Twenty years ago, the summer of ’77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde’s life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow–the Four Seasons–had big plans.
But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, “Nowhere,” Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.
Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It’s a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love’s voice.
My Review:
A dual timeline multi-layered coming-of-age story steeped in secrets and drama.
While technically there is a historical timeline and a contemporary one, the actual years are 1977 (when the girls are eighteen) and then twenty years later in 1997. (It makes me feel so old to have been alive in what is considered a historical era now!)
The greater portion of the story takes place in 1977, when the girls were camp counsellors during what was supposed to be the ‘best summer of their lives.’ It didn’t quite turn out that way and this is where I admit that the amount of teenage drama was just a bit much for me.
It’s a milestone summer for these four friends and each of them harbours secrets that threaten the foundation of their friendship. So, lots of tension…in fact, a lot of the time I felt like I was reading an angsty YA novel, which isn’t my go to literary escape so I struggled to relate to these characters. And I really didn’t like Summer (who has the most POVs, unfortunately.) It’s universally accepted that she is selfish and opinionated and self-absorbed and there’s not much character growth, even into the contemporary timeline until the very end of the book. And it really bothered me that her friends and even the adults in her life kept enabling Summer to stay that way. They were always finding excuses for her behaviour and shrugging it off instead of confronting her — even lovingly — and not standing up for the people she hurt by her behaviour. So, not a Summer fan until very close to the end.
She did have a faith journey that plays a greater role in the last part of the book. There are hints of it in the 1977 timeline, but I honestly didn’t connect it to a faith thread until much later. It felt a bit like magical realism…only maybe I’d call it mystical realism…or spiritual realism? And, while I do enjoy that kind of trope, I like to know about it going in and this one took me by surprise so I felt a bit off kilter.
I would have enjoyed spending more time with each of the girls in the contemporary timeline. There’s a real connection between that fateful summer in 1977 and the way each of their lives turned out but I feel like that part of the story was rushed and I would have liked more of a balance between the eighteen year olds and their thirty-eight year old counterparts.
I did like the way the author wrapped things up — bringing the girls full circle and allowing them to deal with the issues that pulled them apart twenty years earlier. A big takeaway for me is the understanding that even the strongest friendships can be fragile at times and require nurturing. And that no matter how far we stray, Jesus is always right beside us, waiting to be invited back into our lives.
Though I had a paperback copy from the publisher, I listened to the audible edition narrated by Suzy Jackson and I feel like her performance helped me to become more engaged with the story.
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a paperback copy — available to any reader any where in the world so — yay- another International Giveaway.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Best Summer of Our Lives, 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 August 26, 2023
They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2023 finalists are books published in 2022. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.
How does this giveaway work?
You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2023 — Debut Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.
Of Note: In past years, ACFW has announced the three finalists of each category in June and then the winners during their annual Writer’s Conference in late August/early September. This year they’ve switched it up and have announced seven semi-finalists in each category which will be whittled down to three finalists the first day of the conference at the end of August and then the winners in each category will be announced on the final day of the conference. So., with only two days in between the finalist announcements and the winner announcements, we’re going to have to go with wading through the seven semi-finalists so these weekly giveaways are going to be lengthy. Sorry about that. And now here are the Debut Semi-Finalists.
The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kipby Sara Brunsvold; Revell (Baker Publishing Group — paperback or ebook giveaway — Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care. But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her—but she’s going to have to work for it.
Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill; Kregel Pulishing — paperback or ebook copy —
Theresa Plane owes it to her beloved grandfather to save the family name–that means clearing their debt before she marries the wealthy and dashing Edward Greystone. But when a creditor’s threats lead her to stumble across a midnight meeting, Theresa discovers that Grandfather is hiding far more than the money he owes. And the secrets he kept now have Theresa trapped in a life-threatening fight for her home . . . and the truth.
After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée, Theresa, is connected. He won’t believe the woman he loved is a willing participant. Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career, but that’s better than failing her twice in one lifetime.
Broderick and Theresa must form a partnership, but there’s no question they’re both keeping secrets. That lack of trust in one another, when there are dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, their very survival.
The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Dawn Ford; Expanse Books — ebook giveaway —
Eighteen-year-old servant girl Tambrynn is haunted by more than her unusual silver hair and the star-shaped pupils in her eyes. Her uncontrollable ability to call objects leads the wolves who savagely murdered her mother right to her door.
