Christian Fiction – Kav's Best Reads

Part of Your World + Giveaway

She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.

Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn’s veins-a fact that has long concerned her father, who longs for his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.

Despite his family’s wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.

Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

My Review:

A captivating Little Mermaid retelling with an innovative Western spin. Loved spotting the similarities to the classic (Disney version) and am in awe of Witemeyer’s creative genius, especially when it comes to the villain. So clever.

The romance is full of tension and yearning – a bit of a love at first sight / star-crossed lovers kind of feel – that kept my emotions engaged and me anxiously devouring Muriel and Zane’s story. And I love the way the author blends humour into the mix too.

‘Part of Your World’ delivers all the elements I enjoy in a story – engaging characters (including some memorable secondary ones like Grampa Clem), a gentle faith thread and just the right amount of suspense to keep things interesting. Not to mention the sweet (and swoonworthy) romance!

I am thrilled that Karen Witemeyer is continuing these Texan Fairy tale retellings independently. She has a knack for mixing classic tales with the Historical Western genre which is all kinds of fun to read. Hoping for many more reimaginings in my reading future.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Part of Your World, 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 Wednesday July 23 2026.

Series Spotlight – Hope Harbor + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

Each book feels like the warmest homecoming
Full of that bookish hug kind of feeling
Memorable secondary characters that have become family to me
Stories filled with hope despite difficult circumstances
Exquisite storytelling
Captivating romances
Found family themes
Charley’s wisdom
Peppered with life lessons and nuggets of faith

The Giveaway

Winner’s choice of one of the books in this series. Please state the title in a comment or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please put the title in the subject area of your email. Also, please remember to take note of the formats available for different countries.

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026

Series Spotlight – Freddie and Grace Mysteries + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

The swoonalicious romance!
The banter that goes along with it!
Freddie’s devotion to Grace
Her absolute trust and faith in him
Grace’s penchant for reading and using books in her sleuthing
Solid faith threads throughout
Compelling mysteries
Engaging secondary characters

The Giveaway:

Winner’s choice of one of the books in this series, including the upcoming July release. Please state the title in a comment or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. Please put the title in the subject area of your email. Also, please remember to take note of the formats available for different countries.

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – Mistletoe Countess, ebook or audible, all the rest of the books, paperback, ebook or audible – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026

Series Spotlight – Checking Out Love + Giveaway

What I love about this series:

All the splendiferous bookishness!
The heroines are all librarians
The wonderful mix of heart and humour
Storytelling that sings
Diverse characters I don’t always see in my fiction
Inspirational faith threads

The Giveaway:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026.

Delta

A second chance at love sparks a fight for redemption.

Dylan “Delta” Hunt thought he left his past behind when he returned from war. Haunted by all he’s seen, he’s built walls around his heart, convinced that peace and love are beyond his reach.

Emma has never stopped loving Dylan, even after the man she knew came back a broken stranger. She’s spent years trying to reach him but has failed every time. Now, an unexpected revelation about her estranged family pulls her into a dangerous mystery, and Dylan might be the only one who can help.

When Emma vanishes without a trace, Dylan is forced to confront the feelings he buried long ago. But the real question is, does he have enough light inside to bring them both home? Or will rescuing her cost him what little peace he clings to?

My Review:

The fifth and final (I think) ‘Hunt Brothers Search and Rescue’ novel and, whoa, is it a doozie! All of the books have been filled with intriguing action-packed suspense but this one has an added creepy ick factor that kept me on edge all the way through. Some graphic descriptions of violence and off page torture too, so not for the faint of heart.

Dylan has been the tortured soul sibling throughout the whole series. Wounded and a long way out from healing both emotionally and spiritually. His story is powerful as he works his way back to his faith. He struggles with finding God in the dark places but when he finally does…whooooeeee…be prepared for an emotional outpouring!

The second chance romance with his childhood sweetheart is bittersweet for a lot of the story. Dylan hurt Emma badly, his reasons buried in a complicated layer of grief, fear and anger. It all comes to a head when Emma is threatened and Dylan will do anything to save her.

Intense with dark undertones, this last book in the series packs a serious wallop.

Explosive Alliance

random retro read

The last thing Krista Curry expected to find in a soccer stadium was a time bomb. When she alerts explosives expert Cash Dixon, she becomes a local hero. But the attention could expose her real name—and the infamous past she fought to escape. Cash promises Krista protection from the bomber’s retaliation. Yet she hesitates to trust him as she sees his suspicion about her grow with every question she dodges. She can’t expect Cash to continue to safeguard her unless she tells him the truth. Now Cash must decide if she’s an innocent woman or guilty accomplice. But the clock is ticking down—and the real bomber is still on the loose…

First Responders: Brave men and women alert and ready for danger and love.

