Tag: Christian Fiction

Snow on the Tulips + Giveaway

random retro reread

In a time of unprecedented darkness and fear, Cornelia must decide if saving a stranger’s life is worth risking her own.

In the twilight of the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, the Germans have taken everything Cornelia had to give, even what was most precious to her. Now Gerrit Laninga—a man who puts God and country above all else—arrives at her house, needing help. She is terrified for herself and terrified for her family, but most of all, terrified of the pain she might feel again if she allows herself to love Gerrit. Her hope is to be free from her paralyzing fear.

Gerrit is a known and hunted Dutch Resistance member. When he comes to Cornelia’s home for shelter, he’s drawn to her strength and kindness. When he asks her to contact the local Resistance on his behalf, she refuses. Gerrit is determined to find a way to continue his underground work without putting Cornelia or her family in harm’s way.

When things start to unravel and Gerrit’s life depends on her actions, she must summon her courage and learn to depend on the perfect love that drives out all fear. But will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?

My Review:

published in 2013

Gripping from the very first sentence. There are heart-in-your-throat scenes that will leave you gasping for breath. The brutality of war — the senseless slaughter of humanity — all play a role as this story unfolds. 

Life is fraught with danger and uncertainty during wartime and no one knows that better than Cornelia. Something died inside her the day her husband was killed by German soldiers. It’s all she can do to go through the motions of living. Trying to control what is left of her shattered life, she retreats, willing to wait until the end of the war before she starts to live again. And then her brother brings home a wounded Resistance fighter.

Gerrit is motivated by a deep sense of duty and justice. A risk-taker, willing to do whatever he can to fight for his country. Recovering from a bullet wound keeps him trapped in Cornelia’s home and the two are thrown together in tight quarters where their opposing views act like tinder to a flame. Yet as they battle, something else ignites — the kind of deep feelings that are dangerous to nurture during wartime.

I love how they both grow from the challenge of their relationship. Gerrit softens a bit, leans more deeply into his faith. Cornelia struggles with her fear and I truly appreciate this part of the story. So often we read about larger than life characters who seem to be born heroes. Cornelia is just plain scared and yet she is willing to follow where her faith leads.

A captivating, page-turner of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy of Snow on the Tulips so – yay – available for any reader anywhere – International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Tulips on the Snow, 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 January 17 2026.

Redemption for Ransom + Giveaway

random retro read

Previously published as Tides of Duplicity by Robin Patchen. Brand-new title, same great story!

A jewelry heist, a kidnapping, and a choice. When Fitz’s sister disappears, he’ll do anything to get her back, even if it means betraying the woman he’s come to love. 

Private investigator Fitz McCaffrey went to Belize on a case, bringing his teenage sister Shelby along with him. They lost their parents years ago, he lost his job as a cop, and they both need time to heal. When Fitz meets the beautiful and charming Tabitha Eaton, he falls hard.

But minutes after Tabby’s flight leaves, Fitz is summoned by a mobster who believes Tabby broke into the hotel safe the night before and made off with half a million dollars’ worth of jewels—and he has the video evidence to prove it. As Shelby’s guardian, Fitz has to focus on caring for his sister, whether Tabby is innocent or guilty. He refuses to help the man—until he learns the mobster has taken his sister.

The clock is ticking as Fitz scrambles to recover the jewels. If he succeeds, it’ll cost the woman he’s come to care for. If he fails, it’ll cost his sister’s life.

My Review:

originally published in 2021 under the title “Tides of Duplicity.”

I’m new to Robin Patchen’s books (this is only my second one) but I am forever a fan. Love the way she develops a suspense plot and creates characters with depth and conviction. Inspirational without being preachy. And, whoa, but she knows how to keep a reader on edge right through the entire read! So thank you to all my bibliophile kindred spirts who recommended this author to me!

The story begins with the sweet beginnings of romance at an exotic Belize resort. Fitz and Tabby meet when their vacations overlap, neither looking for romance. Fitz has his hands full parenting his teenage sister while Tabby feels burdened by family responsibilities back home. Still, the attraction is there and furthering their connection once they are both stateside is a tantalizing temptation. One that Tabby is more able to resist than Fitz, because once she boards her plane she’s convinced she will never see him again.

But then Fitz shows up on her doorstep back home in Coventry and her world implodes because he’s there under false pretences…or is he? Argh, but there were aspects of their romance that tied me up in knots! Because Fitz is in part, playing a role as a means to an end. Only, also, he isn’t. Love the tangled twist to their romance as the suspense slowly builds. And then it transforms into a high-stakes treasure hunt that kept me frantically engaged until the end.