When she’s fired and outcast during a snowstorm, her carriage wrecks and she’s forced to find refuge in an abandoned cottage. There, her life is upended when the magpie who’s stalked her for eight years transforms into a man, Lucas. He’s her Watcher and they’re from a different kingdom. His job is to keep her safe from her father, an evil mage, who wants to steal her abilities, turn her into one of his undead beasts, and become immortal himself.
Can they make it to the magical passageway and get to their home kingdom in time for Tambrynn to thwart her father’s malicious plans? Or will Tambrynn’s unique magic doom them all?
Not By Sight : a Novel of the Patriarchs by Elizabeth Jacobson; WordCrafts Press — ebook giveaway —
Beloved. Betrayed. Despised. Exalted.
What could make a man turn to God when every event in his life screams that God has turned his back on him?
Joseph, the eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob, had his father’s favor, and that was his downfall. Sold into Egypt by his enraged and jealous brothers, Joseph is left with nothing to cling to except the stories of his father’s God, a seemingly remote and unreachable figure. Faith may prove futile, but Joseph is desperate – for the very hate that enslaved his brothers has begun to overtake him.
The Star That Always Staysby Anna Rose Johnson; Holiday House — ebook giveaway —
When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe.
Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-père told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage.
Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. In fact, there are a lot of changes in the ten-cent movies, gleaming soda shops, speedy automobiles, ninth grade. It’s dizzying for a girl who grew up on the forested shores of Lake Michigan.
Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it… and upon her discretion.
But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?
Porch Music by Kathy Maresca; Touchpoint Faith — paperback or ebook giveaway —
All sixteen-year-old Rose has is what she carries: a pillowcase of clothes, her boyfriend’s unborn child, and a heart full of shame. In the face of 1952’s strict moral code, Seminole matriarch Ma-Ki Ebbing embraces Rose. Ma-Ki, on the fringe of society, clings to her Native American traditions and secrets surrounding her husband’s murder while her adult children unravel from social injustice.
When Ma-Ki’s children were young, Burl Ebbing approached a wealthy, powerful man who had sexually abused his children. The villain shot Burl’s heart right out of him. Twenty years later, Ma-Ki fears that her children will avenge their father’s death and refuses to disclose the criminal’s identity. The Ebbing women band together, marching through a chorus of grit and grind to unite a family once rendered powerless by a people who invaded their land. Will the tragic death of one of her daughters cause Ma-Ki to identify the villain and embrace Rose’s newfound faith?
Pieces of Dark, Pieces of Lightby Linda W. Rooks; Elk Lake Publishing — ebook giveaway —
In 2052, weapons of mass destruction are relics of the past until an unlikely discovery in Tajikistan thrusts their danger into the present. To keep terrorists away from the weapons, US leaders call on American diplomat Janssen LaMarche, whose diplomatic skills, family connections, and charismatic personality make him uniquely qualified to avert a world crisis. But before LaMarche begins his mission, doctors identify a health problem as terminal. Now forced to wage a life and death battle for himself, he must first travel back in time where an unknown fate awaits him, and family secrets on two continents come to light.
As a world crisis moves the plot through suspenseful twists and surprises, at the heart of the story is the personal saga of a man on a mission and the women who fear for his life.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
Please pay attention to the book formats available for this giveaway noted after the publication info for each individual title. Ebook wins are available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com kindle account. Paperbacks are available to readers in US and Canada.
If you would like a chance to win a copy ofone of these Carol Awards semi-finalists, 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 August 26, 2023. Good luck!
The scars on her face are nothing to the scars on her heart. But can God help her find healing―and love?
Eight years ago, Ava and Joseph had the perfect future planned—he would go to veterinary school, she would embark on a career with an exclusive modeling agency, and they’d eventually get married and have three dogs and four children. Until a terrible accident changed everything. Unwilling to believe they could still have a future, she made Joseph promise to leave and live out their dreams without her.
Joseph has never broken a promise to Ava. Until now.
Because before he made that stupid promise to leave, they’d made each other another promise—one of forever. Now that he’s done with veterinary school, he’s determined to return to River Falls and show her that his promise still stands. That he loves her just the way she is.