My Review:

first published in 2015

This ‘First Responders’ series is what made Susan Sleeman a must read author for me and I’ve followed her faithfully (mostly) ever since. It’s a four part series but somehow I missed the second book ten years ago so was thrilled to discover this audio ‘retro’ edition available this month. It is narrated by the incomparable Whitney Dykhouse who has become the voice of most, if not all, of Susan Sleeman’s novels. Love the way she portrays the tension and action in a suspense. And she’s excellent at creating distinctive voices for each character which keeps me engaged in an already compelling story.

‘Explosive Alliance’ is all breath-snatching action, taut suspense and wary distrust on both sides, making Cash and Krista’s love story absolutely bingeworthy. From their hair-raising meet-cute to the complicated give and take of a relationship forged in the midst of chaos, Sleeman delivers everything I love to find in a romantic suspense.

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Almost by Design + Giveaway

Kenya Stewart is so close to getting her dream position at an event agency. When a scheduling blunder risks her promotion, she hopes an upcoming pitch will give her a second chance. But an accident at her cousin’s wedding sends her to the emergency room in the care of another wedding guest, Solomon Anruchi, the handsome doctor who ghosted her after their first date.

Solomon’s parents are eager for him to find a business-savvy wife and make the move to New York to take over a recent acquisition by their family’s company. But he needs to buy more time to finish his residency and convince them that staying in Hope Springs is the best path for him. He realizes that Kenya is the perfect person to help, and Kenya needs his connections to land a high-profile client and save her career. Their solution? A fake dating relationship.

As attractions increase amid their ruse, secrets they’ve kept from each other and the weight of others’ expectations begin to unravel their scheme. Will their carefully constructed plans crumble when the truth comes out?

Jenny Erlingsson’s charming new contemporary romance is brimming with heart, humor, and characters that leap off the page.

My Review:

Happy sigh of supreme bibliophile satisfaction, that’s me after reading (listening) to ‘Almost by Design.‘ I am a forever Jenny Erlingsson fan now. Her evocative storytelling style invites a reader in and compels her to stay. I love the combination of comedy and drama centred around a fake dating trope. Kenya and Solomon couldn’t be more right for each other…in all the wrong ways…and it was so much fun watching them come together after an inauspicious beginning. Hmmm, might even be able to say this starts out as an ‘enemies to more’ trope as well, on Kenya’s side anyway.

She’s feisty and focused. Career-minded to the nth degree because she has something to prove, or thinks she does anyway. Her intense need to prove herself feels almost exhausting at times but she has very good reasons for feeling that way.

Solomon is burdened by the weight of parental expectations. They see his future one way, he sees it going in a completely different direction. He loves and respects his parents, but does that mean he has to sacrifice his hopes and dreams for them?

Honestly, the character growth for both hero and heroine is phenomenal. Lots of emotional depth with touches of faith and insightful wisdom from unexpected places. And the romance? Swoonalicious all the way! From their hesitant fake relationship pact that grows into friendship that deepens into something they both need to be brave enough to hold onto. Oh la la! Sublime, toe-curling romance with just the right touch of angst!

A full cast of opinionated secondary characters adds flare and even more drama to Solomon and Kenya’s love story (as if they actually needed any more drama!) Leaves me eagerly anticipating more Hope Springs stories in my reading future because some of these characters deserve their chance to shine in their own stories!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Almost by Design’ narrated by AhDream Smith who delivered a stunning performance. She matched the energy and emotion of Erlingsson’s storytelling and added to my overall enjoyment.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Almost by Design, 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 13 2026

The Tangled Tale of the Wool Gathering Cast-Offs + Giveaway

random retro read

A humorous, heartwarming tale of love, loss, and the power of community

Fair Meadows Retirement Community might as well be a country club for most of the retirees enjoying the pool, golf course, and book clubs. But for the caregivers whose family members reside upstairs in the special Memory Care Unit, vacation is over.

Comforting these caregivers is exactly why the Woolgatherers group has formed. They make prayer shawls to support those affected by the heartbreaking reality of not being recognized by a loved one-people like Sam Talbot, who has been barely existing since his wife moved into Memory Care. He finds that his life has lost all color and meaning without her.

That’s something the Woolgatherers can’t bear to see. Flirtatious Jenny Alderman, cranky crocheter Edna O’Brian, kind Rose Harker, and the rest of the prayer shawl group weave him into the circle. Sam has no idea how he got tangled up with them, and he’s no good at knitting. But when one member talks him into taking up his wife’s old crochet hooks, he discovers that this one small gesture might just have the power to heal his life–or even save it.

Full of Sharon Mondragon’s characteristic humor and heart, this book wrestles with the loneliness of being the forgotten spouse of a dementia patient, moving past the fear that the spouses often face into the love and compassion that can make all the difference.

