haven’t met these characters in the author’s previous books — this will still read wonderfully as a standalone. Especially since it features a working class romance between the Duke’s nurse maid and the Jonquil’s gardener. And lots of lovely Christmas traditions besides.

Be still my heart. Close proximity and fake relationship tropes feature in Esther Hatch’s Hiding Christmas. As well as some interesting facts about a Christmas ban in Scotland! That sent me on a google deep dive, let me tell you! Love the inauspicious meet-cute for this Scottish lass and English gentleman. Funny and poignant by turns.

Dana LeCheminant is a new-to-me-author and ‘A Twist of Christmas’ was the perfect introduction to her storytelling style. A seasonal Regency Romance? Yes please! Add in some mistaken identities, the lure of forbidden love and a whole lot of enticing mix-ups and you get the recipe for a highly entertaining holiday read. Loved the banter so much but also appreciated the more serious look at what it was like for this hero and heroine to deal with the expectations placed on them due to their social standing. This story is a bit light on seasonal flare, though it culminates at a Christmas ball.

‘A Season to Love’ by Anneka R. Walker is playful and fun with a light touch of angst as the romance builds. The meet-cute between the hero and heroine is hilarious! Alice is only too aware of her short-comings when compared to her successful (and well-married) sisters…or so she thinks. But a visit to her grandmother’s home for the holidays provides her with some unexpected enlightenment. And romance. Eeep! Clever and sweet and laugh out loud funny at times. And achingly tender too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Holly and the Ivy, 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 11, 2023

Snowbound Escape + Giveaway

To rescue a witness…this K-9 teams must face a killer and a storm.

After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?

My Review:

Finally — the resolution we’ve all (well, fans of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series) have been waiting for!! And it’s a doozy! So, definitely don’t read ‘Snowbound Escape‘ if you are planning on reading the whole series — it has a number of spoilers since this is the grand finale. But if you want to jump in and just read this one, the story will make sense…maybe just won’t pack the same emotional wallop it will for those of us we have been with this K-9 team from the very beginning.

Dana Mentink did a fantastic job of wrapping things up with her unique blend of hair-raising and laugh-out-loud finesse. Honestly, the meet-cute — desperate tension meets Cheshire grin because Mara is one tough, tenacious, never-say-die survivor. She’s been on the run for eight months and just when she finally gets some K-9 help…well….if the killer in pursuit doesn’t do them in, Mother Nature’s fury just might.

There’s something about reading a good ‘stranded in a blizzard’ suspense that ticks all the boxes for me. I actually crave this scenario once the weather starts to grow colder so I was in reading ecstasy all the way through. Loved all the wilderness survival parts and, oy, the relentless snow! Luckily they have K-9 wonder dog Britta on their side.

An exciting conclusion to this continuity K-9 series — and I’m hoping there will be another one starting up in the New Year.

Oh — and I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Eva Kaminsky. Love, love, looooovvvvveeeee that this series was available in audio format. I preordered them all and got such a thrill each time I got the notification that I had a new book ready to download. (Yes, I’m nerdy like that.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Snowbound Escape, 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 11, 2023

An Ivy Hill Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Richard Brockwell, the youngest son of Ivy Hill’s most prominent family, hasn’t been home for Christmas in years. He prefers to live in the London townhouse, far away from Brockwell Court, the old family secret that haunts him, and the shadows of past mistakes. But then his mother threatens to stop funding his carefree life — unless he comes home for Christmas. Out of options, he sets out for Ivy Hill, planning to be back on a coach bound for London and his unencumbered bachelor life as soon as the festivities are over.

But Christmas in the country presents unforeseen surprises, including encounters with an orphaned apprentice, the first love he disappointed years ago, and Arabella Awdry, a young lady who is far more appealing then he recalled…and determined to have nothing to do with him.

Will Christmas time in Ivy Hill, with its village charm, kissing boughs, joyous songs, and divine hope, work its magic in his heart…and hers as well?

My Review:

I’m bedazzled. Best Christmas story ever. An Ivy Hill Christmas exudes all the warmth and cheer and heart-tugging moments found in all the classic holiday stories…and then some. Ivy Hill fans will be thrilled to get reacquainted with favourite characters from books past and meet some intriguing new ones. No worries, though, if you aren’t familiar with the series, this can definitely be read (and enjoyed immensely!) by IH newbies. Just be prepared to be greeted by a barrage of friendly faces in the first few chapters and go with the flow. You’ll feel settled in no time at all.

