Christian Fiction – Page 12

Mind Games + Giveaway

Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

My Review:

published in 2018

Whoa! I’m stunned and my head is still spinning over that twisty-turny nosedive at the end. This might just be Nancy Mehl’s best book to date which is saying something because I adore her stories! But this one is…definitely on a whole other level.

A psychological thriller of a mystery with some of the elements of a Criminal Minds episode but without the TV series’ over-the-top ghoul factor. 🙂 For cautious suspense readers I can honestly say I can’t watch Criminal Minds without getting nightmares but I gobbled up Mind Games for all it’s deliciously shivery suspensey goodness. Fascinating police procedural with one of the most complex heroines I’ve ever met within the pages of a book!

Kaely’s backstory is so complex and intriguing. Her coping mechanisms — her profiling techniques — the brilliance that masks a touching vulnerability. And most surprising of all — her deep and abiding faith. Something that fellow agent Noah can’t understand but Kaely doesn’t shy away from sharing.

“I have a lot of issues leftover from my past. God has never condemned me for them. He just keeps leading me slowly but surely out of the dark, at the pace I need.” (p 165)

Engaging in mind games with a serial killer is the first case Noah and Kaely share but it won’t be their last. Love the way their relationship develops over the course of this book. He’s wary, she’s reserved and learning to trust each other is central to their moving forward both professionally and personally. This isn’t a romance, but I have the feeling that one is going to develop over the course of the series.

Intense, clever, exceptionally paced — Mind Games is the epitome of a page-turner! I guarantee you won’t be able to put this one down until you’ve reached the mind-blowing conclusion.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Mind Games, 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 30 2025.

The Island Bookshop + Giveaway

A heartwarming tale of family, love, forgiveness and second chances.

When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.

For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.

As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?

Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.

My Review:

Captivating setting, a surprise dual timeline and characters I came to care about all contributed to making this a memorable read for me. My first contemporary novel by Roseanna M. White (and wondering if it might be her first too?) Gave me Melissa Tagg, Betsy St. Amant vibes.

I was loving on the descriptive writing style, just getting my feet wet (ha – quite literally) along with Kennedy as she comes racing home for a family emergency with all the emotional complications that go along with that (I’m looking at you, Wes) and then I turned the page and suddenly found myself in 1938! Same place, different time and my heart did a little bookish jig at the unexpected dual timeline. To be fair, the contemporary timeline takes prominence, but I loved the tantalizing glimpses of Ana in 1938, wondering how the two would connect. Spectacularly as it turns out!

I certainly can’t resist a librarian heroine, especially one who works at the Library of Congress! Be still my library lovin’ heart! Plus, Kennedy is part owner of the island bookshop so she has the best of both worlds and so do we since there’s lots of bookish content and bibliophile nostalgia.

And then there’s Wes. The focus of Kennedy’s unrequited love for so many years, way back to their teens. His first romance was very much a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you keep ‘the one’ in the friend zone because the friendship is too important to risk. Instead, he married someone else with disastrous results. Cue the set up for the perfect second chance, friends to more romance. So touching and tentative and heartwarming!

But before we can fully embrace the happily ever after, there’s a family legacy to save, and a family history to uncover which makes for a captivating read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the The Island Bookshop, 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 30 2025.

Something Borrowed + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

“A Heart in Disguise” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US “Camouflage Corps,” sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home–except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

“A Letter to Eli” by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It’s never far away from their thoughts–not with Alice’s fiancee serving at sea, in danger every minute. That’s a worry Bette doesn’t envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

“A Daffodil in the Dress” by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family’s bookstore since Kate’s husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

My Review:

published in 2024

What an exceptional novella collection – three stories tied together through one dress, and not in the way I expected! In fact, I’m a little miffed about what that poor dress went through! I loved the way each novella highlights a different kind of Homefront story from three different wars. It was interesting to note the similarities and differences for each of our heroines.