But first he’ll have to find a way to crack the safe she’s erected around her heart.
Fortunately, he has help: in the form of three lovable dogs, a special group of sick kids, and more than a few slices of pie. But will it be enough to convince Ava that their forever is worth fighting for? Or will he be left picking up the pieces―alone?
My Review:
published in 2021
Now this is what Christian Fiction is all about! What an incredible, moving, uplifting and faith-affirming story! And that’s not to say there isn’t any angst…because there’s plenty of that, as you would expect with a second chance romance. But I’ve still come away from this read with a soaring heart and and the inner peace that comes from knowing that every one of us is worthy in the eyes of the Lord.
Really — I’m gobsmacked and flabbergasted that I haven’t read a Valerie M. Bodden book before. I’ve heard her name bandied about on social media and people have told me I should read one of her books and, here I am, way late to the party but so, so happy that I jumped in with the first book in her River Falls series.
And this romance!!! Emotionally toe-curling. The way Joseph pursues Ava. Constant. Steadfast. Giving her space but not giving up. He comes close a time or two, but only because he feels it would be in Ava’s best interest. But he’s not going to cut ties completely, even if that means only friendship is on the table. Of course, he hopes for so much more — like a chance to keep the promise he made all those years ago. Sooooo romantical!!!!!
And — eeeppp — he’s a veterinarian!!! Seriously, that has to be one of my top picks for a hero occupation! So, of course, there’s some puppy love here too which makes for some nice ice breakers when things get tense with Ava. And Joseph’s large, opinionated family keeps things interesting too. 🙂
I listened to the audio edition narrated by Amanda Stribling (yay Chirp sale!) She did an amazing job — so easy to listen to and I feel like she captured the essence of these characters. Highly recommend the audio book.
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 Pieces of Forever, 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 August 26, 2023
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!
We’re winging our way through the 2023 Carol Awards Semi Finalists and this week its the Debut Category (we have to double up because we’re running out of time before the winners are announced at the end of the month.)
Will his childhood nemesis be the second chance he needs?
Despite the mess FBI agent Enzo Flores has made of his life, he’s still eager to help others—like his sister, Ana. But coming home to Texas to run the family ranch and take care of his nephew might be more than Enzo can handle. He enlists the help of Ana’s best friend, Resa Espinoza, who’s always been good at riling him up. This time, she might just help him heal…
A Lone Star Heritage Romance
My Review:
I was happy to travel back to Port Del Mar, Texas, the setting of two series by Jolene Navarro. I love this town and the secondary characters aka busybodies who can’t help but meddle out of love. 🙂 And I do so enjoy a romance set in the midst of a close-knit family ’cause they never let you get away with anything. So, lots of interfering siblings and wise matriarchs bring equal parts substance and fun to this romance.
Enzo is a little bit moody and out of his comfort zone as he gives up chasing bad guys for a time so he can wrangle his five-year-old nephew while his sister’s on bedrest with a complicated pregnancy. And it irks him that his little sister’s best friend (and the kid who was always dragging Ana into trouble) keeps coming to his rescue where little Lorenzo is concerned.
Only Resa is no longer the annoying pest he remembers. Now she’s a beautiful, spirited woman who isn’t cowed by Enzo’s detached FBI agent demeanour. Cue the fireworks and laughter and be prepared to be entertained. Oh — and their meet-cute — hysterical!!!!! Really sets the tone for the push/pull of their relationship all the way through.
A vibrant romance filled with hope and grace.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and available to any reader anywhere in the whole wide world so — YAY — another International Giveaway!
If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Reluctant Rancher, 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 August 19, 2023
Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case that went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They’re soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son who disappeared four years ago. River knows there’s almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.
But as they follow the boy’s trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. With a killer on the loose set on finishing the job he started, will River be pulled back into her tormented past or finally face the demons that haunt her?
With her trademark blend of page-turning thrills and intricate plots, Nancy Mehl delivers a spine-tingling thriller that will keep readers up all night.
My Review:
‘Page-turning thrills’ about sums up this suspense for sure. From that chilling prologue to the inclusion of a disturbing ‘unsub’ POV, this one kept me on edge the whole read through. It definitely had more ‘Criminal Minds’ vibes than I am comfortable with, though the descriptions in the book don’t go nearly as far as that series did, so, phew, for that. I’d consider ‘Cold Pursuit’ on the thriller side of suspense so definitely out of my comfort zone.