Unlike poor Richard who is decidedly unsettled by his mama’s request to…gasp!…come home for Christmas! And his life continues to go all topsy-turvy from there. The social awakening of this spoiled gentleman is at the heart of the story. It’s breath-takingly beautiful, and moving and uplifting. Absolutely everything I love to see in a Christmas tale delivered with exquisite precision by a gifted storyteller.

I loved all the historical details of Regency Christmas traditions. From decorating to partying to charitable works….I couldn’t help but sigh over the naivete of a simpler time. We could all use this type of hearty Christmas cheer after this pandemic year!

And there’s romance!!!! Multiples, in fact, which sent me into a swoony tilt-a-whirl of giddiness. Oh…and Wally, the dapper terrier!!!! He’s worth the read alone. 🙂

A charming, heartwarming, romantical celebration with the true meaning of Christmas at its very core.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Ivy Hill Christmas, 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 11, 2023

Christy Awards Finalists 2023 – Historical Romance

What are the Christy Awards?

How does this giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Historical Romance finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson)

At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events.

Rome, 1943 . With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day . With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her aging parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what’s true of her grandfather’s hidden past. Together with the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she’d revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave.

Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of WWII Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving just one life can impact countless others.

The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell)

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems–a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies–and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/02/07/the-rose-and-the-thistle/

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (Revell)

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research–her life’s dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s legendary Havmand–the merman–and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/03/20/the-sound-of-light/

Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House)

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn’t count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive?

As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to two periods fraught with peril in this sweeping and romantic dual-time tale.

My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5250507706

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway available to US and Canadian readers (book or ebook where available) as well as anyone who has a US Kindle account (Amazon.com) for ebook wins.

Christy Award book giveaways vary by title. Please check the list below for formats available.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron – ebook only

The Rose and The Thistle by Laura Frantz, The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin and Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White — print or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Historical Romance finalists, leave a comment below (including the title you would like to win) or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. 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 11 2023 .

November Giveaway – Week One

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK’S GIVEAWAYS:

MONDAY

Choose which Christy Awards 2023 finalist you would like to win in the Historical Romance category

Christmas in Sugarcreek + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.

But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.

Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.

Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.

As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.

Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?

My Review:

published in 2011

Shelley Shephard Gray is exceptional at developing relationships.. The way she builds attraction and tension and then shatters it with conflict. Over and over and over again. 🙂 But her angst is never for naught. She delves deep insider her characters and brings their fears to light…and sets them free. In Christmas in Sugarcreek, that results in a story that turns despair into hope during one of the most sacred seasons of the year. A beautiful book that will bless your Christmas season.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read hardcover copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas in Sugarcreek, 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 3, 2023

Christmas Baby Rescue + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

An infant on his doorstep…and enemies closing in.

Liam Knight’s solitary plans for Christmas Eve fall apart when he discovers a baby left outside his cabin — and bloody footprints leading to his injured pen pal. Suffering from PTSD, the former navy SEAL thins he’s the wrong choice to protect Ashlyn Sutton and her infant niece. But with contract killers on their trail, he must overcome his fear…and stop the criminal behind the threats.

My Review:

published in 2022

Whoa — intense from the very first page — both in the suspense and emotionally for both hero and heroine. But it’s Liam’s struggles that really touched me. He feels irrevocably broken and unworthy of the kind of future he once dreamed about. In some ways, Ashlyn was the shadow of a dream, a ‘what if’ things were different.

They haven’t met in person, but Ashlyn has been corresponding with Liam for three years while he served overseas. The two have shared a lot about their pasts and their hopes for the future but never dreamed they’d actually meet under the kind of circumstances that has Ashlyn running for her life, and Liam worried he’d fail her.

The dynamics in this romance kept me on edge right to the very end. It doesn’t pan out the way most Love Inspired Suspense romances do, and I appreciated the difference. (No worries, there’s still a HEA) For all that they’ve never met, Liam and Ashlyn know a lot about each other so there’s this wonderful mix of awkward getting-to-know-you-in-person vibe meshed with an I-know-some-of-your-secrets vibe. Made for an emotional roller coaster of a read.

Then there’s sweet little Emory, Ashlyn’s innocent niece who is caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous enemy. Pulled at my heartstrings all the more! Loved the edginess of the suspense married with the emotional conflict within the characters — especially Liam. Riveting!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an autographed 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 Christmas Baby 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 November 4, 2023.