A Heart in Disguise by Rachel Scott McDaniel – I’m pretty much gobsmacked over how the author managed to deliver this caliber of story with such a short word count. Novella length with the heart and breadth of a novel! Intrigue, danger, romance with a World War I New York City backdrop! So many exquisite details enrich the story and I love the origins of the wedding dress!

A Letter to Eli by Allison Pittman – There’s a bit of an epistolary spin to this WWII romance which was unexpected (both for me and the heroine!) and it was such a great plot twist. A story that celebrates friendship and sacrifice and finding hope in the impossible.

A Daffodil in the Dress by Susie Finkbeiner – Such a sweet, heartwarming, hope-stirring love story! Ike is certifiably swoonable. Not only is he a hero who loves reading – he owns a bookstore! Be still my heart. And the way he relates to Kate’s little girl just turns me into mush! Kate’s loud, boisterous family, especially her opinionated mother, adds an extra layer of ‘feel good’ to this amazing romance.

I listened to the audio edition of this book and thoroughly enjoyed Pilar Witherspoon’s narration. She’s an incredible narrator and I appreciate the talent it takes to make so many different characters shine in a novella collection like this. If you are an audio book fan, this is would make an excellent listening choice.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Something Borrowed, 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 30 2025

Lost Truth

A vulnerable reporter. A hidden truth.
Lost Lake Locator Hayden Kraus is thrust into a high-stakes investigation when he’s hired to investigate the disappearance of a prominent local figure. The case quickly unravels into a complex web of deception, corruption, and danger. As Hayden delves deeper, he crosses paths with Cadence Vaughn, a fearless and resourceful investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s mysterious murder—a case she believes is connected to the current investigation.

And an investigator pushed to extremes.
Despite initial friction, Hayden and Cadence realize they need each other to expose the powerful forces at play. As they piece together clues, they uncover evidence pointing to a sinister cover-up. The threats escalate, and they face increasing danger, but the bond between them strengthens. When they have to risk everything to bring the truth to light will that include risking a future together too?

My Review:

Look at me, keeping up with Susan Sleeman’s latest series! (I still have two to catch up on, I think.) This is the second book in the Lost Lake Investigator series but can easily be read as a standalone, though there is a bit of carry over with characters and a few plot points. No book one spoilers though.

I so enjoy the way this author builds up a team. Hayden’s investigative team is made up of an eclectic mix of law enforcement talent. They’ve formed a ‘found family’ bond and that comes with all the good natured ribbing you’d expect, along with a more serious ‘I’ve got your back’ moments.

Lots of action along with some cunning investigative work keeps the plot moving forward at a steady pace. Punctuated with lovely snippets of romance sprinkled generously throughout.

I love the way Sleeman develops Hayden and Cadence’s relationship. She’s strong-willed and opinionated and completely fixated on exposing her father’s murderer. He’s working a parallel case that makes it beneficial for them to work together…as long as they can tamp down the sizzling tension between them. Lovely balance between their working dynamics and the personal, getting to know you moments.

And mercy, but there are some riveting, heart-in-throat action moments that bring resolution to the suspense and clear the way for some serious romancing. Makes for a thrilling escape read. I’m excited now to continue on with the series and get the personal back stories for all the team.

Dying to Read + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

Cate Kinkaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many résumés she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

Readers will be hooked from the very first chapter of this fast-paced and witty romantic mystery from bestselling and award-winning author Lorena McCourtney.

My Review:

published in 2012

An engaging mystery with no end of false trails and intriguing subplots. I have to admit this armchair sleuth (a graduate of the Nancy Drew/Trixie Belden School of Sleuthing) was hard pressed to solve the murder before heroine Cate Kinkaid.

Fascinating and amusing characters provide lots of scope for mayhem as Cate catapults herself into the thick of things. Loved Cate’s pithy point of view — and the whole story is from her perspective. Snappy dialogue mixed with Cate’s unique insights provide humour in nearly every scene but that doesn’t stop drama from unfolding too. Both professional and personal angst counter Cate’s witty asides and make for a well-rounded and captivating read.