I did get the feeling that this series is a spin-off of another series? So, I felt like there were things I should have known about River and Tony already. They are friends with a work history who shared a trauma and that’s given them an even stronger bond. They’ve left their jobs with the FBI to start up a new Private Investigation firm and their first case is a doozy!
This is an emotionally layered suspense with a nice balance between character-driven and suspenseful plots. Lots of moving pieces to sort through and I really like how the investigation developed, bringing truth to light and, ultimately peace to a grieving mother. There’s also a secondary plot — both in suspense and romance (I’m guessing) — that will continue on through the series.
‘Cold Pursuit’ features a suspense trope that leaves me a tad uncomfortable. I don’t want to say what it is, because it’s not stated in the synopsis, but it’s quickly evident early on in the story. Does that have you intigued? 🙂 If I’d known that would be the focus of the story, I likely would have given this one a pass. But the story is well-written and riveting – just not for the faint of heart. I need to dive into a rom/com to bring my blood pressure down.
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and available to any reader anywhere in the whole wide world so — YAY — another International Giveaway!
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Pursuit, 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 August 19, 2023
To solve a kidnapping case, they will become the hunted.
Firefighter Pat Ryan is stunned when he hears gunfire and two strangers crash through his door. An anonymous tip led journalist Rachel Davenport to a ramshackle cabin, where she helped an abducted teen escape. With Pat and his K-9 rescue dog’s help, they go on the run with deadly kidnappers in pursuit. But with innocent lives at stake, Rachel and Pat must battle foes and fears to live through the night.
My Review:
Eeeeep Alert!!! This is a read-in-one gulp kind of suspense so clear your calendar and settle in for an edge-of-your-seat ride.
The opening scene is so intense!!!! I could hardly breathe and then, the way the plot unfolds is so well balanced. Yes, there are hair-raising scenes and lots of chilling chases but there’s also some quality heart-to-heart time that let me catch my breath and fall in love with these characters. Including Shadow the K-9 search and rescue wonder dog. I do so love a Bernese Mountain dog hero!!!! 🙂
An exciting romantic suspense that made me all kinds of bibliophile happy. Plus, it’s set in the winter so all that cold snow was a refreshing relief from our stifling heat. The next best thing to experiencing milder temperatures in real life.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy so it’s open to any reader anywhere in the whole wide world! Hooray for another truly International Giveaway.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Kidnapped in the Woods, 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 August 19, 2023. Good luck!
A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she’s determined to save her community
Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it’s not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there’s more to the quiet man than meets the eye.
For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can’t seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up–or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.
Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.
My Review:
Hands down, my favourite book in the series…and Levi Ross has set the bar high for any future book boyfriends! I am so besotted! Because Levi is really something special. And unique to the typical contemporary romance lead.
To say that Levi is ‘quiet’ is a massive understatement. I can probably count on one hand the number of words he spoke in the first chapter. And they are just as sparse all the way through the story. But Levi has other ways of effectively communicating and those close to him easily interpret a look or a shrug, even his body language. I love that Kelsey doesn’t find that off putting — but then, her gift for gab makes her capable of carrying on more than her fair share of a conversation. 🙂
There’s a reason Levi is the way he is and I won’t be telling tales out of turn so you just have to read the book. But he is definitely swoonworthy material — a man pining over his childhood crush. And, yes, Kelsey makes him even more tongue-tied than ever. Readers have the advantage of being party to his thoughts, while Kelsey is left to decipher his cryptic responses and silence in her own way. Most of the time she gets it right but some of the time she doesn’t which makes things all the more interesting.
Fans of the Prince Edward Island Shores series will be happy at the page time given to the Ross family in general and there’s lots of brotherly bonding leading up to a resounding wrap-up to the family’s recent woes. Yes, that does sound cryptic, but no worries if you haven’t read the first two books in this series, Johnson has seamlessly included the pertinent details from the earlier books with minimum spoilers so I think you could read Summer in the Spotlight as a standalone.
