Kav's Best Reads

Carol Award Semi-Finalists 2023 – Historical Fiction + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

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 — Historical Fiction 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 Historical Fiction Semi-Finalists.

The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar; Tyndale House — paperback or ebook giveaway —

The beloved daughter of Jewish captives in Babylon, Keren is sold into Daniel’s household to help her family survive. She becomes Daniel’s most trusted scribe, while taking lessons and swordsmanship training alongside Daniel’s sons and their best friend, Jared.

But after a tragic accident changes the course of her life, Keren finds herself in a foreign country, charged with a mysterious task: teaching a shepherd boy how to become a lord. When she overhears whispers that hint at his true identity, she realizes she must protect him from the schemes of a bloodthirsty king.

Jared cannot forgive Keren. Still, he finds himself traveling over mountains to fetch her back to the safety of home. When he discovers the secret identity of Keren’s pupil, Jared knows he must help protect him. Love battles bitterness as they flee from the king’s agents, trying to save the boy who could one day deliver their people from captivity.

When Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett; Kregel Publications — paperback or ebook giveaway —
Kieran Lucas’s grandmother is slipping into dementia, and, when her memory is gone, Kieran’s last tie to the family she barely knows will be lost forever. Worse, Granny Mac is being tormented by flashbacks of her mother’s death and the loss of their home.

In 1931, Rosie McCauley’s Smoky Mountains home is threatened by the Tennessee Great Smokies Park Commission as they create a new national park. But Rosie vows the only way they’ll get her land is if they haul her out in a pine box. When a compromise offers her and her disabled sister the opportunity to stay for her lifetime, it seems too good to be true.

Ornithologist Benton Fuller arrives to conduct a bird survey for the park and the two form a tenuous bond. But their friendship broadens a rift between her and the other mountain folk who are suspicious of any government connections. Then the discovery of an illegal still in the woods near her cabin leads to a violent clash between sides that could destroy them all.

Eighty-five years later, Kieran heads back to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to find answers to her great-grandmother’s mysterious death and bring peace to Granny Mac before it’s too late. Park Historian Zach Jensen may be the key to locating both the answers and a precious family heirloom. But just as in the past, Kieran’s needs clash with government regulations. Will Zach block her from recovering what she needs and solving this family mystery?

Read and Reviewed: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4826547161

The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson; Tyndale House — paperback or ebook giveaway —

In this gripping split-time novel, Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker woman who works tirelessly in Vichy France to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis. After crossing the treacherous Pyrénées, Grace returns home to Oregon with a brother and sister whose parents were lost during the war. Though Grace and her husband love Élias and Marguerite as their own, echoes of Grace’s past and trauma from the Holocaust tear the Tonquin family apart.

More than fifty years after they disappear, Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake, hoping to find the Tonquin family. For Addie, the mystery is a matter of life and death for her beloved mentor Charlie, who is battling a genetic disease. Though Charlie refuses to discuss his ties to the elusive Tonquins, finding them is the only way to save his life and mend the wounds from his broken past.

Read and Reviewed: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-winter-rose.html

When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart; Revell (Baker Publishing Group) — paperback or ebook giveaway —

Widow Rose Meadows eagerly accepts her brother-in-law’s offer for her and her two daughters to live on his farm after her treatments in a sanatorium finds them needing a home. But is this scarred and reclusive man ready for all the changes these women will bring to his life?

Not By Sight : a novel of the patriarchs by Elizabeth Jacobson; WordCrafts Press — ebook giveaway —

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 Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano; Revell (Baker Publishing Group) –– paperback or ebook giveaway —

When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of an adult ward she knew nothing about. The woman is supposedly a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. The woman’s portrait is shockingly familiar to Vivienne, so when the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know. But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

Fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women’s independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era–and now.

Read and Reviewed: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-lost-melody.html

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Lyn Tromp; Kregel Publications — ebook giveaway —

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on–responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand–but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds–or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright; Tyndale House — paperback or ebook giveaway —

For fans of WWII fiction comes a powerful novel by Jennifer L. Wright about two young women coming of age during the Trinity nuclear bomb test in 1945.

Sixteen-year-old Olive Alexander has lived on a ranch in the Jornada del Muerto region of southern New Mexico her entire life. But when World War II begins, the government seizes her family’s land for the construction of a new, top secret Army post.