Oh — and watch out for the kitty diva, Octavia. Doesn’t every supersleuth need a little help from a familiar now and again?

And let’s not forget about the dragon-slaying knight in shining armour hero – a cute guy but what an annoying habit! Cate wants to slay her own dragons, thank you very much…in theory anyway. This light romance sealed the deal for me — and I’m hoping Dying to Read is just the beginning of a promising new cozy mystery series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Dying to Read, 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 23 2025.

What Momma Left Behind + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and dysentery ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1898, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers–one greedy and the other a drunkard–Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

My Review:

published in 2020

Stunningly beautiful and thought provoking. In true storytelling tradition, Sproles creates a rich emotional tapestry of selfless love and abiding faith. And what a journey she takes us on to get there!

A compelling coming of age story with Worie as a flawed heroine full of grit and spunk but simmering with anger. She’s dealing with a tremendous amount of trauma, though back then it was just plain ol’ living in an Appalachian Mountain community. The author does a tremendous job with character growth – and not just in Worie, but a multitude of secondary characters as well – which made for such an enriching and inspiring read!

I really think that listening to the audio edition of this book enhanced the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of my ‘reading’ experience. Erica Sullivan’s narration is exceptionally good – the way she captures the personalities of all the characters and delivers the Appalachian dialect. Made for a compulsive listen.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of What Momma Left Behind, 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 23 2025

Heart of the Glen + Giveaway

Can the lonely thread of her life be woven into a new and finer pattern?

When Saoirse Fagan arrives at Drumboe Castle to start her new job as housemaid, she is dismayed to learn that the lord of the house passed away a week prior. Already running from the tragedy that claimed the lives of her family members, Saoirse wanders the road through the darkening glen with nowhere to go until Aileen McCready offers her a lift and a place to stay for the night.

Aileen’s brother, sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, is known for his intricate and impeccably woven tweed. But when he’s injured, his entire livelihood is endangered. A new–and distracting–mouth to feed adds fuel to the fire, and Owen struggles to keep his family afloat. Though Saoirse is eager to help, even offering to learn the weaving craft, Owen is hesitant to accept aid from this strange young woman, no matter how inexplicably magnetic he finds her.

But Saoirse is not one to give up easily. She’s determined to convince the McCreadys that they need her–perhaps as much as she needs them.

My Review:

Happy sigh. ‘Ireland’ is a fictional buzz word for me so I might still be a tad shy of giddy after reading ‘Heart of the Glen’. Deibel has created the kind of atmospheric setting that seeps all the way into a reader’s soul, making this the kind of immersive read that easily transports you to another time and place.

And, eeeeeeppppp, this story comes complete with a brooding hero which makes it all the more tantalizing. I mean, who wouldn’t want to armchair travel to Ireland in the company of a brooding hero, right? Owen is the strong, silent type and totally lovable despite his grumpy, taciturn self. He just needs someone like Saoirse to soften his rough edges.

She arrives in the glen at the worst possible time…or so, Owen thinks in the beginning. But events transpire to throw the two together and soon their lives become entwined in a delightfully complicated tangle. Their slow-burn romance makes for a sweetly fulfilling love story.

But it comes in the midst of challenges. There’s enough action and danger and conflict aplenty to keep an avid reader frantically reading into the wee hours of the night.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Heart of the Glen, 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 23 2025

To Love a Beast

Beauty & the Beast in 1800 Texas

Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family’s book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor’s remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

My Review:

I am beyond thrilled that Karen Witemeyer has elected to continue her Texan fairy tale retellings independently. I love the way she mixes classic tales with ‘Wild West’ culture. Praying this series goes on for as long as there are fairy tales to retell!

What a remarkable reimagining of Beauty and the Beast! I enjoyed the subtle twists to the classic tale and the way the author added those elements to create a truly unique love story.