My Review:

published in 2024

This book has been on my TBR for way too long and now that I’ve read it, I’m wondering what on earth I was waiting for?! Mondragon’s unique blend of humour and faith bring such heart and hope to life’s everyday stories. Well worth stepping out of my usual genre comfort zone!

This is a kind of spin off of ‘The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady’ though you don’t need to read that book in order to enjoy this one. But the storytelling approach is similar – multiple POVs from an eclectic mix of characters drawn together by a unique knitting group.

The Woolgatherers meet three mornings a week to knit (or crochet) prayer shawls for caregivers of dementia patients. I was charmed by the humour, touched by the compassion and gut punched by the hard hitting reality of this dreaded ‘old timer’s disease.’

The prayer group sets up in the lobby of the memory care unit in their retirement community and it isn’t long before others are drawn into their circle. Prayers are lifted, lives are changed and I came away from this read with the realization that you are never too old and it’s never too late to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Heartwarming, hard hitting and utterly captivating from start to finish!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs, 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 13 2026

Protecting the Baby + Giveaway

Guarding a child in danger

…is a K-9 team’s most important mission.

When a dangerous assailant trespasses on his ranch in the middle of the night, K-9 Officer Eli Blackwood must act quickly to outwit a kidnapper targeting his neighbor and her baby. Protecting veterinarian Carly Mayor and the infant she’s become guardian to means going off the grid and hiding out at his grandfather’s cabin. But who is after baby Ariel…and does it have to do with the mysterious deaths of her parents? Chased through the Colorado wilderness by deadly gunmen, Carly and Eli must work together to survive. But with threats coming from every direction, untangling the mystery behind the attacks could be the last thing they do…

My Review:

An exceptional addition to the ‘Colorado K-9 Unit’ continuity series. I love how the author blended the over-arcing series suspense with the suspense unique to this book. She did an amazing job of piquing my interest for both. My sleuthing armchair worked overtime this read!

This is the fourth book in the series – no worries, ‘Protecting the Baby’ reads well as a standalone too – but I’ve been curious about Eli’s backstory since I first ‘met’ him and, whoa, talk about heartbreak and trauma! His personal growth through the course of this novel is phenomenal. Loved the way he gradually softened towards Carly and baby Ariel. Even in the midst of tension and danger, there were so many bright moments that lightened the darker ones.

So, an emotional romance paired with lots of intrigue and action along with the best K-9 team to provide back up, made this an unputdownable read…

Well, I should say ‘unstoppable’ since I listened to the audio edition expertly narrated by Cindy Kay. Absolutely love her narration style, her voice fits this genre perfectly. She knows how to inject the right sense of tension and drama in the action scenes and she’s great a creating memorable dialogue too. Her performance added to my overall enjoyment of ‘Protecting the Baby.’

My thanks to HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Of Note: this book releases On June 30 2026

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Protecting the Baby, 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 6 2026

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton + Giveaway

A Socialite in Disguise Seeks Truth and Justice

Collect a new series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell, heiress to the Maxwell fortune, is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers.

Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need. When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret.

After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area. But sparks fly when Leo accuses Etta of negating the human side of the disaster in her determination to get a good story.

When an unnamed source reveals Etta’s secret identity to a rival reporter, she falsely accuses Leo of being the informant. As the truth comes to light, Etta must persuade Leo to give her a second chance or lose the only man she’s ever loved.

My Review:

This has been my introduction to Kelly J. Goshorn’s writing and I am definitely a fan. I especially love the way she develops her characters. Etta is such an intriguing contradiction, from disguising herself as a man in order to fulfill her investigative reporter dreams to meeting her commitments as a prominent young socialite to keep her family happy. She’s leading two very different lives and it’s paramount that they stay separate which, of course, means she’s on a collision course with disaster!

Leo is as charming and dashing as you’d expect a firefighter hero to be. His occupation is also his family legacy and I loved the camaraderie he had with his brothers and Fire Chief father. It was also interesting to view the fire fighting profession from a historical aspect, complete with the station house Dalmatian!

Leo and Etta’s meet-cute provides a bright light of humour right before the tension ramps up with page-turning drama and intrigue. There’s an arson investigation as well as an actual explosion and subsequent fire straight out of the history books to contend with. The details are fascinating and the author did an incredible job of conveying a whole gamut of emotions in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.

Etta and Leo’s unorthodox ‘courtship’ is full of sizzle and spark (see what I did there?) right from the start. Their admiration for each other equals their attraction and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop during such a complicated time for them both.

Goshorn has created a swoonable romance in the midst of real-life tragedy that includes her own unique twist of intrigue with touches of faith to pull everything together into a cohesive whole. Makes for an exceptional reading experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook copy – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible copy – winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton, 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 6 2026