While her mother remains behind, Olive is forced to live in nearby Alamogordo with her grandmother and find a place in a new school. When Jo Hawthorne crosses her path, Olive sees a chance for friendship―until she learns that Jo’s father is the Army sergeant who now occupies her beloved ranch. Already angry about her new reality, Olive pushes Jo away. But as she struggles to make sense of her grandmother’s lapses into the past and increasingly unsettling hints about what’s happening at the ranch, she slowly warms to Jo’s winsome faith and steady attempts at friendship . . . until one devastating day when the sky explodes around them and their lives are torn apart.

Seven years later, Jo returns to Alamogordo, still angry and wounded by the betrayals of that fateful day. Determined to put the past behind her once and for all, Jo hunts for answers and begins to realize the truth may be far more complicated than she believed, leading her on a desperate search to find her friend before it’s too late.

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 of one 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 June 24, 2023. Good luck!

June Giveaway – Week Three

WON BY NORA ST. LAURENT

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:

Please read the giveaway options written in red noted under “Giveaway Opportunity” in each blog post as formats will vary. AS WILL AVAILABILITY IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

Paperback or ebook — winner can choose either format

Paperback — I have a new physical book on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback — It’s the actual book I read to review

ebook — that’s the only format option available, often because it’s an indie book where a paperback copy is either unavailable or exorbitantly priced. Or when a physical edition is out of print.

MONDAY

Time to do the Carol Awards Countdown. This year they’ve listed the Semi-Finalists instead of just the Finalists so you’ll have seven options to choose from for this giveaway. This week will feature the HISTORICAL FICTION CATEGORY titles.

Courage in the Storm + Giveaway

In this powerful Amish romance, an isolated woman and a compassionate man learn that love can build a bridge between their two worlds.

Since witnessing the murder of her beloved parents, Miriam Hochstedler suffers from paralyzing anxiety and a deep-seated fear of the Englisch . Unwilling to venture beyond her family’s Tennessee farm, she forms a close bond with a badly injured gelding. Like Miriam herself, the traumatized animal seems unlikely to recover—until skilled horse whisperer Reuben Brenneman arrives.

A survivor of an abusive childhood, Reuben understands fear better than most. He’ll do whatever it takes to help a terrified animal, but his compassion doesn’t extend to the church that turned a blind eye to his family’s suffering. Once he finishes this job, he’ll return to the Englisch world, putting his Amish heritage behind him forever.

As Miriam works alongside Reuben, battling the horse’s fear—and her own—an unexpected friendship blooms and deepens into romance. But the Amish faith that sustains her inspires only distrust in Reuben, and the Englisch world he’s chosen has already broken her heart once.

Falling in love was easy. But staying together will take all the courage they have.

My Review:

Such an emotional read! This is the third John Mills Amish Romance novel and, while I think it could be read as a standalone, it will definitely make more of an impact if you read the books in order.

It’s been a year and a half since the Hochstedler’s parents were brutally murdered and while the siblings are coming to grips with their new reality and moving on in different ways, Miriam, who witnessed the murder, is still paralyzed with fear and anxiety. A fragile bond with a traumatized horse that seems beyond rehabilitation seems destined to bring even more heartache into her life…until itinerant horse whisperer and (former Amish) Reuben Brenneman comes on the scene. Turns out Reuben is not only a horse whisperer but a Miriam whisperer as well.

Honestly, the way their tentative friendship develops in measured steps, and not without set backs, was torturously wonderful to read. The parallels between Blaze and Miriam learning to trust again was so profound and the way both ultimately achieved freedom from fear made for the kind of stand up and cheer ending I love in an emotional story.

Reuben has his own past trauma to deal with, which complicates any hope of a future between these two and adds an extra dimension of angst — because things really get messy before they get better. And can I just say that Laurel Blount is positively brilliant in the way she weaves all the intricate threads of this story together.

Now I’m anxiously anticipating the release of the fourth and final book in this series, Home From the Storm, which will be coming out at the end ot this year….and mercy, it sounds like it’s going to be the kind of blockbuster conclusion this series deserves.

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 Courage in the Storm, 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 17, 2023.

Fairest of Heart + Giveaway

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth–one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.

My Review:

Okay, I’m beyond giddy and well into bubbleheadedness over this — eeeeeppppppp — first book in the Texas Every After series which is all about fairy tale retellings!!!!! I can’t even…there just are no words to convey my bookish glee. So if I come across as slaphappy and scatterbrained in this review, blame the author’s storytelling prowess.

