Reader’s Choice – Summer Edition – General Christian Fiction + Giveaway

So, here’s how this week’s giveaways works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in July, August or September 2023 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S GENERAL CHRISTIAN FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in any Christian Fiction title, any genre, you would like to win.

Christian Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre, including including previous selections you’ve made on other days as well as specific genres not covered this week like Women’s Fiction. Speculative, Sci Fi etc.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be July, August or September 2023

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since comments are working on WP

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY. 

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Saturday July 1, 2023

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on July 1. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice – Summer Edition – Amish Fiction + Giveaway

So, here’s how this week’s giveaways works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in July, August or September 2023 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S AMISH FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Amish Fiction genre you would like to win.

Amish Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where the hero or heroine (or both) are Amish OR the story has significant Amish involvement through secondary characters and an Amish community. Can be set in any time period – contemporary or historical – and cross genres such as YA, suspense, dual timeline etc.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be July, August or September 2023

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since comments are working on WP

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY. 

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Saturday July 1, 2023

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on July 1. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice – Summer Edition – Mystery/Suspense + Giveaway

So, here’s how this week’s giveaways works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in July, August or September 2023 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S CONTEMPORARY MYSTERY/ SUSPENSE FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Mystery/Suspense Fiction genre you would like to win.

Mystery/Suspense Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense.) Can be set in any time period – contemporary or historical – and cross genres such as YA, Amish, dual timeline etc.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be July, August or September 2023

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since comments are working on WP

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY. 

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Saturday July 1, 2023

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on July 1. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice – Summer Edition – Contemporary Fiction + Giveaway

So, here’s how this week’s giveaways work: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in July, August or September 2023 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE / FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Contemporary Romance / Fiction genre you would like to win.

Contemporary Romance / Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be July, August or September 2023

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since comments are working on WP

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY. 

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Saturday July 1, 2023

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on July 1. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

Reader’s Choice – Summer Edition – Historical Fiction + Giveaway

So, here’s how this week’s giveaways works: You recommend CHRISTIAN FICTION genre specific titles with release dates in July, August or September 2023 (up to three suggestions per genre day) and you have a chance to win one of your recommendations! BUT it’s a little more complicated than that so be sure to read ALL the details before entering.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: These giveaways are available in paperback or ebook format to US and Canadian readers. Ebooks available internationally if you have a .com kindle account (US Amazon)

IT’S HISTORICAL ROMANCE / FICTION GIVEAWAY DAY!

To be entered in the draw just leave a comment (or 3) below, including the title(s) of the book(s) in the Historical Romance / Fiction genre you would like to win.

Historical Romance / Fiction — a full length story or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, Suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

How does it work?

Easy peasy! Make recommendations in the comment section and if you win, you win the book you suggested.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES!

Publication date must be July, August or September 2023

Each day is genre specific, so only submit titles from that genre

Christian Fiction books only please!

You can offer up to three suggestions per genre day BUT they need to be made in 3 separate comments (easier for me to keep track of.)

No email entries this time round since comments are working on WP

OF SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE, YOUR FIRST COMMENT WON’T APPEAR UNTIL I APPROVE IT. AFTER THAT YOUR COMMENTS WILL POST AUTOMATICALLY. 

Entrants must submit their own selections (no piggybacking on someone else’s log in.)

It’s helpful to include your email (using AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers) but you only need to add it to one of your comments per day. If you choose not to include your email, then it’s up to you to contact me if you are a winner.

Draw will be held and winner announced on 

Saturday July 1, 2023

(You can enter any of the giveaways up until noon on July 1. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.)

June Giveaway – Week Four

WON BY MELISSA ANDRES
WON BY CONNIE PORTER SAUNDERS
WON BY KIM
WON BY STEPHANIE
WON BY ABIGAIL KAY HARRIS

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!

Books will be ordered or mailed within a week of receiving your address (or email address for ebooks) and I’ll email you to confirm your book is on the way. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK’S GIVEAWAYS:

Woohoo! It’s that time of year again — where do our reading months go? Spring seems so fleeting and now summer is out in full force here. Hot, humid and icky. What would I do without my books to distract me? If you haven’t guessed by now — it’s time for another READER’S CHOICE WEEK — SUMMER EDITION!

For those new here, Reader’s Choice Week is all about anticipating the new releases in Christian Fiction coming out in the next three months — in this case, July, August or September. Each day highlights a specific genre and you get to suggest books you are looking forward to reading this summer. You can make three suggestions per genre day and if you win the draw, you’ll get an IOU for one of the new releases you’ve suggested. Please do read the ‘guidelines’ carefully for each blog post, so you follow the rules and contribute to this being a fun-filled, anticipatory week of bookish splendour!

Monday June 26 — Historical Fiction — any full-length novel or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period before 1980. May cross genres such as YA, suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Tuesday June 27 — Contemporary Fiction — any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas set in any time period after 1980. May cross genres such as YA, suspense, Amish etc and may include dual timelines.