And Witemeyer is brilliant at developing characters into real-life relatable folks a reader can’t wait to spend time with. Even Everett who is so beastly during their meet-cute! We see his heart right away through his affection for his big lumbering ox of a dog, so we know he can’t be all bad. And Callista’s determination to save the family bookbinding business (a perfect occupation for a Beauty and the Beast heroine!) is the perfect excuse to bring them together. A true enemies to more trope that morphs into friends to more and I loved every second of their romance!

Of course, it isn’t all smooth sailing. There’s evil lurking near by, waiting to strike at the unlikeliest of moments. Eeeeppp!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘To Love a Beast’ and thoroughly enjoyed Cara Firestone’s storytelling style.

Northargyle Abbie + Giveaway

When Abigail Morgan, a naive pastor’s daughter with an overactive imagination, inherits a cottage in Australia, she never imagines the story it will unlock. Armed with a museum studies degree and a penchant for daydreams, Abigail heads to Hyacinth Cottage to unravel the truth of her grandmother’s past—an unknown world of adventure, deception, and love.

While sifting through letters, photographs, and hidden relics, Abigail meets Colter Wellesley, a charming local who helps her navigate the labyrinth of clues with a blend of wit and charm she struggles to resist. But Colter comes with secrets of his own. As their investigation and romance deepen, Abigail wonders if Colter is more tangled up in her grandmother’s mystery—and that of the princess who vanished more than sixty years ago—than she ever imagined.

In this modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the line between imagination and reality blurs, and every clue discovered could be the key to unlocking a royal legacy.

My Review:

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and Janelle Leonard did not disappoint! Impressive debut novel!

Love the family history angle that sends Abigail way out of her comfort zone on the hunt for her beloved gran’s secret story. (Hello! Road trip to Australia? Yes, Please!) She’s wildly imaginative and endearingly awkward. Each chapter includes whimsical Abbie musings in classic museum placard style which gives readers a glimpse of her quirky wit.

So, insecure pastor’s daughter finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as Leonard loosely reimagines Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’. But make no mistake, ‘Northargyle Abbie’ is most definitely a unique story all on its own.

This is as much a coming of age story as it is a delightful contemporary romance. But, oh my, when Colter makes his appearance, well, time to clear off you fainting couch. In Abbie’s words, “Ladies and gentlemen, I just experienced a meet-cute worthy of its own chapter.” ( p 70) And the man arrives with a certain air of mystery which was all kinds of fun to sort out.

The romance is swoonaliciously unhurried, there are mysteries to solve and bad ‘uns to thwart, all with an eye on the fairy tale promise of a scrumptious happily ever after. Divine reading that was impossible to put down.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Northargyle Abbie, 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 16 2025.

Detecting Concealed Evidence + Giveaway

Sniffing out the enemies requires a K-9’s help.

A panicked call sends detective Chase Wolfe and his search-and-rescue bloodhound, Tank, racing right into the path of his neighbor—who’s just barely escaped an abduction. But Pilar Alonso has no idea who’s after her or why. Now she must rely on Chase to keep her safe while they work together to track down the unknown assailants targeting her. Only, their investigation reveals layers of a much more sinister agenda, and danger is rapidly closing in. Drawn into a web of deceit, can they untangle the mystery…before they’re permanently silenced?

My Review:

An outstanding Romantic Suspense with Mentink’s unique blend of action and humour. Riveting all the way through. And Tank is a furry wonder of floof and drool and good intentions. His extraordinary sniffer is often all that stands between Chase and Pilar and danger. Plus, he lives up to his name in spectacular ways!

Love the enemies to more vibe going on with the romance. Nothing like upping an already tense plot with some emotional trauma! And the action scenes are spectacular. Couldn’t quite catch my breath until the very end. Big sigh of relief and bookish glee!

I still get giddy every time I see a Love Inspired Suspense book in audio format and Abby Craden did a wonderful job narrating ‘Detecting Concealed Danger.’ She brings the right amount of tension to the harrowing scenes and is great with dialogue, infusing humour and warmth in all the right places. As well as stark terror and sheer frustration. Craden manages to capture the full gamut of emotions that bring these characters to life.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Detecting Concealed Evidence, 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 16 2025