And that title! Very clever tie-in to the story. Love the concept of the town rallying to save the summer theatre.The plot is both predictable and unpredictable so, as a reader, I got to bask in the comfort of the familiar while also experiencing the thrill of the unexpected. And then there’s the Prince Edward Island setting! I’m all Anne-girl starry eyed. 🙂 Summer in the Spotlight makes a perfect summer escape read!
(I enjoyed listening to the audible edition expertly narrated by Emily Ellet. She did a great job of creating unique voices for each character and, honestly, made Levi sound so dreamy. Happy sigh.)
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 Summer in the Spotlight, 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 August 19, 2023
They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2023 finalists are books published in 2022. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.
How does this giveaway work?
We’re doubling up today since we’re pressed for time before the winners are announced on August 24th. So, this time ’round we have 14 titles for you to choose from…either a book from the Speculative Category OR a book from the YA Category. Decisions…decisions.
You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2023 — Speculative OR Youn Adult Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.
Of Note: In past years, ACFW has announced the three finalists of each category in June and then the winners during their annual Writer’s Conference in late August/early September. This year they’ve switched it up and have announced seven semi-finalists in each category which will be whittled down to three finalists the first day of the conference at the end of August and then the winners in each category will be announced on the final day of the conference. So., with only two days in between the finalist announcements and the winner announcements, we’re going to have to go with wading through the seven semi-finalists so these weekly giveaways are going to be lengthy. Sorry about that. And now here are the Speculative Semi-Finalists.
The Girl With Stars in Her Eyesby Dawn Ford; Expanse Books — ebook giveaway — Eighteen-year-old servant girl Tambrynn is haunted by more than her unusual silver hair and the star-shaped pupils in her eyes. Her uncontrollable ability to call objects leads the wolves who savagely murdered her mother right to her door. When she’s fired and outcast during a snowstorm, her carriage wrecks and she’s forced to find refuge in an abandoned cottage. There, her life is upended when the magpie who’s stalked her for eight years transforms into a man, Lucas. He’s her Watcher and they’re from a different kingdom. His job is to keep her safe from her father, an evil mage, who wants to steal her abilities, turn her into one of his undead beasts, and become immortal himself. Can they make it to the magical passageway and get to their home kingdom in time for Tambrynn to thwart her father’s malicious plans? Or will Tambrynn’s unique magic doom them all?
Never Leave Me (Waters of Time ; 2) by Jody Hedlund; Revell (Baker Publishing Group) — paperback or ebook copy — In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease. When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug-including sending her back into the past to find it for them. Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.
Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Timeby Tracey Higley; Stonewater Books LLC – paperback or ebook giveaway —
What if you stumbled into a timeless party, in a secret garden only you could see?
Kelsey Willoughby doesn’t have time to pursue her writing dreams. Imagination doesn’t pay the bills, and she’s busy saving her beautiful city bookshop from online competition, hotel developers, and the sneaking suspicion that nobody reads anymore.
Not to mention all those voices telling her she doesn’t have talent.
But then the vacant lot of weeds next door starts to shimmer.
When Kelsey stumbles into a luminous nighttime garden party, larger than the vacant lot that holds it and filled with enigmatic guests, she suspects they hold the key to saving the bookshop, and perhaps even to her own mysterious origins.
But answers aren’t forthcoming, not until Kelsey is willing to confront her past, step into her potential, and push deeper into the unknown edges of the garden, where an unexpected journey takes her into a world of dangerous revelation.
Dream of Kingsby Sharon Hinck; Enclave Publishing — paperback or ebook giveaway —
In the glacial nation of Norgard, Jolan the Dream Teller serves every seeker, whether peasant or high lord. Though she loves using her gift, she struggles to navigate the corrupt and dangerous court and the jealousies of the Guildagard.
When an old man’s nightmare imparts a dire warning, Jolan realizes her entire nation is in danger. But before she can sound the alarm, she is betrayed by the guilds and sold into slavery in a rival kingdom far to the south. As a slave in a foreign land, at first Jolan can’t see beyond her singular focus: return home to warn Norgard of the coming calamity. After facing new dangers, making new friends, and forgiving old wrongs, she must fulfill the purposes the Provider has set before her.
Only then can she face a decision that could cost her the man she loves, her calling, and her freedom—all to save a people who abandoned her.