Wednesday June 28 — Suspense / Mystery Fiction — any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas where mystery is an important part of the plot. The hero or heroine (or both) are often in peril (more so in suspense.) Can be set in any time period — contemporary or historical — and cross genres such as YA, Amish or dual timelines etc.

Thursday June 29 — Amish Fiction — any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas where the hero or heroine (or both) are Amish OR the story has significant Amish involvement through Amish secondary characters and Amish community. Can be historical or contemporary and cross genres such as YA, suspense or dual timelines.

Friday June 30 — General Christian Fiction — Any full length novel or novella or collection of novellas. Any genre including previous selections you’ve made on other days and also for specific  genres not covered this week such as Women’s Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, etc.

The Billionaire’s Secret Crush + Giveaway

Love might be a choice, but some choices are off limits.

They say opposites attract—and I’m not going to disagree. In fact, I’d be doing my best to see if the attraction was mutual if not for one little thing.

She’s my best friend’s little sister.

And since she and her brother are close, she’s become the honorary sister for all the guys in our group.

But I don’t see her as a sister.

At all.

She’s funny and smart.

And gorgeous.

But I don’t want to make it weird with the guys, so I figure I’m going to leave it be. And if enlisting her help to plan a fundraiser for my job is a convenient excuse to spend time alone with her? So what?

The only person I’m hurting is me.

My Review:

Who’d have thunk I’d be swooning over billionaires, but Elizabeth Maddrey’s ‘Billionaire Next Door’ series has me all atwitter. This is the third book and I love how connected they are through the characters but also how easy it would be to read any of the books in any order. So, if you haven’t dived into this series, fear not, Cody and Megan’s story is the perfect place to start.

These heroes are definitely not the bad boy billionaire archetype. They are regular guys who just happened to make some astute investments as a group that really paid off. Like really! I love how this series explores both the burdens and joys of wealth and how each hero strives to honour God with their prosperity.

And this time we have an….eeeeeeppppppp…..secret crush turned secret relationship that is all kinds of awesomesauce! Love the way it starts out with both Megan and Cody trying to squash down their feelings for one another. Megan’s been the tag along ‘little sister’ to her brother’s friends for years so it’s no wonder Cody is wrestling with his secret crush, while Megan is positive that he doesn’t see her as anything more than little sister material. It was fun being inside their heads as they mull over furtive longings and I was giddy with anticipation, waiting for the time when all would be revealed.

Maddrey is generous with providing page-time for all the recurring characters in this series. Love the depth in the relationships from light-hearted kidding to calling someone out for being a doofus. 🙂 And the steadfast support they provide to each other, even if they are at odds. These are the kind of characters I mourn over not being real people in my life.

And….another eeeepppppp….Megan owns a bookstore! A struggling indie bookstore that she’s not sure she’ll be able to keep open for much longer. Until some creative thinking turns everything around. There’s tons of interesting tidbits about books and publishing and even indie authors which was fun to read about.

And hoorah, there are still unattached billionaires in need of romance so there are going to be more books in this series and I can’t wait!

I listened to the audible edition of The Billionaire’s Secret Crush performed by Joel Simler and Emma Faye and I really enjoyed having two narrators — really brought Cody and Megan to life for me.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com 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 Billionaire’s Secret Crush, 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 June 24 , 2023.

Fallout + Giveaway

Samantha Williams’s carefully crafted life is about to be demolished as thoroughly as her art classroom when a careening SUV smashes into the school.

In the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington, art teacher Samantha Williams manages to save her students when an SUV crashes into the school. Her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—containing her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage, forcing her to rely on the kindness of strangers. Never one to trust easily, Samantha is thrust into a world far different from her simple life of jigsaw puzzles, children’s books, and lectures at the library.

One of the strangers who befriends her is a reporter from Spokane who is in town investigating two sets of skeletal remains that were recently discovered. When authorities discover that the driver in the school accident was shot before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes enmeshed in strange events, which turn ominous with the discovery of blackmail, murder, an abandoned town, and a secret government project.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the links here can’t be ignored. Yet these are secrets that others are determined to keep buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

My Review:

Um….so I’m a little lost for words about this thrilling suspense. The way Parks builds the intrigue is edge-of-your-seat good. Half the time I wasn’t sure what was happening. Other times I was painstakingly putting the pieces together and accomplishing mini ‘aha’ moments, only to be plunged back into confusion. There were characters I didn’t trust from the get go and sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong.

And mercy, but that opening scene with the SUV smashing into Samantha’s classroom! I was on high alert from that moment on. Incredible pacing between action scenes (hair-raising!!!!) and investigative puzzle piecing. And all the while I’m wondering who she can trust. It got to the point that I was madly shouting out warnings (which were mostly ignored…gah, some characters just can’t take direction)

And I really loved the…I don’t know how to say it but…phrasing beats — the way Parks uses sentence structure to add to the suspense. Like sometimes it’s sharp and terse — almost staccato beats of unfinished thoughts that leaves the reader hanging and imagining and desperate to get to the truth. All while she feeds us bits of random clues that we aren’t really sure are clues until after the fact. It’s so well done! The kind of suspense that carries a reader away from her mundane real world.