First — I love, adore, delight in fairy tale retellings and to find one in the realm of Christian Fiction with a significant faith thread…well…I just…like I said, no words.

Snow White takes an entirely different spin in this Old West version that comes complete with a prince of a Texas ranger (see what I did there?) and seven retired drovers (seriously, is that not clever or what?!) And, of course we have Penelope Snow who does justice to the fairy tale heroine but adds a charm all of her own.

The way Witemeyer has adapted the classic Snow White plot to her Western setting is sheer brilliance! I got such a charge out of recognizing familiar elements in a different way. Beyond clever. And it was so much fun kinda knowing how the story was going to progress, but being constantly surprised by each new twist. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a fairy tale retelling more.

And there’s a spectacular faith thread about mercy that’s woven throughout Titus’s story. He’s all about truth and justice. A personal tragedy led him to join the Texas rangers but, when Penelope shows up in his life, he begins to wrestle with the notion of mercy and where it fits in. “Mercy and truth always together. Mercy always leading the way.” There’s even an awesome scripture chain on mercy that I’ve written into my bible as Titus shares verses tied together “like clues on a treasure map.” And what a treasure he finds by the end!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She’s a familiar voice in Western Christian Fiction and I’ve enjoyed all her performances whether she’s reading from works by Mary Connealy, Tracey Peterson or Karen Witemeyer.

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 Fairest of Heart, 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 17, 2023.

Cougar Mountain Ambush + Giveaway

A shooter in pursuit..and no where left to hide.

When Thad Hanson hears gunshots fired on his ranch, the last thing he expects to find is game warden Carrie Caldwell pinned down by an armed drone—and an unknown assailant closing in. Now Thad’s determined to stay between Carrie and the threat at all times. But with the shooter following their every move, can Thad get Carrie to safety…without leading them both into a trap?

My Review:

I read Kathie Ridings’ debut LIS a few months ago and ended my review begging for more Hanson brothers and here we are, back on Cougar Mountain with Levi, Blane, Sean and, of course, this book’s hero, Thad! Love the way this author writes these brothers — all teasing camaraderie with an underlying thread of steel, ’cause if you mess with one brother you’re going to have to take them all on. Thankfully, Carrie has them on her side.

She’s a game warden who has attracted some deadly attention and it happens on Hanson land so Thad feels responsible (and intervenes in a timely fashion!) He is a hero of my dreams — a veterinarian rancher! Really, can it get any better than that for an animal loving reader? What ensues is a perplexing volley of attacks on poor Carrie that has them all flummoxed and Thad appointing himself protector while they scramble to figure out what on earth is going on and why!

Carrie has an interesting back story that plays an important role in her reluctance to become romantically involved…even though Thad is oh-so-tempting! But running for your life tends to wear down one’s resistance so do not despair, there is a happily-ever-after.

An edge-of-your-seat suspense that kept me engaged to the very last page. (Blissful, happy sigh.) And there are two more unattached Hanson brothers who are crying out for their own stories. (More happy sighing.)

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 Cougar Mountain Ambush, 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 17, 2023.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau + Giveaway

In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman’s stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle’s curse threatens to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell its sordid tale.

Fan-favorite Jaime Jo Wright draws readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale of suspense, mystery, romance, and redemption.

My Review:

Eerily mysterious with Gothic undertones that make this one shivery delight of a read! Dual timelines, both equally riveting, and Wright does a phenomenal job of meshing them together by the end.

This is the kind of read you need to go into with very little info — I appreciate the sparse synopsis which tells just enough to lure readers in without revealing any spoilers. So, all I’m going to say is be prepared to be enthralled! Richly layered in both plot and characterization and the way the author builds each scene upon the previous one, even when bouncing between timelines, is masterfully done. As is the seamless way she weaves a redemptive thread throughout. Everything I want in an atmospheric mystery!

I think my ‘reading’ pleasure was enhanced even more by listening to Sara Farrington’s excellent narration. She did justice to these characters and Jaime Jo Wright’s unique storytelling.

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 Vanishing at Castle Moreau, 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 17, 2023.

Carol Awards Semi-Finalists 2023 – Contemporary Fiction + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2023 — Contemporary Category you would like to receive if your name is drawn. 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.