Shadow of Honor (Droseran Saga ; 3) by Ronie Kendig; Enclave Publishing — ebook giveaway —
Held captive, tortured by monsters of a nightmarish alien race, Marco Dusan clings to a final goal: keep these beasts from the Quadrants, even if it means orchestrating his own death. But his dreams betray that singular design. In them his bonded calls to him across lightyears. Does he leave her to fight Symmachia alone, or risk bringing an unwinnable war to every planet in the Quadrants?
On board the alien dreadnought, Eija Zacdari flounders, torn amidst military machinations, prophecies, and an inexplicable bond with one of the fearsome creatures who have imprisoned her friends. Only by uncovering the truth about an ancient conflict now shrouded in deception will she find her place.
Faced with her true identity, Eija sees her purpose snap into focus, and she realizes the war Marco fears may be the very one he has been called to start.
Aberration (Children of the Consortium ; 2) by Cathy McCrumb; Enclave Publishing — paperback or ebook giveaway —
Freedom Awaits, but the Consortium is Watching
When rogue drones threaten citizens and the ship’s crew falls ill, the Recorder answers their call for help, once again drawing scrutiny from the Consortium.
With no other option and under an Elder’s overbearing watch, she returns to Pallas Station where she nearly lost her life in the hope of finding something—anything—to save her friends and countless others. Her friends are determined to keep her safe, but for the Recorder, saving others comes first, no matter the cost.
Drawn in Ashby John Otte; Indie— ebook giveaway —
The Dynasty claims to be a veritable paradise where a multitude of races live in peace and harmony. Everys knows better. The Dynasty has been broken since it was founded, with the human nobility oppressing many of the peoples they’ve brutally conquered, including her own. As an illegal mage, for Everys to stand up to the injustice would mean risking her life, so she hides in a rundown corner of the capital city, content to live in obscurity. But then she is brought to the palace and forced to marry Kind Narius, the descendant of the tyrant who destroyed her people’s homeland. Maybe this is the chance she’s been waiting for to make things right.
Due to sacred law, Narius has to be married for his reign to be legitimate. He can’t marry the woman he actually loves, so he has to settle for another. Unfortunately, the young woman he chose seems determined to cause him nothing but trouble.
Thrown together by circumstances they can’t control, Everys and Narius must set aside old grudges and painful legacies to forge an uneasy partnership before the Dynasty’s enemies destroy everything they hold dear.
YOUNG ADULT SEMI-FINALISTS:
Wishtressby Nadine Brandes; Thomas Nelson — hardcover or ebook giveaway ––
Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. But when a granted wish goes wrong, she is cursed: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She must travel to the Well to break the curse before it claims her life—and before the king’s militairen find her. To survive the journey, Myrthe must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.
He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.
Bastiaan’s powerful—and rare—Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. He gains Myrthe’s trust by promising to take her to the Well, but once he gets what he needs, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise him.
Their quest can end only one way: with her death.
Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one wish, Myrthe would pay with her life. And if she tells them about the curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.
Addy of the Door Islands by Judy Ducharme; Emerald House Group — ebook giveaway —
When Addy and her sister Molly step off the Orphan Train Steamer in Ephraim, Wisconsin, no one waits for them. Hopes for a family that would treat them kindly while they worked for them are gone. Addy determines to find a job and care for her sister, but that presents problems she can’t quite handle. Even though Mr. Captain offers to help the girls find a home, Addy is convinced no one will ever want them. She’s just too much trouble and too impetuous. Besides, those pesky feelings of abandonment stalk her heart. As Addy and Molly get to know the kind and strong people of Door County and its isolated islands, perhaps they will actually find a place to call home. But will they ever learn about the family they lost? And what of the others from the Orphan Train? Who will love these children? Join Addy in her quest to grow into the heritage of the islanders by becoming a strong survivor and helping others do the same. Her attitude and actions will delight you and drive you crazy.
In Addy of the Door Islands, Judy DuCharme continues the saga of the fascinating people of the Door Islands at the tip of Door County, Wisconsin. Set in the late-1800s, Addy of the Door Islandsshares the story of two amazing orphan girls who just want to be loved. Through their story, learn more about the islands and the children who were part of the history of the Orphan Train. And catch up with the people you loved in Lainey of the Door Islands.