There’s a bit of light romance — but more the hint of it. I wouldn’t categorize this as romantic suspense. And some great faith tie-ins as well, including scriptures which I really appreciated.

While I wouldn’t say that Fallout is part of a series, it does feature the Clan Firinn (Scottish Gaelic for Family of Truth) which is a place of healing for first-responders and law-enforcement personnel recovering from trauma. It’s like a university campus that provides everything from spiritual and emotional counselling to educational opportunities and physical activities. So keep that in mind if you haven’t read any of the author’s previous books featuring the Clan Firinn.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere with a .com Kindle account.

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fallout, 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 June 24, 2023.

Texas Ranch Target + Giveaway

Somebody wants her dead…but they’ll have to go through him first.

After his client is murdered, security expert Brett Harmon plans to lie low at his family’s ranch — until he comes across an injured woman in the road. With only Brett’s business card in her pocket and no memory of her attack, Jaycee Richmond turns to her rescuers for answers. But when their search reveals a deadly connection, can Brett protect her from a killer she can’t remember?

A Cowboy Protectors novel.

My Review:

I can always count on Virginia Vaughn to deliver a fast-paced, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat suspense and this is definitely all that and more. From the tense opening scene to the high stakes climax, Texas Ranch Target was a devour-in-one-sitting kind of read for me.

I’m not a fan of the amnesia trope but I thought it was handled well here, and definitely added to the mystery of both Jaycee and the suspense. Vaughn expertly balances action and investigation as she builds up the intrigue towards the big reveal. I was as stymied as Brett and Jaycee by the end. Add in a light thread of romance and the promise of more ‘cowboy protectors’ in future books and count me one very happy reader. 🙂

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 Texas Ranch Target, 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 June 24, 2023.

Winning the Gentleman + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Aaron Whitworth hasn’t had control over most aspects of his life, but he’s always taken pride in being an honorable businessman and better-than-average horseman. When both of those claims are threatened, he makes the desperate decision to hire the horse trainer of a traveling circus as a temporary jockey for his racehorses.

Sophia Fitzroy knows that most horsemen don’t take her seriously because she’s a woman, but she can’t pass up the opportunity to get away from the tumultuous world of travel and performing. As she fights for the right to do the work she was hired for, she learns the fight for Aaron’s guarded heart might be an even more worthwhile challenge.

As secrets come to light and past vulnerabilities are confronted, will Aaron and Sophia sacrifice their former dreams and forge a new on together?

My Review:

published in 2020

Let it be known that after reading the first Hearts on the Heath novel I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on this second book. No surprise then to note that Winning the Gentleman didn’t have to jockey for position on my TBR pile…it never made it that far. That’s because I had difficulty reining in my excitement and raced right into reading…er listening…the second I woke up on release day. Alas, I galloped through with unbridled enthusiasm and it was over all too soon. Therefore, I suggest you approach your reading using a different tack by pacing yourself so the thrill lasts longer. 🙂

Ahem, I shall put aside me long buried horse-mad tweenish self and attempt to come up with a proper review. Excuse me if intermittent squeals burst forth because…well, why don’t I get the biblio-theatrics out of the way right from the start?

Sqqquuuuueeeealllllllll!!!!! (sorry for any pierced eardrums)

THUD! (no worries, fainting couch on hand)

and repeat, multiple times during the course of this read.

Because…

Aaron!!!! And not only Aaron but a bevy of previous Hunter heroes manage to gather on multiple occasions causing my delicate reader’s heart to race in giddy euphoria. The banter and smirking and honorary brothers backing brothers when the chips are down! I’m still grinning.

And, of course, their heroines make appearances too, which is a little overwhelming for poor Sophia because that sisterhood is a force to be reckoned with. More banter and laughter along with gentle kindness and passionate support for the scandalous horsewoman. Honestly, just these friendly bonding scenes make this book a worthwhile read. But when Hunter puts Aaron and Sophia on the same page…more swooning and squealing and general fangirling ensues.

These two have chemistry! But they are in an impossible situation (a lot of which is their own doing Stringing words into sentences has the power to clarify issues, just sayin’.) But Sophia and Aaron are both battling feelings of inferiority for different reasons and finding a place for themselves within the strict confines of England’s rigid class system makes it that much harder. 

The plot is delightfully complicated with enough twists and turns to keep me on high alert until the very end. Hunter deals with very real, raw emotions with grace and humour…and faith! This is truly an inspiring read and there’s no doubt about Winning the Gentleman being Christian Fiction. But that doesn’t mean it’s preachy or stilted. Faith flows naturally and brings added depth to an already richly layered story.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Ann Marie Gideon and I enjoyed every delectable second.

Oh — and no worries if you haven’t read the first book in this series, Vying for the Viscount, or any other books by Kristi Ann Hunter (though I am worried over how much you are missing out on!) Winning the Gentleman reads beautifully as a standalone novel as well.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for apaperback copy and open to any reader anywhere so — yay- an International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Winning the Gentleman, leave a comment below 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 winners announced on Saturday 24 2023. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!