Broken : a story of Redemption by Jane Daly ; Elk Lane Publishing –– ebook giveaway
A young woman flees an abusive boyfriend and a traumatic home life only to find herself broke and in jail. A sympathetic cop takes her to his mother’s home, where for the first time, she finds unconditional love. Can she accept what is offered or will she continue to sabotage both herself and everyone around her?

The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell by Kelly Flanagan ; indie — ebook giveaway

Elijah Campbell is on the verge of losing his writing career, his faith, and his marriage when a recurring childhood nightmare drives him back to his hometown, Bradford’s Ferry.

This visit to Bradford’s Ferry will linger long after the final page has been turned, and a guide for group discussion invites further conversation about the story’s themes of healing, grace, faith, forgiveness, and freedom.

Like the Wind by Robin Lee Hatcher ; Thomas Nelson Publishing — ebook or paperback giveaway

Olivia Ward arrived in Bethlehem Springs alone—with no job, no home, and no money—after her manipulative ex-husband used his power and wealth to destroy everything. Six years later, the peaceful life she rebuilt is once again turned upside down when she learns that her fifteen-year-old daughter, Emma, will be coming to live with her. The reunion should be a dream come true, but years of deception have driven a wedge between them. And Emma seems more interested in an old diary she discovered than reconciliation with her mother.

Tyler Murphy knows what it’s like to lose everything. Propelled by his history in the foster-care system, he’s determined to root out dishonesty and protect the most vulnerable through his work as an investigator. When he’s hired to investigate Olivia Ward, though, he finds himself longing to believe she’s exactly who she appears to be, and he soon realizes that his desire to learn more about her has nothing to do with his job. But how can he pursue a relationship that began with a lie?

Breath of Heaven by Deborah Raney ; indie — (Camfield Legacy,3) — ebook or paperback giveaway

After a joyful wedding in Kansas, Natalie Camfield Chambers is back in the village of Timoné in South America with her beloved husband, David Chambers. But the adjustments to married life while serving on the mission field in a remote Colombian village along the Rio Guaviare are more than either Natalie or David bargained for. The growing unrest in the country only adds to the challenges they face.

When the village is invaded by guerrilla soldiers and one of their Timoné neighbors, a young mother, goes missing, Natalie and David find themselves caring for her small daughter, even as Natalie has begun to suspect that she is carrying their own child.

When a trip by boat on the Guaviare turns treacherous and ultimately deadly, Natalie and David face the fight of their lives. Their faith—and their love—will be tested in ways they never dreamed, and the decisions they make will echo for generations to come.

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer ; Love Inspired Trade — ebook or paperback giveaway

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family’s history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope’s last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she’s lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…

I’ve read this one! https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-bookshop-of-secrets.html

Every Day Filled With Hope by Sheila Stovall ; indie — ebook giveaway. Welcome to Weldon, Kentucky, where no one can keep a secret forever. Nineteen years ago, a cosmetics industry mogul assaulted former runway model Casey Bledsoe, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy. Casey’s biggest regret is allowing fear to influence her to give up her baby for adoption.

It’s mere days before Casey and Daniel are scheduled to leave Weldon, Kentucky on a mission trip to Africa when Casey receives a letter from Madison, her eighteen-year-old daughter. Hope for healing begins. Still, Casey grapples with telling those closest to her what really happened. That includes Daniel, the man she loves. Daniel’s a cop, and Casey is afraid of how he’ll react. Little does she know, Daniel has his own secret he’s keeping. As each day passes and they face more trials in the African wilderness, their hidden truths tear them further apart.

The Songs that Could Have Been by Amanda Wen ; Kregel Publications — (Sedgwick County Chronicles;2) ebook or paperback giveaway

Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.
After a tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Her battle with bulimia is under control, her career is taking off, and she’s surrounded by a loving family. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, leads to old feelings returning with new strength. And suddenly her well-balanced world is thrown off kilter.

Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But the reasons they broke up aren’t lost–and those old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. He isn’t sure he’s courageous enough to make a different choice this time around.

When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim–a name her family has never heard before–a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives–and Rosie’s–forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

All books are available in ebook format for readers who have a kindle .com account — so this is the only truly international option.

The giveaway formats for each title is noted in bold at the end of the publication info so make sure to check that.