Phew! Looking forward to continuing with the Coventry Saga series. I’ve been listening to the audio books narrated by Aimee Lily and am really enjoying the way she portrays a variety of characters as well as the sense of urgency she brings to the high-octane scenes. Makes for a compelling listen.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Redemption for Ransom, 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 January 17 2026.

A Fierce Devotion + Giveaway

Exiled from his beloved Acadie in Canada, Bleu Galant has little on his mind but survival as the tumultuous French and Indian War comes to a close. When his journey to Virginia’s Rivanna River settlement takes an unexpected turn, he crosses paths with Brielle Farrow–a woman whose presence stirs something in him he cannot explain nor express. Unable to forget her, his decision to help her takes them across an ocean into a lavish world he’s never known. Will their intricate tie decide not only her fate but his future?

My Review:

Laura Frantz’s storytelling has the power to lure me in even if the novel is set an era I don’t have a huge interest in. And I always come away richer for the read. As well as educated. If only we had been able to learn our high school history through incredible historical fiction like this one! Because, not only do we get an accurate accounting of time and place and customs, Frantz also delivers emotional authenticity to the era through her characters.

And oh la la, this romance is exquisitely slow burn with lots of luscious layers for a reader to lose herself in. Fainting couch and smelling salts recommended. Bleu is so….stalwart. Steadfast. Deliberate. Worlds away from Brielle’s background and life experience. Their love develops slowly in the midst of heartache and struggles. Fierce devotion indeed! What an apt title!

An absorbing novella, rich in history and characterization, this is an easy read to lose yourself in. Definitely in the ‘unputdownable’ and ‘keeper shelf’ categories!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Fierce Devotion 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 January 17 2026.

Scent of Sabotage

To track down the truth,
they’ll need to unravel the clues

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

My Review:

What an unexpected conclusion to Dana Mentink’s ‘Security Hounds Investigations’ series. Unexpected because there are five siblings and after the fifth one got their happily ever after I thought the series was done. Until book six released featuring Wolfe matriarch Beth. Widowed for over a decade, this mature (56) heroine has a second chance at romance when her high school sweetheart, Jack, unexpectedly enters her world again. Their meet-cute is violently interrupted and becomes the gateway to all kinds of mayhem!

Mentink combines heart-in-throat action scenes with tender, even humorous, ones at a dizzying pace. Adrenaline rush meets emotional angst in the most compelling way! And the booby-trapped amusement park setting is diabolically brilliant! As is veteran K-9 Arthur, an 11 year old bloodhound with an amazing sniffer and even more heart.

I didn’t plan on listening to ‘Scent of Sabotage’ (brilliant title, by the way) all in one go, but Mentink’s storytelling paired with Abby Craden’s excellent narration made it impossible to stop. What a great partnership — riveting from start to finish!

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

Track of Courage + Giveaway

A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9’s instinct to help them make it out alive.

Pop Singer Keely Williams’s search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she’s suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaska blizzard but also a killer who’s on her tail. 

After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend–Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it’s up to the former cop to stage a rescue.

But Dawson has no idea he’s being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future. 

Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest–and most rewarding–adventure of all. 

Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.

My Review:

Whoa! When you’re reading a Susan May Warren novel keep in mind that it ain’t over until it’s over! My whiplash has whiplash after all those plot twists! Be forewarned, this is the the kind of compulsive read that’s hard (impossible) to put down!

While this author excels at writing riveting action scenes, she’s also brilliant at creating stories with emotional depth and unapologetic spirituality. I’m not sure which I enjoy more — having my tummy tied in knots because of physical danger or the emotional kind! Makes for a thrilling read either way!

And such relatable characters (Dawson and Keely’s fraught romance had me in tears at the end.) But there are also cameos from some favourite heroes and heroines from previous series. Warren expertly weaves them into the story in such a way that it’s not confusing for newbie readers. Mind you, if you are an avid Warren fan, you will thrill on repeat all the way through to the end. Love the homecoming feel that brings to the story.

And the Alaska wilderness setting is a character all on its own. Stunning descriptions engaged all my senses and I came away feeling a bit frostbitten a time or two. Helped that I read ‘Track of Courage’ during a blizzard. Talk about perfect mood reading!