The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella; Enclave Escape — ebook giveaway —
All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. But she gets more than she bargained for when her older sister Charlotte is arrested for having the infamous Wonder Gene—the key to unlocking the curious Wonderland Reality.
Soon, Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials. Now she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way into Wonderland where nothing is impossible . . . or what it seems.
The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year. Will she and her team solve the clues and find the missing players? Or will betrayal and distrust win, leaving Alice alone in a world of her own? Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go.
The Star That Always Staysby Anna Rose Johnson; Holiday House — ebook giveaway —
When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe.
Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-père told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage.
Zip Zilch by Paul H. Maitland ; Little Roni Publisher — paperback or ebook giveaway —
If you don’t want to be noticed, you certainly will be. Just ask Zip. A finalist in the 2019 AFCW Genesis contest, Zip Zilch: Nobody’s a Nothin’ Book One, is a fast-paced, hilarious new entry into the middle school (and beyond) genre. Corey “Zip” Zilch didn’t want all this attention, but it came, ready or not, starting when the Scuds pushed him into Weasel Creek. Oh, and they tossed his books in with him for good measure.
That’s when everything let loose. His mom’s reaction was to treat him like a baby His water-soaked schoolbooks wouldn’t open in class The principal pelted him with dictionary words He was forced to step between the Scuds and Sarah (that takes guts!) And with all of this, his dad didn’t have a clue. About anything. But, hey, life wasn’t all bad. Seventh grade gave him a new start. Sarah and her friend Hu became his best buds, he discovered cross country running (and he was good!), he found a coach who treated him like a man, he became part of a team, and he (amazingly) survived the uber health-conscious school lunches.
So far, he hadn’t discovered the identity of the prankster mucking stuff up for the team, nor realized the bully danger in the boys’ room, or how to talk to girls, or how hard it would be to win at least one race.
Zip didn’t have it all figured out, but why should he? That’s what middle school is for.
Reaching Into Silence by Linda Sammaritan; Winged Publications — paperback or ebook giveaway —
The rubella epidemic of 1964-65. The Vietnam War.
Both converge on twelve-year-old Debbie when her sister is born with disabilities and her father may be flying into danger.
Labeled as a “rubella baby,” Debbie’s sister Krista is born blind in one eye and with a hole in her heart. Although she survives risky open-heart surgery, months pass, and she doesn’t babble or crawl like most babies do. Doctors decide Krista is cognitively challenged—she’ll never be able to learn—and they advise her parents to put her in an institution. Just forget about her and raise their three “normal” kids.
Not on Debbie’s watch . She’s sure Krista is deaf, but no one will believe a kid.
Along with all the medical drama, Debbie must deal with problems at school—best friends who move away, mean girls who don’t, bullies, and boyfriends. Refusing to give in to self-pity, she soldiers on as Krista’s champion.
However, Debbie’s optimism falters when her father’s next orders will send him to the war in Vietnam. Can she hang tough for her mother, keep helping Krista, and prepare for life without Dad, possibly forever?
Inside the Ten-Foot Lineby Lori Z. Scott; End Game Press — ebook giveaway ––
Sophomore high school student Lorali Mathews has one goal: win a scholarship to play volleyball at a Division One school.
The only thing standing in her way?
A losing streak.
A toxic teammate.
A murderous man.
A distracting boy.
Yucky kale chips ….
oh yeah, and about four inches in height.
And it doesn’t help that her aunt ― who inspired her love for volleyball ― passed away in an unfortunate accident.
What good will Lorali do to her aunt’s legacy if she doesn’t take her dreams all the way to college?
But with a teammate harboring a dangerous secret, one that could endanger that teammate’s life.
Lorali may have to learn to put aside her dreams for now to help her get to safety. And with a murderous man on the loose, the two of them may lose far more than a chance at a scholarship, or even, a second chance at life.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
Please pay attention to the book formats available for this giveaway noted after the publication info for each individual title. Ebook wins are available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com kindle account. Paperbacks are available to readers in US and Canada.
If you would like a chance to win a copy ofone of these Carol Awards semi-finalists, 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 August 19, 2023. Good luck!
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!
We’re winging our way through the 2023 Carol Awards Semi Finalists and this week its the Speculative and Young Adult Categories (we have to double up because we’re running out of time before the winners are announced at the end of the month.)
Kav's Best Reads 