Paperback copies are only available to US and Canada winners

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Carol Awards Finalists 2023 — Contemporary Fiction, 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 winner announced on Saturday June 17 2023 . Good luck

June Giveaway – Week Two

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:

Please read the giveaway options written in red noted under “Giveaway Opportunity” in each blog post as formats will vary. AS WILL AVAILABILITY IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

Paperback or ebook — winner can choose either format

Paperback — I have a new physical book on hand to give away

Gently Read Paperback — It’s the actual book I read to review

In Her Sights + Giveaway

He’s sworn off love, but she has his heart in her sights and doesn’t intend to miss.

Stained by his wastrel father’s legacy, Jackson Spivey lives on the fringes of society. Townsfolk tolerate him since he keeps the local hotel supplied with fresh game, but mothers coach their daughters to avoid him. After tasting consistent rejection, Jackson spurns all attempts at courtship. The only things he can count on are his guns and his God.

Tessa James has been secretly in love with Jackson for ages, but trying to gain his favor only pushes him further away. When she learns Annie Oakley is traveling through Texas, Tessa seeks lessons from the famed markswoman. If Jackson’s life revolves around guns, taking up shooting might help her engage his interest. Too bad she can’t hit the broad side of a barn.

When Annie loans Tessa a custom pistol, however, things begin to change. The lore behind the mysterious weapon fosters hope that Tessa might finally hit the target of Jackson’s heart. But when danger threatens, she might be forced to use the pistol for something other than finding love.

My Review:

This was just plain fun! If you told me I’d be gushing over a romance that centres around a very special gun, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here I am, marvelling once again at Karen Witemeyer’s clever storytelling skills.

This is the first book of the multi-authored Pink Pistol Sisterhood series (isn’t that title fantastic? And yes, the pistol is pink!) I’m definitely intrigued enough to check out the other novellas in the collection. Each book reads as a standalone though they are linked by this rather special pistol and how it can work magic when it comes to romance. 🙂

Equal parts comedy and drama with a resounding action scene towards the end, Tessa and Jackson’s story is a classic Western…with a twist.

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 In Her Sights, 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 10, 2023.

Betting on Hope + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

One clutzy advice columnist. One champion cowboy. And an entire small town rooting for love.

Advice columnist Maggie Hope never dreamed she’d be shaking hands with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan over a high-stakes bet, especially one that involves horses. And saddles. And everything else a city girl like Maggie feels uncomfortable around. But after filling in for a coworker and interviewing the handsome cowboy, she finds herself doing just that. Anything to save her advice column.

Despite Maggie’s two left feet, Tru is bound and determined to bring out her inner cowgirl by teaching her to ride a cutting horse, trained to separate cattle from the rest of the herd. While her riding improves, their attraction intensifi es, but Tru knows he can never let her into his heart—for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, a community full of meddling but well-meaning townsfolk, Maggie discovers the home she’s always longed for. But she’s holding something back—a secret that could destroy her reputation and any future she’s ever hoped for with the cowboy she mightust love.

My Review:

published in 2015 (Second time around for me, this time in audio, and it’s just as fantastic as I remembered!)

Wow, this is going to be a doozey of a series. I love the way Clopton creates an unforgettable community of living, breathing characters. Makes me want to visit Wishing Springs but it’s not on the map. I checked! I’m already lamenting that there are only three Monahan brothers because I want this series to go on for a long time. And just for fun, fans of this author’s Love Inspired books will appreciate the nod to Mule Hollow found within these pages.

The fantastic first meet totally drew me in. I love a klutzy heroine — especially when a dashing cowboy comes to her rescue. I could hear the rumble of fireworks over that first glance and couldn’t burrow into the story fast enough. Clopton is a comedic genius and her scenes just flow with love and laughter. Mind you, there’s plenty of angst to work through for both Tru and Maggie and I loved the way the plot took a few unexpected turns that kept it fresh and compelling.

There are times when secondary characters steal the show — Clara Lyn and Reba from the Cut Up and Roll Hair Salon are on the top of my list of favourites. They are unrepentant busybodies with hearts of gold and bring an added warmth to this inspiring tale. There’s also a secondary plot involving a pregnant teen that further enhances the underlining theme of the hope that comes from sacrifice. Again, it has a couple of surprising twists and enough of an emotional punch to keep my nose buried in the book until I reached the end.

A stellar start to a promising new series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Gently read paperback copy available internationally — so, yay, everybody’s included in this giveaway no matter where you live.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Betting on Hope, 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 10, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.