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Brian Hutchison and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a rule, I prefer female narrators mostly because I find male narrators have a hard time creating the right tone of voice for female characters. They either all sound grandmotherly or cartoonishly dramatic. Not so in this case. Hutchison manages to soften his voice in such a way that it’s evident a woman is speaking without creating a high-pitch falsetto that’s hard to take seriously. So a five star performance and I’m adding him to my ‘optimum listening experience’ list for future reference.

My thanks to RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Track of Courage, 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 January 10 2026.

Hunting a Killer + Giveaway

Digging up past secrets puts a K-9 team in the line of fire.

During an investigation into a series of homicides, FBI agent Finn McDaniel is unexpectedly attacked, and a blow to the head leaves him with amnesia. Left for dead, he’s discovered by cadaver dog Cipher and her handler, search and rescue specialist Jordyn Williams — who is also Finn’s missing sister’s best friend. As Finn and Jordyn work to recover his crucial memories, they unearth evidence that links his sister’s disappearance to the killings. When the body of the latest victim is found, can they stop the murderer from striking again…or will their pursuit place them directly in the enemy’s crosshairs?

My Review:

I’m a cautious fan of the amnesia trope because — love it when thoughtfully plotted and abhor it when the story relies on trite cliches. Happy to say Sarah Varland did an amazing job incorporating Finn’s amnesia into this story. Believable, intriguing and whoa, but did it ever add to the suspense! That opening scene when he…ack, I can’t say what happens but…yikes, I was on tenterhooks for the rest of the read. Well played, Sarah Varland, well played indeed.

I love a good K-9 story and cadaver dog Cipher is a devoted floof with stellar instincts. Her human search-and-rescue partner is pretty nifty too. And brave. Searching the wilderness for human remains takes grit and stamina and Jordyn has both in spades. But a routine search morphs into chaos when Cipher leads her to an unconscious Finn. And then things get really complicated.

Loved the edginess to both the suspense and the romance. Finn and Jordyn have both struggled in the aftermath of his sister’s (her best friend’s) disappearance and that makes for a messy reunion. So lots of emotional stuff to work out while they try to figure out if the current missing person is related to their cold case. Absolutely riveting from start to finish!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Hunting a Killer’ expertly narrated by Cindy Kay. I’ve added her to my ‘must listen’ narrator list. I love the way she breathes life into a story and conveys emotional tension with her voice. Makes for an incredibly great listening experience!

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this book doesn’t release until January 27 so the winner will have to be patient and accept an IOU until then. 🙂

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hunting a Killer, 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 January 10 2026

Midnight on the Scottish Shore + Giveaway

The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable–become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water–and in the depths of the human heart–for a WWII tale you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

Intense. Dramatic. Emotional. The kind of edge-of-your-seat World War II novel that Sarah Sundin is famous for. She fits this literary niche perfectly and I’m always amazed at the fresh points of view and different angles she finds to approach this subject matter. I always learn some new about this complex time in world history.

This time round I discovered how the war reached northern Scottish shores and the integral workings of the naval base at Scapa Flow. I had no idea! And what an atmospheric setting for espionage and intrigue! It even comes complete with a taciturn Scotsman whose loyalty to the United Kingdom is challenged because of the behaviour of his separatist brother. So, brooding is a skillset Lachlan has perfected. And he’s not about to give any leeway to a German spy, no matter what fantastical tale she spins.

But when Cilla is recruited by British Intelligence and sent back to Scotland to work as a double agent, Lachlan is forced to work with her and that’s when the sparks start to fly. They are so different in temperament, opposites in every way, though, surprisingly they compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Loved the balance between heart-stopping danger and heart-melting romance! Along with plain old real life struggles that happen even during (maybe especially) wartime. Complex characters with layered backstories enrich the story even more. ‘Midnight on the Scottish Shore’ is the definition of unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore, 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 December 20 2025

Detecting Deadly Threats + Giveaway

With ruthless criminals closing in,
this K-9 is on a mission to defend.

Amateur photographer Lauren Hollander narrowly escapes a kidnapping attempt—moments before a disastrous earthquake rocks her small town, destroying her store. She’s saved from the rubble by Zachery Kimball and his search and rescue K-9, Ranger. Someone is determined to get to Lauren—but who, and why? Is it tied to her brother’s criminal past? Or are the culprits after the pictures on her camera? Under Zach and Ranger’s protection, Lauren races to discover the truth behind all the attacks. But as the danger escalates, can they survive long enough to untangle the mystery that’s putting their lives on the line?

My Review:

I love a good K-9 hero in a romantic suspense and Ranger fits the trope perfectly. He’s trained in search and rescue but his side hustle seems to be protection!

Carol J. Post delivers thrilling intensity from the earth shattering (pun intended) opening scene through all the hair raising ones that follow. I love it when I’m kept on the edge throughout the read and the author delivered that in both the suspense and the romance departments. I had so many questions! So many theories (that got wilder, the deeper I got into the story!) I was totally off base on so many accounts, but it was fun trying my hand at armchair sleuthing. Love the way the romance gradually builds in the midst of the chaos, providing sweet pockets of respite from all that intensity.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Detecting Deadly Threats‘ narrated by Emma Lysy . She is becoming a familiar voice and I appreciate the talent she brings to every performance. From characters to pacing, Lysy captured the heart of the story which increased my enjoyment of this compelling romantic suspense.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — 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 Deadly Threats, 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 December 20 2025

Not Exactly Mr Darcy + Giveaway

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book.

Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

My Review:

I love finding a good title/cover art tie in to a book and does Miller ever deliver that with her first Silver Teapot Series! I actually got a shivery thrill when I saw that cover scene play out and when I read ‘not exactly Mr Darcy’ right on the page! Eeeeppp!!! Is it weird that I get giddy over little details like that? Probably, but it really does tie all the elements of a story together and I appreciate that level of attention to detail.

And, really, what’s not to love about a contemporary romance with an Austenish flare? Not a retelling, per say, more like Pride and Prejudice adjacent. While visiting her grandmother in England, history loving Liv becomes involved in the restoration of a heritage manor house. The exact house that just happened to be made famous in a P&P dramatization. In the process she clashes with the gruff (squealll…grumpy hero alert!) gardener she has an unfortunate encounter with on the grounds.

And that’s when the fun really begins….lots of drama too! Because, no surprise, Liam and Liv tend to clash…a lot. She’s a force of nature with an unlimited imagination and tons of marketing ideas for the property. Ideas which mean change, and change isn’t something Liam is comfortable with.

This is an almost enemies to more trope with a s-l-o-w build to friendship and a reluctant attraction that neither Liam nor Liv want to act on. So, lots of delicious romantical longing that kept me eagerly turning pages.

Tons of wonderful secondary characters encourage (and discourage) our hero and heroine in different ways, adding lots of depth to the story. Emotions run deep and issues need to be faced and worked through before Liam and Liv have a hope of achieving that storybook happily ever which makes for an exquisite reading experience.

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 Not Exactly Mr Darcy, 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 December 20 2025.

Out of Time + Giveaway

For historical anthropologist Cara Tucker, the chance to spend a sabbatical semester on a remote country estate–with full access to its vast library and centuries-old journals–is a dream come true . . . until a series of strange incidents begin to turn her dream into a nightmare. Someone, it seems, does not want anyone diving into the past and unearthing old ghosts.
  
Sheriff Brad Adams has seen his share of suspicious activities during his law enforcement career, but what’s happening at the isolated estate is out-of-pattern in his quiet, rural Missouri county. Beset by danger, Cara and Brad work together to try to untangle the clues. But when the peril turns lethal, the situation takes on a new urgency, and their mission is Find out who is behind the string of menacing incidents before the perpetrator strikes another deadly blow.  
  
Hannon presents another page-turning thriller in Out of Time where danger lurks in every shadow.

My Review:

Eeeeppp!!! So excited that my audible copy of the third book in the ‘Undaunted Courage‘ series finally arrived! There was a delay in the audio book release so I had an extra two months to anticipate. It was excruciating, but so worth it because Therese Plummer’s narrations amplify my enjoyment of Irene Hannon’s stories. Her performance delivers all the emotion and tension and taut action scenes in such a captivating way. And all the characters have distinctive voices. That Hannon/Plummer combination held me enthralled once again. Well worth the delay!

So, a romantic suspense with a whole lot of heart and nuggets of faith threaded throughout. Exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author’s novels. Characters with emotional depth and the kind of mystery with enough suspects to make things interesting and plenty of twists along the way. Kept me on the edge of my sleuthing armchair! And the romance has a gentle, slow build that was so satisfying to read!

‘Out of Time’ brings the ‘Undaunted Courage’ series to an outstanding close.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Out of Time, 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 December 20 2025